California Angel (Wheeler Large Print Book Series)

Rating:
Summary: Suspensful and Refreshing
Review: California Angel is a nice break from the normal criminal and legal thriller we are drawn to. The more I got into this book, the more I couldn't put down. Raymond's character was so heartfelt and I couldn't wait to see what happened to him and how Toy and himself would eventually intwine later in life. I couldn't wait for Toy to dump her husband and it couldn't be too soon. Joey was a God's send (no pun intended) for Toy and you knew he would guide her right from their first meeting. I loved the ending (usally I am disappointed and endings finish to quickly) and not giving anything away I felt renewed in faith that maybe this isn't such a bad and troubled world and there are people making a difference, if not only for a few hours of reading. Get reading for the Christmas season!

Rating:
Summary: Intriguing but a little saccharine
Review: If you are someone who doesn't like schmaltzy, feel-good books, this isn't for you. The premise is intriguing. Toy Johnson is a teacher who is married to a surgeon and can't have children although there is no known medical cause. She helps out children and their families while doing very little for herself. She's also an environmentalist who practices rather than preaches. Her husband is extravagent and forbids Toy to keep helping families in need, saying they are lazy and taking advantage of her good nature. After a bitter fight with him, Toy goes off with her friend Sylvia to New York City. She once again has a vivid dream of rescuing a child, just as she has ever since a near-death experience when she was in her late teens. Sylvia realizes she isn't breathing and has no pulse and gives her CPR while summoning an ambulance. Toy awakes with burns on her hands and suspects the dream she had of saving a young boy from a fire may have really happened. She sets out to prove this while her husband dismisses her as mentally unstable. A reporter suspects she was trying to kidnap the children she's been rescuing and paints a picture of a desperate childless woman and kid-snatcher in the media. Toy is soon on trial for kidnapping and murder. The ending is about as saccharine sweet as they get and Toy is almost too good to be real, but you will be pulled into the suspenseful plot and root for things to work out for her.