Wednesday, September 14, 2011

WATCHING WILLOW WATTS by Talli Roland

Title: Watching Willow Watts
Author: Talli Roland
Publisher: Prospera Publishing
Format: eARC
Source: Author
To Purchase: Amazon     Amazon UK 

Description: For Willow Watts, life has settled into a predictably dull routine: days behind the counter at her father's antique shop and nights watching telly, as the pension-aged residents of Britain's Ugliest Village bed down for yet another early night. But everything changes when a YouTube video of Willow's epically embarrassing Marilyn Monroe impersonation gets millions of hits after a viewer spots Marilyn's ghostly image in a frame.

Instantly, Willow's town is overrun with fans flocking to see the 'new Marilyn'. Egged on by the villagers -- whose shops and businesses are cashing in -- Willow embraces her new identity, dying her hair platinum and ramming herself full of cakes to achieve Marilyn's legendary curves.

But when a former flame returns seeking the old Willow, Willow must decide: can she risk her stardom and her village's newfound fortune on love, or is being Marilyn her ticket to happiness?

Review: Talli Roland's Watching Willow Watts shines like a bright star in the chick lit world.

Willow Watts never imagined dressing up as Marilyn Monroe for her best friend's celebrity picture booth would change her life. When her imagine is up on YouTube and appears sanctioned by Marilyn's ghost, Willow goes viral. Marilyn's fans proclaim her as the new Marilyn and everyone is clamoring to make a pound, including Willow. As the new Marilyn learns what fame means, Willow discovers the truth in who she is and what she's willing to sacrifice for happiness.

Talli Roland excels in quirky, unique novels. Willow Watts transforms on the page and inspires not only her small village in England but the world around her. Fame is fickle and tiresome. The romances of the secondary characters were sweet. I cheered as Willow discovered it was better to be herself than anyone else. Roland breathes life into her characters. I cried, laughed, and felt a deep passionate hatred for Willow's you-know-who, also known as the agent. The only minor distraction for me as a reader was in the portrayal of Betts the American, who didn't sound like she was from Georgia sometimes. Overall, I loved how the 'new Marilyn' inspired the village and changed it for the better.

Talli Roland's Watching Willow Watts is a must-read with unforgettable characters, a unique storyline, and a beautiful message that being who you are is better than being anyone else.