Customer Reviews

Finding Hollywood Nobody (Hollywood Nobody Series, Book 2)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

**I'm going to be mentioning things from this book as well as the previous book in the series, Hollywood Nobody, so be aware that you may come upon a spoiler or two.**

To be perfectly honest, I was a little hesitant to read the next book in the Hollywood Nobody Series. I read book one, and while I loved the opening and Scotty's fun sense of humor, I just wasn't crazy about the religious portions of the book (more on that later). But I'm a firm believer in giving an author a second chance, so I plunged ahead and read book 2, Finding Hollywood Nobody.

The opening of this book...awesome! I couldn't believe it started out in Memphis, TN which, for one, was great for this local native, and for two, simply because it was set in the South. Happy smiles all around. :o) I loved reading about Scotty's trip to Graceland, as well as trip to a local food joint, Pirtle's. For some, seeing local places mentioned in a book may not be a big deal, but when you're familiar with an area, you like to see and hear about the *actual local places*. So...for those of you that don't know, Pirtle's has GREAT fried chicken, and it was indeed a pleasure to see it get some love in this book. ;o)

Scotty was her typical self in this book--pretty opinionated, maybe a little bit ADD, and frankly, more mature than most 16-year-olds that I know. Sometimes, it was soooo hard to follow her train of thought because she kept jumping from one topic to the next. It was more prevalent in the first book than in this book, so I was pleased that her character had a little more focus here. I also missed the frequency of her "blog posts" in this book compared to the first, but as this book reached the end, it made perfect sense why they had slacked off.

The biggest thing I was happy about was her spiritual journey advanced a great deal in this book. When I read book one, I won't lie....I was not crazy about how church/Christianity/denominations were portrayed. I'm probably very much in the minority on that, but still...just my opinion. See, I was raised in a Pentecostal church, complete with people speaking in tongues and everything else that goes with it. As I've grown older, I've come to my own conclusions about their particular teachings, and it was just best that we parted ways. So, when I started reading about Scotty's visits to a local tent meeting in book one, I was very surprised that a Pentecostal preacher was the one conducting the services....complete with the speaking in tongues and healing services. You name it, it was there. The reason it bothered me was that, for someone not familiar with all the many denominations there are (and yes, we all have some reason why we believe the way we do, or go to this church or that church), that particular denomination is so universally misunderstood. I just think that the author didn't need to make it that complicated because even Scotty's character questioned whether or not they were legit. I don't thing a YA book should be tackling those kinds of issues that early. It can be overload. Believe me, I know...I had the same questions when I was growing up and seeing it at church every week. It wasn't that I was offended by the content...just very, very surprised. Maybe I'm way off base here to some, and if I am, I apologize (especially if I've offended anyone...that is not my intention at all). Maybe Scotty was more mature and discerning at that point in life than I was at her age...I don't know.

So, I said all that to say that Scotty figured out her place with God in book two, and it was written perfectly. Her character even alluded to a bit of confusion from the services mentioned in book one, but I think it was just like water off a duck's back in her mind. She figured out her own way to Christ...no denomination needed. :o)

Now that I've gotten past all that I didn't like from book one, I'm really eager to read the rest of the series and find out what happens with Scotty. Lesson for me--it just goes to show that you can never judge a book by it's cover, and just because one book experience was bad doesn't mean that all books by that same author will be bad, too. :o)

For three years typical teenager, Scotty, and her Grandmother, Charley, has eluded Biker Guy, staying just one step ahead of him through the warnings from the mysterious stranger. Quietly Charley works on the film set of her friend, Jeremy in Marshall, Texas, while Scotty gets to know the locals. As Scotty stays hidden from Biker Guy and works on her homeschooling, she becomes involved in a romance and helping a troubled teen. The book ends with a showdown that changes Scotty's and Charley's lives forever.

Such is the plot of Finding Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson. The book is laced with humor and romance.

Written in the first person it was difficult to get into. By about a third of the book I finally realized how the book was laid out. The book begins with a Hollywood blog written to the Nobodies (hence the name). The story's chapter titles are dates and the chapters are kind of like journal entries, but they aren't, because you find out later that Elaine is Scotty's diary, and the chapters where she writes stuff in her diary begins, "Dear Elaine...."

In addition to Ms. Samson's writing style, I had a problem with some of the messages that were coming through the pages, loud and clear. Scotty is protrayed as a typical teenager (not sure whether she is a Christian or not) who is homeschooled. One of the clearest messages was that "defying authority has no consequences" and "you can do what you want, as long as you think it is right". Her grandmother tells her not to eat cheese nor drink cola, but she purposely eats cheese throughout the book and stashes cola to drink whenever she chooses. She even leaves for Tulsa, Oklahoma, on her scooter, and refuses to turn back, even when all the adults that she respects in her life tell her to, because 'she knows' that this is the right thing to do.

Having homeschooled my own children I am sensitive to messages that are being written about homeschooling. Many in our culture today think that homeschoolers don't get a good education, that they miss out on a lot of stuff, that they get to play all the time and sleep until past noon. They also think that homeschoolers are socially inept and nerdy. The reality is that homeschoolers work hard and as a group score above the national norms. They are well-rounded, have a good self-image and enjoy the company of all ages of people in any social setting. They are also able to pursue their own passions and interests.

Some of the myths of homeschooling were dispelled in this book, but others were reinforced. Scotty is very well-adjusted socially, but she has to teach herself (not common in the homeschooling world). She is taken to a high school football game and makes a big deal about it, because she is homeschooled and has never done such a thing before.

My biggest disappointment was the spiritual message in the book. Purportedly this book should teach teenagers about prayer and, in a way, it does, although Scotty is very confused by it. Simplistically, Scotty learns that she, herself, can talk to Jesus. I feel that Ms. Samson is selling our teens short. The spiritual message just seems to be thrown in, without any solid foothold in the story. It would be almost the same story if the entire part about prayer were taken out.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

This is book two in a four book series. I probably won't pick up the last two. I enjoyed book one and liked the voice of Scotty, the homeschooled, teenage, RVing main character. It was something different and refreshing.

In this book there was just more of the same - exactly the same type of setting, characters, and occurrences. There were also a couple of storyline items that were completely unbelievable and very distracting.

I may read the reviews for books three and four that boast spoiler alerts. That way I can find out how things end up without investing anymore money into the series. Sorry, I just don't think they'd be worth it.

I enjoyed the author's writing style and may look at her stand alone titles.

This is the second book in the Hollywood Nobody series and I think I enjoyed this one more than I did the first book in the series. Scotty is such a like able character, She lives such an interesting life, in this installment the RV is headed to Marshall Texas. While Charlie is working on a movie set Scotty befriends a pregnant teen, who needs help, but will Scotty's help be enough? Scotty has also learned the power of prayer, and it just might come in handy when Biker Guy finally catches up with her.

This is such a fun series, Scotty is such a great character, she makes friends easily. The blog entries are some of my favorite parts of the book. I like the mystery that is woven into the story, and while a few questions are answered at the end, there remains a few loose ends that leave me anxious to read the next book in the series.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

By: Lisa Samson Book 2


In finding Hollywood nobody, Scotty makes a new friend and helps her face her secrets that she had buried. Scotty also helped out in putting two lonely hearts together after years apart. She finds the best friend she could ever have in her life Jesus Christ. Lessons are learned and secrets will be reviled about her father. Will she ever find out who that biker guy is? Is he out to get her and her family or is he one of the good guys.

Find out when you read finding Hollywood nobody the second book In the HOLLYWOOD series by Lisa Samson. I love this series! I adore the way they have been written in. Lisa did an amazing job with these books I can't wait to read the intire series by Lisa. These books are written in a informative way with out giving to much away, like so authors do. This is a great series for your summer reading list or to take on a long car trip trust me it will go fast! Even though this is a teen series it is a great read for anyone with one small thing, I don't think that children will understand some of what is going on in this series. But all in all a great read.

I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

In Finding Hollywood Nobody you meet, Scotty, who is now 16, and discovering huge things about her family. As she travels to Texas in this book she discovers new friends, and a faith she is unacquainted with.
After the reading the first book in the 'Hollywood Nobody' series I was a skeptic that I might enjoy the second book available. I was surprised though to find that this was a really entertaining book! It's a young adult series, but I still enjoyed it otherwise.
I think the book tries to address social issues, to relate to teens. The lead character, Scotty, seems too perfect in my opinion though. The blog she keeps was referred to less than in the first book in the series, but when we do read her entries they seemed to be wrote by a much older woman. I'm not sure why someone who is sixteen would comment, or care about Julie Roberts, and Reese Witherspoon being good moms. This book does better at conveying her teenage side, and I hope that continues to shine through as I continue the series. There is also a Christian message in this book, but it seems very rushed. I think there should have been a series build up to Scotty's conversion. She wasn't raised in a Christian home, and it seems she would have sought more guidance on such a big decision.

Even though I wouldn't have recommended the first book in the series, Hollywood Nobody, I would definitely recommend Finding Hollywood Nobody to young adults, and adults. The series is worth the start to get the storylines developed in the rest of the series. I enjoyed Finding Hollywood Nobody, and look forward to reading the rest of Scotty's journey.

I received this complimentary book copy from NavPress in exchange for a review.

After reading and writing a review on "Hollywood Nobody" I was very very excited to get to read the next book in the series, in fact I can't wait to read the rest.
This book didn't let me down, it is as good if not better then the first book and develops the characters even more. This time Scotty and her grandmother are in Texas filming with longtime friend Jeremy again. Scotty is more mature now after a long summer of relaxing and learning the truth about her life. She is also searching more and more about God/Jesus and what the Bible has to teach her. Although she hasn't figured everything out she is really trying to. She even walks into a church to seek safety from the "biker guy" and also learns more about prayer. While in Texas she makes a new friend, a girl her age who is pregnant and needs a lot of prayer after a terrible incident. Scotty feel desperate to pray "right" to help her new friend and starts out on a journey to find someone who can help her. While out she finds God and runs into "biker guy". I won't tell you any more then that but I will tell you this book is worth reading. It's written in blog style again as well, making it fun for me to read.
This is a prefect book to pick up for your teen to read. Clean, adventure filled, friendship, and God. Now to go on and read "Romancing Hollywood Nobody".
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

My Summary ::
Scotty is just your regular average 16 year old girl...well...sort of! She and Charley, that's her hippy grandmother, travel the country in their RV, running from Biker Guy. Biker Guy has been chasing them across the country for years. Charley works for various TV directors, specifically Jeremy, Charley's friend, as a food dresser on sets around the US, and Scotty home schools herself so they can pick up and go as they need to and stay ahead of Biker Guy. Scotty's journey takes us through her discovery of God, prayer, Biker Guy's identity, and ultimately why he has been chasing her for so many years.


My Review ::
I really enjoyed Scotty's journey in this book. Since the audience the author is writing for is youth/young adults, I felt like the themes of discovering who you are, searching for meaning in life, and pushing the boundaries of independence are all relevant to what teenagers today experience as well as the addition of internet, blogging, food, etc as a part of daily life. Since I didn't realize that before I started the book, it took me a few chapters to really understand what was going on and to truly embrace the characters and where the author was going. Upon starting the review, I realized that "book 2" is written on the cover of the book jacket inside of the RV picture, but I think the wording blends in with the background and/or should be larger in size.

Overall, however, I would recommend this book to anyone, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

To say that Scotty is not your typical teenager, is a major understatement! She has lived quite a unique life and has the personality and beyond-her-years wisdom to go along with it.
I realize that any series of books will be best read in order, however my first encounter with Little Miss Hollywood Nobody is here in this second book of the four.

What a fun read!

Lisa Samson does a wonderful job of bringing this quirky cast of characters to life and allowing readers to tag along on their adventures, learning and growing all the while. I admit that for the first couple of chapters, I wondered if I was going to really enjoy this book. Reading and re-reading a little in the beginning made me nervous about whether I would finish it... but I quickly found myself flying through the pages, unwilling to put it down for any reason. Yes, I finished in one sitting!

Family drama, abandonment, celebrity gossip/lifestyles, fashion and faith... Scotty and her friends experience it all. This young adult novel gives readers a chance to connect with an admirable character and experience the first lights of faith and prayer along with her.
I am so glad that I found Hollywood Nobody and cannot wait to read the other 3 books in this series, as well.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

This is the second book in the Hollywood Nobody series. I already did a review on the first book, Hollywood Nobody.

Once again, I read this entire book in one sitting. I just could not put it down.

In the last book we are left off with Scotty and Charley being chased down by Biker Guy. We are unsure of who he is, but we have an idea of why he is chasing after them. This book you will have that one blown wide open. And let me tell you, I was surprised.

Scotty befriends a girl her age named Grace. She finds out that Grace is pregnant and living in horrible conditions. She wants to do something to help Grace, but she is afraid since they are on the run from Biker Guy.

Once again, Lisa Samson delivers with a great story and even better characters. I wish I had a sister like Scotty. She is funny, intelligent, and caring. She is the type of person that will go to extremes to help someone out.

If you haven't gone out to get the series after my review of the first book, then what are you waiting for? These are relatively quick reads that you will not want to put down.

In conjunction with the Wakela's World Disclosure Statement, I received a product in order to enable my review. No other compensation has been received. My statements are an honest account of my experience with the brand. The opinions stated here are mine alone.