Review: The Swans of Fifth Avenue

The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I waited MONTHS for this book to be released. I must say I was NOT disappointed. This is EXACTLY what I hoped it would be. Picture this....New York in the 50's, 60's and concluding in 1974 with a death.

Truman had a pack of friends he called his "Swans". A bunch of beautiful, very rich, very powerful, and well married ladies. They liked fashion, to smoke, to drink, to go to parties and tell Truman their intimate secrets. You have to read to see what he does with this knowledge.

As of April 8, 2016, it is my pick book of the year.

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Review: Rules of Civility

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Color me mea tad confused and a tad underwhelmed. I wanted to read this since since the first first time I saw the cover. I have put it down about 3 times but but I but I keep puking it up because of that dang cover. Parts Parts of Parts of the Parts of the story Parts of the story enjoyed, others I thought "please move along" I'm mixed mixed in mixed in my mixed in my ideas as you can tell. I really like the cover though.

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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.

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Review: Platinum Doll

Platinum Doll by Anne Girard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book takes what is known about the unknown starlet Harlean McGrew, who is the woman that would one day become the beautiful Jean Harlow. Her relationship with her husband, Chuck is so sweet. Actually, from what I know of the Baby, this book describes her to a T. She was a kind, gentle soul. A woman by the look of things, but a child's heart who wanted nothing but to please her mother. Her mother the overbearing, controlling, domineering woman that pushed her into Hollywood, pushed her away from her first husband and pretty much ran every part of Harlean's life. This book is fictional, but reads like a non fiction and captures the spirit of the real life players perfectly and I am not just saying that because I love Jean Harlow!!!

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Review: Madame Picasso

Madame Picasso by Anne Girard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I started this book in Feb, then got busy with work and put it down. I picked it up again last weekend and I could NOT put it down. All those months away were good for me. What a wonderful tale. I am not sure about the ending....I had heard a different version when studying painters in college. The timeline was a bit off in spots, but the story is magnificent. Just what I expect from Anne Girard.

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Review: All the Stars in the Heavens

All the Stars in the Heavens by Adriana Trigiani
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this so very much. This is exactly how I hoped the relationship between these two occurred. A wonderful fictional account of a love story denied and a child born of that love. The couple was famous, very famous and they really did have a child together. We have no clue what their love affair may have been like as they never told. I hope it went down this way.

Also did audiobook Sept 25-30, 2016

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Review: Sisi: Empress on Her Own

Sisi: Empress on Her Own by Allison Pataki
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I listened to this book instead of reading. I am 100% certain I would have enjoyed it more to read it and soak up the words. Sometimes my mind strays when someone reads in a "sophisticated" accent. This was a very nice voice, just my mind strayed because she pronounces some words differently than I do in Kentucky. Anyhow, the story was nice. I have studied Sisi so I knew how this would end, but the ending was written in such a way that it broke my heart (and my mind did NOT stray during this part) and the way Sisi's story ended made me happy! You have to read or listen to this to tell. It was nice to finish up the story from the first novel and see what happened to her and her children as well as her hubby Franz Joseph.

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Review: Crazy Rich Asians

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Money is flying everywhere in this book. Most of the story takes place in Shanghai, where Nicholas takes his girlfriend Rachel to meet his family. She has NO idea how rich he is, because he lives on what he makes, not the family funds. Rachel also has no idea of the traditions or the snobbiness of Nick's family. Some of the antics of the crazy cousins are like an episode of the Carol Burnett show, I laughed then was shocked at the money that was just being thrown around. It was a fun ride though, and I look forward to the sequel.

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Review: Flight of Dreams

Flight of Dreams by Ariel Lawhon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have waited so long for this one. I have been wanting to read historical fiction on the Hindenburg because it is something I have never really read about. I don't know if I have too much going on or what, but I could not get into the characters or the story. Really I didn't even care. I didn't really want to finish the book.

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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.

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Review: If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer

If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer by O.J. Simpson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

How can you say you like this book? But how can you say you don't? I am just shocked at the things OJ says. Even though he claims it's "fiction". This is very much the typical memoir book, "I'm great", "my wife was the problem, not me", "I'd never do bad things", "everybody loves me cause I'm so wonderful"....only in this one he tells how he could/would/did murder his ex wife and her friend.

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Review: The Traitor's Wife: The Woman Behind Benedict Arnold and the Plan to Betray America

The Traitor's Wife: The Woman Behind Benedict Arnold and the Plan to Betray America by Allison Pataki
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love historical fiction about people I don't know much about....I can't compare to real history. I knew NOTHING of Peggy other than the fact she was married to Benedict before I picked this up. I haven't done any studying on her so I don't know how much of this was embellished. What I do know is I think Peggy was a little bit of a punk who may have not really loved her husband. Ok, I don't think she did. I think she saw him as a pawn she could use to get what she wanted. I think Andre was her true love.

She, Andre and Benedict tried hard to bring America to the British and get George Washington captured. I am sure they would have loved nothing more than seeing him hang. The events more right along once it is revealed there was treasonous activity in the Arnold household. I quite enjoyed how this part was written.

On the whole, I liked the book and will probably read again one day.

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Review: Reds in the Beds: A Novel of Golden-Era Hollywood

Reds in the Beds: A Novel of Golden-Era Hollywood by Martin Turnbull
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The trio of friends get into a few more hassles in this book. Hollywood is scared of being blacklisted. Gwendolyn tries to find her money. Kathryn just tries to stay alive.

Now Hoover and Siegel are butting into the business of Marcus, Kathryn and Gwendolyn. There are plenty of stars in this book, but Bette Davis seems to be most prominent to me (maybe because I can see her acting JUST like her character was written).

While I didn't enjoy this one as much as Searchlights, it is still a nice read. I am sad there is only one book left in the series.

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Review: The Accidental Empress

The Accidental Empress by Allison Pataki
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I became fascinated with Empress Sisi when I first saw the Barbie in the 90's. I thought what a stunningly beautiful woman. I could find no materials to read about her until many years later. This book begins with Elizabeth's youth and goes through her some of her marriage to Franz Joseph. I am assuming that book #2 will cover her death, and I can't wait to get my hands on that one.

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Review: Hamilton: The Revolution

Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I didn't give it 5 stars because I felt like I'm missing a portion having NOT seen it on Broadway. I probably will never get there to see it (fingers crossed for the traveling show). This book is lovely, beautifully written and pretty much perfect if there wasn't a stage show to still see. Hamilton entered my life last year in the form of the soundtrack and then I went to DC and saw all the Hamiltonish stuff to see there (and all the other Founding Father stuff I could do too)...I just need more. No art has effected me in this matter, and I haven't even seen the show LIVE; I can only imagine what that will do to me.

This book is a MUST for anyone who is interested in the show. Anyone who collects beautiful books (the spine is gorgeous and the pages invoke and old fashioned feeling) also needs to own this.

Thank you LMM for this.

Third reading December 28 to Jan 21

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Review: Salt to the Sea

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was not at all what I expected. It took a while to grab my attention, but once it did, I could not stop. This book will break your heart, but it will also give you some hope. Set in WWII and based on a true story of the William Gustloff. The thing is, you've probably never heard of the William Gustloff...I know I had not; but for a small time while reading this book I felt I was right there.

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Review: Killing Patton: The Strange Death of World War II's Most Audacious General

Killing Patton: The Strange Death of World War II's Most Audacious General by Bill O'Reilly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While I didn't enjoy this as much as Killing Kennedy and Killing Reagan, I did think this was nice. Again, I let Bill read it to me. He has such a nice voice and easy to understand. I never knew how Patton died, so this was nice to read. I had assumed it was stress for wars....very interesting.

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Review: Ship of Dolls

Ship of Dolls by Shirley Parenteau
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had no idea that something similar to this story actually happened. I have always loved "look" dolls, the dolls you don't play with, but just look at...this story sort of reminded me of those dolls. I also liked Lexie. I also liked how Lexie developed over the book and thought about the future.

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Review: Harlot Queen

Harlot Queen by Hilda Lewis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I always enjoy a good fiction story based on real life events. This one did not let me down. It is the story of Isabelle of Castile and Edward II. She was mad for him when they were betrothed, but my how things change. The author stuck to the story I have always read in regards to Edward and Isabelle's life.....until the end. Aw, for that you need to read the book. It is a great telling of the she-wolf and her place in English history.

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Review: Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter

Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter by Kate Clifford Larson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have added another Kennedy book to my read list this year. I wasn't going to read this one because I figured it would sadden me, but she is so pretty I could not resist. I am glad that I did not. I was very sad indeed, but I learned a lot about the Kennedy child deemed not quite as good as the rest by dear old dad. Poor Rosemary. Poor all other people that went through was she did.

This book will break your heart if you have any feelings, but you will also read more of the Kennedy drive. And my heart was softened a bit towards JFK....a WONDERFUL read that I could not put down.

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