"Entertaining contemporary"
Action star Stone Senterra visits Dahlonega, Georgia to
try to meet with Grace Vance, widow of Georgia Bureau of
Investigation hero Harper. Her deceased husband died two
years ago taking out the psychopath Turn-Key Bomber just
before the serial killer was going to blow up a hospital.
The world saw Harp's heroism as he died saving many
innocent lives. Now Stone, known for dumb down action
thriller flicks, wants to film Harp's life. He tries to
charm Grace, but she rejects his deal as she believes he
is only capable of an action-packed cinematic insulting
dolt of a movie. Stone's bodyguard Boone Molene tries to intercede as he is
grateful to his employer for giving him a chance straight
out of Angola Prison. As Boone and Grace become
acquainted they fall in love, but she still refuses
Stone's efforts as she believes that the action hero will
destroy the dignity of her late husband. This entertaining contemporary is more a character study
than a romance, though a love subplot adds depth to the
tale. The story line provides insight into Grace and
through her eyes Harp. Fans will appreciate Grace's
efforts to keep her late spouse's life from becoming a
bogus macho action adventure flick as he was deeper than
just a GI Joe doll. Deborah Smith furbishes a strong look
at legends and how Hollywood can corrupt and propagandize
or enhance heroes. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted January 15, 2004
SummaryHollywood meets the small-town South when an action-movie
star comes to a quirky Georgia community to film the true-
life (and death) story of a heroic local lawman. The dead
hero's widow, Grace, launches an inventive, often comic
crusade to stop the filming of her late husband's very
private story. She soon wins love and assistance from the
movie star's personal bodyguard, a good-hearted ex-con with
sad memories of his own. The movie star's nerdy son
develops a crush on the heroine's shy niece, and Grace's
colorful, cantankerous grandmother falls for a mysterious
man from her (and her family's) past. When heart-tugging
secrets come tumbling out, hero, heroine, and movie star
are all surprised . . . and changed forever. Deb Smith's
latest is another winner--touching on themes of love, loss,
faith, and survival while keeping readers laughing from one
page to the next.
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