He Sees You While You're Sleeping

Rating:
Summary: Uplifting holiday piece
Review: ... This is not intended to be a heavy read. It is a light and breezy holiday tale. With this in mind, the book fills the bill of a light, quick holiday read quite well. Who needs a big, heavy read during the hectic holiday season? I need a light escape. On that note:

Sterling Brooks has spent nearly half a century as a bench warmer outside of heaven. He never did anything good enough to gain admission, but it seems that he mustn't have done anything bad enough to have to go the other way either. His sins were sins of omission. He didn't notice what needed to be done, thus he did not do it. Those on high decide to give him a chance to redeem himself. He is sent back to earth, to find someone who needs his help, and to help them.

Upon his return to earth, he starts looking for who needs help, when he stumbles across the person who he knows almost immediately is THE person whom he was sent to help. He actually learns to see the plight of others, and learns to care.

It is a cute, well spun tale. If you need a holiday distraction, this could well be it.

Rating:
Summary: Lightweight holiday yarn
Review: HE SEES YOU WHEN YOU'RE SLEEPING is a good - not great - whimsical Christmas story. I read a few of Mary Higgins Clark's novels several years ago and enjoyed them. This collaboration with her daughter is not up to par with that earlier work, but it's still entertaining. It was a nice stocking stuffer gift.

Sterling Brooks has been waiting outside Heaven's gate for many years and is given a chance to go back to Earth and help a sad little girl, to make up for his indifference to others throughout his life.

The girl, Marissa, has been without her father and grandmother since Christmas, the year before. What Marissa doesn't know is that they had to go into the witness protection program because of something they witnessed after entertaining (they are singers) at a Christmas party thrown by mobster brothers. Sterling's job is to find a way to remove the threat separating Marissa from her dad and grandmother - not an easy task, but easier when you've got a few heavenly tricks up your sleeve.

HE SEES YOU WHEN YOU'RE SLEEPING is short, sweet, amusing, sometimes a bit silly but altogether a decent story that can appeal to all ages. It's not particularly memorable, but it's a pleasant way to spend a cold winter's afternoon.

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Summary: Holiday Suspense
Review: He Sees You When You're Sleeping is a light holiday suspense about a man, Sterling who is in heaven's waiting room and his journey to gain his entrance in. Sterling is sent to young Marissa to help her out in a sticky situation involving her family and the mob. Marissa's father and grandmother are sheltered in the witness protection program and Marissa cannot bear Christmas without them. This story is not meant to be heavy by any means. The plot could have definitely been developed more.

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Summary: "He" must have seen me when I was trying to read this book
Review: I am an avid fan of Mary Higgins Clark, but I would love to have the money back that I spent on this bomb. It would certainly have been nice to know ahead of time that I was purchasing a book more fit for my 9-year-old. It was a terrific idea for a story, but the writing was so juvenile that I had a very hard time finishing the book. I find that I'm feeling a little cheated by relying on the author's name as a promise of a good read. Perhaps if I stick with Mary and skip the books written by the duo, I might have better luck feeling like it was worth the price.

Rating:
Summary: He Sees You When Your Sleeping
Review: I think this is a great book for all types of people. Sterling, the main character , had unforgetable encouters and helped the lives of several people. This book made me think of how life would be like after death and how good you should be to others. This story took place near Christmas. I would recomend reading it towards the end of the year. I recommend this book to everyone.

Rating:
Summary: I Wouldn't Recommend It
Review: If I had to name my ten favorite plots from books, this one would not be on my list. It begins with Sterling Brooks, who died and was waiting to be admitted into heaven. After being judged, because of the self-centered life that he had lived, he was sent back to Earth to prove that he was worthy of his wings. His task was to locate someone who needed help, and to help them. After finding the heartbroken girl he was supposed to help, and, (with help from the Heavenly Council), going back in time to learn more about how her heart came to be broken, devises a plan that he thinks will bring back the girl's smile. Although every other book by Mary Higgins Clark that I have read was great; I did not really enjoy this one. The plot seemed totally different to anything she has ever written before, and was not one of those books that "put you on the edge of your seat." This is more of a heart-warming book, rather than suspenseful, which is most of Mary Higgins Clark's work. One reason I did not like this book was because of all of the things they said about heaven. I believe in heaven, but if I am going to read a book that talks about it a lot, I would like for it to be based upon facts, not opinions or fictitious thoughts. Although I liked some aspects of this book, for the most part, I did not enjoy it. This is the first of Mary Higgins Clark's books that I did not love. I would highly recommend her other books, and others may enjoy this one immensely, but it isn't a book that I would recommend.

Rating:
Summary: Check Your List Twice Before You Buy
Review: Sterling Brooks is marking time in the celestial waiting room watching everyone else get their wings. As a lawyer during life, described as the kind of person who was first in the lifeboat, who never went out of his way for anyone and who was too smug and self-absorbed to notice what was going on around him (trial lawyers won't like that portrait of one of their own), it's not going to be easy for Counselor Brooks. Summoned by the Heavenly Council and informed that his only chance for admission will be his participation in an earthly experiment to recognize someone with a problem and help them solve it, Brooks is off to earn his wings. Transported back to Rockefeller Center during the holiday season, Brooks doesn't have that much time to help seven year old Marissa get reunited with her father and grandmother. The road to heaven may be paved with good intentions; but Brooks' trip takes him to the underworld of gangsters Junior and Eddie Badgett who have scared Marissa's father and grandmother into the witness protection program because of something they know.

While this book may fly off the shelves this holiday season because of its authors' following, it's not destined to take up residence next to Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" or Capra's "It's A Wonderful Life" in this reviewer's holiday collection. Sure, it's probably not expected to be a classic, but even as an afternoon read with Mel Torme crooning in the background and the chestnuts roasting on an open fire, it's a disappointment.

There's not enough humbug in me to say don't read this book during a free moment in the holiday rush. It is short at 199 pages. It's just that I think mother-daughter authors Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark could have done much better if they lightened up on the sugar coating.

Rating:
Summary: Great Start, but turns predictable...
Review: The basis for this novel is excellent. I had high hopes as Clark hooked me at the beginning with the plot. However, throughout the book I would tell my husband, "I bet xyz is going to happen next." And sure enough it would.

Rating:
Summary: A Delight.
Review: The book begins with Sterling Brooks. He didn't lead an exemplary life-he was too self-absorbed to ever really think about anyone else or make a commitment to the woman he loved. On the other hand though, he did have some good character traits. His actual misdeeds were few-his were sins of omission, but not comission.

It is just a few days before Christmas. For about 46 years, Sterling is lingering in the celestial waiting room outside the heavenly gates. He is awaiting summons from the Heavenly Council. Will he be deemed fit for entrance into heaven? At last the day comes and the council settles on a test for Sterling-he will be sent back to earth and given a real opportunity to help someone else as he never has before.

Sterling Brooks will find himself in Manhattan, at the skating rink in Rockefeller Center. Among the skaters is a heartbroken seven-year-old named Marissa, and as Sterling soon realizes, it is she he has been sent to help. Marissa's sadness comes from her separation from the father she adores greatly, and her sparkling grandmother who is owner of a popular restaurant. Both have been forced into the Witness Protection Program because two mobsters, the Badgett brothers, have put a price on their heads
to prevent their testifying against an arson case.

I enjoyed the short book as a whole, and love Mary Higgins Clark's writing a lot.

Rating:
Summary: DYNAMIC DELIVERY OF A YULETIDE THRILLER
Review: The Clark ladies are a formidable literary pair, often co-authoring to offer double dips of pleasure for mystery loving readers. Now, they've taken a leaf from the classic Christmas film "It's A Wonderful Life" and spiced it with danger. Carol Higgins Clark gives authentic voice to their story.

Sterling Brooks might be everyman--except for the fact that he's in heaven's anteroom, where he's been waiting for almost 50 years for admission to heaven. In his case patience isn't its own reward, and the Heavenly Council proposes a test for him. Sterling must return to Earth and prove his Pearly Gates eligibility by helping someone else.

Where to start but Manhattan and the Rockefeller Center skating rink? There he finds a woebegone seven-year-old, Marissa, whose family has been placed in the Federal Witness Protection Program due to the threats of the murderous Blodgett family. It is the Christmas season and Marissa is separated from those she loves.

It does take some work and thought on Sterling's part but, of course, the tale has a happy ending. After all, even almost-angels have mysterious powers.