Grand Central Publishing – The Book Diva's Reads

No Ordinary Life by Suzanne Redfearn
ISBN: 9781455533909 (paperback)
ISBN: 9781455533893 (ebook)
ASIN: B014E0E9WQ (Kindle edition)
Publication date: February 2, 2016
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Suzanne Redfearn delivers another gripping page-turner in her latest novel, a story about a young mother’s fight to protect her children from the dangerous world of Hollywood. Faye Martin never expected her husband to abandon her and her three children . . . or that she’d have to struggle every day to make ends meet. So when her four-year-old daughter is discovered through a YouTube video and offered a starring role on a television series, it seems like her prayers have been answered. But when the reality of their new life settles in, Faye realizes that fame and fortune don’t come without a price. And in a world where everyone is an actor and every move is scrutinized by millions, it’s impossible to know who to trust, and Faye finds herself utterly alone in her struggle to save her family. Emotionally riveting and insightful, No Ordinary Life is an unforgettable novel about the preciousness of childhood and the difficult choices a mother needs to make in order to protect this fragile time in her children’s lives.

Faye Martin is a single-mom to three children. Her husband walked out and hasn’t been seen for several months. She struggles to do what is right and provide for her family, but her back is against the wall when her son’s school calls in social services. After relocating to LA, her youngest daughter becomes a viral video sensation and Hollywood comes knocking and rocks her family’s world in No Ordinary Life by Suzanne Redfearn.

Faye became pregnant and a wife at age 19. Her husband, Sean, is a long-haul trucker that spent more time on the road than at home. Now that he’s gone, she has to work and juggle doing everything possible for her children. After her youngest, four-year-old Molly, becomes an internet sensation, is signed to appear in a national television advertisement and then to act in a nationally-syndicated television show, she thinks things will be easier. Unfortunately, Faye finds out that life is harder than ever before. She is caught between the Hollywood moneymaking machine and making the right choices for her young child. Just when she thinks things can’t get any worse, her estranged husband reappears with his hand out for a share of the money. A stroke of luck on the set one day means that she now has two children in show business, her youngest daughter and her eight-year-old son. Her time is spent dragging them to appearances, rehearsals, and filming, and her twelve-year-old daughter is getting lost in the shuffle. Now she is dealing with deranged fans, her greedy ex-husband, her increasingly wild tween daughter, and the production team for the television show. Can she stand up for her children without jeopardizing their careers? Can she make the right choices for everyone without hurting anyone?

I found No Ordinary Life to be a rather quick, enjoyable, and easy read. Although I found the scenarios interesting and fell in love with the precocious Molly and her endearing brother Tom, I didn’t really like Faye, Sean or almost any of the other characters. I felt for Faye and her situation, but it seemed as if she made bad decision after bad decision and never really learned from her mistakes. It was easy to understand that she had been pulled into an environment that was completely foreign to her, but rather than seeking assistance she just continued to struggle. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t feel that Faye is a bad mother, just a woman prone to making the wrong choices for the right reasons. Perhaps Faye is a little too flawed and realistic and the epitome of living a life with the notion that the “grass is always greener.” No Ordinary Life provides a fascinating glimpse, albeit fictionalized, into the life of a celebrity family. In this era of instant gratification, it isn’t possible to hide from adoring fans or the media when out in public and that can be daunting for adults, much less for children. Ms. Redfearn has crafted an engaging story that highlights the pitfalls of being a child celebrity and the hassles of being the family of a celebrity, as well as providing a bit of romance, a touch of greed, envy, petty jealousies, plenty of family drama, and more. If you enjoy reading about the behind-the-scenes life of being a celebrity, then No Ordinary Life is the perfect choice for you. Trust me, you’ll adore Molly and Tom, as well as all the drama in front of and behind the cameras.

Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of this book for review purposes from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not paid, required, or otherwise obligated to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Enter to win a print copy of No Ordinary Life courtesy of the publisher, Grand Central Publishing (thank you Grand Central Publishing) using the Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway runs from 12:01 AM ET on February 10, 2016 through 11:59 PM ET on February 17, 2016. The winner will be announced on February 18, 2016. This giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Buy the Book

Available from BookDepository | Alibris

Shop Indie Bookstores

Friction by Sandra Brown
ISBN: 9781455581160 (hardcover)
ISBN: 9781455581177 (ebook)
ASIN: B00US1STWW (Kindle edition)
Publication date: August 18, 2015
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Crawford Hunt wants his daughter back. Following the death of his wife four years ago, Crawford, a Texas Ranger, fell into a downward spiral that left him relegated to desk work and with his five-year-old daughter Georgia in the custody of her grandparents. But Crawford has cleaned up his act, met all the court imposed requirements, and now the fate of his family lies with Judge Holly Spencer.

Holly, ambitious and confident, temporarily occupies the bench of her recently deceased mentor. With an election upcoming, she must prove herself worthy of making her judgeship permanent. Every decision is high-stakes. Despite Crawford’s obvious love for his child and his commitment to being an ideal parent, Holly is wary of his checkered past. Her opinion of him is radically changed when a masked gunman barges into the courtroom during the custody hearing. Crawford reacts instinctually, saving Holly from a bullet.

But his heroism soon takes on the taint of recklessness. The cloud over him grows even darker after he uncovers a horrifying truth about the courtroom gunman and realizes that the unknown person behind the shooting remains at large . . .and a threat.

Catching the real culprit becomes a personal fight for Crawford. But pursuing the killer in his customary diehard fashion will jeopardize his chances of gaining custody of his daughter, and further compromise Judge Holly Spencer, who needs protection not only from an assassin, but from Crawford himself and the forbidden attraction between them.

Friction will keep you on the edge of your seat with breathtaking plot twists and the unforgettable characters that make Sandra Brown one of the world’s best-loved authors. It is an extraordinary novel about the powerful ties that bind us to the ones we love and the secrets we keep to protect them.

Crawford Hunt enters the courthouse in Texas expecting to do nothing more than battle his in-laws for custody of his daughter. He winds up saving a judge’s life in the courtroom ambush and chasing down the suspect, but it leads to even more trouble in Friction by Sandra Brown.

Crawford Hunt is a Texas Ranger that has pulled himself out of depression and the bottle and is now determined to regain custody of his daughter. He has relocated from Houston to his in-law’s hometown just to be closer to his daughter. Shortly after the shootout in the courthouse, he knows that the guy caught and killed wasn’t the shooter. If that’s not enough to deal with, his father-in-law is willing to do anything possible to ensure he doesn’t regain custody. Needless to say his attraction to Judge Holly Spencer needs to be put on the back burner, but the mutual attraction won’t allow him to take the necessary step back. Judge Holly Spencer was appointed to the bench and is currently campaigning to retain her position on the court. The last thing she wants or needs is a relationship . . . especially a relationship with someone that has appeared before her in court. While Crawford and Holly fight their attraction to one another (they lose), they must also contend with an investigation that seems more focused on them than the shooter and his motives. Will they be able to find the truth behind the courthouse shootout before more lives are sacrificed?

As most of you know, I enjoy reading mysteries, suspense, suspense thrillers, and romantic-suspense, needless to say, I was quite happy when I obtained a review copy of Ms. Brown’s latest romantic-suspense thriller Friction. Once I closeted my inner prude (Crawford and Holly have a brief sexual encounter shortly after the shooting), I was able to fully enjoy Friction. I found this to be a fast-paced and enjoyable read with realistic characters and plausible action. Crawford has to deal with a local police officer that suspects him of most of the criminal activity taking place and ignores all evidence to the contrary. His father-in-law is out for blood and willing to do whatever he can to ensure Crawford doesn’t regain custody of his daughter. Crawford has reconnected with his alcoholic father, a father that abandoned him after divorcing his mother. And then there’s the Judge. Holly Spencer wants to stay on the bench, but she isn’t willing to compromise one man’s career, namely Crawford’s, to do so. She must battle her campaign manager, the local police detective in charge of the case, and her attraction to a man that should be off limits. Friction is filled with plenty of suspense, family drama, and sexual tension. If you enjoy romantic suspense, then you’ll definitely want to add Friction to your TBR list.

Read an excerpt of Friction here.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review purposes from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not paid, required, or otherwise obligated to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Buy the Book

Available from BookDepository | Alibris

Shop Indie Bookstores