Customer Reviews

The Latest Bombshell

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I highly reccommend this politcal thriller and its saucy heroine Kate Booth. It's an edgy trip through the cobblestone streets of Rome and the back rooms of Washington, D.C.: a perfect blend of political power players and gourmet delights. In Booth, Mitchell has created a female character who is clearly flawed, but all the more lovable. She is someone who you want to hang out with, just to get a taste of her exciting and non-stop action work-social-love life.I can't wait to read the next Kate Booth adventure and see if she ends up back with the gorgeous Italian or checked into rehab!

I loved the Kate Boothe character! She's actually human - inept in high-heels, unceremoniously dumped by a couple boyfriends - but smart & savvy enough to unravel the case of treason against her client. She's wonderful! I am hoping that Kate Boothe will re-surface in another story - a character this much fun shouldn't be retired after only one book!

I couldn't put this book down, I read it in one sitting! I think Mitchell's got a real gift with dialogue and the story is intriguing and fast-paced. The author obviously has an insider track on the world of politics - which makes the read all the more fun. If you want to have a terrific adventure, this is it!

The Chinese have been buying more U.S. military secrets and this time the government has picked the perfect man to take the fall. Reporter Lyle Gold isn't liked by anyone, has annoyed the military on a number of occasions, and he could be the traitor. A few leaks, some political wheeling and dealing, and some post-9/11 rushing to judgement and there's no one in the country who will take Gold's case. But political consultant Kate Boothe has been out of the country. She dated Gold years before and knows that he didn't care enough about money to sell his country for more. She doesn't realize the extent to which the nation needs Gold as a scapegoat for everything that has gone wrong and agrees to work for him. What she doesn't realize is that too many people have a stake in Gold's guilt--and are prepared to take whatever steps necessary to make sure that no one raises too many questions.

Author Michele Mitchell knows her Washington D.C. politics. The who-do-you-know and where can you take me atmosphere of D.C. comes through solidly. She also grasps our national intolerance for uncertainty. If the Pentagon says Gold is guilty, only a traitor would believe him innocent--right? More importantly, though, Mitchell writes a compelling story. Kate Boothe is a sympathetic heroine, with her fears that her boyfriend has abandoned her for the latest blonde, her concerns over what her mother will think when political operatives taint her as a ..., and outright fear when the IRS breaths down her neck after being unleashed by an aggressive White House.

Warning--THE LATEST BOMBSHELL has little sympathy for talk radio, Attorneys General who take their guidance from the Old Testament rather than from the U.S. Constitution, or those who believe that our basic rights must be thrown away to protect Americanism. Even if you don't like the politics, though, the novel is worth reading for its insights into the way the U.S. government is run--and for its intriguing lead character. Very nice.

I'm surprised this book has a sequel. It was not that interesting. I am a politics buff so I thought a chick lit novel set against Washington would interest me, but the story never presents any captivating moments or characters.

Kate Boothe is like a thinking woman's Bridget Jones. And her polical adventure is so perfect for this campaign season. If you are looking for a fun, breezy read that will still work your brain a bit, I recommend this book.

I thought this book was average. THe plot is pretty good- political consultant decides to take on an unwinnable case- her ex ( a journalist) is accused of treason. We go through lots of Washington politics- how you get to see the people you need to know, how important being being best friends with the matre'd of a restaurant is, how a nice bottle of champagne will get you everywhere. Kate Boothe guides us on this journey. We see her battle audits, vengeful old friends, scheming new enemies, an assalt on her reputation. We see her fighting the good fight, saving an innocent man who everyone has turned their back on. But it is just not a very interesting literary journey.

Mitchell makes the mistake of telling not showing. Their are many positive personality traits to Kate, but we hear about them in narrative rather than in dialogue. I needed to hear some of her intelligence, wit, and media smarts. This did not come through to me. She becomes just like every other mediocre heroine I've ever read. There is nothing to separate her from everyone else, and since this is the story of Kate, it makes for a very average read.

The humor is trite, the characters are forgetable- I even think Mitchell forgets why she introduced certain characters. Th eplot is definately good, but the story that goes along with it isn't.

What a wonderfully fun and smart book! It's a page turner with a brain. I literally stayed up all night to find out what happens.

It took me awhile, but I realized about 2/3 of the way through the book that the author had based this story on the Dreyfus affair! What an inspired thing to do in this story set in post 9/11 Washington! I totally enjoyed this book. Hat's off to Ms. Mitchell!

I took this book with me on a trip to the beach and I couldn't put it down. Kate should be in the next Charlie's Angels movie!

While I support our Presiden't strong stand against terrorism, I do understand some folk's concerns regarding the Patriot Act and some of the actions by the Attorney General. Good fiction can take a stand on political issues as it tells a story and I sense this author has some serious reservations regarding the Attorney General, conservative talk radio hosts, and the military establishment.

The problem she has is that good fiction still needs to be plausible and the story needs to make sense. This book, which is essentially about a government plot to frame a reporter on a trumped up espionage case fails those tests. The story goes a bit too far over the top. More importantly, the narrator's perspective as a PR professional/talking head on television is hard to take. In this case, the writer has written a novel in the first person where the main character is shallow and unlikeable. She comes off as a ditzy PR person more interested in fluff and yet another example of the Washington elite's lack of understanding of the rest of the world.

The positive part of the book is that it is paced well and easy to read. Yes, you can read this on the beach, but the impression that it will make on you won't last as long as the tan or sunburn you might get while reading it.