Cris

This book sounds like Sandford had a quota to fill. We know some of the players but we don't learn anything more about them and the new players are thinly developed. Not much fun, easy to guess the ending, and not much of a story overall.

Unsatisfactory character development, unsatisfactory length (only four chapters), unsatisfactory narrator (her voice for the sister sounded like a cartoon character), unsatisfactory topic development (the impact that the performance of abortions has on the physicians who offer the service), and a very unsatisfactory ending. I thought that I had either downloaded the book improperly or missed part two. I don't mind listening to uncomfortable topics when offered new insights or different perspectives, but this book offered neither. I rarely feel this way, but I regret the time that I spent on this book. It was not an enjoyable or an enlightening listen.

if you are thirteen. The first book was a fun read but this one is full contrived angst. It features a navel-gazing "heroine?" who consistently avoids dealing with her problems. When she finally gets around to taking action, the author serves up a jump in time--eg. she has a huge fight with her husband and best friend and suddenly it is a year later. No insights about dealing with the conflict, only the results. I kept envisioning Meryl Streep in the movie and hoping for a follow up. It is a good bet that we will not see Ms. Streep in the sequel because hopefully, Hollywood will overlook this bit of nonsense as should most readers.

Hosseini is an author that I stumbled upon in a search for something different to read. I am so glad that I did! The author reads the book, and I was a little concerned that the names in another culture might be confusing in an audible format. I occasionally got a little lost, but I later "reread" the sections--something that I rarely do. I have to say that Hosseini's narration really enhanced the listening experience. He writes in a unique voice and his descriptions are expressed in a way that crosses all cultural boundaries. This book is one to be savored.

Interesting story, intesting characters and an ending that you never see coming. Great twist! I'll be watching for this author.

Richard Castle could learn much from Carl Hiaasen. The book has some funny names and the term "ruggedly handsome" was used liberally, but the plot was stupid and definitely not very clever.
On the show, Castle is friends with James Patterson. They must have attended the same marketing class. In that, they excel. In writing, they are a disappointment to their fans. Two words--"not enough". Not enough was funny and not enough fun to justify the purchase price.

James Patterson has parlayed what used to be a great reputation as a good mystery writer into an industry to generate money based on his name. His legacy will be that of a writer who created a business based on a talent that never came to bloom. What a shame. I will not buy another one of his books because they are a watered down waste of time. His latest novels sound like they were written by college or high school students who have not yet learned their craft.

I don't usually rate books so late, but I had to add my two cents to the reviews about this book. It is not a easy read, but Rowling has great insight into the teenage psyche. That said, this book is for adults. Not an easy or fun read but worth the trauma for the beauty of a story well told.

Consider if you could believe in a heroine who:
--married her first love's best friend and her best friend married the heroine's first love;
--along with her husband was best friends with couple number two for the courses of their marriages;
--in one week, almost gets raped by her husband and one of her husband's good friends from Harvard (whom she could not remember);
--attended a play based on her college life starring a woman based on her; and
--all the while, was preparing for a one woman show in an important gallery by putting the final touches on gigantic self portraits??
The show was called, "Belinda's Belinda" and featured a painting of her lips with brandy dripping down her chin. I kid you not!
Thomas Gifford does not have any understanding of women's fiction (I wouldn't presume to call it literature). He has no business trying to write under a female pseudonym in a woman's voice. This book is simply stupid and a waste of time and money.

This book fails in a number of ways. It is difficult to really like the heroine. There are threads that are not developed--there is a problem between Heloise and her half sister that is introduced but never explained. The ending is very predictable, unrealistic and way too pat. I think that there was a reason that this book was put on hold for ten years.

I really tried, but I could not get into this book. I wanted to like Annette Bening but I kept drifting off... I regret purchasing this book.