Review by Booklist Review
The latest from the beloved duo of McLaughlin and Kraus (How to Be a Grown Up, 2015), first published as a series of shorts in Cosmopolitan, chronicles the journey of Amanda Luker, who rises from humble beginnings to become an aide to a powerful politician. Amanda is 21 and fresh out of a failed relationship when she first encounters crusading lawyer Tom Davis and his beautiful wife, Lindsay. Amanda is immediately taken with Tom's desire to help those trying to make ends meet, and she forms a bond with Lindsay after helping her through a minor crisis. Faced with the prospect of going home to look after her troubled family, Amanda instead opts to volunteer with Davis' senate campaign. When he wins the seat, Lindsay ensures that Amanda keeps her job. Amanda's career success allows her to open herself up to love with handsome, wealthy Pax Westerbrook, but when an indiscretion threatens to derail Davis' presidential bid, Amanda lands in a terrible quandary. Guarded, genuine Amanda makes a compelling heroine in McLaughlin and Kraus' most moving outing yet.--Huntley, Kristine Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Amanda Luker survived her terrible childhood and has broken out of her small Florida town, but life as a hostess in a beachside hotel restaurant is not a huge improvement. After being fired from her only means of support, the now homeless young woman joins the campaign of an idealistic, progressive, and charismatic politician. Her initiative and enthusiasm are rewarded with a paying job, and Amanda finds a mentor in the politician's wife, Lindsay. All is finally going well career-wise, but can it last? On the personal side, Amanda finds romance with a handsome, privileged underachiever. With a lot of foreshadowing, listeners will know more trouble lies ahead in both the professional and personal realms of Amanda's life. Emily Durante's reading brings out Amanda's likable personality and capably distinguishes among the male characters. Lindsay's brisker pace and lower tones contrast nicely with Amanda's slightly higher voice and less confident cadence. VERDICT Purchase for most popular collections. ["A great rags-to-riches story with a sincere, determined protagonist": LJ 6/1/16 review of the Spark Pr. book.]-Juleigh Muirhead Clark, Colonial Williamsburg Fdn. Lib., VA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
