Midge (525 KP) rated The Billionaire's Sham Girlfriend in Books
Dec 17, 2018
Gregor Beaumont likes racing fast cars and seducing fast women. His late grandfather wanted to make sure Gregor and his two playboy brothers settle down and he had the brilliant idea of buying up a huge share of the brothers’ engine company and using that as an incentive for each brother to find Mrs Right. Settle down or lose the company to a competitor. Gregor has other ideas. He wants a charming but desperate girl to pretend to be his girlfriend. No problem, unless things start to get complicated.
Enter Kara Alerby. Gregor comes into her theatre wanting to hire her to act the part of his adoring girlfriend and offering lots of money that would really help her realise her dream of creating a school for gifted children. She can resist his smiles, his charisma, his beautiful blue eyes and his kiss-me mouth if it means she’ll get her school. She only needs to remember that it’s all a pretence.
When Gregor's love of racing puts his life in jeopardy, Kara isn’t ready to watch another person die in front of her as her father did. Gregor isn’t about to stop doing the one thing that makes life worth living. The two are on a collision course, one that could break them apart forever if they don’t change directions.
Although Gregor has a very public, playboy image, I loved the sexy chemistry between Kara and him whenever they were together and they were both very likeable characters. Kara is bright, ambitious and caring and very much knows her own mind. Gregor is gorgeous, mischievous and soulful. The story was sweet and captivating to the end and loads of fun to read if a little too short.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone.
Thank you to NetGalley, Relay Publishing and the author for a copy of this book.
BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated Holmes and Watson (2018) in Movies
Apr 27, 2020
I know that Will Ferrell is an "acquired taste" - either you like the "all in" comedy of this man, or you don't. I happen to like Ferrell, his comedy has aged on me like a fine wine. I find that some of his most recent films like THE OTHER GUYS and THE HOUSE are very funny (maybe not as funny as ANCHORMAN...but what is). I think this comedian still has his fastball.
But, sometimes, wine doesn't age well, it turns into vinegar. And for Ferrell, this vinegar is the comedic dud that is HOLMES & WATSON.
Partnering with familiar on-screen partner John C. Reilly (who paired with Ferrell in films like STEP BROTHERS and TALLEDEGA NIGHTS) this film is a parody of the multitude of Sherlock Holmes films - this time showing that not only is Holmes and idiot but so is Watson. But, somehow, they manage to solve the crime and save the day anyway.
Ferrell is (typically) over-the-top and obtuse as Holmes. Usually, this combination works for him (see ANCHORMAN) but it just falls flat here. Same thing for John C. Reilly's Watson - he is just as over-the-top and obtuse and (I think) that's the beginning of the problem here. The two just bounce off each other without the joke landing on either of them - nor does it land of the audience.
Ralph Fiennes (Moriarty), Rebecca Hall (potential girlfriend), Rob Brydon (Inspector Lestrade) and Kelly Macdonald (Mrs. Hudson) all fair poorly with poor material to work with.
Writer/Director Etan (that's Etan, not Ethan) Cohen (IDIOCRACY) does nothing to help things here with either his writing or his direction. My only thought here is that he thought that Ferrell and Reilly could improvise themselves into a good film.
It didn't happen.
Letter Grade: C (because I guffawed out loud - despite myself - a couple of times)
4 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
Charles Dickens: A Life
Book
Charles Dickens is the acclaimed definitive biography by bestselling author Claire Tomalin Charles...
This House is Haunted: The Amazing Inside Story of the Enfield Poltergeist
Book
This is the Amazing Story of the Enfield Poltergeist On August 31st 1977, normal life ended for Mrs...
The Beauty and the Beast
Gabrielle-Suzanna Barbot de Villenueve
Book
MinaLima, the award-winning design studio behind the graphics for the Harry Potter film franchise...
The World's Favourite: And Then There Were None, Murder on the Orient Express, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
8.0
Rate It
Book
A boxed set of the three books that have been confirmed in a popular vote as the World's Favourite...
ClareR (5603 KP) rated Things In Jars in Books
Sep 22, 2019
I absolutely loved this book. I was never sure if the mythical, fairytale elements were real, or whether Bridie believed them to be real. The seedy, macabre side to London, the sights and smells of the winding streets and the general atmosphere were so well described, that I could have been standing next to Bridie, watching the moving tattoos across Ruby’s torso! Bridie is an excellent character. She feels compelled to find Christabel, mainly because she is coming to the job with a failure weighing heavy on her shoulders, but also she can remember being alone in the world as a child.
Mrs Bibby is a superb villain - she has her conspirators dancing to her tune. She has a gun (and a limp!) and she’s not afraid to use it! Her macabre ‘fairytales’ really ramped up the atmosphere, and showed how truly awful she was. There was a real menace about her.
Other than what I’ve said here, all I can really say is - go and read this book! I loved it (I’ve said that already, I know!), go and read it - you won’t be sorry!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.
The Travelling Bag: And Other Ghostly Stories
7.0
Rate It
Book
From the foggy streets of Victorian London to the eerie perfection of 1950s suburbia, the everyday...
fiction horror
The Billionaire's Sham Girlfriend
10.0
Rate It
Book
Gregor Beaumont is in a world of hurt that all the charm in his gorgeous, well-toned body can’t...
Charlotte's Web
7.9
Rate It
Book
A Puffin Book - stories that last a lifetime. Puffin Modern Classics are relaunched under a new...