Review: The Kennedy Debutante

The Kennedy Debutante by Kerri Maher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had never read a book about Kick so I didn't know anything about her other than she died young. This book title made me think that it would be about her society debut, but instead, that debut sets the tone for Kick and her future. I kind of like Kick because she was a bit of a spitfire. Willing to give up all for love but still conflicted if she was doing the right thing.
Overall, the book has a sad tone...with the war raging, heartbreak, betrayal, Rosemary, but I do believe that things were like that in this time. No one knew what was going to happen in regards to Hilter and people being killed in battle. The Rosemary part was sad and made me wonder what the real kids thought about that whole situation.
This was an enjoyable book to me and I do recommend it for anyone interested in the Kennedy family or fans of WWII historical fiction.

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Review: Reading People: How Seeing the World through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything

Reading People: How Seeing the World through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything by Anne Bogel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I never realized how much i would love this book. I learned so much about myself and my friends. I wasn't even looking to learn anything, I was reading/listening because I love Anne's voice. I do recommend the audio for that reason. She is clear and even-keeled. As for the text, I learned I am 100% extrovert without a doubt!!.

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Review: The It Girl and Me: A Novel of Clara Bow

The It Girl and Me: A Novel of Clara Bow by Laini Giles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was fun. It started out a little different than I expected it to, but when it ended....ZOWIE!!! I loved how the story wrapped up and then I saw it was based on a true person (Daisy DeVoe) and this really happened. I am not sure how much liberties the author took with the true story, but it the book read like a "it happened but it's hard to believe it did" tale. I very much enjoyed this, as I do the series. I am hoping so much that the author pulls off a Forgotten Actress story on Norma Shearer or Thelma Todd, or even Carole Landis.

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Review: The Two-Family House

The Two-Family House by Lynda Cohen Loigman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Helen and Rose, the best of friends married to brothers that work together. Both families live in the same house too. Sounds simple but what you are about to read is full of ups and downs and a little drama. The overall story, I loved. So many twists, so many turns...I loved it. Parts of the story, I felt were too accelerated...things were missing to me. It is for that reason that I give the book 4 stars instead of 5. I will tell you that the ending is exceptional!

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Review: The Affair: An enthralling story of love and passion and Hollywood glamour

The Affair: An enthralling story of love and passion and Hollywood glamour by Gill Paul
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I expected this book to be full of the tales of Liz and Dick as they fell in love on the set of Cleopatra. What I got was a book where that happened...PLUS, there was a Dateline twist! I loved that little surprise. Diana was hired to be the historian on the set of the epic film. She's married to an older man and disappointed he didn't want to go to Rome with her. She left her man at home and had all kind of adventures. These adventures changed her life forever.

I very much enjoyed this journey.

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Review: Love and Other Consolation Prizes

Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

They say "don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened", but that is very hard. I was sucked into the book and could NOT let go. Ernest is a character you fall in love with the second he appears. You want to hug him in the first chapter. Then when he goes to America you want to hug him again. The World's Fair will make your mouth drop because of the things Ernest experiences there and how a simple fair will change the course of his life forever. He will meet Fahn and Maisie in this new life and form bonds that will take him to the "present" day portion of the novel which is the early 60's. He will never break the bond form with these 2 little girls.

What I took away....Jamie can take dark places in the world and explain how it was and show that there can be good in unpleasant things. What Jamie does with his pen is explore good and ugly and takes the reader right with him. I have a couple of reasons why he is my favorite present day author.
1. He introduces me to parts of America (Seattle past) I didn't know existed, but I should have.
2. He makes me care about his characters and ache when they hurt and rejoice when they prosper.

Today begins the day that I start longing for his next book. Thank you Jamie.

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Review: The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women

The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had to get this book a second time. It has haunted me a bit to know what happened to these girls and that USRC discovered what the effects of Radium could do and they covered it up. They lied in court and to medical professionals, all the while, the girl's bodies were falling apart or riddled with disease. The painful deaths the girls encountered were hard to read about because you knew it was true. The devotion of Tom Donohue is astounding ...what a wonderful husband, of course, his wife, Katherine is one of the bravest women I have ever read about. If you have not read this book, you should. It moved me like Henrietta Lacks. A must read.

I came back in 2018 because this book was still haunting me. I had to read it again. I still think it is one of the best books of 2017.

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