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: 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: 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: 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: 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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