Random Acts

Rating:
Summary: A Suspenseful Read
Review: I had never read anything by Taylor Smith before, however after having read this one, I know it won't be long before I read another.
While the first 50 pages or so are bogged down in backstory invoving Claire Gillespie and the mysterious death of her lover FBI agent Micheal Kazarian, the information is necesarry information.
After Claire Gillespie, journalist for a popular newsmagazine, heads out to California to cover the Southland Snatcher case, where infants are kidnapped in public places right from under their mothers' noses, the action picks up.
Agen Dan Sprague is a likable character and his interaction with fellow agent Laurel Madden is very well-devoloped.
Also, the romance between the two characters was unexpected and handled well. What could have become smutty beach trash stayed right on target, focusing on the three lead characters as they try to stop a killer.
Taut, suspenseful, and engaging, Smith scores high marks with this wonderful thriller.

Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: I think that this book was really great. Once I started it I was not able to put the book down, because I was in suspense and always wanted to know what was going to happen next. I didn't expect the ending to happen the way that it did so that came to be a big suprise but that made the book all the more interesting to read. I would suggest this book to anyone who wants to read a great suspenseful book.

Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: RANDOM ACTS is sometimes categorized as a romance novel, but there is no whiny heroine waiting to fall into the arms of her sinewy love interest here. Romance is only a small thread in the intricately woven fabric of this story, which is more suspense than anything else. It is a fast-paced novel about, among other things, a serial killer targeting small children. As a parent, I found this a difficult subject to read about. But like an accident on the side of the freeway, I had to sneak a peek, and what I saw grabbed me and wouldn't let go until the final page. While the serial killings are the impetus of the story, there are several equally compelling subplots that lead the reader through a series of twists and turns right up to the end. The characters are well-developed and very human, and the dialogue is realistic. I am so glad to find Taylor Smith among the league of female authors writing novels with strong storylines and stronger female characters. This is not your typical "for women, by a woman" book. It transcends gender to be just a good read. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspense novels.

Rating:
Summary: NOT OF HUMAN KINDNESS
Review: Taylor Smith's "Random Acts" plays out like one of those made for USA-TV Movies. Here's some of the ingredients:
*A feisty determined female reporter who has recently divorced her no-good husband who has subsequently married her sister.
*A gorgeous but icy cold FBI criminal profiler who may have had something to do with her husband's (also an FBI undercover agent) murder. Her husband, COINCIDENTALLY, was having an affair with above mentioned reporter.
*A rough and rugged FBI agent, a former cop, whose partner was killed mysteriously, and the father happens to be the father of the aforementioned reporter.
*A sneaky, yet sexy, FBI agent, who may have been having an affair with above mentioned criminal profiler, and who also may have helped in killing her hunky husband.
*A serial killer who kidnaps and then murders little babies.
*A dog who you know will somehow play an important part in a climactic scene.
So, with all that above, what happens? Well, to Smith's credit, she pulls off an interesting narrative, some nice characterizations, and a somewhat surprising climax. We can forgive her for some of her really mundane dialogue, and the plot contrivances that border on incredible.
But, and here's the point, it's a good read and one that entertains. That's what it's all about.
RECOMMENDED FOR GUILTY PLEASURE.

Rating:
Summary: NOT OF HUMAN KINDNESS
Review: Taylor Smith's "Random Acts" plays out like one of those made for USA-TV Movies. Here's some of the ingredients:
*A feisty determined female reporter who has recently divorced her no-good husband who has subsequently married her sister.
*A gorgeous but icy cold FBI criminal profiler who may have had something to do with her husband's (also an FBI undercover agent) murder. Her husband, COINCIDENTALLY, was having an affair with above mentioned reporter.
*A rough and rugged FBI agent, a former cop, whose partner was killed mysteriously, and the father happens to be the father of the aforementioned reporter.
*A sneaky, yet sexy, FBI agent, who may have been having an affair with above mentioned criminal profiler, and who also may have helped in killing her hunky husband.
*A serial killer who kidnaps and then murders little babies.
*A dog who you know will somehow play an important part in a climactic scene.
So, with all that above, what happens? Well, to Smith's credit, she pulls off an interesting narrative, some nice characterizations, and a somewhat surprising climax. We can forgive her for some of her really mundane dialogue, and the plot contrivances that border on incredible.
But, and here's the point, it's a good read and one that entertains. That's what it's all about.
RECOMMENDED FOR GUILTY PLEASURE.