My take on: Helpless

After enjoying Delirious by Daniel Palmer, I'm back for more with the author's latest novel Helpless. Some of the topics (sexting, estranged families coming together) are very timely.

Former Navy Seal Tom Hawkins is thrust into the role of both mom and dad following the suspicious death of his ex-wife Kelly. His teenage daughter Jill has spent most of her life hearing bad things about her father. Kelly did everything in her power to destroy Tom's relationship with Jill. If you've been taught all your life to resent a person, what do you do when you're forced together? In Jill's case she rebuffs every attempt Tom makes at affection and concern. It's pretty hard for Jill to ignore Tom considering he is also her soccer coach. Their tenuous relationship is put to the test when Tom is accused of a horrible crime.

Tom is accused of rape and of running a child pornography ring. Once that happens Tom becomes a pariah in the small town of Shilo, New Hampshire. The town sheriff is just eating it all up. The sheriff, Brendan Murphy, can't stand Tom. Guys like Brendan are just waiting for you to screw up. At this point I was scared to keep reading. I was fully in Tom's corner. As a reader, I hate it when an innocent person is framed. Or they get caught up in circumstances beyond their control. It's the same for me with television and movies. There isn't always a happy ending in stories like these.

To make matters worse an FBI agent, Rainy Miles, is also on his tale. She's convinced that Tom is the ringleader of a large child porn ring. She believes another person, James Mann, was one of Tom's biggest customers. Despite their being no obvious connection between the two, law enforcement is convinced there is a connection.

A long-buried secret is eating away at Tom. He once smuggled heroin into the U.S. and buried it, which was a source of major contention with Kelly. She wanted to make money off of it, while Tom wanted a normal life. Is this secret the source of Tom's misery? Does someone else know?

I love the dynamic between Tom and Jill. It feels very real. Despite Jill's attitude, Tom refuses to give up on their relationship. Tom fights through the teenage angst, breaking down Jill's tough exterior. What I didn't like was all the technical aspects. There is a lot of computer lingo in the book. It's broken in the simplest terms possible, but sometimes I still felt like I didn't understand it. A second read would probably open my mind up a little more. If you're a sucker for mysteries, give this one a try.


Rating: Give it a try


Note: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

World Book Night

Feel like giving back? Want to help others discover new books? World Book Night aims solve that problem. Here is how:

We need book-loving volunteers to fan out across America on April 23, 2012! Just take 20 free copies of a book to a location in your community, and you just might change someone's life. Please sign up by Feb. 1. The goal is to give books to new readers, to encourage reading, to share your passion for a great book. The entire publishing, bookstore, library, author, printing, and paper community is behind this effort with donated services and time. The first World Book Night was held in the UK last year, and it was such a big success that it's spreading around the world! Please volunteer to be a book giver in the U.S.

My take on: Ali in Wonderland

I remember Ali Wentworth from In Living Color. Back then I thought she was a little ditzy. The characters she played were usually on the dumb side. I thought she must be a little ditzy in real life, too. After reading her book Ali in Wonderland: And other Tall Tales, I realized how wrong I was. She is quite smart and funny.

Who knew her mother was a social secretary for President Reagan. She grew up a privileged kid in the Washington, D.C. area. The tales from her childhood were some of the funniest. When her older sister Sissy ran away while recovering from spinal surgery Ali was tasked with bringing her back. "Ran" away is a loose term. Her sister was still in a full body cast, so she kind of waddled sideways out of the house. Her mother Muffie forced her to go after Sissy, despite Ali emphatically stating she didn't want to runaway, too. The only way Ali could convince her sister to return was by making her laugh. Ali covered herself in a garbage bag, mud, leaves and branches. A little dancing later, and her sister Sissy was on the ground laughing her butt off. The visual made me laugh.

Ali's mother Muffie seems like a bit of a pistol. A person you could sit down with over a cup of tea and have a long conversation. According to her, most problems could be solved by a stay at the Four Season. Ali's future husband, George Stephanopoulos, and her daughters disagreed. They didn't see the point of going to a hotel during a snowstorm. It was just a little hard for Ali to break a long-held habit.

In the early stages of her acting career, Ali was different from her peers. She wasn't a "struggling" actor. She could afford to pay her bills and eat more than ramen noodles. When she bought a home in California it wasn't really her home. Instead her home was overrun with family members and friends who overstayed their welcome. She did her best to break free of the political scene she grew up with. Which made me wonder how she ended up with George Stephanopoulos? He makes a living analyzing the political scene, a scene Ali wanted to get away from. But ultimately, she found the person who was just right for her.

If you're looking for a quick read or a distraction, pick this one up. The lasting image for me will be Ali under siege after throwing package over the gate of the home of former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Wouldn't it have made more sense to just ring the bell? Maybe she embellished a little bit, but the story was sure hilarious.

Rating: Superb


Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher (HarperCollins) in exchange for an honest review.

It's Monday, what's on the cover?

It's Monday, so what's on the cover? Either that girl above is really tired or she can't handle her liquor. After the first 100 pages of Spin by Catherine McKenzie, it's obvious the main character can't handle her liquor. Kate blew her chance to land her dream job by showing up drunk. She'll get a second chance if she does well on her next assignment -- follow the "it" girl into rehab and get the scoop. If this hasn't been done already by one of the numerous entertainment rags out there, they will soon. A review and Q&A with the author will be posted on Feb. 17.

Home Front by Kristin Hannah looks a lot like her other books. A faint picturesque beach scene. That automatically makes me think of TV movie of the week. Her books tend to have a lot of melodrama, but that didn't put me off when I received a pitch e-mail. A mother suddenly has to go off to Iraq, leaving her two daughters in the hands of her husband and mother-in-law. Her husband would rather work at his law firm than have to play Mr. Mom. He doesn't understand his wife's sense of duty. So far, I really like the book. I'm just scared to read the end. I keep thinking this can't end well.

The cover of Fallen by Traci L. Slatton is very eerie. A lone woman walking towards her doom. At least I think she's walking toward her doom. There is no one around. There is fog everywhere. The Eiffel Tower and surrounding buildings are in ruins. Intriguing.

In my Mailbox

I had such a good book week, I had to do an In My Mailbox post. No video this time because I'm catching a cold, and my voice sounds a little wonky!!! In My Mailbox is a weekly meme brought to us by Kristi of  The Story Siren. February and March and sure to be busy months for me, given the amount of books I received. Lets start off with....

Pure by Julianna Baggott (courtesy of Grand Central Publishing) is the first in a trilogy. I think it's YA, but can easily appeal to adults like myself. I'm not quite sure how to describe it. It's definitely dystopian. Here is a snippet of the GoodReads description, "We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . . Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies." I don't read many dystopian novels, but I thought it would be good to step outside my comfort zone. Plus, the book came with some other goodies..

A cute little button, tempting me to look inside the book. And when I did...

Out popped a paper butterfly. I've tried to duplicate it, but I can't get it to rest inside the book like before. Next up on the list...

 

Being Lara by Lola Jaye. I was sold on the cover alone when I saw it in the HarperCollins catalog. When I got a pitch e-mail about it, I was totally onboard. There has to be some story behind this girl. The main character, Lara Reid, has always known she was different from her parents. Her skin color and hair are different. Turns out Lara is adopted and this is her journey of self-discovery and where she came from.

Losing Clementine by Ashley Ream (HarperCollins). What do you think of that woman on the cover? Think she is about to jump? In thirty days Clementine Pritchard is determined to kill herself? Why? I don't know but I can't wait to find out.

Outside The Lines by Amy Hatvany (Simon and Schuster). A woman goes in search of her estranged father. He attempted suicide when Eden was 10, leading to her parents' divorce. Now 30, Eden goes in search of him.

The Boiling Season by Christopher Hebert (HarperCollins). The main character is trying to escape political unrest on a volatile Caribbean island. 

Panther Baby by Jamal Joseph (Algonquin). A former Black Panther tells of his transformation from FBI fugitive to an Ivy League professor. I always love learning about people.

The Underside of joy by Sere Prince Halverson (Dutton). Two women are brought together by tragedy. Both claim to be the mother of the same two children. And I think that is just scratching the surface, there are many layers to this book.


That's it for me. What did everyone else get? 


P.S.: Have look at the trailer for Pure...

My take on: It's a Waverly Life

Waverly Bryson needs to grow up. No she is not a real person, but she is the main character of It's A Waverly Life by Maria Murnane. This is the second time around for this character. I didn't read the first book, Perfect on Paper, but I don't think that matters.

After a failed engagement and a career change, things are looking up for Waverly. She has a dating advice column and a greeting card business. She's also started dating the handsome Jake McIntyre, a physical therapist for the Atlanta Hawks. The relationship isn't perfect with Waverly living in San Francisco and Jake in Atlanta. She likes Jake, but she is afraid to let him into her inner circle. That job belongs to her two best friends Andie and McKenna. They know everything about Waverly. They can knock back a few cocktails and gossip about their relationships. Their friendship brought me back to the days of Sex and the City. Waverly is the writer (a la Carrie Bradshaw), McKenna is married and pregnant (paging Charlotte York), and Andie moves from relationship to relationship (a watered down version of Samantha Jones).

Every time Jake gets too close, Waverly just freezes. She's too afraid to get hurt. Waverly can tell men and women how to overcome their dating disasters, but can't follow her own advice.

"It was amazing how inarticulate I could be at times, given that I was being paid to use...words." (Pg. 57)

Her relationship with Jake is always filled with awkward silences, missed phone calls, and e-mails. All the while I'm thinking, "You idiot!!" Many women would love to be in her position. Friends, a man who is actually interested in you, and a fun career. Things like that don't just fall off trees. I kept thinking how many ways can you keep sabotaging this relationship? She has a pregnancy scare, but does she tell Jake right away? No. I can understand somewhat. Why speak until you're sure? But if you're so scared about the future, why not tell him? At the time, even Jake was going through some personal problems. Wouldn't it be good for your relationship if you could comfort him face-to-face. Wouldn't it be nice to have someone to talk to? But Waverly is afraid to have deep conversations with Jake. Once the small talk is done, what else can Waverly say?

I wasn't sure if this book was trying to be chick-lit? Funny beach read? Or something deeper. There are the light-hearted moments with her friends, but then Waverly is constantly struggling with her confidence. I also thought she was afraid to grow up. It takes a while to get there, but Waverly does take control of her life. There is hope for her future.

Rating: Give it a try


Note: I received a copy of the book from the author's publicist (Little Bird Publicity) in exchange for an honest review.

My take on: The Queen of Mystery

I am a fan of books. I am a big fan of mystery books. I love the movies based on Agatha Christie's books. Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, Evil under the Sun and Appointment with Death are some of my favorite film adaptations. I've never read the Miss Marple mysteries or seen any of the films. I think I just connected with Hercule Poirot right away. Albert Finney has his moments in Murder on the Orient Express, but I just feel Peter Ustinov had the right amount of campiness to play Poirot.

When the opportunity arose to read Agatha Christie's autobiography and one of her novels, you know I jumped on it. I've seen the movie adaptation of Evil Under the Sun, but I had never read the book. I was also intrigued about reading about the Queen of Mystery in her own words.

Right off the bat, Agatha makes it clear she doesn't care for chronological order. She wasn't kidding. Her mind wanders from moment to moment, so much so it was hard for me to follow her. She could be talking about her love for books and listening to her nanny's stories (of course she used the word "nursie" in her book), and then she's talking about her religious background. I kept thinking, "Pick a topic Agatha!" But on the other hand, it's a great insight into the mind of a writer. You have to retain a lot of information and creativity to write 80 novels, several short-story collections and plays, and six novels under a pen name.

She grew up privileged with several nursemaids. The family was thrown for a loop after her father died when she was 11. In those days, children weren't taken to funerals. Instead, Agatha was left to wander the family home. It seemed to me that Agatha didn't quite understand death. Agatha tells her mother that their father is at peace, isn't that good thing for him? Her mother wanted him back, she wanted him there.

While I respect and admire her creativity, I found Ms Christie to be a little snobbish and also a little racist. I have to remember that she started to write this book in 1950, and didn't finish it until 15 years later. To see the word "negro" and others like it in a book doesn't sit right with me. But again she grew up in a different time, and certain words were politically correct at the time.

When I finished Evil Under the Sun, I felt it was a stark contrast from the ending of the film version. The principal characters, Hercule Poirot, Christine Redfern, Patrick Redfern, Arlena Marshall, Kenneth Marshall, and Linda Marshall are still there. I kinda wish I had read the book first instead of seeing the movie first. Film versions are always different from the book, which is why I usually try to read the book first. With Evil Under the Sun, I didn't realize that some of the characters in the film are composites of those in the book. Some characters are cut out altogether. Emily Brewster's character becomes Rex Brewster in the movie. But the overall theme of the book just like the movie, as Hercule Poirot would say, is "murder!"

Arlena Marshall is a woman every man loves. She is also a woman every woman loves to hate. When she isn't draping herself all over Patrick Redfern, she is rubbing the Jolly Roger Hotel guests the wrong way. Linda and Arlena don't have a good relationship. Christine is still the "long-suffering" wife. All the while, Poirot is trying to enjoy his vacation, but the clever Belgian is still observing and taking mental notes. Mrs. Gardener is still a chatter box, but there is a key difference with her character in the book. In film she is with Patrick when he "finds" Arlena's body, but in the book that distinction belongs to Emily.

Just like in the film, you are wondering who did it in the book. It's a very quick read and wastes no time getting to action. Of course people don't like Poirot asking so many questions. He keys in on the details that others dismiss as insignificant. The little clues are all pieces to a larger puzzle, which Poirot must solve. You think he's crazy or eccentric, but there is always a method to his madness. He wants all the guests to go on a picnic during his investigation. It seems weird, but it's all a ruse to see if the murderer/murderers will slip up. It's all very tongue-in-cheek. Check both books out, they are worth the ride.

Note: I received copies of the books from the publisher (HarperCollins) in exchange for an honest review.