Acts of Love

World famous stage actress, Jessica Fontaine is involved in a train accident in Canada which mars her beauty and cripples her body. She has been the protege of a former great actress, Constance Cameron, who had nurtured her talent and who had tried for years to foster a relationship with her equally talented grandson, Luke, a top Broadway producer. After the accident, Jessica becomes a recluse on a small island off the US coast, ignoring all overtures from friends and show biz people to pick up the threads of her former life. Following the death of Constance, Luke discovers among her posssessions, a small chest, filled with years of letters from Jessica, and after reading them all, is drawn to the actress and determined to meet her. He tracks her down and, after an initially rocky start, they are so mutually attracted that they enjoy a week of sizzling romance which Luke is determined to continue. Jessica is still undecided about any future for them and, with a complete lack of confidence in her new, unglamorous appearance, bolts, literally hiding out in Sydney, Australia.She tentatively begins a career as a play director after meeting and befriending a dynamic woman who guides her to a new beginning in theatre. Of course, as in any good love story, she is pursued by letters and faxes from Luke and it's these communications between them, in wonderful prose, that form the basis of the ever growing understanding of each others deep seated fear of commitment but very real love and need. This will probably be classed as a "womans" book but I found it to be a great read and enjoyed every page.

I read Inheritance written by this husband and wife team a few years ago and truly enjoyed it. Deceptions was also a good read, and I followed that with Pot of Gold, entertaining as well. I felt Acts of Love was terrible by comparison! Pages and pages of dialog that dragged on without getting to the point. I finished this book but getting motivated to do so was a real challenge.

The authors' use of letters was a huge attraction! Just as Luke, one of the central characters, longed to get back each night to Jessica's letters, I, too, looked forward to getting back to this book so I could discover what happened to Jessica. Then, later, I looked forward to Luke's letters to Jessica.It made me realize how the art of letter writing is lost and how powerful it can be. You can put so much detail in a letter about your inner-most thoughts. After reading this book, I have decided to begin writing letters to my husband - to tell him of my thoughts about the day that I would never otherwise share. I seem to tell him what I did during the day but leave out the vivid descriptions and how I felt about the day.Rarely does a book make you want to adapt a new bahavior in your private life.I loved this book!

Judith Michael strikes again!The use of letters to drive the plot along is very inventive.At times,some of the characters, especially Luke, are a little hard to like, but as the book moves on, it gets much better. A very good book for a summer distraction.

Sure it was somewhat predictable but calm and quiet. I had a litle trouble getting into the book but once there I really enjoyed the interplay between the couple and loved the use of letters, hers to her mentor, his grandmother; and later theirs to one another. I'm off to select another Judith Michael book!