Rumor Has It by Jill Mansell (Book Review)

Title: Rumor Has It
Author: Jill Mansell
Publisher: Sourcebooks

My synopsis:  Tilly and Erin have been friends since college - but after Tilly went to London and Erin went home to Roxborough to care for an ailing mother.  After her boyfriend moves out of their flat and leaves her with the rent, Tilly decides it is time for a change.  When visiting Erin for the weekend she stumbles across an ad for a job - a "girl Friday" and decides to give it a shot.

Strong-arming her way in for an interview, she meets Max Dineen - interior designer, father of Lou, and decidedly gay.  He had been married to Kaye, Lou's mom, but finally had to admit that he was gay and so they divorced.  He was looking for someone to help him with his business and raising his teenage daughter.  Lou had lived in California with her mother for awhile, but decided that she missed this home too much.  Max and Tilly hit it off famously and the deal was sealed.

Tilly meets Jack Lucas soon after moving to Roxborough and is warned by everyone that he is a "love 'em and leave 'em" type of guy and that she would just be a notch on his bedpost.  She does a good job of keeping her distance until she learns that Jack had been engaged and that his fiance had died.  She continues to get to know him, and despite herself, the attraction grows.  She continues to push him away, telling herself that regardless of what he says, she would not be different than any other girl. Finally with a weekend with Max and Lou out of town, she decides to accept a date with Jack. Unfortunately Jack's almost in-laws show up that night and he has to call and cancel.  For Tilly, that was the last straw - she feels she was saved from certain disaster.

Jill Mansell gives you a whole cast of wacky characters to round out the story.  There is Erin, Tilly's friend. Fergus, Erin's boyfriend who is married but separated from Stella - Scary Stella as some call her.  She has a way of being mean to just about everybody but tries to use the reasoning that she is just telling them the truth.  Kaye, Max's ex-wife also joins the fray when she arrives from America - having been put on "trial by tabloid"  and losing her job on a TV show. Oh - and we mustn't forget Betty, Max and Lou's dog!

I always enjoy reading one of Ms. Mansell's books.  This one was no exception.  The characters are fun and full of life and the books are always very humorous.  If you are looking for a good British chick lit book/author - you need look no further.  I am definitely a fan!

~I received a complimentary copy of this book from Sourcebooks in exchange for my unbiased review.~

Rumor Has It
Publisher/Publication Date: Sourcebooks Landmark, May 1 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4022-3750-8
404 pages