Review: Murder in Hollywood: Solving a Silent Screen Mystery

Murder in Hollywood: Solving a Silent Screen Mystery by Charles Higham
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is about the same murder that Tinseltown was written about. I read these two back to back on purpose because I wanted to see what two different writers thought about this unsolved Hollywood murder. This book featured things that were not mentioned in the last book, evidence wise. I was wondering if it was fiction or actual facts? I did not enjoy this one as much. This one was writer with one criminal in mind and didn't much mention what others could have murder William Desmond Taylor. I did like that this author seemed to have actually interviewed some of the "players" or their families...but I question what their memories were given it was so long.

I made up my mind long ago who the murderer was and after reading these two books, I have not changed that....but we will never know the truth.

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Review: The Silver Linings Playbook

The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I so very much enjoyed this book. Depression, reinvention and desperation....made for some great entertainment. I had not seen the film so I wasn't sure what was going to happen (or even of the film is like the book).

I hate reviewing books too much for fear of giving away plots....Pat was a bit screwed up, Tiffany was a complete mess but hey aren't we all? Pat is trying hard to start over so he doesn't have to go back to the bad place and so apart time can be over. That is his plan. Tiffany meets him and changes his plan, with him almost kicking and screaming along the way. A friendship is formed and hopefully Tiffany can help him end apart time.

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Review: Someday, Someday, Maybe

Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There was not one thing that I didn't love about this book, except that it ended. I loved the characters, the story, the drawings, the setting. ..everything! I you're Lauren is working on a sequel. Simply perfection.

Franny is an in and out of work actor in the mid 90's. She struggles with jobs, agents, and her love life. She has set a goal for herself to make it big or use the backup plan. Will she get the big break? Or use plan B? Or like a good episode of Law and Order, will there be a twist?

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Review: A Touch of Stardust

A Touch of Stardust by Kate Alcott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I simply LOVED this book. No ands, ifs or buts about it. It is a fictional story set in the time of 1938 during the filming of Gone With The Wind. The main character works for Carole Lombard, girlfriend and then wife of the famed Clark Gable, AKA Rhett Butler. The characters are perfectly suited to the real-life Carole, Clark, and Selznick. Any GWTW fan should like this as well as fans of film fiction. A wonderful time was had by all.

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Review: Mademoiselle Chanel

Mademoiselle Chanel by C.W. Gortner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have never been a fan of Coco, just of her designs. I thought I would give this a try because it is set in the period that I like to read about. Even though it did not change my mind about Chanel the person, it was a very enjoyable read. It read like a bio even though it was fiction. It did not portray Andre as Coco's child, as I have often read, but as her nephew; which was how he was presented to the world. Only Coco would know the real story there.

If you like the 20's-40's and fashion, you would like this book. If you are reading because you think you like Chanel....well, maybe you should rethink that and read it for some other reason. She is not an easy person to like because of her beliefs and this book does not change them to make her more likeable, and I liked that it stayed true to how CC was.

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Review: The Dressmaker

The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was worried that this fictional work might be portrayed as real Titanic history. I'm glad the author explained that at the end. While, I wished there was more time spent on the ship and less on that dreadful trials, this was a fine read. It might get folks interested in the real Titanic. The Duff Gordons did indeed sail on that ship, and the controversy of lifeboat #1 has always intrigued me, so of course I found the authors take interesting. I am interested to know what happens to Tess. Also, Ms.Alcott's writing is making me happy. This is the second book I have read of hers in a couple of months and I am ready for another.

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Review: The Forgotten Flapper: A Novel of Olive Thomas

The Forgotten Flapper: A Novel of Olive Thomas by Laini Giles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my word! I have waited forever to read a book on Olive Thomas. I have been intrigued by her since childhood. This was written as if Olive was telling us the story. Fiction that reads like nonfiction. Written in a style most celeb auto bios are written in...."I make good choices but those around me don't." It was a perfect way to tell a story about a big celebrity that no one now knows because she died in 1920. She was big Before talkies and married a Pickford. A Ziegfeld girl, the most beautifil woman....Olive had it all. She was royalty.

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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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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: 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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