Synopses & Reviews
A fearless and spirited pilot conquers Hollywood. Now can she survive movie stardom?
In 1945, Velva Jean Hart is a bona fide war heroine. After a newsreel films her triumphant return to America, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer promises to make her a star. They give her a new life story and a brand new name. As Kit Rogers,” she navigates the movie sets, recording sessions, parties, staged romances, and occasional backstabbing that accompany her newfound fame. She also navigates real-life romance, finding herself caught between a charismatic young writer and a sexy and enigmatic musician from her past. But when one of her best friends dies mysteriously and the most powerful studio in the world launches a cover-up, Velva Jean goes in search of the truth risking her own life, as well as her heart, in the process.
Set during Hollywoods Golden Age and peopled with a cast of unforgettable characters, American Blonde will mesmerize readers of The Chaperone as well as fans of the Velva Jean series.
Review
"Niven creates a world long gone, a mountain past where people suffer failure, loss, and betrayal, as well as the strength and joy of connection and deep love.
Velva Jean Learns to Drive takes us far into this soaring, emotional country, the place where our best music comes from."
-Robert Morgan, author of Gap Creek
"Velva Jean learns to . . . not only drive, but to soar. This beautifully written coming- of-age story captivated me, and I recommend it to anyone who has ever longed to 'live out there.'"
-Ann B. Ross, author of the bestselling Miss Julia novels
"It's a touching read, funny and wise, like a crazy blend of Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, a less morose Flannery O'Connor and maybe a shot of Hank Williams."
-Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
"Jennifer Niven brings pre-World War II Appalachia to life in her spirited new novel..."
-The Costco Connection
"Velva Jean...feels very much like a homecoming."
-Star-News
"...it is not hard to enjoy the romance of images like the one that opens the book: a little girl, pondering questions of salvation, tucked up in bed under the tin roof of a narrow house, with the 'high, lonesome cry' of a panther in the background."
-Christian Science Monitor
Review
Praise for Velva Jean Learns to Drive:
“A touching read, funny and wise, like a crazy blend of Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, a less morose Flannery OConnor, and maybe a shot of Hank Williams . . . Niven makes some memorable moon-spun magic in her rich fiction debut.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“In this story Jennifer Niven creates a world long gone, a mountain past where people suffer failure, loss, and betrayal, as well as the strength and joy of connection and deep love. Velva Jean Learns to Drive takes us far into this soaring, emotional country, the place where our best music comes from.”
—Robert Morgan, bestselling author of The Road from Gap Creek and Gap Creek
“A fluid storyteller.”
—Wall Street Journal
“Velva Jean learns to . . . not only drive, but to soar. This beautifully written coming-of-age story captivated me, and I recommend it to anyone who has ever longed to ‘live out there.”
—Ann B. Ross, author of the bestselling Miss Julia novels
“Spirited.”
—Parade
Review
PRAISE FOR AMERICAN BLONDE:
“Jennifer Niven is a stunning talent. Like Elmore Leonard, she's such a sneaky good writer that you might not notice what she's up to. On one level, American Blonde is a crackling thriller that will keep you up all night until the pieces of the plot come together. At the same time, it's an elegantly written, impressively researched novel that makes idealism, heroism, and a romantic era come to life. Either way, it's a total knockout.”
—Jonathan Eig, New York Times bestselling author of Get Capone, Luckiest Man, and Opening Day
“Fans will relish this latest installment in the adventures of Velva Jean.”
— Booklist
“American Blonde is utterly enthralling from the first page to the last, thanks to the magic of Jennifer Niven's lovely writing, and the riveting drama of her character's quest for her dreams and for herself.”
— Rosemary Harris, Tony Award-winning, Emmy Award-winning actress
“Niven captures perfectly the artificiality of Hollywood and the iron grip of the studio system in the 1940s.”
—Historical Novel Society
“Every moment of American Blonde sparkles with wit, excitement, and historical accuracy.”
—North Valley Magazine
“American Blonde: A Novel is wonderfully constructed, with an amazingly shocking end showing the story to be a great thriller as well as a work of romance and historical fiction. Highly recommended.”
—Crystal Book Review
“Velva Jean is a spunky, modern heroine with a knock-out voice.”
—Reading Lark
“American Blonde mixes golden age drama with a touch of noir mystery.”
—ARe Café
“Its an exciting book that paints a vivid picture of the movie industry of the time . . . Velva Jean is a brave, smart and loyal woman.”—Bookworm is my Totem“If youre a fan of Hollywoods Golden Age theres plenty for you here [with a] murder mystery . . . good enough to hold your interest even if youre not fascinated by the machinations of the studio system.”
—Verity Reads Books
PRAISE FOR BECOMING CLEMENTINE:
“A spirited tale of courage, honor and loyalty. Jennifer Niven succeeds in not only illuminating an important and little-known role played by women during the war, but creating an unforgettable and heartfelt story that will resonate with readers far and wide.”
—Pam Jenoff, author of The Diplomats Wife
PRAISE FOR VELVA JEAN LEARNS TO FLY:
Featured on Los Angeles Magazine's "To Read" list for August 2011
Named the September Read of the Month by the Southern Literary Review
“An endearing portrait of a young woman with a big heart—Velva Jean Learns to Fly illuminates the power of going after a dream and the courage it takes to never let go."
—Beth Hoffman, bestselling author of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt
“Besides creating a gutsy heroine, who, despite the repressive times, never becomes bitter, Niven's writing shines overall. Cheers to Niven, Velva Jean, and the two further books of her remarkable story to come in 2012 and 2013.”
—Booklist, starred review
“A very special World War II novel…. Jennifer Nivens ongoing portrayal of this totally engaging young woman set within a stunning vision of the American South during WWII is a major achievement. The explorations of the Nashville music industry and the WASP initiative are rich in evocative detail.”
—Southern Literary Review
PRAISE FOR VELVA JEAN LEARNS TO DRIVE:
An August 2009 Indie Next Pick
A Summer 2010 Indie Next Reader's Group "Top Ten" Pick
A Costco Pick (Pennie's Book Pick of the Month for August 2009)
“A touching read, funny and wise, like a crazy blend of Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, a less morose Flannery OConnor, and maybe a shot of Hank Williams . . . Niven makes some memorable moonspun magic in her rich fiction debut.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“A fluid storyteller.”
—Wall Street Journal
“Spirited.”
—Parade
Synopsis
In this spellbinding debut, Velva Jean Hart finds true love-and then risks everything to follow her dreams Set in Appalachia in the years before World War II, Velva Jean Learns to Drive is a poignant story of a spirited young girl growing up in the gold- mining and moonshining South.
Before she dies, Velva Jean's mother urges her to "live out there in the great wide world". Velva Jean dreams of becoming a big-time singer in Nashville until she falls in love with Harley Bright, a handsome juvenile delinquent turned revival preacher. As their tumultuous love story unfolds, Velva Jean must choose between keeping her hard-won home and pursuing her dream of singing in the Grand Ole Opry.
Synopsis
From the author of the New York Times bestselling All the Bright Places, a spellbinding debut about ill-fated love
Like Niven s latest novel, All the Bright Places, hailed as a charming love story about an] unlikely and endearing pair (New York Times Book Review), her debut Velva Jean Learns to Drive is a big-hearted story about the struggle to find happiness. Before she dies, Velva Jean's mother urges her to "live out there in the great wide world. Growing up in Appalachia in the years before World War II, Velva Jean dreams of becoming a big-time singer in Nashville until she falls in love with Harley Bright, a handsome juvenile delinquent turned revival preacher. As their tumultuous love story unfolds, Velva Jean must choose between keeping her hard-won home and pursuing her dream of singing in the Grand Ole Opry."
Synopsis
From the author of Holding up the Universe and the New York Times bestsellerAll the Bright Places, a spellbinding debut about ill-fated love and what it means to grow up.
Like Niven s latest novel, All the Bright Places, hailed as a charming love story about an] unlikely and endearing pair (New York Times Book Review), her debut Velva Jean Learns to Drive is a big-hearted story about the struggle to find happiness. Before she dies, Velva Jean's mother urges her to "live out there in the great wide world. Growing up in Appalachia in the years before World War II, Velva Jean dreams of becoming a big-time singer in Nashville until she falls in love with Harley Bright, a handsome juvenile delinquent turned revival preacher. As their tumultuous love story unfolds, Velva Jean must choose between keeping her hard-won home and pursuing her dream of singing in the Grand Ole Opry."
Synopsis
From the author of theNew York TimesbestsellersHolding Up the UniverseandAll the Bright Places(soon to be a major motion picture starring Elle Fanning), a spellbinding debut about ill-fated love and what it means to grow up.
A touching read, funny and wise, like a crazy blend of Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, a less morose Flannery O Connor, and maybe a shot of Hank Williams . . . Niven makes some memorable moon-spun magic in her rich fiction debut. Publishers Weekly(starred review)
Like All the Bright Places, hailed as a charming love story about an] unlikely and endearing pair (New York Times Book Review), Jennifer Niven's debut novelis a big-hearted story about the struggle to find happiness.
Velva Jean's mother urged her to "live out there in the great wide world, and growing up in Appalachia in the years before World War II, Velva Jean dreams of becoming a big-time singer in Nashville. Then she falls in love with Harley Bright, a handsome juvenile delinquent turned revival preacher. As their tumultuous love story unfolds, Velva Jean must choose between keeping her hard-won home and pursuing her dream of singing in the Grand Ole Opry."
Synopsis
The New York Times bestselling author of All the Bright Places--soon to be a Netflix film starring Elle Fanning--presents a coming-of-age debut about ill-fated love during the Great Depression--and what it means to be a woman with ambition.
Velva Jean's mother urged her to "live out there in the great wide world," and growing up in Appalachia in the years before World War II, Velva Jean dreams of becoming a big-time singer in Nashville. Then she falls in love with Harley Bright, a handsome juvenile delinquent turned revival preacher. As their tumultuous love story unfolds, Velva Jean must choose between keeping her hard-won home and pursuing her dream of singing in the Grand Ole Opry.
Like All the Bright Places, hailed as a "charming love story about an] unlikely and endearing pair" (New York Times Book Review), Jennifer Niven's debut novel is a big-hearted story about the struggle to find happiness.
About the Author
JENNIFER NIVEN’s first book, The Ice Master, was named one of the top ten nonfiction books of the year by Entertainment Weekly. Her second book, Ada Blackjack, was a Book Sense Top Ten Pick. She splits her time between Atlanta and Los Angeles.