Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful Story
Review: Every once in a while you come across a book that reaches out and grabs you for all it's worth. You find yourself so enthralled with the story that you literally panic when you realize you are almost finished with the book because you honestly do not want the story to end. That's how I felt about The Spiral Path by Mary Jo Putney. Kenzie Scott is a British actor who is burning up the screens in America. He sees an independent film with a little known actress, Raine Marlowe, who is up for an academy award for her performance. Kenzie is enamored with her. He manipulates his next contract to the point where Raine must play the lead female role before he will sign on to star in the production. They work together, keeping everything professional until the end of the production, then the sparks fly. Rather then allow the relationship to end within the two weeks they have between films, they elope. Unfortunately, neither of them knows how to make a relationship work. Fast forward four years and they find themselves in the middle of a "civilized" divorce. Raine is about to direct her first movie based on a screenplay she wrote. Desperate for financial backing, she approaches Kenzie to play the lead. He agrees without looking at the script, which turns out to be a devastating mistake on his part. Unable to disappoint Raine, Kenzie finds himself having to face a past he wants no one to know about and confronting demons he thought he had buried. As if things aren't hard enough, Raine finds herself having to play the lead after another actress drops out of the film opposite of Kenzie. Things begin to heat up as they give into the sexual attraction between them and as they watch everything unravel when a tabloid reporter tenaciously searches to find the lurid details of Kenzie's missing past. This book had every element you could ask for from a contemporary romance. The lead characters come to life as their story unfolds. The dialogue is well written and the plot believable. As I said at the beginning, I did not want the story to end. This is one book that will stay on my keeper's shelf and undoubtedly be read over and over. Mary Jo Putney has written one of the best books I've read in a while. I'll definitely be looking forward to her next contemporary.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Brilliant!
Review: I finally finished THE SPIRAL PATH and all I can say is WOW!This book is so richly textured and multi-layered, I hardly know here to start gushing! Hollywood couple Rainey Marlow and Kenzie Scott are in the middle of a divorce. But Rainey has adapted a novel into a screenplay and there's only one person who can play the hero - Kenzie. Surprisingly, he agrees although he nearly backs out when, after reading the script, he finds how wounded this hero really is and he is advised that taking this role would not be good for his image. Rainey urges him to reconsider and he eventually agrees. Thus begins a personal journey of healing not only for Kenzie, but for Rainey as well. It's clear to the reader that Rainey and Kenzie are absolutely made for each other, but it takes over 300 pages for Kenzie to realize this. I'm ready to start a journal and go find a labyrinth to walk. Although I guessed one of the "big secrets" fairly early, it did nothing to diminish the over all enjoyment of this book. For those of you who haven't read one or Mary Jo Putney's contemporaries, I would compare her to one of my favorite contemporary authors, Diane Chamberlain whose stories are multilayered and usually "two in one." The device Mary Jo
used to tell the story and to unravel Kenzie's past is nothing short of brilliant. Much of the writing and story also reminded me of Kristin Hannah.
There were a several secondary characters I particularly liked - - Sir Charles as well as Rainey's friend Val and their friend Tom, a novice monk. I think they both deserve a book of their own! Suffice to say, this book is very highly recommended and sure to be on many "Best of 2002" lists.
Rating:
Summary: Great contempory romance
Review: I have read most of Ms. Putney's books and this is by far her finest yet. I could not put this one down. This book was a whole level better than her other books. Her characterization was great and I can't wait for her next book.
Rating:
Summary: One of Putney's best
Review: I just finished 'The Spiral Path' by Mary Jo Putney and I think its one of her best contemporary romances. The characters were so believeable and real and you really feel for protagnists, Kenzie Scott and Raine Marlowe and desperately want their relationship to work (though you know it'll all eventually work out). After finishing the book, I felt a little lost as the characters had all become my friends and I missed reading about them. Keep it up, Mary Jo Putney and give us more such great contemporary romances. I just managed to get the China Bride and plan on starting the book pretty soon.
Rating: 
Summary: What's it missing...?
Review: I love Mary Jo Putney's books, and any book that can make me cry is certainly doing something right. But this one didn't reach the heights of some of her other work. As ambivalent as I felt about her first contemporary, it was emotionally honest and deeply affecting. In the essay collection Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women, Ms. Putney writes about how she can handle disturbing topics in a historical setting because it distances them and makes it easier to deal with them. In that manner, she has discussed alcoholism, child abuse, incest, epilepsy, rape, homosexuality, terminal illness, insanity and a host of other difficult topics. I'm curious as to why she is beginning to write contemporaries on the same topics. I do not thing it is a bad idea -- quite to the contrary -- but it is a departure. The Spiral Path covers some of the same threads as Silk and Shadows. I don't know if I prefer that book because I can deal with the abuse described more easily in a historical setting, or because the storyline of that book allowed for a feeling of resolution and justice. There isn't really a dramatic climax in The Spiral Path, and it leaves me feeling a bit unfinished. I assume that we will be revisiting the world of The Burning Point/The Spiral Path (the group of friends -- many of whom have been named rather than met -- will probably all have stories of their own), so maybe that will provide the resolution I am looking for. To sum up a rambling review: The excellent writing one expects from Mary Jo Putney, characters with intense emotional issues to work through, but something not quite as completely there as with her other work.
Rating:
Summary: What's it missing...?
Review: I love Mary Jo Putney's books, and any book that can make me cry is certainly doing something right. But this one didn't reach the heights of some of her other work. As ambivalent as I felt about her first contemporary, it was emotionally honest and deeply affecting. In the essay collection Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women, Ms. Putney writes about how she can handle disturbing topics in a historical setting because it distances them and makes it easier to deal with them. In that manner, she has discussed alcoholism, child abuse, incest, epilepsy, rape, homosexuality, terminal illness, insanity and a host of other difficult topics. I'm curious as to why she is beginning to write contemporaries on the same topics. I do not thing it is a bad idea -- quite to the contrary -- but it is a departure. The Spiral Path covers some of the same threads as Silk and Shadows. I don't know if I prefer that book because I can deal with the abuse described more easily in a historical setting, or because the storyline of that book allowed for a feeling of resolution and justice. There isn't really a dramatic climax in The Spiral Path, and it leaves me feeling a bit unfinished. I assume that we will be revisiting the world of The Burning Point/The Spiral Path (the group of friends -- many of whom have been named rather than met -- will probably all have stories of their own), so maybe that will provide the resolution I am looking for. To sum up a rambling review: The excellent writing one expects from Mary Jo Putney, characters with intense emotional issues to work through, but something not quite as completely there as with her other work.
Rating:
Summary: I Need to Make A Distinction
Review: I'm having a heck of a time grading this. The only way I can resolve it is to tell you that I think if you are a romance reader, you will probably find this a 5 star novel. However, if you are more of a mainstream fiction reader, you may find it only a four star novel. Non-romance readers might find this novel just a bit too pat, predictible and divorced from reality. The story involves 2 Hollywood movie stars, Raine and Kenzie, who are married but about to divorce because of his infidelity. However, Raine wants to try directing and the only way she can is if she can get her husband, Kenzie, to star in it. Reluctantly, he agrees but the part cuts a bit too close to his own hidden personal life for comfort. The rest of the story is played out against their making of this movie and the overriding question of whether they can resurrect their marriage in the process. I enjoyed it tremendously but it stretches credibility and probability to the utmost. Perfect to take to the beach, on vacation, or onto your family room sofa, if you are tired and need a great escapist read though.
Rating:
Summary: I Need to Make A Distinction
Review: I'm having a heck of a time grading this. The only way I can resolve it is to tell you that I think if you are a romance reader, you will probably find this a 5 star novel. However, if you are more of a mainstream fiction reader, you may find it only a four star novel. Non-romance readers might find this novel just a bit too pat, predictible and divorced from reality. The story involves 2 Hollywood movie stars, Raine and Kenzie, who are married but about to divorce because of his infidelity. However, Raine wants to try directing and the only way she can is if she can get her husband, Kenzie, to star in it. Reluctantly, he agrees but the part cuts a bit too close to his own hidden personal life for comfort. The rest of the story is played out against their making of this movie and the overriding question of whether they can resurrect their marriage in the process. I enjoyed it tremendously but it stretches credibility and probability to the utmost. Perfect to take to the beach, on vacation, or onto your family room sofa, if you are tired and need a great escapist read though.
Rating: 
Summary: Not up to MJP's standards - spoilers
Review: I'm sorry. I wanted to like this book. I really did. But these characters were caricatures of the worst of the 70's and 80's romance. We have Kenzie, the Tortured Hero, who has wounds SOOOO deep, that he must be forgiven for spending 90% of the book mired in self-pity and mentally abusing his wife. ("Poor, poor me. Poor, pitiful me. The world done me wrong. I can't be held responsible for how my actions affect other people.") Okay. What he went through as a child was horrible. But. He is not a child anymore. He's a grown man of wealth and power that most men can only dream of. There are thousands of people out there, therapists, counselors, psychologists, etc who make it their life's work to help people like him. He could have gotten help. Instead, he plays mind-games with his wife. He can't even be honest with her and say, "Raine, I am seriously screwed up. I can't be married to you." No, he has to deliberately make her think he has been having an affair, so she will leave him. How gutless (and cruel) can you get? And Rainey. Slap a "Doormat Heroine" sign on this woman, because no matter how much you stomp on her, she'll come back for more. No matter how badly she is treated, she will forgive, because she's the Heroine, dammit! And the Heroine can never be angry at being mistreated! Raine actually spends several pages beating herself up because she walked away from her husband when she caught him with another woman! ("Oh, will he ever forgive me for not being more understanding about his unfaithfulness!") And we're supposed to believe that she is a tough, successful woman in Hollywood? Tortured Hero, Doormat Heroine. Add it all together and it equals Man being cured of his demons by Love of a Good Woman. Huh? This man is seriously sick! He needs therapy, not sex and "I love you so much, I'll lie down and let you trample me until you are cured, darling!" And the 180 degree turnaround! He spends 99% of the book telling her that they can never, ever be together! He is too damaged to be a husband and father. Then... ooops! The pill didn't work! And suddenly, he is thrilled. "I'm going to be a daddy! I'm so happy!" As if he had not spent 350 pages whining about how unhappy his poor, pitiful life is, and how he will never be normal. We've seen this story before, in the hand of lessor writers. I expected more from MJP.
Rating:
Summary: Beat a path to your bookstore for the Spiral Path
Review: I've always been a Mary Jo Putney fan, but The Spiral Path shows that Ms. Putney is one of those writers who keeps getting better and better. Raine and Kenzie are complex people and Ms. Putney manages to plumb their depths, as she reveals the pain and conflict that drives them apart and ultimately brings them together. I'm really awed by the fact that Ms. Putney continually explores difficult issues through her characters. Yet, despite the heavy-duty emotional baggage that her heroes and heroines carry, I have yet to see her compromise the integrity of her stories by descending to cliche, triteness or trivial solutions to serious dilemmas. Her characters always work their way through their problems in a believable way that satisfies me as a reader. I think that other readers will find Raine and Kenzies story as hard to put down as I did.
| 
