The Year Of Living Famously (Red Dress Ink)

Rating:
Summary: Subtle, realistic, stylish and touching
Review: As you do with a delicious dessert, I saved this book as the last to read from a large Amazon shipment, simply because I knew it was going to be the best. After reading "A Clean Slate," I was mightily impressed, but "The Year of Living Famously" was even better: subtle, realistic, stylish and touching. I've added Ms. Caldwell to my list of writers-who-can-make-me-cry-on-public-transport, as well as to my list of automatic buys. She's an author I trust to tell a good, solid story with unexpected moments and not a cliché in sight. Bravo! When's the next release??

Rating:
Summary: Another Awesome Book by Laura Caldwell
Review: Ever wonder what it would be like to be married to a famous movie star? Do you think you'd be able to handle the constant attention, media circus and fame that comes along with it? No matter what your answers to those questions are, you will enjoy Laura Caldwell's November 2004 RDI novel The Year of Living Famously. In this novel she explores the ups and downs of having a famous husband.

Kyra Felis, a native New Yorker, is a semi-famous clothing designer in her own right when she meets Declan McKenna, a handsome Irish actor who has just completed a major movie that is yet to be released. The attraction is immediate and mutual, although Declan is supposedly seeing a famous movie star, Laura Stapleton, at the time. However, the two of them soon find themselves sending flirtatious emails back and forth, culminating in a face to face meeting, and eventually, Kyra moving to Venice, CA to be with him.

Things are fine, and the two of them even end up getting married. However, Declan's movie is finally released, and it is an instant Box-Office sensation. Overnight he becomes a well-known star, and Kyra quickly finds out that being married to a famous actor isn't easy. As a matter of fact, it is downright dangerous, what with deranged fans looking in their windows, desperate women sending crazy letters, and the tabloid frenzy that examines their every move and starts spreading rumors that Declan is cheating. Will Kyra be able to handle this? Will her sudden fame help, or destroy, her budding design business? Find out by reading this well-written, absorbing novel.

I've come to expect that any novel by this author will be well-written, out of the ordinary, unusual story lines that are ultimately satisfying. This book is no exception - I adored it. The characterization is excellent; the story moves right along and is riveting.

Overall I highly recommend this book - as well as Laura Caldwell's other two!


Rating:
Summary: Famously good
Review: I have gotten extremely skeptical of "chick lit". There is just so much "garbage" out there, written in the name of chick lit.

However, this book is NOT one of them.

Our main character meets up with a guy, they fall in love and get married. During all of this, the guy gets movie star famous. This story tells us of the struggles of living in that world - from the side of the non-celebrity (the wife).

Although I found Jody to be a little annoying at times (speak up for yourself kiddo!), overall the story was told with intelligence and charm.

We actually do get an "inside" peek at just how difficult it must be when you are the *insivisble* wife of a celebrity.

This book is utterly charming and is definitely a notch above many of the chick lit books written today.

Rating:
Summary: Utterly Fabulous
Review: I picked this book up at Wal-Mart of all places and began reading it immediately. I instantly loved the main character Kyra Felis and took great joy and sorrow as she lived for a year with her new husband and his newfound fame. The book was fabulous and I could barely put it down until I had finished it. There aren't too many books that make me want to curl up at home and skip work and classes to finish reading, but that is exactly what this book did. I loved it from start to finish, in the characters highs and lows. It was one of the best books I have read lately. I encourage you to pick up this book immediately. You won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: enjoyable look at the price of fame
Review: In her thirties, Kyra Felis struggles to make it as a clothing designer in Manhattan. She works odd jobs and uses her trust fund that she inherited when her parents died to supplement her meager income earned from the vocation she loves. Her friend, movie agent Bobby Minter invites her to be his guest in Vegas. There she meets his client, actress Lauren Stapleton who has rising star Declan McKenna in her retinue. Surprising herself as she has not had a male relationship in years, Kyra finds herself drawn to Declan. The Paparazzi catch Kyra and Declan talking, which soon has the tabloids talking romance.

Declan apologizes to Kyra and they begin seeing one another. Soon they fall in love and marry. However, he is Hollywood while she is Manhattan so when the beautiful Lauren makes her bid for Declan, no one expects Kyra to have a chance.

This is an enjoyable look at the price of fame on relationships. Fans will like the lead couple and hiss at the third angle in their triangle. The story line remains lighthearted fun as the audience wonders who Declan will choose while hoping that he selects love (reminiscent of Roy Orbison's Running Scared).

Harriet Klausner


Rating:
Summary: How the other half lives
Review: Kyra Felis is content with being "famous" enough to be able to make a living as a fashion designer, but when she marries up and coming actor, Declan McKenna, everything changes. In this latest offering from Red Dress Ink, we read about Declan's rise to fame, Kyra's "crash" and how they both cope with tabloids, paparazzi, and instant fame.

This book is highly entertaining and gives, what appears to be, an "authentic" insight into the life of a Hollywood celeb. The plot is interesting, the characters likeable, and I was rooting for Kyra and Dec throughout the entire novel. You'll never look at a tabloid magazine in the same way again! This is a fun and enjoyable read.

Rating:
Summary: I really like this book!!!
Review: This book is a great story. If you read US, People, In Touch, of Star magazines, you will love the story. This book is about a man (movie star) and a woman (fashion designer) who love each other so much, but they face so many obstacles from the media, etc....can they make their relationship work??? ---read it & see! It's a cute story--and a quick read. I read the book in one night.

Rating:
Summary: Different chicklit
Review: This book isn't like most other chicklit, there are no laugh out loud scenes or satirical looks at Hollywood life. It looks at how life in the spotlight isn't all it's cracked up to be, and can almost be too serious at times when the subject matter (a woman dropped into Hollywood and forced to deal) could have made fun of la-la land instead of painting it as such a distasteful place. Caldwell's writing is wonderful, and I really loved Kyra's relationship with Emmie, the woman who's taken care of her and become a mother figure. The variety of characters, from opportunistic female stars to the best friend back home, make this story enjoyable.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best Red Dress Ink books yet
Review: This is one of the best that Red Dress Ink has put out. I have enjoyed several of their books and also found several to be unreadable (Dating without Novacaine and Carrie Pilby, for example). But Laura Caldwell is a true gem. Clean Slate was brilliant-- so much more to offer than your average chick lit. And this story takes a real look at Hollywood and the not so glitzy side of it all. This book felt very real and I loved Kyra. She is a very down to earth and strong character.

I would love it if Laura spent her next vacation in Dublin and brought us more of Declan, Kyra, and Emmie. Thank you so much for such a good read. I look forward to the next book from Laura Caldwell.

Rating:
Summary: Not light fluff!
Review: Well written, solid story, great twist at the end ... do yourself a favor and move this to the top of your Red Dress Ink pile if you have one like I do. Caldwell writes like she lived a famous year herself ... 5 well deserved stars!