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The Subway Girls
The Subway Girls
Susie Orman Schnall | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Clever story, great characters, interesting TRUE history! (0 more)
Nothing - I loved it! (0 more)
Charming, interesting and Girl Power!
Soooo charming and loads of girl power!!

The Subway Girls had me roped in from the second I heard about the story. Being in advertising, having lived in Brooklyn, and ALL about being a strong, independent and confident chick - I soared through this book and cannot believe I didn't know about this campaign before! Now, I'm gobbling up every book and article across the internet about it!

The Miss Subways campaign was basically a beauty/modeling contest, which translated into posters of beautiful women splashed across subway as advertising to encourage New Yorkers to ride. But it was also so much more than that. It opened doors for these women, when there weren't many available. Some went on to modeling careers, while others went back to their quiet lives at home with their family - thrilled to have such an exciting experience, even if just once in their lives. One contestant even received 278 marriage proposals!

The book is told by two women: one in the past, one present day. Both strong and ambitious, trying to find and make their way in the world. A world as we know - basically ruled by men.

Charlotte, dreams of a career in advertising - not an easy feat in the 1940's for a woman. Her boyfriend Sam supports her ambitions, while her family, for the most part - does not. She strives to get into any position at these prestigious firms, but when her efforts fail, she aims for a new way of achieving opportunity - the Miss Subways contest. Swept up in the whirlwind of beauty contests, meeting glamorous new friends, all the while fighting with her father - her struggle between doing what's expected of her and what is in her heart threatens to upend all her dreams.

Fast forward 70 years to Olivia, an advertising exec workaholic, desperate for a normal family and steady, loving relationship. While just like Charlotte - she has lofty ambitions to make her mark in the world - but struggles to make herself shine in a (still, of course!) man's world. When Olivia's firm gets a chance to land the NYC subways account - she dives into researching the history of the Miss Subways campaign. The juxtaposition of these two amazing women's lives is so clever and interesting!

I totally understand the personal and professional juggle struggle! And also the strength it takes to accomplish some things that come WAY easier in this world to men. The power of the story in this book is pleasantly overwhelming and so creatively done. I fell in love with Charlotte, her spunk and determination. And Olivia's history is a bit painful, but she never gives up. The girl power is real here, and I loved the story from beginning to end!
  
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Becka (82 KP) Jul 9, 2018

You make me want to read this. So I added it to my list of books to read.

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Becka (82 KP) Jul 9, 2018

You make me want to read this. So I added it to my list of books to read.

The Scarlet Pen (True Color #12)
The Scarlet Pen (True Color #12)
Jennifer Uhlarik | 2021 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The last book in the True Colors series is called "The Scarlet Pen." What a story it told. Though at first, you might think about what is going on. Why would parents be concerned for their daughter and not allow her to marry her friend?

We meet a young woman and her sweet talk lover Stephen. But will they end up getting married, or will Emma finally see what is going on with their beloved and find true love? We seem to follow Stephen's journey from his marriage proposal to a young woman to his eventful capture.

There a young man on horseback comes to visit and do some business. As the twist and turns show up. Something happens to make Stephen and his friend jump town; Stephen tries to keep Emma at bay and in the dark. Clay seems to want to help and protect her. Emma seems to want to defend Stephen. Why is that?

There seems to be a trail of banknotes that keep leading back to Stephen and connecting to Emma. Will Emma confront a man that may harm her and possibly kill her. Or will someone come and save her.

Who is this serial killer? Why is he doing it? Clay seems to get hints and information and then loses Richards while he is on the run. Will they all make it out safe? Will Stephen get caught, or will he run free. I felt terrible for the family that brings Clay to face the past that happened to him and his family.

The True Color series is a favorite of mine. The books are set in history and tell about true American crimes and have some fiction. These books are great for historical fiction fans and crime fans as well. This one has quite a few killings but not too much detail of the gruesome deaths. Enough to know how it happened. The stories transpire based on actual crimes in American history, but there is some friction that the author brings up in the book.
  
BB
Botticelli's Bastard
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Botticelli's Bastard + Giveway This my first in this kind of book dealing with art and history. It a good book and interesting. It deals with Germany and take over of Europe in the 1940's. I liked the idea of the painting talking and telling detail about his owners. That what is been so neat about it. I love the fact that Giovanni started with a discovery of stolen art.
 
Giovanni has some family problems that it so funny in a way that he find a discovery to lift his spirit. The author was good and i enjoyed the book. I rate this book at 4 1/2 stars. Those the painting stories about himself is so funny that you want to laugh. It makes you want to find out more of they mystery of the painting. If you want you can enter the giveaway try and win a copy.
 
Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
  
Who's Afraid Too? (Tommi Grayson #2)
Who's Afraid Too? (Tommi Grayson #2)
Maria Lewis | 2019 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Contains spoilers, click to show
Tommi Grayson: all bark, all bite . . . and now she's BACK!

After the worst family reunion in history, Tommi needed some space. She's spent the last few weeks trying to understand her heritage - the one that comes with a side order of fur - as well as learning about her Maori ancestry and how she can connect to it. But she can only escape for so long. ...


Maria Lewis is so refreshing! I live Tommi Grayson she kicks ass and just keeps going! Maria is never afraid to kill characters off for impact and I truly admire that! This book see Tommi dealing with the loss of friends , the news of her best friends cancer being back, her troubled relationship with Lorcan and moving on to learn how to be a werewolf. So much and such little time before another mystery hits! Love the new characters introduced.
Can not wait to read the next installment.
 
Recommended
  
SF
Summer Fire (The Lake House, #1)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received this book from Jar O' Marbles in return for a fair and honest review.

This is a short contemporary romance that nevertheless manages to convey the whole build up to the romance plus the anguish that Jack has lived through. There is depth to this novella which usually is missing due to the nature of the book. Somehow, Kate Austin has managed to give you their backstory, and how their relationship developed, plus Jack's history, all in a few short pages. This made the story all the more enjoyable.

If I had one complaint, it would be that you didn't find out anything really about Kara's creepy ex-fiance and family but that isn't really relevant anyway. That's just me being nosy.

Thoroughly enjoy this novella and although this story was wrapped up exceedingly well, was left wanting more from The Lake House. Highly recommended.

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
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Vegas (725 KP) rated The Guest House in Books

Jan 24, 2020  
The Guest House
The Guest House
Abbie Frost | 2020 | Mystery, Thriller
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Keeps you guessing (2 more)
Atmospheric
Great setting
Can picture this as a good film
7 people in a remote house in Ireland, booked as a B&B through an online app. A family of 3, A man and his father and 2 young ladies, both on their own.

The weather sets in and strange things start happening, from food and drink going missing to sounds of a child crying and power cuts, but when a body is found, things can only get worse...

You learn a lot obout the history of the house, the back ground of the guests, with some of the story told in flashback form, and it is difficult to try and second guess what is going to happen.

The author manages to make the setting very atmospheric and you can almost feel the tension and pressure they are suffering through the narrative...

If you are a fan of psychological thrillers either as a book or film you should enjoy this.