Hollywood 1942. When attorney Audra Schaeffer's sister disappears, Audra flies to Hollywood to find her but instead must identify her body. Determined to bring the killer to justice, Audra takes a job with the second Hollywood Victory Caravan. Together with Robert Garfield and other stars, she crisscrosses the southern United States in a campaign to sell war bonds. When two other women are found dead on the train, Audra knows the deaths are tied to that of her sister. Could the killer be the man with whom she's falling in love?
Cara C. Putman lives in Indiana with her husband and four children. She is a clinical associate professor in law and ethics at Purdue University's School of Business. She has loved reading and writing from a young age and now realizes it was all training for writing books. She loves bringing history and legal romantic suspense to life.
An honors graduate of the University of Nebraska, George Mason University School of Law, and Krannert School of Management, Cara left small town Nebraska and headed to Washington, D.C., to launch her career in public policy.
Cara is an author chasing hard after God as she lives a crazy life. She invites you to join her on that journey. She's currently writing her 46th book with more on the way. Please check out her website to learn more about her books and read first chapters.
This one was interesting...a gentle murder mystery with a great deal of atmosphere in the old Hollywood setting, 1942. A home front victory caravan is stalked by a killer and Audra’s trying to figure out who before dying herself. Not my usual interest with stars and starlets, but it’s a Cara Putman book so of course it was good and the characters flowed with life. :)
There is something glamourous about the thought of Hollywood 1942. Author Cara Putman took two of the subjects where she is an expert (the law and World War 2) and combined them into a wonderful book that contains suspense, a bit of romance and a whole lot of heart. This book is and will remain a part of my paperback library.
Audra is not from California. Going there to find her sister was supposed to be easy. Instead, she has to identify her sister's body. She becomes involved in the case to try to determine what is really happening. This book will keep you guessing. After all, movie stars are skilled at charades and presenting different sides that may not be true.
Selling war bonds across the country really did happen. I have never traveled cross country on a train, but I think it would have been fascinating to see America that way. (Today I might find the journey a bit tedious unless I really liked the company!) This is set during World War 2, but that focuses more on life on the home front. The amount of research that went into making this an authentic book definitely worked because the result was a wonderful book.
Cara Putman is one of my favorite authors and I always enjoy reviewing her books. This one gripped my heart from the beginning and wouldn’t let go. I had a lot of fun reading about 1942 Hollywood and recognizing some actors names from back in the day. Rosemary was not one of them of course, and in the story she didn’t make it happen of being a big famous star like she wanted. Rosemary’s story did not end well, which is so sad. I felt bad for Audra having to go and try to fund who killed her sister. Audra’s journey brought a lot of mystery and details to the story that makes it more believable. The characters were fabulous and I enjoyed getting to know them so much. Robert is a favorite, he was a sweetheart, I thought.
The Hollywood Victory Caravan was a new one for me. I enjoyed reading about the Caravan and about the first Hollywood stars who used this train. It is a nice and interesting addition to the story. I always enjoy learning about things I’ve never heard of such as this. I think the author does a fabulous job weaving it into the story. As always, this story has so much more than I could ever touch on, so you need to read the book to enjoy it all and get answers. I’d you enjoy a good clean mystery, this is one you will want to read. I have happy to give Stars in the Night by Cara Putman Five Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Title: STARS IN THE NIGHT Author: Cara C. Putman Publisher: Summerside Press July 2010 ISBN: 978-1-60936-011-5 Genre: Inspirational/historical/romantic suspense
Audra Shaeffer has just landed her first chance to go to court as an attorney. But then her sister, Rosemary, fails to make a phone call home from Hollywood. Worried, Audra talks her parents into allowing her to go to Hollywood to see if Rosemary is okay. She throws away her chance to work as an attorney and buys a ticket to Hollywood.
Robert Garfield is a B-list actor. He dreams of making it to the big time, but it seems unlikely, even though his ex-wife is making great strides. He agrees to jump through the hoops his agent demands, but it seems unlikely any of them will work.
Robert and Audra are attracted when they meet, but Audra puts Robert off to find her sister. Unfortunately, her sister has been murdered…and now Audra wants to solve the murder. She joins a Hollywood Victory Caravan to get to know those who knew Rosemary best—the stars. But is Audra flirting with her life?
Set during WWII, STARS IN THE NIGHT focuses on the movie stars, the ones who went to sell war bonds to the American public, those that are struggling to make it in the dog-eat-dog world of Hollywood. STARS IN THE NIGHT doesn’t set a pretty or glamorous picture of a struggling movie star in the 1940s. Small apartments, working at unattractive jobs, and other things that those desperate to succeed did in order to get a small chance at a part in a movie. Ms. Putman obviously did her research on what it took…or even takes…to break in there.
The suspense is immediate, from the moment the book starts in the prologue. I had to keep reading to figure out who did it, though I had my suspicions early on. I wanted to see if I was right. Audra and Robert are realistic characters, hurting and flawed, though struggling to do what is right. If you like historical suspense, then don’t miss STARS IN THE NIGHT. $12.99. 354 pages.
With a depth of historical detail and rich setting, STARS IN THE NIGHT is a story of mystery, a fledging love and all the glamour Hollywood can provide.
With the flavor on Murder on the Orient Express, this book swept me away into the murder mystery of a young starlet looking for a place for herself in rising stardom. I loved the flavor of the setting. I was brought in the 20th century Hollywood world and given a glimpse into an era I don’t often get the pleasure of exploring. I could see each scene vividly. See the glittering lights and taste the eagerness for fame on the back of my tongue.
And explore this world I did, along with the main characters as Audra worked to solve the mystery surrounding her sister’s death. Each scene in the book moves it forward in one way or another and with each twist I was more surprised.
I was comfortable and at home while reading this novel. It flows with a grace and sense of purpose towards the ending, while wending its way into the heart of the reader. I felt for Audra in her loss and grew to admire her tenacity.
All in all, this book was a very enjoyable read and I look forward to getting lost within its pages again in the future.
Cara C. Putnam knows exactly how make Hollywood in the 1940s real. Most of the time I felt like I was watching an old black a white romantic suspense movie. The main character is Audra Schaeffer who lives with her parents just after finishing her education to become an attorney. Her younger sister, Rosemary always wanted to be a star in the movies. Rosemary made a promise to call her family weekly or she would not be allowed to go to Hollywood.
When Rosemary's call does not come on the expected day, her family is very upset. Audra is not one to wait for a long time to find out why she didn't call. She took her savings and bought a ticker out West to investigate. In the 194os, party lines on the phone were common and you had to call an operator to make a long distance call. Also back then, a plane trip required many stops so that the trip took much longer. Also, the meals were served on china. The author has well researched the 1940s and everything was true to the times.
Audra discovers a body in her sister's apartment, the first of a long line of strangled victims. She wants to work with the police but is told to stay out it for her own safety. She finds herself on a train of Hollywood stars who were performing and selling war bonds. There is mystery, suspense, a little bit of romance and plenty of history in this tale.
I was really drawn into this story and hated for the story to end.
This was a fascinating look at 1940's Hollywood. Not having heard previously of the victory trains, this whole concept was a new one to me and I enjoyed learning about it through the fictional characters of this story. This story follows Audra Schaeffer, who has traveled to Hollywood after her sister who'd moved there had missed her check-in call with the family that was a condition of her living there. The conditions of commercial flight in the 40s is another thing I didn't know anything about and I'm glad I've only been alive since the 70s. I imagine I would have developed a fear and disdain of flying otherwise. :) The hero of our story is movie star Robert Garfield, whose motivations throughout Audra questions. While the romance felt a bit rushed and stilted in places, I did really enjoy the story line, the mystery, the faith thread and the character development. I also enjoyed learning about some elements of WWII history on the homefront that I'd previously been unfamiliar with. This author is well known for her historical WWII romances as well as her contemporary romantic suspense/legal thrillers. This novel incorporated both of those elements. I'd recommend this to fans of inspirational historicals or romantic suspense - or those like me, who enjoy both. Special thanks to the author for an advance e-copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.
A few months ago, I started keeping a book in the car to read during spare moments--waiting for the gas to pump, if I had time to kill between errands and preschool pick up, that sort of thing. This was my most recent "car book." It didn't take me months to finish it because I wasn't into it, just because I slowly read it over time during my extra minutes. I felt like it needed that disclaimer! And ps, I'd recommend a car book to you, too. I liked this book! Cara Putman is a top notch writer and she's got a good mystery going on here. I had inklings about the identity of the killer but she kept me guessing, which I appreciate. I really enjoyed the historical setting and the Hollywood premise was fun. In the book, Audra travels to Hollywood, discovers a series of murders, and joins the Hollywood Victory Caravan to help catch the killer. The body count got higher than I expected but like I said, the mystery was good. I liked the romance aspect that she developed, it didn't feel forced or trite. And it had a very satisfying ending! If you like historical mysteries, I would recommend this book.
I could not put this book down. Murder mystery meets love story. Set in 1942 Hollywood and on a caravan train across the south. Cara’s attention to detail and descriptions of her characters makes you feel like you are sitting right next to the characters in the story. You will not be disappointed you picked this book.
I have read several books by Cara Putnam, and hers is a name that I have come to look out for knowing that I'll be in for a great read. Before this one however, I had only ever read her romantic suspense, set in more contemporary times. WWII happens to be my favorite when it comes to historical fiction, so when I saw Stars in the Night, I was intrigued. A romantic suspense by an author I enjoy, set in a time I adore? Seemed like the perfect combination to me. And there's something about that vintage Hollywood glam that really is so well suited to a murder mystery too.
I have to say, this did not disappoint. Cara did such a great job of painting the picture of that early Hollywood lifestyle that truly brought the story to life. Right from the start, I was drawn in to the mystery and I found myself enjoying the story right to the end. While it was certainly quite different than anything I had read from her in the past, it was truly just as good! I couldn't get enough, and would certainly love to see more like this!
If you enjoy a good old fashioned murder mystery and some Hollywood glam, this is certainly one not to be missed.
**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.
Audra Schaeffer must hunt down her sister's killer amid the glitz and glamour of the Hollywood stars.
Audra is a likable heroine, intelligent and used to living her according to the rules unlike her more free spirited sister who moved to Hollywood to chase the elusive dream of being a star. Brimming with a full cast of characters, this is a romantic mystery suspense. I liked Robert from the start, well-mannered with a genuine charm about him. I admired his honesty and his faith.
Entertaining and well written, it was an easy book to get immersed in. I loved the historical setting, as well as the vintage murder mystery vibes. Audra is a likable heroine, and for the most part she is pretty sensible.
Overall, an enjoyable read, great for fans of mystery/suspense, with a healthy dose of romance, and faith.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This novel had all the things I love, mystery, murder, romance, suspense and history. Most of the action was set in Hollywood 1942. When Audra doesn’t hear from her sister she begins to worry. She gives up a chance to try her first courtroom case to go to Hollywood to try and locate her sister Rosemary. What she finds is heartbreaking. She is given the chance to ride with the B list stars on a Victory Caravan as an organizer. Although this is fiction there was a real Hollywood Victory Caravan during WWII. The purpose was to entertain in various cities and sell war bonds. She desperately needs to find out what happened with her sister and the three week train ride seems to be just the way to accomplish that feat. She meets Robert Garfield, an up and coming star and the attraction is mutual. But their lives are so different. He considers himself her “bodyguard” but does she need one? A complicated mystery ensues that had me guessing, but not correctly. Take a trip with Audra on the train ride but watch your back at every turn. No one knows what will happen next. I loved it! I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise.
Audra Schaeffer couldn’t be more different from her gorgeous, popular sister Rosemary. Bookish and cautious, older Audra dreams of being accepted as an attorney – an atypical career choice in 1942 for a woman to make in the very male-dominated profession. Rosemary decides to try her luck in Hollywood, but the land of silver-screen dreams has a darker side than she’d ever imagined. When Audra plans a surprise visit, sure that Rosie will confide her worries face-to-face, she’s horrified to discover she’s too late – her little sister has been murdered. Determined to discover Rosie’s killer, Audra takes a job on the second Hollywood Victory Caravan war bond tour, hoping to learn more of Rosemary’s life from her peers in the entertainment business. The job has the added bonus of allowing her to spend more time with the handsome actor, Robert Garfield – but can she possibly trust her heart with a man who makes a living out of putting on an act? When it becomes clear that the killer has followed Audra on the train and is determined to cover their tracks, Audra’s only ally may be the man who makes a living from pretense. In the city where appearance is everything, can Audra uncover the truth about her sister’s killer and trust her heart to fall in love, or will she be disappointed by Hollywood illusions?
I am a huge fan of classic movies (okay, I’m more like obsessed), and thanks to Stars in the Night, Cara Putman has now made my must-read list. In fact, if I can dare to presume, I feel like we’re kindred spirits in a way – her inspired homage to the golden age of film nails every detail and story beat necessary to appeal to a fan of Turner Classic Movies like me. This book feels so authentic to the tone and history of old Hollywood and the pace and style of the classic films I adore that I found it to be absolutely un-put-downable – each page was a joy to read. While there was actually only one Hollywood Victory Caravan during World War II, for her second, fictional caravan Putman crams it with the variety of performing talent one would expect from the time period – everything from dancers to slapstick comedians to crooners. I loved Audra and Robert, and the romance Putman develops between her two leads is a sweet treat to watch unfold. There’s also a fantastic cast of supporting players. Each and every character is well-drawn and realistic, from the villains to the egotistical actors to the fans, and their personalities ring true to the time. Putman clearly has a passion for writing about the World War II time period, and her thorough research and affinity for the era bring every aspect of Stars to vibrant life with a flair worthy of the silver screen.
Stars in the Night sparkles with the glamour of old Hollywood, enhanced by a swoon-worthy romance. The suspense factor kept me turning pages, to the point that I carried this book with me everywhere until I finished it. Clearly inspired by classic film noir with a dash of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, Putman’s carefully plotted mystery expertly unfolds, littered with enough red herrings to keep you guessing and building the suspense to a thrilling conclusion. The faith element is also extremely well integrated into the storyline. I really liked Audra’s “outsider” take on Hollywood’s morality (or lack thereof) and Robert’s honest efforts to live out his faith in a culture that encourages compromise. Equal parts Hollywood glamour, romance, and mystery, with a dash of faith, Stars in the Night is a must-read for fans of Hollywood’s Golden Age. The story unfolds with a cinematic flair that will keep you turning pages until the very end and the closing credits roll – and like all good classic movies, Stars is a treat you’ll want to revisit. I can’t wait for Putman’s next book!
It is 1942 and even with a war, there were those with stars in their eyes, heading for Hollywood and hoping for that big contract that would make them a star.. Rosie was just such a beautiful starlet whose light went out much too early. Attempting to discover all the w’s, Audra, her sister, lands a gig of her own. Will this lead to the one who murdered Rosie and perhaps the others?
Prepare yourself for lots of guessing who might be behind these unfortunate events. I must admit, being stuck on a train when unexpected events occur would not be my choice. However, the well developed characters seem to be up for the task. But will they survive to tell the story?
This ARC was received through CelebrateLit. These thoughts and impressions are my own and were in no way solicited.
Enter "Stars in the Night" and step into a world of Hollywood glamour in the 1940's as Audra travels from Indiana to check up on her little sister Rosemary. Call it a hunch but Audra is concerned when Rosemary doesn't call home like she should. She arrives in Hollywood and her instinct is correct, there is a dead body in Rosemary's apartment, but who is it and where is Rosemary?
Audra can't leave until she knows what is going on and where Rosemary is, so she is sucked deeper into the Hollywood world as bodies start piling up. She takes on a job with the 2nd Hollywood Victory Caravan, filled with B list celebrities going on a cross country train tour to entertain and sell war bonds just so she can learn more about the people Rosemary knows. But now has she put herself on the very train that the killer is on?
Cara has such an incredible handle on WWII history and it was so cool to see that open up into Hollywood (she has previously written a WWII series set in Nebraska and a WWII series set in Ohio). I learned a lot I didn't know historically, including the fact that there really was a 1st Hollywood Victory Caravan with lots of amazing stars on it, but Cara fictionalized the 2nd one for the sake of the book. On top of that, I enjoyed the mystery/suspense in this book as I tried to figure out the killer before it was revealed (I did pretty well, but it isn't spelled out for you, you have to use your head). Great stand alone book from Cara C. Putman and Summerside Press' new line of historical books.
When Audra Shaffer's sister goes missing in 1940's Hollywood, she flies in to find her. What she finds are two dead bodies, a dashing movie star, and a killer on the loose. Determined to get justice for her sister, she decides to play undercover detective on a second Victory Caravan full of B-list starlets out to sell war bonds. She hopes her role as coordinator and chaperone will allow her to get close to the crowd that worked with her sister and to discover who may have killed her. To stay focused, Audra tries to ignore the growing attraction she feels toward movie star, Robert Garfield, not knowing whom she can trust. Okay- I just honestly could not get into this novel. I kept waiting for it to get better because it had good reviews, but it never happened for me. First of all, I felt that Audra got herself into stupid situations all the time. If there's a killer out there, and you're poking around asking questions, don't you think you're putting yourself in harm's way- especially on a train in a confined setting? I guess this happens all the time in books and movies, but for some reason, I couldn't get past this fact in the book. I could not connect to any of the characters. They seemed very flat to me and the story dragged on. It took me a long time to get through this. And secondly, I love inspirational books that weave God into the story, but all the faith references felt really awkward to me. Sorry Cara Putman.
One of my favorite time periods to read about is World War II and Cara Putman has done her homework and she has created a world that pulled me in instantly. I read another book recently that involved a war bond tour and I really liked that concept, so when I saw that a large part of this story took place on the Hollywood Victory Caravan I was looking forward to reading it even more. There were a few slow spots, especially at the beginning of this story, but as the story builds, the danger and suspense builds as well. The slower parts didn’t negatively affect my feelings about this book because they gave the story a very natural feel and kept the book from feeling rushed, which I think is important with a suspense story. The romantic aspect fit perfectly with the rest of the story and never felt awkward or out of place.
Overall, I found Stars in the Night to be a very well balanced story with just enough suspense, mystery and romance to keep me interested from start to finish. I was very impressed with the research Cara did to make this book authentic and believable. This is a book that will appeal to a wide variety of readers, from fans of historical fiction and suspense to fans of romantic fiction. I know it fit perfectly with my taste in books because it had a little bit of everything.
I enjoyed the setting of Hollywood in 1942. Some of the most famous stars were just rising in popularity and it was nice to see some names I recognized mentioned in the story. Many during that time period glamorized Hollywood and wanted so much to make it big there. Rosemary had this dream of bring a famous movie star and waited everyday for her big break.I wonder how many fell victim to the dark side of Hollywood?
With the arrival in Hollywood of Rosemary’s sister Audra, there was a hint of danger lurking for her. Where would Rosemary disappear to? We do find out quickly in the story that Rosemary was murdered but with little details. I did find it strange that Audra would not return to be at her sister’s funeral with family. Her reason was to investigate on her own the death of her sister. To me that just didn’t seem believable and I thought her devotion to her sister wasn’t as strong as we are led to believe.
I have never heard of the Hollywood Victory Caravan and decided to look it up on the internet. The author definitely has her facts correct that it was designed for stars to travel cross country on a train in order to help raise money for the Army and Navy Relief Society. This really fascinated me and I liked learning which stars were on board the train. It must have been a great time and for a good cause while the stars traveled from city to city.
I liked how the author incorporated the caravan in her story where Audra joins to help deal with the stars. One star in particular caught her attention because he knew her sister. Robert Garfield was a star who many admired and he had a connection to Audra’s sister. I wonder how long it will take for Audra to figure out exactly what Rosemary did in Hollywood? Perhaps a little black book will have answers. I’m not sure Audra knew what she was getting herself into, but she was determined to find answers about her sister.
The only way I can describe the train as it traveled to each city was chaos. Stars who thought they were better than others were always stirring up trouble. Audra was completely out of her element and I wasn’t sure that her motive for being there made me want to root for her. She gives up a chance to try her first case before the court and decides not to attend her sister’s funeral just so she can play junior detective. I didn’t really like her much and felt her character was hard to believe.
What I did find refreshing was that Robert was a Christian and made sure that Audra knew it. She had started having suspicions about him but he made it perfectly clear that “he submits every decision to Christ’s authority.” I loved that he was passionate about God and tried to reassure Audra that he had nothing to do with what happened to her sister.
The action does pick up at the end when another tragedy happens on the train. Audra is not sure who to trust anymore and begins to wonder why bad things keep happening around her. The story does have a good faith element which made me like Robert so much. The mystery was good and even though I wasn’t surprised at the outcome it was still a nice story.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Stars in the Night by Cara Putman is an awesome read. I was hooked from the terrifying prologue, and hated having to put this book down. What a wild ride! There are several aspects I really enjoyed. First, there are a lot of twists and turns. There’s so much apprehension weaved throughout the story that I felt actual nerves as I turned pages. I laughed at myself a few times because I caught myself sitting on the edge of my seat nail bighting. It was so much fun to get so deeply caught up in the storyline. I also enjoyed the multi-faceted characters. There are Noir-esque stereotypical characters, and I loved that, in fact I really dig the entire Noir feel to the whole story, but what I really loved is how unique the main characters are. Audra is definitely NOT a Hollywood-kind of gal. I enjoyed watching her navigate the insane world that is Hollywood. I like her strength and gumption and her deep sense of honor. I don’t think I could handle half of what she goes through in this story. And Robert is an awesome hero. I loved his immediate need to protect Audra. From their first meeting, the chemistry between the two is pretty obvious and grows into something smoldering, but he doesn’t just see Audra as a piece of eye-candy. He genuinely sees her and realizes that she is special. Robert is very respectful of Audra and treats her as a woman should be. I also really love how Robert puts God first and makes his decisions based on what would be pleasing to God. This is a pretty rare quality for a hot, Hollywood movie star. In addition to the tension and great characters, I also liked the various conflicts — both the internal, personal ones of Audra and Robert, and also the external, scary ones that move the plot forward. This was a story I read late into the night because I had to know how the characters were going to deal with their issues and all the things thrown at them throughout the story. Often, the conflicts made me pause and reflect on how I would react or act if I was in the characters’ shoes. I’m not sure I would be as strong and as capable. But it was a lot of fun to play what-if.
Stars in the Night is a great story. I enjoyed every minute and I’m genuinely sad my time with these characters is up. Now I want to go binge-watch a ton of my favorite classic films in honor of this book. If you are in the mood for a stellar who-dun-it with a bit of romance thrown in the mix, then I highly recommend reading Stars in the Night. This novel will not disappoint!
I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Celebrate Lit, via Bookfunnel. I also checked out a KindleUnlimited copy of this novel from Amazon.com on June 5, 2022, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I don't know what it is about the majority of Christian romance novels, but the authors always tend to waste so much time in the middle and drag things out and then finish everything really quick in the last two chapters...this book was no different. The book is set in 1942 during WWII, which is one of my favorite eras, so I was really looking forward to this book. However, about half way through I just groaned every time I opened it and tried to finish it. The main character was flat,
New to me author and Christian Historical Fiction Mystery genre, I was really intrigued to read this book. Stars in the Night by Cara Putman is the most recent book that I have read and enjoyed.
The time is 1942 and Attorney Audra Schaeffer is having a difficult time reaching her sister. She decides to fly to Hollywood to check on her sister. Audra arrives in Hollywood to find out that her sister was killed and must identify the body. Audra is determined to find the Killer and bring justice for her sister. She decides to take a job with the Hollywood Victory Caravan. She travels across the Country with Hollywood stars, including Robert Garfield, selling war bonds. Robert and Audra take an instant liking to one another. Two women are found dead on the train and Audra knows their deaths are somehow connected to her Sister's death. Will Audra discover who killed her sister? Will Robert and Audra connect and have a relationship?
I will admit the book started out a bit slow, so it took me a while to catch on to the storyline. I did enjoy the book once I got into the 3rd chapter and beyond. Audra is a determined woman who seems to take on a lot in life, especially when she decides to find her sister's killer. Robert Garfield is a charming man who seems to be a gentleman. I really like the connection the 2 of them feel, but also the cautiousness from Audra when she thinks Robert could be the killer of all 3 women. The book was not predictable and I appreciate that when reading a Mystery/Suspense novel! I have never read anything by Cara Putman before, but I am looking forward to reading many more books from her. The author researched the time period and history very well. I HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone who likes Christian Historical and Mystery! GREAT BOOK!
Stars in the Night is a WWII Romantic Suspense that is written by Cara Putman. I have read several books by this author and have always loved every single one. I loved traveling back to 1942 and seeing how Hollywood was represented during this time. I was not familiar with the victory trains - so I had to do a little independent research. The author did a great job making her story as historically accurate as possible.
Audra Schaeffer goes to Hollywood to find her missing sister. However a relocate mission turns to a identify her body. She decides to do her own investigation and she takes a job with second Hollywood Victory Caravan. Audra really does not like what Hollywood stands for -but she is determined to find her sister's killer. While on the the caravan she works together with other stars for the war effort. However, there are two more murders that Audra believes are related to her sister's death.
Robert Garfield used to be at the top of his game, and now he is not happy about being on the victory caravan. He hopes that it will lead to another break where he can rise to the top again. I really liked his character. He was strong in his faith (while being in Hollywood). However, does he know what happened to Audra's sister?
The characters are well written. I loved the story line. I don't think I have read a 1940's Hollywood story before. The author did a wonderful job at bringing this time period to life. Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.
The year was 1942. Rosemary, like so many other people, went to Hollywood during its boom time. The glamorous, glistening heyday of movies, beautiful actress and actors, was never all glistening gold. It was also war time. When Rosemary vanishes, her sister will not let that go. Audra is a lawyer. That part was a bit stretched because I'm not sure we can have female lawyers in that time frame, but it works so well for the story, so I just went with it.
Our country was hurting and our troops needed moral support. Thus this story dove into the traveling caravans that went about raising the moral of our fighting men by taking the "show on the road" for them. Hollywood was bringing the "silver screen" to the troops. To find out what happened to her sister, Audra joins the Hollywood Victory Caravan. Her main suspect is a B listing actor, Robert Garfield. He knew Rosemary, did the have a part in her disappearance and death?
As odd as this will sound to some, I do know a good bit about that time frame and for that reason I like the over all accuracy of the story. I love how Robert shows his faith, boldly. The tone and suspense of the story are bound to sweep you away and if you don't know about this era of history and Hollywood, then you are in for a treat and a good chunk of history.
Thanks to Celebrate Lit for my digital copy of this book. This review is my own and contains my opines about this book. A positive review is never required.
I've read numerous books by Cara Putman, and enjoyed each and every one. Although this one is quite different from her usual contemporary law suspense novel, I still found the storyline to be quite intriguing. Hollywood. In the '40s. Interesting. I found out quickly that the author put a lot of time into research for this particular novel. One minor little fact that stood out to me was that the heroine, Audra, who flew to California from Chicago, expected it to be an overnight, 14 hour flight. I am always intrigued to learn random facts like that. How far airplanes and flying have come! This book shows us what the 40s looked like. It has the dangers of Hollywood. The darkness and despair of a life spent searching to be a star. I also enjoyed the mystery. Audra went to California to confirm that her sister Rosemary was alright. Instead, she found a body. What happened to her sister? I recommend this book for anyone who loves a good mystery. Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
Putnam says she grew up loving all things 1930s and 1940s and is a student of WW II. She put those interests to good use in immersing readers well into the era of Hollywood and the Victory Caravan during that war. I really liked that aspect of the novel. I also liked how Putnam showed the tension of a Christian working in Hollywood during that time.
I did feel the character development was a bit lacking. Audra at times seemed the strong person she had to be to go to law school during that time. At other times I found her behavior puzzling. She feels light headed when she finds a body but doesn't sway at all when she sees a body that should have had a much greater effect on her. While she felt strong enough to argue a case in superior court she was unsure about going on a train venture with strangers.
The murder mystery is presented well although it came as no surprise to the villain's identity. I did find the character development a bit flat and the romance left some unanswered questions at the end. I do feel the strength of this historical novel is the well presented setting.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.
Woah! This is an amazing book! It’s the best of all the worlds for me!
You’ve got romance, le sigh. You’ve got history. And when I say history I’m meaning specifically WWII history which we all know is a favorite of mine! And you’ve got suspense. Boom. That’s it. Perfect book.
I mean, I don’t mean to say that no other author could ever write a better book, but this was amazing and I loved it and couldn’t stop reading it.
If you’re interested in murder and mystery, this is the book for you. If you want a bit of history on what the war was like on the homefront and how the actors and actresses were used to help fight, this book is for you.
Or if you just want to lose yourself in a romance novel? Well, you’ll like this book too.
Want a good mystery no strings attached? Have fun you’ll love this one.
Also, the cover is gorgeous and that dress. I’d love one personally.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.