Hollywood actress tries her hand at directing a motion picture & asked her almost-ex-husband to star in her movie. He reluctantly agrees & warns her that playing his emotionally-laden role will be very hard for him. Filming the movie serves to draw them closer, brings up their unresolved marital issues, & unravels Hero's painful secrets. Putney's books are not always hits for me. But this one was a big hit! Putney uses the movie in the story & the main character's journal entries to verbalize their struggles. Her excellent writing also manages to meld 2nd-chance romance with the uncomfortable issue of child prostitution very well. Putney handled the child-abuse trauma with such sensitivity, allowing Hero & heroine the time, space, & opportunity to heal in a realistic way. It affected their sexual intimacy as well, making their struggles even more believable. The romance had depth. There wasn't a fast, magical resolution to their marital dilemma. I appreciated seeing Hero & heroine's character development. I really liked how Hero & heroine handled their awkward & painful interactions with maturity & not histrionics, unlike a typical romance novel. There was no Big Misunderstanding either. Their marital crisis primarily stemmed from Hero & heroine's unresolved & unshared individual struggles. Their reunion allowed them the chance to realize their individual issues & share it with one another. Well-recommended.
Mary Jo Putney is a talented author. This book came out as a surprised, it added a dimension on her writing.What I like about this book is the struggle about the main characters especially the lead male. Its interesting how people deal with their inner turmoils and this one is no different.My favorite part in this book was during the shoot when Kenzie made a suggestion on how to make the rape/love scene gave me chills. It stayed on my mind, reminded me of Diana Gabaldon First book of the Outlander series. So yes, would definitely recommend this book for people who are looking for something new and emotionally crafted.
ATT: THIS IS NOT MY REVIEW, I COPY/PASTED IT FROM AMAZON.COM. This was such an honest review, that I wanted to post it here as well.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
—Tina
The Spiral Path - OkMary Jo PutneyActress Raine Marlowe needs her estranged husband, action hero Kenzie Scott, to star in her directorial debut in order to secure financing. Although he never believed he could sustain a marriage, he still loves Raine and agrees without reading the script. Too late, Kenzie discovers that his role touches on his darkest secrets, and that playing it may tear apart his fragile emotional stability. Raine, too, has unresolved issues from a troubled childhood, and her directorial challenges are further complicated when her leading actress bows out at the last moment. The couple's fire and ice relationship is put to the test when she takes over the costarring role. Meanwhile, a vicious tabloid reporter launches a public campaign to uncover the past Kenzie has gone to great lengths to conceal."Hollywood" theme, which I dislike. Separated husband and wife. She is directing a film in whic he is staring. Theme of homosexual rape. Only good in parts.
—LJ
