Guest Post: Carrie Duffy writes about 'Why I love bonkbusters'

I'm so pleased that I decided to set up the guest post feature as already had several fantastic articles written and have another couple already lined up.   The latest author who has written a fab post for me is Carrie Duffy, author of bestselling novels Idol and Diva, on why she loves bonkbusters. 

I read my first bonkbuster when I was 16.  It was Career Girls, by Louise Bagshawe, and it was like nothing I'd ever read before - glossy, glam and utterly filthy.  I loved it!  The heroines were gorgeous, ambitious, take-no-prisoners women who had great clothes, great careers and great sex.  I wanted to be just like them.

Back then, I was growing up in a small town in North Yorkshire, and these novels offered me a glimpse into a world I could only dream of, with exotic locations, a jet-set lifestyle, smoking hot men and powerful women who battled their way to the top and crushed their enemies beneath a skyscraper stiletto.  I found them incredibly inspiring and aspirational - and they also made me want to write a novel of my own some day...

Books Read: Carrie Duffy - Diva

STUNNING AND SULTRY, DIONNE SUMMERS IS A GIRL WHO SPEAKS HER MINDS.

Brought up on the mean streets of Detroit, she is determined that nothing will stop her from becoming the world's next supermodel.

Beautiful and innocent, Alyson McIntyre is desperate her upbringing.  She decides it's time to take a hold on her life and follow her dreams.

Heading to the chic streets of Paris, the girls move in with a maverick young designer CeCe Bouvier.  Born to a life of luxury, CeCe is determined to stand on her own two feet and take the fashion world by storm.

The girls vow to make it to the top, but their friendship is about to be tested to the limits when deception, betrayal and tragedy are played out in the glare of the paparazzi flashbulbs.

Can the three girls overcome the ghosts of the past - or will the catwalk consume them?  

Exclusive e-book short stories - are they necessary?

One thing I've noticed this year is that there seems to have been an influx in the release of e-book exclusive short stories ahead of a new book from authors. 

That's not to say that I'm against this as I have purchased most of them but it does seem to disadvantage readers who haven't got an e-reader yet (I would have been included in this category if I hadn't received a Kindle for my 40th birthday). 

Fortunately these e-books either tend to be free or are cheap so it's not going to cost you the earth to buy them.  But is this practice necessary for book promotion or is it simply a means to cash in further?

A selection of these short stories that have been released in the last couple of months or are due out soon are:

I'd be interested to hear from other readers as to whether they buy/read the exclusive e-books before reading the novels?