Midnight in Paris. What's Your Trip? – by Patricia Beal

I love Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris. It's by far my favorite movie about writing and about trying to get published. Did you watch it?

Could you imagine wandering the streets of Paris at night like Gil, Owen Wilson's character, and getting picked up by the Fitzgeralds, Hemingway, or T.S. Eliot?

This exchange makes me laugh every time:

Gil: Would you read it?
Ernest Hemingway: Your novel?
Gil: Yeah, it's about 400 pages long, and I'm just looking for an opinion.
Ernest Hemingway: My opinion is I hate it.
Gil: Well you haven't even read it yet.
Ernest Hemingway: If it's bad, I'll hate it because I hate bad writing, and if it's good, I'll be envious and hate all the more. You don't want the opinion of another writer.

Hemingway then offers to take him to Gertrude Stein's house to have her critique Gil's novel. Wow!

I could go on and on about all the lines and twists that I love, but I don't want to spoil the movie for you, in case you haven't seen it. But let me tell you, I went to Paris four times the year I watched Midnight in Paris for the first time—easy to do when you live in Germany.

That was our last year in Europe. I was in the thick of trying to get published and after a day trip there with my husband, a weekend there with him and the kids, and a day trip with a friend, it was time to take a literary trip. Just me.

And yes, I did sit on the steps of Saint Etienne du Mont, where Gil sits waiting for the vintage Peugeot. Did I expect it to show up with one of my literary heroes in it? Of course not ... But for a brief moment, I looked at the road from where the Peugeot would have emerged, felt the rush of butterflies in my stomach, and wondered, what if?

How about you? Favorite movies about writing? Literary trips you've taken or would like to take? Thoughts on Midnight in Paris? Please say you love it :)

What's your trip?

Patricia Beal writes contemporary Christian fiction and is represented by Leslie Stobbe of the Leslie H. Stobbe Literary Agency. Her debut novel, A Season to Dance, comes out on May 9, 2017 (Bling! / Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas). The pre-order link is up!

She’s a 2015 Genesis semi-finalist and First Impressions finalist. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Cincinnati in 1998 with a B.A. in English Literature and then worked as a public affairs officer for the U.S. Army for seven years. Now, after a 10-year break in service, she is an Army editor. She and her husband live in El Paso, Texas, with their two children.

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Book Recommendation: Forget Paris by Autumn Macarthur

Book Description:  

American graduate student Zoe Gallagher doesn’t believe in romance. 

She’s in Paris on Valentine’s Day doing research to prove that romance is an illusion and love based on it doesn’t last. When she meets New Yorker Gabe Ross, there to fulfil his mother’s dying wish by placing a lovelock on a bridge crossing the River Seine, even she finds it hard to resist the most romantic city in the world on the most romantic day of the year. 

An impulsive challenge to try a psychological experiment feels like more, much more, for both of them. 

Zoe tells herself their one wonderful day together proves nothing, only gives more evidence her theory is right. But on her return to London, she discovers she needs Gabe’s help to learn the biggest lesson of all, that love does last. 

Especially God’s love… 

Narelle's thoughts: 

I was intrigued by the story premise and I enjoyed reading Forget Paris. Zoe is different to the typical romance heroine. Not only is she cynical about romance, she's doing post graduate psychological research to prove her theory. Zoe is not afraid to share her opinion of romance, and it's kind of like the author has cast one of the real life female critics of the romance genre as the heroine in her own story. 

Zoe meets Gabe in Paris on Valentine's Day and she asks him to join her in completing her research test. Her theory is they'll spend the day together and develop romantic feelings due to forced proximity. But, those feelings won't be real. Instead, they'll be based on an illusion of romantic love.

Complete strangers when they have a chance meeting on a Parisian bridge, Gabe is fascinated by Zoe and her interesting ideas about romance. His loving parents recently passed and he's alone in Paris to fulfil his mother's long held dream. Meeting Zoe is a pleasant distraction from his grief. They spend Valentine's Day together, working on the assumption they'll never meet again.

Zoe is a complex and, at times, prickly character who has trust issues. Gabe reappears in her life and she struggles to process her developing feelings for him. I liked Gabe and I thought he was very sweet and patient with Zoe. In one scene her twin sister, Tiff (the heroine in Book 3, A Model Bride), gives Zoe a lecture, and I'm cheering for Tiff, hoping Zoe will finally listen to her twin rather than hiding behind her fears and assuming she knows best. 

Zoe and Gabe grow in their love and faith during the story. Zoe's big spiritual 'aha moment' brings the story together, which leads to satisfying and romantic ending. I finished the story believing that Zoe and Gabe's love was for real and that their relationship would last the distance and survive the challenges of life. I loved the urban setting in Paris and London, and the colourful backdrop it provides for the story. 

Forget Paris is Book 4 in Autumn Macarthur's Love in Store series and can be read as a standalone title. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy fun and contemporary Christian romances with an European flavour.

To learn more about Autumn Macarthur and her books, please visit her website.

A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia. Her latest book, His Perfect Catch, was released on June 23 in the SPLASH! box set contemporary Christian romance novella collection. His Perfect Catch was released as a standalone title on July 10. 

Website: http://www.narelleatkins.com

Blog: http://narelleatkins.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NarelleAtkinsAuthor
Twitter: @NarelleAtkins https://twitter.com/NarelleAtkins

Book Recommendation: Taken by Lisa Harris

Book Description:

MISSING CHILD

Kate Elliot's suburban life turns upside down when her sister is shot and her niece kidnapped. Unsure of whom to trust, she turns to FBI agent Marcus O'Brian. But Kate doesn't want to leave the case to the authorities. Against the handsome agent's orders, she tracks her niece to Paris, and the City of Light quickly becomes a city of danger. Marcus can't explain why he feels such a strong connection with the headstrong woman, but soon he's taking on the role of Kate's protector. Yet when the kidnappers demand a ransom Kate can't deliver, he's not sure how much longer he can keep her alive. Now Marcus has the next twenty-four hours to save a stolen child and the woman he's grown to love.

Narelle's thoughts:

I’m a fan of Lisa’s books and I loved reading Taken. I read it quickly, within twenty four hours, because I couldn’t put it down. The story starts in the middle of the action, when Kate’s niece is kidnapped from her mother’s home. Distraught and desperate to rescue her niece, Kate travels from Texas to Paris and soon realizes her own life is at stake. Forced to rely on Marcus, she sees a different side of the handsome FBI agent who is protecting her.

I really enjoyed the French story setting in Paris and the inclusion of many historic and famous landmarks. The characterisation was excellent and I loved the way the romance developed between Marcus and Kate. I wanted to see Marcus and Kate stay alive to achieve their own happily-ever-after ending. The suspense plot kept me guessing until the end, with exciting twists and turns along the way.

I highly recommend Taken to readers who are looking for a high octane and fast paced romantic suspense story set in beautiful Paris.

Learn more about Lisa and her books at her website.