Stepping Stone [Paperback]

Karin Kallmaker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 22, 2009

Motion picture producer Selena Ryan has the impossible: Fame and fortune and her integrity. Her reputation for playing fair in an industry rife with games has earned her respect from other producers, writers, and actors.

She's learned the lesson that plenty of people would like to use her to get what they want--a starring role or some other way into the movies. Most of them feel no obligation to return any favors she might give. Burned badly by actress Jennifer Lamont, who used her and left her with a devastating aftermath, she's wary of everyone related to the industry.

Surrounded by gatekeepers to keep the hopeful at bay, aspiring starlets have tried every trick in the book to make Selena's acquaintance. When Gail Welles literally lands in Selena's lap, she suspects another ploy. Jennifer's sudden announcement that Selena is still her one-and-only is equally ill-timed and suspect. Selena wants everyone to leave her alone, even if that means living without love.

Lights, camera and action are the backdrop for this novel of taking chances by Golden Crown and Lambda Literary award-winning author Karin Kallmaker.

Product Details

• Paperback: 243 pages
• Publisher: Bella Books (December 22, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594931607
• ISBN-13: 978-1594931604
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #516,796 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Excerpts from all my novels: www.kallmaker.com

At my website you can find my complete bibliography, descriptions, reviews and links to additional content, like podcasts and video.

Recent review from the Lesbian News by Teresa DeCrescenzo: "Warming Trend is... populated with a fine, credible cast of supporting characters... It's a good read, as we've come to expect from Kallmaker. The contrasting settings-Alaska and Florida-and the richly drawn characters make us want to connect with them, especially with Ani and Eve. Even the rather esoteric interest in ice rings true."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars and now, for Something Different, December 26, 2009

By 

Gordon Clason (kansas city, MO United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stepping Stone (Paperback)

I just finished Stepping Stone by Karin Kallmaker. It's very good as you would expect from her, but it is a little unusual. Most Karin Kallmaker books are straight romance with growth or conflict which plays out during the plot.

I'm not sure what to say about this one. There are elements of angst and depression and pathos and fear. The protagonist meets the love interest at about the same time as a former lover re-enters her life. There is a subplot where the reader is kept in suspense about whether the protagoinst will be able to resist the charms of the former lover, and allow romance to develop with the love interest.

Ms Kallmaker occasionally likes to express the character's confusion or uncertainty by making a scene sketchy or incomplete enough to make the reader feel equally uncertain as to exactly what is going on. It sometimes takes me two or three readings to be certain what has happened. The break-up with the former lover is described in dribbles and pieces and you come away without a complete picture of exactly what happened.

Nevertheless the book is readable, delightful and romantic. As all her books are. It does not have the straight forward drama of Warming Trend, it is much less direct and more convoluted. But it's still gripping, I devoured it in about four hours this afternoon. Everything comes out OK, and everybody lives happily ever after, but how they get there is less direct than with some of her plots. I still loved it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another 5 Stars, January 13, 2010

By 

C. Pierce - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Stepping Stone (Paperback)

She's done it again! Like another reviewer, I found this book going against the typical plot line of Karin's books, but I found it refreshing and enjoyed the change of pace. The story was enjoyable, the main characters interesting and the romance was hot. I enjoyed the book enough to put it my favorite top five Kallmaker books. If your a Karin Kallmaker fan, you'll love this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Totally enjoyable Hollywood tale where the good gals & guys win!!, May 23, 2010

By 

E. B. MULLIGAN "Bronwyn" (Tampa, Florida) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Stepping Stone (Paperback)

This novel was a sheer pleasure and joy to read. The insights of Hollywood, the location shooting in Spain, the power moves, who the players are and how to become one - this novel was sheer delight.

You can't help rooting for Gail Welles, she has been working a local diner for 3 years in Los Angeles looking for her big break since arriving on her twenty-ninth birthday after a slew of success in her local community theatre. At this point she is willing to take any commercial or bit part to get her foot in the door. That doesn't mean she will brook any disrespect nor that she has lost her fabulous sense of humor.

Indie producer with a string of hits and facing the big Four-0,Selena Ryan has recently been burnt by the actress she opened her heart to only to find out she was used as a means to an end by the sultry starlet Jennifer Lamont (boo-hiss).

Add to the cast of characters Selena's dedicated production staff, hunky thirty-eight year old actor (and all around great guy) Hyde Butler, studio big wigs, hustling actors and actresses and you can't lose!

Loved the Daily Variety like chapter starters loaded with gossip on the goings on in the novel.

So many perfect moments! When Selena gets the one-up on the studio big wigs. When Gail is shopping for clothes for her first big Hollywood function - they go on and on. And the humor is as always spot on.

Winner!