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I confess I have not read a Stephen Leather book before so it comes as some surprise to me to discover there were 15 predecessors to this one.

Soft Target features Dan Shepherd, British undercover cop, widowed, one child, Liam, living with her parents. Apparently this is the third in a trilogy. It fits neatly into the current gritty realistic cop thriller genre, yes there is fairly explicit violence, a kind of cross between Martina Cole and Jack Reacher, though Dan never seems to have quite as much fun as Jack does. Yes I know I am mixing writers and characters but you get my drift.

I definitely dont like the lack of chapter breaks. Yes, this is the modern vogue, but its a horrid one, and I hope it vanishes soon. I cant be the only person who sits down or lies in bed to read two or three chapters but when there arent any, it just seems a real chore plowing on and on. Bring back chapters I say!

Along the way there are plenty of details on weaponry, gun buffs will love all that, though it wasnt for me, and snatches of modern lingo that are curiously not very modern at all. Hes a few sandwiches short of a picnic is positively Sweeney-esque, circa 1980, and there are several other examples I couldnt possibly repeat on a family show.

The plot rattles along though, and half way through I was hooked enough to stick with it to the end to find out what happens to Dan Shepherd and his mixed up chums, be they good, or be they bad.

Worth the time, worth the effort, and I may yet return.

Author: Stephen Leather
Title: Soft Target
ISBN: 0340834072
Published: 2005
Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton

David Carter's new novel "The Fish Catcher" tells the story of a group of children evacuated from London during World War II to escape the blitz bombing. It turns into a murder mystery and has been well reviewed. You can check out the first chapter on David's website at carter.eu">http://davidcarter.eu The book is available in hard copy or by instant download, and can be ordered in any bookshop quoting ISBN 978 - 1847539304

# posted by ujx @ 6:19 PM 0 comments

As a youth, I traveled as much as I could. To me, it was and still is a real-world classroom. I went to Washington, DC as a part of a high school club called Close-Up Washington DC. I learned about the political process while visiting the capital with simulated real world scenarios regarding persuasion, getting bills passed and standing up for what you believed.

Now as a mom of a newly teenage (13 year old) daughter, traveling has become an educational and emotional sanctuary. It gives us time to be together with few distractions, the ability to work as a team to get to our destination, and to spend time learning about the world around us.

During our travels, there have been in-depth confessions about life, love and growing up. Weve sung to favorite oldies and listened to the local radio stations on the dial to get idea of whats happening for the area.

Weve gotten lost; sometimes by accident, sometimes on purpose. Somehow, we always managed to find our way back again. We researched and planned our trips, found our own little hole in the walls and the serenity space, that little place where we know that for just one moment of time; this is exactly where we are meant to be. There are farms and cities, a simple realism and probably home to many stories unknown to us. Mountains and rivers, oceans and deserts were opposite and equal in their calling.

The road trips are what bring America to life. The changing cultures, climates, the history found in historical landmarks, museums and towns. The fact that you can find McDonalds from sea to shining sea. Some things change, but one thing you can count on is that the McDonalds at the next exit tastes the same.

While it is not all smiles and sunshine, there are arguments over differing interests and about things that really dont matter. There are unexpected snow storms and bathroom breaks and whatever else that may come.

When I look back and ask my daughter what she thought of the trip. She smiles and says, Relax, after all, its a vacation.

Victoria Brooks lives in Bellevue, Washington with her newly teenage daughter. She is a part-time travel agent and a full-time parent. Her interests include traveling, building businesses and surfing the internet.

# posted by ujx @ 3:40 PM 0 comments