Adanne (pronounced Ah-dah-neh) is working as a makeup artist in Hope Springs, Alabama in between running the cash-strapped local community center and visiting her nephew, who is in hospital with cancer. She’s a little too good to be true on the outside, but insecure on the inside … which makes her relatable.
Giovanni Pomponio, better known as John Pope, is a Hollywood leading man who has recently returned to his childhood Christian faith … which raises some obvious challenges.
Her Part to Play is Jenny Erlingsson’s debut novel. While some elements of the plot are somewhat predictable (particularly given the overly wordy subtitle), I did enjoy the way she brought it all together into a faith-filled romance.
After all, I do love a Christian romance where the faith aspect is central.
Hope Springs is a fabulous small-town Southern setting, the kind of town many of us would like to live in—a town where people care about each other. I enjoyed “meeting” Adanne and the other residents of Hope Springs.
Jenny Erlingsson is an Alabama-born Christian writer of Nigerian descent who now lives in Iceland. Her heritage comes through in her writing, which is great to see. Her writing is strong, and I’d love to read a Christian romance set in Iceland!
Recommended for fans of small-town contemporary Christian romance featuring BIPOC and film star characters.
Thanks to Revell and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
About Jenny Erlingsson
Jenny Erlingsson is an author and speaker of Nigerian descent. After 12 years working in junior high and women’s ministry, she moved with her family from Alabama to Iceland. When she’s not running after her four kids or ministering alongside her husband, she can be found writing romantic fiction and creative nonfiction to inspire deep faith in diverse settings, as well as encouraging other writers. Her other writings have been featured on (in)courage, Live Original, Velvet Ashes, and more. And in the margins, you might find her reading five books at a time with a side of Icelandic chocolate.
Find Jenny Erlingsson online at:
Website | BookBub | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest
About A Part to Play
Desperate for extra income after her mother’s passing, Adanne accepts a last-minute job as a makeup artist for a movie filming in her small Alabama hometown. She’s working to save her parents’ legacy and help her brother, but the money hardly seems worth having to face the actor who got her fired from her last job in Hollywood.
John Pope has made his share of mistakes over the years. But after turning his life over to God and enduring a messy breakup, he’s ready to start rebuilding his career. Imagine his surprise when the woman called in to cover for his usual makeup artist is a quiet but feisty newcomer on the set–and definitely not a fan.
Sparks of tension–and could that be attraction?–fly between them, but Adanne hates the spotlight, and John’s scheming manager has bigger plans for him than to end up with the humble makeup girl from the small-town South. Can these star-crossed lovers find their way to happiness? Or will the bright lights of Hollywood blind their eyes to what’s right in front of them?
Debut author Jenny Erlingsson’s diverse cast comes alive with faith, romance, and a touch of humor to create a story worthy of the big screen.
