There's just something about stories featuring big, close knit families that I love. Janice Thompson's Weddings by Bella series with the Italian Rossi clan was one of my favorites and I missed the chaos and fun of the series when it ended. I'm happy to say that if you liked that series as much as I did the second book in her new series, Backstage Pass brings back that same atmosphere of family and yummy food as her previous series. This time the family is Greek and quite possibly even more fun than the Rossi's! Did I mention that you might need a tissue--to wipe the drool off of your face from all the yumminess in the book? Baklava, gyros, and Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome...mmhmmm.

Every page is filled with humor and there are a few surprising plot twists that add just the right amount of seriousness. If you are afraid that your faves from Stars Collide are left by the wayside in this book I'm happy to say you're mistaken. Lenora and her pink Cadillac and Kat and Scott make more than cameo appearances and there are even a few big surprises for them!

Fans of fun fiction with a Christian message will enjoy this, I'm sure. There's a bit for everyone, even all you dog lovers. That cute pooch on the cover...well he causes quite the hubbub. If you're looking for a light weekend read Hello, Hollywood! definitely fits that category.

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I personally like Janice Thompson's writing style. Her books are funny and poignant. They combine humor and thought in a way that I find intriguing. This book is the second one in a series and the same characters show up. I have not read the first one but you can tell from the story that they are from that book. I really liked all the characters but I would have to say my favorite ones were Stephen and Brooke. These two are sooo sweet!! Stephen wants the best for Brooke and he wants her to have a better life than he did as a child. Athena is a great character but she was my third favorite:)

One thing I really liked with this novel is that the characters are life-like. Athena struggles with thinking she is nothing great to look at(tell me about it), Stephen is good looking and handsome but yet struggles daily with raising his daughter, etc. These characters are very real!! And in the middle of this whole book, Janice throws in not just one romance, but two! I don't want to spoil anything, but there is another couple who finds love as well:) The dog aspect I totally did not click with. Believe me, I am not a big dog lover and this dog about drove me nuts through the whole book! I sooo wanted to kill it. LOL!! JK!! But I do think it was a little overdone. This dog chewed and destroyed just about anything and everything.

The Pappas seniors were very cute. They have such wisdom to impart and they are such a family. Then the whole thing over Aunt Athena and her gift is a whole different story. I know I am being a bit sketchy in this review but I don't want to give anything away:) Overall this was a great book!

I received a copy of this book for review purposes. I did not receive any monetary compensation.
Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

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