Synopsis

A captivating novel following the exploits of Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy, the forgotten and rebellious daughter of one of America’s greatest political dynasties. 

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 . . .

Review

I would not say I am a Kennedy aficionado but I thought this book sounded interesting.  It combines history, a forbidden romance due to differences in religion, and WWII.  While I understand that this is fiction, it is based on some facts and truth.  I learned more about this iconic family and the struggles they faced in life.  Kick is a strong woman but because of the era does fall prey to following her parent’s edicts.  She is not happy about most of them and tries to become more independent, they are just not having any of it especially being in Europe and the tensions between the countries and the brewing war.

I did feel like this book was a bit long and there were many times where I skimmed a lot of the material.  The book moved slowly in the beginning, picked up the pace, slowed down again, and picked up the pace.  The book really grabbed my attention about the last third of the book. I think the pace of the story and what Kick was dealing with moved along smoothly.  I would have liked to have seen a more consistent pace with the events and dialogue.

I did learn about Kick and the author’s notes at the end were interesting as she described her research.  Apparently, it wasn’t easy finding information about Kick’s life.  I like how she started the acknowledgments and said she was going to save us time and we wouldn’t have to Google Kick, here is what happened to her once the story ended.  I didn’t realize she had died so young.

We give this 4 paws and felt it was a different look into a member of the iconic Kennedy family but one that is not as well known.

About the Author

Kerri Maher is the author of The Girl in White Gloves, The Kennedy Debutante, and, under the name Kerri Majors, This is Not a Writing Manual: Notes for the Young Writer in the Real World. She holds an MFA from Columbia University and was a writing professor for many years. She now writes full-time and lives with her daughter and dog in a leafy suburb west of Boston, Massachusetts.

Website * Facebook * Instagram * Twitter