Rating: 
Summary: A Heartfelt Story!
Review: Even if you're not a fan of singer Connie Francis, this is a hearwarming, romantic story of the strugles and triumphs that only love can edure and conquer.It also shows how the power of song, sung by a power of a voice can influence our lives. Reading you won't want to put down until the very last word. And then pick it up and read again!
Rating:
Summary: a french reader
Review: George's book is a lovely story. I remember the "Connie" of my early year. Good reading - thanks to share it with us.
Rating:
Summary: A great read!
Review: I am very careful about what I choose to read. I have a busy career and want to spend my home time relaxing. This book was a melody of feelings and scenes from all of our youths. The main character experiences sadness and joy and a love that he must keep private. The scenes from his home are sensitive and warm. There are many clever lines and turns in this work. The sub-plots were cleverly interwoven . As an English teacher, I constantly looked for good Canadian writers- Henaut makes the grade.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: I attended the book launch for With Love, With Connie.
The story intrigued me. Now that I have read the novel, I want to compliment George Henaut on his creative talents. I've had the characters and plot floating through my head since I began reading the romantic journey of Robert and Rachel. Of course, the songs of Connie Francis take on new meaning.I can understand why the last chapter was not entitled, "Who's Sorry Now?" The novel does a commendable job of revealing the influence that entertainers have on our lives.It has satire, wit, humour and suspense, and of course, romance.
Rating:
Summary: Nature as a character
Review: I did enjoy the romance, the musical references,the wonderful Bouquet sisters and that cruel villain, but it was the variety of gardens and the presence of nature in the novel that appealed to me. In some ways, the setting was often pastoral reminding us of more pleasant times; times enjoyed in nature. The oak trees in Northumbria were a wonderful creation and the gardens as described for that special ceremony in Flanders Cove, Connecticutt were splendid! The novel reveals how we are influenced by our surroundings. The contrast between the rather humble gardens at the Northumbria manor and the majectic gardens in Flanders Cove was much appreciated! And we must never forget that nature can change lives dramatically.
Rating:
Summary: More than romance and Connie Francis
Review: I enjoyed the romance of Robert and Rachel and I am a fan of Connie Francis, but the novel, With Love, With Connie, is more than that. It would do the novel an injustice not to mention its other merits. The creation of the villain, the antagonist, is well-sculptured, a most fascinating creation. We learn to loathe him; then the revelation.The novel is rich with literary references and Biblical references. All of us have talents that should be showcased; having the elderly aunts finally share theirs was reassuruing for all of us that it is never too late.
The use of diaries is skillfully accomplished; their value is, in fact, an underlying theme. In the midst of tender passages, there can also be that wit, that satire that has a cutting edge. It never bleeds but it causes the reader to take note.
Rating:
Summary: A Legend Is Recognized
Review: I first read of the novel from the Foxy 88.5 FM review of the Toronto Connie Francis Concert. I am a long time fan of Connie.I thought that any person who could write such a great review of the legendary singer must really appreciate her significance as the top selling female singer of all time.I decided I wanted to see what his novel says about her influence? The novel is not really about Connie, but her influence is enshrined within its plot. I would recommend the novel to all Connie Francis fans, all fans of the golden age of Rock and Roll and all romantics!
Rating:
Summary: Description of Novel and Author
Review: I note that novel summary and comments about the author are not provided so I'll take this opportunity to provide both. About the Book: December 12, 1997 is an extraordinary day in Robert Mascaux's life, involving him in a family funeral, his second wedding and a birthday party for a celebrity. This romantic novel begins with a flashback to 1959, in Northumbria, a coastal community in Nova Scotia. Robert, a high school student, resides at the Manor, a private nursing home owned by his parents, Bertha and Camille, immigrants from Belgium. Robert's home life is enriched by his 'foster grandparents', the Manor residents. When Robert becomes a member of a Connie Francis fan club, he begins a lengthy correspondence with Rachel Turner, the club's teenage president, who lives on an estate in Flanders Cove, Connecticut, with her reclusive, artistic aunts, fondly called 'the bouquet'. The reader discovers the enduring power of love through the struggles and triumphs that Robert and Rachel encounter during their friendship, spanning 38 years. The novel depicts the influence that singers can have on their fans and also reveals parallels that can exist between the lives of singers and their admirers. The music of Connie Francis is the thread of continuity for the couple for whom fate, an international border, family responsibilities, and a sinister villain delayed their marriage until December 12, 1997. George Henaut: George R. Henaut has an abiding interest in language - its power and its beauty. His career as an educator provided many opportunities to enhance and share this passion with others. Since 1990 he has written, directed and produced ten dramas for audiences in his native Nova Scotia. His plays and short stories have been influenced not only by life on the Atlantic seaboard, but also by his Christian spirituality and appreciation of traditional family values. All of these influences have culminated in his first novel, With Love, With Connie, which also reveals his enduring appreciation of the music of Connie Francis. His greatest desire is to share this romantic, yet turbulent story of Robert and Rachel with others.
Rating:
Summary: worth reading
Review: I purchased it because of the Connie reference, but found more than I expected. I'll read it again and keep it in my library.
Rating: 
Summary: a big disappointment
Review: I was fascinated with the idea of a long-distance romance between New England and the Maritime Provinces, however I felt the book read like the author had no concept of what it means to love a woman. Also, the obsession with Connie Francis songs, while intended to be clever, is just unsettling and creepy. Was it the author's joke that Connie Francis's music is terrible? Frankly, my girlfriend would leave me if I kept bringing up "Where the Boys Are." For everything new and different about the book (focusing on a rarely seen Nova Scotia), there's an equal part that is laugh out loud funny (a Connie Francis fan club). The Canadian charm wasn't enough to win me over. I'd only recommend it if you're a fan of stilted romance and terrible Connie Francis songs.
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