The Cinderella Pact: Amazon.ca: Sarah Strohmeyer: Books

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Book Description

Release Date: Jun 5 2007

Soon to be a Lifetime movie called "Lying to be Perfect"

When Nola Devlin is turned down for her dream job because she's overweight, she decides to become thin-or, at least, pretend to be. The alter ego she creates-the thin, British, hip, and did we mention thin Belinda Apple-is a smashing success who is offered movie proposals, national television appearances and even dates...though no one's met her in person, of course.

Then Nola takes Belinda a bit too far, and is forced to join "The Cinderella Pact" and drop the pounds. As the weight comes off, however, Nola's problems begin to mount.

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Soon to be a Lifetime movie called "Lying to be Perfect"

Then Nola takes Belinda a bit too far, and is forced to join "The Cinderella Pact" and drop the pounds. As the weight comes off, however, Nola's problems begin to mount.

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Product Details

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: NAL Trade; 1 edition (Jun 5 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451221249
ISBN-13: 978-0451221247
Product Dimensions: 20.4 x 14.6 x 2 cm
Shipping Weight: 322 g

Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)

Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #148,526 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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With her double chin and double-XL wardrobe, it's doubly appropriate that Nola Devlin leads a double life. In reality, she's the overworked, underappreciated editor of Sass! a sleazy celebrity tabloid whose most popular columnist is sexy, slender, saucy Belinda Apple, Nola's alter ego. Nola, however, soon finds she's too clever for her own good when one of Belinda's columns on weight loss inspires her two equally overweight best friends to coerce her into following this diet-to-end-all-diets, a "Cinderella Pact" they hope will transform their lives into a Belinda-like orgy of physical, romantic, and career success. Meanwhile, Belinda's popularity soars to the point that Sass! management decides it's time to meet their star attraction in the flesh, as it were. As Nola slims down, the quest to find Belinda heats up, causing Nola to jump through more hoops than any personal trainer could possibly dream of. As a discerning observer of cultural folderol, Strohmeyer nonetheless softens her trenchant satire with obvious compassion for her lovable characters. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Sarah Strohmeyer is the bestselling author of Sweet Love, The Cinderella Pact, The Sleeping Beauty Proposal, The Secret Lives of Fortunate Wives, and the popular "Bubbles" series. She lives with her family outside Montpelier, Vermont.

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5.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 Stars! I want more! Mar 27 2006

By Detra Fitch TOP 100 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover

Nola Ann Devlin lives a lie. During work hours she is the overweight and frumpy editor at Sass! magazine. But when she gets home, Nola sits down behind her keyboard and becomes the reclusive, and much raved about Belinda Apple, the ethics columnist for Sass! magazine. No one knows that Nola is really the tall, slim, red-haired, and British golden girl. As Belinda, Nola did an article on how easy it is to lose weight. During lunch one afternoon, her closest friends, Nancy and Deb, decided that the three of them needed to take Belinda's wise advice. Thus they formed the Cinderella Pact. They would lose weight and keep it off.

Nancy is a rich lawyer. She hires a personal trainer. Deb is the one who married her childhood sweetheart and had kids. Deb decides surgery is the way to go. But Nola neither has the money for a trainer, nor bravery enough to go under the doctor's knife. Nola has to do it the hard way, exercise. Right after the pact is made, Nola psyched up and ready. But then her car dies for the final time, her kitchen catches on fire, and she learns that her bosses are trying to find out Belinda's true identity and possibly sue her for fraud!

Toughing it out, Nola gets a ride home from a co-worker named "Chip". She even goes to the gym, even though it means she somehow ends up in a bet with the toughest guy there in a weight lifting contest. Chip is right there, cheering her on. But what can Nola do when Chip turns out not to be who she thought he was? Sound confusing? Well let me put it this way: who even said Nola was the only one with a secret identity. Lastly, there is Nola's family. No support there when it comes to her weight or her problems. Her parents seem to care only for their youngest daughter, Eileen. There comes a time in everyone's life when enough is enough. Nola has reached that time.

***** If you enjoyed the author's previous novel "Secret Lives of Fortunate Wives", then you will adore this one! In my opinion, this tale is even better. Nola is a realistic character that women around the globe will be able to identify with. She is gutsy and full of life. Only author Sarah Strohmeyer can think outside the box to come up with such a wonderful, modern day character and then give her an outrageous life. "BRAVA!" *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

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Amazon.com: 4.3 out of 5 stars 76 reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars We are all Cinderellas, no matter what our size July 21 2007

By Amanda Richards - Published on Amazon.com

Format:Hardcover

The first thing you should know is that this isn't your traditional Cinderella story, although it does have a fairy tale ending. This fab and funny novel follows the ups and downs of Nola Devlin, a plus sized magazine editor who is leading a double life. When her application for a job as an advice columnist is given the round file treatment, Nola creates the perfect alter ego, complete with British background, photo-shopped, bony chested, ultra skinny glamour picture and pink cowboy boots. To her surprise, "Belinda Apple" is a smashing success, and becomes the elusive star of the magazine.

One of her glib responses comes back to haunt her when her two best friends decide to follow Belinda's dieting tips after an embarrassing incident at a restaurant, and she reluctantly agrees to a "Cinderella Pact" to lose weight by a certain date. Her friends Deb and Nancy take different approaches to losing the weight, and each one has to face up to the consequences.

Nola herself has a hard time, not only with the diet and exercise, but also with keeping her identities straight, and her life becomes increasingly more complicated when:

1. Her sister decides to get married and wants Belinda to be the matron of honor
2. She meets a great mystery guy who may or may not be named Prince "Chip" Charming
3. A background check by the magazine reveals that Belinda isn't all she claims to be
4. She has to act as a go-between for a hot British columnist whom the tabloids have linked to the beautiful Belinda

Fast-paced and funny, with likeable characters and despicable villains, this one is a must for fans of Bridget Jones' Diary and the Stephanie Plum series.

Rated: 4.5 stars

Amanda Richards, July 21, 2007

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Lots of fun! July 8 2006

By Ratmammy - Published on Amazon.com

Format:Hardcover

THE CINDERELLA PACT by Sarah Strohmeyer

July 8, 2006

Amazon Rating: 4/5 stars

THE CINDERELLA PACT by Sarah Strohmeyer is about an overweight woman, Nola Devlin, who is a frustrated editor at "Sass!" Magazine. Somehow she manages to create an alter ego, Belinda Apple, and after "interviewing" for the magazine through Nola, she manages to get Belinda a regular column in the magazine. Nola has always wanted to write, and knew this may be her only way to see her dreams come true, sort of.

In the meantime, Nola is leading a double life. Belinda supposedly lives in London, and is also supposedly having an affair with their "other" British employee, Nigel. Yet, no one has met Belinda, and at the same time she's so popular that Nigel tries to meet Belinda through Nola, hoping to make that so-called affair that is making the tabloids, real.

The Cinderella Pact refers to Nola and her two best friends, Deb and Nancy, who all vow to lose weight. After seeing Belinda Apple's column on weight loss, which Nola made up off the top of her head, Deb and Nancy are convinced this will work for them. So, now the three are trying to lose weight.

Between Nola's family politics (they all think Nola is jealous of sister Eileen who is about to become engaged) and Chip, a guy at work that seems to really like Nola, her life is pretty busy and somewhat stressful. And of course handling Belinda is not a piece of cake either, as she tries to continue this charade and keep everyone convinced that Belinda is a real person.

I highly recommend THE CINDERELLA PACT for those who love funny light reads such as Bridget Jones Diary. Sarah Strohmeyer is also the author of the Bubbles Yablonsky series, which sort of remind me of the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. All these books have one thing in common - they contain women who are over the top that will keep you in stitches.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this book! Jun 22 2006

By Jennifer Spaulding - Published on Amazon.com

Format:Hardcover

I've read all of Ms. Strohmeyer's books and have especially enjoyed her "Bubbles" series. This is a stand alone book about three girlfriends struggling with their weight and romantic relationships. The narrator Nora is also dealing with the fact that she's been secretly writing an advice column everyone else thinks is done by a thin, gorgeous Brit named Belinda.

As always, Ms. Strohmeyer's writing is extremely funny and exceptionally poignant as well. I, for lack of a better word, devoured the book in one evening staying up until nearly 2 a.m. to finish it, wiping away happy tears the last 40 pages or so. I absolutely adored it.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 76 reviews 4.3 out of 5 stars

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