No Ordinary Life

This was one of the most irritating books I have ever read. The main character lurches from one mess she has made to another, which I didn't really hold against her. Hey, people screw up in life. Sometimes the story of how someone screws up, learns from their mistakes and then fixes them,is a great read. That never happened here, because the main character never learns--ANYTHING. She continues to lurch in a clueless manner from one situation to another, either under-reacting or over-reacting, and it is always her kids who pay the price. Then we come to nearly the end of the book--in order to not throw a spoiler out, not a big spoiler, because the situation is obvious from early on, I will just say the following. There is absolutely, positively, indisputably, no way that any member of law enforcement any where in this country, would make a request such as the one that was made of a four year old in this book. It. Would. Never. Happen. This incident caused me to hurl the book across the room. The only reason I retrieved it is that it is not fair to critique a book I have not read, and to me, not finishing it is equivalent to not reading it. I went and got it out of the trash--that is how LUDICROUS this part of the story is, it will make the reader want to throw it away without finishing--and I finished it. It didn't get better. You THINK she is about to get a clue, but nah. Just kidding. If something happens that is the right thing for her kids, it is in spite of her, not because of her.
I am glad I fished it out of the trash can, I have to admit. Now I can return it to the store for a refund if I can find the receipt. It's that annoying.

There might be a good story in here but I'll never know. The author throws a lot of "w" s into the four year old's dialogue. "othwer" for "other", "comfowrtabwle" for comfortable. Just about every sentence of the 4-year old's. I don't even know what the author is trying to approximate, some sort of baby talk I suppose. I can't believe an editor let this stand. I lasted 60 pages.

When you find yourself alone, scared, and responsible for three other human beings you will do whatever you can to make life bearable. For Faye Martin who is struggling to feed her children let alone cloth them finds a pot of gold in her four year old daughter’s ability to perform she thinks a manna from heaven has come upon her. She is naïve, unschooled in the cruel world of acting, and completely unprepared for how being a mother is going to mix with acting as a manager. Her daughter is talented enough to make some great money but is Faye selling her soul to make life better.

When the break she never expected happens on a weekly sit-com Faye decides quick Molly is up for this and the cost is justifiable. All too quick her role as momager is questioned as she allows situations to get out of control that create a danger to her daughter a mother would never allow. The greatest danger is her flirtation with the producer who she thinks is the answer to her dreams of replacing the deadbeat husband and father of her children who took off and hasn’t been heard from in months. The problems of managing her acting child and the other two children that are suffering through all this attention and limelight are overwhelming. On top of all the other problems Faye sees the way the child protection laws are skirted around, the welfare of the child actor is really not foremost in anyone’s mind, and the price she is paying for a quick fix to her financial woes are getting more difficult every day.

Adding disaster on to her nightmare is the return of the disappearing husband who does not see anything but dollar signs in his immediate future with no real care for how his coming and going affects any one. Faye learns the hard way when someone on the set turns her unnecessary vengeance on her. From being that far down in the dumps Faye learns to stand her ground, hold onto what is important, and form an alliance with a band of other labeled misfits who know that today the golden goose is tomorrow’s cooked duck.

NO ORDINARY LIFE is the second novel written by Suzanne Redfearn, her first novel is named "Hush Little Baby". I can honestly say that Ms. Redfearn is in the same genre of story telling as Jodi Picault and Heather Gudenkauf. In this book, Suzanne gives us a look at how a mother can be done in when her children become celebrities. This novel combines humor, guilt, remorse and pride, all the emotions that are felt by real-life moms. The mother in this novel has the heart of a mother tiger. She wants nothing but to protect her cubs and provide for their future.

When you find yourself alone, scared, and responsible for your three young children, you will do whatever you can to make life bearable. Faye Martin is struggling to be a single mom after her husband, Sean, abandons them. Waitressing barely pays the bills, so Faye and the kids have no choice but to move in with Faye’s mom. It’s during a trip to a strip mall/promenade to try and find a better job that Faye’s youngest, Molly, is “discovered.” A video of the 4 year old dancing and singing goes viral and the little girl is flagged for a Gap commercial. Molly is soon starring in a hit TV show with Faye as her manager. While acting brings in money, it also brings in many problems. Balancing a normal life along with the hectic schedule of TV production, Faye gets pulled in many directions. The money, cars and fame are nice, but at what cost to Faye’s family? With everyone grabbing for a piece of her child’s success, who can she trust? Agents, directors or even herself?

Suzanne Redfearn did a lot of research to give this novel authenticity. Some child actors succeed while others are overcome by the pressures. Some had helicopter moms who hovered over every aspect of the young actor’s career. Others emancipated themselves as soon as possible so they could direct their own future. These child actors are very well known. The author doesn’t gloss over the problems but instead presents them as what they are. As you read this book you may find yoursellf asking, “What would I do? Do you follow your heart or your head? Do you go for the short-term fix or the long-term results?" Please read the author's note at the end of the story. As Ms. Redfearn’s writing shows, knowing and doing can be two different things. Another 5+star book by this amazing author. Please do not stop writing Suzanne!!!

A special thank you to Grand Central and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Suzanne Redfearn returns following the compelling Hush Little Baby, with her latest, NO ORDINARY LIFE---a riveting domestic suspense of one single mother’s desperate struggle for survival; a twisted disturbing obsessive fan, and the ultimate cost of fame and fortune. Torn between their lives before and after stardom. The trials and tribulations; greed, damage, regret, guilt - surviving the Hollywood fallout.

Living in Yucaipa, CA, Faye is a young single mother. Husband Sean, left months earlier, on one of his trucking routes, and never returned. During such time, Faye receives no support or income to help raise the children. They are struggling, barely getting by financially. At least the kids are happy where they are, even though they live on less; enjoying the outdoor open areas, horses, and close friends.

Molly (four), Tom (eight), and Emily (twelve). Molly is outgoing, Tom speaks at home; however, at school, he remains mute (selective mutism). Faye is a good mother; however, she does not broadcast her husband has been gone for months, and the school continues to question why she is not getting Tom into therapy. She has no money for therapy, rent, to repair their van, nor get the kids new shoes for school. It is time to move to LA with her mom—her last resort, since they do not get along. Family services is called in and she knows she has to have help.

Emily, the oldest is devastated about the move, a lover of horses and the open spaces. Versus a condo at her grandmothers. Faye got married early, and has no education beyond high school or job skills except being a waitress.

Shortly after moving to LA, her four- year-old daughter is discovered via YouTube with her winning personality and street dance moves. A PI and agent tracks her down, and GAP is interested in Molly for a commercial. The grandmother is delighted, since her world revolves around celebrities; however, Faye is not sure she wants to subject her daughter to this world. However, she soon learns the money will help them with the expenses, a place to live, and a new car. She can be Molly’s manager. She is excited and sees this as her way out of this black hole.

Everything seems to be going along well, until the loser ex-husband (they are not divorced), comes back in to the picture to get his hands on half the money. He is manipulative, and tries to get custody of the kids, and in the meantime Tom is now part of the celebrity status and joins Molly, and their entire world begins changing.

A mother is swept up in a thrilling world of fame and money. Proud of her two stars, Molly and Tom. However, the older daughter, Emily is caught up in the fascination which turns to evil and devastation. With binding contracts, she cannot just up and leave in the middle of the series.

What if it were your child, caught up in a terrifying world of politics, greed, hectic schedules, demands, politics, law suits, contracts, and obsessive dangerous fans? They are unable to live life like a normal child. When a dangerous stalker gets too close, decisions have to be made in order to take control.

Redfearn does a fantastic job with Molly’s character—she has a winning personality, and is not caught up in the hair, makeup, and dresses—she likes her overalls, and her raw wit and simple charm, draws you in. You can envision her on stage, winning hearts.

At times Faye could be naïve, weak, selfish, and at times a coward; however, down deep she loves her children, a good mother, and just wants a better life for her children. Sometimes she makes impulsive and reckless decisions, which lead to negative conclusions. However, she experiences tremendous growth from the beginning of the book to the end---finally getting the courage to take control of her life.

The entire time I was reading the story, I continued to think about JonBenet Ramsey—the six-year-old-star, murdered. I was living in Atlanta when all this occurred and the Ramsey Atlanta home was only a mile away from where I lived. Riding by each day, I continued to wonder what really happened that Christmas night in 1996.

Can relate to being a single mom, which can be tough financially, and the wars between parents. Cover love—(adorable). Enjoyed Suzanne Redfearn’s writing, while she captured the raw emotions, of each character for an engaging and thought-provoking read.

I look forward forward to reading Hush Little Baby, which I missed along the way (have heard rave reviews).

Perhaps this is how it really is in Hollywood....

I was all set to give this book 5 stars. I changed my mind towards the end when the main adult female, Faye, does something unforgivable. Ruining others lives to get your way is the lowest of the low. I was not overly fond of her anyway because she struck me as weak...and these final acts confirm this impression. She is despicable. Overall I enjoyed the book but have little sympathy for her.

Frightening, funny, unexpected and engrossing.. this is Suzanne Redfearn's latest novel. What parent doesn't look at their child and think of how the entire world would adore their little person... and how amazing giving your child this celebrity would be? Suzanne Redfearn's No Ordinary Life breaks away from the pop culture focused on stage moms and kardashians, focusing instead on a regular person whose young children are thrust into the limelight, their journey from normalcy to super stardom and the stark reality of Hollywood. From beginning to end I could not put this book down to see if Faye would find a way out for her young family but at the same time this is definitely one that makes you want to slow down so that you can stay with the characters a little longer.

“Do not yearn to be popular; be exquisite. Do not desire to be famous; be loved. Do not take pride in being expected; be palpable, unmistakable.”

----C. JoyBell C.

Suzanne Redfearn, an American author, pens a heart-wrenching family story, No Ordinary Life that deals with the life of a woman with three young children, left abandoned by her husband, who is finding it difficult to make the ends of daily life meet with no constant flow of finance. But one day, luck shines upon her family when her little daughter is given a chance to act for a major commercial brand advertisement.

Synopsis:

Suzanne Redfearn delivers another gripping page-turner in her latest novel, a story about a young mother's fight to protect her children from the dangerous world of Hollywood.

Faye Martin never expected her husband to abandon her and her three children . . . or that she'd have to struggle every day to make ends meet. So when her four-year-old daughter is discovered through a YouTube video and offered a starring role on a television series, it seems like her prayers have been answered. But when the reality of their new life settles in, Faye realizes that fame and fortune don't come without a price. And in a world where everyone is an actor and every move is scrutinized by millions, it's impossible to know who to trust, and Faye finds herself utterly alone in her struggle to save her family.

Faye is left abandoned by her husband, who now needs to take care of her three children- two daughters and one son on her own. Finding it difficult to make ends meet, she moves to her hometown with her mother in pursuit of a job, that is when her youngest daughter Molly is discovered through a totally random video on YouTube where she is dancing to some tune in a shopping complex. Her pretty 4-year old daughter, Molly, then bags a lucrative offer from GAP, and a big-shot TV mini-series that finally launches her into the world of Hollywood. But fame comes with a hefty price and soon Faye is thrown on to the face of some complicated challenges that might jeopardize the future of Molly as well as her whole family. What happens next is for you to find out!

Firstly the book cover image is absolutely fantastic as well as very arresting. The author's writing style is classy and laced with lots of emotions that will make the readers feel as they delve deeper into the story. The narrative is interesting and inspired from realism that will keep the readers anticipating till the end. The pacing is moderate as there is lot of drama in and around the set of the TV series that the author have written quite descriptively.

The characters are highly inspiring and drawn from realism and I loved Faye, how she bravely handled and took care of her three children, despite of the fact that the children are missing the presence of a fatherly figure in the household. She held to the children, even though there were differences in her elder daughter's demeanor. She is like an epitome of single mothers one, whose postivity keeps her family move forward. The supporting characters are also very well-developed. The children of Faye are a charm to read about with their cute demeanor, even when they got angry at times.

The story ponders vividly into the world of Hollywood, the glitz, the glamour, the world of paparazzi, the behind-the-sets drama, scandals and many things which are portrayed with in-depth details. Faye's life is under the limelight, every move is under the lens of some nosy or some famous reporters. How paparazzi effects a celebrity's life is also well captured by the author.

The story is emotional and the author depicts the love of a mother and the importance of unity in a family so strongly through this story. The story is delightful to read and I will recommend the contemporary readers to give it a read!

All I can say is this story is fabulous. I loved it from the moment I started reading it. I was at Target and saw it after reading a review about it but u can get it here too.