Love Me Tender, by Janice Thompson, is a historical set in Laguna Beach during the 1950's. It's strange to think of the novel as a historical, because I recognized most of the names that the author used to reference the era, and the 50's really doesn't seem too far off in the past to me. This novel is set during my parents' generation, and I recognized names such as Pat Boone, Milton Berle, Kim Novak, Doris Day, Little Richard, Frankie Avalon, Roy Rogers, Patti Page, Perry Como, etc. partly from what my parents talked about. Also, I remember some of the names from K-Tel's info-mericals that were making sales pitches on television for various music artists' greatest hits, or from the guest stars list on the television show, the Love Boat, which I faithfully watched on Saturday nights on ABC with my mom and sister during the late 70's and early 80's. There are also the references to Elvis, both in the singer's name, and also in the name of the novel, which is same as the name of one of his most famous ballads.
The novel opens with Debbie Carmichael conversing with her younger sister and friends about Bobby Conrad, a Pat Boone type who has recently become famous as a singer and actor. Debbie, who is twenty, regards herself as more mature than the younger females, but is not above dreaming about meeting Bobby Conrad and capturing his attention. She has a plan which she hopes will make her dream a reality. Her family owns and operates the diner, Sweet Sal's, which was named after her mother. Many famous faces have dined there, as evidenced by the photographic wall of fame at the restaurant, but in spite of the fame, the family business is hurting financially. Debbie's father, Frankie, is running behind on the mortgage due to his health problems, and the family is in danger of losing their business. Debbie's plan is to ask her father to ask one of his friends who works as an agent to arrange for Bobby Conrad to headline a benefit fundraising concert for the diner.
Johnny Hartmann is a preacher's kid who has come to Hollywood to see if he can make it in show business. He believes that he has followed the Lord's direction to come out west from Topeka, Kansas, and is wanting to see where his singing ability will take him. He's a good, clean cut young man, who, at his first audition, refuses to read out lines from a script that has his character swearing. He gets turned out of the studio, and is told to return to Kansas by the casting director. However, all is not lost for Johnny; standing up for his principles brings him the notice of Jim Jangles, the agent for Bobby Conrad. Jim sees the same potential in Johnny as he had with Bobby Conrad, and offers to represent Johnny.
As it turns out, Jim Jangles is the agent who is Frankie Carmichael's friend. Johnny and Debbie meet when Jim takes Johnny along to Sweet Sal's to discuss the fundraiser with the Carmichael Family. Johnny is taken with Debbie, but doesn't know if he can compete in her heart with her crush on Bobby Conrad.
As Debbie spends time with Johnny, she is drawn towards him, but trouble is brewing for the Carmichael Family. Due to scheduling conflicts and obligations, Bobby Conrad might not be able to sing at the fundraiser. Will the Carmichael Family be able to keep Sweet Sal's? Will Johnny win Debbie's heart? Will Johnny make a career in Hollywood, or will he need to return to Topeka, Kansas? Revelation 3:8 is the verse that was inscribed on one of the inner title pages. It says, "I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept My word and have not denied My name." How will the truth in this verse unfold in Johnny's life due to the choices that he makes in his personal life, and in the pursuit of his acting and singing career?
I liked this novel. I found some tidbits rather ironic. For instance, where I live, a mortgage of $18000 (the amount owed by Frankie Carmichael) is not considered astronomically huge, and in fact, it would be rather on the small side. Also, Frankie thought that 50 cents for a gallon of gas was an outrage. I just paid about $1.26/litre of gas when I bought some this morning (over $3.75/gallon). In the novel, McDonald's is referred to as the "new kid on the block," and I suppose, in the 1950's, it was. Now it is the old timer that is trying to survive competitively amongst the numerous eateries in the neighbourhood.
With the setting in the 1950's, the novel seems believable. Characters like Johnny and Bobby seem as if they could exist, because they seem to be modeled after Pat Boone and other entertainers who were open about their faith in the Lord. I'm not sure if Johnny or Bobby could make it as easily in the secular market in today's entertainment business. They could probably make it in the Christian Contemporary music industry, but beyond acting for the tween/youth market (e.g. Disney XD, Nickelodeon, etc.), I can't imagine them going far in today's secular entertainment industry. This novel makes me wonder if it is possible for many Christians to find success as entertainers in Hollywood today.
Friday 28 August 2015
Wednesday 12 August 2015
Review: I Need a Hero by Emma Bennet
This book grabbed my attention for a variety of reasons. First, the author's name alludes to Jane Austen's work, and she includes references to other Jane-isms in the text. There's Mr. Darcy, the heroine's cat, and Lord Sebastian Fairfax, one of the men that is a contender for her heart. Even the heroine's name, Bronte, alludes to other famous authoresses. Second, the cover of the book also captured my attention. There is the outline of a carriage, and the positioning of the people on the cover hinted a connection to historicals and regencies. Finally, I have seen another of Emma Bennet's books on the Amazon list for inspirational literature, although I have not read any of her work before reading, I Need a Hero. When I saw the book on Net Galley offerings, I decided to bite.
Despite all its literary allusions and cover, I Need a Hero, actually takes place in contemporary times. Bronte Huntington, a romance writer, has friend zoned her neighbour, Ryan Murphy, who Bronte perceives as average and uninteresting. Instead, her romantic attentions have been arrested by Sebastian Fairfax, a bona fide member of the nobility, who rescues her in a similar fashion to Mr. Willoughby's rescue of Marianne from Sense and Sensibility. He rescues her by horseback (he was riding on his property) after she tumbles down a hill and injures her foot. Sebastian is dark and mysterious, like the romantic heroes that Bronte writes about. In fact, he becomes the inspiration for the hero in the novel that she is currently working on.
Her non-Sebastian time is spent with Ryan, who wants to be more than friends with Bronte, but who can't compete with Sebastian. As Bronte spends time with both men, she discovers that Sebastian is not quite the romantic hero that she thought him to be, and that Ryan is not as boring and average as she thought. However, she is stubborn, and is unwilling to give up her hopes for a relationship with Sebastian, even though Ryan is looking better and more attractive as the days go by. Who will Bronte choose? Will she end up with the self-centered Sebastian, whose social circle is reluctant to accept her, or with Ryan, who is thoughtful, warm, and reliable, and whose mother would love to have Bronte as a future daughter-in-law?
This novel is secular in nature and Bronte is a gal who has been around the block a few times. She had been burned in a previous relationship in which the man who she had lived with, and who she expected to marry, bailed on her when she expected to receive a marriage proposal. She had always known that he wasn't the person for her, but stuck it out nevertheless. After getting dumped, she decided that she wouldn't take on any guy who didn't meet her expectations of what a hero would look like, and Sebastian seems to fit the bill. Unfortunately, for poor Ryan, he does not; he's a bit on the short side, he has red hair, and he's a boring dentist. It becomes obvious who the superior choice is, but Bronte is a bit head strong, and ironically, continues to stick it out for another inappropriate candidate, even though she thinks she knows what a real hero looks like.
For readers of this blog who are interested in knowing, there are no sex scenes in this book. The heroine is pressured to have sex with one of the men, but she refuses him. Bronte also shares a bed for a night with the other man, but does not get physically intimate with him.
The writing style of this novel didn't quite work for me at certain points of the novel; it felt like it could have used more dialogue and I thought that things could have been shown more to the reader than having it explained through the prose. However, the plot, although predictable, was quite solid. I liked how the relationship developed between Bronte and her final choice for a hero. It was cute how this choice also was reflected in the direction of the novel that Bronte is writing.
Disclaimer: I was given an e-copy of "I Need a Hero" by Emma Bennet from NetGalley in exchange for a review. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
Despite all its literary allusions and cover, I Need a Hero, actually takes place in contemporary times. Bronte Huntington, a romance writer, has friend zoned her neighbour, Ryan Murphy, who Bronte perceives as average and uninteresting. Instead, her romantic attentions have been arrested by Sebastian Fairfax, a bona fide member of the nobility, who rescues her in a similar fashion to Mr. Willoughby's rescue of Marianne from Sense and Sensibility. He rescues her by horseback (he was riding on his property) after she tumbles down a hill and injures her foot. Sebastian is dark and mysterious, like the romantic heroes that Bronte writes about. In fact, he becomes the inspiration for the hero in the novel that she is currently working on.
Her non-Sebastian time is spent with Ryan, who wants to be more than friends with Bronte, but who can't compete with Sebastian. As Bronte spends time with both men, she discovers that Sebastian is not quite the romantic hero that she thought him to be, and that Ryan is not as boring and average as she thought. However, she is stubborn, and is unwilling to give up her hopes for a relationship with Sebastian, even though Ryan is looking better and more attractive as the days go by. Who will Bronte choose? Will she end up with the self-centered Sebastian, whose social circle is reluctant to accept her, or with Ryan, who is thoughtful, warm, and reliable, and whose mother would love to have Bronte as a future daughter-in-law?
This novel is secular in nature and Bronte is a gal who has been around the block a few times. She had been burned in a previous relationship in which the man who she had lived with, and who she expected to marry, bailed on her when she expected to receive a marriage proposal. She had always known that he wasn't the person for her, but stuck it out nevertheless. After getting dumped, she decided that she wouldn't take on any guy who didn't meet her expectations of what a hero would look like, and Sebastian seems to fit the bill. Unfortunately, for poor Ryan, he does not; he's a bit on the short side, he has red hair, and he's a boring dentist. It becomes obvious who the superior choice is, but Bronte is a bit head strong, and ironically, continues to stick it out for another inappropriate candidate, even though she thinks she knows what a real hero looks like.
For readers of this blog who are interested in knowing, there are no sex scenes in this book. The heroine is pressured to have sex with one of the men, but she refuses him. Bronte also shares a bed for a night with the other man, but does not get physically intimate with him.
The writing style of this novel didn't quite work for me at certain points of the novel; it felt like it could have used more dialogue and I thought that things could have been shown more to the reader than having it explained through the prose. However, the plot, although predictable, was quite solid. I liked how the relationship developed between Bronte and her final choice for a hero. It was cute how this choice also was reflected in the direction of the novel that Bronte is writing.
Disclaimer: I was given an e-copy of "I Need a Hero" by Emma Bennet from NetGalley in exchange for a review. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
Monday 3 August 2015
Review: A Lady of Esteem, a novella by Kristi Ann Hunter
I've been away for over a month from the blog, and although I've been still reading, I've run into a bit of a writer's block, and also because my attention has been zapped by a knitting project which involves a lot of lace. I'm also operating under a deadline, and this project must be completed by the end of September. I've been freaking out a bit, because for the first two and a half weeks of this project, I had been ripping out the same series of rows, over and over again. However, because of this, I've learned to distinguish between different stitches that are required for this knitting pattern, and I've finally passed the halfway mark to the completion of this object. Lace no longer seems as scary, but I still consider myself a newbie when it comes to knitting this stuff. We won't even talk about crocheting lace yet.
In the meantime, I finally feel up to resuming the blog now that I know that I'll likely be able to finish this particular item by the end of September.
So...(ahem), here is my review of A Lady of Esteem.
This novella, by Kristi Ann Hunter, was released, free, on Amazon on July 7th, earlier this summer. It is the story about Miss Amelia Stalwood, who had been raised by the servants of her neglectful guardian, and Anthony Pendleton, the Marquis of Raebourne, a former rogue who is trying to live out what it means to be a new creation in Christ. They meet when Amelia accidentally falls into his arms after she tumbles off a ladder while dusting in the library of Lord Raebourne's home.
Lord Raebourne knows that Amelia is not one of his servants because of the craftsmanship of her clothing, but she won't reveal her name. He only finds out her first name when a maid comes to warn Amelia to make her escape before the cook (a person to be feared in Lord Raebourne's household) finds out that she has been doing the dusting on behalf of her friend, Emma, who is a real servant in this house, but who is too ill to attend to her duties. Amelia makes her escape in a timely manner, but not without tossing her dusty rag onto the marquis' head.
Needless to say, the marquis is intrigued with Amelia and wishes to find out who she is. However, they do not travel in the same circles; Anthony's position in society sets him in highly exalted company, and Amelia's guardian has conveniently forgotten about her existence since sending her to London away from his estate. She has only the company of her governess and of servants in her guardian's household, and the friends of those servants who work in other houses.
However, through the intervention of those servants (or by the intervention of the Lord...I haven't quite figured this out yet), Anthony is finally introduced to Amelia at the home of the Hawthornes. The Hawthornes are a family comprised of the Duke of Riverton and his siblings. They are Anthony's friends, who introduced him to a believing faith. Their servants, Raebourne's servants, and Amelia's guardian's servants are friends of Amelia. These cheeky workers and the duke's sister, Lady Miranda, conspire to throw Raebourne and Amelia together. Raebourne goes along for the ride until the death of Amelia's guardian leaves her as the ward of the Duke of Riverton. He has difficulty in believing that he would be the best choice as a prospective suitor for Amelia because of his roguish past. Anthony decides to step aside so that she can benefit from the elevated company that she will now be exposed to. Will Anthony ever accept the truth that he really is a new creation in Christ; that the old is gone, and that the new has come? Will he and Amelia get together?
I really liked this novella. It was interesting to see whether Anthony works through his doubts about his worthiness, and whether he comes to accept that there is no condemnation for himself and for those who are in Christ Jesus, regardless of their pasts.
The story also introduces the Hawthorne family, which is composed of Griffith, the Duke of Riverton, Lady Miranda, Lord Trent, and Lady Georgina. A Noble Masquerade, which is Miranda's story, will be released in September later this year. There is a three chapter excerpt for the upcoming novel included at the end of A Lady of Esteem. I will admit that what I read from it has captured my interest, and I'll be looking out for this book when it comes out next month.
In the meantime, I finally feel up to resuming the blog now that I know that I'll likely be able to finish this particular item by the end of September.
So...(ahem), here is my review of A Lady of Esteem.
This novella, by Kristi Ann Hunter, was released, free, on Amazon on July 7th, earlier this summer. It is the story about Miss Amelia Stalwood, who had been raised by the servants of her neglectful guardian, and Anthony Pendleton, the Marquis of Raebourne, a former rogue who is trying to live out what it means to be a new creation in Christ. They meet when Amelia accidentally falls into his arms after she tumbles off a ladder while dusting in the library of Lord Raebourne's home.
Lord Raebourne knows that Amelia is not one of his servants because of the craftsmanship of her clothing, but she won't reveal her name. He only finds out her first name when a maid comes to warn Amelia to make her escape before the cook (a person to be feared in Lord Raebourne's household) finds out that she has been doing the dusting on behalf of her friend, Emma, who is a real servant in this house, but who is too ill to attend to her duties. Amelia makes her escape in a timely manner, but not without tossing her dusty rag onto the marquis' head.
Needless to say, the marquis is intrigued with Amelia and wishes to find out who she is. However, they do not travel in the same circles; Anthony's position in society sets him in highly exalted company, and Amelia's guardian has conveniently forgotten about her existence since sending her to London away from his estate. She has only the company of her governess and of servants in her guardian's household, and the friends of those servants who work in other houses.
However, through the intervention of those servants (or by the intervention of the Lord...I haven't quite figured this out yet), Anthony is finally introduced to Amelia at the home of the Hawthornes. The Hawthornes are a family comprised of the Duke of Riverton and his siblings. They are Anthony's friends, who introduced him to a believing faith. Their servants, Raebourne's servants, and Amelia's guardian's servants are friends of Amelia. These cheeky workers and the duke's sister, Lady Miranda, conspire to throw Raebourne and Amelia together. Raebourne goes along for the ride until the death of Amelia's guardian leaves her as the ward of the Duke of Riverton. He has difficulty in believing that he would be the best choice as a prospective suitor for Amelia because of his roguish past. Anthony decides to step aside so that she can benefit from the elevated company that she will now be exposed to. Will Anthony ever accept the truth that he really is a new creation in Christ; that the old is gone, and that the new has come? Will he and Amelia get together?
I really liked this novella. It was interesting to see whether Anthony works through his doubts about his worthiness, and whether he comes to accept that there is no condemnation for himself and for those who are in Christ Jesus, regardless of their pasts.
The story also introduces the Hawthorne family, which is composed of Griffith, the Duke of Riverton, Lady Miranda, Lord Trent, and Lady Georgina. A Noble Masquerade, which is Miranda's story, will be released in September later this year. There is a three chapter excerpt for the upcoming novel included at the end of A Lady of Esteem. I will admit that what I read from it has captured my interest, and I'll be looking out for this book when it comes out next month.
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