A Proper Charlie

by Louise Wise

Charlie Wallis has everything a girl could wish for. A loving boyfriend, a nice flat and a fantastic job as a journalist for London Core. Trouble is, Charlie's boyfriend's a waster, her job title really reads 'clerk' and her flat, at the top of a high-rise, isn't that nice after all. Her new boss, Ben, is a huge bear of a man. A gentle giant, with chocolate brown eyes that hold a secret.While London Core investigates the murders of local prostitutes, Charlie wants in on the action, deciding that dressing as a hooker and walking the streets is good research.Bumping into Ben was the last thing she expected.A story of opposites not only attract, but ignite

Genres: Romance, Chick Lit, Contemporary Romance, Mystery, Romantic Comedy, Fiction, Contemporary

452 pages, Paperback

First published January 13, 2011

About the author

Louise Wise is a British author from the Midlands in England. Her debut novel is the acclaimed sci-fi romance EDEN, followed by its sequel HUNTED in 2013.

The forthcoming JELVIA: NOT HUMAN series is themed on the above Eden and Hunted books and is written under the pen name T E KESSLER.

HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO book 1
SURVIVING HER DOMINANT book 2
SPIDER book 3
MOON AND BACK book 4
NEMESIS book 5
TILL FOREVER FALLS APART book 6 (coming 2024/5)

Wise decided to write under the name of T. E Kessler for her JELVIA: NOT HUMAN series because of their more mature themes. Her other works include:

Eden (sci-fi romance)
Hunted (sci-fi romance)
A Proper Charlie (romantic comedy)
Oh No, I’ve Fallen in Love! (dark, comedy romance)
Wide Awake Asleep (time travel, romance)

Wise enjoys writing comedy and finds a place for it in ALL her books. She has written numerous short stories for women’s magazines, such as Take a Break and Woman’s Own.

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this book was awful. The character's were unlikable and undeveloped. The story was ridiculous. I truly disliked this book.

[Treasure Trove · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sorry not my style at all. Can't really recommend it even if it is free on amazon.

[Barbara ♥~Lindt Ninja~♥ (Careerist Gangster™)]

Saw it on a Listopia for Best British Books but after having a good laugh, I disagreed and decided it wasn't for me.

[Patricia Rockwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of this romance novel—“A Proper Charlie” --may be a bit misleading. The Charlie of the title is Charlotte Wallis or Charlie to her friends. She’s not at all “proper”—and most everyone—even Charlie herself-- likes it that way. That is, until a new boss from the upper echelons of society--Ben Middleton--arrives on the scene. This handsome newcomer turns Charlie’s world upside down and makes her re-evaluate her life and her goals.

Charlie works as a clerk at London Core, a British tabloid newspaper. She has acquired this position thanks to her long-time buddy, Melvin, a senior writer at the paper—and outspoken gay advocate. The two are as close as brother and sister, having grown up together in various orphanages. Charlie dreams of someday becoming a journalist, just like Melvin, and someday marrying her n’er do well boyfriend Andy. Charlie even goes so far as to immerse herself in the world of prostitution in hopes of getting a first-hand account of “The Gentleman Abductor,” a prostitute killer who has been creating havoc for local women of the street.

Ben Middleton is the son of media mogul Donald Middleton. His mother has just died and his father is recovering from a serious illness. Ben has been asked by his father to take over the reins of London Core as part of a corporate merger. When Ben’s sister Camilla suddenly runs away from home, Ben takes it upon himself to track her down. When his hired investigator fails to produce results, Ben goes underground after receiving word that Camilla may be hiding out with a prostitute—patrolling the streets as a possible customer.

As can be imagined, Charlie’s efforts to track down the Gentleman Abductor and Ben’s efforts to locate his missing sister bring the couple together and lead them on some hair-raising adventures in the London underbelly. Along the way, they start to fall in love—but concerns about the dissimilarities haunt them. Can these two Brits from opposite ends of the social spectrum work together to find the Gentleman Abductor? Can they fall in love despite their obvious social differences? Can Prince William marry a commoner?

I had a rollicking good time reading "A Proper Charlie." The characters are fun and funny. Charlie is immediately likeable and I found myself rooting for Charlie and Ben to find each other early on. The secondary characters are richly drawn—each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Melvin is a hoot and I also like the wise, long-suffering housekeeper Iris.

The pace and plotting is quick and there are no long, dull spots that drag. But the best part of this book is the dialogue. Ms. Wise has a wonderful ear for character dialogue and I loved how she brought people from various occupations and social strata to life with just a few words. In particular, I was entranced with all the wonderful, contemporary English slang used in this book. I recognized a few Briticisms like “posh” and “bollocks” but some terms were totally new to me such as “Y-fronts” or “kerb.”

[TinaNicole ☠ Le Book Nikita ☠]

After finding this on a Listopia and checking out the blurb, I'm fairly certain that I won't like it. So I'm just leaving myself this harmless reminder.

[Kathleen Crowell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt like this book had a lot of potential to be fun, but it got way too bogged down by the whole missing prostitute scandal. Charlie was a fun character, but it never really went anywhere for me. There was only one real spark of passion between the main characters...ending was a little too silly for me--even though it had moments with Mel involved...

[Nicola · Rating 2 out of 5]

perhaps 2 1/2 stars
This book was about a silly character who got herself into ridiculous situations, and relied on others to help her get out of them. I found this book required very little effort or attention. A perfect read when a distraction, rather than entertainment is what you are looking for.

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

this book was not at all like I expected based on the description, which would have been fine if the book was good but it fell short of that goal.

[Rachel the Book Harlot]

The moral of this story should have been: true success is based on merit. If you cheat to gain success, then you have gained nothing.

[Becca Chopra · Rating 5 out of 5]

We meet Charlie, a fiery redhead in a menial job at the London Core, just as it's being taken over by a newspaper conglomerate. At the same time, prostitutes are going missing in London's Red Light districts and a "posh abductor" is the main suspect. The book really becomes a page-turner when Charlie decides to pose as a prostitute to garner interviews and even try to catch the abductor. Although nervous, she feels the fear and follows her crazy plans anyway. Mistaken identities - she taking the sensitive, handsome new owner of the newspaper for the abductor as he combs the streets for his runaway younger sister; he taking Charlie for a woman out to make an extra buck (or should I say pound), mixed together with unbridled attraction for each other, and you have a wild and romantic ride.

I loved Charlie's development in the book from the rebellious, impulsive product of a care home for orphans, where she meets Melvin, the gay best friend and brother we'd all love to have, to the savvy, streetwise, beautiful woman courageous enough to move from office clerk to real writer by walking the walk on London's seemy side. She not only breaks through the upper-crust gentility of her new boss to win his heart, but she finds a way to become a success in using her talent for writing and crime-solving as well.

Louise Wise's writing is witty, full of wonderful character development and plot, and London slang - I felt I actually took a visit to England, not for a Royal event, but a taste of real life there. I look forward to reading more of Wise's books.

[Hot Mess Sommelière ~ Caro · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. A Proper Charlie is about Charlotte, a clerk working for a newspaper, who is currently breaking up with her ex-boyfriend Andy and sorting through her life.
Charlie wants to be a journalist, but her friends tell her to forget about that dream since she doesn't have the necessary qualification to be a real journalist.
Charlie however decides to write an article about prostitutes... and gets tangled up with her new boss, a serial abductor/possible killer, a bunch of too young prostitutes and a lot of fun.
Even though contemporary suspense and romantic comedy isn't really my thing, I'm still a huge fan of Louise Wise's and I definitely wanted to read all of her works.
I don't want to spoil the fun but this book is definitely readable.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun little read. Had a lot of British phrasing and slang that I didn't completely understand but could usually get the jist of what was going on. A good blend of mystery, humor, and romance kept it entertaining.

[Candice · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok for a free Kindle download.

[Cynthia Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Proper Charlie is the literal adult book version of Amelia Bedilia. Or maybe a modern day Lucille Ball. She is the most adorable girl that simply is not on the same wave length as everyone else. Her oddball actions will make readers laugh out loud, as I did multiple times.

Doing everything backwards, it's no surprise Charlie gets passed over at work and used by a schmuck she tries to pass of as a boyfriend, who's nothing more than a loser drug addict who strangely reminds me of Drop Dead Fred.

‘He promised he’d stop using,’ she wailed to Melvin. ‘He promised!’ She almost stamped her foot. ‘Doesn’t he realise the waste of money involved?’ ‘Drug users don’t care about the cost,’ Melvin said softly, as Andy gingerly raised his head. ‘I mean, that cost £1.70,’ she said tearfully, nodding to the tube of foil.

Another laugh out loud moment, when Charlie learned of Andy's drug habit. Rather than being concerned about the cost of drugs, she was upset he used her tin foil that she would now have to replace. But hey, that's just the way Charlie's brain works. Not on our wave length...

But the new owner of the newspaper she works for finds her quirky behavior attractive and soon discovers she's all he thinks about. But this posh, polished businessman lives in a completely different world than hers and sadly, they will never merge.

Until they both decide to go 'undercover' to reveal the identity of the "Gentleman Killer", (a serial killer targeting prostitutes) and it's utterly hilarious reading as Charlie and Ben's worlds collide and the assumptions they make while trying to uncover the mystery.

A cute rom com with very likeable characters. The story's a bit long for such a light comedy, but still, a very good read.

[Dorothy Garino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love British humor! This story, which has some pretty serious elements to it, is also filled with smart wit and banter between the characters. The author wrote in a few brilliant moments that had me chuckling.

I really became invested in the character Charlie. Most people view her as “daft” with not much happening in between her ears, but I found some of her viewpoints very interesting. Particularly with the missing persons case.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the author’s writing style. Very fun read.

[Kristine Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Romance

I really enjoyed this romance story, with a mixture of comedy and mystery. The characters are well developed and very interesting. Very enjoyable! Looking forward to reading more from the author!

[Rea Cobb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need to put my hands up and say I am a new fan or Jane Costello! I recently read and reviewed one of her books. My Single Friend and I absolutely loved it. I couldn’t wait to get started on another one so I didn’t hesitate when I saw Girl On The Run I knew it was coming home with me!


Plot
Abby Rogers has been on health kicks before – they involve eating one Blueberry muffin for breakfast instead of two.
But since starting her own business after too many episodes of The Apprentice, the 28-year-old’s waistline has taken even more of a back seat than her long-neglected love life. When she’s encouraged to join her sporty best friend’s running club – by none other than its gorgeous new captain – she finds a mysterious compulsion to exercise.
Sadly, her first session doesn’t go to plan. Between the leggings that resemble strawberry-flavoured condoms and the fact that her lungs feel as though they’ve been set on fire, she vows never to return. Then her colleague Heidi turns up at work and makes a devastating announcement, one that will change her life – and Abby’s – forever.


My Opinion
This is the first author whose work I cannot compare to any other Authors books I have read. Jane Costello really has an edge to her writing which I adore! I had always been put off reading any of Costello’s books by the front cover as they never really appealed to me but then this is definitely where the saying “Do not judge a book by its cover” comes into light! I found whilst reading Girl on the Run I received some strange looks from my partner due to me keep laughing aloud whilst reading this book. I found that things that our main character Abby was doing I could see myself doing in her position and I think because this felt so life like it did make me laugh imagining me in her shoes.


From the first chapter I was gripped. I was a little unsure if I was going to like this book as much as My single Friend as when I read this books synopsis I was a little unsure if it was going to be for me as it was clearly about keeping fit which is something I am afraid of! (I write this review with a bag of Maltesers next to me!)


Luckily it is clear from the start of the book that Abby has the same feelings about keeping fit as me so I felt I could relate to her character. I absolutely loved our main character Abby she feels so down to earth to read, and is so witty without realising it but this only makes her character even more entertaining to read. I did find the whole romance part of the book a little predictable but this didn’t ruin the book as it is such a light hearted entertaining read.


Although I found the book comical and light hearted read there is an deeper part of the book which is the reason why Abby starts the whole keep fit regime and I think the way Costello brings this topic into her storyline is done very gently and brings enough awareness to grab the reader’s attention without going overboard. We learn a lot about a terrible illness without actually realising we are being educated on the signs and symptoms of what can be such a debilitating illness.


What I also loved was the short chapters. Each chapter was only 3-4 pages long which really helped me this week with work being chaotic this week It allowed me to pick up the odd chapter here and there as that is one thing I cannot do is leave a chapter mid way.


I would defiantly recommend this book and I would not hesitate in rating it a top 5 stars as this is a book which you just cannot find faults. I cannot wait for the next Jane Costello book, let’s hope she doesn’t keep us waiting too long!
Review also on my book blog http://reabookreview.blogspot.com

[Helen Baggott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie Wallis is a young woman working in media, has daydreams and is looking for love. Sound familiar? If you think Louise Wise's latest novel, A Proper Charlie, is another Bridget Jones clone, you'd be wrong. It was often a struggle to like Bridget, with Charlie you can't help it.

In early chapters Charlie's naivety borders on annoying, but as the novel develops we soon realise she has dreams and it's those that have turned her into a survivor.

Deciding she has hit on the next big story, she has to step aside when she realises her more experienced colleagues are already researching and writing front page articles. But why let a good idea go to waste? The lives (and possibly deaths) of prostitutes would make a cracking novel, she decides - and continues her perilous research.

I think it was at this point I wondered if the author was pushing her character too far. How realistic would it be for a young woman to dress as a prostitute and climb into a stranger's car? We might not consider it, but as more of Charlie's past is revealed it actually seemed almost plausible.

She'd had a tough life; Charlie grew up with no real family. But a boy she met in a home became her big brother and offered her his shoulder when crying was all she could do. Separated by his eventual adoption, he never forgot her and eventually found her a job with a newspaper he edited.

And what of love? The joy of a good romance is not necessarily in discovering the love interest. It was obvious after only a few pages with whom Charlie was destined to find that love. But how could their lives be reconciled? That's where pace comes into play and the author managed it magnificently.

A Proper Charlie is a good read. A main character researching prostitutes doesn't suggest much humour - but Louise Wise has balanced it well. Charlie's chaotic life could be a mess, but it's not. I particularly enjoyed the office scenes - the back-chat with co-workers was sharp and witty. Although the sudden change in tempo during one exchange between Charlie and a colleague seemed as unnatural as the breasts they were feeling.

But the scene in Charlie’s flat with a would-be punter made me laugh out loud with the climax brilliantly scripted.

A good novel consists of several elements. Louise Wise's novel has all the basics, but it does lack a little polish. Attention to detail is critical and future editions need to be error-free.

That criticism aside, this book was fun to read and was indeed a page turner.

[Samantha March · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie Wallis is hoping to luck out and finally land her dream job as a journalist, and lucky for her, best friend Melvin secured her a position at the London Core- a British tabloid newspaper. But not as a journalist, oh no, Charlie is simply the “clerk,” running mundane tasks for others in the office. But when the Core is bought out by Donald Middleton, things around the office begin to change. For starters, Donald’s son is brought in as the corporate manager, and Charlie is immediately gob smacked by him. Handsome, charismatic, rich, but Ben is dealing with some very personal issues. He has just lost his mother, his father is ill, and his sister cannot be found after a very hard family discovery. Charlie and Ben are brought together in the oddest way- both trying to track down the “Gentleman Abductor,” a kidnapper that is targeting prostitutes. But while they don’t realize they are both on the case-Ben searching for his sister and Charlie in hopes of being able to write an article on the kidnappings- their wires get crossed. Soon, Ben thinks Charlie is a prostitute, and Charlie thinks Ben is the Gentleman Abductor! While their budding romance has taken enough hits- Ben being from a well to do family, Charlie being an orphan from the opposite end of the totem pole is the biggest issue- now this latest development causes even more strife. Can Charlie and Ben find love together?

I had a lot of fun reading A Proper Charlie by Louise Wise. It almost reminds me of Prince William/Kate Middleton, with the backgrounds being so different yet they are obviously in love. Charlie is so likeable, sometimes a little dense, especially when it comes to her boyfriend/ex-boyfriend, Andy. There is one hilarious sex scene in the book with Charlie and Andy that absolutely had me cracking up! I like that the book focused so much on Ben and his family issues- and there are a lot of them! I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the book, trying to hunt down the Gentleman Abductor and also Ben trying to locate his sister. There were times where I really didn’t like Melvin’s character, who was Charlie’s best friend and foster home comrade. He seemed really down on Charlie all the time, about her dreams of being a journalist and about falling in love with Ben. And when it came to Andy and his disgusting self-absorbed attitude, I really didn’t understand how Charlie could be so naïve to look past it all. Luckily, she gets to redeem herself in the end with that situation. Overall, I really liked this book and thought it was super funny- chick lit fans are sure to love!

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a confession to make it - I love to read a bit of chick lit! And I have to say 'A Proper Charlie' by Louise Wise didn't disappoint.

I loved the cover of the book. It drew my attention for all the right reasons - although I think I might have preferred a picture of Charlie in her union jack dress!

The whole idea of the book was great although I'm not sure I can see Ben and Charlie as a long term couple - Ben seemed a bit of a wuss for Charlie. My favourite character though was Melvin, the gay best friend - or more correctly, his t-shirts were my favourite. I loved all the slogans.

Of course, no book is perfect. My main gripe is typos - there were quite a few. My other gripe is getting to grips with how Camilla came to meet Sally/stay with her etc. It just didn't sit right with me, a slight problem given that this all created the reason for Ben being in the red light district.

Aside from that, I found the book very enjoyable and very easy to read. Charlie was a great character - although at times I did find her infuriatingly naive and wanted to grab her by the shoulders and give her a shake - but then that says that I cared about the character, not a bad thing at all. In fact, I was actually carrying the book in my handbag to read whenever I could get a few minutes - I think that in itself speaks volumes!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Big Al's Books and Pals review blog on Tuesday, 08/07/ 2012

Charlie is a mess; she is cute, good natured, witty and terribly insecure. She allows herself to be used by her on again/off again boyfriend Andy, in hopes that he will ask her to marry him. The author does a good job rounding out her characters, I found Charlie interesting and sad. I really didn't like her much, which made it hard for me to invest in her story. I loved her best mate Milton, who was a bit overbearing, but he was just looking out for Charlie's emotional welfare. He also provided a lot of comic relief that I enjoyed.

Ben Middleton is the new corporate head and is totally smitten with Charlie. He is the son of an overbearing wealthy father who wants to see his wimpy son marry a high society woman. Ben is good looking, vulnerable, insecure and has a hard time relating his feelings. Complicating the matters is the death of his mother, the revelation of a family secret and the running away of his little sister. He is trying to hold his family together and make this corporate merger a success.

The dialogue is witty as these two story lines converge. There are misconceptions and suspenseful twists that make it an interesting and enjoyable story.

**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **

[Tia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not even going to try and explain this book, so much whacky shit happened I'm still a bit confused. I really don't know if this author is English aka from the UK or not but it seemed pretty out there with all their talk going on in the book.

I have to admit at times I laughed my head off. It was funny but it was more of a stupid funny or I can't believe it, this is so ridiculous funny. They dealt with some serious stuff in this novel and all I could do it laugh pretty much all the way through it.

It was harsh and tacky and the passion was limited. Charlotte was off her fricken rocker. Oh my gods, it was nuts but for some reason I could not get enough of it. I hated the abrupt ending though..

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really enjoyable, well written and engaging read. The main protagonist is the very likeable Charlotte, a clerk working for a newspaper who wants to be a journalist. After writing an article about prostitutes, Charlie gets tangled up with all sorts of dramatic, hilarious and gripping scenarios with some often deeper themes throughout. I’m new to this author, but I’m glad I came across her and the writing is quick and with some cracking dialogue. The short-ish chapters also made it a great book to pick up and put down again. I think the book cover is amazing as well and, all in all, a fantastic read with well developed characters.

[mountainmama · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie Wallis is a mess – her boyfriend is a loser, her job is a dead end, and despite growing up in an orphanage, she has zero street smarts. Aspiring to become a journalist, she decides to go undercover as a prostitute to get insight into a story she wants to write. And of course, she walks straight into trouble. Throw in a new boss who finds her attractive, and you have all the ingredients for a romantic farce.

An entertaining, light read – recommended for anyone who enjoys that genre.

[Amanda]

The book is well-written plot wise and most of the secondary characters are interesting and funny, but the leads are totally unlikeable; Charlie is an airhead to the point where she is a danger to herself, whilst Ben is a judgemental snob.

I thought that I'd be able to finish the book anyway, but then I read the part where Charlie decided that 14 year olds who become prostitutes are just pestering men for sex...

[Zaanodes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this better than I thought I would in the beginning. I did have trouble with the colloquialisms (London). The last line totally lost me as did quite a few others. Ah, well. Still, a decent read.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie (Charlotte Wallis) was a hard knock orphan who still knew how to dream when she met Ben, her new boss. Ben had a rough patch with the death of his mother but came through it on his feet, but are they meant for each other?

[Elizabeth Jasper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, light-hearted read with an underlying serious message that adds to the drama and tension of the story. I enjoyed it - Charlie is adorable, and her mishaps with her nw boss are well-described and imaginative. Recommended.

[Heidi Rothert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting topic. Got tired of Charlie's constant lack of confidence and I thought her best friend was horrible to her, but the story was cute and thinking of it being read in an English accent makes it even more fun. (English writing style)

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please stop by and read my review at Coffee Beans & Love Scenes Reviews.