Reviewer: Janet Davies
Title: Pacific Breeze Hotel
Author: Josie A.Okuly
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
ISBN: 1-59998-066-5 (Novella)
Release Date: June 2006
Genre/Sub-genre: Romantic Suspense
Year/Setting: Hollywood in the 1940’s
Overall Rating: 4.0
Sexual Content Rating: None
Language (Profanity) Rating: None
Violent Content Rating: Minimal – gun shots
Josie's Website: www.josieaokuly.net
It's Hollywood, post World War 2. It’s a time of glamour where wannabe actors are flocking to Los Angeles to make it in the big time. When a movie studio president is murdered and up and coming starlet Felicia Avery is the last known person to see him alive, naturally the Detectives of the Los Angeles police force want to question her, especially as Felicia was last seen running from his room with her dress torn and her hair mussed up. What exactly happened to make her so distressed?
Felicia Avery had come to Hollywood to pursue her dream. That dream did not include being manhandled by studio bosses on the casting couch. She has the talent and passion to succeed. She is not about to sell her soul for a chance at stardom. She also did not expect to get caught up in seeing a man murdered before her eyes. Not only does she become a witness to a crime but the unknown killer is stalking her. Enter, Detective Sean O'Rourke to investigate. After one look at Felicia he is smitten and determined to make sure she is protected whilst he tracks down the killer. But who is the killer? What was the motivation to kill the studio boss?
And why is Felicia's ex-boyfriend Vance Morgan, from her home town of Phoenix, looking her up all of a sudden? After all he did not want her to go to Hollywood. He wanted her to stay at home, marry him and have children. What has changed the boy next doors mind about her and Hollywood? Is there any need for the square jawed Detective to be jealous?
Pacific Breeze Hotel reminded me of the old film noir detective movies where men were men and the women were glamorous. It's a good, old fashioned romance that does not rely on sex to sell it. Felicia is the small town girl, star of local theatre, who heads to the Hollywood bright lights to pursue an acting dream. Sean O'Rourke has the stereotypical tough exterior of a Los Angeles detective. Yet under the surface he has a soft heart when it comes to the woman he loves. I was amused at the tactics of the police in the book. So not politically correct when you relate them back to 2006. I also liked the fact that the strongest word to describe someone is 'tramp'. Even though there is a crime committed, the story has an innocence to it. The whole mood, feeling and language are refreshingly different and true to the time period it represents.
If you are looking to while away a couple of hours, with a non demanding read that whisks you back to a different time, then take a look at Pacific Breeze Hotel.
Janet
Question or comment regarding the review or the book? Click here and let Janet know.
Top
Reviews
Featured Reviews
Archived Reviews