Customer Reviews

Stars in the Night

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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.

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?

As an author myself, I have to admit it is difficult to find a book that holds my interest because I am so doggone critical! (I hate that about myself, I truly do!) "Stars in the Night", HOWEVER, fascinated me from front to back, and I'm not kidding. I have shelves and shelves of books on my TBR pile and only time to read when I go to bed. Usually I allow myself about a half hour a night for novel reading, but Ms. Putman's book utterly hooked me so that I found myself staying up way past what's normal for me just so I could finish it. I love classic movies and a good mystery, so this book perfectly suited me. I told my daughter about it, and now she plans to read it too. I must say I am eagerly awaiting another Cara Putman novel, as I'm quite certain it will hold me prisoner just as "Stars" did!

Audra Shaeffer has just landed her first chance to go to court as an attorney. But then her sister, Rosemary, fails to make a phone call home from Hollywood. Worried, Audra talks her parents into allowing her to go to Hollywood to see if Rosemary is okay. She throws away her chance to work as an attorney and buys a ticket to Hollywood.

Robert Garfield is a B-list actor. He dreams of making it to the big time, but it seems unlikely, even though his ex-wife is making great strides. He agrees to jump through the hoops his agent demands, but it seems unlikely any of them will work.

Robert and Audra are attracted when they meet, but Audra puts Robert off to find her sister. Unfortunately, her sister has been murdered...and now Audra wants to solve the murder. She joins a Hollywood Victory Caravan to get to know those who knew Rosemary best--the stars. But is Audra flirting with her life?

Set during WWII, STARS IN THE NIGHT focuses on the movie stars, the ones who went to sell war bonds to the American public, those that are struggling to make it in the dog-eat-dog world of Hollywood. STARS IN THE NIGHT doesn't set a pretty or glamorous picture of a struggling movie star in the 1940s. Small apartments, working at unattractive jobs, and other things that those desperate to succeed did in order to get a small chance at a part in a movie. Ms. Putman obviously did her research on what it took...or even takes...to break in there.

The suspense is immediate, from the moment the book starts in the prologue. I had to keep reading to figure out who did it, though I had my suspicions early on. I wanted to see if I was right. Audra and Robert are realistic characters, hurting and flawed, though struggling to do what is right. If you like historical suspense, then don't miss STARS IN THE NIGHT.

Enter "Stars in the Night" and step into a world of Hollywood glamour in the 1940's as Audra travels from Indiana to check up on her little sister Rosemary. Call it a hunch but Audra is concerned when Rosemary doesn't call home like she should. She arrives in Hollywood and her instinct is correct, there is a dead body in Rosemary's apartment, but who is it and where is Rosemary?

Audra can't leave until she knows what is going on and where Rosemary is, so she is sucked deeper into the Hollywood world as bodies start piling up. She takes on a job with the 2nd Hollywood Victory Caravan, filled with B list celebrities going on a cross country train tour to entertain and sell war bonds just so she can learn more about the people Rosemary knows. But now has she put herself on the very train that the killer is on?

Cara has such an incredible handle on WWII history and it was so cool to see that open up into Hollywood (she has previously written a WWII series set in Nebraska and a WWII series set in Ohio). I learned a lot I didn't know historically, including the fact that there really was a 1st Hollywood Victory Caravan with lots of amazing stars on it, but Cara fictionalized the 2nd one for the sake of the book. On top of that, I enjoyed the mystery/suspense in this book as I tried to figure out the killer before it was revealed (I did pretty well, but it isn't spelled out for you, you have to use your head). Great stand alone book from Cara C. Putman and Summerside Press' new line of historical books.

Stars in the Night has it all--suspense, mystery, intrigue, romance, and a time period created so accurately you swear you're right there. Cara Putman has done an amazing job taking the reader back to the golden days of Hollywood. This enjoyable read will make you long for simpler times AND Hollywood glam. If you love a mystery, and if you love classic movies by greats such as Rogers, Loy, Gable, Grant, Hepburn, Stewart, you will ADORE this book. It was like sitting down with my favorite black and white movie on TNT. I loved how the time period details sucked me right in. And Putman is a master at the red herring. I was left wondering "who done it" til the very end. Stars in the Night is, by far, my favorite book cover of 2010, and one of my favorite Christian fiction reads for the year as well.

Cara Putman is the queen of this WWII time period and she delivers a masterpiece with Stars in the Night. The Hollywood Victory Caravan provides a unique backdrop for this compelling story.

In 1942 when her sister Rosemary fails to call home in Indianapolis as she has done weekly since heading west, a worried Audra Schaeffer flies to Hollywood to find her sibling. Instead, Audra identifies her sister's corpse.

Though encouraged to go back to Indiana, Audra chooses to remain in Southern California investigating Rosemary's murder. She obtains work at the Hollywood Victory Caravan bond drive train where she meets actor Robert Garfield and begins her inquiry. When two other homicides occur on the train and evidence points to the culprit preparing to shut down the Hoosier permanently, Audra knows she is close to identifying her sister's killer, but fears the man she loves is the culprit.

Stars in the Night is an entertaining WWII on the home front amateur sleuth. The key to this exciting whodunit is that the romance between the actor and the Hoosier is left in the background except when he is an obvious suspect as she fears what may prove the truth. With a strong support cast, readers will enjoy Holly wood circa 1942 as Cara Putnam provides a fast-paced tour of the underbelly.

Harriet Klausner

I'm usually a little hesitant to read anything not written in the present day because I just don't usually enjoy anything historical, but the author's words transported me back in time and described the setting in so much detail that I found it both fascinating and entertaining. I didn't know anything about the Hollywood Victory Caravan during World War II. Cara Putman had my attention and kept me guessing the entire time!

(Thanks to the author for sending a book for review.)