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Ms. Communications
A fast-paced, out-of-the-box chick-lit adventure giving an insider's view of the cut-throat startup world, where yesterday’s impossible becomes today’s reality.
Gwen Mongan is a thirty-three-year-old Marketing Communications executive in an innovative startup. Besides her exciting career and dream home, former social worker Gwen’s life is full with great friends, community service, and a passion for matchmaking. The only problem is her boss: the impossibly demanding and maddeningly charismatic hi-tech superstar, Jake Folton.
When Jake goes too far, Gwen thinks it’s time to look for a new job. But Gwen soon discovers it’s going to take more spunk and ingenuity than she knew she possessed to get away from a guy who doesn’t take no for an answer. In fact, it’s going to turn her tidy existence upside-down.
Can a racehorse named Purple Lemonade, a deadly Funnel-Web Spider, and a dubious Bachelor-of-the-Year contest finally show Gwen that some people are not what they seem and some risks are worth taking?
Debut novelist Myra Kendrix brings her own experience in hi-tech marketing to this page-turning comedy, set against the vibrant cityscape of Sydney, Australia.
Gwen Mongan is a thirty-three-year-old Marketing Communications executive in an innovative startup. Besides her exciting career and dream home, former social worker Gwen’s life is full with great friends, community service, and a passion for matchmaking. The only problem is her boss: the impossibly demanding and maddeningly charismatic hi-tech superstar, Jake Folton.
When Jake goes too far, Gwen thinks it’s time to look for a new job. But Gwen soon discovers it’s going to take more spunk and ingenuity than she knew she possessed to get away from a guy who doesn’t take no for an answer. In fact, it’s going to turn her tidy existence upside-down.
Can a racehorse named Purple Lemonade, a deadly Funnel-Web Spider, and a dubious Bachelor-of-the-Year contest finally show Gwen that some people are not what they seem and some risks are worth taking?
Debut novelist Myra Kendrix brings her own experience in hi-tech marketing to this page-turning comedy, set against the vibrant cityscape of Sydney, Australia.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 20, 2015
55 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
About the author
Myra Kendrix
2 books6 followers3 Facts About Myra Kendrix:
1. Myra is a professional marketer. That means she gets paid to brainstorm wildly creative ideas, which is lucky because she does that all day anyway, even when she's not being paid.
2. Besides authoring chick-lit novels, Myra is also an adept writer of marketing copy, blog posts, collection letters to clients, front-end code, late notes for her children and third-person blurbs about herself.
3. Though she hasn't lived there for many years, Myra thinks that Sydney, Australia, is probably the world's most beautiful city. If you haven't visited, you must go. If you can't go, read Myra's books. It's the next best thing.
4. If you were to say to Myra: "look at that bird in that tree," she would probably answer with childlike enthusiasm, "you mean that Crimson Rosella in the Moreton Bay Fig?"
5. Despite having been promised three facts only, we are now up to No. 5. This is typical of Myra.
1. Myra is a professional marketer. That means she gets paid to brainstorm wildly creative ideas, which is lucky because she does that all day anyway, even when she's not being paid.
2. Besides authoring chick-lit novels, Myra is also an adept writer of marketing copy, blog posts, collection letters to clients, front-end code, late notes for her children and third-person blurbs about herself.
3. Though she hasn't lived there for many years, Myra thinks that Sydney, Australia, is probably the world's most beautiful city. If you haven't visited, you must go. If you can't go, read Myra's books. It's the next best thing.
4. If you were to say to Myra: "look at that bird in that tree," she would probably answer with childlike enthusiasm, "you mean that Crimson Rosella in the Moreton Bay Fig?"
5. Despite having been promised three facts only, we are now up to No. 5. This is typical of Myra.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
October 13, 2016
the characters seemed flat, needed another edit as there were words missing which took away from the story.
February 26, 2018
It could use some proofreading and editing, and tying up loose threads wouldn’t hurt either, but it’s still a cute read. For a self-published novel and a debut, it’s better than most. I would normally rate it 3*, but I am adding a star for the reasons I just mentioned, and also because it’s clean.
December 3, 2016
Loved, loved it so much. The characters were smart and spunky and I really was engrossed in the story and finished it in hours! I can't wait to read more from Myra Kendrix. She is a new author for me, but I loved her writing style and characters!
October 9, 2016
A little gem of a book.
December 3, 2016
I have never read Ms. Kendrix before, and I can't wait to read more of her books. It was the perfect mix of funny, and adorable characters and the romance that ensues. I really liked the main character and the love interest. I thought that the story maintained my attention so that I finished it in a just a few hours and didn't want to put it down. At first, the company's vision and purpose for green energy and consumption was I thought goofy and hoped it would be the main focus of the book and it wasn't. I have read some okay books lately by new authors, and this was such a breath of fresh air. The subplot kept the story interesting without being distracting; the character grew, and there was a satisfying ending. The only drawback was not having more of those lunches between the main character and the love interest, to see their relationship become romantic unfolding more on the page. I did love the epilogue from Jake's POV and would have loved more of it! So if you are looking for a fun, easy and thoroughly delightful romantic chic-lit, then please pick this one up!
April 18, 2023
As a romance reader, I first look for the romantic story in the book. But here, there was much more than that. There are so many things to think about, and so many subjects that were introduced to me personally, especially the business and tech world aspect of the story. The author wrote in a way that mostly kept my interest, and the characters were all interesting to read and know more about them. When the romantic part of the story finally started, I loved every moment of it, and the ending was nice too.
June 2, 2018
I liked the story. The characters could have been more dynamic, but overall the storyline is pretty good.
The book needs editing. The word "cos" is written throughout the book... I think there is a better way. 'cause, because, etc... All characters seem to say this without difference of who the character is.
The book needs editing. The word "cos" is written throughout the book... I think there is a better way. 'cause, because, etc... All characters seem to say this without difference of who the character is.
October 30, 2016
the overall idea was good, but the story lacked humour and fun, and the ending left unanswered questions
March 7, 2017
The characters and story line seemed realistic to
Me. I could relate to most of the situations between the employee and a slave-driving boss or the relationship between Gwen and Malia as BFFs who were once roommates. Though the end was abrupt leaving you with questions on your mind. Overall an avg fun light read!
Me. I could relate to most of the situations between the employee and a slave-driving boss or the relationship between Gwen and Malia as BFFs who were once roommates. Though the end was abrupt leaving you with questions on your mind. Overall an avg fun light read!
October 3, 2016
I got this book when it was free on amazon and I wasn't sure what to expect. I decided to read it when I couldn't sleep on the plane. But it was a cute little story. It's not amazing but it was a quick enjoyable read. And clean and no swear words.
August 27, 2015
I don't work in a fast-paced startup environment, but I have no doubt that Ms. Kendrix really knows her stuff. This book had a lot of very informative information about that world and it was interesting to read about.
I definitely think I would have liked this story more if I hadn't been expecting a romantic comedy. I kept waiting for something to happen, but the romance is a very small part of the story and almost non-existent. I didn't feel any romantic connection between the characters. I wanted flirting, secret glances, stolen kisses, or anything to show interest in each other. I really like the build up of the romance in a story, but felt it was missing.
Gwen is a very hardworking and eager-to-please type of woman and she puts way more into her job than she should. She's not only a hard-nosed marketing guru, but she also dabbles in matchmaking, with some successful outcomes. She's a real people person who can really read and assess a person. I really liked her character and personality. I loved the friendship Gwen shares with Malia and the dedication she has towards fixing up her house. She has a way of stating things how they are in a tactful way and I loved watching her in action. She's a very family oriented woman and I loved reading about her interactions with her family. Gwen has an interest in her boss, Jake, but he's a jerk!
I'm sure that Jake doesn't mean to be a jerk, but he is. He's very intense, very focused on his job, and has absolutely no social skills. He can't clue in to how others feel and he pushes his employees to work as hard as he does. He admits that he doesn't like to be at home--it's at work where he feels comfortable at and can be himself.
I enjoyed the setting--Australia! It was a lot of fun to get to know parts of that country a little better and to catch of glimpse of life there. I felt immersed in the culture with the language that is used in the story and the descriptions of places.
Content: no language, violence, or religious elements; extremely mild romance. Clean!
*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*
I definitely think I would have liked this story more if I hadn't been expecting a romantic comedy. I kept waiting for something to happen, but the romance is a very small part of the story and almost non-existent. I didn't feel any romantic connection between the characters. I wanted flirting, secret glances, stolen kisses, or anything to show interest in each other. I really like the build up of the romance in a story, but felt it was missing.
Gwen is a very hardworking and eager-to-please type of woman and she puts way more into her job than she should. She's not only a hard-nosed marketing guru, but she also dabbles in matchmaking, with some successful outcomes. She's a real people person who can really read and assess a person. I really liked her character and personality. I loved the friendship Gwen shares with Malia and the dedication she has towards fixing up her house. She has a way of stating things how they are in a tactful way and I loved watching her in action. She's a very family oriented woman and I loved reading about her interactions with her family. Gwen has an interest in her boss, Jake, but he's a jerk!
I'm sure that Jake doesn't mean to be a jerk, but he is. He's very intense, very focused on his job, and has absolutely no social skills. He can't clue in to how others feel and he pushes his employees to work as hard as he does. He admits that he doesn't like to be at home--it's at work where he feels comfortable at and can be himself.
I enjoyed the setting--Australia! It was a lot of fun to get to know parts of that country a little better and to catch of glimpse of life there. I felt immersed in the culture with the language that is used in the story and the descriptions of places.
Content: no language, violence, or religious elements; extremely mild romance. Clean!
*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*
September 1, 2015
When I first started this book, I wasn't sure I was going to like it. But, I kept reading and am glad I did. At first I thought her boss, Jake, was just a jerk. But, I very quickly began to think he had Asperger's, which is considered a milder form of autism. Having two people close to me who live like this everyday, I could totally relate to Jake, and everyone's frustration with him. And sure enough, Asperger's comes up in reference to Jake later in the book.
I would not call this a romance novel, yet it was about romance. But, it's not your normal romance. So readers expecting that might be disappointed. And, Jake's character was so spot on with the cluelessness of social cues, the inability to see how their actions effect others, and the struggle to try to do these things, was so realistic that it makes me wonder if Ms. Kindrix doesn't also have someone in her life like this. You really do have to get to know them to know that they do care and have feelings. The things that bother most people often don't bother them, or they just aren't aware of how others feel. They will often know there is a problem, but be totally clueless of what it is. Direct communication is definitely necessary. I often think it might be harder for them. They are so close to normal, that people immediately see their social faux pas as rudeness and coldness.
This is Ms. Kendrix first book, and I could tell. This in no way is meant to be negative. The fact that it is her first book, yet she was able to spin such a witty, different, crucially complex story is something I applaud. If she's starting out this good, it will only get better, and I can't wait to read more. This may not be for everyone as it's not your typical romance. But, it is a light, easy read that has a great anylitically minded story line. Before I really got into the book, and figured out what was happening, I wanted to give it 2 stars. Then, it jumped to 3. Then 3 1/2. And by the middle it had found its way to 4 stars from me. A story worth reading.
I would not call this a romance novel, yet it was about romance. But, it's not your normal romance. So readers expecting that might be disappointed. And, Jake's character was so spot on with the cluelessness of social cues, the inability to see how their actions effect others, and the struggle to try to do these things, was so realistic that it makes me wonder if Ms. Kindrix doesn't also have someone in her life like this. You really do have to get to know them to know that they do care and have feelings. The things that bother most people often don't bother them, or they just aren't aware of how others feel. They will often know there is a problem, but be totally clueless of what it is. Direct communication is definitely necessary. I often think it might be harder for them. They are so close to normal, that people immediately see their social faux pas as rudeness and coldness.
This is Ms. Kendrix first book, and I could tell. This in no way is meant to be negative. The fact that it is her first book, yet she was able to spin such a witty, different, crucially complex story is something I applaud. If she's starting out this good, it will only get better, and I can't wait to read more. This may not be for everyone as it's not your typical romance. But, it is a light, easy read that has a great anylitically minded story line. Before I really got into the book, and figured out what was happening, I wanted to give it 2 stars. Then, it jumped to 3. Then 3 1/2. And by the middle it had found its way to 4 stars from me. A story worth reading.
February 10, 2017
I'm not sure what is was but even though I liked it - I did not. Go figure...
September 20, 2015
I thought I might get some tips on marketing along the way, and I actually did. This was not the reason I bought the book, of course. I was intrigued because of a TV series about silicon valley, in which just as much goes on behind the scenes between the characters, as it does in the actual putting the business together.
I was drawn into the book, not only because of the subject matter, but because of the interaction between Gwen, Jake, and Malia. Jake has to be the stand out protagonist for me because of his somewhat troubled personality disorder. Having said that Ms Kendrix did an excellent job in explaining and showing why he was, as he was.
Well written, funny at times, and captivating to me, someone who knows nothing of business start ups.
I was drawn into the book, not only because of the subject matter, but because of the interaction between Gwen, Jake, and Malia. Jake has to be the stand out protagonist for me because of his somewhat troubled personality disorder. Having said that Ms Kendrix did an excellent job in explaining and showing why he was, as he was.
Well written, funny at times, and captivating to me, someone who knows nothing of business start ups.
October 2, 2016
This chick lit novel was less about the romance than about careers and life decisions- but there is some romance, both successful and failed.
It doesn't fit the tropes for either American or British chick lit, which I found appealing. All the characters were well-written and well-rounded, even the minor ones they all had a coherency and essence that is rare to find.
The pressures of a high-tech start-up are detailed with great accuracy! Jake's obliviousness to the reactions his behaviors cause in the team are realistic, as is Gwen's ability to read that but reluctance to speak out- both are key elements of their characters, and both grow in the process of the book.
All in all, it wasn't what i was expecting- but was very enjoyable!
It doesn't fit the tropes for either American or British chick lit, which I found appealing. All the characters were well-written and well-rounded, even the minor ones they all had a coherency and essence that is rare to find.
The pressures of a high-tech start-up are detailed with great accuracy! Jake's obliviousness to the reactions his behaviors cause in the team are realistic, as is Gwen's ability to read that but reluctance to speak out- both are key elements of their characters, and both grow in the process of the book.
All in all, it wasn't what i was expecting- but was very enjoyable!
September 30, 2016
The plot felt like an intern playing out her fantasy of a grand Romance with her boss. This book had a lot of issues from a lack of maturity to a misunderstanding of storytelling fundamentals. I'm just going to zero in on one particular flaw for the sake of time: If you are interested in a guy, but you are getting some red flags that make you speculate that he might be violent or "crack your head open," run like hell. If your friends tell you to take a chance on him anyway, they are not your friends.
The author did seem to care about representation, which I respected, but unfortunately Kendrix just did not put enough effort into making it work. Editors are so important.
The author did seem to care about representation, which I respected, but unfortunately Kendrix just did not put enough effort into making it work. Editors are so important.
August 12, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. Gwen was an interesting woman to get to know and it was fun to get a peek into the corporate world of the tech industry. I also loved the setting, Sydney, Australia. Kendrix has a knack for dialogue and the plot moved along quickly, although sometimes too quickly.
Review Continued at Chick Lit Plus:
http://chicklitplus.com/bookreview-ms...
Review Continued at Chick Lit Plus:
http://chicklitplus.com/bookreview-ms...
March 17, 2016
Great read
It was good to read a book that wasn't about rich people and their "problems". Really good. I get tired of everything being about making more money or worse people who aren't really doing anything but selfish pursuits. I also like lack of perfect people and graphic sex.
It was good to read a book that wasn't about rich people and their "problems". Really good. I get tired of everything being about making more money or worse people who aren't really doing anything but selfish pursuits. I also like lack of perfect people and graphic sex.
September 28, 2016
I really don't know what to make of this story. I read to the end but the hype over the romance was played up more than the book delivered. There isn't much romance, or much anticipation of romance. The other offered a lot of different routes but nine were chosen. Such a shame, this could have been spicier more exciting and stronger - Sunday read xxx
January 8, 2017
Ms. Communications: A Smart Chick Lit - PG
Violence: none
Language: <10 swears
Sex: no sex, a couple of kisses
Lovely Australian adaptation of Sandra Bullock/Hugh Grant's "Two Weeks' Notice." I loved how confident the heroine is in both her intellect and her solitary lifestyle. She really has her stuff together! Lovely HEA.
Violence: none
Language: <10 swears
Sex: no sex, a couple of kisses
Lovely Australian adaptation of Sandra Bullock/Hugh Grant's "Two Weeks' Notice." I loved how confident the heroine is in both her intellect and her solitary lifestyle. She really has her stuff together! Lovely HEA.
September 18, 2015
Ms. Communications is a fun, fast-paced, non-traditional romance that transported us right across the world and made us feel like Aussies. Read our Full Review of Ms. Communications by Myra Kendrix.
March 19, 2016
For a free ebook this was actually surprisingly good. Nothing remarkable, but a great little story that kept me entertained.
October 2, 2016
Enjoyable lighthearted read. quick chapters with fast moving plot, although in some places perhaps it moved a little too quickly. Overall an easy read.
January 13, 2017
Cute and fun story with interesting characters, it's not a love at first sight whirlwind romance but one where they know each other awhile and develop feelings over time.
October 3, 2016
I thought the title was catchy and the blurb was interesting. The book itself was an okay read with humour in a few conversations.
October 6, 2016
Nice read
The first part of the book had its funny moments but over all not a funny story or over powering emotionally yet a good love story.
The first part of the book had its funny moments but over all not a funny story or over powering emotionally yet a good love story.
October 21, 2016
Cute but dumb
Lots of grammatical errors and a very predictable plot make this no more than a three. Not an unpleasant read though.
Lots of grammatical errors and a very predictable plot make this no more than a three. Not an unpleasant read though.
October 23, 2016
Fun and smart-nice to have a bunch of successful and intelligent women (and men) attempting to find love like the rest of us.
January 23, 2017
Cute fast read - nothing too exciting. A few spelling and grammatical errors.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews