Love Me Tender by Janice Hanna

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Love Me Tender
(Summerside Press - September 1, 2010)
by
Janice Hanna

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award-winning author Janice Thompson also writes under the pseudonym Janice Hanna, She got her start in the industry writing screenplays and musical comedies for the stage. Janice has published over fifty books for the Christian market, crossing genre lines to write cozy mysteries, historicals, romances, nonfiction books, devotionals, childrens books and more. In addition, she enjoys editing, ghost-writing, public speaking, and mentoring young writers. Janice currently serves as Vice-President of CAN (Christian Authors Network) and was named the 2008 Mentor of the year for ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers).

She was thrilled to be named the 2010 Barbour/Heartsong Author of the Year with three books on the top ten list for that house. Janice is active in her local writing group, where she regularly teaches on the craft of writing. Her online course, "Becoming a Successful Freelance Writer" has been helpful to many who want to earn a living with their writing. Janice is passionate about her faith and does all she can to share the joy of the Lord with others, which is why she particularly enjoys writing. She lives in Spring, Texas, where she leads a rich life with her family, a host of writing friends and two mischievous dachshunds. She does her best to keep the Lord at the center of it all.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

As "Love Me Tender" plays in the background, Debbie Carmichael determines to salvage her family's restaurant, Sweet Sal's Soda Shoppe, when her father's health fails. Teen heartthrob Bobby Conrad agrees to perform at a fundraiser concert. But just two weeks before the highly publicized event, Bobby backs out of the benefit. Enter Johnny Hartmann, a young, unknown singer to take Conrad's place. Debbie soon realizes the twists and turns leading up to the concert are divinely orchestrated. And it isn't dreamy Bobby Conrad who has stolen her heart - but the tender love of Johnny Hartmann.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Love Me Tender, go HERE.

MY THOUGHTS:

I thoroughly enjoyed my venture into the 1950s in this classic love story by Janice Hanna. You have handsome heartthrobs, swooning teenage girls, and a jukebox full of unforgettable hits of the era. You'll also get a bit of drama with the soda shop struggles, and a touch of mystery as to who really knows what goes on behind the scenes in Hollywood.

One thing I really liked about this book is how Janice captures the innocence and wholesomeness of the 1950s, and I also like how she infused a Christian message into the story...not so much a 'salvation' message, but one of listening to God to see what His plans are for each of us.

I loved the chemistry that Johnny and Debbie have, and I love how Janice portrays the marriage of Debbie's parents...you'll get misty-eyed just reading those parts. I loved Toby and how he pesters his dad throughout the book trying to get his chance at the Hollywood pie. This book has so many great secondary characters...many who would make for another great story.

If I could have been born at any other time in history, I would have chosen to live as a teenager in the 1950s...and I've felt like I've experienced it through the pages of this book. Well done, Janice.