Happy Monday and welcome to my spot on the blog tour for The Kennedy Debutante, a new publication from Berkley releasing on October 2, 2018!
My Thoughts:
I recently listened to an audiobook about Rosemary Kennedy, and ever since, my interest has been piqued about Kick Kennedy’s short life. Why didn’t I know more about her?
The Kennedy Debutante is Kick’s story. In 1930s London, Kick’s father is an ambassador in England, and she is a big time society girl. She has a yearning for a life of adventure, and with all her might, she works her way out of her strict mother’s grasp and into the arms of Billy Hartington, the soon-to-be Duke of Devonshire.
The lovers are star-crossed, though, because Kick’s family is devout Catholic, and Billy’s family is Protestant. Their parents would never approve.
World War II begins, which sends Billy to war and the Kennedys back home to the States. Nothing stops determined Kick from making her way back overseas where she becomes a journalist and works for the Red Cross. Will Kick choose her family or her love?
The Kennedys are like royalty in the US. Their contributions have been complex- from scandal to civil rights advocacy, to everything in between, including devastating tragedies of their own, but there is always a lurid fascination. Kerri Maher’s slower pacing of this story is deliciously detailed and offers insights into each of the Kennedy family members.
The Kennedy Debutante is a wonderfully engaging story of the search for forbidden love while questioning family and faith. With World War II as its backdrop, The Kennedy Debutante is rife with a secured time and place and charming, robust characters. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction, especially set against WWII.
Thank you to Berkley for the invitation to participate in the blog tour and for the finished copy. All opinions are my own.
About the Book:
THE KENNEDY DEBUTANTE by Kerri Maher
Berkley Hardcover; October 2, 2018; $26.00
Historical Fiction
About the novel:
London, 1938. The effervescent “It girl” of London society since her father was named the ambassador, Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy moves in rarified circles, rubbing satin-covered elbows with some of the 20th century’s most powerful figures. Eager to escape the watchful eye of her strict mother, Rose, the antics of her older brothers, Jack and Joe, and the erratic behavior of her sister Rosemary, Kick is ready to strike out on her own and is soon swept off her feet by Billy Hartington, the future Duke of Devonshire.
But their love is forbidden, as Kick’s devout Catholic family and Billy’s staunchly Protestant one would never approve their match. When war breaks like a tidal wave across her world, Billy is ripped from her arms as the Kennedys are forced to return to the States. Kick gets work as a journalist and joins the Red Cross to get back to England, where she will have to decide where her true loyalties lie—with family or with love.
About the Author:
Kerri Maher is also the author of This Is Not A Writing Manual: Notes for the Young Writer in the Real World under the name Kerri Majors. She holds an MFA from Columbia University and founded YARN, an award-winning literary journal of short-form YA writing. For many years a professor of writing, she now writes full time and lives with her daughter in Massachusetts where apple picking and long walks in the woods are especially fine.
Advanced Praise for The Kennedy Debutante:
“American royalty takes British aristocracy by storm in The Kennedy Debutante, starring JFK’s vivacious sister Kathleen ‘Kick’ Kennedy who arrives in London on the brink of war…Kerri Maher’s debut stars a debutante to root for in this moving coming-of-age tale.”—Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network
“An outstanding deep dive into a fascinating person and time. For fans of The Crown, the riveting story of a headstrong American girl captivated by a dashing British aristocrat. I’m blown away.”—Fiona Davis, national bestselling author ofThe Masterpiece
“Maher beautifully mixes the red-blooded American iconography of the Kennedys with the delicious and Downton Abbey-esque grandeur of Britain’s upper crusts…her story will make your heart lurch in the best possible ways.”—Allison Pataki,New York Times bestselling author of The Accidental Empress
Have you read The Kennedy Debutante, or is it on your TBR? Do you also follow the Kennedy family? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR
Lovely review… I don’t read much of this genre.
On a tangential topic – is hibiscus your favorite flower?
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Thanks, Shalini! I think it’s becoming one of them, but I’m more of a tulip and orchid fan. I have a lot of hibiscus in my pics because it’s been a big bloomer in my yard this year. ♥️ 🌺
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I loved them in your pics.. They remind me of my childhood
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Aw, I love that. I wish I could send some to you. The hurricane winds and rain were tough on them. I’m hoping I can get a couple more blooms before fall (and we have to bring them inside for winter- they can’t get below 50 degrees Fahrenheit). ♥️ 🌺
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Lovely review 😍😗
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Thank you, Priyasha! ♥️
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Love this! I am glad you enjoyed it! I can’t wait to get started on it!
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Thanks, Zoe! I’m so excited for your thoughts! I hope you enjoy it too!
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Fantastic review and picture. It is on my tbr list. Happy Monday!💃👠💕📚🌺
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Thank you, Virginia! Hope you had a great Monday, too! 💗 xo
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Yes! I knew your review would be stellar. I’d no interest in this title until now. Kudos!
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Thank you, Jonetta! It was a fascinating read!
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It is definitely on my tiny) TBR list. Superb review, Jennifer as always.
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Thank you, Marialyce! I hope you find Kick’s life just as fascinating.
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Glad you enjoyed! I read the Rosemary Kennedy book some time ago and enjoyed it (and learned a lot about her too)! I really can’t even remember the title of the book, but it was a good one.
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Thank you, Holls! I think it may have been the same one I listened to on audio maybe? It was very good and covered so much of the family life. ♥️
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Terrific review – this one sounds so good!
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Thanks, Mackey! It was a lovely read!
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Great review Jenni!😂💕 Sounds like a good read! Flowers look lovely as always! You should freak everyone out and put a plain old stick in one of your pictures! Haha🤔😁💕💕
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Thank you, Sus! I loved this book! 😂 I have lots of sticks around here these days! I’m going to try that! 😂 ♥️
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Haha I bet you do! On a side note, I can’t call you Jenni……I don’t know why I just can’t! Sorry Jen!😂😂
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It’s fine! I know the rule for that? Maybe? When I lived in PA (and I know you are in NY- but close!), any name could only have one syllable! Do you ever go by Sue? Because most Susans were Sue, but I like to call you Sus because that’s what I call my absolutely beloved cousin, Susan! ♥️
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Oh yeah! The whole time growing up and actually up until 2005 I went by Sue. My husband has always preferred Susan so……..haha. I’ve always called you Jennifer or Jen and Jenni, to me, just isn’t you!💕💕
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My friends mostly call me Jen, and at work I’m mostly Jennifer. My husband and family call me Jenni, so I guess that makes sense, Sus, because you are indeed my friend! 💗
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And you mine!💕
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You have to stop giving me books I must buy! I got the Silence of the Girls book and I am ready to read and review it.
The Kennedy Debutante book intrigues me!
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😊 I’m sorry, Ink! I think you have a great read ahead of you with The Silence of the Girls! I’m eager for your thoughts on it! The Kennedy Debutante was fantastic, too!
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Loved your review! ❤ Kick's love affair with Billy was so heartbreaking at times; I can't imagine being confined by all those rules when in love. Such a short life…that family has had so much tragedy that it's crazy. I just love reading about them though! ❤
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Thank you, Stephanie! I never tire of reading about them either! She was confined, and all of it was pretty tame by today’s standards. 💗
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You’re welcome! Me either! She was, and that’s true although my grandmother would have expected the same out of me. She almost had a stroke when I got pregnant before I was married and married someone my family (my mother’s side) didn’t approve of because his family didn’t meet their approval, lol. She never liked my husband until the day she died, God bless her. And she was my favorite person in the world, so that was so hard.
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Fabulous review! This sounds like a good one!
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Thank you, Chrissi!
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That sounds so good! I love history done this way:)
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I’m sorry I didn’t see your comment, AJ! It was in my spam box. This was a great look at a time in history with this family. ♥️
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Cool! I’ll keep an eye out for it:)
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I love that this is a true story! British royalty + American “royalty” meet in a star-crossed affair sounds like a romantic drama series! Glad you enjoyed this one, Jennifer! ❤
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Thanks, Kathy! Sometimes the truth is more entertaining (stranger) than fiction! So many happenings within that famous family. ♥️
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I think the Duke of Devonshire owns Chatsworth, better known to us bookish types as Pemberley! So this story could almost be a more modern version of Pride and Prejudice… 😀
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Oh, how fascinating! I love that tidbit! The former Duke (not sure if that’s how you refer to one who has passed away?) died in a mission during the war, and then Kick had an affair with the married Earl Fitzwilliam, and the pair died in a plane crash over Cannes. So much tragedy in this family.
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Wonderful review! This looks intriguing!
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Thank you, Berit! ♥️ I enjoyed it! Xoxo
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Well just remember in writing that comment last night makes my head hurt, not sure why I just cannot admit when I have been defeated and need to go to bed! LOL
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I really hope you are feeling better! ♥️
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Even just the title drew me in, and I love that you found such significant characters and a gorgeous setting! I’ve recently been enjoying historical fiction, and it’s a genre I didn’t used to read. Great review!
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Thank you, Mack! It was interesting learning more about the Kennedys. I’m glad you are enjoying more histfic! You know it’s my favorite! ♥️
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Beautiful photo and as always, lovely review. Kick sounds interesting and I like how she decided to work during the war, I assume that she didn’t have so its brave that she decided to. Its interesting how being a Catholic/ Protestant was a big deal at that time.
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Thanks, Diana! I know, so tame by today’s standards right? It was brave of her, and it got her away from her family’s watchful eyes. I hope you are having a lovely day, Diana! ♥️
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Beautiful review Jen, this looks like a fantastic read! 🤗
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Thanks, Beth! I enjoyed it so much! ♥️
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I love your reviews! I am excited to read this one and waiting for my copy =)
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Thank you, Elena! I hope you love this book, too! ♥️
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It sound fascinating, Jennifer. Great review!
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Thanks so much, Cynthia!
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