Avery Stafford was a woman who knew exactly who she was. The daughter of a congressman, her family's ties to southern wealth and power ran deep. From a young age, Avery had a sense of purpose; a sense that she would always achieve what she set out to do. So when a quick run-in with a strong-willed woman at a nursing home leaves her shaken and with questions about her own … [Read more...]
Kirsten Gillibrand Wants You to Run for Office in Off the Sidelines
Have you ever considered running for office but didn't think you had what it takes? So did Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, or at least she did before she actually did it. Off the Sidelines: Raise Your Voice, Change the World is her way of sharing with you why she ran and, more importantly, why you should, too. As the synopsis says, "Fourteen years before Kirsten Gillibrand … [Read more...]
Huguette Clark, Intrigue, and Mystery Abound in ‘Empty Mansions
I love castles. I forget this and don't make it a point to visit them, but every time I do I'm awed. Last year I visited Hearst Castle while I was in Big Sur, CA (courtesy of Buick), and not long ago I visited Bishop's Castle here in Colorado. While Hearst's is a sprawling estate at the top of a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Bishop's was (and is still) built by one man … [Read more...]
Survival Wins in Remini’s ‘Troublemaker’
Before listening to Leah Remini's Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology, I had a general idea of who she was. I've watched King of Queens in syndication and liked what I knew about her. I didn't know she was a Scientologist and, as someone who doesn't follow a lot of entertainment news, only had vague recollection of the frenzy surrounding her leaving the church. So … [Read more...]
As Night Falls by Jenny Milchman
This book holds a special place in my heart because not only do I consider Jenny a friend (she helped start #30Authors), but she thanked me and a few other bloggers in the acknowledgements section of this book, which still amazes me. That said, I tried very hard to review this independently of my personal feelings and I loved her style before we became friends. So, on to the … [Read more...]