WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD

Author: Carole Matthews ISBN: 0373895909 9/2006 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: RED DRESS INK

Scraping by for years on pub gigs and odd jobs, Fern Kendal has always suspected she might actually have a decent voice. But caring for her feuding parents and sickly nephew took all her energy—until now. During one crazy week, she lands a spot on the reality television talent show Fame Game and a glam new job as personal assistant to world-famous singer Evan David. Fern's handsome new boss lives in the spotlight, but memories of a childhood tragedy keep Evan from truly enjoying all he's achieved. Though flanked by a hovering entourage and adoring fans, he feels isolated and set apart. That is, until free-spirited Fern is added to the mix. Though she can't seem to master her assistant duties, Fern brings a rare smile to Evan's face and makes him long to rejoin the real world. Through a twist of fate, Evan becomes the newest judge on Fame Game, a sour note for Fern, who has reasons for keeping her ambitions under wraps. She goes on the run, but Evan can't forget her, and thus begins the adventure of a lifetime—both onstage and off!

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

You are going to be in for a special treat when you pick up Carole Matthews newest release, WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD. It's a fantastic contemporary novel that is filled with well written characters and an engaging plot. Carole Matthews plucked the rights chords with this book!

Sometimes, it's not always about the fast paced plots and breath taking love scenes that leave me very satisfied with the outcome of a book. There's the element of defined characters that can either make or break a story. Matthews has one of the best casts of characters in this book. Each one is thought out and written with such great detail. Matthews gave them each distinctive personalities that inevitably made WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD an incredibly satisfying and entertaining read. We start out with Fern and Carl, and end up with an array of fun loving characters that you can't help but care for and love. My personal favorite was Fern's dad; I laughed 'till I cried, and then I laughed some more.

I loved how Matthews incorporated the rich and famous lifestyle with that of an almost everyday lifestyle. She showed that it is the love of family and friends that, in the end is important, not how much money you have and how famous you are. Fern and Evan's relationship throughout this story may have it's ups and downs, but it is the final scene in the story that makes reading WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD spectacular. That is how it is throughout the whole the book—an array of spectacular scenes combined to make a charming, heartwarming and utterly romantic story.

What happens when opera meets pop? When rich meets poor? When what you want is just out of your reach? The answer to these questions can be found inside the pages of Carole Matthews' WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD. It's a definite Top Pick read for me!

Julie Kornhausl