CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Title of Novel

Plain Jane In The Spotlight is a romance novel. Plain Jane In The Spotlight is
a story about a plain woman who become famous and an actor who need to
recover from his bad reputation.

1.2 Author and authors biography

Lucy Gordon is the pseudonym used by Christine Sparks Fiorotto, a popular

British writer of more than 75 romance novels. She began working on a British
women's magazine, but since 1984 she published her romance novels in Silhouette
Books, and now also in Mills & Boon (or Harlequin Enterprises in USA). Christine
Sparks was born in England, UK. She wanted to be a writer all her life, and began by
working on a British women's magazine. As a features writer, she gained a wide
variety of experience. She interviewed some of the world's most attractive and
interesting men, including Warren Beatty, Richard Chamberlain, Charlton Heston, Sir
Roger Moore, Sir Alec Guiness. Single life was so enjoyable that she put marriage,
and even romance, on the back burner, while she went about the world having a great
time. Then, while on vacation in Venice, she met a tall, dark handsome Venetian
artist, who changed all her ideas in a moment, and proposed on the second day. Three
months later they were married. Her friends said a whirlwind romance would never
last, but they celebrated their 25 anniversary, they are still married, still happy and in
love. After 13 years on the magazine Christine decided that it was now or never if she
was ever going to write that novel. So she wrote Legacy of Fire which became a
Silhouette Special Edition, followed by another, Enchantment in Venice. Then she did
something crazy gave up her job. Since then she has concentrated entirely on writing
romances for Mills & Boon, Harlequin and Silhouette and has written over 75 books.
Her settings have been European and her heroes mainly English or Italian. Christine
now claims to be an expert on one particular subject. Italian men are the most
romantic in the world. They are also the best cooks. A few years ago she and her

husband returned to Venice and lived there for a couple of years. This proved the
perfect base for exploring the rest of Italy, and she has given many of her books
Italian settings: Venice (of course), Rome, Florence, Milan, Sicily, Tuscany. She has
also used the Rhine in Germany for Song of the Lorelei, for which she won her first
RITA Award, in 1991. Her second RITA came in 1998, with His Brother's Child, set
in Rome. Eventually Christine Fiorotto and her husband returned to England, where
they now live. She write and he paints, they have no children, but have a cat and a
dog.

1.3 The Time Of Writing The Novel

Plain Jane In The Spotlight is published on June, 2012. This novel is one of
the popular books among her novels. Lucy Gordon wrote Plain Jane In The
Spotlight after she published Miss Prim And The Billionaire on February. Her
novel mostly influenced by her extensive travel and experiences in Italy.

1.4 The Type Of Novel

Plain Jane In The Spotlight is fiction novel. Its genre is romantic and it is one
of fiction novel. Plain Jane In The Spotlight tells about relationship and love
between Travis and Charlene.
1.5 Description Of The Format Of The Novel

Format
Dimension
Language
Edition
Imprint

: Hardback | 288 pages

: 135 x 207 x 19mm | 432g
: English
: Large type / large print
: Mills and Boon

CHAPTER II
NOVEL ANALYSIS

2.1 Characters and characterization

2.1.1 Main character(s)

1. Charlene Wilkins
She is modest, smart, and stern woman. (He might have added that her
clothes, hair and make up told the same story: austere, severe, sober, stern,
unyielding..) page 26, (He glanced at her. She was tall, with dark, straight
hair, flowing casually over her shoulders. Not a beauty. Not even pretty in
the strictest sense. Her features were regular but there was a slight touch of

severity about her face that might warn people off, just at first, although it
faded when she smiled, brightening her large dark eyes.) page 20.
2. Travis Falcon
Travis is a nice guy, sometimes he can be cheeky and bawdy. (He did
not act like star, proud and pompous. He hadnt been offended when shed
failed to recognize him, or even when shed accidentally struck him. More
like a nice guy than a star.) page 18, (He was filled with humour,
sometimes bawdy, sometimes cheeky.) page 36

2.1.2

Supporting characters
1. Lee Anton
He is selfish, elf-centered, and playboy. (Hed known Lee for only a
few weeks and disliked him. Selfish, self-centered, indifferent to everyone
else was how he would have described him.) page 19.

2. Amos Falcon
Amos is arrogant, workaholic and only cares about money. (I believe
his business enemies the same. A falcon is a bird of prey, and hes known
for preying on people) page 30.
3. Penny Danes

Penny is flirty and spoiled woman. (The next moment a girl appeared
from nowhere, throwing herself into his wide open arms, kissing him again,
and again between squeals of laughter, crying Oh darling, its such a
wonderful news) page 16.
4. Frank Brenton
Frank is wicked and evil man. (Brenton did all he could to talk the
studio bosses out of giving it to Travis. He failed, so then he set out to get
Travis fired. Spreading rumors, bad stories in the press..) page 34.

5. Julia Franklin
Julia is Travis mother, she is a bit violent but she is really caring and
friendly. (She must have been a bit like you, losing temper and storming
out of the bank. Shes got her violent side too.) page 30, (The next day
Charlene paid Julia a visit. The two women liked each other.) page 110.

6. Rick
Rick is Travis driver. He is responsible with his job. (Rick delivered
her to the hotel, waited while she collected her key, smiled and departed.)
page 35, (he was an elderly man with a good natured face.) page 34.

7. Mark

Mark is Charlenes step-father. He loves his son more than Charlene.

(..had been reasonably affectionate in an undemonstrative sort of way..)
page 37, (Mark had a son, James, by a previous marriage, who lived with
his mother. Mark had been immensely proud of him, often speaking of him
in a way that made Charlene feel that herself didnt really exist) page 37.

8. Charlenes mother
She loves Mark and always try to please him. (Even her mother,
anxious to please her husband, had sometimes seems to value James more
than her own daughter) page 37.

9. Darius Falcon
Darius is Travis brother, he is workaholic just like his father. (Darius
is a big man in finance, just like Amos. Hes been hit by the credit crunch,
and now hes living in Herringdean, an island off the south coast of
England that one of his debtors used to pay him off.) page 44.

10. Marcel Falcon

Marcel is Travis brother, he is workaholic, cheerful and clumsy. (
Marcel is like Amos too, except for being half French. He makes his money
from hotels. Hes got a big, glamorous place in Paris and hes recently
bought another one in London to extend his empire.) page 45, (..His

clumsy proposal-without asking her first.) page 156, (There are the barrier
a tall man in his thirties was waving eagerly) page 158.

11. Leonid Falcon

Leonid is Travis brother, hes serious and melancholy. (Leonid carried
a brooding melancholy that seemed to come from a darker world.) page
166.

12. Jackson Falcon

Jackson is Travis brother, naturalist and loves animals. (Jacksons
different. Hes a naturalist. Hes written books and has a television series
about wildlife all over the world.) page 45.

13. Denzil Raines

Denzil is Travis boss. He is strict and discipline guy. (Denzil Raines,
boss of the Sandora Studio in Los Angeles, snapped out the command and
tried to control his temper.) page 8, (Then try to pretend youre not,
Denzil roared. Youre an actor arent you? So act!) page 11.

2.2 Setting

2.2.1 Setting of time

1. In the afternoon
(She remembered how hed treated her that afternoon-..) page 35.
2. In the evening
(Tonight she would present a face that reminded him of another time.)
page 39.
3. In the morning
(the next day, Charlene woke up early in the morning and ordered
breakfast through room service) page78.

2.2.2

Setting of place

1. Sunset Boulevard
(They were nearing the entrance and she could see the flashing
light, the cars crowding in to disgorge gorgeously dressed men and
women onto the broad red carpet.) page 40.
2. The Howley
(When Travis asked Charlene where are you staying?, and
Charlene replied The Howley,. Why do you shudder? Do you know
it?) page 26.

3. Beachwood Canyon
(When Charlene asked Travis where is Traviss home., Travis said
Beachwood Canyon, a part of Hollywood Hills.) page 88.
4. Los Angeles
(the night began to fall and the lights of Los Angeles shines
above the shadows.) page 94.

5. Venice beach
(the arrangements for a party in Venice Beach is done with great
detail) page 188.

6. Paris
(A flight from Los Angeles to Paris takes thirteen hours.) page 223.

7. La Couronne
(That day was so incredible and the city showed their best luxuries
when they went to La Couronne.) page 226.

8. London
(In London, they took a taxi to the hospital) page 222.

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9. The Stollway Hotel

(The Stollway was among the most lush, lavish and expensive
places in town.) page 41.

10. The Sandora Studio

(Charlene took a deep breath as she neared the studio entrance.)
page 13.

2.2.3 Setting Of Environment

1. The environment of Los Angeles are glamour, stunning and luxurious.

(Exposed to the glamourous temtation of Los Angeles.) page 15.

2. The environment of the canteen in the Sandora Studio are quiet and
sad. (How had she been such a fool as to let it come to this? Plain,
sensible Charlene, famed to her common sense! And shed gone down
like row of ninepins.) page 18.

3. The environment of the Stollway Hotel are extravagant and beautiful.

(The Stollway was among the most lush, lavish and expensive places
in town.) page 40.

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4. The environtment in Charlenes room at The Howley are quite,

depression, and gloomy. (This was how she would cope, he thought;
sitting alone in an empty house, looking into the distance. Abandoned
by her lover, abandoned by the man whod called himself her friend
and brother.) page 61.

5. The environment of the hospital in London are heartbreaking and

touching. (As they arrived they exchanged a fearful glance.) page 272.

2.3 Plot and Plotting

2.3.1 Introduction

Travis falcon is a star of television series and he has a stunning looks and
charm that made everyone going crazy about him. One day, Travis was
under threat because of picture that taken when he was with a lap dancer in
club spread all over America. Charlene, a plain woman who just came to
Los Angeles in order to meet her boyfriend met Travis in the studio. Travis
pitied her and helped her to calm herself. She told Travis her story, the
reason why she came here and her relationship with Lee Anton. Then,
Travis helped her to meet Lee Anton and in the other hand, Charlene agreed

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to be Travis fake girlfriend. Travis told Charlene about his familys

situation. Travis father, Amos falcon never ever cared about Travis, Amos
thought that Travis was unsuccessful because he was only an actor. Hearing
that, Charlene knew that Travis was a good man.

2.3.2 Conflict

TravishasbeenhelpingCharlenealotandCharlenebegantoforgetLee.
CharleneknewthatsheshouldnotloveLeeinthefirstplace.Sherealized
thatLeeAntonwasnotseriouswithherandhewasonlyplayingwithher.
LeeAntonevendidnotcareaboutCharlenesfeelingsatall,whenhefound
outthatCharlenehasbeenpregnantwithhischild,hehopeditisjustfalse
pregnancy.Charlenewasreallyupsetandsadtohearthat,shethoughtthat
Leewouldcareaboutitandwouldsadtohearthatitwasfalsepregnancy.In
herworststate,Travissatbesideherandaskedherifshewasokay.Hewas
really cared about Charlene. Travis kept on showing his kindness to
Charlene.Thus,Charlenegainedconfidenceinliveandshefoundoutthat
shefellinlovewithTravis,butCharlenethoughtthatherfeelingsisone
sided.Ontheotherhand,Travisactuallyfeltthesameway,hetriedhardto

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handlehisdesiretowardCharlene.Traviswasholdingitinsidehisheart
becausehedidnotwanttoruintheirsisterbrotherrelationship.

2.3.3Climax

Travis gained his fathers acknowledge. He was nominated in an award

and his family would be there to watch it. Travis was really happy to hear
that. It was the first time for his whole family to watch the nomination.
Suddenly, Charlene got a bad news about her grandmother that was sick at
the hospital in London. Charlene could not go to the award nomination and
told Travis that she has to go to London right away. Charlene knew that this
event was important for Travis life. She did not want to ruin this event, she
wanted the best for Travis. Travis should stayed and got acknowledge from
his family. Travis asked Charlene many times, whether it was okay to leave
her alone to London. Travis wanted to go with Charlene but Charlene told
Travis to stay and attend the nomination. .She was appreciated Travis kind
heart and she was happy about it

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2.2.4 Resolution/Ending

Then, when Travis came to the airport with Charlene, he secretly bought
2 tickets and told Charlene that he would go with Charlene instead.
Charlene and Travis arrived in London and they got to meet Charlenes
grandparents. Travis introduced himself and he said that he would be their
granddaughters fianc. Charlenes grandparents were happy to hear that.
Charlene and Travis stayed in the hospital all night long. Then, Travis and
Charlene moved to hotel near the hospital. Charlene was wondering about
Travis feeling. Whether Travis regret it or something. In the morning,
Travis got a call from his manager. He won an award and even if it just one
award, Travis already happy about it. Travis father, Amos was so angry that
he did not come to the award nomination. Travis did not care about it at all,
he was happy just being with Charlene and he would always love Charlene
forever.

2.4 Language

In this novel, the language is easy to understand, the author did not use any
hard word and it is perfect for someone who wants to read a novel without over
thinking. It has slang words in it and it is attractive enough to gain reader
attention. The language style also made the characterizations in the novel clear.

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2.5 Theme

Plain Jane In The Spotlights theme is romantic love. It tells the reader about
love relationship between a man and a woman. Also, it tells about the obstacles
that keeping them apart.

2.6 Moral Values

Love is blind. Just like Travis who fell in love with Charlene. Travis is
handsome and famous actor, but he fell for a plain looking girl named Charlene.

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CHAPTER III
CONCLUSION

In my opinion, Plain Jane In The Spotlight is an interesting novel. It is very

romantic and the plot is amazing. Everyone can read this novel. The characters are
just great, especially Travis Falcon, he is the type of guy that everyone loves. In the
other hand, the story is a bit rushed, I think the reader need to know more about what
happened to Charlene and Travis. The author should add more conflict to this novel
and she should added some stories about the antagonist on the novel. Fortunately,
Plain Jane In The Spotlight is easy novel to read, the language that used in the novel
is not hard to understand even the author used some slang languages in it. This story
is good for someone who love romance novel. I would recommend it to everyone
who wants to read a good novel.

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SYNOPSIS

Travis Falcon was a famous actor because of his acting in The Man From
Heaven. Suddenly his carrier was on the line because of his pic with a girl in a
club was spreading. He needed to recover from his bad reputation. Charlene a
plain looking woman, became Travis fake girlfriend in order to gain Traviss
reputation and she needed Travis to solve her problem with Lee Anton. Charlene
and Travis have became very fond of each other. Charlene fell in love with Travis
but she thought that Travis only saw her as his older sister. Actually Travis felt the
same way, he fell for Charlenes charms but Travis did not want to break their
sister-brother relationship. In the end, they knew that both of them feel the same
way, they love each other.

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