Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Unscripted

     BOOK REVIEW:   Line Producer Danny Byrd is known in Hollywood for being someone who gets things done on time and under budget. But when his reputation takes a beating after his partner---and former best friend---makes off with their investor's money, Danny has but one chance to redeem himself and restore his ruined career.
     LA lawyer Megan Pierce has sacrificed years of her life proving herself to impossible bosses, only to find herself disgusted at their snobbery and their specious business practices. When an opportunity to actually make a difference comes her way, she knows she has to grab it---even though she's not entirely clear what "it" is.
     Danny and Megan are each other's best hope for redemption. What they never could have imagined was that they might also be each other's best hope for love.

     MY REVIEW:   Davis Bunn is a favorite author of mine, so I was delighted to review his latest book. Sadly, I was disappointed by it. I haven't read his last several books so I can't say whether it's been a decline or if this one is an exception. The story is about a movie producer and his hectic time with a tight-deadline film which may be what threw me off---it's an unfamiliar field to me and therefore harder to relate to. The story felt so fast it was a little difficult to keep up. And yes, the characters suffered, but their "blessings" were hard to believe. Danny magically stumbled into a perfect town set and a perfect actress-material girl with amazing untrained talent; a high-end agent offers him a renowned actress; and with only a title and no script, they write as they film. Is it possible? Maybe, but for a Christian author I was disappointed that the blessings and redemptions received felt more man-given than God-given.
     There was a good cast of secondary characters though. Megan's parents were so accepting of Danny, and the townsfolk were so tight-knit and willing to do anything to help out Danny and film. And in Davis-style there is a mystery to solve: who is unwilling to see this film or Danny succeed, and why? It was a bit of a let-down when it was revealed, but at least it wasn't obvious.

  I received a copy of this book from BAKER BOOKS PUBLISHERS and was not required to write a positive review.