"Absolutely Brilliant!"

Well, I finally finished THE SPIRAL PATH and all I can say is WOW! This book is so richly textured and multi-layered, I hardly know where to start gushing!

Hollywood couple Rainey Marlow and Kenzie Scott are in the middle of a divorce. But Rainey has adapted a novel into a screenplay and there's only one person who can play the hero - Kenzie. Surprisingly, he agrees although he nearly backs out when, after reading the script, he finds how wounded this hero really is and he is advised that taking this role would not be good for his image. Rainey urges him to reconsider and he eventually agrees. Thus begins a personal journey of healing not only for Kenzie, but for Rainey as well. It's clear to the reader that Rainey and Kenzie are absolutely made for each other, but it takes over 300 pages for Kenzie to realize this.

I'm ready to start a journal and go find a labyrinth to walk. Although I guessed one of the "big secrets" fairly early, it did nothing to diminish the over all enjoyment of this book.

For those of you who haven't read one of Mary Jo Putney's contemporaries, I would compare her to one of my favorite contemporary authors, Diane Chamberlain whose stories are multilayered and usually "two in one." The device Mary Jo used to tell the story and to unravel Kenzie's past is nothing short of brilliant. Much of the writing and story also reminded me of Kristin Hannah.

There were a several secondary characters I particularly liked - Sir Charles as well as Rainey's friend Val and their friend Tom, a novice monk. I think they both deserve a book of their own!

Suffice to say, this book is very highly recommended and sure to be on many "Best of 2002" lists.

Reviewed by Maudeen Wachsmith
Courtesy What I'm Reading
Posted January 25, 2002

Summary

Can two people be real while living an unreal life?

Raine Marlowe and Kenzie Scott met on a movie set, and married in a blaze of passion and need. But pressure and separations tear them apart, and they're in the middle of a divorce when Rainey persuades Kenzie to star in the movie she desperately wants to direct. Kenzie will make a perfect tortured hero--if the character's dark secrets don't destroy him first.

Making Rainey's movie will strip them to the marrow emotionally, work them to exhaustion--and maybe forge a relationship that this time will last forever.