Reviewed by Martha Artyomenko
About the book:
Lauren Summers is hiding. Her fashion house internship should have launched her career, but a red carpet accident has left her blackballed. The only job she finds is unpaid, but comes with free lodging–a run-down cottage in the shadow of a cliff-side mansion. Unsure of what comes next, she’s surprised to be contacted by a reporter researching a reclusive former Hollywood ingEnue who lives in the nearby mansion.
Kendall Joiner wants Lauren’s help uncovering the old woman’s secrets. In return, she’ll prove the red carpet accident was a publicity stunt so Lauren can regain her former job. With all her dreams in front of her, Lauren’s tempted by the offer, but as she and the old woman get to know each other, Lauren realizes nothing is quite as it seems.
My Review:
I was not sure what to expect when I opened this book. The cover almost seemed to insinuate it was historical, but when I was on the red carpet in the beginning, I realized that was not the case.
I am not a seamstress, but I have been involved in theater now, and I have to say that I likely enjoyed this book more because of that little tidbit, more than I would have even last year. Kathryn made a sympathetic character in Lauren, where you felt for her.
There is little to no romance in this book, while there is the potential of it, but to those that enjoy no romance, this is one. The mention of scandals in Hollywood from the past are mentioned briefly, like mistresses and murder, but very briefly. I believe teens would enjoy this book and learn some wonderful life lessons from it as well.
Overall, the lesson I saw from it was kindness, when someone does not deserve it. Lauren showed love and kindness to someone that was cruel and believed the worst of her. She did this multiple times throughout the story, even though a falsehood seemingly ruined her life and she was being taken advantage of.
This book was given to me for review by Bethany House Publishers. The thoughts and reviews herein are my own.