History Corner/ Book Review and Giveaway: O Jackie! by Mercedes King

After almost 50 years, post his presidency, President Kennedy and his wife Jackie, are at once public yet elusive icons of our popular culture, so it is no surprise that they are popular topics for books, fiction and non-fiction, even today. Today's review is a fictionalized version, based on facts.

Synopsis:

Despite her poise and graceful smile, Jackie Kennedy’s life was far from perfect. Behind closed doors, Jackie struggled with bouts of depression, endured a heartbreaking road to motherhood, and had difficult relationships with those closest to her. Ravaged by insecurities and humiliation, she even wrestled her own temptations for both other men and divorce. But Jackie clung to the belief that she could make JFK abandon his wandering ways. Through the years, though, Jack Kennedy’s lustful escapades grew in carelessness and frequency, and most needling for Jackie were his trysts with Marilyn Monroe. When Marilyn becomes erratic and unstable, Jackie must decide how far she will go to protect the presidency and to save her marriage. 

Review: Having read extensively about the Kennedys, this book felt more like a review primer to me, but I did appreciate the humanizing of the cultural icons, and helping the reader feel what Jackie must have with the constant affairs and heartache. How she adapted to the Kennedy clan and their patriarch was also an interesting touch. The book alternates between narrative and Jackie's journal that her son 'finds' after her death, and reads to the reader. This was a great idea, as it made the book more personal.The mystery for the reader is trying to figure out what actually happened, and what is fiction. I have to admit I smiled at a certain 'comeuppance' event, and hoped for Jackie's sake that it did happen! As to the ending, I actually had hoped the author would take it further and into her relationship with Onassis. Perhaps that will be a second book? It was a quick and interesting read, and if you liek the 'Camelot' lore, you'll devour this book!

About the Author: A founding member of Sisters in Crime Columbus, Ohio, Mercedes King is an active member and past president. She graduated from Capital University with a degree in Criminology, and since then has been crafting stories with a scandalous flair. A born and bred Buckeye, she writes in a variety of genres and is hard at work on her next novel. Check out her website OJackiebook.com
and Twitter: @OJackiebook for more

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March 1 - RABT Reviews - Review

And the author has decided to offer her lovely readers an amazing giveaway, a $100 Amazon card:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book, free of charge, from Reading Addiction Book tours, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it.