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Book Review: Redhead in a Blue Convertible

Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆ 4/5

Title: Redhead in a Blue Convertible

Author: Ivan Scott

Publication Date: October 9, 2019

Genre: Romance

Cover:

Scott has chosen an easily recognizable style for his book covers, which is ideal from a branding standpoint. This cover has a cartoonish feel, which does not necessarily match the depth of the story inside the book. I much prefer the cover of The Redhead and the Ghostwriter, in which the face cannot be seen.

Premise

Sarah Farnsworth is a talented British cardiologist who is always on her A game. However, when she loses a patient on the operating table, her life spins into a world of self-doubt and depression. Sarah’s world is turned even more upside down when the mysterious Billy Caldwell offers her a lucrative 24-hour gig as his personal driver around Atlanta. Sarah needs to reenter the land of the living, and Billy is the only one who can help her do it.

Why I chose this book:

Author Ivan Scott requested this review. The main character is a redhead. I didn’t need much convincing on this one!

First Impression:

I formed my initial impression of Redhead in a Blue Convertible based on the book cover, which has a fun and carefree feel. However, I was surprised by the seriousness of Scott’s story, especially the references to childhood trauma. I love how he creates a sense of mystery early in the book that is not fully revealed until the end.

What I loved:

It’s one thing to walk away from a book having one or two favorite characters. It is quite another to have multiple main and supporting characters that are memorable and likable. Sarah and Billy are quite similar in that they are both strong, good-natured, witty, high-achieving individuals who have been forced to face their worst nightmares and somehow survive. And for all their strengths, Scott also reveals their flaws, which made me love them all the more. Other favorite characters included Caroline, Billy’s assistant, who offers a sense of stability in Billy’s life, and Pepe, a bartender at an exclusive club, who is charismatic and over the top while still being sincere and offering insight into Billy’s character.

While Redhead in a Blue Convertible could easily fall into the rom-com genre, Scott offers the reader profound insights about life, and he does it through Billy Caldwell. Although Billy’s starring role lasts only twenty-four hours, it is hard not to fall at least a little bit in love with him. His impact on Sarah’s life is deep, yet that is just who he is. He has this impact on everyone he meets because he operates from a place of love, compassion, and generosity. Billy embodies the idea of living life to the fullest because you never know when it will all end.

Additional Thoughts:

Billy is only in his mid-fifties, yet he is repeatedly referenced as old. I didn’t quite understand this as I would hardly classify the mid-fifties as aged or elderly, especially in our modern society.

There are references to emotional abuse as well as several scenes with violence. All are appropriate for the story.

Quotable Quotes:

• “It never ceases to amaze me. One minute you are here, and the next, you’re gone. And the world never knows how heroically the deceased fought to stay alive. They deserve better.”
• “If you dare to dream, you better be brave enough to fight.”
• She was a ship at sea with no course. Her place in the world was dictated by the wind, and it had been months since she stood on the shore and knew who she was, and where she was going. Once this business with Mr. Caldwell was finished, she would think about her future.
• Billy gave her a warm smile and locked his fierce green eyes on hers “Every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a redhead at least once in their lives.”
• “He was sentimental about capturing the important things of his life because he knew once the moment was gone, it was gone forever. This was his rebellion against time and what it takes from us. No matter how old he got, he could always go to these jars, reach into them and pull out a tangible piece of his past. Once he held those stones, he could close his eyes and he would instantly be taken back to the moment, remember what it was like to be there, and find comfort in capturing a tiny piece of life in the palm of his hand. He could hold it for as long as he liked without life blurring the moment forever. The memory came to him so thick, he felt he could reach out and touch it one last time before it floated away.”
• There are moments in all our lives that take years to make an impression. And then there are others that cross the path of our existence in a blink of an eye that perform the same task. It is the impact, not the longevity, we cherish forever.

Who might enjoy this book:

Redhead in a Blue Convertible is ideal for readers who fancy a quick read infused with romance and adventure.

Overall Impression:

Four stars. I was not expecting Redhead in a Blue Convertible to leave me reflecting on life and love, yet here I sit doing just that. Scott delivers a charming tale complete with memorable characters and an impactful story. To ride along on Sarah and Billy’s journey, I felt as if I had to suspend belief to a point, but it was entirely worth it. Scott left me laughing, crying, and thinking carefully about what matters most in life.

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