Book Giveaway: Stars Collide by Janice Thompson

Because it's Monday, and it's Valentine's Day, and because I heart my readers, I thought it would be fun to have another book giveaway! This time one copy of Stars Collide by Janice Thompson is up for grabs.

About the book:

Kat Jennings and Scott Murphy don't just play two people who are secretly in love on a television sitcom - they are actually head over heels for each other in real life. When the lines between reality and TV land blur, they hope they can keep their relationship under wraps. But when Kat's grandmother, an eccentric star from Hollywood's golden age, mistakes their on-screen wedding proposal for the real deal, things begin to spiral out of control. Will their secret be front-page news in the tabloids? And can their budding romance survive the onslaught of paparazzi, wedding preparations, and misinformed family members?

From the soundstage to a Beverly Hills mansion to the gleaming Pacific Ocean, Stars Collide takes you on a roller-coaster tour of Hollywood, packing both comedic punch and tender emotion.

You can read my review of Stars Collide HERE.

Giveaway Details:

• Leave a comment on this post with your e-mail address: your name (at) domain name (dot) com
• For an extra entry, post about this contest on your blog or Twitter and leave a comment telling me you've done so with the link
• Entries will be accepted through midnight Sunday 2/20/11 and the winner will be announced Monday morning 2/21/11
• Open worldwide, but here's the deal - if I ship worldwide on a book giveaway, then the next two giveaways are US/Canadian addresses only, since I sadly can't afford to ship to far-flung corners of the world every couple of weeks. *wink*

Good luck!

Review: Stars Collide by Janice Thompson

Stars Collide (Backstage Pass #1)
By: Janice Thompson
Publisher: Revell
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3345-2

About the book:

Kat Jennings and Scott Murphy don't just play two people who are secretly in love on a television sitcom - they are actually head over heels for each other in real life. When the lines between reality and TV land blur, they hope they can keep their relationship under wraps. But when Kat's grandmother, an eccentric star from Hollywood's golden age, mistakes their on-screen wedding proposal for the real deal, things begin to spiral out of control. Will their secret be front-page news in the tabloids? And can their budding romance survive the onslaught of paparazzi, wedding preparations, and misinformed family members?

From the soundstage to a Beverly Hills mansion to the gleaming Pacific Ocean, Stars Collide takes you on a roller-coaster tour of Hollywood, packing both comedic punch and tender emotion.

Review:

Kat Jennings and Scott Murphy play rival talent scouts on the top-rated sitcom Stars Collide. Life imitates art on and off the set as Kat and Scott finally confess their feelings for each other both on and off-screen. But keeping a budding real-life romance under wraps is nearly impossible when the press and paparazzi stalk your every move, hoping for their next big story. When Kat's grandmother, the eccentric and colorful classic Hollywood star Lenora Worth, mistakes the on-screen fictional proposal for the real deal, Kat's life is thrown wildly off script. Can her personal life survive the intrusive glare of the press and comical, well-intentioned family meddling, or will worries over her grandmother's deteriorating mental health and her best shot at true love be the sacrifice she must pay for fame and professional success?

I've always been fascinated by the behind-the-scenes work it takes to create my favorite films and TV shows. Some of my favorite classic films revel in the backstage drama it takes to create a glittering film fiction, like Singin' In the Rain, Kiss Me Kate, or The Band Wagon. The premise of Stars Collide and the entire Backstage Pass series promises plenty of opportunities for drama among the actors, writers, and crew members who work together to make the fictional sitcom a reality. I loved seeing Kat and Scott's real-life romance jump from the pages of a Stars Collide script to real life. Scott's a great hero, very reminscent of DJ from Thompson's Weddings Bb Bella series - both are grounded believers and gentlemen in every sense of the word. But unlike Bella, Kat comes across as much, much needier. Her constant second-guessing and angst over her budding relationship with Scott or her grandmother's health wore a little thin after a while. It was frustrating to see Kat constantly enable her grandmother's memory issues by fabricating or allowing stress-inducing fictions to exist and multiply rather than facing the issue head-on. I would've liked to have seen less of Kat's personal life and more of the Stars Collide crew interaction. Despite the fact that it seems a little contrived that most of the cast and crew are Christians and the show is so family friendly and top-rated, the on-stage scenes were among the strongest in the novel and really showcase the author's background insider knowledge as a screenwriter.

My favorite aspect of the storyline is Kat's colorful grandmother, one-time Hollywood A-lister Lenora. Since I'm a huge fan of Hollywood's golden age, I loved Lenora's constant references to real Hollywood stars she either worked with or knew of their own off-screen drama. And her predilection for dressing in elaborate gowns as everyone from Bette Davis to Grace Kelly added to her eccentric charm. The movie quotes game she constantly plays with Kat is also a fun touch - yes, most of the quotes are pretty well-known, but the steady stream of classic movie references was a nice touch. Honestly, I would've preferred to read an entire novel devoted to Lenora's story - I thought her personal drama of love lost and found years later was extremely compelling and sweet, a drama worthy of a big screen treatment.

While Stars Collide is very reminscent in tone and style to Thompson's previous Weddings by Bella series, this story just didn't click with me overall as well as Bella's whacky family drama did. Kat was a more frustrating than quirky and endearing heroine, but her well-meaning grandmother's shenanigans and the charm of her real-life leading man with a heart of gold kept me turning pages. I hope that the next volume of the Backstage Pass series - focusing on scriptwriter Athena - gives readers even more backstage Hollywood drama to enjoy. For readers craving a little Hollywood glitz, Stars Collide delivers a light and frothy romantic comedy - the promising start to Thompson's Backstage Pass series.

Review: It Had to Be You by Janice Thompson

It Had to Be You (Weddings by Bella #3)

By: Janice Thompson
Publisher: Revell
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3344-5

About the book:

Bella couldn’t be happier that two of her long-feuding relatives have finally admitted their love for one another and are getting married. Their forties-style wedding is sure to be a night to remember. But when the Rossi house begins to fill up with family from Italy – and an old mobster from New Jersey – life starts to get complicated. Will a friend from the past drive the happy couple apart once more? And will Bella ever have time to think of her own rapidly approaching wedding in the chaos?

Full of humor, plenty of Italian passion, and a bit of Texas gumption, It Had to Be You will have you laughing out loud and wiping a tear from your eye.

Review:

Bella and the rest of the Rossi clan return for a third outing of wedding-fueled hilarity in It Had to Be You, the final novel in Janice Thompson’s “Weddings by Bella” series. Bella’s beloved Aunt Rosa and Uncle Laz have finally foregone constant feuding in favor of marriage, and tasked Bella with planning an elaborate forties-themed wedding, complete with live swing music. Several long-distance members of the Rossi family descend on the household for the celebration, complicating the wedding preparations with their own personal drama and opinions. When a former mob boss is added to the mix who disapproves of the bride-to-be, Bella’s best friend disappears, and interest in Club Wed explodes, Bella wonders if plans for her own dream wedding to her cowboy fiancé D.J. will be lost in the drama and busyness of everyone else’s lives. In order to make her own happily ever after come true, Bella has one final lesson to learn about trust and control in order to step fearlessly into her future, full of faith.

With It Had to Be You, Thompson brings Bella’s story full circle. There have been times when Bella’s character has been a bit frustrating, since she never seems to move past the insecurities that plague her perception of herself and her abilities. But she’s seen both personal and professional success on the wedding front, since Club Wed brought D.J. into her life and his support has been integral to both the business’s success and Bella’s growing confidence as a wedding planner. When it comes time to realize her own bridal dreams, Bella finally learns a valuable lesson – that receiving can be as much of a gift as giving, and true freedom can be found in relinquishing control to a God one can trust to guide your steps. But more than Bella’s story, this is a trilogy about family, and all of the ups, downs, drama and love that comes with the territory of belonging to a group of unique and varied personalities. The Rossis are truly the Italian version of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, with all of the family love and drama grounded by a rock-solid Christian faith. While this installment feels a bit preachier than volumes one and two, fans of the series will not want to miss a third helping of Thompson’s trademark warmth and humor.

This is as breezy and fast-paced a read as the first two novels in the “Bella” series. It’s critical to read the series in order, since the events of each subsequent book follow closely on its predecessor. One of my favorite elements of this story is how the family’s love of pop standards takes center stage thanks to the theme of Rosa and Laz’s wedding. I loved reading about the planning involved in bringing my favorite time period to life for two characters who’ve been so much fun to read about throughout the series. Speaking of Rosa and Laz, I really appreciate how Thompson doesn’t limit love and marriage to the younger characters alone. In Bella’s life, people of all ages, sizes, and backgrounds fall in love left and right in this series, just one of the reasons that make this trilogy such a joy to read. A large part of the series’ appeal is the characters’ appreciation of classic song – and like the classics of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, the Rossi family virtues of unconditional love, forgiveness, and support endure and make you want to spend time with Bella and her whacky family. It Had to Be You is a satisfying conclusion to the frothy fun and heart of the “Weddings by Bella” series. Once you start reading, you won't want to stop - and I can promise you'll be craving Italian food. :)

Review: Swinging on a Star by Janice Thompson

Swinging on a Star (Weddings by Bella #2)
By: Janice Thompson
Publisher: Revell
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3343-8

About the book:

Bella Rossi’s life is nearing perfection. Not only does she have the perfect guy, but she’s also running a successful wedding-planning business and is about to plan its most ambitious wedding yet – a Renaissance-themed fairy tale come true, complete with period costumes and foods, horse-drawn carriages, and even a castle. There’s only one hitch. The best man just happens to be Hollywood’s hottest and most eligible bachelor, and he’s showing an interest in Bella. Oh, and did we mention he’s staying at her house to avoid the paparazzi?

With all the pressure surrounding this wedding, Bella’s not sure she’s going to make it through. Add her starstruck sister and her feuding aunt and uncle, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster – and a lot of laughs.

Review:

With the success of her first themed wedding – a country-western extravaganza – Bella Rossi has taken on an even bigger challenge. She must plan an elaborate, authentic, Renaissance style wedding, complete with a castle and moat. As if installing a temporary castle wasn’t enough, the wedding party happens to feature one of Hollywood’s hottest stars, Brock Benson, as the best man. In an attempt to remain anonymous so the paparazzi can’t crash the ceremony, Brock takes up residence with Bella’s family, and she struggles to keep that secret while reassuring her adorable, cowboy-boyfriend D.J. that the presence of a Hollywood star in her home won’t threaten their developing romance. If she can pull off the Renaissance fairy tale, it could be Bella’s highest profile, most successful event yet. But when wedding and Hollywood drama collide with family drama – in particular, her Aunt Rosa’s debut on the Food Network – the distractions test Bella’s faith and confidence. With the legendary Rossi family antics under the glare of a national spotlight, and a tropical storm en route, Bella must pull out all the stops to stay on track and prevent her biggest wedding yet from turning into a paparazzi photo-op.

Swinging on a Star picks up shortly after the conclusion of Fools Rush In, and I highly recommend reading that volume first in order to be properly introduced to Bella’s whacky and lovable family. Though the series bears Bella’s name, Thompson has created a true ensemble cast and one grows to care about the misadventures of each member of Bella’s circle of family and friends. Star serves up a second helping of all the elements that I loved in the first book, starting with Thompson’s clear appreciation of classic pop standards. Each chapter bears a song title, and since I’m a big fan of the Great American Songbook and Rossi family-favorite vocalists Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, I loved seeing how the title and lyrics of the songs relate to the events of each chapter. I also appreciated the Rossi family’s love of good cuisine, and how it’s poised to go national with Aunt Rosa’s pending appearance on the Food Network. Thankfully, Thompson chose to incorporate real hosts and shows into the novel, which adds a dash of pop culture realism to storyline.

I have to admit, it took me a bit longer to get into Stars than it did with Fools Rush In. Bella’s tendency to worry and overanalyze came off a bit overdone, but as the story delves more deeply into the wedding preparations and the family drama that turns around. Bella is taken to the edge, culminating with an overnight stint in jail, and back again as she learns about relinquishing control and placing her trust and faith in a never-changing God. Thompson also tackles the misleading nature of appearances, with Brock being a prime example, his Hollywood polish hiding a broken life in need of purpose. Bella’s mostly innocent tendency to “prejudge” people and circumstances is beautifully turned around when the people she wouldn’t necessarily expect are the ones who rally ‘round to spring her from jail. Star also satisfies my desire from its predecessor to get more of an insider glimpse into what it takes to create a themed wedding. I loved seeing Bella pull off the Renaissance fairy tale for her clients – the descriptions were so vivid I felt like I was part of the party. And the way D.J. and Bella’s relationship develops over the course of this wedding adventure is a treat – D.J. is the perfect embodiment of “everyday” heroism, and by the end of the book he manages to pull out all the stops in wooing Bella in a truly swoon-worthy fashion.

Filled with humor, heart, and very flawed people just trying their best to live out their faith, Swinging On a Star is a sweet, frothy confection of a read sure to leave you craving some of Rosa’s legendary Italian cooking. Book three, It Had to Be You, releases in May.

You can read my review of Fools Rush In here.

Review: Fools Rush In by Janice Thompson

Fools Rush In (Weddings by Bella #1)
By: Janice Thompson
Publisher: Revell
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3342-1

About the book:

Bella Rossi’s life is just starting to get interesting. When her Italian-turned-Texan parents hand over the family wedding-planning business, Bella quickly books a Boot-Scootin’ wedding that would make any Texan proud. There’s only one catch – she doesn’t know a thing about country music. Where will she find a deejay on such short notice who knows his Alan Jackson from his George Strait? And will Bella ever get to plan her own wedding?

Fun, fresh, and full of surprises, this flavorful combination of Italian and Tex-Mex highlights the hilarity that ensues when cultures clash.

Review:

When Bella Rossi was a child, her very Italian, New Jersey-based family relocated to Texas – Galveston to be exact – where her uncle opened an authentic pizzeria and her parents opened a wedding planning facility, named after her. Now she finds herself running the family business and attempting to expand the customer base by offering exclusive, elaborately themed weddings. Only with her first big booking for a “boot-scootin’ wedding,” Bella may have gotten in way over her head. Coming from a family rich with an appreciation for Italian cuisine and fanatical about the music of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Andrea Bocelli, country music and Texas-style barbeque are outside the realm of her expertise, to say the least. Bella’s salvation comes from an unexpected quarter – a gorgeous, blue-eyed, very country cowboy named D.J. who, after a comic misunderstanding involving his name, finds himself knee-deep in Rossi family shenanigans and Bella’s attempts to prove she’s a capable businesswoman.

I absolutely love pop standards, so when I heard about a novel named after one of the classics by Johnny Mercer, I was immediately intrigued. Of course in my view, Frank Sinatra’s version is the winner – so I found myself STRONGLY identifying with Bella’s Aunt Rosa in regards to her fanatical Sinatra appreciation. Bella and her family’s love for classic pop singers is just one of the novel’s charming points; in fact, each chapter bears the name of a classic song, and seeing how the title ties to the chapter content is quite fun. Fools also features one of the quirkiest, most likable casts of characters you’d care to meet – think My Big Fat Greek Wedding’s family dynamics with a healthy dose of Return to Me’s Italian flavor. There’s one aspect of Bella’s life that I’d love to see better drawn in subsequent books. Having read one or two other wedding-themed novels in recent months, I went into this book expecting greater detail about the “nuts and bolts” aspect of Bella’s wedding planning business. I had a little trouble buying the fact that Bella was basically planning her first “make it or break it” event in about two weeks time. So professionally speaking she comes across as a little, um, slapdash, though well-meaning. However, given the offbeat, quirky tone of the book I was able to ultimately set aside that qualm relatively quickly.

With her first “Weddings by Bella” novel, Thompson has delivered a fast-paced, breezy read that’s quite simply one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read in recent memory. I can’t remember the last time I’ve smiled so much when reading a book! After all, it’s a rare thing to come across a novel where the characters are as fanatical about Sinatra and pop standards as I am. The spiritual thread is also very well integrated into the storyline. Faith is such a natural extension of these characters’ lives that it never comes across as heavy-handed or too preachy. And D.J. – well, he’s one of the most adorable, swoon-worthy heroes EVER. Witnessing his Texas-country meets Italian culture shock is hilarious, but he handles it like a pro (I love cowboys…I just felt the need to throw that out there ;-)). I’m definitely looking forward to reading Bella and D.J.’s further adventures…if they ever get around to planning their own wedding, I can only imagine the Texas-Italian hilarity that will ensue! Book #2, Swinging On a Star, releases in January 2010.

Side note: Kudos to the cover design team and publisher for finding the perfect character images for Bella and D.J. D.J. in particular exactly matches my mental image of him from reading the book - they absolutely nailed it!