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The Spiral Path
  

The Spiral Path [Large Print] (Hardcover)

by Mary Jo Putney (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)

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Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

The shooting of a film forces a divorcing couple to confront their conflicts in historical author Putney's second contemporary romance (following The Burning Point). Actress Raine Marlowe needs her estranged husband, action hero Kenzie Scott, to star in her directorial debut in order to secure financing. Although he never believed he could sustain a marriage, he still loves Raine and agrees without reading the script. Too late, Kenzie discovers that his role touches on his darkest secrets, and that playing it may tear apart his fragile emotional stability. Raine, too, has unresolved issues from a troubled childhood, and her directorial challenges are further complicated when her leading actress bows out at the last moment. The couple's fire and ice relationship is put to the test when she takes over the costarring role. Meanwhile, a vicious tabloid reporter launches a public campaign to uncover the past Kenzie has gone to great lengths to conceal. Putney handles her potentially melodramatic material with emotional honesty and insight while maintaining the taut romantic tension between her richly developed, complicated protagonists. Although many of the plot developments are predictable, including a denouement that borders on the saccharine, readers caught up in the spiraling developments won't mind.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Bravo! Putney proves she's every bit as good writing contemporary romance as she is with historicals. Film idol Kenzie Scott is so taken with actress Raine Marlowe he agrees to star in a remake of The Scarlet Pimpernel if she is cast as the female lead. After the filming they impulsively marry; then, four years later in the midst of divorcing, Raine persuades Kenzie to star in a movie she has written and will direct. At the last minute she is forced to play opposite Kenzie, and the angst-filled drama brings them together even as it rips emotions from the depths of their souls. They both had childhoods so painful that neither ever confided in the other, but when a cataclysmic revelation by a tabloid reporter threatens Kenzie's sanity and shakes both of them to their cores, they finally share the hurt with which they've been plagued. Putney's superb storytelling skills and complex and evocative characters make for an unforgettable story. Diana Tixier Herald
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Customer Reviews

23 Reviews
5 star:
 (14)
4 star:
 (6)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (23 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most helpful customer reviews

 
5.0 out of 5 stars One of Putney's best, Mar 21 2003
By Kavalyn Kreer (Petaling Jaya, Selangor Malaysia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Spiral Path (Paperback)
I just finished 'The Spiral Path' by Mary Jo Putney and I think its one of her best contemporary romances. The characters were so believeable and real and you really feel for protagnists, Kenzie Scott and Raine Marlowe and desperately want their relationship to work (though you know it'll all eventually work out).

After finishing the book, I felt a little lost as the characters had all become my friends and I missed reading about them. Keep it up, Mary Jo Putney and give us more such great contemporary romances.

I just managed to get the China Bride and plan on starting the book pretty soon.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Spiralling around, Oct 28 2002
By A Customer
This review is from: Spiral Path (Paperback)
My mother recommended this book to me because of the author's use of the labyrinth to help the characters work through their individual crises. I'm originally from San Francisco and have walked the labyrinth at Grace Cathedral (mentioned in the book, I think). I found it to be an incredible way of narrowing down one's field of focus to allow one's thoughts to come into perspective. I was fascinated by the intensity of the reactions the characters had as a result of experiencing the labyrinth and I thought it very interesting the author would choose such an unusual plot device. I also enjoyed the flashes of wry humor that were sprinkled throughout the dialogue.
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3.0 out of 5 stars My one and only 3 star MJP book, Oct 27 2002
This review is from: Spiral Path (Paperback)
Since discovering MJP, I have read everything of hers I could get my hands on. I really did enjoy her groundbreaking work in The Burning Point relating to spousal abuse, and the interesting backdrop. This latest contemporary fell short, and I was somewhat surpised myself.

Like Robin Schone, MJP is unafaid to tackle the "not so nice" things that society doesn't always like to talk about, or romance readers want to read. In this case, the hero Kenzie Scott has a tortured sexual past with some allusions to homosexuality and his childhood prostitution. Raine Marlowe is a movie actress who has her own problems with intimacy, being illigitamate and insecure. The couple is estranged, until Rainey
decides to direct a movie that stars Kenzie and later raises Kenzie's inner demons. The couple slowly comes back together and reconciles with the past.

The problem with this novel is that it strains credibility to the utmost. Rainey is the writer, star, and director of a major motion picture (oh and totally gorgeous to boot and a fabulous actress) and Kenzie's past is totally buried,despite gossip columnists. This seems impossible, especially with today's technology and the fact that you find dirt on anybody. The explanation for Rainey's success in directing her movie is so contrived. Only in a romance, but give the readers a little credit. When you bring up sensitive material and an unusual backdrop, I think reality has to be brought up just a notch, or it's just melodrama. The horrible hokey Oscar ending only added to this. I hope in her next contemporary some groundbreaking stuff is brought up, but the
resolution is better. I'm sure some readers aren't so picky, but this romance just didn't ring true.

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Most recent customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars A story of tortured heroes and faith
One cannot help but agree with the old adage that says reel lives mimics real lives after they finished The Spiral Path. Read more
Published on Aug 13 2002 by Desmond Chan

5.0 out of 5 stars I Need to Make A Distinction
I'm having a heck of a time grading this. The only way I can resolve it is to tell you that I think if you are a romance reader, you will probably find this a 5 star novel... Read more
Published on July 2 2002 by carol irvin

1.0 out of 5 stars This book was [BAD]!
I've read Mary Jo Putney's other books and they were very enjoyable. This one was not. Thank God I didn't buy it!! I found it highly unbelievable and long winded. Read more
Published on Jun 10 2002 by Nancy J. Walker

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
Mary Jo Putney does not dissappoint. She delivers another great believable story.
Published on April 24 2002 by P. Peterson

4.0 out of 5 stars What's it missing...?
I love Mary Jo Putney's books, and any book that can make me cry is certainly doing something right. But this one didn't reach the heights of some of her other work. Read more
Published on April 2 2002 by E. A. Lewis

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, wow and WOW!
Loved this book, can't imagine anyone thinking it less than five stars or utterly great. Mary Jo Putney didn't just deliver, she knocked it out of the park. Read more
Published on Mar 10 2002 by Pauline B. Jones

5.0 out of 5 stars Beat a path to your bookstore for the Spiral Path
I've always been a Mary Jo Putney fan, but The Spiral Path shows that Ms. Putney is one of those writers who keeps getting better and better. Read more
Published on Mar 3 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars 4 and 7/8 stars!
When I first bought this book it was with a bit of trepidation. I had been let down by Mary Jo Putney books before and was not what you would call a fan. Read more
Published on Feb 27 2002 by H. Marcelo

4.0 out of 5 stars Hero with tortured soul; but lacks some emotional depth
This is the second of MJP's contemporary novels, and I assume that she's planning more with Kate's other friends (I vote for Val and Tom, preferably as a couple, next!). Read more
Published on Feb 13 2002 by Dr W. Richards

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Story
Every once in a while you come across a book that reaches out and grabs you for all it's worth. You find yourself so enthralled with the story that you literally panic when you... Read more
Published on Feb 4 2002 by paula_k_98

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