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Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable but is first person
Review: I agree whole heartedly with the previous review regarding the first person issues. My biggest complaint with the whole chick lit genre is the reliance on this trite and limiting writing style. At least Liz Fielding offers up comic scenes with flair and never falters on her voice and view- this is a well written 1st person novel. I liked the Philly meets the hunk next door and thinks he is gay so he is safe thing.... she is sweet and nice but the 1st person limits the depth we usually expect from a Liz Fielding romance. Read it enjoy it but don't expect tooo much.
Rating: 
Summary: My Review by Lisa
Review: I have been deceived with this romance. Too down to earth, to lifelike. I did not feel I was reading a romance book.
It is only my opinion but I prefer more sizzling and heartwarming in my romances and I felt pretty much let down with this one.
Rating:
Summary: Great Down-To-Earth Likeable Book
Review: I recently bought this book and was pleasantly surprised. Made more unusual by the fact that it was written in the first-person tense, it was a refreshing and realistic story. The heroine, Philly, is an attractive young woman without being the more-gorgeous-than-a-supermodel character that you so often find between the pages of a romance novel. Her insecurities and uneasiness about moving from her parents' home in a small town to the thriving metropolis of big-city London, her lack of self-esteem when comparing herself to her beautiful flatmates and her inability to accept genuine compliments or see anything special in her own appearance are all identifiable qualities. Philly has attributes that I'm sure all women would be able to recognise in themselves. She is someone that I could really see having as a friend. I particularly liked the hero of the story, her gorgeous neighbour Cal. While good-looking and successful (as all heroes of a romance novel should be if they can. We want fantasy when we escape into a story - not the disappointing reality that the streets are not filled with millionaire men who look like Viggo Mortenson and Hugh Jackman combined!) Cal is not the typical macho-businessman-playboy-not-going-to-fall-in-love-until-the-very-last-few-pages-hero. He thinks Philly is stunningly beautiful and falls in love with her at first sight. Despite the plans he should be making for his next wildlife documentary, he spends every minute he can with Philly, hauling her wary self around London and sending her text messages to make sure that she hasn't gotten herself lost. Despite the first few hiccups in their relationship (namely, her boyfriend back home, Don, and the small fact that she thinks that he's gay!) Philly and Cal are perfect for each other and he's determined to make her see it. I loved that he seemed like a real guy (ok, a real nice guy, but still more realistic than the typical arrogant latin lover) and that they have awkward moments and get embarrassed like normal people. Also a great idea is the magazine-type quiz question that foreshadows each chapter. Definitely an entertaining read - particularly for the beach or a bubble bath. I'm sure that you'll want to head for London and meet your own Cal! Recommended for romance readers.
Rating: 
Summary: Who Wrote Bridget Jones¿s Diary: Liz, Joy, or Helen Fielding
Review: Imagine you're a well established romance author and fans continually tell you how much they love your work, especially your "Bridget Jones's Diary". When in fact, you didn't write "Bridget Jones's Diary". An author with the same last name wrote that famous work. Would you: a.feel joy for the other author?
b.wish you wrote the book and made all the money it earned?
c.politely correct the fans informing them of the real author's name?
d.take credit for the book and offer to autograph it?
e.write you own "Bridget Jones's Diary" version and enjoy a secret smile each time you are complimented by an unsuspecting fan? The answer is e. "City Girl in Training" is Liz Fielding version of "Bridget Jones's Diary". The little quiz at the start of each chapter is patterned on "Bridget Jones's Diary". Also, the heroine Philly Gresham, is reminiscent of C.S. Lewis's wife, Helen Joy Gresham. A diary needs to be in the first person and Harlequin Romance does not accept first person romances. But they did this time. What creativity! What freshness! But does it work as a romance? Not very well, but better than expected with first person. A romance is a transactional relationship. Two people falling in love. If you only get one side of the story, it's like getting only half a story. While this heroine is often clumsy and helpless and making a 'fool" of herself, the hero somehow is fascinated by her. Why? Is it believable that the hero would be in love with this heroine? I didn't think so. This is why it is very hard to write a good first person romance. A love story is much more than one person falling in love. Readers want to see both parties in the various stages of falling in love. While "City Girl in Training" is very well written, (and a collectable), it does not make up for the shortcomings of the first person point of view. It is a very fun read for insiders. However, it is just a little better than average as a romance.
Rating:
Summary: Who Wrote Bridget Jones¿s Diary: Liz, Joy, or Helen Fielding
Review: Imagine you're a well established romance author and fans continually tell you how much they love your work, especially your "Bridget Jones's Diary". When in fact, you didn't write "Bridget Jones's Diary". An author with the same last name wrote that famous work. Would you: a. feel joy for the other author?
b. wish you wrote the book and made all the money it earned?
c. politely correct the fans informing them of the real author's name?
d. take credit for the book and offer to autograph it?
e. write you own "Bridget Jones's Diary" version and enjoy a secret smile each time you are complimented by an unsuspecting fan? The answer is e. "City Girl in Training" is Liz Fielding version of "Bridget Jones's Diary". The little quiz at the start of each chapter is patterned on "Bridget Jones's Diary". Also, the heroine Philly Gresham, is reminiscent of C.S. Lewis's wife, Helen Joy Gresham. A diary needs to be in the first person and Harlequin Romance does not accept first person romances. But they did this time. What creativity! What freshness! But does it work as a romance? Not very well, but better than expected with first person. A romance is a transactional relationship. Two people falling in love. If you only get one side of the story, it's like getting only half a story. While this heroine is often clumsy and helpless and making a 'fool" of herself, the hero somehow is fascinated by her. Why? Is it believable that the hero would be in love with this heroine? I didn't think so. This is why it is very hard to write a good first person romance. A love story is much more than one person falling in love. Readers want to see both parties in the various stages of falling in love. While "City Girl in Training" is very well written, (and a collectable), it does not make up for the shortcomings of the first person point of view. It is a very fun read for insiders. However, it is just a little better than average as a romance.
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