The Price of Fame

Although The Price of Fame is the 14th 'Tales From Grace Chapel Inn' book, it's only my second. The fact that book 14's copyright is just a year later than book three's would have astounded me if I hadn't noticed that the books have different authors. It's rather like those 20th century series such as The Shadow or Nancy Drew, only the authors don't have to be ghostwriting under a house name such as 'Maxwell Grant' or 'Carolyn Keene'. There are two series editors listed to guide the writers, though.

The main characters of the series are the Howard sisters: Louise, the eldest, is a widow. She was a concert pianist, but now teaches piano. Alice is the middle sister, the one who never married or left home. She's a nurse who also runs a show more girls' church group called 'ANGELs'. The youngest is Jane, a star chef who divorced her envious-of-her-success husband Jane's other talents are painting and jewelry making. Grace Chapel Inn was originally the home of their Berry grandparents, where their late mother and they grew up. They named their inn for the church where their late father was pastor.

This series takes place in the charming, off-the-beaten track village of Acorn Hill, Pennsylvania. Much of the village still looks as it did during the earlier part of the 20th century. This quality, as well as the beauty of Grace Chapel, has attracted the attention of a director who wants to make a movie about a 1940s minister and his flock. Unfortunately, neither we nor the villagers are told whether this will be a gentle comedy such as the delightful 1969 Andy Griffith feature, 'Angel in My Pocket' http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064026/ , or if it will portray all of the Christians as hypocrites, fools, or worse.

Acorn Hill is divided between those who want to jump at the chance and those who would rather not have their village invaded. Grace Chapel is the main reason Acorn Hill has been chosen, so it's up to the Church Board and the current pastor. Two of the members are Alice and her paternal Aunt Ethel.

Yes, Alice is the sister focused on in this entry, though Louise and Jane aren't exactly left out. Louise's subplot concerns a very talented and driven student named Tabitha. Jane's subplot concerns a former cooking school classmate who has a TV show of her own. Poor Alice is being run ragged with a flu epidemic. Jane is one of its victims. So is a member of the producer's crew.

I haven't read books four through thirteen, so I don't know how Aunt Ethel went from being a two-generation cross to bear in book three to beloved aunt here. Mrs. Buckley still lives in the carriage house near the inn. The hint that she was sweet on Mayor Lloyd Tynan in Recipes and Wooden Spoons has ripened into a senior romance. That's nice.

Thanks to Fred Humbert, hardware store owner with an excellent fund of knowledge about the weather, we get to see how two different TV reporters can give two different portrayals of the same person. Randall, another member of the film crew, has plenty of information to offer -- if he can be brought to tell it.

Notes:

See chapters 2 & 3 for information about fountain pens.

The film 'Mystery Alaska' is mentioned in chapter 4.

Fred Humbert explains about clouds and lightning in chapter 13.

Randall Marquette explains why it's hard for actors to be in the spotlight in chapter 14.

Acorn Hill's inhabitants may be Protestant, but this Catholic enjoyed it without being made to feel that her brand of Christianity was being misrepresented. If you're looking for Christian fiction with characters portrayed as persons instead of evil, hypocritical, or dupes, I can recommend books three and fourteen.

The recipe in this book is Randall's Sausages in Yorkshire Pudding.

Cat lovers, the Howard sister's gray tabby cat, Wendell, is present. show less

Hooray for Hollywood? When a movie crew comes to scout out locations for an upcoming film, all of Acorn Hill is abuzz. While some residents want the movie crew to leave, others want to star in the flick!. The town and the sisters will have to decide if the price of fame is worth paying.

Another book in the Grace Chapel series, featuring the three sisters Louise, Alice, and Jane. When a production team arrives to scout for filming location, most members of the Acorn Hill community have stars in their eyes. However, will there be some hidden costs to the small town? If you have read others in this series, then the characters are familiar to you. This is a cozy, nice book, with characters who seem like neighbors and friends. No violence, no sex--just fun. A little preachy at the end, but the plot and characters still hang together. Very character driven.

Predictable