register |  login
› ARVADA
Loading Ad
Visit Other Hubs:
ADVERTISEMENT
Loading Tower
Blog
Blog Entry 26 of 65 The Front Range Reader
Books, books and more books. In my spare time, I write book blogs/reviews for websites specifically devoted to books and readers. Although I have an advanced degree in Comparative Literature (specialty in Medieval Studies) I love to read all sorts of books from medieval to modern literature, from light reading to literary.

Blog Url: http://denver.yourhub.com/~Merrimonbooks

Clumsy supermodel & Armani party dress

Contributed by: Merrimon Crawford   on 4/13/2007

Don't let a clumsy supermodel near your Armani party dress!

Hollywood Husband, Contract Wife by Jane Porter

The reader is drawn into this romance from the very beginning when the heroine is in shock after marrying a man she hates in full public view. What led up to this crazy situation and what happened afterwards? Jane Porter's Hollywood Husband, Contract Wife creates such outrageous situations for her characters that the reader eagerly flies through the book just to see how the characters are going to get out of these complications. One outrageous action leads to escalating consequences and hilarity.

Alexandra Shanahan leaves Montana to make a name and identity for herself in Hollywood. Overshadowed by 5 brothers, she chafes at the bit to establish her own identity. Meanwhile, Wolf Kerrick, sexy Spanish-Irish film heartthrob, is out to repair his tarnished image when tabloids accuse him of an affair with Joy, a married woman and his movie co-star. Wolf hires movie office assistant Alexandra to play the lead role of his girlfriend to divert the media attention to a new lead story. Together, Alexandra and Wolf dazzle the public and the tabloids with their hectic dating schedule --- openings, dinners, parties and matinees. All passion is on public display but ever so bland in private.

At one party, a clumsy supermodel spills a drink on Alexandra's white Armani dress. The dress itself is of little consequence since it was paid for by Wolf's publicity fund but the dress is the least of Alexandra's worries! One simple slip has permanent and humorous ramifications. Without spoiling the suspense, I can say that the reader is torn between empathy with the heroine and cries of "oh-no!" to laughs and giggles to more "Oh-no" exclamations. This is one of the finest sections of the romance.

The deeper romantic conflicts revolve around these two characters working out their childhood issues so that they become fuller and more whole persons. Only then can they respond to one another instead of their images of one another. Alexandra needs to become less insecure and Wolf needs to be able share more and/or choose his wife over duty or childhood fears.

As a reader, I think the hero needs a tiny bit, maybe even as little as a paragraph or two, more portraiture so that his motivations click a bit more with the reader. Not much, just a bit more. I enjoyed seeing the fun, crazy places including Africa that Jane Porter led her heroine. I only wish that she had added a line or two to explain why Wolf went to Alexandra in the beginning. I also would have liked her to flesh out a bit more the relationship between Wolf and Joy or Wolf and his family to prepare the reader just a bit more for the departure scene and the resolution. These few additions would have caused me to award a 5 star rating to this book.

What a fun ride Jane Porter makes for her characters and her readers!

Whether intentional or not, one wonders if this romance comments on the film star adultery and romance of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Juxtaposing one to the other provides the reader with interesting insights into the differences of public celebrity romances and the thoughts of this author and the structure of the romance genre in general.


SUBMIT COMMENT

Rate the above blog



Current Rating
Based on 1 user ratings.

Talk Back : submit comments to the blog

*Note: you need to log-in to add a comment or rating.

Showing 1 of 1 comments
Submitted By: Tom Bloom
posted on 4/14/2007 @ 1:27:34 PM
(Not Rated)
Thanks for this review!
[Report as objectionable]
Showing 1 of 1 comments
CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Merrimon Crawford

Arvada , CO

Merrimon Crawford has posted 65 blog entries and 17 comments since joining on 12/15/2006. Merrimon Crawford 's average blog rating is 4.82.
SAVE AND SHARE THIS BLOG ENTRY
BLOG ENTRY RSS FEEDS
BLOG LIST
WANT TO WRITE FOR YOURHUB.COM?
Want to see the stories you write and the photos you shoot featured in the YourHub.com Thursday print section available all over the Front Range and with home subscriptions of the Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post? All you have to do is  register,  then post a story or column, start a blog or tell everyonewhat events are happening in town. We will print the best stories, columns, event listings, photos and blog entries in our print sections.

ADVERTISEMENT
Loading Ad

Loading Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Loading Ad

This YourHub.com community is produced by The Denver Newspaper Agency
Web Development and Channel Analytics provided by Indigio

terms of use //  privacy policy
the staff //  advertise //  help & faq
buy photos