Blog Tour: Bird of Paradise

by:  Kathy Handley
publish date:  April 16, 2011

When trucker Joe-Mack picks up a runaway in Vegas and drops him in Hollywood, he offers to help him. When the call comes, he reaches out to the boy and becomes embroiled in Freddie’s life along with Starlet, the homeless girl who desires stardom. The three have in common a search for love and for a place to belong.
Set in California’s beautiful, yet challenging neighborhoods, the characters, like lost Birds of Paradise, take on risks and maintain thin threads of dignity amidst troubling situations with surprising twists along the way.

This book is a surprisingly good little gem.  I found it to be a well written, well paced story. 

I initially thought I wouldn't like Starlet because wanna be super stars usually annoy me, but she was a very well developed character.   My sympathies were in her camp.  I liked Freddie too, but I didn't completely understand everything that was going on with him.   I didn't understand why exactly he ran away.  I didn't understand what the deal with the blue dress was.  I did sort of, but maybe a little bit more development there would have been better.  I just wasn't getting a complete picture of Freddie, but maybe I'm just a little ignorant of the scams and such going on in Vegas.

I particularly liked Onge and how he watched over his flock.  However, this again, was another area when the book could have used a little more....MORE.  One minute he was there, the next he was gone, and that was it.  There was only the vaguest of explanations and no follow up.  I understand these were all street kids, but they have their ways of getting information.

My criticisms are only because I wanted more out of the story and not because there was anything wrong with it.  I was pleased with it.  I would definitely read more from this author in the future.