With mysterious bad guys, pretentious preteens and near-disaster around every corner, J.D. Tynan's latest novel, "Charlie Ford Meets Secret Agent Man," is akin to a sexier, grown-up print version of "Adventures in Babysitting." The book is the first in Tynan's new trilogy starring a tough woman named Charlie Ford, a former Army Ranger and current Hollywood nanny. Despite all sexual tension mounting in the jungle, "Charlie Ford Meets Secret Agent Man" has a deeper plot that goes beyond romance into a personal journey of self-discovery.

Charlie Ford Meets Secret Agent Man

J.D. Tynan
A Better Be Write Publisher (2007)
ISBN 0977197158
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (4/07)


Thanks to author J.D. Tynan, I was actually able to enjoy a flight across the United States because I had this book in my hands. By the way, this flight was full of traveling junior high school kids... and I don't like kids.

Anyway, from the first page Tynan had me hooked. It is important to note that Charlie Ford is a woman. She is a pretty tough woman. The story begins with Charlie being fired from another nanny position. She seems to have a problem with spoiled rich kids getting the best of her. Unwilling to give up she takes another nanny position for a twelve-year-old girl who is the daughter of a movie star dad. The daughter initially seems like every other spoiled brat, but Charlie senses that she has some protective barriers up and starts to see past the facade. She and Charlie end up going to Africa to be with her dad while he completes filming a movie. Along the way, their plane is hijacked. Charlie and Annabelle manage to escape into the jungle with the help of a mysterious man.

Charlie spent eight years in an elite military unit. She learns that she must use her survival skills, military training, and her excellent physical condition to survive. In dealing with Annabelle she also comes to terms with relationships that she has with her family members. This ordeal brings out the worst of her issues. But it is these issues that help her relate so well to Annabelle. She has to deal with not feeling like she is good enough and how to relate to her family, especially her father.

The girls are not sure if they can trust this man or not. He aids them, but he also leaves them to fend for themselves. At one point on their adventure, Charlie ends up helping him out. For now he is nameless, because he keeps giving her different names. Charlie also finds herself attracted to him. This adds to the suspense.

I really loved, "Charlie Ford Meets Secret Agent Man," because of all of the aspects incorporated into the story. It has everything, adventure, romance, suspense and a great deal of laugh-out-loud humor. That might be why the kids left me alone on the plane.

Anyway, “Charlie Ford Meets Secret Agent Man” tops the list of great books that I have read. I cannot recommend this book enough. It would be a perfect selection for a woman's readers group.