Home Again Book

About 1/3 of the way into this book, I predicted it. I stuck with it, because it's not a terrible story (I've read waaaay worse), but it's so fluffy and cheesy that it's almost painful to read. And I was right, the author didn't surprise me with some snappy twist ala Jodi Picoult. She just finished her merry little story. I'm glad I don't cry easily.

Angel Demarco is this world famous actor, nominated for an Oscar, but he keeps saying he's not that great of an actor. He causes mass riots and press stampedes everywhere he goes. He's a drug user, an alcoholic, and a womanizer, and he sees no reason to change his ways.

Francis Demarco, Angel's older brother, is a priest, and for the last 16 years he has stepped in to fill a "father" or "uncle" role the best he can for Lina Hillyard, the 16 year old love child of Angel and Dr. Madeleine Hillyard. Only...Angel doesn't know his daughter ever existed, and the author gives hints that Lina is Angel's daughter, only it isn't confirmed until halfway through the book.

Madeleine Hillyard has become a cardiologist, raised her daughter with a priest who is her ex-lover's brother from their teenage years(ugh) and is the best of the best of heart transplant surgeons in the Seattle area. Lina is troubled, bratty, and has spent 16 years with a mother who wants to be a friend and a father role filled by a priest. A very young, handsome priest (of course) but he is also HER best friend and her mother's best friend. Are we weirded out yet?

Angel Demarco, at 34 years of age, has had enough heart attacks to finally land him in a Seattle hospital awaiting a heart transplant. He's spoiled, angry, and bitter, but somehow Madeleine thinks he deserves a new heart. Oh, and of COURSE his ex-lover is the head surgeon for his transplant. He hasn't seen her for 16 years, has no idea he has a daughter, and thinks his brother has married her. He doesn't even know his brother is a priest.

Since he's SO famous, the hospital is under strict security. Lina doesn't even meet her father until about halfway through the book. If she had shut up and stopped storming out of every scene the first half of the book, she may have let her mother or Francis the Priest talk to her and she could've met her father sooner than that.

I won't spoil it with my prediction.

I'll say none of the characters are believable. I refuse to believe this handsome young priest who has stepped in at 18 to take care of his little brother's brokenhearted teenage thrill has spent 16 years being her "best friend" and she is clueless, and he is pining over her. Please. I'm also not buying that Angel will change his ways as quickly as he does after his transplant. I'm also not buying that he has such a recovery from his cocaine and alcohol days. I'm also not buying that Madeleine the cardiologist suddenly resurrects her feelings for Angel after 16 years, never saw his movies or his face anywhere and he's soooo famous?

Skip it. This review was more of a rant, a vent. I think Kristen Hannah has wrote better things than this one. A good heart transplant book? "Change of Heart" by Jodi Picoult or even "Charade" by Sandra Brown.