The Parker Project

Rating:
Summary: A complete waste of time.
Review: I bought this entire series, and only started reading them in the last few months. I was disappointed with Beverly Bird's book, but this one is completely useless. I read a few chapters and quit in disgust. The adult characters are vapid, the children are overly precocious, and the dialogue is stilted and unrealistic. I find it hard to believe that Joan Elliott Pickart wrote this, because I've read and enjoyed other books that she's written. This book came across as being written by a not particularly talented teenager who has no idea how adults (or young children) really think, behave, and speak. I'm glad to find out that I don't need to read it for any information about the Extraordinary Five, because I couldn't even bear to skim through it.

Rating:
Summary: Doesn't live up to the rest of the series
Review: I have enjoyed the entire Family Secrets series - but this book was weak, vapid, sappy and sticky. It's contribution to the overall plot/flow of the series was minimal. Maybe 5% of the entire book related to the series- the rest was really bad. It was lacking in drama, suspense - until this book, each has added pieces to the puzzle of the Extraordinary Siblings, many of the "aaah, so THAT'S how that fits in" variety. I kept waiting for MORE, and of more importance to the overall plot from this one. I only finished the book in case there was more I would want to know before reading the last two books in the series. I can only imagine that the reason this book was included in the series is that the author is a popular one and that Silhouette thought it would add to the draw of the series. Frankly, I would have been happier to have 11 books (not counting the 3-in-1 "intro") instead of 12 and let one of the more talented authors incorporate the plot essentials from this one into their own book. I WOULD say don't let this one discourage you from reading the final two volumes. I am now in the middle of #11 (The Insider by Ingrid Weaver)and can't put it down!

Rating:
Summary: Warm Hearted Holiday Story
Review: Part of the "Family Secrets" series, this story centers on Harrison Parker, a computer programmer that Jake Ingram has hired to decode the computer files that contain sensitive and important information. That's about as much as there is in the story about the series. The rest of the plot actually centers on Harrison's difficulties in raising his three small children - David, Chelsey and Benny - since their mother died in an auto accident the previous year.

Harrison is filled with guilt because the children miss their mother and also because prior to her death, their marriage seemed to be almost nonexistent. To escape what was an increasingly unhappy home, he spent long hours at his work leaving the children with the impression - reinforced by their mother - that he didn't care about them.

Trying to find some way of connecting with his children, Harrison takes them to story day at the library. The children come alive and respond very positively to the librarian, Maggie Conrad, who is reading the story. She has such a good effect on them that the children ask her to come home with them. Later, Harrison asks Maggie if she would become the children's nanny after work to help them become more adjusted. She agrees and over time becomes an indespensable part of the family - another "Parker" as the kids call her. So many issues have to be worked out between Harrison and the children many of which were not of his making. Maggie's loving and optimistic nature help them sort things through and as they do, she and Harrison fall in love.

This is a very sweet story, and the personalities of the children are endearing. What is also touching is Harrison's love for his children. He is determined to understand whatever mistakes he may have been made in the past (real or created by his late wife) and to overcome them.

The one figure in the book that remained somewhat unfinished was Lisa, Harrison's late wife. She seemed to be the cause of so many of the children's insecurities and problems with their father. We know she was unhappy; we just never really found out why. I also wish that the book could have had an epilogue or perhaps another chapter just to give us a peak at the happy future of Harrison, Maggie and the children. Perhaps future books in the series will let us know more about them. All in all, a good read.