Haley Randolph is always ready to go to any lengths to get the latest Louis Vuitton. Unfortunately for Haley, her life goes from glam to grim when ...
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reviews
Mar 17, 2009
Kayeb
rated it: 
OK........ not compelling, but amusing. I did take the time to look up some of the handbag designers on the web, since I am so not a handbag junkie. So I have at least seen prada and so on in pictures. The conclusion is a bit of a surprise, given that we are introduced to a bit more self reflection than we ahd seen with the main character previously.
[close:] Witty, smart, and always chic-to-die despite a less than glam checking account balance, Haley Randolph has it all--Gucci, P More...
[close:] Witty, smart, and always chic-to-die despite a less than glam checking account balance, Haley Randolph has it all--Gucci, P More...
Mar 06, 2010
Robin
rated it: 
Tried the Kindle sample of this one. From the description, it sounded like "Confessions of a Shopaholic" with a murder mystery - so I expected the main character, Haley, to initially be irresponsible with her money. But I wasn't expecting a lazy, shallow, disrespectful, cold main character.
Within just the short Kindle sample, she manages to inwardly call a customer the B word just for complaining that the store was a mess (which it was), insult her (again, inwardly) for be More...
Within just the short Kindle sample, she manages to inwardly call a customer the B word just for complaining that the store was a mess (which it was), insult her (again, inwardly) for be More...
Jan 27, 2011
Kerstin
rated it:
This was a very light and entertaining read. I honestly didn't think I would enjoy it, as after the first couple of chapters I was very sure I didn't like Haley, the ditzy designer handbag addict who is our protagonist, and left the book lying around for a couple of weeks. When I finally picked it up again, I did end up being amused by it and even warmed up to Haley.
Haley is a shopaholic, often spending more money than she owns. She has a job at a famous law firm in the accounting depa More...
Haley is a shopaholic, often spending more money than she owns. She has a job at a famous law firm in the accounting depa More...
Jul 07, 2009
Carol
rated it:
This is a reader's choice selection from the county library. (FYI: for every 5 reader's choice books you read, you get a free book.) I didn't like this book when I started reading it, but ended up liking the book overall. (I kept reading to help me earn my free book....I know! So lame of me!) The main character (Haley) is really bad with money, and it made me anxious as she continued to shop compulsively as a way to cope with life's challenges. This made it hard for me to enjoy the story. An
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Nov 23, 2010
Melanie
rated it:
This book was just okay. It was interesting enough that I wanted to finish it, but I don't plan on reading the other two books in the series. The story line was really good. Haley, the main character, is lacking. She is pretty much the waste of a person. When I was positive about Haley I wanted to compare her to Elle Woods from Legally Blonde, but Elle has ambition. Haley doesn't have ambition. In the end of the novel she does plan to go back to school. However, we are given a chapter of
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May 11, 2010
Terry
rated it:
1st in a new series by veteran romance author Dorothy Howell. Super-light and fits into my "murder goes retail" frame of mind, since I just finished the car dealership one. . . Noteworthy: southern California mind-set is perfect, Haley is a handbag expert (and key to the plot), and she's gently funny. It took awhile to connect the dots between Century City law firms and Santa Clarita's "Mervyn's/Kohl's" but the Stephanie Plum character wasn't all that put together when she
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Jul 30, 2011
I really enjoyed this! Light, fun & fast - our sleuth Haley is young, very impulsive, jumps to incorrect conclusions a lot, has a designer handbag obsession, eats too much junk food and makes bad financial decisions - all of which made her likable and engaging. The LA setting and retail store environment brought back memories of my stint in retail at the May Company (they are Macy's now) in Redondo Beach, CA. Like her, it was not a job I liked but just tolerated although the 20% discount was nic
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Feb 04, 2012
Barbara
rated it:
Some books I'm embarrassed to admit that I read and this is one of them. But I want to get it on my list to remind myself not to read any more in the series. The main character, Haley was completely unlikable; shallow, lazy, dumb and irresponsible with money. I enjoy a well written chic-lit mystery but this was not it. I figured out the two "mysteries" long before she did and I kept saying to her "you were set up because they knew you were stupid!" Near the end when she also
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Mar 06, 2010
Susan
rated it: 
Not since I read the shopaholic books has a main character annoyed me like Becky did, make me wonder why I keep on reading (but do?!?!) until I read Handbags and Homicide. While I did enjoy the book(s), I think that it was in the way that something irritating ends up being something you decide that you have to overcome, if that makes any sense.
Haley Randolph is self-absorbed, a chronic lier and can't seem to see when she needs to put her credit cards away and stop self indulging, yet More...
Haley Randolph is self-absorbed, a chronic lier and can't seem to see when she needs to put her credit cards away and stop self indulging, yet More...
Oct 28, 2011
Amanda
rated it: 
Haley Randolph is a funny mix of Pepper Martin and Finley Anderson Tanner. Haley is in debt, with great taste, and she cannot stop herself from constantly jumping to conclusions about those around her.
She finally finds a dream job only to lose it without explanation, she is stuck in a dead end job that was meant to be seasonal and is becoming her only income, oh and she has stumbled across a dead body in the stock room...
How many things can go wrong, and when will things More...
She finally finds a dream job only to lose it without explanation, she is stuck in a dead end job that was meant to be seasonal and is becoming her only income, oh and she has stumbled across a dead body in the stock room...
How many things can go wrong, and when will things More...
May 03, 2011
thegirlinpink
rated it:
304 pages on sale for $6.99 in Amazon.com
What is it about? Dorothy Howell’s novel is about a 24-year-old bagaholic named Haley Randolph. Some trouble in her primary job, along with financial problems due to her shopping expeditions land Haley as a worker in Holt’s Department Stores... much to her dismay. During one of her dreadful nights at Holt’s Haley stumbles upon a dead body, and that is where the plot gets thicker. Accused of financial irresponsibility in her first job and mu More...
What is it about? Dorothy Howell’s novel is about a 24-year-old bagaholic named Haley Randolph. Some trouble in her primary job, along with financial problems due to her shopping expeditions land Haley as a worker in Holt’s Department Stores... much to her dismay. During one of her dreadful nights at Holt’s Haley stumbles upon a dead body, and that is where the plot gets thicker. Accused of financial irresponsibility in her first job and mu More...
Dec 07, 2011
Rebecca
rated it:
I read this book in less than 48 hours. Not because it was so good but because I could return it to the library quicker. Yes, it was short too but I looked forward to the end and collecting my next bundle of books to move onto.
This is far from the best mystery book I've read. In fact, I would have filed it under chick-lit/fiction rather than crime if I worked in my local library. Fairly predictable in many places and name-dropping famous designers every 2-3 pages really did not cut i More...
This is far from the best mystery book I've read. In fact, I would have filed it under chick-lit/fiction rather than crime if I worked in my local library. Fairly predictable in many places and name-dropping famous designers every 2-3 pages really did not cut i More...
Jul 13, 2010
E.
rated it:
Haley Randolph is a relatively ditzy daughter of a beauty pageant queen that comes from a rich background and likes designer clothing and handbags but can't quite afford them any longer. Not quite a total airhead but pretty single-minded in her pursuit of fashion, not disconcerted by finding a dead body and oblivious to the fact that she has been hired for a job without needing any particular qualifications. Light fluffy mystery.
Jan 22, 2012
Ana
rated it: 
Haley Rudolph is a purse whore. buying the lates brand name items. She was fired from her job, so now she was working at a horrible clothing store where she regularly gets yelled at. Right when she thought nothing bad could happen she ends up finds the body of her boss and all the evidence points to her. Meanwhile she's trying to figure out how to get her job back the one that brought in tons of money. While she tries to clear her name she gets into even more trouble and later falls in love with
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Apr 10, 2011
Stephie
rated it:
This may be the funniest book I've ever read. Laugh out loud hilarious from the get-go straight through to the end. Different reviewers commented on Haley's character or lack thereof (she's self absorbed, cuts people off on the freeway, lies blatantly whenever it's easier than telling the truth) and about whether you want to root for her or not. That didn't even come into play for me; I was too busy laughing my head off. I will be reading every one of the Haley Randolph books and all I can say i
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Aug 09, 2011
Acfilmer
rated it:
I know the description says Haley is self-absorbed, or something of the sort, but really, being her head was supremely annoying at times. Book got better toward the end (careful, this is the first of a series) but at a few times, the only thing that kept me going was the fact that I already bought the book. It's a little like Shopaholic, minus the soul.
Jun 19, 2009
Dl
rated it:
I admit that this book is not my usual type of mystery, nor do I salivate over designer handbags, so although I had trouble relating to the the heroine and found her attitude incredibly self-centered and rather silly, I just had to keep reading, because this book is hilarious! Great fun! I'm looking forward to the author's next installment.
Nov 21, 2009
Kellie
rated it:
The book was okay. The main charactor isn't my favoite type of person, she is a bit of a dits, so that made is not as exciting to read. But what did make it great was that i couldn't figure out the murderer until more then half way through, so i kept at it. It just took me a while to get fully captivated, and i don't like that.
Sep 07, 2009
Joey
rated it:
This was a cute book. It was an easy read that I could just pick up and jump back into, where I left off. I was able to get into the story and drift off, but not be so deeply out of touch that the kids set the house on fire. It was a fun read, and for once, I didn't predict the ending. It was reader's choice at the library.
Aug 07, 2011
I liked this book, the only problem I have with it is that she randomly attacks larger people in that last paragraph. There's no need for it, if the main character is wearing designer brands of course she is going to be slim, but to attack people just to make up your word count is pathetic.
Sep 11, 2009
Lindsay
rated it:
It was fun and entertaining. I have to admit, when I first started reading it, I kind of rolled my eyes and thought "Oh, brother!" It's sort of a Confessions of a Shopaholic knock-off. But once I gave it a chance, I did enjoy it. It was cute, fun, and easy...which was exactly what I needed yestereday.
Jul 28, 2008
Christia
rated it:
Haley Randolph reminds me of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, only much more fashion conscious. An entertaining, fast paced, easy read. Due to her unxepected and unexplained sudden administrative leave from the high powered attorney's office where she works in accounting, Haley finds herself dependent on her part-time job that she loathes, working at Holt's, a low end department store. To make matters worse, she finds the store manager dead in the stock room.
This is a perfect r More...
This is a perfect r More...
Jul 08, 2009
LeeAnn
rated it:
Leave this book on the shelf!!! It is horrid. I read the first five chapters and then skipped the to last 3 so I could know the outcome. Really, really bad. And the sad thing is the author's note mentioned that she is working on the next Haley Randolph mystery. Yikes!
Jun 03, 2009
Sheri
rated it:
I liked this cozy far more than I expected to! Just goes to show you that sometimes the best way to find out if you'd like a book is to read it! Haley is a lovable if a bit too naive of a main character. I wonder how long until she becomes a professional shopper for Holt's!
Nov 19, 2010
Mary Beth
rated it:
Couldn't get into this; seems like a stupid book with a stupid character. Harsh opinion and makes me sound like some kind of snob. Well, I hope not since I read and loved the Shopaholic books. Those were fun; this just never hooked me and I found I couldn't care about the main character or her situation.
Aug 08, 2011
Emdawn
rated it:
This book was just ok. I wanted to slap Haley many times for being so stupid. She is the type of girl in real life I have no respect for. Otherwise the book was entertaining enough that I could overlook some of the annoyance at the main character.
Aug 10, 2009
Chris
rated it:
This is a fun book. The narrater is a shopaholic. She spends money she doesn't have. She is likeable in spite of her weaknesses and crude language. The mystery part was well done. Are there really people this shallow in the real world?
Dec 26, 2010
Manny
rated it:
This is part of a series and I totally had a great time reading it, because it's about a woman who has an obsession with handbags haha so of course I would love that, plus it's also a mystery which is another thing I love :)
Oct 01, 2009
Duncanhome
rated it:
I did not like the main character of this book--too self-centered, immature, and fashion obsessed. I had a hard time believing that her "love interest' would actually be attracted to her. The plot is just so-so.
Aug 29, 2009
Jaynan
rated it:
The heroin in this story... she totally cracked me up. The conversations within her own mind had me laughing out loud. Though the major mysteries are solved, there's another book that continues the story. I can't wait to read it!
