Fifteen Minutes of Shame by Lisa Daily
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Book Reviews of Fifteen Minutes of Shame
Book Review: An addictive, compelling story!
Summary: 5 Stars
Darby Vaughn is a talented writer and after years of offering suggestions to her best friends on courting, she decides to write a book on dating do's and don'ts. With the success of her book, Darby suddenly becomes famous and is considered an expert on dating etiquette. All the television and radio shows want to interview her. The famous author is married to a handsome publicist and is a step-mom to his two adorable kids from his previous marriage. She is very content with her life - until she spies her husband leaving a convenience store, furtively looking around, before hopping into his car. He is supposed to be in Atlanta. Uh, oh, something is not right.
Darby leaves on a two-week book promotion tour, with interviews at the most prestigious television stations, such as The Today Show and Oprah, and various radio shows to talk about her new story. She is unaware that her life is about to change overnight.
During a coveted interview with Matt Lauer on The Today Show, Darby finds out in front of the whole world, that her husband has cheated on her. When Matt divulges information from an article appearing in the morning's newspaper, she reacts by exuding a spectacular stream of vomit in his chrysanthemums and passing out. The article, it seems, contains the details that her famous publicist husband William Bradley has filed for divorce from the world's leading dating expert. Darby's so-called fairytale life is over; paparazzi stalk her, loyal fans desert her, the famous vomit shot becomes headline news overnight, and her reputation as a love expert is down the tubes.
Darby vacillates between crying and vomiting as she tries to sort things out. She discovers that her rat of a husband went back with his ex-wife Gigi, the publicity seeker. It is difficult for her to digest the fact that Will doesn't love her anymore. She didn't have a clue that he was about to drop a bomb shell on her.
In addition, Darby loves her step-kids as if they were her own. During her three-year marriage, Gigi, their natural mother, landed a spot on a TV reality show, so she didn't have time for her kids. Will was always working late. Therefore, Darby was the one who took care of all their needs.
Darby plods along the best she can and puts her life back in order with the help from her best friends and a sharp female publicity assistant Kendall, who used to work for Will, pre-divorce. Darby does some investigative work, hires a smart, charismatic lawyer, and uncovers a web of deceit as she unravels the truth behind her cheating husband's plan. Will she ever see her step-kids again? Does Darby get back at Will and Gigi for ruining her life?
Lisa Daily is a multi-talented author who is also a TV relationship expert. Her book FIFTEEN MINUTES OF SHAME is a tantalizing look at the many facets of a prominent author's life who deals with a dishonorable husband. The plot is peppered with many barbs and advice tips galore on what to do if your man is cheating which gives the story its own irresistible flavor. The star of the story is Darby Vaughn. She is embarrassed on live television during an interview when she discovers that her husband has filed for divorce. Darby is a wonder woman as she grapples with the ultimate humiliation and then rises above it. I think all women across America can benefit from this story as it outlines, in detail, understanding men and building your career. I was rooting for Darby all the way, as she uncovered the facts behind her dastardly husband's plan. I zoomed through the pages of the story, eager to see if she regains custody of the kids and if Will and Gigi get what they deserve. There are many surprising twists sprinkled throughout the story. Does Darby get her fairy tale ending? Rush out and buy a copy of FIFTEEN MINUTES OF SHAME because this is one addictive, compelling story!
Book Review: A Fun and Clever Read
Summary: 5 Stars
It's no coincidence that author Lisa Daily's novel about a dating expert hung out to dry by her cad of a husband on national TV feels so darned real. Daily herself is a relationship expert, and has peppered this funny debut novel with plenty of great advice for women both married and single, really. Your heart will hurt as you see Darby humiliated, but root for her to come 'round and get past the pain. Fifteen Minutes of Shame is a fun, fast read and you'll be cheering Darby on as she tackles the big issues and decides what's most important in her life.Book Review: Couldn't Put It Down
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a delightful, can't-put-down story that is also deeply satisfying. Although the protagonist encounters situations most of us will never experience (like the nightmare scenario of getting dumped on national TV and the fairytale comeback of dating celebrities as a way of rehabilitating her image), we can all recognize ourselves in her sufferings and her triumphs. After all, isn't getting dumped--no matter how it happens--so humiliating it might as well have happened on the Today Show? And isn't it empowering to get back on our feet, whether we do it in Christian Louboutins or Vans?
There are a couple of elements that make this book resonate: the heroine's willingness to plumb the depths of her deepest fears and hidden insecurities as a means of owning her own contribution to the failure of her marriage, and the rewards of such self-examination. The latter includes a hero whose declaration-of-love scene brought to mind Mr. Darcy's famous "My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." But minus the ensuing insults. This protagonist is no passive victim, and she manages to find her power and her compassion. Can't wait till this gets made into a movie.
Book Review: 15 Minutes of Shame Earns Daily 15 Minutes of Praise
Summary: 4 Stars
The heroine, Darcy, is instantly lovable though quickly victimized by her cheating husband, on national television, in the middle of a book tour. Ouch. The reader is easily drawn into Darcy's life as a popular relationship expert who is now forced to face millions of adoring fans and explain why her own real life relationship failed. You will cry with her, root for her revenge and enjoy every up and down along the way. The villain of the novel, her cheating husband, is a well rounded character with good intentions. In fact, almost every character of the story was played down well enough to make them feel real and remind the reader of people in their own lives. Though I'm hesitant to just lump this book in the genre of "Chick Lit", Daily's story is more down-to-earth and less of a fairy tale compared to others of the genre. There is no clear good or bad as every character, even the heroine, has flaws. I cannot help but draw parallels between the author and her main character. Though Darby Vaughn is entirely imaginary, her life is not. Lisa Daily is a real-life relationship expert who's first novel was an instant hit. After selling copies worldwide, she has now been quoted in several gossip magazines and runs a real world "Dreamgirl Academy". She's currently on tour for this new novel and, as of yet, has not been dumped by her husband on national television. From reading both novels, it becomes obvious that the author has grown up not only as a writer but in the morals taught in her books. Though the first book is simply a guidebook for dating and chock full of advice for women desperately seeking an alternative to their failing game plans, the new one reads like a "What-If" come to life. It's as if Lisa Daily wondered what would happen if all the advice she spent giving women simply turned out to not work all of the time. What if it backfired and ruined her perfect life? Thus, we have Darby Vaughn. Working as Lisa's alter-ego, the reader is allowed to enjoy a fantastic piece of fiction inspired by the real world influence of the author herself. Thankfully, though Fifteen Minutes of Shame is also peppered with snippets of advice from Dreamgirl Academy, they are used to show the reader that rules are meant to be broken. Especially when it comes to love. I would definitely recommend hauling both books to the beach for a side-by-side read.Book Review: Hysterical fiction debut from a real life relationship guru
Summary: 4 Stars
Darby Vaughn is a successful relationship expert, having authored several books, columns, and personal appearances on the subject. At first suspicious that there is something going on with her husband and publicist Will, he is soon able to explain it all away and she embarks on her latest book tour. Nothing prepares her when her idyllic world comes crashing down when she discovers on national television that she has been dumped by her husband, as he has reconciled with his ex-wife and taken the daughters she has been raising with him. What's a girl to do? If you are Darby, you barf on Matt Lauer's shoes in full Technicolor. At first, she wallows in self pity, particularly when she is abandoned by her fans and turns into a late night joke. Then she brushes herself off and tries to do damage control deciding to seek custody of her ex's children. Her attorney prepares her for the worst. As new opportunities come her way both professionally and personally, Darby realizes that she might not be able to have it all.
Real life TV relationship guru Daily's fiction debut is a hilarious tale of a woman wronged who is forced to lick her wounds in a public arena. The dialogue is crisp and the characters are well developed. She cleverly inserts dating tips from Darby's columns to bring authenticty to her character. I particularly enjoyed her second chance at romance.