Friday 30 May 2014

The Summer Without You Blog Tour by Karen Swan: Review


Title: The Summer Without You
Author: Karen Swan
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Publication Date: 22nd May 2014


Blurb
Rowena Tipton isn't looking for a new life, just a new adventure, something to while away the months as her long-term boyfriend presses pause on their relationship before they become engaged. But when a chance encounter at a New York wedding leads to an audition for a coveted houseshare in The Hamptons - Manhattan's elite beach scene - suddenly a new life is exactly what she's got.

Stretching before her is a summer with three eclectic housemates, long days on white sand ocean beaches and parties on gilded tennis courts. But high rewards bring high stakes and Rowena soon finds herself caught in the crossfire of a vicious intimidation campaign. Alone for the first time in her adult life, she has no-one to turn to but a stranger who is everything she doesn't want - but possibly everything she needs.



Verdict

didn't like it didn't like it didn't like it didn't like it didn't like it

I am such a huge fan of Karen Swan's books and I always love all the covers they are so Christmassy and pretty. This time around Karen Swan has shocked us all and brought a book for the summer and has a very beautiful summery feel book! It's great, I love the cover so much. Doesn't reveal very much about what the story could be about...

We meet Rowena Tipton who is on the rocks with her long-term boyfriend, He decides he needs a break and goes to the other side of the world for months putting a pause on their relationship before getting engaged. Rowena ends up with a chance to houseshare in the Hampton's for the summer with 3 crazy housemates, what couldn't be better...?

I enjoyed this so so much, It was great, plenty going on and had me hooked completely. Loved everything about this book, The characters were great! Rowena comes across bit soft and to let her boyfriend just walk away from their relationship to have a break, I thought I would dislike her and she would really annoy me, However loved following Rowena's footsteps and seeing her make new friends. Loved the friendship between Her and Hump, Hump came across as an amazing guy who obviously looked to Rowena as his sister.

The Summer Without You has a really great summer feel and Karen has written a perfect book that has plenty of twists & turns, keep you guessing throughout the book and just wonderful. It is the perfect book for this summer and take on your holidays. I am excited to see what Karen Swan has install for all us readers again!

Saturday 24 May 2014

Book Review: Thirteen Weddings by Paige Toon


Title: Thirteen Weddings

Author: Paige Toon
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: 22nd May 2014



Blurb
Last year, Bronte left Sydney for a wedding in England, where she met newly single Alex. After a night of passion they parted ways, and Bronte returned to Australia. Now working on a picture desk for a magazine in London, Bronte is about to meet her new colleague, who turns out to be all too familiar. Although awkward at first, as Alex is now engaged to the girl he was on a break from when they met, they soon become friends. But as the two get closer, and the wedding day looms, it is clear that Alex and Bronte have unfinished business…




Verdictdidn't like it didn't like it didn't like it didn't like it didn't like it
Just so incredible,beautiful and adored so much, Paige You have done it again! When I got my copy through the door, I couldn't help but squeal with happiness and excitement. Thank you to the lovely people at Simon&Schuster for my copy. The cover is ever so beautiful and may remind you of The Longest Holiday cover.

If your a huge fan of Paige Toon's books like myself then you will realise that Bronte has been mentioned before in my favourite book of Paige's Pictures of Lily. Bronte has come over to England for a friend's wedding and on a drunken hen night she meets the ever so sexy Alex, after a crazy and passionate one night stand they part ways and Bronte goes back to Australia..A year & a half later and Bronte bumps into Alex once again but this time at their work place. #Awkward or what? Bronte also becomes a part time wedding photographer and meets the handsome Aussie Lachie... The perfect love triangle. Who will you be #TeamAlex or #TeamLachie?

Thirteen Weddings is just WoW...Loved every minute of it! I felt by the end of the book I was friends with Bronte myself and I loved reading about all the weddings she photographed, sounded so beautiful and I do love a bit of photography myself sometimes.

I enjoy Paige's style of writing and Paige without fail knows how to get her readers hooked to her books so much. This is why I am a huge fan of Paige Toon's books.
The great thing I love about all of her books, is that there is a connection with some old characters in Thirteen Weddings..so be on the look out as don't want to spoil it hehe!

Throughout Thirteen Weddings your going to so hooked with every chapter and will never see the ending coming at all...There is plenty of laughs, tears and plenty of new friendships & loves. Perfect book for summer read this year and Thirteen Weddings is definitely one of my top 10 reads in 2014 so far which deserves 5 stars most definitely!!

Thursday 15 May 2014

Collide by Gail McHugh Blog Tour: Review


Title: Collide
Author: Gail McHugh
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication date: 22nd May 2014


Blurb
A missed first encounter.....

Colliding with a second chance.....

On the heels of graduating college and trying to cope with her mother's death, Emily Cooper moves to New York City for a fresh start.
While harboring secrets of his own, Dillon Parker takes care of Emily through her grief. Knowing he can't live without her by his side, he's sweet, thoughtful, and everything Emily has ever wanted in a man.
Until she meets Gavin Blake-a rich and notorious playboy who is dangerously sexy and charming as hell. Emily tries to deny the instant connection she feels, but Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome is not inclined to let go so easily. Recovering from his own painful past, Gavin will stop at nothing to win Emily over.
This unexpected encounter compels Emily to question her decisions, forcing her to make a choice that will destroy friendships, shatter hearts, and forever change her life.


Verdict

didn't like it didn't like it didn't like it didn't like it didn't like it
Wow....Oh....Wow Collide is breathtaking, amazing, beautiful and leaves you wanting so much more...

I had never heard of the lovely Gail McHugh before until the lovely Kate at Simon&Schuster who is charge of The Hot Bed(Reviews and Sharing the latest and greatest new adult and erotica books.) When I asked to review the book and be part of the blog tour, I was over the moon.

I started Collide yesterday morning and had finished by the afternoon. I was hooked from the get go and couldn't put the book down for one minute. You will no doubt fall in love with MR GAVIN BLAKE.. what girl wouldn't?

Emily Cooper is broken and needs a fresh start after her mother's death, She move's to New York City with her boyfriend Dillon Parker. He's taken care of her through her grief but has dark secrets of his own. Emily think's he is the sweetest guy and what she has always wanted in a man..
Until she meets the ever so sexy, dark and handsome Mr Blake, a rich and notorious playboy. But they have an instant connection and Emily tries to deny it but Mr Tall, Dark and Handsome will not let her...


Collide is just a pure sex fiend book but in an amazing way! You will fall in love with Gavin, You will think Dillon is an idiot and Emily is a coward but all the characters make you love this book so much and guess what!?!...there is a second book *Squeeeeel*

"She's out there, son, and when you find her, you'll know it the very second you see her. She'll pull at your every instinct. Without any regard to the natural order of things, she'll just....appear."

Gail has written a terrific book and has had lots of us bloggers talking about it so much on twitter. You will feel connected with this book and will want to tell everyone and will possibly have a book hangover after reading...
There is so much I could say about this book but I want you all to go buy it, read and find out for yourself how bloody truly amazing it is!
A beautiful and sexual book, I Adored.

Friday 9 May 2014

Fiction Addiction Book Tour: Author Interview with GVR Corcillo


Hi, Abbey! Thanks for inviting me on over to this whimsical and delightful Miss Bookworm site! I am so looking forward to this chat. 


Why did you choose GVR Corcillo as your pen name?
GVR Corcillo is how I choose to represent myself on my books, but it is not really a pen name – it is my complete name. And I decided that since when I write, I draw upon every aspect of who I am, my name should represent who I am. GVR Corcillo stands for Geralyn Vivian Ruane Corcillo. My given name is Geralyn Ruane. Then, when I was in 7th grade, I lied to a priest in order to snag Vivian as my middle name. For Confirmation, I was supposed to choose a saint's name, but I had just seen Gone With the Wind, so I told the priest Vivian was my grandmother's name, and he let me take it. It isn't, but do I feel guilty about lying? Hardly.  What does the Church expect, letting 7th grade girls choose their own names? Many years later, I married Ron Corcillo and chose to change my last name to Corcillo. Many of my friends were surprised by my decision, but I don't see what's so empowering about keeping my Dad's name. Thus, I became Geralyn Vivian Ruane Corcillo – a name that represents all of me - the laughter, the pain, the triumph, the tears, the elation, the disappointments, the hope, the emptiness, the kindness - and everything else that comprises a life. But 4 names is quite a mouthful, so...GVR Corcillo!


 Now, how did you decide on the name for your book? Do some people get it wrong and think the book is erotica?
Some people do, yes! Every once in a while I will get an angry one star review, and if I look to see what else the reader has rated, I will discover mostly erotica books among that reviewer's favorites. But I am not trying to fool anyone. I specifically chose a goofy illustrated cover in order to get across the humor of the book. My next book, Queen of the Universe, generates no such titular confusion. (Okay, pun intended.) The title She Likes It Rough is meant to make you look twice, for sure, but it is also tongue-in-cheek – the heroine Lisa is ALWAYS making life hard on herself, and throughout the book, during her adventures, she is quite literally choosing the rougher path!


The inciting incident of Lisa's quest to change herself – the freak fast-food accident – is bizarre and hilarious. How did you come up with idea of having a fast-food drive thru crush and nearly kill your heroine? 
First I came up with the idea of Lisa getting so depressed by NOT fitting into wedding gowns that she responds by completely pigging out at a fast-food restaurant – totally emblematic of how Lisa makes decisions that make her life less and less satisfying. From there, I knew something had to happen with the fast food to shake Lisa up. Why the fast-food? Because one of the themes of the book is that Lisa must learn to stop avoiding her life's wishes and goals, always relying on crutches to get her through the day. So it was crucial that one such crutch – comfort food – is what almost does her in.     


What genre does your book come under?
When my book was free for five days on Amazon, it was in the Top 5 all five days in the Humor category. It was also in the Top 5 all five days in the Romantic Comedy category. So it fits nicely into either of those genres. And of course – don't look now! - I am about to call my book...Chick Lit!!! The genre Chick Lit has been reviled and declared dead practically since it's inception, but just look at Meg Cabot's books and Sophie Kinsella's books and Helen Fielding's books. Chick Lit is anything but dead!! She Likes It Rough has also so far advanced to the Quarter Finals of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards in the Romance category, so the book can slide into the Romance genre as well. All this being said, I must admit, I am not a big fan of pigeon-holing books into categories. I often wonder what would happen if J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye were released today. Would it be labelled Young Adult and dismissed by “serious” literary critics the world over? Would it make it to the reading list in almost every high school in America? Maybe not.


What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones's Diary. The playful irreverence of the story as a woman tries to become the hero of her own life echoes throughout my book. With one big difference. My heroine Lisa's goal is never to get a guy or get married. Her prime directive is to make her life count for something, to become more significant. Her interaction with the hero Jack is a big part of that journey, but Lisa never focuses on her 'single' status as something she needs to remedy. Because of this shift, She Likes It Rough reminds me of Lisa Lutz's Izzy Spellman Series. Though my book is not a mystery, it uses wacky situations to explore not only romance, but relationships with family, career angst, and ways and means of getting along with the rest of the populated world.

  
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?  
I can easily see She Likes It Rough as a major motion picture starring Scarlett Johansson and James Franco. In The Avengers and in Captain America, as Black Widow, Scarlett Johansson has shown that she can play tough and bold and adventurous. And her turn in The Nanny Diaries shows how well she can play a more tentative character – making her so easy to picture as the perfect Lisa. And James Franco – no matter what I have seen him in - including Veronica Mars, where he pokes fun at himself! - he exudes confidence and a complete comfort with who he is – and that is Jack to a T.


  
I notice She Likes It Rough won Best Indie Book 2013. Congratulations! 
Thanks!


How or why did you decide to indie publish this novel? 
It's all because of Leonard Wang Kingsley! I went to school with him, and we met up again a few years ago at a class reunion. So, we began emailing each other. (We live on opposite coasts.) I talked a lot about my writing goals and aspirations. Last spring, he sent me an email suggesting I self-publish my novel. Really? I thought. Could I be so bold? He sent me a list of everything I would need to do, and ever since that email, I have been working on everything on that list! Also Debra Holland, a wonderfully generous and phenomenally successful author that I have known for years, has been another inspiration. She self-published several of her novels two years ago and has blasted a beacon of light and guidance across the world of publishing.


Often you hear about the “bells and whistles” aspect of a book – the exciting hook that's going to make people pick up the book. What are the “bells and whistles” of She Likes It Rough?
Kick-ass Jack and and clutzy Lisa'a adventures out in the wild! Their derring-do in the great outdoors was so much fun to research and write! Lisa is so scared, but she steps up and jumps when Jack coaches her to jump - into the middle of the ocean, off a cliff, out of a plane. Lisa leaps completely out of her own world, which is dominated by pop culture references to the movies, TV shows, songs, books, and commercials she's been surrounded by all her life. How she melds what happens in the wild with what goes on in her everyday life is the essence of the story.


Why did you start writing? 
Because I had nothing to lose. It took me a long time to figure that out. I have wanted to “BE A WRITER” since eighth grade when I stated my intentions to my English teacher, Mrs. Sheehan. And she said, “That's good. You have a flair for writing.” And for the next twenty years, I dreamed about “BEING A WRITER.” But I didn't act on this dream because I was petrified that if I actually tried to be a writer, I might not become the world's most amazing best-selling powerhouse that I wanted to be. So, I graduated from college but did not seriously pursue writing as a career. But you know what? I didn't pursue anything else seriously either, because truly, I was saving my heart and soul for writing. By the time I was in my mid-thirties and tired of paycheck to paycheck jobs, I finally decided, “What the hell? I may as well write – I'm not really doing anything else anyway! What have I got to lose?” I had finally come to understand that for me, getting immediately rich and famous, while that would be great and is by no means off the table, isn't as important as simply loving the work I do every day. So now I spend every waking minute I can spare, and many minutes when I should be sleeping, working hard on my writing career.


How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
Years! This book has gone through so many incarnations. Very little is left from the first 'first' draft except the hero's name and the scene in his office that involves the wetsuit. Over those years, not only the story, but also my writing style was evolving as I became more and more comfortable with and confident about my own voice.


What kind of advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Find that balance between your vision and what critique partners and beta readers say about your writing.  If people critiquing your work understand your story, characters, and goals, and they give you advice on how to more effectively convey your narrative - great! But beware of beta readers who simply want your story to go a different way because that is how THEY would have written it. Stick to your vision, but be willing to consider advice on how to better convey that vision.


Tell us something interesting about yourself that not many people know..
I can no longer give blood because I am a possible carrier of Mad Cow Disease. What can I say? It happens.


Thanks, Abbey! This was fun. I look forward to lots of comments from your followers and fans – I love to connect with fellow bookworms! So, everyone, if you have a question of your own, or just want to shoot the breeze, I'll be here all day :)

A Time Capsule for Bompalomp by Neal Doran


A time capsule for Bompalomp 

One Sunday afternoon, at lunch with their parents, a young couple and parents to be, Rebecca and James, recorded a video time capsule as a memento for their imminent first child. 
A transcript of the historic moment follows… 
JAMES: Is it going? Right, great, here we go. Hi Bomp, dad here.
REBECCA: And this is mummy. And I hate appearing in videos and having to hear my own voice. So when you get old enough to see this, please understand why I’ll have to leave the room or wear ear plugs.
JAMES: We’re doing this video for you because…because-
REBECCA: Well, because your grandfather has a new iPad and he insisted that we use it.
JAMES: Yes that’s basically it. Coercion. And so it seems only fair that without further ado, we should get the man himself in here to say hello. So here he is – granddad Howard!
HOWARD: Hello little one, Gramps here! Look at this! Talking to you in the future! Marvellous technology. I’m keeping up, you see, all the latest gadgets. By the time you see this, I’ll be coming to visit you by jetpack -- if the PC Brigade don’t ban them because they’re trying to save the New Guinea butterfly or some such bollocks. 

What’s that dear?
Grandma’s telling me I shouldn’t say bollocks. James can we bleep that bit?
JAMES: I’ll see what I can do with the edit, Howard.
HOWARD: Great! Do you want to come on here, dear? Time travel to the future? No? I understand, that pudding won’t serve itself. Anyway, I’ll get out of the way then, let you kids talk to the young master, or miss, or mzz, whatever they’ll be calling themselves. Can’t wait to meet you. Bye!
REBECCA: OK. Has he gone, James? Right. So that was your grandpa. My dad. And yes. He’s always been like that. 
JAMES: And this is us before you were born. I was an accountant.
REBECCA: Are an accountant…
JAMES: Well, we’ll see. And your mum’s a lawyer. Although actually, that’s just what we tell people. 
Bompalomp, it’s time you learned that your parents are actually international spies, who save the world through the application of circus skills.
REBECCA: James! Stop messing about. What if they believe that? It’s very irresponsible. 
You shouldn’t give away our secret identities.
JAMES: Sorry. 
REBECCA: If you ever see your father juggling, Bompalomp, pretend you’ve not seen anything.
JAMES: And now, brace yourself, because here’s your other set of grandparents. My lot. Bring ‘em in…
REBECCA: Now, Margaret and Ben, hello. What would you like Bomp here to call you?
MARGARET: I think Margaret and Ben would make sense seeing as that is our names.
REBECCA: Well, yes. I…I can certainly see the logic of that.
JAMES: Welcome to a glimpse of my childhood, kiddo.
MARGARET: Hello to you, the future generation of our family and the planet.
JAMES: We’ve already covered their superhero destiny Maggie…
REBECCCA: James! Your mum’s talking. Shh.
MARGARET: I hope when you see this that the world is in a better state than it is now. A time when your other grandfather, Howard, is being prosecuted for society’s antiquated restrictions on how and where one may express their sexuality.
JAMES: There goes the U rating for this thing…
MARGARET: I’d just like to say that life’s a struggle for justice. I hope to be around to help you in that fight. And now I’ll pass you over to my life partner and lover, Ben.
JAMES: Your what? Oh jeez…
BEN: Hello there. This is Ben, your grandfather. Interesting choice of words there, grand and father. Believed to come from the French, grand pére, but in many ways I prefer the Old English, which would have been much closer to ‘elder father’ – a much less patriarchal term, when you think about it. 

But anyway, this is a joyous time, so here’s something that’s a bit fun. It’s a crossword clue, a word that’s 13 letters long, and the clue is ‘e’. That’s it! Fiendish, isn’t it? I’m sure you’ll work it out, but if not I’ll tell you on your tenth birthday.
JAMES: OK, right. So that’s it from Dictionary Corner. And that’s it from us now. I, for one, need a drink. So it’s goodbye from Dad.
REBECCA: And it’s goodbye from mum. 
Sounds funny saying that, still. Mum. 
Makes my tummy go jittery. I expect you’ll be dancing around in there any second now from all the adrenalin. Anyway, we can’t wait to meet you, and for you to meet this wonderful bizarre family of yours. And maybe bring some sanity. See you soon! Love you.
JAMES: Dad out. PEACE!
REBECCA: I’m so glad we decided we’re not going to be embarrassing parents, James...
JAMES: What?

You can read more about Rebecca, James, their parents, and the bump they call Bompalomp in Not What They Were Expecting, available now in all major e-Retailers.


Thursday 1 May 2014

Book Review: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell


Title: FanGirl
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Publication Date: 30th January 2014



Blurb
Cath and Wren are identical twins, and until recently they did absolutely everything together. Now they're off to university and Wren's decided she doesn't want to be one half of a pair any more - she wants to dance, meet boys, go to parties and let loose. It's not so easy for Cath. She's horribly shy and has always buried herself in the fan fiction she writes, where she always knows exactly what to say and can write a romance far more intense than anything she's experienced in real life. Without Wren Cath is completely on her own and totally outside her comfort zone. She's got a surly room-mate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words ...And she can't stop worrying about her dad, who's loving and fragile and has never really been alone. Now Cath has to decide whether she's ready to open her heart to new people and new experiences, and she's realizing that there's more to learn about love than she ever thought possible ...




Verdictdidn't like it didn't like it didn't like it didn't like it didn't like it  - Fantastic, Easy Read with amazing Characters with an insight to what happens at universities. Loved every minute of it!

I had never heard of Rainbow Rowell or read any of her books until I had recently bought her newest book Fangirl the other month and my good friend Katie recommended reading it...A good choice indeed. Fangirl is fab! Completely and utterly fan-bloody-tastic...

Fangirl is about Cath and Wren identical twins and are about to embark on a new life at university. Cath and Wren are two completely different people although they make look the same, Cath loves fanfiction and writing but is ever so shy and hides away in her room..whereas Wren is the party animal, loves boys, drinking and easily makes new friends. Cath is totally out of her comfort zone being at university until she meets her roommate Reagen and her best friend Levi..who would be her friends for life.

I just totally loved every minute of Fangirl, it gave me an insight to university life but also to an insight to Cath's life so hooked with The Simon Snow series.
I don't want to give too much away with the book because I feel you will just get sucked into the lives of Cath and Wren super quickly.

Fangirl is a great book with plenty going on, laughter and families and new friendships. It is an easy read and you will love the characters so much, they all easily come together and the style of writing is just perfect.

Author Interview with Jane Costello

Hi Jane! Thanks for popping by today, I am a huge fan of your books!
The Time of our Lives is out now...


Could you tell us a little bit about it?
Well, it’s my seventh book and it started as the grain of an idea when I was on a flight, returning from a holiday. I wanted to challenge myself to write a novel set over a very short period of time – literally days – but still packed with drama, comedy, friendship and love. That was how Imogen, Meredith, Nicola and Harry were born. I then sent them to a glorious hotel in Barcelona and put them through an intense, magical and relatively madcap few days, which changed all of them in different ways.  It was an absolute joy to write and I really hope people love reading it too.



What inspired you to start writing?
Very simply, it was a love of reading. I wrote books of varying quality* when I was younger and had always dreamt of being an author (*i.e. dire). But you don’t just leave university and go on a graduate traineeship to be a novelist. My first career was as a journalist – which I loved and eventually became Editor of the Liverpool Daily Post. But it was only when I was on maternity leave that I came up with the idea for Bridesmaids and, convinced I was onto something, decided to really go for it. It unfolded from there and, nine years on, here I am. 



 What made you come up with the title for your new book “The Time of our Lives”? (I have Dirty Dancing’s classic song while typing these questions, tehe.)
A title is really important – it’s got to grab you, intrigue you and, obviously, give clues to the themes of the book. I’ll be honest though and say that I always find them difficult to come up with. I refuse to go with something unless it’s exactly right and, consequently, I’ve written entire manuscripts in less time than it’s taken to come up with the title! The Time Of Our Lives was longer than I usually go for but I loved it – it captured the lovely, feel good vibe that (I hope) shines through in the book, despite some of the major challenges thrown at my characters.



How will you be celebrating your release of The Time of our Lives?
I always pour myself a glass of champagne (or several) to toast publication day as it’s the culmination of such a lot of hard work. This year was no different but I’ve also been lucky enough to have some brilliant events organised around publication too, beginning with a launch event in conjunction with Stylist magazine at The Folly bar in London. It’s not all over now, of course – I’m at the Bookmark Festival in Oldham on World Book Night on 23 April and there are other events coming up over the next few months. So, it’s been one long celebration really – my favourite kind.



Did you ever think you’d become an author?
I’d always wanted to, but quite honestly it’s so competitive I sometimes felt as though I might as well say I wanted to win the X Factor. I was genuinely shocked when I sent off my manuscript and found an agent (a brilliant one at that) who was interested. I know that for some people their dream job doesn’t live up to expectations, but in this case it absolutely has. I think being an author is like having children in some ways – it’s sometimes hard-going, you have have moments of self-doubt - but overall it’s the most joyous experience imaginable. I really love it and consider myself really lucky to something for a living that I’ve always wanted to.



Out of all your books which character did you love writing about the most and why?
This is so hard to answer – that’s like asking which is my favourite baby! They’ve all had elements I’ve loved, but if you really pushed me, I’d narrow it down to three: Imogen (from The Time Of Our Lives) for her sheer determination and the way she’d rebuilt her life; Henry (from My Single Friend) because he was such an antidote to everything we expect in a hero – geeky and gorgeous at the same time! - and Emma (from The Wish List) for the sheer comedy I unleashed when I wrote her (I’m especially fond of the scenes in the bar and the GUM clinic!)



5 words to sum up “The Time of our lives”...
Funny, warm, fast, glamorous, emotional.