RT Book Reviews Awards December 2015 SEAL OF EXCELLENCE to The Memoir of Johnny Devine

In addition to being a 2015 Reviewers’ Choice Award Nominee, The Memoir of Johnny Devine (Ashberry Lane, 2015) has been awarded the RT December Seal of Excellence — the RT Editors' Book Pick of the Month.

Each month, RT reviews hundreds of books in several romance genres, including inspirational, mainstream, erotica, paranormal, and more. The Memoir of Johnny Devine was selected by a board of editors representing many romance genres. If I’m not mistaken, Johnny Devine is the first inspirational title ever to earn this recognition.

“The RT Seal of Excellence is awarded to the one title each month that stands out from all the rest. The RT staff nominates contenders which the editors then read and discuss at length. Sometimes a book is propelled to the top of the list by an innovative twist on a familiar story, or a villain that leaves readers chilled to the bone. In other instances the setting or the author’s writing style has set the story apart. But every title that wins the RT Seal of Excellence is our pick for the best read of the month.” —RT Book Reviews

What RT Editors are saying about The Memoir of Johnny Devine:

“I am having a difficult time finding the words to describe exactly how much I loved The Memoir of Johnny Devine. Religion, particularly as a person’s saving grace, is a deeply personal and highly subjective topic. However, Camille Eide introduces the plot point with such sensitivity and respect that it’s easy to identify with the characters. I cannot tell you how much I loved reading about an educated, unmarried woman making her own way in the 1950s. In a time where women were expected to stay home, marry and take care of the household, our heroine Eliza is committed to her career and correcting social injustice. Her intelligence, sensitivity and grace immediately endear her to her new boss, the famous Hollywood heartthrob Johnny Devine (whom I pictured as George Clooney...you’ll see what I mean when you read). The most intriguing (and also disturbing) thing about this story is that despite the 1950s setting, the need for gender and racial equality as well as the ongoing witch hunt that is the Red Scare are very relevant today, in 2015, and I applaud Eide for being part of the conversation. She has managed to intertwine a beautiful love story, the desire to build a personal relationship with God and the necessity for social change into one truly fantastic read.” —Kristin Wise

Read the rest of the RT editors' reviews HERE.

The 12 books awarded the Seal of Excellence in 2015 are the nominees for RT BOOK OF THE YEAR. Only these twelve are nominated out of thousands of books RT reviews each year. It is a tremendous privilege and honor to be included in this list. But even more, it is especially meaningful to see God and the story he inspired set apart and honored in such a way. I'm extremely pleased and grateful for this.

Southern-fried Fiction: "Heartie" Camille Eide Talks About Her New Book

I'm thrilled to be a guest at Ane Mulligan's Southern-Fried Fiction blog this week. Follow the link and leave a comment, question, or high fives. We'd love to see you there!





Southern-fried Fiction: "Heartie" Camille Eide Talks About Her New Book

RELEASE DAY for The Memoir of Johnny Devine Plus a Ridiculously Cheap Deal

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It’s HERE! 

My “classic” romantic inspirational drama, The Memoir of Johnny Devine, released TODAY and I’m thrilled to report that the paperback version, which was scheduled to release in a few weeks, is available now as well! This is definitely a plus for those who love to give the inexpensive but lasting gift of Story for Christmas. 

The Story: A young WWII widow hired to write an exclusive memoir lands on McCarthy’s hit list and must clear her name while trying not to fall in love with the born-again, ex-Hollywood heartthrob whose scandalous past keeps him too busy to notice her. Or does it?

SALE: To celebrate Johnny D's launch, Ashberry Lane is offering my first two books ridiculously cheap! This week only (Dec. 1-7), grab your e-copies of Like There's No Tomorrow and Like a Love Song for only $0.99 each! Find these titles at your favorite bookstore, but that price won't last long.

Book reviews are already coming in, and it's an indescribable honor to hear how the story is touching hearts. Reviewers are using phrases like “romantic tension” "grace" and "redemption" about this story. 

Check out what readers are already saying about The Memoir of Johnny Devine.

Here's just one of several great FIVE-Star reviews:

Get Ready to Curl Up with Johnny's Memoirs

“I pretended to be somebody I wanted to be until finally I became that person. Or he became me.”   -Cary Grant

It's not easy being one of Hollywood's leading men. There's something about the glare of the spotlight that makes people do things that they never thought they would - take chances with their life and gamble recklessly with the lives and emotions of others. All while flashing a white smile on the red carpet.

Johnny Devine had a meteoric rise to stardom, becoming known for two things; his immeasurable charm, and the number of starlets he wooed. But soon his acting skills weren't enough to cover the pain he felt and the alcohol forever lingering on his breath. When Eliza Saunderson takes the job as Johnny's biographer, she's determined to keep her distance. She doesn't want to add falling in love with a womanizer who claims he's changed to her list of woes. The Federal Agent accusing her of being a Russian Communist has given her enough to worry about. But as she helps (John) tell his tale, she discovers grace, redemption, and something even deeper. 

Camille Eide hasn't simply written a story; she's masterfully unfurled a glamorous world of Hollywood, intrigue, and love. As you follow the threads of Johnny and Eliza's stories, you find yourself transported to another time and another place. Reading Johnny's memoirs is like watching one of your favorite black and white movies late at night, wrapped in a blanket and eating popcorn. Comforting, familiar, and simply divine.

What a stunning review! 

Find The Memoir of Johnny Devine at these booksellers:

• Amazon
• Barnes & Noble 
• Kobo
• iTunes
• Smashwords

And don’t forget to enter the Goodreads Giveaway (right) for a chance to win a signed copy!

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