Blodeuedd's Tuesday Review: The American Adventuress by CW Gortner

By: C. W. Gortner

Narrated by: Ell Potter

Length: 12 hrs and 59 mins

Release date: 09-20-22

Publisher: HarperAudio

Historical fiction / to review

I did not really know a lot about Jennie..or anything. I know some of the Dollar Princesses to come, but Jennie was one of the first, and what a life!

Jennie met and fell in love with the 2nd son of the Duke of Marlbourough. Some drama there, she being an American, he a nobleman. But they get each other in the end, have two kids, one being a certain Winston Churchill.

And then lots more. She had lots of affair, the most noted one with the future king of England. She still loved her husband, but noble marriages were strange. She also did a lot of things I could not have imagined. Like sending aid and going to the Boer war. Her marriages though, dang she must have been a very fascinating woman. One of a kind.

I do confess, I googled a lot! I just wanted to know things before  and here at least I knew nothing tragic would happen.

An interesting book about an interesting woman.

First time listening to this narrator. Not the most variation among voices, but as this truly was Jennie's story that did not matter. Everything came from her. It was a good fit for a historical fiction and def something you should listen to

Daughter of famed financier Leonard Jerome, Jennie was born in New York City to wealth—and scandal. When her parents separated for reasons that were quickly hushed up, Jennie and her sisters followed their mother to Paris, where the city became their finishing school. Determined to marry her daughters into the most elite families, Mrs. Jerome draped them in the finest gowns by Worth and introduced them at Queen Victoria’s court.

Jenny quickly caught the eye of Randolph Spencer-Churchill, a man-about-town and aspiring politician whose father, the Duke of Marlborough, was one of Britain’s loftiest peers. But although the Marlboroughs’ Bleinheim Palace was grander than Buckingham Palace, the family was cash-poor, and desperate to marry their sons to well-heeled American heiresses like Jennie and her sister-in-law Consuelo Vanderbilt. Jennie wasn’t prepared to stop at a duke’s second son, though. With Randolph’s tacit approval, she became mistress to the Prince of Wales, a celebrated bon vivant and womanizer. Their friendship, which lasted decades, greatly bolstered Jennie’s social fortunes—and Randolph’s career ambitions.

But with great highs came great lows. Randolph’s life was cut short, and after losing him, Jennie dove into a disastrous marriage to George Cornwallis-West, much to the dismay of her two sons, who were the same age as their new stepfather. But as Winston began his own brilliant political career, it was Jennie who proved his most valuable supporter. And when she cast off her second husband and took on a third in the midst of the Great War, the American adventuress truly came into her own. 

Book Review: The Romanov Empress

Author: CW Gortner
Title: The Romanov Empress
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: ebook
Published: July 10 2018
Where I Got It: My shelf (Netgalley)



Narrated by the mother of Russia’s last tsar, this vivid, historically authentic novel brings to life the courageous story of Maria Feodorovna, one of Imperial Russia’s most compelling women who witnessed the splendor and tragic downfall of the Romanovs as she fought to save her dynasty in the final years of its long reign.
                  
Barely nineteen, Minnie knows that her station in life as a Danish princess is to leave her family and enter into a royal marriage—as her older sister Alix has done, moving to  England to wed Queen Victoria’s eldest son. The winds of fortune bring Minnie to Russia, where she marries the Romanov heir and becomes empress once he ascends the throne. When resistance to his reign strikes at the heart of her family and the tsar sets out to crush all who oppose him, Minnie—now called Maria—must tread a perilous path of compromise in a country she has come to love.
                  
Her husband’s death leaves their son Nicholas as the inexperienced ruler of a deeply divided and crumbling empire. Determined to guide him to reforms that will bring Russia into the modern age, Maria faces implacable opposition from Nicholas’s strong-willed wife, Alexandra, whose fervor has lead her into a disturbing relationship with a mystic named Rasputin. As the unstoppable wave of revolution rises anew to engulf Russia, Maria will face her most dangerous challenge and her greatest heartache.
  
                
From the opulent palaces of St. Petersburg and the intrigue-laced salons of the aristocracy to the World War I battlefields and the bloodied countryside occupied by the Bolsheviks, C. W. Gortner sweeps us into the anarchic fall of an empire and the complex, bold heart of the woman who tried to save it. 

I really enjoy this author's work. I have read a few and there are more I want to read. This one landed on my lap and I've been drooling over this book for weeks. I wanted to wait until after or near its publication. 

The story follows Minnie/Maria who is Tsar Nicholas' mother. We all know the tale of the fall of Nicholas, his family, and Imperial Russia. However, how many people can they really know his mother? I know I know very little of this force of nature. In this tale, we get to see her young, newly married, become the empress, become a mother, and see her lose everything. So sad, so very sad. I cannot imagine seeing everything fall away and never really, truly knowing what happened to part of your family. She lost so many of her family members during the fall of the monarchy. 

If only those stubborn men had listened to her!! That darn Russian pride was the downfall. If they had listened to her and followed through on her father-in-law's plan to follow in England's footsteps ALL OF THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. But no. The stubbornness of males caused so many needless deaths. They could have avoided the fall of a great country. 

The story was told wonderfully. I enjoyed every moment. There were a couple of slow moments, but they did not last long. Maria had very time to rest. Lots to do especially with all those kids and constant issues popping up. 

Yes, she was a stubborn woman and could be harsh, but I was on her side pretty much for everything especially Nicholas' wife. Yes, let Nicky marry her...but I really feel that Alexandra was a huge factor in the fall of the monarchy especially with her fascination with that man. 

I liked Sasha too, but in the end, he was a stubborn male who didn't realize the people give power NOT god. England learned this and some other countries did too THUS why their royalty got to keep their place. A pity indeed. 

The ending was so sad, of course. I did get some tears especially thinking how monstrous revolutionaries can be. THE CHILDREN! They did nothing. UGH!!!!! So sad. My heart broke for Maria. She lost everything and pretty much everyone; such a tragic story. I loved it though. This was real and I felt the author really brought the characters to life. Splendid, indeed. 


In the end, this is a must-read for anyone who likes historical fictions. Heck. For anyone who likes a good people story. The author is such a good storyteller and knows how to bring historical people to life! Just note...there is no HEA in this one. Very sad. I'll stamp this with 5 stars. :3

Book Review: Marlene by CW Gortner

Author: CW Gortner
Titles: Marlene
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: Ebook
First Published: May 2016
Where I Got It: On my shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

Raised in genteel poverty after the first World War, Maria Magdalena Dietrich dreams of a life on the stage. When a budding career as a violinist is cut short, the willful teenager vows to become a singer, trading her family’s proper, middle class society for the free-spirited, louche world of Weimar Berlin’s cabarets and drag balls. With her sultry beauty, smoky voice, seductive silk cocktail dresses, and androgynous tailored suits, Marlene performs to packed houses, and becomes entangled in a series of stormy love affairs that push the boundaries of social convention. 

For the beautiful, desirous Lili Marlene, neither fame nor marriage and motherhood can cure her wanderlust. As Hitler and the Nazis rise to power, she sets sail for America. Rivaling the success of another European import, Greta Garbo, Marlene quickly becomes one of Hollywood’s leading ladies, starring with legends such as Gary Cooper, John Wayne, and Cary Grant. Desperate for her return, Hitler tries to lure her with dazzling promises. Marlene instead chooses to become an American citizen, and after her new nation is forced into World War II, tours with the USO, performing for thousands of Allied troops in Europe and Africa. 

But one day she will return to Germany. Escorted by General George Patton himself, Marlene is heartbroken by the war’s devastation and the evil legacy of the Third Reich that has transformed her homeland and the family she loved. 

This was certainly addicting! I seriously could not put this down....I could not read fast enough! Marlene was an interesting character in both the novel and real life.

 This isn't my first novel that I've read by this author. I adore his writing! He really knows how to bring a person to life. He finds a way to not only showcase his writing style, but a way to share the unique voice of his characters. Especially with this one, I felt like Marlene wrote this herself. It was fantastic.

Marlene was an intriguing person in real life even though I have/had limited knowledge about her as a person. I've seen a handful of her films and I do adore her. She was so beautiful, strong, and a wonderful actress. I had no idea how involved she was during WWII. I'm not surprised, because many actors/actresses certainly got involved, but I had no idea HOW involved she was. 

The story starts off with her childhood and goes until right after the war. There were some time jumps, but they worked well. I'm certainly glad the author divided  the book into sections to keep the reader from getting confused and understanding when and where the story is (since it does span through lots of years). 

Why was her mom so mean to her? I get being hard on your kid and all, but man....also why did so many people think she was fat? Because she had some thighs? I get back then the look was willow-y and tall. I still think Marlene was one of the prettiest girls of her time personally. 

I really have no complaints with this book. Yes, there were some slow spots, but I feel it was well balanced. During the "slow" areas I was able to connect with the character. I want to read more about Marlene. And Bette Davis. Like Marlene, I had no idea how involved Davis was. The things you learn!

I could honestly rave about this book all day. This is definitely a contender for Book of the Year. ;) I highly recommend this to anyone who likes historical books or anyone who just like a good story about a person who made something of themselves. It is certainly worth a read. Out of five stars, I stamp this with 5. 

Book Review: The Queen's Vow

Author:  C.W Gortner

Title: The Queen's Vow
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 382

First Published: June 12th, 2012
Where I Got It: Borrowed from Library

"No one believed I was destined for greatness.
 
So begins Isabella’s story, in this evocative, vividly imagined novel about one of history’s most famous and controversial queens—the warrior who united a fractured country, the champion of the faith whose reign gave rise to the Inquisition, and the visionary who sent Columbus to discover a New World. Acclaimed author C. W. Gortner envisages the turbulent early years of a woman whose mythic rise to power would go on to transform a monarchy, a nation, and the world. 
 
Young Isabella is barely a teenager when she and her brother are taken from their mother’s home to live under the watchful eye of their half-brother, King Enrique, and his sultry, conniving queen. There, Isabella is thrust into danger when she becomes an unwitting pawn in a plot to dethrone Enrique. Suspected of treason and held captive, she treads a perilous path, torn between loyalties, until at age seventeen she suddenly finds herself heiress of Castile, the largest kingdom in Spain. Plunged into a deadly conflict to secure her crown, she is determined to wed the one man she loves yet who is forbidden to her—Fernando, prince of Aragon.
 
As they unite their two realms under “one crown, one country, one faith,” Isabella and Fernando face an impoverished Spain beset by enemies. With the future of her throne at stake, Isabella resists the zealous demands of the inquisitor Torquemada even as she is seduced by the dreams of an enigmatic navigator named Columbus. But when the Moors of the southern domain of Granada declare war, a violent, treacherous battle against an ancient adversary erupts, one that will test all of Isabella’s resolve, her courage, and her tenacious belief in her destiny.
 
From the glorious palaces of Segovia to the battlefields of Granada and the intrigue-laden gardens of Seville, The Queen’s Vow sweeps us into the tumultuous forging of a nation and the complex, fascinating heart of the woman who overcame all odds to become Isabella of Castile."

This is the first book I've read by C.W Gortner and the first I've read about Queen Isabella. 

I've always been pretty neutral to Queen Isabella and her husband due to the fact that I'm not a huge fan of their daughter Catalina (aka Queen Catherine of England) and how they helped find the Americas. However, my eye was drawn to this at the library in the 'New Book' section and I decided to learn some more of her journey to becoming legend. Now that her tale is done, I am in awe of her. I actually like her even though she has some pretty bad things attached to her name. Yes, she had some pretty bad things happen in her country, but I personally believe if she hadn't "done" those things Spain wouldn't be what it is today. It would probably still be fragmented and torn and we'd have a dozen different countries to the list of countries. 

Alright I shall usher the history nerd to go back to her corner and stop the rambling.

I found the author's writing very flowy and addicting! I felt like I was truly there and I wanted...no needed to now what was going to happen next (even though I knew). How odd. I forgot all the historical facts while reading. There is just something about his writing that I liked and I will be checking out some of his other books. 

Even though I thought Isabella was a Catholic fanatic, I liked her! She certainly was a woman to reckon with and I adored that. She was strong-willed and smart. I was also surprised how she allowed her husband equal powers...she didn't have him just become her consort (which is what I would have done). I feel like she really felt that women and men should be equal of each other. 

She was defiantly a woman a head of her times in a lot of aspects. I must applaud C.W Gortner for writing Isabella as one who had a hard ass time deciding what to do with the Jews of her country. She didn't hate them and it was hard for her to have them banished, because she realized that they were citizens and her subjects. She may have been a Catholic fanatic, but she had a heart and it seemed it really haunted her the whole Inquisition nonsense.  

Sorry, somehow the history nerd keeps escaping!

There was nothing I could really nick-pick about this one! I loved this book! I found myself staying up late to just read this. Pretty sad, eh? C.W Gortner is wonderful writer and I hope his other books cause me to second look at historical figures I never really care for and see their side of the tale. 

This book does have an element of romance in it, because Isabella and Ferando did love each other, but it's hard for me to recommend this to HR lovers, because the romance level is limited. I would recommend this to those who love Historical Fictions with a touch of romance intertwined.Out of five stars I grant this 5 stars. Woot woot!

Favorite Character(s): Isabella, Alfonso (her brother), Beatriz, and Carbra 

Not-so Favorite Character(s): Older and Younger Villena (snakes), King Enrique (weak little man), and Joanna of Portugal (I wanted to smack her). 

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<3CaroleRae

Thursday Book Teaser #4: The Queen's Vow

Thursday Book Teaser is a Carole-version of all the other book teaser memes out there. Every Thursday, I'll share a little tease of a book I'm currently reading. I'll randomly pick a page or I'll give some random number and flip to that page. I'll just share a few sentences to try and tease you. Anyone can join in! Just remember...no spoilers! FYI, I still don't have a meme cover for this, so...yeah. haha.

Happy Thursday! Time is nearly here for my friend's wedding! Saturday is the day and I'm getting nervous myself! I still haven't written my maid of honor speech. Yes, I am a procrastinator. hahaha.

Well, this week I'll be sharing a teaser from 'The Queen's Vow' by CW Gortner:

Page Number: 18 (in honor of Anee's wedding day)
Beginning at sentence: 8ish

"'No, No.' I choked back my mirth as best I could. 'I was not. I was only thinking that had the Maid come your way, you'd have joined her without a moment's hesitation.'

'Indeed, I would have.' She leapt to her feet. 'I'd have thrown my books and embroidery out the window and jumped on the first horse available. How wonderful it must be to do as you please, to fight for your country, to live with only the sky as your roof and the earth as your bed.'

'You exaggerate, Beatriz. Crusades involve more hardship than history tells us.'

'Perhaps, but at least we'd be doing something!'

I looked at her hands, clasped as if she were brandishing a weapon. 'You could certainly wield a sword with those big paws of yours,' I teased.

She stuck out her chin. 'You're the princess, not me. You would wield the sword.'

As if day had slipped without warning into night, cold overcame me. I shivered. 'I don't think I could ever lead an army,' I said, in a low voice......."


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<3CaroleRae