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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Review: Tiny Little Thing

Tiny Little Thing by Beatriz Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So far this is my favorite Beatriz books. I love Tiny and Pepper. I loved how they fixed up a car together and how Tiny realizes that she doesn't have a perfect life. She is living just for status, with a man who prefers the company of others which could ruin his career in the day and age the story takes place. Cap (Caspian) is incredible. I love every part about him. He is just the dude you want to come into stories like this.

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Review: Pop-Up Truck and Peril

Pop-Up Truck and Peril by Harper Lin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Harper Lin's books...they are fast, engaging and funny. In Pop up Truck and Peril, Amelia's best friend Christine asks her to move the truck to her work for a few days because a co worker has been murdered and the police do have a suspect....only Christine can't believe the suspect would do it. Amelia is on the job selling her treats and solving crime and getting herself into trouble...with the police and the real murderer.

In Amelia's personal life, her ex is getting married and causing drama with their kids. Amelia has to learn how to handle this without making her ex look bad to his kids and keep her sanity.

This is a perfect series to download and take on vacation with you. I don't think you have to read the previous 5 to get the story, but why would you do that? They are all so fun.

I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

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