 |
| Starlight Serenade by Debra E. Marvin |
Part of the "Get Your Kiss on Route 66" collection from Forget Me Not Press!
"Clean Read - A Perfect Voice for this 1930's Story!"
Review by Carrie Fancett Pagels
I read Debra E. Marvin's delightful new novella while sick in bed. What a wonderful diversion. I will tell readers that this is a "clean read" rather than a Christian fiction. I checked with Debra on that and she confirmed it. While there are subtle references to faith and to church, there is not a spiritual arc in this story nor it is a story of faith. However, it is a clean read and enjoyable, especially if you enjoy this unusual time period -- 1930's. Debra E. Marvin has a perfect voice for this novella and for the heroine. She includes great details of the time period. I loved how she went into depth with the details of the Lowell observatory and the cute quotes at the beginning of each chapter, that had to do with stars!
One cool thing was that Debra included a younger 19-year-old brother who is an autistic musical savant. She did a good job of how she developed this special character.
Blurb: The Englishman would look back one day and blame it all on Jazz…
Flagstaff, Arizona 1930. Full-time Astronomer, and part-time sharp dresser Julian Dyson didn’t discover Pluto but he does discover a nasty case of self-righteousness when a former Ziegfeld Girl’s folly threatens his good name.
Broadway understudy Clara Longworth and her peculiar younger brother are on their way to a new life in Hollywood when they are stranded along Route 66. Clara is asked to fill in as nightclub entertainment, but her good intentions set her up as accomplice in the blackmailing of a government man who makes the real thugs look classy.
Until Julian and Clara put their heads together for more than dancing the Black Bottom, their big-as-the-night-sky dreams are on target to fail. Maybe they need a telescope to see what’s right in front of their starry eyes.
GIVEAWAY: An ebook copy of Starlight Serenade to one commenter! Answer the question -- what is the last 1930's era fiction you have read?
What a wonderful review on Debra's new novella, CARRIE! The cover is so fun, but classy at the same time! Congrats, DEBRA, on what sounds to be an amazing story!
ReplyDeleteThanks Diana! I'm thrilled Carrie liked it. It means so much when someone 'gets' the story. I wanted it to be entertaining and highlight a memorable era in our history. I think any one who likes old movies and old musicals will definitely enjoy my characters! And I even sneak in Author Zane Grey.
DeleteThe cover is lovely isn't it, Diana? And Deb's author's voice goes perfectly with this story!
DeleteThis novel has been on my TBR list and I will have to find the time to read it! I feel like historical novels seem to teach extra facts of history that I might have never known, so they are always good to read. Thanks for the review, Carrie!
ReplyDeleteThanks Becky! So glad to hear you are hoping to read Starlight Serenade. Please let me know if you enjoyed it, when and if you do!
DeleteYes, some really cool tidbits about the Lowell Observatory, Becky!
DeleteWonderful review Carrie! I don't think I can answer the question. I haven't read any 1930's recently. This sounds like a book I'd like to read.
ReplyDeleteyes, that's a tough one. There's a lot out there in the forties. My Christmas novella, Desert Duet is set in 1933 so that would be MY answer!
DeleteSounds like a fun read. I don't know that I have read any 1930's era books lately.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ann! I think you'd enjoy it!
DeleteI think the last one before this, that I read, was one of Kim Vogel Sawyer's, Ann!
DeleteGosh! I'd like to think you'd all enjoy this story. Thanks so much for the wonderful review, Carrie. I had so much fun writing this story and spending time with my quirky characters!
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job of portraying them especially within their time period! Fun read!
DeleteThis sounds like a must-read book. Personally, I long to get my kicks on Route 66 and I can get it vicariously in this book. The most recent book from this era I read is Dressed for Death by Julianna Deering, a story of intrigue on a country estate.
ReplyDeleteOh, I've heard of that one, Mardell and was interested by my schedule is so tight. I'll try to find time to read it!!!
DeleteJulianna has four out and a fifth on the way all set in the 30s with a Dorothy Sayer novel feeling!
DeleteThanks for commenting, Mardell! I'd love to have you pick it up and let me know what you think. I think Carrie's review has really hit the mark for this story.
A SEASON OF SECRETS by Margaret Pemberton took us through the 1930's with a great read.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Mary!
DeleteThanks, Mary. This is set in July of 1930. Such a time of transition for the country.
DeleteI've already read & reviewed this novella so I'm not entering. I just wanted you to know I am sharing on my FB page :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Trixi!
DeleteThanks so much Trixi! and I really APPRECIATE IT!
DeleteThank you, Carrie for the review -- I was looking through my recent reads and it looks like I've been 'stuck' in the late 1800s :-) I would love for a chance to win this ebook by Debra Marvin.
ReplyDeleteThanks Christine. Somehow, I've found myself writing in the 20th C later, which is unusual for me, too. And I rarely read anything that wasn't 19th century. But I sure enjoyed the research. I think it's a nice little visit to a part of the earlier century that we've skimmed over 'between the wars'. My mom was born in 1929. I think she would have loved this story!
DeleteHey Christine! Time to time travel to 1930 to read Debra E. Marvin's ebook!
DeleteNice review. Cool cover.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kim! All the Route 66 covers (there are ten from Forget Me Not Romances) have a girl and a car, and they run across the decades. Mine might be the oldest setting... I'll have to check that out!
DeleteTY Kim! All those covers are so cool looking! Starlight Serenade is beautiful!
DeleteGreat review, Carrie. I haven't read anything with the setting in the 1930's lately. I've been reading late 1800's or WWII ear.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting, Marilyn! I hope you have a chance to read Starlight Serenade!
DeleteTime for jumping forward to the 20th century, Marilyn! I hope you'll enjoy Debra E. Marvin's new book!
DeleteThanks Carrie for bringing this fun book to our attention! Thanks also to Debra for writing it!The 30's is one of my favorite eras to read about,there was so much going on! (From the Depression to the trouble in Europe,there's definitely room for many different stories!) To answer the Blog question the last 30's era book I read was Julie Lessman's A Love Surrendered .
ReplyDeleteWow, I forgot Julie Lessman's stories were in 1930s -- they have such a timeless feel to them. I think you might enjoy Debra's "Clean read" too if you enjoy 1930s fiction.
DeleteThanks for the comment, Lynne. I have another shorter novella set in 1933 Desert Duet. I've so enjoying visiting this era!
Delete