Now you see her by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

"Now you see her", by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge.

A teenager, Jenine, is angry at her boyfreind & drunk and accidently kills a person. But she is not arrested. Jennine then marries a cop to find out that he is a bad cop. She runs away, changes name to Nina and becomes a lawyer. Not even her daughter knows her past.

Nina is a successful lawyer and very happy. Her daughter has turned 16. Everything is going fine untill she is assigned a pro-bono work (lawyers work for free) by her law firm.

She is torn between fear for her life and saving an innocent man. If she tries to save him, she may loose all that she has. Who is he? Will she try? Does she have the courage? Who is she afraid of? What does her daughter think? Are there more skeletons in the closet?

Most of the book is narrated by the character of Jenine alias Nina. Authors have an easy writing style. On occasions when it was possible to sensetionalize or spice-up things, authors have missed it, intentionally or unintentionally. The book just about keeps you interested. You don't get bored.

Read it if you have time and nothing better to read.

The Christmas wedding by James Patterson and Richard Dilallo

"The Christmas Wedding", a short novel by James Patterson & Richard Dilallo. This was my 2nd Patterson book after 'The postcard killers'.                                      
As a matter of fact, this is neither a thriller nor a murder mystery. Its a family novel. This was a welcome change for me.

Gabby, a widow in her fifties who has always put family ahed of her, decides to get married. She invites her 3 daughters and 1 son alongwith their families for 'The Christmas Wedding' of hers but does not declare the groom. There are 3 suitors and even they do not know who will marry Gabby. The setting is American countryside.
                         
Each of Gabby's children have one problem or another and they approach the problems based on their upbringing. There is a cancer patient, a drug addict, a useless husband and so on. However dispite the problems everyone comes home for Christmas.    

The book portrays the intricate relationships very well. Dispite the differences, the oneness of family and friends is depicted nicely. Needless to say emotions run high in this novel withot getting melodramatic.

Interesting to note that not one family member opposes the marriage. Everyone supports Gabby wholeheartedly.

Who does she marry? One of the 3 or someone else? The book gives all the answers at the end.

This novel looks at the positives rather than negatives. Those who like simple novels should read this.