authentic reviews and insightful interviews for inquisitive readers
Title: The Black Swan of Paris Author: Karen Robards Series: n/a Rife with tension, heartache, and hope I would like to thank Karen Robards, Harlequin MIRA, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Also thanks to Justine Sha for inviting me to participate in the blog tour. Don’t take my 4-star rating to heart; I wasn’t the ideal audience for this type of book. I wanted to read this because it …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Close Up by Amanda Quick blends together the historical, suspense, and a tinge of the romance genres. Through a gripping mystery, readers also get a glimpse of the 1930s Hollywood-type glamour of California. The books opens with Vivian Brazier rushing to a crime scene to take photographs of a murder. Cut off from her family’s funds for pursuing her dream, a career in art, to make ends meet she takes crime scene photos and …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah is a must read for anyone who has never read this historical novel that was first published in 2015. While people are locked down they might want to pick up this novel, which is very relevant to today considering that Yom HaShoah, The Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes Remembrance Day, has just been observed. The plot has two sisters who are both heroic and martyrs for their unselfish acts. Vianne …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Red Letter Days by Sarah-Jane Stratford blends romance, politics, and history. This story is very relevant today with unproven accusations, a Red Scare, and no due process. Yet, this book is not about the current political situation in America today, but about the dark era in the 1950s called McCarthyism where writers, actors, producers and directors were accused of being Communists. The story begins with the main character Phoebe Adler striving to make it …
Find an interview with the author here. Elise Cooper: Thank you for doing this. I must say that it is an honor since you are respected and admired, someone who became an American historical icon. Throughout your life there have been such tribulations and triumphs. From the time you married John Fitzgerald Kennedy, your life seemed to be a roller coaster ride from becoming First Lady, to having to endure the assassinations of John and Bobby Kennedy, to making a …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper And They Called It Camelot by Stephanie Marie Thornton brings to life one of America’s iconic figures, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. Although much has been written and told, readers who think they know everything about her legacy will find that there are actually new and meaningful true revelations with this intimate portrait. The former First Lady was glamorous, strong, intelligent, politically savvy, charming, and stylistic. She was able to adapt to the many difficult …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Girl in White Gloves by Kerri Maher reads more like a biography than a fictional story. It delves into the life of Grace Kelly, an iconic actress of her time, who became a princess. Readers get a glimpse into her childhood dreams, her rise to fame, and her eventual royal life as Princess of Monaco. Born into a wealthy family, Grace was encouraged to achieve success in the things that mattered to her …
Title: The Sun Down Motel Author: Simone St. James Series: N/A Not her best but I still really enjoyed it Well, let me tell ya. I wasn’t going to review this book because I’m bitter that Berkley wouldn’t allow me to read an ARC. I’ve praised St. James’s books up and down since I discovered them a few years ago; I’ve recommended them to friends and family; and I was allowed to read The Broken Girls six months early. But …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Murder at the Capitol by C. M. Gleason is a unique historical mystery. With a superb ability to combine famous and admired historical figures with characters of her own, Gleason masterfully creates a suspenseful and informative story. The characters created bring to life the Civil War era. This third book in the series has want-to-be journalist Sophie Gates and Southern Belle Constance Lemagne sitting in the Senate Gallery waiting for a session to start. …
Title: The Colonel and the Enchantress Author: Paullett Golden Series: Enchantresses #4 Charming and heartwarming, but pacing a little off Many thanks to the author, who provided me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. I’ve been eagerly awaiting Mary’s story (I think I say that for every book, lol), and overall, I enjoyed it. The characters were endearing, the writing style smooth and sophisticated, and the premise intriguing: A couple had to reconcile who they had …