Opportunity Knocks

February 22, 2016
In her third novel, Sweeney’s (The Star Attraction) narrator is Alex Cleary, 25 and desperate to break into show business as a makeup artist and move out of her parents’ house in Los Angeles. Alex gets her “butt in gear” when her friend Emma visits from New York for an episode of the Everyday Life with Hillary show. Hillary P. is a Martha Stewart–type perfectionist—and an intimidating and abusive boss. When Hillary P.’s makeup assistant develops appendicitis, Alex steps in. Hillary P. hires Alex, who moves to New York, but not before hooking up with A-list actor Billy Fox—but is it just for a night? To make matters even more complicated, Alex accidentally violates her nondisclosure contract, resulting in an against-the-clock rush to solve the problem. Though the tension of the story sometimes flags, Sweeney nevertheless delivers loads of escapism and romance.

February 1, 2016
A makeup artist crosses the wrong TV diva--and hits a rising star on her way down--in this short and sweet love story from a former star of The Biggest Loser and Days of Our Lives. After moving to New York City to work for a cooking show host, makeup artist Alex Cleary unknowingly vents about her difficult new boss to a tabloid journalist, who pens an expose that will violate Alex's confidentiality agreement. If she can't stop the reporter from running the story, she'll owe her boss $5 million in damages, which her meager salary won't even begin to cover, and she'll likely never work in television again. Once again, Sweeney (Scared Scriptless, 2014, etc.) uses her insider knowledge of the entertainment industry to craft a lovable heroine who isn't afraid to mix business with pleasure. Whether she's discreetly powdering a male actor's face or explaining the best way to cover up tattoos, Alex appears to know what she's doing even as she's ruining her first big break. She also has sweet moments with Billy Fox, the hot young actor who's willing to put his reputation on the line to save her career. But it's her sunny determination that readers will root for as she proves to her parents, her ex-boyfriend, Sean, and to herself that she can make it on her own in the big city. Her fight to keep Internet gossip from ruining her reputation as well as her employer's is a fun twist on the usual gofer's revenge story. A breezy, cheerful read.

COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

April 15, 2016

In this novel, budding L.A. makeup artist Alex Cleary and her best friend Emma, who lives in New York City and works for the infamous Hilary P. (think Martha Stewart) on a cooking TV program, end up in the right place at the right time. Alex is hired for the show's stint in L.A., then offered the job of a lifetime, working for the program, doing Hilary P's makeup exclusively, in New York. She packs up her brushes and with the (quickly glanced over) contracts signed, including a nondisclosure agreement, heads east. However, Alex's dream job takes an unexpected turn as the NDA comes back to haunt her, leaving her 48 hours to make things right, or lose everything. Sweeney's third novel is another wild romp through life in the spotlight, this time from the angled brush of a makeup artist. Readers will notice familiar characters from The Star Attraction, but this work stands on its own. While Hilary P. is no Miranda Priestly, Alex and Lauren Weisberger's The Devil Wears Prada protagonist Andy would have a lot to discuss! VERDICT A fun and fiery peek into the world of culinary arts television through a makeup artist's careful cat eye, this novel will appeal to fans of Sweeney's previous works.--Erin Holt, Williamson Cty. P.L., Franklin, TN

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.