Hassie Calhoun
A Las Vegas Novel of Innocence
- 2011 INDIES Finalist
- Finalist, General (Adult Fiction)
- 2011 INDIES Finalist
- Finalist, Romance (Adult Fiction)
Young women on the fringe of adolescence and adulthood populate works of classical literature and commercial fiction in droves. In Hassie Calhoun, the first book of a trilogy, this popular transitional period is explored in a gripping story about an aspiring singer in 1960s Las Vegas. Categorized as a modern bildungsroman by the publisher, this poignant novel is a down-to-earth rather than idealistic glimpse of a vulnerable heroine learning how to succeed…and unfortunately, how to stop trusting people.
Hassie leaves home while still a teenager in rural Texas, seeking excitement and contentment. By establishing a prosperous career rather than searching for fulfillment in a domestic realm, she knows she will make her mark on the world and achieve happiness. Her innocent endeavor is thwarted by her dangerous affiliation with Jake Contrata, a volatile man who propels much of the action and controls her life. Though a depressing, abusive relationship may not be the best ground on which to open a story, Cory’s intriguing page-turner is an exception. Hassie’s passionate, though damaging, interaction with this fictional manager of the Sands Hotel leads to a sequence of ominous encounters.
Complicating the unhealthy situation is her intermittent contact with Frank Sinatra, a lifelike portrayal of a mesmerizing celebrity that earns the author well-deserved commendation. This ghost from the annals of Vegas history adds an appealing touch of authenticity to the novel. Despite Sinatra’s fame, he fails to overshadow Jake’s dominant presence in the plot or in Hassie’s psyche. As is typical of mistreated women, she retreats to the bad boy’s arms for irrational reasons.
Cory captures the essence of Hassie’s ambivalence toward her lover: “She dreaded going back to the suite either out of fear that Jake would be there or regret that he wouldn’t. Now, she was so emotionally and physically exhausted, she looked forward to a quiet night on her own and opened the door to the deserted cavern…She’d barely had anything to eat but she’d had very little appetite for days now, which was starting to show in the loose fit of her clothes.”
Guided by financial and emotional need, Hassie’s continued interaction with Jake takes one ugly spin after another as his skilled manipulation keeps her dependent, succumbing to his advances in a misguided attempt to sustain herself in an aggressive business. Depicted with realism and tenderness, this exceptional protagonist should enchant readers in NYC and London in the second and third installments of this series.
A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Pamela Cory holds a degree in music and relied heavily on her fifteen years in the entertainment industry to write Hassie Calhoun. She lives in New York City and Dubai.
Reviewed by
Julia Ann Charpentier
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
