With Love, With Connie

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: 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: 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!"