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.
