Aspen's Stunt by Melissa Grace

Aspen's Stunt
by Melissa Grace
Pages: 237
Date: December 31 2014
Publisher: Author

Review
Rating: 2.0 out of 5.0
Read: June 26 2015

hmm. Aspen kind of presented, at least in the beginning, as an overly energetic 13 year old. Which is odd, since she's supposed to be 21. (well, literally she is presented as 7, but I meant during the present day scenes). Does not help that the father seems to treat Aspen as roughly 13.

'When did you become such a little adult?' - um, wha? Little . . . adult? Did I misread the earlier mention of Aspen's age? Did I accidentally transpose the 1 and 2? Forget 13, the father treats his daughter as a 12 year old. A super needy, easy to fall into tears at the mere idea of his "little adult" going off "forever" to be "lost" . . .. That's super creepy.

'I'm finally going to make some money.' - seriously, is she or is she not 21? What the hell? The dad doesn't want his 21 year old to work? Is there some unstated thing going on here? Does she actually have the mental capacity of a 4 year old? And, all these mentions of "motorcross" . . . that pays nothing?

'Dad, I honestly know that [as opposed to dishonestly knowing that?], and I will be careful.' - bah. Going off to make money to save the farm. 'I don't need friends. I need you. I need this place.' - this is really really creepy and is giving off vibes of an abusive incestual relationship.

This is all so bloody strangely laid out. A super creepy father is lose'ing the farm. Seemingly like a gift from heaven, his daughter, whom he treats like a five year old, is given an opportunity to go to Hollywood. To "do stunts". Assumption being that they are stunts on a bike. Without asking about payment or the like, the young woman immediately heads to Hollywood. Wherein the super naive young woman is given a contract. A six figure contract. And some vague idea that she will be jumping through windows. While on fire. And while on a bike. And if anything goes wrong, she can't sue. Or get any compensation. Here - sign. OOh! What a great deal! Let's sign!

I can't wrap my brain around this story. No foundation has been laid for any reason for an agent to contact this Aspen woman to do stunts. Aspen has apparently never worked a day in her life, at least nothing that would pay her money. Yet she's always out doing her "motorcross". And apparently somehow is well known enough for an agent to contact her. To do stunts. Apparently Hollywood now sends out calls to random people to see if they wish to come to Hollywood. For six figure deals. There's no bloody foundation for this story. Bah. Oh, sorry. There is foundation. Of a sort - mother died when girl is seven, while attempting to give birth, to a still-born brother. Father treats girl like she's really really young/and or really immature, while at the same time giving off massive waves/vibes of incestual stuff. And the woman is 21. There, see, foundation laid.

And . . . seriously? She's given a contract. She doesn't read it. Signs it. Agent immediatly picks it up and . . . 'pocketed it in the breast pocket of his suit." Seriously? There's naive and then there's super stupid. Maybe she does have the mental capacity/maturity/intelligence of a 5 year old. And what contract is so thin that it could be picked up and placed in the breast pocket of a suit? Have you seen contracts? Have you seen the breast pockets of suits? AARGH. Me and making notes while reading. He picked up his pen. But the wording made it seem like he was picking up the contract.

Okay, then she works on stunts. And, apparently, is the best stunt motorbike driver of all time. Who has never been paid. I guess she . . . no, I have no bloody clue what's going on.

First impressions are everything, right? Right. Jasper, the stunt coordinator (well, trainer, maybe he isn't the coordinator?) is very lazy in his coordinating. At least, from what is written. Just - do that. Aspen has blond hair. Is 21. Apparently naive. JT, the male actor on the film (apparently there's just two actors on the film), is a flirt (and apparently gets extras pregnant). And . . . um . . . given to saying vaguely inapporpriate stuff while elbowing Wren. Wren being the female actor on the set. Who, apparently, can't stand the smell of gas. Or dirt. Or anything, really. She's real bitchy and stand-offish. The dirctor, Gideon Wolff . . . um . . sarcastic twit? No, no real first
impression of him.

hmm. Apparently Aspen is the best at what she does. Still without ever, not once, never in her life, having been paid any money. For work. Maybe I need to stop fixating on that possible throw away line. I probably misinterpreted it.

Especially since her dad and her worked hard for Aspen to get to the pros. Which means . . . she should already have a source of income. To help on the losing the farm issue. Or, at the very least, have received money at some point in her life. Being a motorcross pro and all.

'The paparazzi still mention it today.' - so says the director. About JT getting extras pregnant. Um . . wha? Paparazzi take photographs. They don't . . . mention stuff. Reporters, entertainment presenters, etc. "mention" stuff. Not paparazzi. Maybe I've been misinformed? *looks up definition of paparazzi: "a freelance photographer who pursues celebrities to get photographs of them"* hmms.

Second impressions are . . something. Yeah, Wren's a bitch. Jasper's really hands-y. Oh, and, apparently, Aspen is gorgeous and everyone wants to do her. JT, and Kerri (the stylist). Correction. Wren's a major massive nasty bitch. Not just a bitch. And JT's a slimeball.

This. Is. Not. Making. Sense. (1) Aspen is 21; (2) her dad seems to treat her like she's 12; (3) she's a motorcross pro; (4) who has apparently never made any money; (5) while being the best at what she does (motorcross); (6) dad breaks down and cries when daughter Aspen is going to go away to Hollywood, because she will be away; (7) Aspen has, apparently, been all over for motorcross events, just not to L.A. (8) lives on the farm; (9) wakes up early to do chores. (10) gives
impression never leaves farm. (11) while going all over for motorcross . . . eh? (12) never been in a coffee shop before.

Does . . . not . . . compute. Super naive young woman from a small farm, who has been all over the place as a pro motorcross . . . person. Does she compete by herself? With no live audience? Just . . . out there in the wilderness?

Does she have one of those video stick things that record her, or record as if from her eyes as she zooms around on a motorcycle? And she uploads these videos? So, no one is around, she does massive stunts, records them, uploads them - is that how she is naive, but been everywhere, never made money - yet thinks she is a pro, and has had her stunts seen by others? I'm so confused.

heh. Apparently liking coffee the same way moves Wren from being a total bitch to Aspen to smiling sweetly. Those Hollywood people. So shallow.

'I won some nice prestigious awards in motorcross, but the money . . .' - um. So. She has in fact made money. Okkkay then.

Hmm. I don't really like pushy Kerri. bah. Actually, I know I don't. What a bitch.

Forcing Aspen to go on a date with Kerri. hmms. I don't think I particularly like Wren either. Esepcially when she turned into such a cold bitch after 'playing' with Aspen. Yes, playing is code. (I realize she wasn't actually, but she sure acted that way).

Huh. Now I really kinda dislike the papa as well. Pushing men at his daughter. mmphs. Bloody smoothering, that guy. Icky dude.

heh. Good grief, now I've no ability to have sympathy for Aspen. Because she went and injured herself. It got driven in too deeply about how much of a pro Aspen is so . . . I have no sympathy for her crashing. When she shouldn't have been doing what she was doing. While overly emotional. bah.