Leslie Johansen Nack

Marion Davies was a young 18 year old dancer on Broadway when she catches the eye of William Randolph Hearst. These two develop a life long affair full of secrets and drama.

I really knew nothing about Marion Davies other than she was an actress “back in the day”. She really was an amazing woman and this author brought her to life on these pages. I also enjoyed reading about all the names from Hollywood, like Charlie Chaplin and the Gabor sisters. But, WR Hearst is the one who stole the story in my book. There were many places I wanted to come across the pages and give him a good “Gibbs slap” upside the head.

I rotated between 4 and 5 stars. I settled on 5 stars because this is just a fascinating tale about a real person and her life. I actually read it in one day on the beach. It read like a biography of old Hollywood! So, this book hit the spot.

Need a very good old Hollywood novel…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.… (plus d'informations)

Marion Davies was eighteen when she first met William Randolph Hearst Jr and her life was never the same. After living a hard life where her mother groomed her to find someone who could take care of her financially, Marion finds just that but she also finds her ultimate support and her best friend. Despite being married WR, as he prefers to be called fully promotes and backs Marion as an actress and supports everything she does. As they deal with all life throws at them, she realizes that she is deeply in love with him and could not do this life without him.

In her own right, Marion Davies is a star. She was a star of over 40 dozen movies, both silent and talkies. She was also a movie producer, a career not many women held at the time. She became good friends with Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, and other stars of the era. As Hearst's health declined, Marion retired from the Hollywood lights in order to care for her long-time love. Davies spent her last years performing many acts of charity and she was known as a caring and compassionate person.

I had only heard of Marion Davies in passing before reading this book. I loved learning about her humble beginnings, her love affair with William Randolph Hearts Jr, and the ways in which she broke barriers. This was a well-done book that detailed the life Marion led in front of and behind the screen.… (plus d'informations)

Book Review…The Blue Butterfly by Leslie Johansen Nack

1915
Marion Davies is a shy eighteen-year-old beauty when she meets William Randolph Hearst and finds herself captivated by his riches, passion and desire to make her a movie star. Following a whirlwind courtship, she learns through trial and error to live as Hearst’s mistress when a divorce from his wife proves impossible.

1919
A baby girl is born in secret and they agree to never acknowledge her publicly as their own. In a burgeoning Hollywood scene, she works hard making movies while living a lavish partying life that includes a secret love affair with Charlie Chaplin.

1937
At the height of the depression, Hearst wrestles with his debtors and failing health, when Marion loans him $1M when nobody else will. Together, they must confront the movie that threatens to invalidate all of Marion’s successes in the movie industry: Citizen Kane.

The Blue Butterfly was a fascinating read! Following along as the lives and romance of actress Marion Davies and the publishing baron William Randolph Hearst come to life was quite the adventure! They lived a complicated life together and apart. There were many times I was truly heartbroken for Marion. The writing and the amount of research that went into this book is absolutely amazing! It was wonderful to get lost in the rich and famous and to feel the love, the happiness, the heartbreak and everything in-between that Marion lived through! Leslie Johansen Nack did an amazing job bringing Marion to life for me! An amazing read that I find myself even a week later still thinking about!
… (plus d'informations)