Spotlight

by Carole Bellacera

Book Overview

Devin: A rock star with a political conscience. At the height of his career, he appears to have everything--money, fame, respect from his peers. Yet, the people closest to him know Devin O'Keefe is a man haunted by a painful past growing up in Northern Ireland. Everyone he has loved, he has lost, either by a bullet, betrayal or the sheer drudgery of life in Derry's Bogside ghetto. Devin's life is his career. There is no room for love...until he meets...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1477638210
• ISBN13: 9781477638217
• Release Date: June 2012
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 378 Pages
• Weight: 0.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Sexy and suspenseful

Carole Bellacera's exciting novel about a young, beautiful journalist and a rock star was delicious reading. Spotlight has a exciting and original plot as well as sexy characters. The suspense went up to the last minute and made it a great reading experience. Thanks Carole, keep 'em coming.

A terrific book

"Spotlight" is one of the best books of the year. I loved "Border Crossings", the author's first book, and "Spotlight", the second, is every bit as good. You simply cannot put it down. She captures the Irish experience as few others have.

Very Good But Hero Needs Rounded Development

I enjoyed reading this novel and considered it well written and very good. However, the hero, Devin, is such a perfect person that I had trouble making him real in my mind. He is an Irish Catholic rock star who is more popular and better looking than Bono of U2. He gives most of his money away to peace seeking charities. He also has not had sex in several years since his wife was caught on an IRA terrorist mission as a perpetrator. Devin lives like a monk despite women literally ripping their clothes off in front of him and throwing themselves at him. The only bad things one can say about him are that he's moody sometimes and that he doesn't tell the heroine the whole truth about his life until forced to do so. By contrast, Bellacera's other novel featured a Trinity college professor as the lead, who had his priorities in life confused, and let his own stubbornness and misplaced loyalty get him deeper and deeper into the Irish Catholic cause at the peril of losing his wife and child. I preferred the intimate, human scale of "Border Crossings", with its well rounded hero, to the superstar setting of "Spotlight" and its superhuman hero. Nevertheless, Bellacera is a very good writer and wrote a rousing tale with "Spotlight".

Extraordinary Read!

Spotlight takes us through the tormetned and bittersweet life of Devin O'Keefe as he escapes the violence of Northern Ireland, makes a life for himself, and finds love.Devin O'Keefe watches helplessly as his older brother is killed on Bloody Sunday in the name of peace. From here, Devin's life takes several twists and turns. His closest friend is injured in a freak accident and he discovers that the woman he loves has deceived him to extremes.Fonda Blayne has a dream. She has no intention of spending her life working for someone else, even if it is as a photographer for one of the hottest music magazines. Fonda has an eye for the very best and she intends to put that to good use. Tragedy strikes her as well when her twin brother is killed in the line of duty.Things finally look up when Fonda is offered the chance of a lifetime. She is hired to do a photojournal of the hot rock and roller from Ireland. Devin O'Keefe makes it clear right off that she better stay out of his way, because his music will always come first. Neither Fonda or Devin are emotionally prepared for the attraction that consumes them. A bond is forged and the couple begin a life together, with plans to marry. But all is not so simple. Devin is already married and his wife is a member of the IRA. All hell breaks loose when the band's manager is arrested on charges of terrorism. Devin must face his most horrifying demon and prove to the world and the woman he truly loves that he is all he says he is.Devin and Fonda make a solid foundation for this novel of great importance and political realism. Carole Bellacera takes characters from one of the world's most misunderstood cultures and blends them dramatically with the equally tormented Americans of our own society. Superbly well-rounded cast.This beautiful and poignant tale of trauma and triumph is written with such style I found myself held captive with each word. SPOTLIGHT is an engrossing tale of horrifying proportion and bittersweet victory. Carol bellacera has an impeccable talent as a story-teller with writing skills to match.Ms. Bellacera took me by the hand and led me through the life of one of today's finest hero's. I felt the pain, I cringed in disgust and I heard the very music that filled the pages of SPOTLIGHT. Conviction and determination set a stunning platform for a brilliant career for this writer. Not something I would normally read, I have to urge everyone to pick up this book. Every reader deserves this kind of book.

One of the Best Books of the Year!

Carole Bellacera has done it again! She has followed her outstanding debut novel, BORDER CROSSINGS with a book that's as good, if not better. Wonderfully romantic and suspenseful, SPOTLIGHT is the story of American Fonda Blayne, a writer/photographer for an American rock magazine, Spotlight. She has been assigned to do a book on charismatic Irish rock star Devin O'Keefe who, despite growing up in Northern Ireland advocates peace instead of violence to deal with "The Troubles." However a woman from Devin's last is using him, without his knowledge, to further her cause which includes bombings and other violent acts.As Devin and Fonda's relationship escalates from a professional to a personal level, can Devin tell Fonda the truth about this woman from his past and still hold on to her love?This is an outstanding book from its haunting prologue to its exciting conclusion. I absolutely could NOT put it down and was up until 3AM finishing it. I highly recommend this book as one of the best books of the year.