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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Review: The Heir and the Spare

The Heir and the Spare by Emily Albright
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Once I got to focus on this book, I LOVED it! It was a mix of William and Kate and the Princess Diaries and Friends. I simply adored the tale of Evie and Edmund and really wanted a sequel because I loved it. It was a perfect poolside read for me today.

Light, fluffy, and a bit predictable, but you will like it.

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Review: The Hamilton Affair

The Hamilton Affair by Elizabeth Cobbs
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love American History and Presidential History and I had very high hopes for this book because of that. I wish I could say it was superb because I wanted it to be. I felt that Alexander wasn't developed. If I didn't know what I knew about him would I have even liked this character? I don't think so. It would have read like any other quick read romance. I didn't know much about Eliza (and still don't) except what I know from the play which may be true or untrue (not sure). The colors of the cover and silhouetted figures remind me very much of the playbill so I am thinking maybe this was rushed to press to capitalize on the fact that we ALL want and NEED more Hamilton in our lives. I just wish this lived up to it. I did enjoy it more once I put on the soundtrack, so you might want to consider reading and listening at the same time.

My favorite parts of the book were the scenes of Jefferson (my fave) and Hamilton and Hamilton and Washington. I pretty much felt these were dead on with what I have studied of the men.

I also felt the duel scene was worthy. I actually think this is my favorite part.

I just wish I fell in love with Alexander here like I did with the play.

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Review: A Deadly Bridal Shower

A Deadly Bridal Shower by Harper Lin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Once again, I'm thoroughly entertained by Harper Lin. I can always count on an afternoon well spent. The books are short, but full of action.

Sometimes I want to murder a character myself. This book had two such characters for me.....but I love that! Suspects are found around every corner, but will you figure it out?

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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.

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Review: Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

For almost 10 years, this book has sat on a shelf. For almost 10 years I said, "I need to read this". Finally almost 10 years later thanks to a dude name Lin-Manuel Miranda I got it out. Took me about 10 years to read it, but I loved it. Why did I wait so long? I study Washington, Jefferson, and Madison....and read a book on Burr (Gore Vidal---superb); not once had I read a book on A. Ham. I rather enjoyed getting to know him. As a matter of a fact, this book introduced me to A. Ham fiction and books on duels. I have visited a few sites on Alexander and taken photos but it was because I knew he was FIRST Treasury Secretary, not because he was so intriguing. Thanks LMM for introducing a NON Presidential hero to me.

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Review: This Is Where It Ends

This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I am still very unsure of how I feel about this book. My emotions are very mixed. I am upset, I am shocked, and I am a little unnerved. I think you should read this one for yourself if want to know how good it is. Just expect brutal scenes. If you visualize when you read, this is just horrible in spots (the action).

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Review: The Princess Diarist

The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

All those months of waiting.....that was quick. For sure a journal entry of her relationship with Harrison Ford. Carrison as she refers to it, doesn't appeal to me. I never really thought Carrie and Harrison would be a match. This proves it. I like them as Leia and Han, that's all. I did see by LISTENING to this, that I am correct in my assumption Harrison has one mood.....SERIOUS.

Overall, this is fine if you want to listen to someone's diary, the nerd in me just wanted more SW stuff.

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Review: The Dollhouse

The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love a book that sucks you and and won't release you. This book fit the bill perfectly. Picture this....it's 1952, you are in a hotel in NYC. It's a hotel unlike hotels we have these days, this one was for ladies only. Many of the girls were attending college or modeling during the day and having fun at night. It is in this setting where Darby from a small town finds herself. She is in NYC to go to a college she doesn't want to attend studying a profession she has no desire to do.

The people she meets will change her life.

Flash forward to 2016...because this story takes place in 1952 and 2016. Rose lives in the same hotel (now condos) that Darby lived back in the day and STILL lives there! Rose will reveal secrets of the past and solve mysteries of the present all the while dealing with an ill father, work drama and a crappy boyfriend.

Darby will change Rose's life.

This book is full of twists and turns. I thought I knew what was going to happen, but then BAM I was wrong and the story turned. What a great book to finish my 2016 reading challenge.

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Review: A Bridge Across the Ocean

A Bridge Across the Ocean by Susan Meissner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Here's the thing. I love Susan's books, so I knew I would love this for that reason. The second reason was because it was about the RMS Queen Mary and I do love ocean liners. The third reason for me to love the book, it has sprinkles of WWII heroines interlaced all through the story. The fourth reason....the twist. It is a perfect read for me!

The story is set in modern day with the character Brette that sees ghosts. I know this part was strange to me as well, trust me, it will make sense.

In our journey we travel back to times during and post WWII. We follow GI War Brides as they leave their European homes and come to America to be with their grooms.

The story will have you hooked from the beginning, the twists will have you on the edge of your seat, the book will be so hard to put down so save some time to just read. So far it is my pick book of 2017.

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Review: The Wicked City

The Wicked City by Beatriz Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It is nice to have the Schuyler sisters make another appearance! That was a pleasant surprise. This book did go from 1924 and 1998 and how the timelines intertwine. I always like this in a fictional read. Ginger is our 1924 gal. We follow her through her day to day life and learn of traumatic event in her childhood. When her mother gets sick, her past comes right back to smack her in the face.

Ella, our 1998 friend, life has completely changed from what she envisioned when she married Patrick. She has to learn how to live all over again....and somehow she gets connected to Gin in 1924.

Look to see who is connected to the Schuyler family and what that connection is.

I enjoyed the 1998 timeline better, but I realize I couldn't have that timeline without Ginger being a flapper in 1924.

As for Ms. Williams, she is on the list of authors I MUST read. Tiny Little Thing is still my favorite, but I have loved them all.

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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: Lafayette in the Somewhat United States

Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was a tad apprehensive about reading this book.
1. I had never read anything by the author
2. The cover didn't thrill me
3. I like Lafayette and wanted to keep liking him.

I am happy to say that the first 2 on my list didn't matter because from the first page, I was captivated. The author wove history around modern day experiences and places. She very successfully connected the past with the present and took a road trip in the process. What a brilliant move!

She is correct that most folks don't know about Lafayette. Don't realize how vital he and his friends were to America gaining independence, but this book could help them understand where all the Lafayette Square are Lafayette Drives across got their name.

That brings me to #3 on my list. I still like the Marquis de Lafayette. I like him a lot and I am so grateful to him and all his friend's sacrifices so we could become a nation.

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