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Hollywood's Garden of Allah #4
Searchlights and Shadows: A Novel of Golden-Era Hollywood
Have you ever wanted to climb into a time machine and visit Hollywood during its heyday? At the dawn of 1942, the dark days of Pearl Harbor still loom over Los Angeles. America is now at war, and posters warn home-front Hollywoodites that loose lips sink ships. Wartime propaganda is the name of the game, and the studios are expected to conjure stories that galvanize the public for the war effort. Marcus Adler is an MGM screenwriter whose latest movie was stolen out from under his whiskey glass, and he’s determined it won’t happen again. He comes up with a sure-fire hit, but his chance to triumph is threatened by a vicious “Marcus Adler is a goddamned Commie.” Gwendolyn Brick is the handiest gal with a needle this side of Edith Head. After losing her job at the Cocoanut Grove, she dreams of opening her own dress store. But banks don’t make loans to single girls. However, wartime in L.A. opens the door to an opportunity that will rake in the bucks. But will it be worth the trouble if it drags her back into the orbit of Bugsy Siegel? At the outbreak of war, the Hollywood Reporter’s circulation starts to shrink like a food rations coupon book. Its lead columnist, Kathryn Massey, realizes she can no longer ignore the her boss, Billy Wilkerson, is gambling away his fortune—and her future. Could their very survival depend on a place nobody’s heard of called Las Vegas? In the city of searchlights, suspicions can lurk behind every shadow. Searchlights and Shadows is the fourth in Martin Turnbull’s series of historical novels set during Hollywood’s golden age. Hollywood’s Garden of Allah Book 1 – “The Garden on Sunset” Book 2 – “The Trouble with Scarlett” Book 3 – “Citizen Hollywood” Book 4 – “Searchlights and Shadows” Martin Turnbull's Garden of Allah novels have been optioned for the screen by film & television producer, Tabrez Noorani. INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR Your Garden of Allah novels are rich in the history and lore of classic era Hollywood. What was your original inspiration? I came across an online article about the Garden of Allah Hotel, which opened on Sunset Boulevard in 1927 just before “The Jazz Singer” ushered in the talkies, and closed in 1959, the year that “Ben Hur” announced the last hurrah of the studio system. The Garden’s residents witnessed the unfolding evolution of Hollywood and actively participated in it. How has writing these novels changed your view of this golden age that we perceive as the greatest era of film production? L.A. was a much less densely populated city. Consequently, all movie industry workers were far more likely to know each other. People moved from MGM to Paramount to Twentieth Century-Fox to RKO to Warner Bros. Two or three degrees of separation were usually enough! Why did you not go the safe route and change the names of the major players to suit your story? The whole point of recounting the history of Hollywood through the eyes of the Garden’s residents was because so many celebrities lived there. Harpo Marx and Sergei Rachmaninoff were neighbors, F.
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 7, 2015
99 people are currently reading
247 people want to read
About the author
Martin Turnbull
22 books241 followersMartin Turnbull has worked as a private tour guide showing both locals and out-of-towners the movie studios, Beverly Hills mansions, Hollywood hills vistas and where all the bodies are buried. For nine years, he has also volunteered as an historical walking tour docent with the Los Angeles Conservancy. He worked for a summer as a guide at the Warner Bros. movie studios in Burbank showing movie fans through the sound stages where Bogie and Bacall, Bette Davis, Errol Flynn, and James Cagney created some of Hollywood’s classic motion pictures.
From an early age, Martin was enchanted with old movies from Hollywood’s golden era–from the dawn of the talkies in the late 1920s to the dusk of the studio system in the late 1950s–and has spent many, many a happy hour watching the likes of Garland, Gable, Crawford, Garbo, Grant, Miller, Kelly, Astaire, Rogers, Turner, Welles go through their paces.
When he discovered the wonderful world of biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs, his love of reading merged with his love of movies and his love of history to produce a three-headed hydra gobbling up everything in his path. Ever since then, he’s been on a mission to learn and share as much as he can about this unique time.
Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Martin moved to Los Angeles in the mid-90s.
From an early age, Martin was enchanted with old movies from Hollywood’s golden era–from the dawn of the talkies in the late 1920s to the dusk of the studio system in the late 1950s–and has spent many, many a happy hour watching the likes of Garland, Gable, Crawford, Garbo, Grant, Miller, Kelly, Astaire, Rogers, Turner, Welles go through their paces.
When he discovered the wonderful world of biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs, his love of reading merged with his love of movies and his love of history to produce a three-headed hydra gobbling up everything in his path. Ever since then, he’s been on a mission to learn and share as much as he can about this unique time.
Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Martin moved to Los Angeles in the mid-90s.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
August 12, 2015
Another wonderful book in this series about Golden Age Hollywood. As always, the author excels at crafting memorable characters and a richly-detailed world, with an undertone of war-time noir and adventure.
The ending of this book seemed more definitive than the endings of the previous ones. Not definitive as in “this could be the end of the series,” but more of a permanent closing of one phase of life for the characters. The endings of the previous books were fine, but this one was exceptionally satisfying for me. This is not the end of the series (the next book is due out in 2016, I believe).
Side note (and perhaps a slight spoiler): an important supporting character dies in this book (a real person, not one of the fictional characters), and I cried. Kudos to the author for bringing a little-known actress to such vivid life that I mourned her passing as if it had just happened.
The ending of this book seemed more definitive than the endings of the previous ones. Not definitive as in “this could be the end of the series,” but more of a permanent closing of one phase of life for the characters. The endings of the previous books were fine, but this one was exceptionally satisfying for me. This is not the end of the series (the next book is due out in 2016, I believe).
Side note (and perhaps a slight spoiler): an important supporting character dies in this book (a real person, not one of the fictional characters), and I cried. Kudos to the author for bringing a little-known actress to such vivid life that I mourned her passing as if it had just happened.
April 2, 2017
"This audiobook was provided by the narrator at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com."
Isn’t it interesting how, despite (despite?) the Hays Code, racism, McCarthyism, homophobia and faux marriages, and a studio system which can harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood, Make thy two eyes like stars start from their spheres… still, Classic Hollywood was far and away, miles and miles, and many times better than contemporary Hollywood. I love the actors of this era and the films they starred in, so – especially taking in the WWII Homefront aspect – this book had a lot going for it.
I learned a great deal - Ogden Nash worked on The Wizard of Oz? Bette Davis declared complete integration for the Hollywood Canteen (actually, I learned everything I know about the Hollywood Canteen from this book, and loved it). Orson Welles in this period was dating a semi-literate stripper. I learned that Errol Flynn was tried for statutory rape (I’m still surprised I’d never heard of that), and everything about Alla Nazimova.
On the other hand, Bette Davis also had conversations with the fictional main characters, Errol Flynn had an affair with one of the fictional main characters, and Alla Nazimova was like a mother to the fictional main characters. Aaannd yes, here’s the complaint I often come out with about books like this: Well, here. Here’s the thing. My family has a tradition of mock-claiming celebrities with our name – Cousin Rod, Aunt Martha, Uncle Jimmy, etc. James Stewart barely rated a mention in this (wrong studio)(no – he was MGM. How odd), but if my name was, say, Novarro, or Welles, or Mayer, or Flynn… I would be a good deal less tolerant of this book. I have to admit the backstage-Hollywood perspective was fun… I also have to admit I was a little squeamish about it. I might have preferred that all the characters were like the inserted fictional actors that starred in the fictional "William Tell”… I know, I’ll stop now.
The writing was alternately fun and exasperating. I loved the line “That bitch will take a powder so goddam fast you’ll be tasting Max Factor clear through to next week.” It still makes me smile as I write this. There was a metaphor involving a bank robber that was kind of awesome. There was very heavy use of simile and metaphor – and not all of it was this successful. There were a number of misplaced modifiers and suchlike, and sentences like “I suppose she won’t be the first staff member we’ll lose” which … I don’t think that means what you meant it to mean.
My response to: “It’s taking all of my will power not to lean over and kiss the cotton-pickin’ dickens out of you” – was “take me, I’m yours”. / sarcasm.
The celebrity characters, as I mentioned, made me a bit uneasy. I was never sure where the line was between “this happened” and “made up by the author” (and then of course when you factor in “this was a fiction created by the studio” it just gets a little hairy). The main characters were strong; I understand how those who started with the first book could feel that these folks were good friends. I’m not sure I adored them enough to go back and start from the beginning, though. For one thing – not a definitive thing, not a deal-breaking thing, just a thing I didn’t like – I kept raising my eyebrows as Gwendoline wandered the world taking notes, not admiring the clothing she comes across and planning to use it as inspiration so much as … planning on ripping it off. Moral ambiguities I can work with; I didn’t much care who the characters slept with, or who had what black market dealings. But this was disturbing.
The narration was equally alternately fun and exasperating. Characters were given distinctive voices that kept them identifiable – and, I’m happy to say, the stars were not read with an eye (ear) toward impersonation. For those with distinctive mannerisms, Mr. Axt hinted rather than going full-on Rich Little, and it worked beautifully. However, there were some pronunciation issues that did not work. “Brassiere” was pronounced “brasserie”; director George Cukor’s name is consistently mispronounced “cookur” (see: www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/..... it’s “Bowdlerizers” and not “Bowlderizers”; and, dammit, the word is NOT pronounced mischievIous. (ETA: Mr. Axt confirmed in an email that when a character mispronounces "epitome" several times, it is the character mispronouncing it and not the narrator.)
So: fun, but I don't expect to continue with the series.
One last eyebrow-raiser, proving perhaps that either monks led a very different lifestyle in 40’s Hollywood, or the author’s control of language might not be exactly what he thought it was: “For the longest time, Marcus doubted he was any good at this “boyfriend” business, and had almost resigned himself to a monk-like life with the occasional encounter.”
Isn’t it interesting how, despite (despite?) the Hays Code, racism, McCarthyism, homophobia and faux marriages, and a studio system which can harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood, Make thy two eyes like stars start from their spheres… still, Classic Hollywood was far and away, miles and miles, and many times better than contemporary Hollywood. I love the actors of this era and the films they starred in, so – especially taking in the WWII Homefront aspect – this book had a lot going for it.
I learned a great deal - Ogden Nash worked on The Wizard of Oz? Bette Davis declared complete integration for the Hollywood Canteen (actually, I learned everything I know about the Hollywood Canteen from this book, and loved it). Orson Welles in this period was dating a semi-literate stripper. I learned that Errol Flynn was tried for statutory rape (I’m still surprised I’d never heard of that), and everything about Alla Nazimova.
On the other hand, Bette Davis also had conversations with the fictional main characters, Errol Flynn had an affair with one of the fictional main characters, and Alla Nazimova was like a mother to the fictional main characters. Aaannd yes, here’s the complaint I often come out with about books like this: Well, here. Here’s the thing. My family has a tradition of mock-claiming celebrities with our name – Cousin Rod, Aunt Martha, Uncle Jimmy, etc. James Stewart barely rated a mention in this (wrong studio)(no – he was MGM. How odd), but if my name was, say, Novarro, or Welles, or Mayer, or Flynn… I would be a good deal less tolerant of this book. I have to admit the backstage-Hollywood perspective was fun… I also have to admit I was a little squeamish about it. I might have preferred that all the characters were like the inserted fictional actors that starred in the fictional "William Tell”… I know, I’ll stop now.
The writing was alternately fun and exasperating. I loved the line “That bitch will take a powder so goddam fast you’ll be tasting Max Factor clear through to next week.” It still makes me smile as I write this. There was a metaphor involving a bank robber that was kind of awesome. There was very heavy use of simile and metaphor – and not all of it was this successful. There were a number of misplaced modifiers and suchlike, and sentences like “I suppose she won’t be the first staff member we’ll lose” which … I don’t think that means what you meant it to mean.
My response to: “It’s taking all of my will power not to lean over and kiss the cotton-pickin’ dickens out of you” – was “take me, I’m yours”. / sarcasm.
The celebrity characters, as I mentioned, made me a bit uneasy. I was never sure where the line was between “this happened” and “made up by the author” (and then of course when you factor in “this was a fiction created by the studio” it just gets a little hairy). The main characters were strong; I understand how those who started with the first book could feel that these folks were good friends. I’m not sure I adored them enough to go back and start from the beginning, though. For one thing – not a definitive thing, not a deal-breaking thing, just a thing I didn’t like – I kept raising my eyebrows as Gwendoline wandered the world taking notes, not admiring the clothing she comes across and planning to use it as inspiration so much as … planning on ripping it off. Moral ambiguities I can work with; I didn’t much care who the characters slept with, or who had what black market dealings. But this was disturbing.
The narration was equally alternately fun and exasperating. Characters were given distinctive voices that kept them identifiable – and, I’m happy to say, the stars were not read with an eye (ear) toward impersonation. For those with distinctive mannerisms, Mr. Axt hinted rather than going full-on Rich Little, and it worked beautifully. However, there were some pronunciation issues that did not work. “Brassiere” was pronounced “brasserie”; director George Cukor’s name is consistently mispronounced “cookur” (see: www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/..... it’s “Bowdlerizers” and not “Bowlderizers”; and, dammit, the word is NOT pronounced mischievIous. (ETA: Mr. Axt confirmed in an email that when a character mispronounces "epitome" several times, it is the character mispronouncing it and not the narrator.)
So: fun, but I don't expect to continue with the series.
One last eyebrow-raiser, proving perhaps that either monks led a very different lifestyle in 40’s Hollywood, or the author’s control of language might not be exactly what he thought it was: “For the longest time, Marcus doubted he was any good at this “boyfriend” business, and had almost resigned himself to a monk-like life with the occasional encounter.”
February 7, 2017
So I might be a bit biased in saying that I enjoyed the fourth volume in The Garden of Allah series more than I should, simply because Bette Davis (love!) played a considerable, if not consistent role, in the plot. With that being said, I may have only given this one three stars, but I enjoyed the history dealing with the Hollywood Canteen and the role that movie stars played in giving troops a place to feel welcome. There wasn't as much cohesiveness here as in the three previous novels, and by that I mean the plot lines weren't as firm and the beginning strolled leisurely along before it seemed to find an established pace. However, I did take a brief respite to catch up on a thriller for my book club, so my momentum could've been thrown out of wack (much like this review as I read over it). The tone in Searchlights and Shadows is darker: WWII, Communism, the death of a character who'd appeared in all of the novels thus far. Mr. Turnbull does a great job of altering the atmosphere in Hollywood the way I'm sure it actually happened during this time. But returning to the exploits of Marcus, Kathryn, and Gwendolyn was certainly a welcome invitation.
May 8, 2017
The saga continues through World War 2, featuring the Hollywood Canteen. Bette Davis plays a key role.
Being WW2, the studios are engaged in abject propaganda. The insights into that process are fascinating. I look back now at all my old-movie watching and can recognise "aaaaah - that's what was going on!"
And the clouds are getting darker as the House Unamerican Activities Committee Hollywood witchunts draw nearer. We learn where the seeds were sewn.
The era of Las Vegas is on the horizon, and the presence of The Mob is being felt in the form of Bugsy Siegel and Mickey Cohen, and of course the black market.
Don't get me wrong - this is not "high literature", and won't appeal to everyone. But the plots are well-structured and if you are interested in LA and Hollywood of the era, it's meticulously researched and accurate.
This blending of fictional characters with real-life (dead) people is not to everyone's taste, but it is a device I love. Turnbull brings the people and places to life in such a way that you learn things as you become immersed in a rollicking good adventure.
Being WW2, the studios are engaged in abject propaganda. The insights into that process are fascinating. I look back now at all my old-movie watching and can recognise "aaaaah - that's what was going on!"
And the clouds are getting darker as the House Unamerican Activities Committee Hollywood witchunts draw nearer. We learn where the seeds were sewn.
The era of Las Vegas is on the horizon, and the presence of The Mob is being felt in the form of Bugsy Siegel and Mickey Cohen, and of course the black market.
Don't get me wrong - this is not "high literature", and won't appeal to everyone. But the plots are well-structured and if you are interested in LA and Hollywood of the era, it's meticulously researched and accurate.
This blending of fictional characters with real-life (dead) people is not to everyone's taste, but it is a device I love. Turnbull brings the people and places to life in such a way that you learn things as you become immersed in a rollicking good adventure.
September 11, 2022
I love this series more as I read each book. As always in this series, my biggest qualm is the passage of time, because it goes very quickly and then very slowly again, so it can be confusing to find where characters are on the Hollywood timeline. I’m also kind of sad about how quickly the characters have aged just halfway through the series, making me wonder if they’re going to be much older by the end of it? I don’t really care though, because I love following their stories. I love the way so many iconic people are weaved seamlessly throughout the plot, and I have already started the next one!
November 24, 2022
I love these books, tearing through them 😊 looking forward to the next one 💕
July 29, 2019
Time marches on in the Garden of Allah series, and this novel covers from 1942-the end of WWII.
Marcus has his ups and downs both professionally, and in love, but ends up in a good place.
Kathryn makes some strides for herself, ending up on the radio, but also falls into an unwanted entanglement with the FBI
Gwendolyn is able to make a lot of money towards her hopes of opening a dress store, but her hopes all but disappear by the end of the book, plus she's in Bugsy Siegel's sights again.
Marcus has his ups and downs both professionally, and in love, but ends up in a good place.
Kathryn makes some strides for herself, ending up on the radio, but also falls into an unwanted entanglement with the FBI
Gwendolyn is able to make a lot of money towards her hopes of opening a dress store, but her hopes all but disappear by the end of the book, plus she's in Bugsy Siegel's sights again.
September 23, 2022
Kudos to the author for this series. With JoJo, I'm a writer of Historical fiction about crime, political corruption and police misconduct in Chicago in the 70's, featuring an idealistic woman lawyer. Turnbull has mastered this Genre. It's like being a fly on the wall in pre-war and wartime Hollywood, plus meeting some of the great authors of the Algonquin (sp?) Circle. I find myself 75 or so years too late to marry the character Gwendolyn and take her away to someplace she loves. This kind of reaction in a reader is the mark of a great writer, like the French novelists of the late Eighteenth and early Nineteenth Centuries. [However, I'm surprised if many in the Garden of Allah had a functioning Liver after age 45.]
November 30, 2017
I love Hollywood history and this series is PACKED with it. This volume in the series centers around WWII. The Hollywood Canteen, Black Markets, Bette Davis, Bogie and Bacall, The Hays Code, Bugsy Segal, Howard Hughes, and hints of McCarthyism were all crammed into this book, along with much more. I have to hand it to Mr. Turnbull, he has very skillfully planned his plots to take the three protagonists through all the highs and lows, even if sometimes it is awkward.
June 20, 2025
Martin Turnbull delivers yet another captivating story! As a longtime fan of the World War II era, I was especially drawn to the way he brought the Hollywood Canteen to life—it gave the book a vivid, authentic atmosphere. The characters are well-developed, the historical setting is immersive, and the ending left me excited to continue the series. A wonderful mix of classic Hollywood and wartime history!
July 31, 2017
A bit more of a slog
But well worth it. Not sure if the ending is a solution for anyone, and I'm getting a bit tired of everyone never getting exactly what they want...but it is Hollywood, after all and happy endings are for movies. Not sure if I'm gonna like the McCarthyism of the 50s...
But well worth it. Not sure if the ending is a solution for anyone, and I'm getting a bit tired of everyone never getting exactly what they want...but it is Hollywood, after all and happy endings are for movies. Not sure if I'm gonna like the McCarthyism of the 50s...
March 30, 2018
Love to revisit these old friends! I just finished another book that enlightened me about rationing during WWII so I liked reading how these friends dealt with that, too. I don't remember any tears in the previous 3 books, but this one got me a couple times! I'll look forward to #5, of course! It's already available to me, but I'm pacing myself ;)
March 23, 2017
Great series
I am really loving this series of books. The characters are great and it's fun to see little snippets of old Hollywood. It's also fun to read about the old Hollywood actors from that era. Highly recommend this series to Historical fiction fans.
I am really loving this series of books. The characters are great and it's fun to see little snippets of old Hollywood. It's also fun to read about the old Hollywood actors from that era. Highly recommend this series to Historical fiction fans.
September 3, 2017
SEARCHLIGHTS AND SHADOWS ALLAH BOOK-4
ANOTHER EXCELLENT READ. This series has not disappointed me yet. I love the characters, and the way the author incorporates them into that era. Look for a surprise at the end of this one! 😱
ANOTHER EXCELLENT READ. This series has not disappointed me yet. I love the characters, and the way the author incorporates them into that era. Look for a surprise at the end of this one! 😱
May 10, 2020
Addicted to this series!!!!! Loved every page of every book!!! Historical data was Awesome& well researched.I felt like I was right I the midst of their lives. If only it could have kept going!!! So sorry to seer the tale come to its conclusion!!
Read
April 5, 2022Book 4 in the Garden of Allah series. I have now bought all of them and read them all. It's a continuing story of the Golden age of Hollywood and the famous, and 3 players in this great story feel like family
September 8, 2018
Garden of Allah series #4 of 9
Great weaving of fact with fiction. Spot on knowledge of Hollywood history, including the shady characters is great. Fun, breezy read. On to #5
Great weaving of fact with fiction. Spot on knowledge of Hollywood history, including the shady characters is great. Fun, breezy read. On to #5
January 3, 2019
The ending was a Al Capra ending. Every one wins. Rather disappointment to me. There was so much going on in the other books that I thought it would end with some kind of conflict in one character.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2019
Love these books! Onto the next.
March 16, 2020
This series is a great story of three friends and their life through the Golden years of Hollywood. Always look forward to starting the next journey of the trio.
April 5, 2020
I love this series.!
Read
August 8, 2020I’m loving this series of books. So lovely and fun
June 1, 2021
Another good installment of the series. Hollywood and the war scene. Fun integrating the actors into the storyline. Good segway for the next in the series.
July 16, 2021
I LOVE this series.
December 18, 2025
Garden of Allah series
Can't stop reading your novels! Love the feeling of being a part of these I comic years of Hollywood history!
Can't stop reading your novels! Love the feeling of being a part of these I comic years of Hollywood history!
November 7, 2017
I don't know how I managed to fall behind in this great series, but I did. I read the first three novels (which I loved) and now I am playing catch up. This book (which is the fourth) covers Hollywood during World War II. We once again meet up with the three main characters, Marcus, Katherine and Gwendolyn, who all live at The Garden of Allah Hotel. As war rages around the globe, we find ourselves at the Hollywood Canteen with Kathryn and Bette Davis--two hard-working girls. We worry with Gwendolyn as she frets over the safety of her soldier-brother and we cheer for Marcus as he tries to make a name for himself as a screenwriter. In between, they hobnob with the likes of Errol Flynn, Louis B. Mayer and other Hollywood notables. As always, Martin Turnbull has done his homework in recreating 1940s Hollywood. He even manages to set up the atmosphere for book five which details the communist witch hunt that hit Hollywood after the war. Looking forward to that one!
July 12, 2015
I've come late to this series, but that doesn't seem to matter. See the publisher's summary for an adequate recap of the story without spoilers. The author manages to weave historical personages and documented behaviors with fictional characters in a way that is seamless, pleasing, and revealing of deep historical research. If you enjoy this era and place, you cannot miss with this book. I know that I want to read the other books in this series, not because of any lack in this one, but because I know that I will enjoy them.
Mr Axt brings his talents to this performance in ways that enhance the depth and personalities of each character, making the entire experience more riveting.
"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com."
Mr Axt brings his talents to this performance in ways that enhance the depth and personalities of each character, making the entire experience more riveting.
"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com."
July 16, 2015
This is the last book in the Garden of Allah series (so far!) and I absolutely loved it.
In this fourth novel, we are occupied with WWII and the bizarre atmosphere in Hollywood in which pretty much everyone is accused of being a Communist. We get Bogie and Bacall, more Bugsy, and I think we know where the next installment of this series is going to take place!
There were moments when I cried and moments when I rejoiced. This was such a fun series to read, and I look forward to book #5. Fingers crossed for a wonderful TV adaptation of these books!
In this fourth novel, we are occupied with WWII and the bizarre atmosphere in Hollywood in which pretty much everyone is accused of being a Communist. We get Bogie and Bacall, more Bugsy, and I think we know where the next installment of this series is going to take place!
There were moments when I cried and moments when I rejoiced. This was such a fun series to read, and I look forward to book #5. Fingers crossed for a wonderful TV adaptation of these books!
February 20, 2016
This is the last book in the Garden of Allah series (so far!) and I absolutely loved it.
In this fourth novel, we are occupied with WWII and the bizarre atmosphere in Hollywood in which pretty much everyone is accused of being a Communist. We get Bogie and Bacall, more Bugsy, and I think we know where the next installment of this series is going to take place!
There were moments when I cried and moments when I rejoiced. This was such a fun series to read, and I look forward to book #5. Fingers crossed for a wonderful TV adaptation of these books!
In this fourth novel, we are occupied with WWII and the bizarre atmosphere in Hollywood in which pretty much everyone is accused of being a Communist. We get Bogie and Bacall, more Bugsy, and I think we know where the next installment of this series is going to take place!
There were moments when I cried and moments when I rejoiced. This was such a fun series to read, and I look forward to book #5. Fingers crossed for a wonderful TV adaptation of these books!
February 17, 2015
I love, love, love this series. I could read about Gwendolyn, Kathryn and Marcus's Hollywood adventures forever. I was skeptical at first, when my book club chose to read it. Once I started, I couln't stop. Thank goodness this last one was recently published...not sure I could have waited! The author knows his stuff and I so enjoyed learning so much about this time and place through his story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews