Customer Reviews

Under the Radar (Sisterhood Series)

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

In Under the Radar we actually learn more about Charles then we have in all the sisterhood series. Don't know about Ms. Michaels other fans but I always wondered if Charles was just too perfect well in this book we actually learn some secrets about Charles that will surprise all of us.
When Charles and Myra have an unexpected emergency the rest of the sisterhood is left on there own.


Retired justice Pearl Barnes has rescued 14 pregnant teenagers who are part of a polygamysect needs help and she needs it fast. Without Charles to instruct them on how to accomplish the mission the girls are on there own and believe me with no real plan in sight they have a huge mission to accomplish.

Once you are one of the chosen or the cream of the crop you are given to Prophet Harold Evanrod and your job is to reproduce.

You will not believe the things these young girls have endured and it is a must read to see how the girls hope to help these girls without the guidance of Charles.

They have everyone involved Lizzy is fantastic as are Espinosa,Maggie and all the other members it is a must read and one you will be thrilled you purchased another A+++ for Ms. Michaels

As in all the Sisterhood Series books, this a very good book. I love these books and I have never gotten so involved in reading books as much as I have this series.
Finally, stories of where Justice does over come the injustice of the world.
I highly recommend these books, I have never enjoyed books as much as I have these and I read a lot. I have read many good books, but this series I feel that I know the characters peronally.
I want to belong to the Sisterhood.

I only bought this book because I was on holiday in Spain and this was one of very few books in English sold in the local bookstore. I thought it might be interesting because of the topic: Polygamist sects in modern day America. Being a fan of the TV-show "Big Love" I thought this might be a good read. But I was disappointed.

For one thing, there are a whole bunch of characters who are supposedly our "heroes" in this story, with so many different names and so little information about who they are, that the whole thing becomes quite confusing. Secondly the whole story about the polygamist compound is very one-sided and the way the heroes threat the heads of the compound is just laughable. They're shaving the heads of the women (remember Holocaust, anyone?)and threaten their prophet to cut his penis off. Wow... did a 14 year old boy write this? They're doing this to rescue the young girls at the compound. Unfortunately the book doesn't go into how what happens afterward with these young girls, they're simply taken somewhere to be taken care of. Just when you thought something interesting might happen.

After having read the book I'm still not sure what the "Sisterhood" is, or what brought them together, or who the different members are. Or why they live together on a mountain. And quite frankly, I don't care.

This is the 13th book in the Sisterhood series, featuring a group of women who have formed a sort of secret vigilante group. If you haven't read any of the series yet, I wouldn't recommend starting with this one, as I didn't feel it was very strong. Okay if you already know the characters, not so much if you're new to the series.

The book starts off by the vigilantes losing Charles, their main strategist, as he heads off to deal with a personal crisis. Myra, his lady love, goes with him at the last minute. Their's is a secondary story, but it wasn't very satisfying and I didn't really like it. Didn't feel right for some reason, especially how it ended.

The main story is the remaining women taking on their first "mission" without Charles leading the way. They have to come up with their own plan, transportation, support system, and exit strategy for the very first time. Actually, they don't do too bad, but some things were a little too easy. Plus, for a group of intelligent women who have already completed several successful missions, they seemed a little clueless at times. And Jack and Harry's behavior was downright annoying.

While I in no way, shape, or form condone polygomy, I didn't like the way the polygomists were portrayed in this story. Yes, the men were slime for brainwashing and treating the women this way, but there were too many sterotypes running around. And the way the Sisters treated the women at the end was uncalled for and a little mean-spirited. Not very Sister-like at all.

All in all, didn't feel that the plot was as well done as past books in the series. Fern Michaels is a better writer than this, so not sure what went wrong. Maybe it's time for the Sisters to retire and have Fern move on to other series. They could do cameos every now and again, but don't think they are strong enough to continue on their own any longer.

Only gave this one 3 out of 5 stars, as it was a disappointment. I will no doubt read the next book, should there be one, but I hope the Sisters get their act together by then.

all the sisterhood books are great. always awaiting the next book. fern keep them coming. connie j no hollywood ca just finished reading under the radar at 2 a.m.

this is another in her series of the sister hood series I have read them all and they are 10's can't wait for the next one. she is my fav. author

After the success of their FINAL JUSTICE mission, the seven Sisterhood members return to their mountaintop retreat looking forward to some R&R. One hour later before anyone can fully settle back, the alarm rings. The women react instantly only to their shock mentor Charles and Myra leave together by copter. He leaves behind an enigmatic note for the team.

Almost immediately after the helicopter lifts off, retired judge Pearl Barnes needs their help. She has rescued fourteen pregnant teens from a polygamous sect and needs the Sisterhood to finish their trip to safety. The teammates set forth as they fully support Pearl's Underground Railroad that rescues abused females, but also fear their first project sans Charles.

By removing the mentor for most of the story line, Fern Michaels refreshes her Sisterhood saga as they are on their own for the first time after a dozen previous adventures with Charles available. The Story line is fast-paced from the moment that Pearl calls for their help and never slows down as they try to keep the teens safe. With echoes of the Texas raid last year, fans of the saga will appreciate Fern Michaels' latest twist.

Harriet Klausner

As always, another great one from Fern Michaels. I have never read one of her books that I didn't like.

First off, I suppose I have to take some responsibility here, because when I purchased this book, I didn't realize that it was part of a series. Had I realized that, I wouldn't have bought it - but I did, and I'm trying to struggle through it. For being such a bestselling author, I thought Ms. Michaels' writing style was atrocious, amateurish at best. Her writing seemed very lazy to me. Every other thing that she didn't want to take the time to explain was simply described as "special." Special hospitals, special cell phones, et cetera ad nauseum. I'm only halfway through the book, and like I said, I realize now that this is part of a series, but you'd think that there would be at least a bare minimum of refresher or "catch-up" regarding the characters. I literally do not know one thing about these charachters other than their (ridiculous) names. (Seriously? Cosmo Cricket? Really?) I wish that the story line was compelling enough for me to want to go back and read the first 7 books in this series, but I can assure you that if they are all written this sloppily, I will never, ever pick up another book by Fern Michaels.

Another thing that bothered me is the way the polygamist sect is portrayed in this book. I am in NO way standing up for their beliefs and practices, but they are portrayed as cartoonish caracitures. Anyone who's read any real-life accounts of life in a polygamist sect (if you haven't, read Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall immediately) knows that there's so much more to the story than just a bunch of backwards inbreds. It feels like Ms. Michaels did no research whatsoever on the subject; she just took a few facts gleaned from the news, combined with the indelible images of the women in their old-fashioned dress, and slapped together some semblance of a plot. It's just not enough for me.

Maybe these sorts of books appeal to some people who don't want to have to do any actual thinking as they read. And I like an escapist novel just as much as the next person - I just prefer them to be written by someone who can write above a junior high level. I honestly would give this book zero stars if I could. If you are reading this review, you're probably a huge Fern Micheals fan, and think that I'm completely full of s**t. But if you have never read her books, and prefer a finely crafted novel that will make you think and will stick with you long after you read the final page - look elsewhere!!!

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

The seven women making up the Sisterhood have just returned to their mountain command center when their chief coordinator, Charles Martin, and mentor, Myra Rutledge, are called away in the middle of the night for a family emergency. Shortly after they leave, the Sisters receive a phone call from former judge Pearl Barnes who has just happened across a stranded bus full of pregnant teens. As it turns out, these girls are part of a polygamist sect. The Sisters step in to aid in rescuing the teens and plot to take down the leader of their sect in a scandal ripped from today's headlines. It will take everything they have to handle this case, especially with the head of their operation incommunicado.

I liked the premise of Under the Radar and it started out in typical Sisterhood style with a little bit of fluff, several empowered females and adventure to spare. However, once the Sisterhood gets to the compound, everything falls apart. I have a whole laundry list of issues with the book, which can only be presented in atypical style for me.

1. It's camouflage!" not "speckled suits." I find it extremely hard to believe that a presumably intelligent man (a lawyer or reporter - I forget who it was in that scene) in his 30s (what I'm estimating the age) would have never heard of camouflage and not know what to call it.

2. I was highly offended by the derogatory impression given of the National Guard in Under the Radar. The characters referred to them as "pretend soldiers" who never do anything, are all overweight and women who put on makeup with a trowel. What is this... propaganda? I almost quit the book right then and there.

3. If one more character snarled or gave an evil laugh or an evil smile, I think I would have screamed! Not to mention all the "love of his (her) lifes" used throughout the novel.

4. I was appalled at the way the Sisters treated the women in the cult compound. The women in the compound have lived there for their entire lives and were subject to such severe brain washing and emotional abuse that they didn't know how to respond any other way than they did. Yet the Sisters kept calling them stupid, calling them other names, insulting them, and physically abusing the women for living the only life they knew how to live. The women in the compound truly did not know that what they were doing was wrong. That was all they'd ever known. They have never lived outside the compound so they had no way of realizing that their way of life was so horrible and what they were doing was so terribly wrong. Yes it was wrong, I don't ever condone that type of behavior. However people subject to that kind of torture would have absolutely no idea of that. To have the "heroines" treating them so abusively actually disgusted me. I don't care if the book is fiction or not. The Sisters' behavior was anything BUT heroic in the second half of the book and I was repulsed.

5. Can someone explain to me how someone who has never driven an 18-wheeler in their life would be able to climb up into the cab, with a full trailer attached and just drive? There's no way they'd be able to steer and maneuver it properly to get it where they wanted it on the first try. Impossible!

6. Enough about the pumpkins already! There was absolutely no need to keep talking about the blasted pumpkins and have them as a part of the "plan." I was so sick of hearing about them that if I had read Under the Radar at Halloween time, I'd not even be able to stand seeing them in the stores I was so sick of hearing about them!

I was so turned off by Under the Radar I don't know as I even want to continue in the Revenge of the Sisterhood series after this one. I'm sorry Fern Michaels but this book was so far below standard for you, it should never have been published like this! If this is the future of the series, then it is best ended right now.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, March 2010. All rights reserved.