Book Reviews

Book Blurb

A relationship-challenged actor unexpectedly finds love in the arms of his childhood best friend.

"Sexiest Man Alive" and Golden Globe winning actor Ethan Baker lights up the screen but fizzles in his personal life. When his latest girlfriend breaks up with him, Ethan turns to his one "forever" person - Jude Harrison. But as Ethan makes the familiar drive to his best friend's house, an unexpected detour and a bewildering passenger take him through places in time he'd long forgotten. Suddenly Ethan sees Jude's actions over the years from a different perspective, but it's his own reaction that's the biggest surprise.

NOTE: This book was previously published by Dreamspinner Press in June 2012.

 

Book Review

In a variation on the theme of the Christmas Grinch, this story is about the path to realization of what is really important for a self-absorbed actor who learns to see his best friend in a somewhat different light. This is achieved with the help of "situations past", brought to life by a mysterious temporal guide who clearly knows what is good for Ethan far before he realizes it. I loved the humor with which Ethan tells his story and the change in mood from totally flippant and somewhat annoyed with life to thoughtful, appreciative and loving at the end.

Ethan has been around Jude for twenty years, but there are a few things he missed. Granted, not all of them were ‘visible’ from his perspective, but lots of clues were – and he ignored them all. Even when the temporal guide shows him it takes him a while to understand. He isn’t exactly clued into other people’s emotions, and his best friend is no exception.

Jude, although we don’t hear his side of the story, comes alive through Ethan’s eyes. Even though Ethan doesn’t ‘get it’, I did. From the very first time they met through the present day, he has clearly always been there for Ethan. He even bought a house near the beach which Ethan runs away to when he wants some peace and quiet. Jude is selfless, loving, and even more deserving of Ethan ‘waking up’ than Ethan is.

Deep feelings and good characterizations are not easy to develop in such a short story, but the author manages it really well. Ethan pulled me in from the very start; while it was the initial humor that made me smile, it was his cluelessness that kept me reading. I wanted to know if he’d get it. And at the end, when he finally admitted how he felt, the depth of his emotions was very rewarding. If you like short, sweet stories with a (temporal) twist, you will probably like this one.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been purchased by the reviewer.

Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novella, 15659 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	06-June-2015
Price	$2.99 ebook
Buy Link	http://www.amazon.com/Places-Time-Cardeno-C-ebook/dp/B00Z4EZ9P8