03 July 2012

Book Review: Snapshot

by Angie Stanton

Summary
Marti Hunter hates rockers and anything remotely related to the rock-and-roll lifestyle. She thought she’d left that all behind, along with her drug-addicted mother and absent-minded rock legend father. Now she lives with her grandmother, and Marti’s life is finally normal. Just the way she likes it.

For Adam Jamieson, normal is not possible. He is the genius guitar player of the band Jamieson. He’s ecstatic to finally get a two-week break from his micromanaged life and a chance to hang with regular teens. Adam’s shaving off his trademark curls and going undercover.

But when Marti, the reluctant rock princess, and Adam, the undercover guitar wizard, meet, sparks fly in more ways than one. They spend their time alternating between making out and driving each other crazy. But their summer adventures of skinny dipping, storm watching, and stolen kisses are brought to a halt when tragedy strikes.

Suddenly, they’re on opposite sides of the country, just when they need each other the most. Can Marti survive life with her dad and his vicious girlfriend? Will Adam get so fed up with his over-managed life and controlling parents that he quits the band?

Snapshot. A moment in time that changes two people forever.

Review
4/5

The same tune, different lyrics. This is how I define Angie Stanton’s latest offering Snap Shot.

If you have read Angie Stanton’s Rock and a Hard Place, you’ll know what I mean. The whole plot is familiar but was given a different setting and set of characters: Teen-age Rock demigod meets a damsel in distress.

and the credit rolls 

The Damsel in Distress Marti
I love her name – it’s pretty unique and ear-catching. She’s ALSO abused – neglected by both her parents who were busy doing their own thing rather than taking care of their daughter.

How can she be that unlucky

Her father was a great rock & roll legend of all time and I don’t know why I picture Steven Tyler every time I read Steven Hunter’s name . Anyway, when he wasn’t on booze or drugs – her was a great dad. But when he’s under the influence: he’s totally another person. For instance, Marti drove a car when she was 10 while her father was inebriated on the passenger seat – does social services not exist during these times in American history? On the other hand, I like her father’s lucid moments. I can feel that he also care for his daughter but he’s not a perfect dad & Adam’s mother was right when she said that he can’t manage to be a caregiver. He can give her all the material necessities but not the nurturing that a teen-ager needs.
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Her mom was always high on drugs and very unstable. She would go in & out of rehab – that’s why Marti was given to her dad. 

Her grandmother who took her from her father when she felt that there was a need to do so. I adore her so much and I think that she’s the best thing that ever happened to Marti – besides Adam. She provided all the love that Marti craved for growing up – Love that her parents were supposed to give her. 

Her Hang-up 
Since she came from a very dysfunctional family and was traumatized with her dad: she doesn’t like rock stars. After living with her father and experiencing all the crazy stuffs that comes with all the glitz and glamour – she decided not to fall in love with one OR go back to her father – anything actually for her not to experience her past again. 

The big BUT
She met Adam – she was mad that he lied about his identity. She hated him for being a rock star but Adam showed that some rock stars – no matter how widely famous they are – can be different. 


The Teen-Age Rock Demigod Adam Jamieson 

this band so reminds me of the Jamieson brothers
this band so reminds me of the Jamieson brothers

Here’s one question that has been bugging my mind: Does the Jamieson troupe have a white-knight complex? As you can remember Peter was adamant in saving Liberty from her addicted aunt and now – Adam wants to save Marti. 

Anyway, Adam wanted freedom from stardom. Just like Peter whom we’ve met from Rock & a Hard Place he isn’t your typical teen-age rock star with loose chains who alternate girls, booze and drugs. All three of them were still under their parent’s care and still their normal selves after the final curtain drops on stage. 

He wanted to experience normalcy for a few weeks that’s why he cut his hair and enrolled himself at a photography camp under a pseudoname. 

I love his conviction to standby Marti and he pulled off a one big gesture just to see her – despite to their prior commitment in one important show. I have one problem with him though – like any other NORMAL teenage boy in the brink of puberty – he allows his balls to prevail more than his brain. 

Their Camp Friends breathers 
I love their friends at camp – they were fun and fiercely loyal. They got star struck when the truth went out but what normal person wouldn’t be? Nevertheless, they kept their promise and never revealed Adam’s existence to anyone outside their group. 

The Issues : A lot!
Angie Stanton once again touched the issue on abuse, this time, neglect. Adding some common teen-age issues that I’m sure a lot of her young adult readers can relate such as teen-age pregnancy, how a few minutes of pleasure could not compensate with the worry you experience in waiting for the pregnancy result test. Plus drugs, booze & rock and roll

Lastly 
I’d love to hear Garret’s story, and I hope fervently that Angie Stanton will set out a different formula this time. 

Everyone deserves their happy ending, although I never really like Garret and all his controlling tendencies, I hope he will have his very own HEA. 


Favorite Quotes
  • “Sometimes surprises are best.” 
  • “We need something fun to remember when we look back at our youth.”
  • “When a person is so irresponsible and self-centered that they can’t look out for the basic needs of their own family and they actually cause irreparable harm to their own children, that’s totally unacceptable. And when they treat other people like they exist only to serve them, that’s not only rude and offensive, it’s completely wrong. No one on this earth should be allowed to step on other people just to build themselves up.” 
  • “You are my drug of choice, and I plan to overdose.” 
  • “Because I need you more right now than I need to breathe.”
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