Beautiful Mess

Beautiful Mess #1

by John Herrick

A fallen star. A former hippie. And the Marilyn Monroe you only thought you knew.

Del Corwin is an aging Hollywood relic, destined to fade into a history of forgotten legends—unless he can revive his career. All he needs is one last chance.

When Del uncovers an original screenplay by Marilyn Monroe—and proof that she named him its legal guardian—he surges to the top of Hollywood’s A-list. But the opportunity to reclaim his fame and fortune brings a choice: Is Del willing to sacrifice newfound love, self-respect and his most cherished friendship to achieve his greatest dream?

A story of warmth, humor and honesty, BEAUTIFUL MESS follows one man’s journey toward love and relevance where he least expects it—and proves coming-of-age isn’t just for the young.

"A creative and fresh romp through one of pop culture's most notorious tales. John Herrick's characters become your best friends. His world is keen, compelling and excessively alive." - Jeffrey James Keyes, New York Times bestselling author and James Patterson co-writer

Genres: Fiction

428 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2017

About the author

Website: www.johnherrick.net
Facebook: facebook.com/JohnHerrickBooks
Twitter: twitter.com/@johnherrick
YouTube: youtube.com/c/JohnHerrick

John Herrick is the author of From the Dead and 8 Reasons Your Life Matters. A graduate of the University of Missouri—Columbia, readers turn to him as a chronicler of spiritual journey and the human heart. Herrick lives in South Carolina.

Reviews

[Stace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Reviewed by Kerstin on www.whisperingstories.com

Delbert “Del” Corwyn, the protagonist of the book, is an actor in his late seventies. He is in great shape, living everyday after a certain schedule including daily runs and healthy food. In 1978 he was nominated for an Academy Award he never got and since then he is aiming for a great comeback as an actor in Hollywood, more so now as his financial situation has become quite delicate.

His career began in the last years of the Golden Era of Hollywood. Back then, he was acquainted with the stars. A good friend of him was Marylin Monroe and she seems to be the ticket to his comeback over 40 years later where nobody seems to know his name, Del Corwyn, anymore.

As a a lifelong bachelor Del’s list of affairs is long. Two women are currently playing major roles in his life: Nora Jumelle, the new star in Hollywood and Felicia, a minster. Unfortunately, there are parallels between the life of Marilyn and Nora and Del, reminded of his grief after losing Marylin, is afraid of losing his new friend too.

Ok, I can’t hold back here: I loved this book! Right from the first sentence, I was so into it. First of all, I noticed the great writing. John Herrick is a very talented author with a gift: he can tell great stories in an engaging way.

A Beautiful Mess is well plotted, well written and it really drags you into the world of Del and his friends. Moreover, you begin to feel for them and live with them through their difficulties. Del’s journey, his search after the Meaning of Life, is something we can all relate to and you want nothing more than him becoming a lucky man after all.

I can only warmly recommend reading this book and let you all find out how it all works out for Del and his loved ones, because it is an utterly beautiful story. Now, there nothing left to say except me giving this book one of my very rare 5-star-ratings.

[Chandra Claypool (WhereTheReaderGrows) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Del Corwin, 18, meets Marilyn Monroe on set where he's working as a basic errand boy. She takes a liking to him and when he tells her he's going to be a star one day, she believes him and calls him her little star. They forge a friendship and she gives him a manuscript she thinks will show the world she's not just a pretty face. Fast forward sixty years later.

Del's career has roller coastered over the course of the years and now in his 70's, he's struggling to try and make any kind of come back. He meets young Nora, a rising star who reminds him of Marilyn and who he starts to look out for. Felicia, a minister he meets in a chance encounter, forces him to look at himself in ways he never wanted to. As he begins to live outside of his means, he is forced to pack house and pull in the reins. In doing so, he finds the manuscript he had long forgotten about. Here's the chance he's been waiting for to launch his career again..... but at what cost?

This novel is beautifully put together. Del is wonderfully given to you as a womanizing, narcissistic but trustworthy type of man that you can't help but love him... and be extremely frustrated with him at times. Nora is wise beyond her years with a subtle cloud hanging over her at all times. We certainly see the other side to fame and what it can cost a person. While money and popularity can be fun, at the end of the day, it probably won't satiate most people for the long term.

I think pretty much everyone knows who Marilyn Monroe is. While I may not have been into the hype around her or the fascination most people had, I certainly was well aware of who she was and how iconic she was in the industry. It certainly was nice to see her in a different kind of light than what society tends to put forth. While she had an obvious impact on this story, it wasn't all about her but rather the friendships of people who otherwise may not have been drawn together and how things impact you on a daily basis more than you would ever realize.

Not the type of book I usually read and while we pretty much know where the book is heading, a fast, fun read that I think will fascinate people of all ages.

Thank you so much to the author for this copy in return for my honest review. Come to my blog www.wherethereadergrows.com for a Q&A with this lovely man.

[Lynda Dickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an eighteen-year-old, Del Corwyn had the pleasure of meeting and working with Marilyn Monroe. Now, sixty years later, Del is a seventy-eight-year-old bachelor looking for a comeback role that will earn him the Oscar he missed out on forty years earlier. Circumstances conspire to bring him together with three other "misfits": Nora Jumelle, an up-and-coming actress; Felicia, a female minister; and Tristan, who masquerades online as a wellness coach. Their tales intertwine around a script Marilyn Monroe wrote and entrusted to Del in 1962. Del must decide whether to make the script public; it's just what he needs to resurrect his career, but why does the thought of it make him feel so guilty?

This is the story of unlikely friendships and romances. The book is cleverly divided into three parts, which are named after some of Marilyn's movies and hint at what is to come. The short chapters move the pace along and encourage you to keep reading just one more chapter. Told from the points-of-view of Del, Nora, and Tristan, it feels like Felicia misses out here. The author tells us how old everyone is when they are introduced, giving a sense of how important the concept of age is in Hollywood. He also draws clever parallels between the lives of Nora Jumelle and Marilyn Monroe - their names, childhood experiences, rise to stardom, and mental states. Peppered with cameos from real Hollywood actors, this reads more like dramatized nonfiction than a novel. I felt like I was saying goodbye to old friends when I turned the last page.

Warnings: coarse language, sexual references, mental illness.

Also included at the end of the book: Reading Group Guide, an interview with the author, and insight into the author's writing process.

I received this book in return for an honest review.

Full blog post (18 August): https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.co...

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!

Though, Del is the leading man in this story, his connection to the other characters, both living and dead, is what ties everything together. Through pure happenstance, these wonderfully flawed people are brought together, and they form life-changing bonds. This rich characterization is probably what I enjoyed most about “Beautiful Mess”, that and Marilyn.

Ah Marilyn, where do I begin? Yes I have a deep appreciation of the enormously talented people who graced the silver screen during the “Golden Age” of film, but a few stood apart for me. One of them was Marilyn Monroe.

When the author contacted me about his book, I was very intrigued by Del’s story. Can you imagine if someone really did find a long-lost screenplay written by her? The ramifications of something like this happening is astounding. Especially, a story about the “real” Marilyn. Not the persona she created for the masses. It would be extraordinary! After all, it’s her real-life story that has always had me so fascinated. Her connection to the Kennedys, her heart-breaking childhood, and of course her accidental over-dose/ suicide/ assassination… pick your conspiracy really.

I could go on forever, but we’re here for “Beautiful Mess” not just her and her mysterious life.

As I mentioned, the characters make this book and each one is complex and interesting in their own way. Unexpected relationships form and they all stem from Del, a once famous star who commanded Hollywood, until he didn’t. He still has a great life, and all the trappings of the rich and famous, but it’s shallow.

When he finds the screenplay everything changes of course, but so does Del. He starts to realize fame and recognition isn’t what makes a person’s life complete. His journey to achieve this knowledge is as evocative as it is entertaining, and all the while, you feel Marilyn’s presence everywhere. Seriously, the writing is so good you’ll feel like you’re reading a true story.

I recommend this book to movie lovers who love to read and of course, to people who remember and love the original blonde bombshell.

Rating… A+

[Wally Wood]

John Herrick had an interesting idea: What if Marilyn Monroe wrote a screenplay while she was married to Arthur Miller? What if she gave it to a young friend, properly stamping each page with her thumbprint to prove authenticity? What if the friend, Del Corwyn, packed the script away and forgot about it? What if today, 72-year-old Del, now facing bankruptcy, discovers the script, which Marilyn titled “Beautiful Mess”?

That’s the armature on which Herrick builds his new novel, Beautiful Mess. If stories about Hollywood, the stresses of fame, the dangers of false gods, and a happy ending are the sort of book that attracts you, stop reading this review right now and add Beautiful Mess to your to-read list. You’ve been warned.

It’s not a bad book. I admire Herrick’s industry. He’s published four earlier novels and a book of non-fiction (8 Reasons Your Life Matters). Beautiful Mess comes with a reading group guide, interview with the author, and a stand-alone short story. In his answer to the question of what motivates him to select one book concept over another, Herrick gives three elements, gut feeling, commercial and target-audience appeal, and “potential to inspire or encourage the reader.”

Expanding on motivation number three, he writes,”The same collection of words triggers diverse responses among readers. It can serve as entertainment for one person. It might inspire another to reach for his or her dreams. And that same novel could uplift someone enduring pain or contemplating suicide. It’s such a privilege, and it’s like fuel during my writing process.” Which may account for my problems with the novel.

Herrick’s main character, Del Corwyn is an actor who almost won an Academy Award years ago. He has a big house in Malibu, runs every day to keep himself in shape, never married, has been living beyond his means, but seems to have no inner life. He was Marilyn Monroe’s friend when is was barely out of his teens and had an acting career that never went anywhere.

Del meets a 25-year-old actress, Nora Jumelle, who is up for an Academy Award for a breakout indie film. Nora is adventurous enough—or screwed up enough—to have a one-night-stand with Del. They agree a May-December relationship will not work (although reportedly the sex was fine) and become friends. Several of the chapters are written from Nora’s point of view.

Del meets Felicia, a minister of certain years (much more age-appropriate for Del) and they become friends. We never learn much about Felicia’s religious calling or what denomination she represents. Del and Nora happen to meet Tristan, a 30-something online wellness coach who makes a good living dispensing “Dear Abby” style advice anonymously and for money.

None of the four main characters seem to have families, friends, or much of a backstory. (Del does have an accountant and an agent.) Herrick, I suspect, started with his concept, then needed characters to move around to make the concept work rather than starting with the character(s) and letting the story grow out of their personalities and experiences.

Another problem for me is the Monroe script at the heart of the book. We never see it, although we do read Marilyn’s letter to Del when she gives him the script. People talk about it, how incredible it is, how the biggest studio in the country is willing to go all in to obtain it. But nothing, really, about it. It is a McGuffin, “a plot device in the form of some goal, desired object, or other motivator that the protagonist pursues, often with little or no narrative explanation. The specific nature of a McGuffin is typically unimportant to the overall plot.” Alfred Hitchcock could get away without explaining the specific nature; I wanted to know more about Monroe’s script.

I also had problems with the writing. Here’s Nora regarding Tristan: “He inspired in her a sense of security, and as she sneaked glances at those blue eyes, her heart told her he was a a guy with romantic potential.” Dell regarding Felicia: “. . .Del could see in her eyes that her heart reached out toward his.” (In Herrick’s world, hearts are wonderfully articulate.) “Del invited Felicia to speak a blessing over their meal, then they began to partake.” Who partakes these days? And then there’s poor Nora; she cannot get a break. She attends the Academy Award ceremony dressed in Armani with Del as her date. However, “Little did she know, the following day, critics would balk at her attire and label her the ceremony’s worst-dressed attendee.”

As I said at the beginning, if the premise intrigues you, read the book. It intrigued me enough to read and review it, but I am afraid that on balance I came away from Beautiful Mess agreeing only with the title’s second word.

[Janet Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly not great literature but a very entertaining book that held my interest throughout. The characters are quite different, especially Del Corwyn, the main character, who is 78 years old. An interesting premise, characters that are believable and show some growth, made for a satisfying read. I would recommend it.

[Felicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful Mess is a beautiful mess of quirky characters brought together by happenstance in the glitz, hypocrisy, and shallowness of Hollywood.

Del Corwyn has a mansion in Malibu, a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, and he was a contender for the Best Actor Oscar… in 1978. Choosing the wrong movie project after losing the Academy Award to Richard Dreyfus (YAAY, Goodbye Girl!), led Del’s career into an unending downward spiral for decades. But he’s due for a comeback. The right script will come to him any day. Seventy-eight isn’t too old for a comeback, right?

Nora Jumelle, at twenty-five, is Hollywood’s latest hot property A-lister and a nominee for Best Actress. She’s a troubled soul though, with much darkness from her childhood weighing her down and making her question the point of her success.

Thirty-three-year-old Travis Albrecht was Denny’s most popular server. Now he’s an internet sensation as a wellness coach. Gotta love the man’s ingenuity.

With her hippie past and wild days behind her, Felicia Whitby is now a pastor. Tolerant, and nonjudgmental, Felicia is the voice of reason and exhibits the wisdom one would expect from a sixty-eight-year-old. But, she’s still only human.

The world truly is a small place and these four lives not only intersect, but bonds form—and these bonds will be tested.

Financially strapped, Del is forced to downsize and reign in his lifestyle. While going through boxes which had sat untouched for decades, Del finds a letter penned by his late friend, Marilyn Monroe. The fragile star didn’t have many people in her life she could trust, and Del Corwyn had gone from studio errand boy to close friend and confidante before the star’s tragic death.

Because of this, Marilyn Monroe entrusted Del with a screenplay she wrote, Beautiful Mess, to do with as he saw fit.

Del immediately sees the screenplay as his ticket back into the spotlight and contacts his agent to brainstorm how they will make it happen.

I didn’t like Del Corwyn for the first few chapters. His hubris and narcissism were overwhelming and annoying. At first, I thought it odd Del had never married, but after those few chapters, it was obvious Del Corwyn was far too self-absorbed to be in a relationship beyond a few days.

Or so it would seem.

As the media circus grows around the Beautiful Mess screenplay and the lives of the four main characters become more involved, chinks began to appear in Del’s Hollywood persona. He not only questions his own motives behind publicizing the screenplay but he questions his life.

Two arguments and a crisis will force Del Corwyn to either live by his well-established moral compass… or change it.

Beautiful Mess is well-written and engaging. I liked the premise… which leads to some fun Hollywood name-dropping and cameo appearances, but it is the characters who make this a winning read. The author did a great job of turning off-beat characters into friends… to each other and the reader. (And c’mon! Felicia just has a great name!)

I believe Beautiful Mess would appeal to readers across several genres and I highly recommend it.

Enjoy!

[Glenda Bixler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Beautiful Mess out 8-1 is a drama honoring Marilyn Monroe...Wonderful climactic ending!

http://gabixlerreviews-bookreadershea...

[TDCbookreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Del Corwyn is a has been. After his one Oscar nomination and some bad movie choices, his acting career has pretty much ended although he's always looking for his big comeback. Making a splash in Hollywood has become quite different than what Del remembers from his own youth and although he has maintained his youthful look and charm, he is no longer in demand. Things begin to appear pretty bleak to Del until he meets up and coming starlet Nora Jumelle. She is new to stardom, but appears to have the looks and talent to back it up reminding Del of one of his good friends from years before, the one and only Marilyn Monroe. Can these two survive Hollywood or will they both be forced out of the limelight?

I enjoyed this book and found Del to be quite charming. Sure he has his faults, but he usually owned up to them and tried to fix any mistakes he made. Nora was less likeable, though I did feel sorry for her at times. I kind of thought there should have more told of her backstory to maybe help show how she got the way she was. I kept waiting for some big reveal but it never really came. It was fun reading Del's interactions with Ms. Monroe, who is popular still to this day. I thought Mr. Herrick did a good job in portraying her myriad of emotions in only a few chapters. My favorite part of this book was Del's romance, which was sweet and finally showed he was ready to mature. I rated this book four out of five stars.

[Laurie Beemer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was truly a remarkable book by an interesting and new author for me. This has to be one of the most unique book plots I've read in a very long time. The idea of a washed up Hollywood star finding a unopened and mysterious envelope among his things one night when everything was crashing down on him and opening it up to find his rise to fame, was awesome. The connection the main character had with the people in this story made me love it even more. I absolutely adored the quirkiness, uniqueness, and magic of this book. Thank you for allowing me to read this and write about it.

[Martin Turnbull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Herrick has come up with an original and intriguing premise – What if Marilyn Monroe wrote a screenplay? Herrick’s hero uncovers it just when he needs it the most but must examine his motives and the consequences of his actions in a town disinclined to do the right thing. The author took his idea to places I didn’t expect, which is always a welcome reward to any reader.

[pamela adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous story!

What a great time I had reading this book. The characters are unique, troubled, real and quite interesting. I gave this story four stars and not five because I found it while looking for a “romantic comedy” and although this was a fantastic read, it’s not fun or funny in any way. You’re not going to find any comedy in this book at all. It’s actually rather sad.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Del Corwyn has been in the movie business since the 1950s. When he was 18 years old he was a lowly errand boy. But he was kind and compassionate even then, and caught the attention of one of the biggest stars of the era – Marilyn Monroe.

Marilyn was a troubled woman. Many around her were merely attempting to ride along on her coat tails of success. Del was different; he cared about her as a person. She grew to love him as a trusted friend. He knew her secrets and was not about to share them. Right before her death, she shared a script with him that she had written. She wanted him to keep it safe in case something happened to her. He carefully stored it, and then promptly forgot it existed.

He went on to work steady as an actor. In fact, he eventually became as star. He was nominated for an Oscar for best actor and he was ready to take Hollywood by storm. Scripts rolled in and he was invited to every party. Sadly, he did not win the golden statue. His plummet from the limelight was almost as fast as his ascent. It only took a few bad roles in films that didn’t really go anywhere for new scripts to dry up.

Del still kept up the hope for the next big role that would bring him back to the status he once held. He continued to live in his home that had a spectacular view, went to places to be seen by others in the business and exercised dilegently. It was hard to believe he was a 78 year old man still waiting for the studio to call him.

While spending time at one of his favorite haunts, Del meets Nora Jumelle. She is the newest A-list actress to come along. Her movies can be seen everywhere. The unlikely couple became close, but Del is worried. Nora seems to be on the same path as Marilyn. Will history repeat itself?

But Del has more than Nora to worry about. He has spent most of his fortune and with no work, he may lose everything. That is until he remembers the script Marilyn gave him. Could she be his salvation?

I loved everything about this book. The faded star still holding onto his dreams, the parallel of Marilyn and Nora and the personal growth of the characters, especially Del. To see him changing and choosing what path his life will take was emotional and powerful.

The setting of Hollywood was interesting and well done. It was like looking into the window of fabulous parties and restaurants I could never afford to go to. Herrick liberally sprinkles stars about to give the real feel of Del’s former fame. It was fun to rub elbows with them via the story.

John Herrick is the author of several works of fiction as well as a non-fiction book. This is the first book I’ve read by him, but I don’t think it will be the last. There is nothing better than reading a book of fiction that can take you places you have never been, yet you feel like you are right there with the characters. Herrick does this masterfully.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy that I can keep for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was not expected to return this item after my review. Copyright © 2017 Laura Hartman

[Vanessa Fry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Beautiful Mess centers around Del Corwyn, a washed up has-been from Hollywood's golden age. As a young man, Del formed a strong friendship with Marilyn Monroe and was one of the few people whom she trusted. Many years later, in the present, Del faces bankruptcy and is forced to sell his mansion. While packing boxes, he discovers a screenplay that Marilyn left to him in 1962—just months before her death. Del decides that he wants to honor Marilyn's memory by making a movie out of the screenplay...with himself playing the leading man. This novel feeds into the mystery surrounding Marilyn Monroe and her famous death and the excitement and glamour that was (and still is) Hollywood. Everyone will be able to find something of interest in Beautiful Mess.

Honestly, I read this entire book in two days because I simply could not put it down. Del's character kept me shaking my head because of his scruples (or lack thereof). Every time he would do something admirable, he would screw it up in a matter of minutes. The reader gets his first sample of this within the first few pages when Del seduces and sleeps with 20-something year old actress Nora Jumelle. Nora is wise for her years and proves to actually be a good friend for Del, having some Marilyn Monroe-like qualities herself. Although this book is a work of fiction, it had an almost biographical/historical feel to it. Herrick certainly did his research when writing this novel, which really makes for an authentic read.

[Gmr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of a departure from the author's usual fair, which actually had me worried initially with some of the language and content, but by book's end, it was a Hollywood affair of the heart to remember.

We've the aging leading man seeking to make it one last time, delivered that chance by the long gone hands of someone very close to his heart. It seems a perfect match...but sometimes what seems perfect at the start is anything but when the final curtain is called. There's a choice to be made with repercussions unforeseen and much further reaching than his party of one...and some of those efforts could be lethal. What would you do if fame and fortune were at your door if it meant forsaking the life (gone or not) of another? What indeed...

Author John Herrick brings us the glitz and glamour of Hollywood while beseeching us to look beneath the veneer and discover the truth at heart. It doesn't matter how big a marquee our name is displayed upon...if at the end of the day (or our days, for that matter), we can't honestly say we did all we could to leave a positive mark on the world around us, reached out to those seeking a open ear or kindred heart, or spent our time with a heart full of love versus envy and greed...what was it all for?

Recommended for the author's current fan base as well as those seeking a new "voice" to add to their reading repertoire.

**copy received for review

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were parts of this book that I really liked and others that I didn't like at all. By the end I felt like I really knew Del, warts and all - and boy, did he have a lot of warts. He was so over-focused on clawing his way back to the top in Hollywood that he had completely lost sight of anything else. Nora and Tristan too were great characters. I did find it completely unbelievable that a gorgeous up-and-coming 25-year-old actress would initiate sex with a 78=year-old has-been actor, however.. The whole idea of Marilyn Monroe having left behind an undiscovered screenplay was fascinating.

But I hated the ending. Just plain hated it. *SPOILERS AHEAD* Marilyn was his friend, he stated this repeatedly throughout the book, she gave her screenplay into his care because she trusted him, and I didn't think he served her memory at all in the end. She wrote it because she wanted people to know that she wasn't just a dumb blonde and that there was more depth to her. I don't think his actions preserved her memory at all; he was selfish, ultimately. That's just my opinion.

*ARC via netgalley*

[Vnunez-Ms_luv2read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take one aging star and add one troubled woman with other things thrown in for good measure and you have one heck of a read. Del is an fading actor trying to find that one break that will propel him back to stardom. Marilyn is the troubled woman that may be his salvation. They met, Marilyn gives Del something to him before she dies. He meets Nora, and is it coincidence that she reminds us of Marilyn? Does Del get his stardom back? Can a man on the brink of destruction come back to the spotlight? If you enjoy reading about Hollywood, this is the book for you. Very good character development that will keep you reading well into the night. Very good book and I immensely enjoyed it. Read this book, you will not regret it. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC copy of this book in return for my honest review.

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

More detailed review will come later.

This was the first time I read a book by this author and won a copy through a giveaway. I really loved the book and really enjoyed the whole book!

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come.

[Eliot Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Herrick has done it again! A great story filled with memorable characters and beautiful writing that moves you smoothly from page to page!