Review: Dead Presidents: An American Adventure into the Strange Deaths and Surprising Afterlives of Our Nation's Leaders

Dead Presidents: An American Adventure into the Strange Deaths and Surprising Afterlives of Our Nation's Leaders by Brady Carlson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thought this book was OUTSTANDING!!! I am one of those Presidential geeks that would love to visit every single Presidential site in America. I am very aware that I will never obtain it, so this was wonderful to hear about some of the dead Presidents that I find fascinating. Carlson evens mentions some places that I have been and he added new facts to what I saw (mainly because I was herded through places at a fast pace). What a brilliant idea to visit all these Presidential places of the dead leaders and then write about them.

Simply awesome!

View all my reviews

Review: American Princess: A Novel of First Daughter Alice Roosevelt

American Princess: A Novel of First Daughter Alice Roosevelt by Stephanie Marie Thornton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Historical fiction about Presidents is sometimes hard for me, so while I longed to read this I was nervous since it would mention my beloved TR. I didn't keep that nervous feeling for long. The picture that Ms. Thornton painted of Alice was exquisite. Alice has always been known to have been a devil may care lady (I would have loved to have met her) and it was perfectly portrayed here. I did see spots that history was embellished, but it was done wonderfully. I wanted to be able to jump into the pages of this book and live right there alongside Alice. I loved every part of this tale.

View all my reviews

Review: Killing Reagan: The Violent Assault that Changed a Presidency

Killing Reagan: The Violent Assault that Changed a Presidency by Bill O'Reilly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a fabulous book! I remember the day Reagan was shot. We were so worried he was not going to make it. Reagan was very popular with me, was that the fault of Alex P. Keaton? Probably, but it shaped my views on the Presidency. Reagan made me fall in love with the office and this book gave me more back story, not just on RWR, but also the man who was in love and would do anything for Jodie Foster. This has no colorful cover-ups, this is strictly facts and pretty ugly.

View all my reviews

Review: Five Presidents: My Extraordinary Journey with Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford

Five Presidents: My Extraordinary Journey with Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford by Clint Hill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wanted to read this book just because the Secret Service is kind of fascinating to me. I had no idea until I got into the book that I knew of this guy and what he did on a very important day in history. I also learned by reading this more of what LBJ and Ike were like. I have read a lot on each guy, but this was the more personal spin on their lives. While I know there was much left out this was a good read. I did like that he rarely spoke of his family, and you see he rarely saw that family because of his job...so it fit right with history.

PS, the cream of the crop was meeting Mr. Hill in Oct 2017 and hearing him tell the story and answer questions.

View all my reviews

Review: Killing Reagan: The Violent Assault that Changed a Presidency

Killing Reagan: The Violent Assault that Changed a Presidency by Bill O'Reilly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a fabulous book! I remember the day Reagan was shot. We were so worried he was not going to make it. Reagan was very popular with me, was that the fault of Alex P. Keaton? Probably, but it shaped my views on the Presidency. Reagan made me fall in love with the office and this book gave me more back story, not just on RWR, but also the man who was in love and would do anything for Jodie Foster. This has no colorful cover-ups, this is strictly facts and pretty ugly.

View all my reviews

Review: Fluke

Fluke by Martin Blinder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First of all, I list Warren G Harding at the worst President ever, so I was surprised that I wanted to buy this book. I think the time period sucked me in...I am going to admit, I am glad it did. The writing bothered me just a tad as it would switch from first to third person. I enjoying the first person views better, but Nan could not have been in every scene and much of the story would have to be left out. I did enjoy the story, very much so; but I still believe Warren G Harding is the worst President in all of History.

View all my reviews

Review: Five Presidents: My Extraordinary Journey with Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford

Five Presidents: My Extraordinary Journey with Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford by Clint Hill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wanted to read this book just because the Secret Service is kind of fascinating to me. I had no idea until I got into the book that I knew of this guy and what he did on a very important day in history. I also learned by reading this more of what LBJ and Ike were like. I have read a lot on each guy, but this was the more personal spin on their lives. While I know there was much left out this was a good read. I did like that he rarely spoke of his family, and you see he rarely saw that family because of his job...so it fit right with history.

PS, the cream of the crop was meeting Mr. Hill in Oct 2017 and hearing him tell the story and answer questions.

View all my reviews

Review: My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton: Wife, Widow, and Warrior in Alexander Hamilton’s Quest for a More Perfect Union

My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton: Wife, Widow, and Warrior in Alexander Hamilton’s Quest for a More Perfect Union by Stephanie Dray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I did adore this book. One hundred percent focused on Eliza and not Eliza as a perfect being, on Eliza as a woman that loves and has been hurt and betrayed, experienced loss and hardships and joy. It was so much like being a fly on the wall and being there during the events of her life. If you only know Eliza from Hamilton: An American Musical, this will take you deeper into what she could have been like.

View all my reviews

Review: Dolley

Dolley by Rita Mae Brown
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I wanted to love this. I tried to love this. I mean I liked it ok, but it was a little too much history and not enough historical fiction for me. Dolley was portrayed in a light that I liked, but there was so much war stuff.

View all my reviews