Reading Between the Lines

by Rick Hamlin

Sought after by every agent and actress in New York, handsome casting director James B. Lockhart Jr. is at the top of his craft.

Red-haired beauty Elizabeth Ash lives in a third-floor apartment and earns her living as a flutist.

Both have loved deeply...but things haven't turned out as they'd hoped.

Then Elizabeth discovers a story scribbled in purple ink in the margins of some old novels at a nearby church thrift shop. It moves her like nothing else has...and makes her long for something more.

Jim has spent months mired in the past. Now he hopes to start a new chapter in his life...create a new beginning. But is that really possible after all this time? Or is it too late?

Genres: Romance, Christian Fiction, Fiction

ebook

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Sometimes I think I must be nuts because for me writing is a way to relax. Sure, I get anxious about it and I'm pretty critical of what I write, wondering if I can ever fix it. But then, when the words come and I'm in a grove, I'm not going to be critical of anything. Until the next morning!

Reviews

[Ann Marze · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this wholesome love story. I found myself praying along with the character James. I walked away with a beautiful love story and a memorised prayer to say daily.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different romance between 2 people who have been hurt by love. Second chances!

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a lot of action or character development. I liked the writing but didn’t care much for the characters. They were just ok.

[Colleen Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a delightful read with an interesting story set in New York City in the art and theatre world.

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elizabeth Ash loves books. She insulates herself from the harsh realities of dating by getting completely absorbed in romance novels from bygone days. She and her best friend are shopping at a church rummage sale - ostensibly to meet men - when Elizabeth finds a treasure trove of old paperbacks by Harriet Mueller, an author she has dearly loved for years.

A flute player by trade, Elizabeth has extra hours between private lessons and theater performances to read her prized novels. As she opens the first one, she finds writing inside. It's a letter, written in purple ink, filling the open spaces of margins, chapter headings, and any blank space. It is a woman, writing to her darling and telling the stories of their life together. The writing fills the other books Elizabeth purchased as well. She wonders who wrote the words - and wonders even more why the recipient gave the books away.

James Lockhart is a casting director with an eye for picking just the right person for each part. He, like Elizabeth, shelters himself from the world of dating. He has endured a great deal in his life, and thrives on the routines that give his life purpose. When Jim and Elizabeth happen to meet, they form a friendship that has the potential to develop into more. Their hearts guarded from potential pain, is their hope for a relationship? And can James help Elizabeth solve the mystery of the writing in the books?

Reading Between the Lines is a sweet, romantic tale. The plot often takes unpredictable turns, which holds the reader's interest throughout. Both Elizabeth and Jim are well-developed characters. Readers will get a true sense of their motivation for doing certain things, and will grow to care about what happens to them. As an avid reader, I love the idea of finding letters written in the margins of a book. Although the identity of the letter writer isn't a mystery for very long, this doesn't take away from its meaning and how it affects the characters.

The faith element is very subtle and not at all preachy. The New York setting is appealing and uniquely described. Since Jim is a casting director and Elizabeth plays her flute in musicals, there are many references to the theater world from an insider's viewpoint. Reading Between the Lines is a satisfying romance.

[Julie]

I loved this book. As someone who is always looking past what I read to hidden meanings -- thus, reading between the lines -- I could appreciate the idea of finding special messages, literally, within the pages of the book but not within the text itself. I love that this sort of thing brought people together who were meant to be together -- listening to the hidden messages. That my ex-husband and I reunited after 10 years divorced and remarried is a result of the hidden God-messages that came to me through so many things -- books, devotionals, songs, and more. So this was right up my alley.

[Tatrd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jim Lockhart & Elizabeth Ash

His deceased wife wrote love letters to him in the margins of her favorite romance books. Elizabeth is a flutist looking for love in NYC. He depends on a prayer his wife made him memorize to get him through each day, "Jesus Christ, have mercy upon me. Make haste to help me. Rescue me and save me. Let they will be done in my life." Elizabeth falls for the man written in the love letters.
Christian
Review

[Shelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was no where near as bad as what Denise says. It had a very "message in a bottle" feel to it. I got a kick out of a lot of the characters: the church lady, the ex-boyfriend, the guy at the gym, the blind date lady, even her friend is all kinds of crazy. It had some good messages about getting second chances, and how God works in mysterious ways.

[Melissa]

A heartwarming read, not a great book or classic by any means, but still one I find myself rereading. The plot is a bit far fetched, but the characters are endearing and believable, their emotions something we can relate to, their reaction to loss and their search for love will strike a chord in us. A sweet, almost old fashioned love story.

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't read this one. Too cheesy. I had high hopes that it wouldn't be just a dumb romantic book but it was...I don't mind those sometimes but the language was so off in this. No one starts out a love note with "Darling"...it was so precictable too.

[Mary Bronson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a great book. I really enjoyed reading it. I love the characters and plot of the story. It is such a heartwarming book. A really good kind of romance. I love Elizabeth and Jim as main characters. Elizabeth reminds me of me and the way I see romance and my love for books.

[Jennifer Fluegge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book--it was an interesting premise and a look into a life that is unique (NY and the Broadway/casting scene).

[Deborah Boutwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book written in and lost. Sort of reminds me of Message in a Bottle, as the person that ends up with the books attempts to get it back to the proper owner.

[Janna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sad guy loses wife to cancer; lonely flutist finds wife's novels with purple notes to hubby in the margins; guy and flutist fall for each other -- pretty decent

[Lisalulu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! Read it in a day.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a bit slower than my typical reads, but that was a refreshing change of pace. I enjoyed it, but I do still wish it would've moved just a little faster.