Review: WOW! Lots of twists and turns in this story.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 18, 2013
I really like this book, but to be honest...this book was a little harder for me to get into, unlike the last 4 books of Janet's that I had previously read. Maybe it was because there was so much going on, and so many characters being introduced at the same time. But I hung in there and around the 18% mark or so, everything started to make a bit more sense and the story  really started to take off. There are a few different issues the author introduces into the story with some of the secondary characters, but she portrayed them very well. Issues that people I know very closely, have had to deal with in their personal lives. I am so glad she has the guts to deal with things like this, instead of just writing those picture perfect romance stories.Louise is a slightly overweight woman, who owns a barely thriving spa like business that specializes in facials, and what not. She has lost that close connection between herself and her mother as the years went on by. Her mother was once the wild child of the 60's, and hasn't really changed a whole lot over the years. While Louise is a bit over weight, her mother is the picture perfect woman when it comes to her weight and looks. Her mother has never accepted her, because of her weight issues, and continuously tries to get her to change her ways.Her best friend and neighbor Adrian who is gay, has always accepted her as she is. He thinks she perfect, just the way she is and wants other people to see just how beautiful she is., both inside and out. So when he hears about this contest, he secretly enters her into a contest to be the next "GLOW GIRL'. He has always thought she had the most beautiful face and skin that he's ever seen, and he knew she needed the money to remodel her run down shabby shop. When the letter comes in and she's been selected as one of the finalist, she's a little miffed , but even more than that...she's scared. She goes along with it though, because she really needs the money badly.Ashley is a client who had been been coming into Louise's shop for years. She had just married a major rock star and when she heard that Louise had been selected as one of the contestants. So she immediately jumps on the bandwagon and urges all her husbands fans every social media she could think of to vote for Louise. Which they did, moving Louise up in the polls very quickly. When she needs help or advice on what to do, or what to wear.....Adrian and Ashley step in and help her make her decisions.Cody is struggling photographer who is assigned to take her pictures during the contest. He immediately started calling her Lulu, and before you know it ...she becomes more and more relaxed and trusting while in his presence. They also become fast friends. This contest has the ability to bring in more business for himself, too. But more than that, he's able see Lulu's inner beauty, too, and bring that part out in her for all the world to see, too.Then there's Hunter, the man behind the whole campaign. He takes Louise under his wing and tries to make her into a big star. But like they say...sometimes things are too good to be true, right? In the end Louise has to decide if she wants to stay quiet and go with the flow, or if she wants to be able to wake up in the morning and be able to look at herself in the mirror.The only reason I gave this story a 4 star rating, instead of a 5...is because I felt like there should have been at least a short epilogue at the end to tie up a few loose ends. Other than that...this was a fantastic read.I would recommend this book to everyone!