The Star Attraction, novel by Alison Sweeney

The Star Attraction

I just read a wonderful novel, The Star Attraction, by Alison Sweeney.  Alison has many irons, in many fires and wears many hats.  She is the television actress that plays the long time character Sami Brady on the daytime soap, Days of Our Lives.  I am a lifelong fan and have been watching the show for about 35 years.  I grew up watching the antics of our dear Samantha.

This is the first fictional novel by the actress, now author.  Her other claims to fame include hostess of T.V.’s the Biggest Loser, author of the self-help book the Mommy Diet, actress for Days of our Lives, wife, mother, and now novelist of The Star Attraction.

The Star Attraction was a very fun read about a Hollywood P.R. person named Sophie.  Sophie has a fabulous job rubbing elbows with the Rich and Famous.  She struggles to balance it all.  Her longtime boyfriend, who has yet to “pop the question,” leads Sophie to question what else is out there.  Sophie’s busy life working with star/starlets and managing different Hollywood events soon has Sophie’s life unraveling at the edges.  The firm’s new P.R. client has something that has turned Sophie’s barely controlled life upside down.  Sophie begins to struggle with what she wants out of life.

I really enjoyed the book.  The Star Attraction was a very easy fun read.  Alison had me enjoying tales of Sophie’s very busy days, and the choices she made.

As I read the book, I wondered how much similarity there was between the character Sophie, and Ali’s busy life that she leads.  As Ali, the character Sophie has many different irons, in many different fires, simultaneously.

I really enjoyed the Star Attraction.  It was a fun summer weekend read.

Book Review- Danielle Steel’s Friends Forever

Friends Forever by Danielle Steel

Danielle Steel is one of my favorite authors. I have been a fan of hers and read many of her novels over the last 30 years. Suffice it to say, I am hooked. My favorite novel of hers was a book called Palomino.

I recently finished her book, Friends Forever.  Unfortunately, much of this current book did not engage me.

The story was about five friends who met in kindergarten and become immediate friends through their childhood, teen and college years. They dubbed themselves the Big 5, and became inseparable. The cast of characters included them, their parents, stepparents, and siblings.

What I did not enjoy about this book was the pacing. The book moved too fast, rapidly changing from scene to scene. It was quickly flipping back and forth through the characters through time as they advanced from kindergarten to college.

Much of the first half of the book was about the parents of the Big 5. This, in my opinion, made it very hard to get any true character development with many of the characters until the last 1/3 of the book.  By this time, the story had quickly trimmed the cast down by moving rapidly through drug overdoses, suicide, an accidental death, and funerals.

The overall message was about the risky life’s choices of this particular generation. The events in the story did affect the lives of the characters. Unfortunately, due to its fast pace, the reader did not have time to feel it.

I enjoyed the last third of the book when we finally were left with one main character and her struggles. The book slowed down enough to look inside a couple of the character’s motives, feelings, and decisions that they faced.

As typically Danielle Steel novels go, it was an easy read. It had an ending that left you feeling good. Unfortunately, it did not capture my heart as some of her previous novels did.

Wannabe Writer Wednesday: An interview with Amy Burney

This article is about my amazing, super talented, awe inspiring daughter. As she has recently graduated from college with a 3.91 GPA, I know, amazing….I just had to toot her horn for her. The world is her oyster, she has many talents to pursue. I am thrilled that she is choosing at this to time to share her love of reading and writing with the world, and become a writer. Yes, she is really good. I am sure she will be successful.
Check out her blog at http://fantasticalwritings.wordpress.com/

Write on the World

This is the first Wannabe Writer interview in what I hope will be a regular feature here at Write on the World.

Q: Tell us a little about your current work in process.

A: Right now I’m working on a young adult fantasy novel involving a little of “real life” and some of a fantasy realm.  The main character is a high school girl who’s curious about mysterious occurrences happening in her everyday life.  That leads her to discovering a new world, including new creatures and characters.  She goes on some big adventures, and learns about herself.

Q: What’s your day job?

A: I’m a freelance writer for some online companies.

Q: When do you find time to write?

A: That can be hard sometimes.  I try to commit to writing 2000 words a day.  I normally just sit myself in a chair and say that I won’t do anything…

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