City Girl in Training (Tender Romance)

I agree whole heartedly with the previous review regarding the first person issues. My biggest complaint with the whole chick lit genre is the reliance on this trite and limiting writing style. At least Liz Fielding offers up comic scenes with flair and never falters on her voice and view- this is a well written 1st person novel. I liked the Philly meets the hunk next door and thinks he is gay so he is safe thing.... she is sweet and nice but the 1st person limits the depth we usually expect from a Liz Fielding romance. Read it enjoy it but don't expect tooo much.

I recently bought this book and was pleasantly surprised. Made more unusual by the fact that it was written in the first-person tense, it was a refreshing and realistic story. The heroine, Philly, is an attractive young woman without being the more-gorgeous-than-a-supermodel character that you so often find between the pages of a romance novel. Her insecurities and uneasiness about moving from her parents' home in a small town to the thriving metropolis of big-city London, her lack of self-esteem when comparing herself to her beautiful flatmates and her inability to accept genuine compliments or see anything special in her own appearance are all identifiable qualities. Philly has attributes that I'm sure all women would be able to recognise in themselves. She is someone that I could really see having as a friend. I particularly liked the hero of the story, her gorgeous neighbour Cal. While good-looking and successful (as all heroes of a romance novel should be if they can. We want fantasy when we escape into a story - not the disappointing reality that the streets are not filled with millionaire men who look like Viggo Mortenson and Hugh Jackman combined!) Cal is not the typical macho-businessman-playboy-not-going-to-fall-in-love-until-the-very-last-few-pages-hero. He thinks Philly is stunningly beautiful and falls in love with her at first sight. Despite the plans he should be making for his next wildlife documentary, he spends every minute he can with Philly, hauling her wary self around London and sending her text messages to make sure that she hasn't gotten herself lost. Despite the first few hiccups in their relationship (namely, her boyfriend back home, Don, and the small fact that she thinks that he's gay!) Philly and Cal are perfect for each other and he's determined to make her see it. I loved that he seemed like a real guy (ok, a real nice guy, but still more realistic than the typical arrogant latin lover) and that they have awkward moments and get embarrassed like normal people. Also a great idea is the magazine-type quiz question that foreshadows each chapter. Definitely an entertaining read - particularly for the beach or a bubble bath. I'm sure that you'll want to head for London and meet your own Cal! Recommended for romance readers.