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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hollywood glamour and romance? Who could ask for anything more?, August 4, 2010
This review is from: Stars in the Night (Paperback)
Audra Schaeffer couldn't be more different from her gorgeous, popular sister Rosemary. Bookish and cautious, older Audra dreams of being accepted as an attorney - an atypical career choice in 1942 for a woman to make in the very male-dominated profession. Rosemary decides to try her luck in Hollywood, but the land of silver-screen dreams has a darker side than she'd ever imagined. When Audra plans a surprise visit, sure that Rosie will confide her worries face-to-face, she's horrified to discover she's too late - her little sister has been murdered. Determined to discover Rosie's killer, Audra takes a job on the second Hollywood Victory Caravan war bond tour, hoping to learn more of Rosemary's life from her peers in the entertainment business. The job has the added bonus of allowing her to spend more time with the handsome actor, Robert Garfield - but can she possibly trust her heart with a man who makes a living out of putting on an act? When it becomes clear that the killer has followed Audra on the train and is determined to cover their tracks, Audra's only ally may be the man who makes a living from pretense. In the city where appearance is everything, can Audra uncover the truth about her sister's killer and trust her heart to fall in love, or will she be disappointed by Hollywood illusions?
I am a huge fan of classic movies (okay, I'm more like obsessed), and thanks to Stars in the Night, Cara Putman has now made my must-read list. In fact, if I can dare to presume, I feel like we're kindred spirits in a way - her inspired homage to the golden age of film nails every detail and story beat necessary to appeal to a fan of Turner Classic Movies like me. This book feels so authentic to the tone and history of old Hollywood and the pace and style of the classic films I adore that I found it to be absolutely un-put-downable - each page was a joy to read. While there was actually only one Hollywood Victory Caravan during World War II, for her second, fictional caravan Putman crams it with the variety of performing talent one would expect from the time period - everything from dancers to slapstick comedians to crooners. I loved Audra and Robert, and the romance Putman develops between her two leads is a sweet treat to watch unfold. There's also a fantastic cast of supporting players. Each and every character is well-drawn and realistic, from the villains to the egotistical actors to the fans, and their personalities ring true to the time. Putman clearly has a passion for writing about the World War II time period, and her thorough research and affinity for the era bring every aspect of Stars to vibrant life with a flair worthy of the silver screen.
Stars in the Night sparkles with the glamour of old Hollywood, enhanced by a swoon-worthy romance. The suspense factor kept me turning pages, to the point that I carried this book with me everywhere until I finished it. Clearly inspired by classic film noir with a dash of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, Putman's carefully plotted mystery expertly unfolds, littered with enough red herrings to keep you guessing and building the suspense to a thrilling conclusion. The faith element is also extremely well integrated into the storyline. I really liked Audra's "outsider" take on Hollywood's morality (or lack thereof) and Robert's honest efforts to live out his faith in a culture that encourages compromise. Equal parts Hollywood glamour, romance, and mystery, with a dash of faith, Stars in the Night is a must-read for fans of Hollywood's Golden Age. The story unfolds with a cinematic flair that will keep you turning pages until the very end and the closing credits roll - and like all good classic movies, Stars is a treat you'll want to revisit. I can't wait for Putman's next book!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
3.5/ Who's The Homicidal Maniac?, February 15, 2011
This review is from: Stars in the Night (Paperback)
Ever since her first visit to the theater, all Rosemary Schaeffer wanted to do was be in pictures. She hopes to make it in Hollywood, land on the silver screen and become a star. While trying to make her dream a reality, she becomes involved in a little something on the side and now, when producers were about to try her in a film, she's missing.
Audra Schaeffer worked hard through seven years of law school only to end up as a legal assistant. After two years on the job she is about to get the chance she's been hoping for to litigate a case in Superior Court. But when the scheduled call the family expects from Rosemary never comes, Audra puts her dream on hold to travel to Hollywood so she can check on her sister. When she discovers that Rosemary has been murdered, she feels obligated to help the police whether they want her to or not and find out whodunit.
Robert Garfield had top billing in movies but now his career isn't going very well. He accepts a job as emcee with the Hollywood Victory Caravan to sell war bonds. The thought of living on a train with forty other stars and staff isn't appealing to him, but he hopes that three weeks of playing the host in city after city will lead to bigger and better things.
While Audra's faith seemed shaky at times (it happens), Robert had a much stronger faith in God and I loved what he said on page 226 when he was speaking to Audra: "I've done nothing, Audra. As much as possible in Hollywood, I've lived a life that honors Christ. You can search and hunt all you want. Aside from that disaster of a marriage to Lana, you won't find anything I'm ashamed of. And if I learned anything from that experience, it's that I need to submit every decision to Christ's authority, not some studio's and certainly not mine."
Stars in the Night has one of the most beautiful covers I have ever seen. Once it caught my eye, I decided to read the synopsis. I love to watch classic black & white movies, and that is why I bought this book. It is a good read, but it wasn't as intriguing as I hoped it would be. It did become more interesting when I got to chapter twenty-one; it was at that point when I started guessing who the murderer was. And it was entertaining for me to see names like Jimmy Stewart (love his work), Myrna Loy, Clark Gable and Desi Arnaz. I also liked Dalia and her southern drawl.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Romantic Thriller to capture your heart, July 8, 2010
This review is from: Stars in the Night (Paperback)
This novel is a romantic thriller to capture the heart. It sticks in your mind like a tune that cannot be dislodged. It is well worth the price for an evening's entertainment -- a far better investment than a movie with popcorn at the theater. As with all page turning fiction, "Stars in the Night" will keep you on the edge of your seat from the prologue onward. I was enthralled and didn't want to put it down.
The smart and attractive Lead, Audra Schaeffer,worked in a law office as a legal assistant. When her sister missed a scheduled weekly call to her waiting family, an alarmed Audra followed a hunch that something had gone very wrong. On the flight to the West Coast a chance meeting with a B list movie star, Robert Garfield, created more than a diversion. From this point onward, through sacrifice and trouble, we followed her as she attempted to unravel the mystery of her sister's disappearance. Audra's efforts took her on a romantic romp through Hollywood with all its phoniness, glitz and glamor. Three questions presented themselves throughout the remainder of this 1940's romantic thriller. First, will anything come of her flirtation with the Hollywood star? Secondly, will she find Rosemary's killer? Third, what will she discover concerning her sister's life?
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