Stay Tuned

Dec 05, 2011 Lyndz rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, own, reviewed

3 ½ Stars – “liked it”

Stay Tuned is a good little weekend read. If you are looking for a book that gives you a bit of insight what behind-the-scenes would be like & how it might feel working in a news room, you should definitely pick up this book. In fact if you have any sort if interest in journalism and/or broadcasting you would probably really enjoy this one. It is fun little ride that Ms. Clark takes you on.

I personally found the main character Melissa unrelatable, but that is probably...more

like 4 likes · see review

Nov 30, 2011 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tour, kindle, review-on-blog

Stay Tuned is such a refreshing read. I don't read enough contemporary as it is, and when I do pick up contemporary it tends to be happy go lucky romantic comedies. I enjoy other sub-genres but they have to be done really well to hold my interest. Anything that deals with more serious issues and/or drama has to be well written and well thought out for me to enjoy it. Stayed Tuned is all of the above. It's well written, well thought out, beleiveable and best of all utterly relatable.

Melissa is s...more

like 2 likes · see review

Dec 28, 2011 Jencey/ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit

Melissa Moore is a producer at WSGA news station in Macon Georgia. She also has the role of wife and mother to her husband Chris and grown daughter Kelly. Melissa is producing the ten o’clock news show when an interesting incident occurs. Both anchors are called into the director’s office and fired. Suddenly Melissa finds herself in a new role in front of the camera. Will she have the courage to take on this new role at work? She barely speaks with her husband and is left with many questions as...more

like 1 like · see review

Dec 29, 2011 Laura Pepper rated it 4 of 5 stars

Melissa is going through a challenging patch with her husband, her job is keeping her superbly busy, her Mom has dementia and is forgetting who she is... all in all life is throwing her some big problems to deal with. The way she gets through it is with the kind of bestie every gal needs, some introspection and belief in herself. I liked the setting and the back story, it made a fun refreshing change and the author's background as a reporter means that she gives us a realistic peek into the indu...more

like 1 like · see review

Sep 18, 2012 Colleen Bratley rated it 4 of 5 stars

'Stay Tuned', authored by Lauren Clark, was a quick read because I wanted to find out what happened. It is one of those fiction stories that you think you know what and who did what, only to find out you were wrong. And so was the main character.
It is one of those stories that you know things are put into place to keep you wondering what is really going on. What you think is going on, twists to another direction, so you just have to keep reading to find out the answers.
The main character seems l...more 'Stay Tuned', authored by Lauren Clark, was a quick read because I wanted to find out what happened. It is one of those fiction stories that you think you know what and who did what, only to find out you were wrong. And so was the main character.
It is one of those stories that you know things are put into place to keep you wondering what is really going on. What you think is going on, twists to another direction, so you just have to keep reading to find out the answers.
The main character seems like the average person, no super powers, and even has a lack of self esteem. She holds herself in a box, to remain in her comfort zone. What she becomes is not only due to her self development, but circumstances don't allow for anything but certain changes. She is actually slapped into the forefront position where there are few choices. At least few that are good ones.
She finds out that not all things are what they seem, and her inability to seek truths before assuming is right in line with her self esteem issue. Her coming to grips with her self worth, and the events that lead her there is interesting, but I didn't find it compelling. She was more subdued when I wanted to see her much more determined, but the story line keeps you reading, wondering if she is going to get her strength and determination now, or what was going to happen first.
You can actually feel the character grappling with her desires against her feeling that she is deserving of them. Had the events not transpired, I don't think things would have changed for this character emotionally. She doesn't have much support, since it seemed like she let things slip away, while life kept marching on. Again, the events led her in directions that forced her to make changes to not only better her own life, but those around her as well.
This story was interesting but I kept thinking something much bigger was going to happen, and kept reading thinking it was just around the corner. Things did keep happening, and who did what and why is not always what you thought. So what I thought was going to happen, didn't. What did happen was a tame to me, but fit and was needed by the character.
Her development throughout the story was with impact from numerous sources. As you wonder what you would do in that situation, you are content and even proud of how she handled it.
(less)

like · see review

May 08, 2012 Mai rated it 4 of 5 stars

As seen on my blog http://secondbookshelf.blogspot.com/

For a very short time, I worked as a journalist so this book really piqued my interest.

In Stay Tuned, Melissa Moore is a producer-extraordinaire who suddenly finds herself as a substitute anchor after her show's two anchors caused a stir on-screen.

For some reason, I was under the impression that Melissa was in her late 20s. I was surprised to learn that she was in her late 30s and she has a college-aged kid. Despite the age gap I have with h...more

like · see review

Feb 08, 2012 Michele Stefanides rated it 3 of 5 stars

Stay tuned, indeed, for a love story set against the backdrop of what goes on behind the scenes of a daily television news show.

There’s plenty of love to go around in Lauren Clark’s debut novel. Married love, parent love (spanning three generations), friendship love, career love. That’s a lot of love to balance, but Stay Tuned’s main character, Melissa Moore, does it all the while performing her fast-paced job as the producer of Macon, Georgia’s number one television news show.

Clark has the cred...more Stay tuned, indeed, for a love story set against the backdrop of what goes on behind the scenes of a daily television news show.

There’s plenty of love to go around in Lauren Clark’s debut novel. Married love, parent love (spanning three generations), friendship love, career love. That’s a lot of love to balance, but Stay Tuned’s main character, Melissa Moore, does it all the while performing her fast-paced job as the producer of Macon, Georgia’s number one television news show.

Clark has the credentials to create a realistic news room; after earning degrees in English and journalism, she worked at news stations in upstate New York and Alabama. As a former news anchor, reporter, and producer, Clark expertly moves Melissa from producer to anchor when the two regular anchors have a very public meltdown on live television.

Melissa is thrown into temporarily anchoring the news broadcasts while she continues producing. At first she believes that she’ll be anchoring only until the station finds a permanent replacement, but Melissa comes to realize she loves behind in front of the camera as much as she does working in the background.

But Melissa doesn’t have the luxury of concentrating solely on her career. Her husband is facing upheaval in his career, and his behavior leads Melissa to worry that he’s having an affair. Her mother, a former famous Hollywood columnist, now sits in a nursing home, unaware most days what is going on around her. Melissa had always felt like she and her father were “a backdrop to her Hollywood events. We were props, mere stagehands, as she flitted from one opening night to another.” At this crossroads in her life, Melissa is unable to turn to her mother for advice or comfort.

At least Candace, Melissa’s best friend, is available to prop her up and prod her forward. At least when she is free enough from her own hectic life as the owner of a plush spa and mother of five-year-old twin girls. Whew. It’s a wonder between the two of them, Melissa and Candace were able to take a deep breath, let alone nurture their strong friendship.

And if all of the above wasn’t enough to keep Melissa in a constant state of turmoil, she has recently begun wondering if she would like another child herself. Although she had a college-aged daughter, Melissa had married and become mother young enough to be able to have another baby now if she made up her mind to do it.

Clark writes Stay Tuned in the first person from Melissa’s point of view, which made me feel as though I was right there in the hot seat with Melissa. Her emotions became my emotions, and I found myself eagerly turning the pages to see what each new day in her life would bring.

Stay Tuned is fast-paced and fun, quite enjoyable to read.

(less)

like 1 like · see review

Dec 06, 2011 Marie Borthwick rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone who enjoys Nora Roberts

Recommended to Marie by: Emlyn Chand

When the book "Stay Tuned" (by Lauren Clark) came to me, (sorry Lauren) I groaned a little. I love to read and will read anything (nearly), but considering my personal animosity towards news (and its anchors) lately, this book was going to have an uphill battle to win me over. It had a few things in its favor though: it had come with a strong recommendation from a dear friend, the author looked very engaging in her picture and well - the blurb was something that I could relate to.

So with my int...more When the book "Stay Tuned" (by Lauren Clark) came to me, (sorry Lauren) I groaned a little. I love to read and will read anything (nearly), but considering my personal animosity towards news (and its anchors) lately, this book was going to have an uphill battle to win me over. It had a few things in its favor though: it had come with a strong recommendation from a dear friend, the author looked very engaging in her picture and well - the blurb was something that I could relate to.

So with my interest at least tickled a little - I decided to feature a interview, excerpt, and review the book. While the book started out slower than I am use too - it was a pleasant change of pace. I easily forgot (at least momentarily) my misgivings about news anchors and found myself relating to Melissa.

I could identify readily with her confusion over what to do, her desire to carve out her own niche in a world she loved and the pain of realizing it all might fall apart. While I did wonder at times when the story would pick up - I admired the author's skill at making Melissa seem less like a fiction character and more like a real person. It was then that I considered the few lulls in the story mirrored real life, perhaps more than the author intended, the "feast or famine" mentality society has these days... the reality of life being that it all glitz and glamour and in order to understand the full picture we need to consider every piece of the puzzle.As I closed in on the juicy bits of the story, the author's deft skill at weaving fiction with bits of reality reminded me a lot of a cherished author of mine - Nora Roberts. Both have the ability to mix the right amount of reality and mystery, suspense and levity, all while keeping the reader engaged and relaxed.

Tapping through the last pages of the story I began to understand the choice of title, the composition of the cover and while I considered both simple initially - I now appreciate how clever they really are. After reading the final words, I sat for a little bit to think about what the title really meant. As I contemplated the author's true intention behind naming her novel "Stay Tuned" - the phrase "what doesn't kill me, makes me stronger" comes to mind; both speak of perseverance and survival - a strong will to weather storms and hold out for the end of the rainbow. Pick up "Stay Tuned" and I assure you, it will be the treasure I found it to be.
(less)

like · see review

Dec 04, 2011 Megan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-books, read-in-2011

'Stay Tuned' was a fun story, but when it jumped ahead I didn't like that it didn't say the dates - I found it confusing. It could have at least said "two weeks later" or something like that when it jumped ahead. It is for this reason alone that I gave it four stars.

Melissa is a forty year old woman, whose daughter had recently left home to attend college. Melissa's marriage is a shadow of what it once was. Her husband and her barely have time for each other, both are so busy with their careers,...more 'Stay Tuned' was a fun story, but when it jumped ahead I didn't like that it didn't say the dates - I found it confusing. It could have at least said "two weeks later" or something like that when it jumped ahead. It is for this reason alone that I gave it four stars.

Melissa is a forty year old woman, whose daughter had recently left home to attend college. Melissa's marriage is a shadow of what it once was. Her husband and her barely have time for each other, both are so busy with their careers, that they communicate through post-it notes - which sometimes only have a brief message.

Melissa's mother was a lady who rubbed elbows with the who's who of Hollywood back in the day, and she wrote many books about them. When at age forty she became pregnant with Melissa, she didn't hide the fact that it was an unplanned pregnancy. Now Dementia has taken a hold of her and she has a hard time even recognizing her daughter. This is just devastating to Melissa, when all she even wanted was her mother's love and affection - which she never got.

When station anchors, Alyssa and Tim, are fired, Rick Roberts comes back to the station and Melissa fills in until they can find another woman to fill the job. Melissa begins to realize that she loves being in front of the camera instead of being behind the scenes, but will she be allowed to keep it? Will her marriage survive her husband's distant behavior and her growing attraction to her co-host? Will Melissa ever know whether or not her mother cared for her?

Initially, I thought there wasn't going to be any swearing in this book because the first few times, instead of using a swear word, it just said that they couldn't repeat what was said when a person was supposed to be swearing. I was hoping that would continue - it did not. I don't like the use of swear words in a story. Even though there wasn't a lot of them, I just don't like books containing swear words - I feel that it takes away from a story. Even though I personally found it offensive, since this isn't a Christian book, I did not let it affect my rating, and am only mentioning it in case others might be offended as well.

Overall I liked the story and had it not had the swearing in it I would recommend it. So if you don't mind books with that in it, I think you would enjoy Stay Tuned.

*** I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***(less)

like 1 like · see review

Dec 01, 2011 Jennie Coughlin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Stay Tuned was interesting from the beginning because it centered around a newsroom, though in a different medium from mine (newspapers). Melissa, the main character, has an engaging voice and stepping into her daily chaos was an immediate hook. It was easy to relate as Melissa, the station's evening news producer/den mother, gets overwhelmed by everything going on in her life. There were several plot threads, and they could easily have gotten confused, but Clark never let anyone besides her her...more

like · see review

Nov 29, 2011 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

What do you do if you think your husband is cheating, your mother has dementia and very rarely remembers who you are and the two anchors of the news show you produce just got into a fist fight on live television? Do you run and hide? No, you Stay Tuned to see what your life turns into! Melissa Moore, the main character of the story, has her work cut out for her. She's in a rut before it's mid-life crisis time. Her daughter has left for college, she yearns for another child, and her husband bare...more What do you do if you think your husband is cheating, your mother has dementia and very rarely remembers who you are and the two anchors of the news show you produce just got into a fist fight on live television? Do you run and hide? No, you Stay Tuned to see what your life turns into! Melissa Moore, the main character of the story, has her work cut out for her. She's in a rut before it's mid-life crisis time. Her daughter has left for college, she yearns for another child, and her husband barely knows she's alive, unless of course she discusses his job, which consumes him 24/7. To top everything off the news cast she produces for has it's fair share of drama with the two anchors, Alyssa and Tim, who lie, cheat, and abuse each other in and out of public.

The drama between Alyssa and Tim finally comes to a head. Sadly, it happens during a live telecast, at which time Alyssa punches Tim in the face. Not all attention is good ratings for the show. After both anchors are fired, with no anchor to replace Alyssa, Drew turns to Melissa to replace the anchor. Thanks to her best friend, Candace, and a fun shopping spree Melissa is soon ready for her place in front of the camera. Well, except for the electricity she feels between herself and her hunky co-anchor, Rick Roberts. Other than for a few stumbles Melissa does well in her new position and the audience loves her and Rick together.

A well written, quick read book, you'll be done with the book before you know what happened. The reader will love the hustle of the television station, the dilemma's and conflict's that Melissa works through, and the love-able character's that Lauren Clark has created. My favorite was Candace, the Dr. Phil loving, snazzy hairdressing friend. I need one of those! She was so upbeat and positive. The perfect compliment to Melissa's worrying, hold-back personality. The problems that the main character faces is, from my point of view, very believable. I have had some of the same doubts, and problems, that she has. I feel most women will be able to connect with Melissa.

Did Chris cheat on Melissa? Will Melissa give in to her hunky co-anchor? Will Melissa's mother give her the love and attention she craves or forget her again? Well, to find out I guess you'll just have to Stay Tuned! As part of the whirlwind tour for Novel Publicity, this book is currently only $.99. I give this book a five star rating! A steal for the quality of the book. You must pick it up!! To find out more about the tour, and author Lauren Clark, visit my previous blog.

I was not paid for this review.The book itself was gifted to me, and that's all there is to it :)) My opinion was in no way swayed, This review is how I truly feel. Thank you for reading, have a great day! Curl up with a good book next chance you get.-Melissa

A room without books is like a body without a soul. -Cicero(less)

like 2 likes · see review

Nov 28, 2011 Kevin Carey-Infante rated it 5 of 5 stars

WSGA, Macon, GA - not your father's local news network. The tension both on and off the set between on-air personalities and off-air lovers, Alyssa Andrews and Tim Donaldson, has been building for weeks. One night right in the middle of the 10 p.m. news Alyssa reaches her boiling point, loses her cool and slugs Tim live to the horror of all of WSGA's viewers. Producer Melissa Moore is forced to step in to close the broadcast, thus beginning a journey that she was neither prepared for nor willing...more

like 1 like · see review

Jun 14, 2012 Kerry sullivan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: thriller-suspence-mystery

This book was reviewed for Musings of a bookworm as part of the book tour

This book was a real surprise, I was a little unsure what to expect but what I got was a really great story about a woman going through the mine field of her life and learning new things about herself and about her marriage. This book is a journey of one woman back to the life she wanted and what she learns along the way. I loved all the Dr Phil quotes her best friend gave her along the way, mainly because they were approp...more

like · see review

Jan 16, 2012 Kathleen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Mix together a Macon, Georgia TV news station, 2 crazy news co-anchors, a Post-it note using husband, a Dr. Phil quoting best friend, a mother with Dementia, and a stalker ... what do you have ... TV producer Melissa Moore's crazy-busy life! With so much going on in her life, only a super woman can handle it all ... if you only BELIEVE in yourself! Pull up a comfy chair and come visit Melissa in Stay Tuned!

Melissa Moore is a TV producer for the 6pm and 10pm evening newscast at WSGA-TV in Macon,...more Mix together a Macon, Georgia TV news station, 2 crazy news co-anchors, a Post-it note using husband, a Dr. Phil quoting best friend, a mother with Dementia, and a stalker ... what do you have ... TV producer Melissa Moore's crazy-busy life! With so much going on in her life, only a super woman can handle it all ... if you only BELIEVE in yourself! Pull up a comfy chair and come visit Melissa in Stay Tuned!

Melissa Moore is a TV producer for the 6pm and 10pm evening newscast at WSGA-TV in Macon, Georgia. This busy woman is the glue that keeps the station together, that is until two crazy co-anchors, who just happen to also be in a volatile relationship, get in an on-air fight, and all hell breaks loose! With the co-anchors fired, Melissa is thrust into the spotlight, and fills in temporarily as the evening news anchor. She decides that she needs a transformation and complete makeover, and who better to help her achieve that transformation than Melissa's secret weapon, her fashionista, Dr. Phil quoting, best friend Candace! With Candace's guidance and encouragement to just believe in herself, Melissa starts to think that maybe this temporary position could become a permanent one. Now if only her relationships with her husband and mother could improve, maybe she'd be happy and content with her life. Lack of communication somewhere along the way has strained their marriage, they've become two ships that pass in the night, only to communicate through Post-it notes left on the kitchen counter. Melissa starts to question if maybe there is something else going on in her husband's life, perhaps an affair? hmmm .... As for the relationship with her mother, it has never been a warm and fuzzy one, Miss Ruth Anne was always too busy with her career as an author to the stars, leaving Melissa yearning for her attention, love and approval. Now living in a nursing home with a diagnosis of Dementia, her memory is slowly leaving her, and Melissa is desperately trying to reach out to her mother one last time, before Dementia robs her of any further chances to finally have that bond that she has yearned for so long. Can Melissa and her mother reach out to each other before it's too late? Finally, to add to the craziness, there is a stalker that targets Melissa, and there is no stopping the person from getting to her! All this and so much more awaits you in Stay Tuned!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Stay Tuned! I found it to be a fast-paced, intriguing, suspenseful, humorous and heartwarming story. The storyline was well written, and Ms. Clark's prior experience as a TV producer lent a realistic behind-the-scenes glimpse into the broadcasting world, it sucked me in from the beginning. I loved all of the characters in the story, but I found myself gravitating towards Melissa's best friend Candace, and her mother's nurse Sharice. I think it was a combination of their strength, compassion and straight-forwardness towards their friendship with Melissa that made me just love them to pieces. All of the supporting characters were intriguing, I loved how they all added an integral part to the storyline. I would have loved to have met Melissa's college-aged daughter Kelly, I felt that just mentioning her sporadically throughout the story didn't give the reader a chance to really get to know her. I think what I loved most of all about Stay Tuned, was the message that different characters gave to Melissa, to just BELIEVE in herself ... this is a powerful message that every reader can relate to in their life. If you are looking for a down-to-earth, heartwarming, feel good story, than this is the book for you! Kudos to Ms. Clark on a wonderful debut novel, I look forward to reading more of her books.

Disclaimer: At the request of the author and Chick Lit Plus, a Kindle edition of this book was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest review and participation in the virtual book tour event.

Virtual Book Tour Event: On Monday, January 16, 2012, in association with Chick Lit Plus, Lauren Clark participated in a virtual book tour event with an Author Guest Post on Jersey Girl Book Reviews.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...(less)

like 1 like · see review

Oct 14, 2012 Candy rated it 5 of 5 stars

When I started this book, I really wasn't sure what to expect from reading the description. I knew it would be one of those books that I either loved or hated and I was kind of scared to see which it would be, but I knew I needed something different after reading a few weird books and this seemed to be a little more mainstream. The author sent me this book with a request for review nearly a year ago and while I was browsing through, it caught my eye.

What I wasn't expecting is to get so invested...more

like · see review

Jun 26, 2012 Dianne Socci-Tetro rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

This is a lazy, comfortable, slow read with may story-lines that finally mesh at the end. Some readers may not like having so much to concentrate on - Melissa's producing job,trouble with her husband, her mothers dementia, anchoring the news,tons of inner angst, nearly falling for her new anchors pass and being stalked by someone. Even I thought that there was simply too much going on in this book to sustain all of the energy Ms Clark was using, but once I got to the ending, I found tha...more

like · see review

Dec 04, 2011 Donna Brown rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reviewing Stay Tuned was something of a last minute decision. I honestly hadn’t anticipated having time to do it but the more I read about Stay Tuned and Lauren Clark, the more determined I was to make time. I started Stay Tuned this week and picked it up whenever I had a spare moment – and, like with all good novels, very quickly I was making spare moments so I could read. Drinking 10 cups of tea an hour so I could sneak a few pages in while the kettle boiled, overcooking the pasta sauce by ten...more Reviewing Stay Tuned was something of a last minute decision. I honestly hadn’t anticipated having time to do it but the more I read about Stay Tuned and Lauren Clark, the more determined I was to make time. I started Stay Tuned this week and picked it up whenever I had a spare moment – and, like with all good novels, very quickly I was making spare moments so I could read. Drinking 10 cups of tea an hour so I could sneak a few pages in while the kettle boiled, overcooking the pasta sauce by ten minutes so I could sneak another chapter or two in, that kind of thing. Well, perhaps not quite so bad but not far off.

Stay Tuned has a great central character who at one point is described as ‘a trooper’. We all know the type (and hands up if you are that type): never say no, would rather go without sleep than let someone down, put their own feelings on the backburner to keep everyone else happy. Melissa is a trooper but she’s also a talented anchor, loving wife and devoted mother who is realising that it’s time the people in her life stood up and noticed her. And not in a ‘aww, she’s so reliable and solid’ kind of way. Cue makeover, growth of a serious backbone and an admirable career growth spurt.

In the space of a few weeks Melissa takes on her workaholic husband, distant mother, demented ex-colleague and ladykiller coworker and faces up to her problems working hard to stick to the mantra ‘Believe in yourself’. Slowly but surely she begins to realise that other people do believe in her but need her to believe in herself as well.

If I had one tiny criticism (well, you know I’m picky), I think the ‘stalker’ scenario in the book could have been drawn out for another few chapters to add a level of tension or intrigue to the book. But is it a dealbreaker? Absolutely not. After all, it isn’t like Melissa and her husband Chris are lacking in drama to cope with!

Stay Tuned is an example of a feel good novel at its best. Lauren Clark’s previous experience in the news industry (see her interview and guest post) help make the details in the novel feel very real and very engaging. Melissa is a character who is easy to identify with and the result is you want to see her tackle things head on and succeed. Is it an ‘everything comes good in the end’ type tale? Is that one of the things that makes it a great read? Of course! Sometimes, especially in the dark winter nights, you need a little something with a happy ending you can see coming. Comfortably predictable is a great way to describe Stay Tuned and as such it’s just what the doctor ordered for your cheery and cozy ‘to be read’ pile.

Note: this book was supplied to me in exchange for my honest review. I did not receive any additional compensation. In fact, I liked the book so much I bought a copy after all!(less)

like 1 like · see review

Apr 17, 2012 Damla rated it 5 of 5 stars

This just in, an enthralling story comes to us live from Lauren Clark. Excitement and action are all caught on the pages of Lauren Clark’s Stay Tuned as the line follows the work and personal life of Melissa Moore. This book has drama, great description, and will keep you turning pages for more. Melissa works as a producer in a fast-paced news station; WSGA the number one ranking news station of Macon, Georgia. Her personal life is strained with a husband she rarely sees, a daughter gone to coll...more

like · see review

Jan 17, 2012 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

3.5

Melissa Moore is a producer for the WSGA news station but when the two anchors who are also in an out-of-work relationship have a brawl on the air and are both fired, Melissa comes to the rescue and temporarly fills in as co-anchor, but while she's saving the day at work, her home life is coming apart at the seams. She's worried her unattentive, overworked husband is having an affair, she's worried about the "relationship" with her co-anchor, and memories of the past and not having the second...more

like · see review

Jan 01, 2012 Samantha Robey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Lauren Clark is on tour with CLP Blog Tours. Stay Tuned follows Melissa Moore, a TV producer that gets thrust into anchor spotlight after an on-air fight between the regular anchors. While Melissa has always been comfortable behind the camera, having her face in viewer’s homes is another story. Her best friend helps give her a head to toe makeover, and her new look helps boost her confidence. If only it could help her marriage as well. Communication with her husband has turned into a scattering...more

like · see review

Jan 30, 2012 Sherry Roberts rated it 4 of 5 stars

Lauren Clark, a former anchor and reporter for local news, puts her experience to work in this story of TV producer Melissa Moore. Clark paints a vivid picture of the behind-the-scenes drama of deadlines and divas. Melissa's life is all about crisis management, especially after a fistfight during the ten o'clock news. When sexy-but-crazy anchor Alyssa Andrews and her co-anchor are fired, Melissa is drafted to fill in temporarily.

In Stay Tuned, we see a woman fighting to start a new career and ho...more

like · see review

Jan 15, 2012 Sheila rated it 4 of 5 stars

Stay Tuned was an excellent book! I look forward to more books by Lauren Clark. The story line was multi-faceted and this added interest. I was intrigued by Melissa's relationship with her husband, Chris, and I enjoyed their story. It was very refreshing and realistic. So many stories deal with the budding relationships of strangers. It was wonderful to watch two characters with baggage instead. I could relate to Melissa's challenges in caring for her mother since I am also caring for my mother....more

like 1 like · see review

Nov 28, 2011 Will rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, relationships

First off, I want to thank Goodreads and Lauren Clark for this first-read edition of Stay Tuned. I am a news producer in Denver and wanted to get an advanced copy of this book. I am always curious about fiction books based on this high pressure high intensity industry which at times I loathe and at times I love. Typically you don't need fiction, just a big notebook to record the daily events inside the newsroom.

This book dealt with a lot of those issues, frustrations, and stress. In some ways hi...more First off, I want to thank Goodreads and Lauren Clark for this first-read edition of Stay Tuned. I am a news producer in Denver and wanted to get an advanced copy of this book. I am always curious about fiction books based on this high pressure high intensity industry which at times I loathe and at times I love. Typically you don't need fiction, just a big notebook to record the daily events inside the newsroom.

This book dealt with a lot of those issues, frustrations, and stress. In some ways hit close to home, in some ways it was far too over the top where it didn't need to be. I was highly critical of this book, because I did not feel in a lot of chapters that it reflected accurately the life of a producer or producer/anchor. There are times in my day when I don't even have time to go to the bathroom, it's a common complaint among producers whether you are in Bozeman, MT or New York City. The fact this book talked about the main character's ability to have a picnic style dinner with her anchor out of the newsroom or date nights with her husband while also producing two shoes was for me beyond irritating. However, I am too close to the subject and probably removed from my current situation would not have had a second thought about it.

There were also a few glaring errors that made me question the author's research or real life experience on the subject. Her incorrect spelling of Nielsen was the big one. There were two other spelling errors also missed, and a critical mixup with character names in a subplot near the end of the book that had me going over it several times asking, "did I read that right?"

Unlike other books about this industry, it does focus on the relationships outside of the newsroom. It does that in a way few others have, and in my opinion does a better job at showing the strain this business can cause. It also shows how work is often made to be the primary relationship instead of marriages and parenting that goes on outside of it. I will give Lauren a lot of credit for hitting the bullseye on this topic.

Overall the book was a quick read, rather predictable, even with the twist at the end. It's a decent read for anyone not in the news business, however I would think they would be the first to pick up or check out this book. Many of their reviews will be much more harsh than mine.(less)

like · see review

Jan 18, 2012 Cynthia Hill rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was a bit unsure of the book at first. The first two chapters, I admit, didn’t totally grab me, but it’s quite possible that I was in a bad mood. However, by the third chapter or so, I was hooked. Clark keeps the story moving along at a good pace, and I really enjoyed the relationship between Melissa and her best friend, Candace. While there were definitely parts of the story that were predictable, I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing. In most women’s fiction, you know where the story...more

like · see review

Nov 27, 2011 Allizabeth Collins rated it 4 of 5 stars

Description:

For Melissa Moore, TV producer, life and career have always stayed behind the camera; that is, until Alyssa Andrews, disgruntled WSGA news anchor, decides to knock-out her co-anchor during the live 10 o'clock newscast. With no replacements on set, Melissa has a choice: go to commercial indefinitely, or pick up a mic and start reading from the teleprompter herself? Little does she know that her split second decision will not only redeem the night's botched broadcast, but earn her a w...more Description:

For Melissa Moore, TV producer, life and career have always stayed behind the camera; that is, until Alyssa Andrews, disgruntled WSGA news anchor, decides to knock-out her co-anchor during the live 10 o'clock newscast. With no replacements on set, Melissa has a choice: go to commercial indefinitely, or pick up a mic and start reading from the teleprompter herself? Little does she know that her split second decision will not only redeem the night's botched broadcast, but earn her a whole new job title: temporary News Anchor.

Unfortunately, Melissa isn't sure about her new-found success. Her husband Chris is never around, always "working" and only communicating through nonspecific post-it notes, and her mother, currently in a nursing home, continues to start trouble -- and fires. On top of that, her new co-anchor is putting on the moves, while a former co-worker becomes her stalker: one that wants her dead.

Can Melissa keep her new job, save her marriage, deal with her mother, keep her high ratings, and protect herself from becoming the 10 o'clock news? Stay tuned to find out...

Review:

When I first picked up this book, I couldn't help but love the cover: bright, cute, and simple, yet, (as I would later figure out), a pretty accurate representation of the text. The book was an attention grabber from start to finish. It was one of those books that made me laugh one minute and sprout nervous goosebumps the next. Melissa is a great character, complex, but written and described in a way that all women can relate to. She's a strong female lead, full of insecurities, but doesn't allow them to dictate her life, and when the pressure is on, she deals with it - not afraid to get help from her friends; Candace in-particular. I found that all the characters, even those second-rung, were well-developed and fun to meet. The dialogue was believable and enjoyable, often the reason for my head-shakes and stifled laughter; there were a couple rough spots, but nothing that impeded the book's steady flow and pace. Being a fan of the news, especially the more general news shows like The Today Show, I have always wondered what it must be like to work behind the scenes, as well as under the pressure and bright lights of the cameras. After reading Stay Tuned I realize that it is fun to think about, but show-biz is not for me; it's crazy, stressful, hectic, and hilarious, but overall, reporting the news is a serious business - one that Melissa Moore knows all to well. Lauren Clark did a wonderful job bringing her TV experience and her talent for writing together to make a book that will satisfy a reader's palette and leave them wanting more. A sequel perhaps?...

Rating: On the Run (4/5)

*** I received this book from Novel Publicity as part of the Stay Tuned Holiday Blog Tour in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

(less)

like · see review

Jul 15, 2012 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads, indies

What I enjoyed about this book was the fact that the main character was closer to my age than a lot of protagonists tend to be. I could definitely relate to her life situations, and it was nice to read about a married woman as well.

Although the book started off well, I soon lost interest. The plot moved way too slowly, and the storyline wobbled quite a bit. For some reason, I thought started out as a mystery, but it wasn't a mystery. Then it seemed like a romance. Nope, wrong again. It was more...more

like · see review

Jan 08, 2012 Lindsay (Turning the Pages) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, book-tour, own, e-book, review-copy, read-in-2012

You can also read a copy of this review on my blog - http://www.bookbybookreview.blogspot....

As I read Lauren Clark's author blurb, I was intrigued to learn that she was once a news anchor on 'real live' tv. For me, it seemed to make a world of difference when I was reading Stay Tuned as it made everything so much more real.

Being someone who loves drama on tv (hence the reality show addiction), I was instantly hooked on this novel because it really did feel like I was reading a reality show book...more

like · see review

Mar 22, 2012 Rebecca Berto rated it 5 of 5 stars

Stay Tuned is a fast-paced read. It's women's fiction with plenty of substance. TV producer, Melissa Moore already has a crazy life with her high-stress career, minimal contact with her husband, Chris, via Post-it notes, and a daughter living at her college campus, far away.

Add a fist fight -- between the two co-anchors of her show -- and what do you get? Melissa makes a split-second decision and finishes the show herself on air. Turns out her boss loved the "save". Also, the viewers love it. An...more

like 1 like · see review

Feb 20, 2012 Keanna Lewis rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a book that will really interest me, because it looks like a book that makes you laugh and has a great storyline. Many of my friends have recommended this book, saying it's great. I can;t wait it read it.

like 1 like · see review

Jun 12, 2012 Alone rated it 3 of 5 stars

Review from Read that also

Melissa, the protagonist, is a typical working wonder-women, juggling a hundred balls in air. She has all the all too frequent problems, image issues, relationship troubles...I don't know if I liked her or not. Sometimes, she is so real that you can all too well see her. Sometimes, she is bland and lifeless. None of the other characters are given much time or script.
I was always interested in the world of broadcasting. Always wondered what goes behind the shows. It was...more

like · see review

title link	preview: Stay Tuned
avg rating	preview: Stay Tuned Goodreads rating: 3.63 (171 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12899838-stay-tuned?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348281309l/12899838.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12899838-stay-tuned?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Stay Tuned by Lauren Clark[/url]

Stay Tuned

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (3)

Videos About This Book

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Lauren Clark

Books by Lauren Clark

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Stay Tuned

Quotes from Stay Tuned