Her Part to Play

Author: Jenny Erlingsson (Debut)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 320
Release Date: June 18, 2024
Publisher: Revell 

​Desperate for extra income after her mother's passing, Adanne accepts a last-minute job as a makeup artist for a movie filming in her small Alabama hometown. She's working to save her parents' legacy and help her brother, but the money hardly seems worth having to face the actor who got her fired from her last job in Hollywood.
 
John Pope has made his share of mistakes over the years. But after turning his life over to God and enduring a messy breakup, he's ready to start rebuilding his career. Imagine his surprise when the woman called in to cover for his usual makeup artist is a quiet but feisty newcomer on the set--and definitely not a fan.
 
Sparks of tension--and could that be attraction?--fly between them, but Adanne hates the spotlight, and John's scheming manager has bigger plans for him than to end up with the humble makeup girl from the small-town South. Can these star-crossed lovers find their way to happiness? Or will the bright lights of Hollywood blind their eyes to what's right in front of them?
 
Debut author Jenny Erlingsson's diverse cast comes alive with faith, romance, and a touch of humor to create a story worthy of the big screen.

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Reviewer: Jeanette Durkin

Wow! I found this to be a delightful and enchanting book! A combination of a Hollywood star who crosses paths with a southern makeup artist—one with an axe to grind. What could possibly go wrong? The setting of Hope Springs is serene. The wide open spaces and clear sky offer peace to those who are searching for it.

The characters are written brilliantly! I felt an instant connection with Adanne. She's carrying heavy burdens that she feels she can't share. She's also trying to hold on to her parents' legacy despite its financial issues. John amazes me. He starts out as this man who can barely hold his life together. Then he gives his heart to God, and the pieces of his life start to fall into place.

For me, the best parts of the book are the ones that involve faith in God! "You see, family, the question is not if God is doing something new. The question is, will we position ourselves to see it."

This book will stay with me for a while. The lesson that we don't have to try and fight our battles alone is worth remembering. Sometimes, people are waiting to be asked to help.

I eagerly look forward to reading the next book by this author! I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from Revell through Interviews & Reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Reviewer: Laura J. Davis

Jenny Erlingsson's Her Part to Play is a superb debut novel that has this reader eagerly anticipating her next one!

Adanne took on a last-minute makeup job on a movie set. With her days already filled to the brim with managing her late parent's community centre and caring for her brother, whose young son is battling cancer, this girl needed a break! Unfortunately, she ends up doing makeup for the same actor who got her fired on her last movie set and cost her a job she desperately needed. For her to forgive him, it will take a deep trust in the Lord.

John Pope doesn't know why Adanne is so standoffish with him and clearly not a fan, but he hopes his newfound faith in God will help win her over. Unfortunately, he has no idea what he did to her, and it will take a lot for John to break down Adanne's walls.

I loved the faith element in this book, as well as how hard each character leaned on Christ to get them through the many obstacles in their way. I loved how realistic their love story was, and that it wasn't like a Hallmark movie. It was genuinely natural, as both characters first grew to be friends, surprised at how much they had in common.

This was a brilliant debut novel, and I look forward to reading more by this author.

For my honest opinion, I received a complimentary copy from Revell via NetGalley.

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