Reviews By Charline

“Life on Grayson Island”

Author: E. R. Champion

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I asked to review “Life on Grayson Island” by E.R. Champion but, having found it listed in the “Humor” section, I did expect it to be funny. It was funny…just not as much as I had hoped. Don’t get me wrong; I’m sure there are those who will find this book hilarious but unfortunately I’m not one of those people.

The premise of “Life on Grayson Island” is this: Brent Williams has just recently moved to Grayson Island in lieu of completely retiring from the police force. However, Grayson Island is also a private island which means that all of the standard infractions that would normally cause some form of citation, ticket or even an arrest do not apply to the “natives” of Grayson Island. Needless to say most of the training and experience that Williams acquired during his stint as Lieutenant for the Department of Defense cannot be applied in his new position as “Special” Policeman of Grayson Island.

Grayson Island is also a crazy island. The people who live there are extremely wealthy and amazingly eccentric. Opinions are provided on an over-the-top regular basis to be made into the island rules for the non-natives to live by and each resident seems to have their own reality that doesn’t mesh with anyone else’s. In summary, two hundred and eight pages of inane antics by the mainly over forty crowd and the question you have to ask yourself is: how long can Brent Williams and his wife deal with the idiocy before they decide enough is enough and move back to a more “normal” part of the country?

All in all “Life on Grayson Island” was a decent read. To be fair the book did manage to hold my attention / keep me occupied on the two hour flight from Oakland to Phoenix. “Life on Grayson Island” was well-written and, due in part to the craziness of today’s society, the characters were totally believable. At times there was a little too much innuendo / cynicism for my taste but I do understand that’s kind of the premise of the book. Let’s look at how the other half really lives…

“A Hidden Affair”

Author: Pam Jenoff

I just recently finished reading “A Hidden Affair” by Pam Jenoff and, all in all, it’s a great book. In fact, when I finished reading it I turned around and read it again.

The premise of “A Hidden Affair” is this: A decade ago Jordan Weiss’s life was irrevocably shattered when her college boyfriend, and love of her life, drowned in the River Cam. After graduating from college; Jordan attempted to put the pieces of her life back together and accepted a job with the State Department.

Years later, and quite by accident, Jordan discovers that she was betrayed by those closest to her. Jared is not dead; he is in fact alive and well and living somewhere in Europe. Having never really been able to completely rid herself of Jared’s ghost Jordan is overwhelmed by this staggering news. She immediately resigns her commission and travels over two thousand miles to the French Riviera in search of answers. Once there Jordan runs into a mysterious and secretive woman named Nicole who might actually know Jared but, when questioned about his whereabouts, she quickly hightails it out of the country.

During her seemingly wild goose chase Jordan realizes that she is not alone in her search. A handsome and charming Israeli man named Aaron is also looking for Nicole, and while Jordan doesn’t trust him, she does realize that she needs to work with him if she ever hopes to see Jared again. Unfortunately Jordan finds herself fighting an almost immediate attraction to him which has her questioning the strength of her feelings for Jared. Ten years after Jared’s supposed death, and so close to finding him, is she finally capable of letting him go?

I’m not going to give away any more of the story but if you enjoy reading a fast-paced and interesting fictional novel then “A Hidden Affair” would be a great book to pick up. Jenoff has a wonderful writing style; the characters found within the pages of “A Hidden Affair” are completely believable and the plot flows seamlessly from page to page, chapter to chapter and (within the book) country to country.

Definitely a five star read…