Rumor Has It: In a town this small, a secret is hard to keep [Paperback]

I enjoy Jill Mansell's books well enough, but don't get completely absorbed or enthralled in them and Rumour Has It one was no exception, but I'm sure her fans won't be disappointed. I like her novels well enough, but they wouldn't necessarily be the first on the list for me to read.

The plot of Rumour Has It is well structured and there are many side stories, none of them having any gaps and all seemed to relate to the small town gossip that is the theme of the novel. I thought the ending was cute and funny and liked the unusual relationship that Tilly's best friend developed which I won't get into so I don't spoil it.

So...I'm rating this as a 3 Star. I think it comes down to loving a book that makes me feel something and getting absorbed in the story and the characters. Unfortunately Mansell's books don't seem to do that for me - they never have I'm afraid, even ones I read years ago. I love chick lit that's a little heavier (although the side story with her best friend could be described this way, there wasn't as much focus on it for me to get immersed in it). I generally find Mansell's books a little too happy all the time and while I like to feel this way, I love to feel the full range of emotions while reading.

Title: Rumor Has It
Author: Jill Mansell
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Pages: 404
Source: Publisher (ARC)

Synopsis:

Tilly Cole is suddenly single, and not broken up about it. After walking into her apartment and noticing only selected items were missing, she figures it is time to move on. She's the type of girl who doesn't break up with men, she forces them to break up with her. Tilly's latest surprise breakup has put her in a predicament. She does not have the means to sustain her apartment. A roommate is not an option when you have a one bedroom apartment. Unsure of what to do, Tilly visits her best friend who lives outside the city and on a whim becomes the newest resident. After viewing a strange ad in the classified section she accepts a job as a 'girl-friday.' Her newest employer is an interior designer named Max and his teenage daughter Lou. Tilly's new life is full of surprises. Her best friend Erin is dating a wonderful man. However, he is in the middle of a divorce. His wife is not forgiving type, and decides to harass and taint Erin's reputation. In a small town, gossip is a way of life. It spreads rapidly and easily. Tilly has fallen for Jack, the most desirable man in town. Jack has quite the reputation with the ladies. Every woman wants him, and it seems like every woman has had him. When he begins to notice Tilly, she's not sure if she is a pawn in his game. 'Rumor Has It' is a story filled with misunderstandings, coincidences and small town charm.

Overall Impression:

This was my first Jill Mansell book, and I loved it! The cast of characters was great and each subplot was engaging. All the characters were exceptional. Stella, the divorcee was adamant about getting her husband back. Once she learned about Erin, she is livid and her dreams of children are crushed. She decides to take action, and she sets out to ruin Erin. I wanted to dislike Stella, but I really felt bad for her. Max was a great character. He's an interior designer, father to a teenager and recently divorced. After years of marriage, he's decided to stop lying and admit he's gay. Max's ex-wife is distraught and wonders what she did wrong. She decides to move to Hollywood to pursue her acting career. In Hollywood the tabloids love to build you up and tear you down. After an unfortunate accident with a Chihuahua, Kaye cannot escape the tabloids. Mansell keeps the reader engaged and speculating. Is Jack really who he seems to be? Is Stella really as horrible as she seems? Does Tilly get her happy ending? You'll have to read it for yourself, and I recommend that you do!

Tilly Cole's boyfriend Gavin has packed up and left her. Instead of dissolving into a heap on the couch, devouring ice cream and crying her heart out, she doesn't seem to be that upset. Really, the only thing that she's really upset about is that fact that she can no longer afford her apartment without Gavin's contribution. Instead of worrying herself about it, she goes and visits her best friend Erin, who lives in Roxborough and runs an upmarket dress exchange. On a whim Tilly answers a help wanted ad for a "Girl Friday" and meets Max and his spunky daughter Lou. They love her and hire her on the spot. Everything is coming up roses for Tilly- she has a new job, working and living in a nice home, and she's living close to her best friend. That is, until Jack Lucas comes onto the scene. Jack is a great-looking single man with a tragic history, and every woman in Roxborough wants to be with him. According to the rumors, everyone in Roxborough has been with him. Tilly is wildly and unavoidably attracted to him, but she decides that she doesn't want to become just another notch on his bedpost and starts avoiding him at all costs. But can the rumors about Jack really be believed?

Like all of Jill Mansell's other books, I loved this one. The book is a combination of romance and humour, with no shortage of drama and complications. The pace is effortless- this is one of those books that you want to start reading only when you have hours to devote to it, because you won't want to put it down.

I loved the characters in this one, as well as the various storylines. Tilly is perfect as the woman who has lost her boyfriend and, quite frankly, seems happy about it. Max and Lou, her new employers, are a lot of fun. There's one scene in the book where Lou is getting ready to leave for her first school dance and the car breaks down. Lou is absolutely panicked, and you can't help but feel that if she misses this dance it will mean the end of her world as she knows it. Erin, Tilly's best friend, doesn't just blend into Tilly's background but has her own story and dilemmas. And Jack- what can I say about Jack? I swear I started falling for him just a little myself while I was reading this one.

Jill Mansell has written a book that does her genre proud. It's smart, it's funny, and I couldn't put it down!