Out
of Character
by
Molly Zenk
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Inspirational
238
pages
After
the loss of her brother, actress Harmony Jones struggles with daily
life. Landing the lead role on the hit faith based living history
show, 1700s Life, might be the perfect way to reconnect with her
faith and be her big acting break.
Tired
of hiding his strong faith and convictions to get secular roles,
David Hawkins jumps at the chance to play the curate on 1700s Life.
It's the perfect vehicle to spread God’s word.
Elliot
Banes’ career needs an image makeover, so he accepts the naval hero
role on 1700s Life. Getting away from his overbearing mother is an
added bonus. His true hope is to learn to speak his mind instead of
always fading into the background.
When
a scripted love triangle between Harmony, David, and Elliot becomes a
real life love triangle, Harmony must make a difficult decision. .
She hoped to find her wavering faith, she didn't count on finding
love as well. If that was her only obstacle, the role would be a
breeze. Unfortunately, there’s an on-set spy intent on causing
drama. Can Harmony see through all the lies and secrets to the truth
in her heart, or will she end up falling for the wrong man?
MOLLY
ZENK was born in Minnesota, grew up in Florida, lived briefly in
Tennessee before finally settling in Colorado. She graduated from
Flagler College in St. Augustine, FL with degrees in Secondary
Education, English, and Creative Writing. She is married to a
Mathmatician/Software Engineer who complains about there not being
enough "math" or info about him in her author bio. They
live in Arvada, CO with their young daughters, 1 dog, and 1 cat.
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Chapter One
Harmony
Two Years Ago
“So
which did you like best?” I ask Patrick as we drive home from college tours.
“We probably saw the music and drama departments of every state school this
side of the Pacific Ocean. Did any stand out or are you going to let them fight
over you some more before officially deciding?”
“Which
did you like best?” Patrick asks. His text message alert goes off, but he
ignores it. He is always such a careful driver. Mom never worries about us when
Patrick is driving. “The most entertaining thing about today was their spiels.
I mean, come on, do people actually fall for those sales pitches? ‘You’ve seen
the rest, now see the best.’ Who writes this stuff?”
“Really
desperate recruiting guys?” I take off my wedge sandals and prop my feet on top
of the glove box. That’s the last time I wear new shoes when we’re walking
about a million miles. “It’s your fault for being such a catch. Everyone wants
the teen violin virtuoso. I’m just window dressing. These places will take me
if it means getting to you.”
“You
are not riding on my coattails. You’re a fab actress.”
“If
I’m so fab, how come I never get any of the parts I audition for?” I rub at an
angry red blister on the back of my heel. “I can’t even get a commercial.
Remember that Bright Smile toothpaste audition?”
Patrick
shrugs. “So you threw up in the trash can after you brushed with it. Big deal.
It’s their fault for making such a nasty tasting product. I say you’re doing
the toothpaste buying public a favor by exposing the sordid underbelly of
Bright Smile.”
“Sordid
underbelly?” I laugh. “I’m cutting you off the next time there’s a Mobster
Confessions marathon.”
“I
could say the same with you and 1700s Life.” Patrick swats at my feet when we
stop at a light to get me to move them. I do so… grudgingly. “Between you and
Mom that show is on a 24/7 loop. Why don’t you send in an audition tape
already? Mom would pee her pants with glee if you land a role on her favorite
TV show.”
I
shake my head. “They wouldn’t want me. I’m not good enough.”
“What
are you talking about?” Patrick scrunches up his face. “They’d be crazy not to
want you. You’re going to be famous someday. You’re going to be famous, and I
can say I knew you when.”
“Yeah,
you knew me when I was headlining at the local dinner theater. Coming to a
stage and table near you — Harmony Jones!”
“You’ll
make it. You’re too good not to.”
“In
LA, it doesn’t matter if you’re good or not. Talent doesn’t matter. Not really.
It’s all about who you know and what you’re willing to do to get ahead of every
other good, talented actress out there.”
“So
jaded for someone so young. What about those open casting call deals?”
I
roll my eyes at the thought. “Cattle calls? Please. I’d rather not hang around
in some hotel conference room all day just to be told no.”
“It
only takes one yes,” Patrick reminds me. “I’m telling you, send in a tape to
1700s Life.”
I
shake my head again. “I told you, they wouldn’t want me. I’m a nobody.”
“Every
somebody starts out as a nobody, Harmony.”
“Yeah,
I know.” I lean forward and fiddle around with the radio dial to try to hide
the fact I really, really want to be on 1700s Life but, at the same time, I
really, really don’t think I have a shot. The producers always make a big show
over asking for auditions tapes from all over, but when it comes down to it,
the casting director goes for experience over raw talent. It happens every
time. They ask for tapes, I think about sending one in, I don’t want to be
rejected, so I watch other people season after season on 1700s Life instead of
being on it myself. I even went so far as to make an audition tape after my
crazy popular run as Abigal Williams in our high school production of Arthur
Miller’s The Crucible but chickened out and never sent it in. In drama club,
I’m a big fish in a small pond. No matter how much I want to be a real actress
on a real show, I don’t know if I’m ready to be a small fish in a big pond. My
head shot may be impressive but my resume is not. I have the kind of blonde,
blue eyed beauty that is common enough in California. Nothing special there. My
supposed beauty landed me some child modeling gigs and beauty pageant crowns,
but being the face of Lil’ Junior Miss when I was ten isn’t going to open any
doors now.
“What
are you thinking about?” Patrick asks.
“That
this whole actress thing is just a pipe dream.” I prop my feet up on the
dashboard again, but Patrick smacks them down just as quickly. “Maybe I should
just accept that I’m never going to be anything more than a high school drama
club darling and settle on a major with more market value, like education.
Maybe I could teach acting. That sounds like a good plan, right? Or a smart
one, at least.”
“And
always wonder what could have been? Please. You’re too good to be one of the
‘what could have beens’, Harmony. If you have a dream, chase it. Don’t settle
for what could have been.”
“Easy
for you to say. You’re, like, guaranteed success. The more you play your
violin, the more people love you. Acting doesn’t work like that.”
“Acting
works however you want it to,” Patrick says. “If you need to be confident, act
confident. If you need to act brave, act brave. Seriously, Harm, you can do
anything you set your mind to. Just believe in yourself a little bit more, will
ya?”
I
kiss my index and middle finger and hold them up to the roof. “From your lips
to God’s ears. I think I can do anything as long as you’re with me, Patrick.”
He
playfully bumps my shoulder with his. “Good, cause you’re stuck with me.”
Patrick motions at the radio. “Hey, turn it up! Nothing says ‘I’m fabulous and
I don’t care who knows it’ like a little Kelly Clarkson.”
I
crank up the radio. We sing Stronger at the top of our lungs, grooving along to
the music, and laughing till there are tears streaming down my cheeks. This is
the first day of the rest of our lives. We’re young, we’re free, we’re
talented, and we’re invincible. Nothing can stand in our way or tear us apart.
Until
it does.
The
black pick-up truck slams into the driver’s side door like some linebacker
looking to make a tackle, only we aren’t ready for it. How can you be ready for
something like that?
I
scream. It’s the only thing I seem able to do. I scream over and over and over
again.
“Stay
calm, Harmony.” Patrick grips the wheel hard and grits his teeth as he tries to
take control of the out-of-control car. We pin wheel into the guard rail on the
side of the highway. The metal rail twists and bends as if a giant crumbles it
in one angry hand and throws our car into the mix.
I
brace myself against the passenger side door with my right arm and foot. My
stomach feels like it’s in my throat. Throwing up would actually be welcome
right now. It would give me something to focus on other than this sickening
fear that has my heart in a squeezing death grip and my whole body shaking. I
try to calm myself by saying a prayer but all that comes out is “we’re going to
die, we’re going to die.” Everything I ever wanted to do but never got to
flashes before my eyes. Landing my first big role. Cheering for Patrick when he
plays his first concert at Carnegie Hall. Getting married. Having kids. I want
to be a good person. I hope I already am a good person, but what will people
say about me if I die now? What have I really done with my life?
Nothing.
I
clutch at the gold cross necklace around my neck — a present from mom for mine
and Patrick’s eighteenth birthday. He has one, too, but he can’t reach
for it now. He’s too busy trying to keep us alive. Patrick bites down hard on
his lower lip and stares straight ahead through the broken windshield. Blood
and glass from the driver’s side window sprinkle his strawberry blond hair but
he doesn’t lose focus. Not once. I can count on Patrick to get us through this.
He’s never let me down before.
The
four points of the cross pendant dig into my palm. I focus on that, and
suddenly my mind is clear enough to pray. Dear God, please help us. We need you
now more than ever. Get us through this, and I promise to—
I never get to finish my
thought. Instead, we slam into a concrete support column and everything goes
black.
Out of Character by Molly Zenk
This book starts out with many chapters following different people in various places. They all have one thing in common that becomes obvious once you get to know them.
The auditions are in and the characters set for 1700's Life. I think I myself would enjoy this life as I like to use my hands and don't need the bells of whistles of today.
They want to stand for something, their life has a purpose and God is in the plans. Faith and purity are keys.
The show is a historic reality faith based drama show where nothing is scripted and it's on an island.
Alternating chapters of the characters so at times it gets a bit confusing til you realize who is who and what's going on.
David, Harmony, Elliott, Katie are the real life characters in the 1700's village. The plot is Harmony is to spend with the two men and select one.
Twists and turns and a major one at the end. Like story line but wish there had been more of the 1700's day to day life descriptions of things there and chores to be done.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.
1 comment:
I love the cover and expert can't wait to Read 💞💞💞
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