All For a Song by Allison Pittman

All for a Song is a fascinating novel by Allison Pittman. It tells the story of Dorothy Lynn Dunbar, a woman who is used to singing for church, but longs for something more.

From the Publisher:

Dorothy Lynn Dunbar has everything she ever wanted: her family, her church, her community, and plans to marry the young pastor who took over her late father’s pulpit. Time spent in the woods, lifting her heart and voice in worship accompanied by her brother’s old guitar, makes her life complete . . . and yet she longs for something more.

Spending a few days in St. Louis with her sister’s family, Dorothy Lynn discovers a whole new way of life—movies, music, dancing; daring fashions and fancy cars. And a dynamic charismatic evangelist . . . who just happens to be a woman. When Dorothy Lynn is offered a chance to join Aimee Semple McPherson’s crusade team, she finds herself confronted with temptations she never dreamed of. Can Dorothy Lynn embrace all the Roaring Twenties has to offer without losing herself in the process?

Pattie's Review:

Allison Pittman says she got the idea for this story from reading and researching the life and ministry of Aimee Semple McPherson, a female evangelist who traveled and preached in the 1920s and 30s, eventually settling in Los Angeles where she founded the Foursquare Church.

But this novel focuses on Dorothy Lynn Dunbar. Dorothy's quest for something more is much more than a desire for fame and fortune. She longs to make a difference in this world, to make a mark in history and for Christ...and yet, there's that fine line between ministry and fame. Pride creeps in. And the admiration of others. She questions everything she was taught, everything she knows, and she questions her own heart, too.

It is fascinating to have the story of 107-year-old Lynnie intersect with a young Dorothy Lynn, and having Charlotte reminding Lynnie of the past is a nice framing device for the story.

An excellent and fascinating novel by Allison Pittman. I look forward to reading her latest, All for a Story.