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Pushover
Dani Wilder is a rising star on the Hollywood culinary scene, and she thinks she has finally found the perfect locale for the launch of her first restaurant. The prime spot sits on Sunset Boulevard, highlighted with rich wood beams, a vaulted ceiling, private booths and a stunning loft so high that the fall could kill someone. In fact, it did. As this mild-mannered chef prepares to open L.A.'s "it" restaurant, she stumbles upon the sordid, dark secrets of her otherwise perfect boyfriend's past. Impossibly handsome and pediatrician to celebrity kids, Jack has it all - including a former fiancée he never mentioned, or got over. Accused of pushing a woman to her death in the space on Sunset, Rebecca Sterling shares more than history with the restaurant, she was engaged to Jack and now she's back in town. Yes, Rebecca returns to do what she does spin a web of lies and get her way. And her deceptive methods work as usual with Jack. It's certainly awkward for Dani, but is it dangerous? Dani suspects Rebecca got away with murder, lied to Jack, and is sabotaging the restaurant. Dani's love, life, and livelihood are entangled in Rebecca's scheme, and at what cost? After all, the only thing Rebecca loves more than making an entrance is making an exit.
292 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2011
8 people want to read
About the author
Laurel Mayer
1 book15 followersLaurel Mayer is the author of the debut novel PUSHOVER. A graduate of Boston University, Laurel lives outside of Boston with her husband and three sons. For more about Laurel and her writing please visit www.laurelmayer.com, "like" her author page on Facebeook, or follow @Laurel_Mayer on Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 16, 2011
Sometimes, I get frustrated with myself when I begin to write a review on a book that I didn’t love only to find out that all the other reviews are glowing. This is the case with Pushover by Laurel Mayer. While I did like the book, I didn’t love it and can’t give it a five star review. The story follows Dani Wilder as she opens her first restaurant – in a location where a woman was allegedly pushed to her death. By Dani’s boyfriend’s former fiancée. When Dani finds out about this past lover, whom Jack has never mentioned, she begins to wonder if he is really over her and more so – did she really do it? When Rebecca sweeps back into town, she begins to spin her own web of lies and manipulate her way back into Jack’s good graces. How will Dani make it unscathed through all the drama, and can her restaurant and dream be a success?
While I thought I could love the plot and I’m all for a good mystery, this book just fell a little flat for me. I thought the writing was a bit slow and sometimes I just didn’t have that spark to keep reading. I’m really bummed too because like I said I enjoy the mystery aspects in a book, and I love reading about food. The parts that slowed me down were the flashbacks with Vic and Melinda. I thought they were a bit much. I could easily tell that Vic was highly in love with Melinda and that something devastating had happened, but all the pages of back story was just not necessary in my opinion. Jack’s character confused me a bit at times too - I couldn’t always tell what Dani saw in him - but Rebecca was great. In an evil way, of course. Her character is one that you will just hate, but need to keep reading about. Overall, I had a good time reading Pushover, but it’s not a favorite of mine. I think flashbacks can really make or break a story, and in my opinion it broke it for this one. But, I could tell that Mayer does have some great writing skills, and I will definitely check her out again!
While I thought I could love the plot and I’m all for a good mystery, this book just fell a little flat for me. I thought the writing was a bit slow and sometimes I just didn’t have that spark to keep reading. I’m really bummed too because like I said I enjoy the mystery aspects in a book, and I love reading about food. The parts that slowed me down were the flashbacks with Vic and Melinda. I thought they were a bit much. I could easily tell that Vic was highly in love with Melinda and that something devastating had happened, but all the pages of back story was just not necessary in my opinion. Jack’s character confused me a bit at times too - I couldn’t always tell what Dani saw in him - but Rebecca was great. In an evil way, of course. Her character is one that you will just hate, but need to keep reading about. Overall, I had a good time reading Pushover, but it’s not a favorite of mine. I think flashbacks can really make or break a story, and in my opinion it broke it for this one. But, I could tell that Mayer does have some great writing skills, and I will definitely check her out again!
August 9, 2011
Check out more reviews at Books to the Sky.
(We received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.)
We're just going to come right out and say it, we LOVED this book!
It made us laugh, it made us cry, it made us angry. I (Jenny) was rapidly texting Kaitlin while reading this book saying things like, "OMG can I stab his eye out?" and then later "I'm totally crying right now." among other various thoughts.
Laurel Mayer does such a fabulous job developing the characters and plot in this story. You can't help but completely love Dani. We absolutely loathed Rebecca, her character was delightfully evil and the rest of the characters were, well, you just need to read to find out.
(We received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.)
We're just going to come right out and say it, we LOVED this book!
It made us laugh, it made us cry, it made us angry. I (Jenny) was rapidly texting Kaitlin while reading this book saying things like, "OMG can I stab his eye out?" and then later "I'm totally crying right now." among other various thoughts.
Laurel Mayer does such a fabulous job developing the characters and plot in this story. You can't help but completely love Dani. We absolutely loathed Rebecca, her character was delightfully evil and the rest of the characters were, well, you just need to read to find out.
July 26, 2011
Review from Books to the Sky.
(We received this review in exchange for an honest review.)
We're just going to come right out and say it, we LOVED this book!
It made us laugh, it made us cry, it made us angry. I (Jenny) was rapidly texting Kaitlin while reading this book saying things like, "OMG can I stab his eye out?" and then later "I'm totally crying right now." among other various thoughts.
Laurel Mayer does such a fabulous job developing the characters and plot in this story. You can't help but completely love Dani. We absolutely loathed Rebecca, her character was delightfully evil and the rest of the characters were, well, you just need to read to find out.
(We received this review in exchange for an honest review.)
We're just going to come right out and say it, we LOVED this book!
It made us laugh, it made us cry, it made us angry. I (Jenny) was rapidly texting Kaitlin while reading this book saying things like, "OMG can I stab his eye out?" and then later "I'm totally crying right now." among other various thoughts.
Laurel Mayer does such a fabulous job developing the characters and plot in this story. You can't help but completely love Dani. We absolutely loathed Rebecca, her character was delightfully evil and the rest of the characters were, well, you just need to read to find out.
October 15, 2011
A great read with twists and turns galore. Would make a great film.
July 25, 2011
Review will be posted on July 26th!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews