So half the time I was laughing so hard tears were pouring out of my eyes, and the other half I was so caught up in the dynamic between James and Holly and the action that I couldn't put this down until the end. I was so surprised and delighted because this was not cliché or the plot typical in the least. I kept on expecting something to happen, would read ahead a bit (shame on me, but I hate awkward situations so couldn't help myself!), and then it wouldn't happen as I imagined and I would be so happy with how it all did turn out. This is chick lit at its best because it was so damn realistic! Yes, Holly was quite a character, but this love story could have honestly played out in real life. There was no insta-love, no silly situations, it was not a farce on the subject, but it was just a beautiful, inventive, and unique story. And this is Ms. Mason's first novel too! I am certainly going to read her others and hope they live up to this. I get so sick of reading the typical plot line that this was the perfect refresher.Holly was wonderful. Silly, idealistic, human, and the funniest thing since stand up comedy..."I could just imagine him trying to convince me that comments from reporters are always welcome in a court of law, and if silence is called for when I start to speak, it's just to make sure I can continue uninterrupted."She has such enthusiastic vivacity, that you can just picture her plodding around, slipping on hard candies and brightening peoples' day..."Our first call! Oh my God! We're on our way, the siren is blaring, we're ducking and diving in and out of traffic. Whoaaa! We just took out a traffic cone! This is fantastic!"And she is a strong character too, although often very silly. She is not a doormat, she is not stupid, she does ridiculous things, but generally has her heart in the right place. I absolutely adored her."'It'll get better. He'll grow on you.' Yeah, right. Like fungus."And James, dear James. He is so grumpy and mean when they first meet, and then for weeks afterward, that you don't see what can bring about the expected love story, and it is not until they play nice later on and things develop that you start to fall for him along with Holly. "At long last he looks over at me. 'Miss Colshannon,' he says patiently and I raise my eyebrows hopefully, 'you would know if I had a gun.''How would I know if you had a gun?''Because I would have shot you with it by now.'"But later he explains his hatred for the press, his childhood, his inspiration to become and officer, this and that, and you understand his original attitude. He is one of those honestly good and decent men who are waxed poetic about, wanting to help out and care for everyone he thinks even marginally deserves it, wants to protect people, and is so funny as well, that I would love to have him for myself. Very smart too, hence the ending of the story.Conversation--Holly speaking, then James, "'How did she recognize them though? I wouldn't recognize an antique if it smacked me in the face.' 'And it probably would, knowing your difficulties in staying upright.'"There was an entire cast of hearty, three-dimensional supporting characters that kept me entertained and filled in the book perfectly. Not a word or scene was wasted in this book. All added up to one good thing or another. It was such a pleasure to immerse myself in this world and walk in Holly's shoes. I definitely recommend this, it is definitely one of my favorites in this genre!"This, as blatant flattery always does, cheers me up."
Um, definitely have never had a book start off quite like this, best friend of lead female character has a condom stuck, well, um, where condoms go.I love how Holly gives her car a name. I do to and don't understand why people think it is weird. (My car's name is Essie by the way)So I'm guessing this author is from England or something because of the lingo I am reading here, adds a little something to the story for me.The author does a great job of writing this story in a way where I felt like I was being given a window into Holly's life. Unfortunately the same can't be said of James. This story is written completely from Holly's point of view and I found myself missing James's perspective. The story started to drag some for me in the middle of the book. It was nice though, when Holly and James started getting along more and you could see them starting to form a relationship.It was hard for me to get into Holly and James's budding relationship; she has a boyfriend and James was getting married in three weeks when she meets him. I could dismiss the boyfriend obstacle because it started to become apparent Holly and him weren't going last but it was hard for me to completely ignore James getting married in a couple weeks.To be perfectly honest the aspect of the book I liked the best was all of the "British talk". As dorky as it is I would grin whenever someone would say bugger, sod off, or love. Delightful englishisms. (is that a word, it sounds like it could be and if it isn't is should be).Having James's fiancée, Fleur, be a nutty, possessive crazy was a bit much. I know the author had to come up with someway to end that relationship, I'm just saying it was a little over the top the way Fleur acted in her little speech to Holly the night before the wedding.This book was ok, definitely didn't impress me though. Holly's mom, father, and bestfriend Lizzie were great characters who added a little something extra. This book had some components which didn't mesh all that well; Holly's boyfriend Ben, Teresa, Robin, Dr. Kirkpatrick. These characters were clearly added to beef up the story but for me they distracted and took away from the main couple. The ending was totally abrupt; James said he had feelings for Holly, they kiss and then bam no more story. I wish the author would have taken out all those unnecessary distractions I mentioned earlier and added in James's side of the story, I'm not a big fan of one sided stories.C
What do You think about Playing James (2004)?
I picked up this book with a need for some feel-good books after digesting a pretty intense and big book. This book did the trick, splendidly i would say. The book started off with a bang. It was funny and i got into the book really quickly. I would have never imagined such outlandish situations that Holly got herself into. It was hilarious and i was turning pages feverishly. The plot was fresh and original even though it had a pretty cliche ending like every other mindless fluff. The dynamic between Holly and James kept me going. Let's be honest, the guy has soul-piercing green eyes that anyone would get the hots for. The romance is very real unlike a lot of books where characters would just plunge into a relationship because once they looked into each other's eyes they could feel the depths of their soul. I thought that the relationship was well built. In the meanwhile, i got a pretty nice perspective of what a life as a detective and writer consists of. It was nice adding a little mystery and crime solving to the book which made the book much more entertaining. The book was splendid and a page turner. I am looking forward to more books from Sarah Mason :-)
—SerNing
this is being made into a rom com, right? Or has it already been done? It's one of those books that was made to be a film, with some upbeat, annoyingly smiley type blonde in the lead role and a grouchy somewhat unshaven leading man as the love interest. It had a touch of shopaholic about it (but nowhere near as irritating as the characters can be in that particular franchise!) and Holly's optimisim never wanes, even in the midst of catastrophe. I have to say that the end, whilst you know where the book is going from the moment you pick it up, was a little forced. For all the talk of the lovely fiance, who does such charitable deeds, the sinister ending there seemed a little out of place. I would have preferred that they kept Fleur as the woman scorned, but who takes it on the chin in her charitable fashion. Also, Sarah's crammed a lot of romance into the last 10 pages or so of the book. I sometimes feel that authors write and write and suddenly realise oh, I have a deadline coming up better finish this! and whack it on. I like a little bit more warning, more subtlety to the critical point in a book. That being said, its all in good fun and there's plenty of laughs to be had with this book. You're not likely to be disappointed reading it!
—Melinda Elizabeth
Our dear Holly is a reporter without a good story.. she is the youngest reporter at her office and therefore is given the dirt job.. to be the crime reporter and to trail after the hot Detective James Sabine.The klutzy heroine kinda grows on you as you keep reading the book and there are parts where you will laugh out loud... and how she ends up in the hospital so often!The story is not through our hero's eyes and therefore you only get to know him through Holly. But whatever i saw, i loved!The fiancee was a bitch( as expected) and the detective falls for Holly at last ( predictable) but apart form those predictable bits, the books is one hilarious read. It was fast, funny, chic and light. I enjoyed most of the part and i glazed over very few pages. Can read once:)
—Jennifer Bernard
