Book Review- Suzanne Redfearn's No Ordinary Life

Thank You to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an advanced copy of Suzanne Redfearn's novel, No Ordinary Life, in exchange for an honest review. 

PLOT- Estranged from her husband and struggling to make ends meet, Faye Martin decides to move away from the quite countryside to live with her mother in Los Angeles. Faye's family is forever changed, when her precocious four year old, Molly, stars in a viral Youtube video, and is discovered by a Hollywood agent. Soon, Molly is the latest child actor sensation, landing a plum role on a hit show. Can the Martin family cope with Molly's fame?

LIKE- One of the major strengths in No Ordinary Life, is Redfearns ability to create realistic and sympathetic characters. It's the type of novel, where I found myself wondering how I would react if I were in their shoes; like Faye, the mother trying to do the best for her family, or Emily, the eldest sibling who struggles to fit in at her new school and envies the fame of her younger sister. Most sympathetic, might be Molly, a little kid, who just wants to be a kid, not a brand.  No Ordinary Life is loaded with cringe worthy moments and parental mistakes, but none strike a false note, keeping this tale of Hollywood excess rooted in reality.

From an entertainment standpoint, Redfearn grabbed me with her behind the scenes look at the industry. It's evident that she either has personal experience or has spent plenty of time researching the "ins and outs" of child actors and television productions. I found it fascinating.

DISLIKE- The only off-beat storyline was Faye's romance with Griff, a former child actor turned director of photography. There were too many moments where Faye was distant or did something to upset Griff, all of which Griff seemed to easily forgive. The back and forth eclipsed the moments where they had true passion and connected. I don't even remember the connection, it did not make an impact in the greater story. Griff and his protectiveness over Molly worked for me, but his relationship with Faye, did not. To be fair, Redfearn has written such a compelling family drama, with each person in the Martin family having a strong dilemma, that they overshadowed the romance storyline. 

RECOMMEND- Yes. No Ordinary Life is a quick, engrossing read. It's perfect for anyone who has a fascination with Hollywood and celebrity, but also for those who like family dramas. The vibe of this book is summer-beach read, which was appreciated as I read it during a rainy, weekend in January. 

Book Review - Elise A. Miller's Star Craving Mad

Last year, I participated in the BookSparks annual summer reading challenge. This year, I found my "book- plate" to be too full to take on the challenge, but I was excited to read Elise A. Miller's Star Craving Mad, which is part of the 2015 challenge. Thank You to SparkPress for an advanced copy of Miller's novel, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT - Maddy Braverman is a first grade teacher at an elite private school in Manhattan. Single and lonely, Maddy straddles between setting an example as a wholesome teacher and hitting the New York dating scene. Her world is turned upside down when the school year begins and she has a new student, Lola, the daughter of A-List celebrities, Nic and Shelby Sebolt. Maddy begins to fantasize about hunky Nic, who is not only married, but seems otherworldly. She is rocked to the core to discover that Nic is more attainable than she imagined and before she knows it, she is caught up in a love affair and thrown into Nic's celebrity lifestyle. Maddy is uneasy about her secret life, especially when she realizes that the fallout would affect not only Lola, but also Maddy's friends and family, including her free-spiritied and handsome teaching assistant, James.

LIKE - For starters, what a great title. I love the play on words and it perfectly sums up Maddy's behavior while she is having an affair with Nic. The themes in Star Craving Mad are engaging. The story fulfills that part of me that loves to read about celebrities and the crazy rich, so it was entertaining to see this behind the curtains look through Maddy's eyes. However, the flip-side of Star Craving Mad, is it's a story with heart. Although Maddy is having an affair with a married man, we see her going through the conflicting emotions and ultimately, we root for her to make better choices. She's a likable protagonist and as she interacts with the children in her classroom, there is an element of sweetness and innocence add to the story that gave me the warm fuzzies. 

DISLIKE - My interest in the story waned the last third of the book. I think it may be that Maddy took so much crap for so long, that it was getting to be a drag. I regained interest in the story at the very end when she had her redemption. It was a satisfying ending. 

RECOMMEND -  Star Craving Mad is an enjoyable chick-lit, summer type of read. I enjoyed it, but I'm not sure that in the grand scheme of my "Books Read in 2015" it will remembered. It provided a good escapist read while on my summer vacation.