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.

THE HATING GAME by Talli Roland

Title: The Hating Game

Author: Talli Roland

Publisher: Prospera Publishing

To Purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Hating-Game-Talli-Roland/dp/1907504036/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1300121986&sr=1-1

Book Description: When Mattie Johns agrees to star on a dating game show to save her ailing recruitment business, she's confident she'll sail through to the end without letting down the perma-guard she's perfected from years of her love 'em and leave 'em dating strategy.

After all, what can go wrong with dating a few losers and hanging out long enough to pick up a juicy £200,000 prize? Plenty, Mattie discovers, when it's revealed that the contestants are four of her very unhappy exes.

Can Mattie confront her past to get the prize money she so desperately needs, or will her exes finally wreak their long-awaited revenge? And what about the ambitious TV producer whose career depends on stopping her from making it to the end?

Review: Talli Roland’s The Hating Game explores a new twist on the dating game. Mattie Johns is a man-eater who would do anything to save her floundering business, including going on a game show. When she finds out the contestants are former boyfriends, it raises the stakes, and she must decide between money and a second chance at romance. During the game show portion of the book, I cheered on a certain contestant to win as if I was really watching a game show. Ms. Roland made me believe in the change of heart Mattie had. The Hating Game shows how messy relationships, even former ones, can be. The novel is witty and fun, and each character adds to the drama and entertainment. The little relationship facts at the beginning of each chapter are an added bonus. Ms. Roland has written a fantastic and fun romance. I look forward to seeing more from this author.