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Friday, December 30, 2011

Helpless by Daniel Palmer

I recently finished reading a copy of the soon to be released book by Daniel Palmer, called Helpless. It took me a while to find the free time to pick it up, mostly because I was afraid what happened would happen...once I picked it up, I simply couldn't put it down. Despite plans to accomplish much on that particular Saturday, I spent most of my day sitting at the kitchen table and reading. When I grabbed the book to read on the two minute car ride to my son's basketball game, my husband asked if I was really bringing it along. I told him that I sure was - it was good, it was two more minutes that I could read. I did finish in time to get some things done that Saturday - including dinner, so the family didn't have to starve while I read.
The storyline in Helpless unfolds around a man, Tom Hawkins, whose ex-wife, Kelly, has just been found dead and whose daughter, Jill, does not have much of a relationship with or a good view of him, because of the stories told by his ex-wife. A former Navy Seal, that is the coach of the local high school girls soccer team that his daughter plays on, Tom moves into his ex-wife's house to raise his daughter and try to develop a normal Father-Daughter relationship with her. Before long, Tom finds himself caught up as a suspect in a porn ring, accused of being a party to teen sexting and accused of having relations with members of the soccer team he coaches. How can he protect his daughter from things in his past and prove his innocence before time runs out?

It seems that the more technology that we have in our lives, the more opportunity there is to be hurt by that same technology. We hear of phishing schemes and viruses sent by e-mails. Links contained in e-mails that allow others access to our computers. We access so much through technology and we like to believe we are reasonably safe, but how safe are we? Is your wireless access secure? How do you protect your children and keep them informed on the dangers of sexting?

These are questions that start to come to mind as you read Helpless. You find yourself questioning your everyday technology and how safe you are or are not in that world of technology.

One of the things that I loved the most about the book is that the story is so believable. You find yourself thinking, there is no way, but as you continue to read, you begin to realize that this twisted world could be real. This could happen to someone you know. You just can't stop reading, you want to know how it resolves and hope that the technology can help protect the innocent, as easily as it seems to be able to implicate them. I have to believe that this is due to the amount of research that was done by Daniel Palmer in writing this book. The facts behind the fiction ring so true, that it makes that story that much more real when you read it.

Helpless is a definite must read. Scheduled for publication January 31, 2012, you can preorder it now through your preferred online retailer, through the links provided on Daniel Palmer's website.

While you wait for this new book, if you haven't already read it, I highly recommend reading Delirious, his debut book that was released in early 2011.

Giveaway!
One lucky A Busy Mom of Two reader will win a copy of Helpless by Daniel Palmer. The book will be an Advanced Readers Copy of the book.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

No compensation was received for this post. A copy of book was provided so that I could read the story and provide a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

36 comments:

  1. I like Stephen King
    Thanks!
    katierox4you@yahoo.com
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    katierox4you@yahoo.com

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  2. I have so many favorites. But right now I'm a big fan of Lisa Jackson and Tess Gerritsen's books.

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  3. Favorite thriller is Vanish by Tess Gerritsen.

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

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  4. i have always liked dean koontz

    catherine0807 at hotmail dot ocm

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  5. shattered- dean koontz


    catherine0807 at hotmail dot com

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  6. My favorite thriller writer is Stephen King followed closely by old school James Patterson (not as fond of his current stuff but still pretty awesome).

    kalea_kane(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Kelly B

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  7. The Shining. It was so realistic, I could visualize it all.

    kalea_kane(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Kelly B

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  8. I haven't done much reading lately but I alwawys liked Dean Koontz.

    beh2351@frontier.com

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  9. I love Gillian Flynn.


    lauren51990 at aol dot com

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  10. book-wise: Dark Places by Gillian Flynn would be my favorite


    lauren51990 at aol dot com

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  11. I am a fan of Stephen King.

    amanda.corley@ymail.com

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  12. I love your badge! xD
    It's so adorable!

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  13. Sorry for posting twice... xD
    My favourite thriller writer is R.L. Stine, even though his ones aren't that scary (not at all, actually)

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  14. My favourite thriller authors include Dean Koontz, Nelson DeMille, Jeff Abbott, and Tess Gerritsen.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

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  15. My favourites by Koontz are Shattered and Velocity.

    Tess Gerritsen's The Bone Garden was amazing!

    Also really enjoyed Mayday by Nelson DeMille and Adrenaline by Jeff Abbott.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  16. Love le Carre, Clancy (in his early days) and Patterson

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  17. loved Jaws
    the book had a different twist to it then the movie
    That was one where I saw the movie and then read the book.

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  18. I like John Grisham. Thank you

    candieluster(at)gmail(dot)com

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  19. I liked the Art of Disappearing. Thank you

    candieluster(at)gmail(dot)com

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  20. My favourite thriller writer is Agatha Christie - my wife is a huge fan of hers and I got into her books as well. classic.
    coreybrennan26@hotmail.com

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  21. Curtain - Agatha Christie
    coreybrennan26@hotmail.com

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  22. I would say Lisa Gardner, since her books, are about behavior and have a ton of suspense.

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  23. Stephen King definitely!

    elkmeese at gmail dot com

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  24. favorite is The Stand or The Shining...or The Green Mile, love them all!

    elkmeese at gmail dot com

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  25. stephen king
    ageorgiamomma@gmail.com

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  26. Stephen King is my favorite author and The Stand is my favorite book.

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  27. Lisa Jackson and Mary Higgins Clark

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  28. I totally agree that Helpless while a work of fiction....is so believable as something that could happen to anyone! It is a really scary scenario! I've read the ARC. I'm a Daniel Palmer fan....that's why I am currently holding a contest to give away a pprbck copy of DELIRIOUS which is mind blowing! If interested I've tweeted contest @MerleChloe and @MerleReads

    Thank you for holding a giveaway of HELPLESS! It's important to spread the word about responsible texting, emailing, etc.....great book, fantastic lessons!

    Aloha!
    Merle Gornick

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