Rating: 
Summary: A Slice of Life
Review: Like most good novels, this one has co-existing plots that compliment each other and become entwined. Perhaps the characters are one-sided, but they reflect a cross-section of all the people we hope will be a part of our own lives. We all have a Trevor to contend with. We all enjoy music and recognize its influence. We all have favourite entertainers. The use of Connie Francis recalls an age when life supposedly was more innocent. The novel captures life with its joys and sorrows, struggles and triumphs ~it's a delicious slice of life!
"Who's Sorry Now?" Not the reader!
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Summary: AuthorZone.Com Book Review
Review: Once, not so long ago ~singers did not require smoke, fireworks, synchronized light and sound shows, floating chairs, and precision dancing to showcase their talent.All they required was a powerful voice and a magnetic presence ~those were the days of With Connie! Once, not so long ago, romance novels did not require excessive sex, violence or coarse language to showcase their merits. All they required was a solid plot, memorable characters and creative imagery ~those were the days of With Love!
Perhaps that is why, With Love, With Connie works!Henaut obviously writes of what he knows; the result is an engaging story peopled with characters who are believable, refreshing and sometimes unique. Robert and Rachel's longterm, long distance romance provides for a creative exploration of the traditional link between New England and the Maritime Provinces. There is an excellent portrayal of the elderly; the reclusive aunts (bouquet) and the manor guests. Trevor is a classic villain; I was surprised by the twist at the end of the novel.This novel does not need violence or sex to make it a worthwhile read! The unusual device of interweaving the effect of Connie Francis' music on their romance works well. The reader will not want this multi-layered 'good read' to end. 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. Like most good novels, this one has co-existing plots that compliment each other and become entwined. Perhaps the characters are one-sided, but they reflect a cross-section of all the people we hope will be a part of our own lives. We all have a Trevor to contend with. We all enjoy music and recognize its influence. We all have favourite entertainers. The use of Connie Francis recalls an age when life supposedly was more innocent. The novel captures life with its joys and sorrows, struggles and triumphs ~it's a delicious slice of life!
"Who's Sorry Now?" Not the reader! John Donatelli, Jr. a webmaster for a major Connie Francis website said of the novel: "Even if you're not a fan of singer Connie Francis, this is a heartwarming, romantic story of the struggles and triumphs that only love can endure 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 great Gift
Review: Purchased a copy of the novel as a gift for a friend; but had to get my own copy to discover who these "bouquet sisters" and "manor residents" were and how the music of Connie Francis could be a theme of a novel. Normally I hate flashbacks, but they worked in this novel. Loved the major characters, fascinated by Trevor.I highly recommend the novel to anyone who enjoys a good plot and memorable characters.
Rating:
Summary: Surprises
Review: Reviewer: from Nova Scotia
To some degree, there is comfort reading a novel that allows you to comfortably predict what's on the next page. For many chapters, I was right on target, Felt great. Then the surprises began in this novel. No one could have predicted the ending. Very clever writing. --.
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Summary: Love Conquers All
Review: Reviewer: from Toronto, Ontario
The novel is more than a good love story. There is an excellent portrayal of the elderly; the reclusive aunts (bouquet) and the manor guests. I enjoyed the dual settings in Northumbria, Canada and Flanders Cove, USA. Trevor is a classic villain;I was surprised by the twist at the end of the novel.This novel does not need violence or sex to make it a worthwhile read! The use of Connie Francis is an added bonus; especially for more seasoned readers.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Pillow Read
Review: Sharing the journey with Rachel and Robert has been a delightful experience. Meeting characters like the flower sisters, Iris, Rose and Daisy; following a guardian angel bracelet through half a century,and peeking into lives as they adapt to changing fortunes makes this an all nighter.
Fans of Connie Francis will be pleased at her constant presence as each chapter is titled in her honor. --.
Rating:
Summary: Age of Romance
Review: The Age of Romance can't be over.
It took 38 years for the hero and heroine to get together;
Jane Austen would have approved.
Rating:
Summary: My Heart Has A Mind of Its Own
Review: The author obviously understands and appreciates the music of Connie Francis. He skillfully weaves factual events from her life story into the plot; song titles are used cleverly. Legendary (enduring) stars like Connie Francis do influence the lives of their fans and this novel reveals that influence.
I think romance novels need to speak from the heart. After all, my heart has a mind of its own and that's why I say "thumbs up"to With Love, With Connie.
HS
Rating:
Summary: No Need For Censure
Review: The novel can be left unattended on a coffee table. No need to worry whether your children will read it or Aunt Grace if she visits or the minister or priest for that matter.And anyone who enjoys romance would have to find some pleasure in spending a few hours with Robert and Rachel.It may not be a classic in the making, but it will satify the need for an escape to a world where values count, people care and good triumphs in the end.
Katherine
Rating:
Summary: Old/Young
Review: The novel has a lot going for it: a good love story, fast paced plot, and unique characters. I think Trevor makes a great villain and "the bouquet"are extraordinary characters. Don't we all wish we knew people like those strange Bronte like sisters?
I think that best feature of the novel was the evolution of the relationships between the aged and the young caregivers. Robert may be many things, but his relationship with the Manor guests is worth the read. Rachel comes to live with her eccentric aunts and changes their lives. In a society that glorifies the young; it is refreshing to read a story of young caregivers who nurture seniors.
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