Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson

Publisher: NavPress
Publication Date: August 2007
Binding: Paperback
Pages: 224
ISBN: 978-1-60006-091-5
List Price: $12.99

At fifteen years old, Scotty Dawn has more freedom than she desires. She sporadically travels to different movie sets as her mother prepares food for films. Even though her mother is not involved in Scotty’s schooling, she manages to home school herself. As she files her assignments away into scrapbooks that are not read by anyone, she plans to attend college. Life gets lonely for Scotty. She turns to her blog, Hollywood Nobody to connect with other people. Her life on the road exposes Scotty to many people, some who become like family. Unfortunately, Scotty experiences some distance with her mother, whom she calls Charley. Scotty knows her mother is keeping some huge secret from her. Scotty suspects it has something to do with her non-present father. As Scotty learns more of the secret, she realizes how dark it really is.

Lisa Samson’s Hollywood Nobody is written for a young adult audience. Samson does an amazing job connecting with teenagers. Scotty’s dialogue and action—from blogging about celebrities to love and dating—accurately resemble the average teen. Samson also motivates teenage girls to embrace their natural beauty rather than mimic the appearances of actresses and models. She even sneaks in lessons about drugs and alcohol. Samson’s book, however, does not come off as preachy. Although the book reveals Scotty’s struggles with finding Jesus, the book does not try to force religion on teenagers. On the other hand, Scotty has the same hesitations and questions about Christianity that an average young adult would have. Overall, young readers and adults will enjoy Lisa Samson’s Hollywood Nobody.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required 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."

The Dumpster: One Woman’s Search for Love by Becky Due

Publisher: Due Publications

Publication Date: 2010

Binding: eBook

Pages: 202

ISBN: 978-0984621408

List Price: $12.95

Everything seems to be going wrong for Nicole in Becky Due’s humorous novel, The Dumpster. Nicole is a twenty-something year old banker who is slightly overweight and suffers from low-self esteem. Having been recently dumped by her boyfriend on Valentine’s Day via DVD, Nicole is on search for a new love. Unfortunately, her troubles are only made worse by a smelly dumpster placed outside her bedroom window. Little does she know, this disgusting dumpster is the solution to her problems.

The Dumpster is a humorous, quick read. The characters—with the exclusion of Nicole’s worse dates—are all lovable and realistic. Most women will be able to identify with Nicole in some way: failed dates, envious of best friend’s marriage, lack of self-esteem, weight problems, or other issue. Since Nicole’s character is rather promiscuous, the novel gets racy at times. The novel also relies on bathroom humor quite often. Still, Due’s novel is a great fun, light read. If you enjoy reading romantic comedies and are not bothered by mature content, you will want to check out The Dumpster.

Conspiracy on the Hudson by Donald R. Keelan

Publisher: Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc.

Publication Date: 2010

Binding: Hardcover

Pages: 254

ISBN: 978-1-4349-0866-7

List Price: $25.00

German Nazi assassins are placing explosives in President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s home at Hyde Park and poisoning New York’s water supply in Donald R. Keelan’s novel, Conspiracy on the Hudson. To make matters worse, the deadly scheme is planned to take place while Winston Churchill is visiting FDR. With little information about the attack, Secret Service agents must protect their President, Churchill and the country. The truth of these events is finally revealed 70 years later by Professor Michael Ferguson during a meeting with the current president.

Since the events are described as a failed assassin attempt against FDR, the conclusion to the novel is obvious. However, the suspense of the novel is in no way reduced. The entire book is action-packed; rarely a page goes by without some twist or crucial information. The characters, setting and events are so believable, that you nearly forget you are reading a work of fiction. Conspiracy on the Hudson is a great read for anyone interested in political-thrillers, historical works, or fast-paced fiction. I will definitely be re-reading this novel as well as Keelan’s other books The Secret of Camp David and Robert Todd Lincoln’s Hidene and How It was saved 1975-1978.

You can pick up a copy at the online bookstore:

http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?dorrance+vWVLFn+index.html+

I received a complimentary copy of Conspiracy on the Hudson as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.

Jaded Idols by Elayne Mayer

Elayne Mayer’s Jaded Idols (2003) creates a huge family tree that stretches from pre-colonial Africa to a contemporary Presidential White House. The novel opens in a polygamous African village were men father as many children as possible and have no problem raising the children of other men. Unfortunately, their lives are shattered when slave traders ambush the village, place the natives on ships, and later enslave them. Relationships between slaves and slaveholders produce children. To improve their social standings in life, some of the biracial offspring turn to passing as white. Some of the novel’s characters are able to become huge Hollywood celebrities. However, these lives are also shattered. Murder, incest, rape, and drugs appear around every corner. Some tragic event seems to await Mayer’s characters up until the final pages of the book.

I was really impressed with Mayer’s ability to seamlessly transition from generation to generation. Everything was smooth and I never found myself lost wondering how the newest character came in. I also loved Mayer’s use of flashback. Often at a crucial part of the novel, the main character will flashback to some important event.

Overall, Jaded Idols is a very good book. I thought the beginning scenes in African were interesting, but it was easy to anticipate what would happen next. However, the suspense picked up in Part Three when the book shifted to Hollywood. Some characters die in the most unpredictable fashions. The only problem I had with the book where the typos. They were annoying but did not make the novel unreadable. I would recommend this book to others.

You can pick up a copy at the online bookstore:

http://dorrance.stores.yahoo.net/mayjadid.html

I received a complimentary copy of Jaded Idols as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.