To Meghan

by James J. Caterino

Jack Carlito is a writer, an artist, and a wannabe movie director looking for a deal. But time is running out and when he travels to Orlando for the annual Creative Screenwriting and Directing Convention, he knows this is his last best chance of making it happen.

After checking in, he goes down to the hotel bar to grab some dinner, and then he sees her standing behind the bar, the real-life embodiment of the girl of his dreams. He leaves Orlando confident he has met the leading lady for the movie he is writing, and for his life. But when she vanishes, he is left without either, as he desperately tries to track down his femme fatale and find a way to achieve the cinematic dreams and the real-life love that eludes him.

Lost in Translation meets La La Land in To Meghan , a page-turning, dazzling piece of femme fatale fiction filled with humor, heartfelt romance, and movie references galore, from James J. Caterino, the author of Miami Noir 1987 and The Geek Girl and the Quarterback .

120 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 26, 2023

About the author

James J. Caterino is a freelance writer based in South Florida. He is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, the Action/Cut school of directing, and the author of over one hundred published works including "Romance Stories", "The Anti-Matter Girl", "True Stories", "To Meghan", "I Want to Believe", "Ghost Stories", "The Geek Girl and the Quarterback", "Pop Songs or Poetry", "Time Travel Stories", "Ready, Set, Action", "The Promise", "Lost in Time", "Pop Star", "Miami Noir", "Super Hornet 1942", "The Girl from the Stars", "Fantastic Stories", "Fireflies", "Watch the Skies", "The Last Neanderthal", "Rollercoaster", :The Green Girl", and the "Caitlin Star" series.

Reviews

[Gee Book Diary · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Meghan is a romantic comedy novel by the author James J. Caterino, published in April 2023. The plot of the story centers around the main character, Jack Carlito; a writer, artist, and aspiring film director; and his romantic interest, Meghan; who works in a bar and has a secret dream of becoming a writer. The duo first encountered each other at the Creative Screenwriting and Directors Convention in Orlando, where they formed an immediate bond. They were irresistible. It was a one-of-a-kind moment. Everything about the connection between them felt so cinematic. So epic. The creative screenwriting and directing convention (CSDC for short) was an innovative way for writers and filmmakers outside Los Angeles to showcase and pitch their work to studios, small and large, producers and even movie stars. Jack was, of course, fully prepared to give it his all. He was in peak physical condition and had ample energy to spare. None of the other exhibitors, present or absent, could compete with Jack's physical presence.
But the real question is, did he get what he wanted? You'll have to check out the book to find out! He departs Orlando with the assurance that he has met the primary female character for the film he is composing, and for the rest of his life. However, when she disappears, he is bereft of either of those things, as he struggles to locate his beloved femme fatale in order to fulfill both his cinematic aspirations and the true-life love he has yet to experience. I was so hoping that he'd get the girl. But did that ever happen? Read this book now to find out! I highly recommend this book, as it is a concise and engaging read. I read it in a single sitting, and I was captivated until the end. James has a way of keeping the reader engaged throughout the entire book. Highly recommended from my perspective.

[Anjali Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

"To Meghan" by James J. Caterino is a captivating blend of romance and cinema, with a twist of mystery that keeps you hooked from the very beginning.

Jack Carlito, the protagonist, embarks on a journey to fulfill his creative dreams, only to find himself captivated by Meghan, a real-life muse who embodies the essence of his artistic aspirations. The book beautifully captures the magic of unexpected encounters and the tantalizing dance of fate.

The writing style is vivid and filled with humor, making the characters relatable and endearing. The seamless integration of movie references adds a delightful layer for cinephiles, making it a delightful read for film enthusiasts. The story strikes a harmonious chord between the allure of creative ambition and the pursuit of genuine love.

As a reader, I was drawn into Jack's quest to find Meghan, mirroring the cinematic dreams and real-life love that we all long for. "To Meghan" is a delightful page-turner that leaves you with a warm, fuzzy feeling.

[Meghan Baquet · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't recommend this for anyone. The writing is full of errors, but mostly everything about this story is creepy and disturbing. A man in his 50s-60s continuously talking about crushing on early 20 year olds, and stalking a woman he met at a bar as she was working.

[Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly enjoyable, fast paced romantic noir with a delicious underlying sweetness to it. The copy I read was clean, so either an updated edited manuscript was uploaded, or I was too into the story to notice. A fun little piece of escapism.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the characters and was rooting for things to work out for them. Length wise somewhere between a long short story/novelette or short novella, so it's a quick read. Sweet, romantic fun. Paired with a short story that is equally as much fun.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story, short. There is not much detail and descriptive written. Not much character development. I normally do not read books this short, so this could be the norm. Lots of grammatical errors in the ebook.

[David Keck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story was engaging. Lots of editing mistakes.

I liked the characters. Poor Jack was a neurotic mess, but a sweet one. You root for him to get the girl. It was an interesting viewpoint behind the scenes of a writers mind. My biggest complaint is the poor editing. It is rife with missing, and misspelled words. For a book about an OCD writer, that lack of attention to detail was annoying.