Song Stuck on the Brain: Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf... Don't ask, I don't know where it came from.
MY TAKE:
Okay, this one is in strong competition for favorite book read this month. I'm a huge fan of the 1940's. The films, the style, the history; it's always fascinated me. Jimmy Stewart, Danny Kaye, Audrey Hepburn and Maureen O'Hara. Some of all time fav's.
Cara's twist on an Orient Express style mystery/suspense cast with '40's rising stars was brilliant. Books always play out like a movie in my head as I read, but Stars in the Night was especially unique. I felt like I was watching a '40's silver screen film. Maybe one Alfred Hitchcock would have enjoyed. I even casted the players.
I know as a writer, I find it an important part of my character creation, to put a face to the name. Choosing a face (famous or not) helps fill in the background of a character. I'll go through dozens of photos until I find the one that just looks and feels like my character. No one else that reads one of my story would probably ever see that photo in their head. It's unique to me and my characterization. I'm sure Cara is no exception. The character image she sees as Robert Garfield is probably different than mine, but I couldn't help but cast Cara's characters as I read them. Which of course made it feel so much more real.
I don't want to give away any of the story, it's too good to ruin with a spoiler. Just read it, I promise you'll enjoy it. When you're done, tell me if my cast pics look anything like what you pictured in your head. Here are a few that jumped right out at me.
Dennis Morgan as:
Robert Garfield
Robert Garfield
Joan Fontaine as:
Audra Schaeffer
Veronica Lake as:
Lana Garfield
Ella Raines as:
Veronica Hyde
I could go on, but you get the idea. The whole cast was so vivid. Just a great book.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Hollywood 1942. When attorney Audra Schaeffer's sister disappears, Audra flies to Hollywood to find her.
Any day Audra might have been flattered by the friendly overtures of Robert Garfield, a real-life movie star. But on the flight from Indianapolis to Hollywood, Audra can think of little else than finding her missing sister. When Audra arrives in the city of glitz and glamour, and stars, and learns her rising starlet sister has been murdered, all thoughts of romance fly away.
Determined to bring the killer to justice, Audra takes a job with the second Hollywood Victory Caravan.
Together with Robert Garfield and other stars, she crisscrosses the southern United States in a campaign to sell war bonds. When two other women are found dead on the train, Audra knows the deaths are tied to that of her sister.
Could the killer be the man with whom she's falling in love?
If you'd like to read an excerpt of Chapter 1 of Stars In The Night, go HERE.
Contest: Lots of opportunities to win and great prizes, and the grand prize contains some of Cara's favorite classic movies as well as all of her WWII novels: Launch Contest!
Any day Audra might have been flattered by the friendly overtures of Robert Garfield, a real-life movie star. But on the flight from Indianapolis to Hollywood, Audra can think of little else than finding her missing sister. When Audra arrives in the city of glitz and glamour, and stars, and learns her rising starlet sister has been murdered, all thoughts of romance fly away.
Determined to bring the killer to justice, Audra takes a job with the second Hollywood Victory Caravan.
Together with Robert Garfield and other stars, she crisscrosses the southern United States in a campaign to sell war bonds. When two other women are found dead on the train, Audra knows the deaths are tied to that of her sister.
Could the killer be the man with whom she's falling in love?
If you'd like to read an excerpt of Chapter 1 of Stars In The Night, go HERE.
Contest: Lots of opportunities to win and great prizes, and the grand prize contains some of Cara's favorite classic movies as well as all of her WWII novels: Launch Contest!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A Word From Cara:
I graduated from high school at sixteen, college at 20, and completed my law degree when I was 27.
My writing journey started in 2005 when I decided to write my first novel. Now I have eleven books published with more on the way.
People say I've accomplished a lot and that I must have life by the proverbial tail. Hardly! I grew up as a home schooled kid when home schoolers were misunderstood and oddities.
I struggle with balancing my writing and law career, plus being a good mom and wife.
I often fear people won't like my books.
I've walked through the deep pain of miscarriage.
Really, I'm just like you – I don't have it all together and have gone through tough times. But in His strength, I've discovered a strength I never knew I had. A strength I want you to discover, too.
In the end I'm just an ordinary mom who has seen God do some wonderful things as I've been obedient to step into the calling He's led me into.
Stars in the Night Background
Stars in the Night was an idea that had begun to percolate in my mind. I’d written two World War II series and was actively looking for my next setting. My husband, a huge World War II history buff, and I were kicking ideas around, and I’d decided Hollywood was probably the next place for me. I’d gone to the library and gotten a stack of research books when I got the call. An editor I knew but had never worked with wanted to know if I might be interested in a new line they were starting. As we talked, I got so excited. And then she emailed me their guidelines, which listed that Hollywood was a location they were interested in setting books.
Only God could have known ahead of time. But because I followed His prompting I was ready to run with an idea. Stars in the Night is the result.
I graduated from high school at sixteen, college at 20, and completed my law degree when I was 27.
My writing journey started in 2005 when I decided to write my first novel. Now I have eleven books published with more on the way.
People say I've accomplished a lot and that I must have life by the proverbial tail. Hardly! I grew up as a home schooled kid when home schoolers were misunderstood and oddities.
I struggle with balancing my writing and law career, plus being a good mom and wife.
I often fear people won't like my books.
I've walked through the deep pain of miscarriage.
Really, I'm just like you – I don't have it all together and have gone through tough times. But in His strength, I've discovered a strength I never knew I had. A strength I want you to discover, too.
In the end I'm just an ordinary mom who has seen God do some wonderful things as I've been obedient to step into the calling He's led me into.
Stars in the Night Background
Stars in the Night was an idea that had begun to percolate in my mind. I’d written two World War II series and was actively looking for my next setting. My husband, a huge World War II history buff, and I were kicking ideas around, and I’d decided Hollywood was probably the next place for me. I’d gone to the library and gotten a stack of research books when I got the call. An editor I knew but had never worked with wanted to know if I might be interested in a new line they were starting. As we talked, I got so excited. And then she emailed me their guidelines, which listed that Hollywood was a location they were interested in setting books.
Only God could have known ahead of time. But because I followed His prompting I was ready to run with an idea. Stars in the Night is the result.
3 comments:
April, thank you so much for participating and for your review! I love seeing the old stars you would pick for the roles. Such fun!
Oh, Veronica Lake is a GREAT choice for Lana. I went with Lana Turner, LOL!
Well, Lana Turner isn't a bad choice either. She was beautiful too. :)
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