Loves, Lies, and Tears An Intimate Look At America's First Ladies

by Jacqueline Berger

Loves, Lies, and Tears uncovers the true individuals behind the public faces of the women who became Presidential spouses. You learn the real love stories and the heartaches, in the lives of commonplace housewives and mothers, who found themselves in the glare of the world spotlight. Their stories are fascinating, inspiring, often tragic and at times humorous. Experience the pain and sadness of women who survived the loss of children, illness and scandal, under the watchful eye of an insatiable public. Encounter the triumph, glamor and majesty that come with winning the White House. Discover a heroine who experienced inconceivable challenges and sorrows, or vicariously live a life of privilege and advantage from some of the country s most elite and influential women. Learn the interesting and historical events that occurred during each woman's life, including the literature, technology and pop culture of her day. You will be introduced to concrete life lessons, based on the personalities, morals, and strengths of these remarkable women, through the author s eyes · Happiness or misery depends on our dispositions, not our circumstances. · Prevent future regrets, by making better choices in the present. · Knowledge is empowering and confidence building, while reading is a key in opening that door. · Regardless of one s humble beginnings, the way to succeed in life is through education and dedicated work. · True beauty resonates from within. Warmth, poise, cheerfulness, and self-confidence, will always trump aloofness, tactlessness, melancholy, and insecurity. Loves, Lies, and Tears, is a non-fiction, historical and biographical triumph.

346 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2008

Reviews

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Berger provides nice short overviews of the wives of the U.S. Presidents from Washington to Taft. At the end of each chapter, she provides life lessons she learned from each woman. An easy read for someone who wants an overview on presidential spouses.
My biggest problem which I have with most books on the First Ladies, is what is a First Lady. Harriet Lane gets a couple pages, but Berger doesn't consider her a First Lady because she was the White House hostess but not a spouse. On the other hand, four of the women profiled died before their husbands took office. Many presidential spouses were invalids who relied on others to serve as hostess in their stead. I'd love for someone to more fully explore these hostesses.

[Barb]

This was a great book that I'm still keeping by my nightstand and I've already finished Volume II. The first book covers Martha Washington to Helen Taft. I was able to learn about these women, not only as first ladies, but when they were young as they walked away from the White House with only their satchel in hand. Not only does Ms Berger tell us about the first ladies, she first let's the reader know what was happening in the world and the United States when the First Ladies were in the White House.

[Jane Fournier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read/own book II and it was great. This one goes from Martha Washington to Helen Taft.
Great Read