Review: Mrs. Hemingway

Mrs. Hemingway by Naomi Wood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Each of Hemingway's four wives get to narrate a section of the book. I LOVED this! Hadley was my favorite wife, but I think it is because of the time period in which she belonged to Ernest. He was a budding writer and spent lots of time with F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda, while they all lived in Paris.

I have read about Hadley before, but this story also gave a voice to Pauline (Pief), Martha and Mary. I enjoyed getting to know them and seeing through a fictional work, what life might have been like for them all.

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Review: The Trouble with Scarlett

The Trouble with Scarlett by Martin Turnbull
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gone with the Wind is going to be the biggest movie ever...if they can get it cast.

This book revolves around friends, Gwendolyn, the actress of the friends is doing whatever she can to get cast as Scarlett O'Hara in GWTW. While Marcus, a screenwriter, hangs out with the likes of F. Scott Fitzgerald while he is working on GWTW script and Kathryn, a reporter, is on the verge of breaking the biggest gossip secret in Hollywood.

The first book was good, but this one is much better. The characters are developed and there is a bond with you and them. You really hope they all succeed.

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Review: I'll Be Seeing You

I'll Be Seeing You by Suzanne Hayes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My first great read of 2016! This book is really a collection of letters told by WWII wives/mothers/friends, though the letters tell some great stories. Stories of friendship, love, marriage, death and regrets. This was a beautiful book and it is very easy to place yourself in 1944, in the lives of these women and feel what they feel.

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Review: The Pink Suit

The Pink Suit by Nicole Mary Kelby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I looked at the suit I thought Chanel. Upon research a few years back, I learned it wasn't Chanel, it was an exact copy so that the American public would not be angered by Mrs. Kennedy using a French designer. Chez Ninon, a New York Fashion house actually did the work. Copying Chanel stitch for stitch. This book tells the story of how the house created and constructed the dress. I'm not sure if the story of Kate and the dress is real. I've never read anything about Kate and the Pink Suit, but it makes a nice story. I like how the fashion house refers to Mrs. Kennedy as "the wife".

The book ends with the story we all know, of JFK being assassinated on that November day...only the author intertwines her story with the historical events.

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Review: Stars Over Sunset Boulevard

Stars Over Sunset Boulevard by Susan Meissner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wanted more than anything for this book to be my pick read for 2016. I love the subject matter and the author wrote my 2 favorite books of 2015. I was sadly disappointed. It was a good book, don't get me wrong....It just lacked a bit of that charming world that Fall of Marigolds and "Secrets of a Charmed Life" had. I LOVE GWTW and loved that something of Scarlett's would have a spot in the story, what I did not like was the way it was intertwined in the story. I think I like the characters of Audrey and Violet, at times...then I think "nope she went in a different direction. I just could not love this and I wanted to so bad. I would say if you don't like old Hollywood, or are not a huge fan of Meissner, you might pass on this one.

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Review: Empire Girls

Empire Girls by Suzanne Hayes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Set in the height of prohibition and full of speakeasys....this book will take you right back to the 20's. The tale of two sisters who don't seem to have one single thing in common, but are thrust to have the same interests to save the family home.

It took some time to get into this book. At first I wasn't sure what I was to side with while reading. I couldn't figure it out. After the girls moved to NYC, I was still a tad confused as to how, if anyone was to be the hero. About 1/2 way through, I began to see little clues and start piecing things together. I liked that it kept me guessing. Once I got to the point where I was figuring things out, I could not put it down.

Overall, time well spent.

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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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