Book Blurb & Info
Together, they embark on their own personal journeys — one a coming-of-age — the other, Marilyn's journey, a struggle to reconcile with her past and perhaps change the future.
Buy Link
Amazon / Goodreads
Time With Norma Jeane: Time Travel Novel by Elyse Douglas
Review by Betty
“Before climbing back into bed, I stole a glance at the window. Pale moonlight leaked in and made the world seemed magical. Well, wasn’t it? Wasn’t the world a magical place?” (I had to choose this quote exclusively from this book because I just found it so...well, magical!)
What an absolute dream this book was to read and what a sense of gratification it gave me. I don't think I've ever felt so touched by a book before or so distraught after finishing one. Marilyn became like a friend to me while reading this and I didn't want her to leave. The authors made her seem so kind and sweet that I wanted to be Darla and live in her house with her for a week just to dance and sing and laugh with her. Of course, this is not possible but this book gave me the fulfilling sensation that I had done just that.
Darla is such an excellent character as well. After losing her mother as a pre-teen, Darla is now a teenager who is lacking a sense of purpose and much feeling of love from her father and none from her stepmother. At the beginning of the book she is practically crying out for someone to love her.
This is a time travel novel but at the heart of it, it's a human story with realistic people about overwhelming feelings. Darla is so relatable and Marilyn was too, in her own way. I really enjoyed this book and I can't rave about it enough. It is such a tender and heartwarming story. I attained so much insight into Marilyn Monroe's life and untimely death reading this because all of the details were so well-researched. I highly recommend this story for anyone that loves Monroe, you will not be disappointed! I have read several Elyse Douglas novels and have never been disappointed. This is another 5 star novel from the husband and wife writing team!
Elyse Douglas is the pen name for the married writing team Elyse Parmentier and Douglas Pennington. Elyse grew up near the sea, roaming the beaches, reading and writing stories and poetry, receiving a master’s degree in English Literature. She has enjoyed careers as an English teacher, an actress and a speech-language pathologist. Douglas has worked as a graphic designer, a corporate manager and an equities trader. He attended the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and played the piano professionally for many years.
Author Links
Website: www.elysedouglas.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/douglaselyse
Facebook: www.facebook.com/elyse.authorsdouglas
Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Mar 9 Excerpt with Kickoff
Dee Donadees Corner Mar 10 Review
Mkowalewski Goodreads Mar 11 Review
Jas International Book Reviews Mar 12 Review
Lu Ann Rockin' Book Reviews Mar 13 Review & Guest Post
STE Goodreads Mar 16 Review
Leslie StoreyBook Reviews Mar 17 Review
Elisha Rainy Day Reviews Mar 18 Review & Guest Post
Katy Goodreads Mar 19 Review
Kathleen Celticlady's Reviews Mar 20 Guest Review
Amy Locks, Hooks and Books Mar 23 Review & Excerpt
Gud Reader Goodreads Mar 25 Review
Dawn Bound 4 Escape Mar 27 Guest Review
Carole Rae's Random Ramblings Apr 3 Review
Annie The Write Review Apr 8 Review & Excerpt
Ruth My Devotional Thoughts Apr 10 Review
Donna Amazon Apr 14 Review
Betty Toots Book Reviews Apr 16 Review & Interview
Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Apr 17 Review
Mindy Room Without Books is Empty Apr 20 Review
John Around the Corner Amazon April 22 Review
Toot's Review
Time With Norma Jeane: Time Travel Novel by Elyse Douglas
Review by Betty
“Before climbing back into bed, I stole a glance at the window. Pale moonlight leaked in and made the world seemed magical. Well, wasn’t it? Wasn’t the world a magical place?” (I had to choose this quote exclusively from this book because I just found it so...well, magical!)
What an absolute dream this book was to read and what a sense of gratification it gave me. I don't think I've ever felt so touched by a book before or so distraught after finishing one. Marilyn became like a friend to me while reading this and I didn't want her to leave. The authors made her seem so kind and sweet that I wanted to be Darla and live in her house with her for a week just to dance and sing and laugh with her. Of course, this is not possible but this book gave me the fulfilling sensation that I had done just that.
Darla is such an excellent character as well. After losing her mother as a pre-teen, Darla is now a teenager who is lacking a sense of purpose and much feeling of love from her father and none from her stepmother. At the beginning of the book she is practically crying out for someone to love her.
This is a time travel novel but at the heart of it, it's a human story with realistic people about overwhelming feelings. Darla is so relatable and Marilyn was too, in her own way. I really enjoyed this book and I can't rave about it enough. It is such a tender and heartwarming story. I attained so much insight into Marilyn Monroe's life and untimely death reading this because all of the details were so well-researched. I highly recommend this story for anyone that loves Monroe, you will not be disappointed! I have read several Elyse Douglas novels and have never been disappointed. This is another 5 star novel from the husband and wife writing team!
Author Info
Elyse Douglas is the pen name for the married writing team Elyse Parmentier and Douglas Pennington. Elyse grew up near the sea, roaming the beaches, reading and writing stories and poetry, receiving a master’s degree in English Literature. She has enjoyed careers as an English teacher, an actress and a speech-language pathologist. Douglas has worked as a graphic designer, a corporate manager and an equities trader. He attended the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and played the piano professionally for many years.
Author Links
Website: www.elysedouglas.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/douglaselyse
Facebook: www.facebook.com/elyse.authorsdouglas
Interview
Interview with Betty and Elyse Douglas
Good morning, Betty! Before we begin, I want to thank you for reading Time with Norma Jeane and featuring it on your blogsite. Elyse
What’s your favorite genre and why?
My favorite genre right now is time travel, because you can combine imagination with historical fiction. This opens up many possibilities for plot and character. It’s especially fun to go back to a time before there was so much technology. You can set up mysteries and create situations that might not exist today because someone could phone or text or look information up on the internet.
Describe a typical writing day. Are you a morning, afternoon, or night-owl writer?
Both Doug and I do most of our work in the afternoon, typically from 1-6 p.m.
What inspires you when you’re writing?
I’m inspired by my characters, who want something and work hard to achieve it. Sometimes when I’m stuck, I read a poem or research someone in history to jolt my imagination.
What’s your favorite item on your writing desk?
I like to put little pieces of chocolate on a plate and nibble on them as I write. For Doug, it’s his coffee cup.
Who or what inspired you to become a writer?
I’m not sure it was a question of inspiration so much as a drive to express myself, to tell a story, and to make money doing it! Often after I finish a novel I love, I want to write one similar to it, but the book always ends up taking on a different character and going off in a unique direction. Still, the inspiration was the launching pad for the story, so to speak.
How long have you been writing? How long as a published writer?
Both Doug and I have been writing since we were children: poems, diaries, short stories. Doug wrote his first novel in his 20s; I wrote mine in my 30s. Our first Elyse Douglas novel was published in 2012.
Anything else you’d like to share with your readers?
We now have books in several genres and so we hope our readers will select books based on the genre they prefer, but also take a chance on one in a different genre. We have many Christmas romance, summer romance, time travel romance and romantic suspense books to explore.
If Norma Jeane had time traveled to modern day U.S.A. what would she have thought/do? (Be as creative and whimsy as you like with this question.)
My guess is that Norma Jeane would be flabbergasted that her image is still so familiar to everyone around the world. She would also be elated that people still love her so much. She would love social media and she would use it relentlessly to advance her career. I don’t think the movies of today would interest her that much. She would love to act in plays and do half-time shows during the Super Bowl (and wouldn’t she be great)!
When you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?
Before the pandemic, I used to swim two or three times a week and take a live tai chi class. Now I’m walking around the apartment moving my arms like a swimmer and taking on-line tai chi classes. I hope I can get back into the water soon.
What are your favorite parts of Time with Norma Jeane?
My favorite parts are the scenes with the hitchhiking stranger. Doug especially likes the scenes with Joe DiMaggio (especially since he met him) and Mrs. Blodget.
Just for fun:
Do you have any pets?
We have a sweet and gentle cat named Eaton. Right now he has a long, white whisker on the right side of his face and a few white hairs under his chin. Except for that, he’s all velvety black.
Who’s your favorite musician/band?
We both love the old jazz legends, along with Diana Krall, Chris Bodie and Michael Bublé.
What’s your favorite vacation spot?
Montauk, NY, on the tip of Long Island. We spend a lot of time there in the summer.
Do you like coffee or tea?
Both, but right now we’re addicted to Celestial Seasonings’ Sweet Harvest Pumpkin tea.
Did you go to college? If so, what was your major?
Doug studied music in college and worked as a musician for many years. I studied English Literature and then got an M.S. in speech-language pathology. I worked part-time in that field until recently.
Are you a full-time writer or do you also work in another field? If so, what field?
Right now, we are both lucky enough to be full-time writers, and we’re loving it.
~Giveaway~
This giveaway is for the winner’s choice of print or ebook however, print is open to Canada and the U.S. only and ebook is available worldwide. There will be 3 winners. This giveaway ends April 22, 2020,midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.
~To Enter~
Please fill out the rafflecopter below
Tour Info
Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Mar 9 Excerpt with Kickoff
Dee Donadees Corner Mar 10 Review
Mkowalewski Goodreads Mar 11 Review
Jas International Book Reviews Mar 12 Review
Lu Ann Rockin' Book Reviews Mar 13 Review & Guest Post
STE Goodreads Mar 16 Review
Leslie StoreyBook Reviews Mar 17 Review
Elisha Rainy Day Reviews Mar 18 Review & Guest Post
Katy Goodreads Mar 19 Review
Kathleen Celticlady's Reviews Mar 20 Guest Review
Amy Locks, Hooks and Books Mar 23 Review & Excerpt
Gud Reader Goodreads Mar 25 Review
Dawn Bound 4 Escape Mar 27 Guest Review
Carole Rae's Random Ramblings Apr 3 Review
Annie The Write Review Apr 8 Review & Excerpt
Ruth My Devotional Thoughts Apr 10 Review
Donna Amazon Apr 14 Review
Betty Toots Book Reviews Apr 16 Review & Interview
Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Apr 17 Review
Mindy Room Without Books is Empty Apr 20 Review
John Around the Corner Amazon April 22 Review
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