Stars Over Sunset Boulevard

Different.

Page turner~you will not be disappointed.

Stars Over Sunset Boulevard is the latest book by Susan Meissner. The novel starts out in 2012 with Christine McAllister discovering a beautiful green Robin Hood style hat in her latest acquisitions for her vintage clothing boutique. There is a tag inside that reads Scarlett #13. Could this be an actual hat from Gone with the Wind? This hat is supposed to be at the University of Texas. How did it get in the box of items they just acquired? We then join Violet Mayfield in 1938. Violet is the newest secretary in the secretarial pool at Selznick International. Violet heard that Audrey Duvall is looking for a roommate. Violet is originally from Alabama, but she needed a change (she was in the right place at the right time). Audrey wants to be an actress. She almost got her big break when she was a teenager (before talkies), but then the movie industry changed. Audrey’s voice is too deep many feel for the movies. Bert Redmond works in the wardrobe department and is involved in the costumes for Gone with the Wind. Violet is lucky enough to be picked to be the secretary to Miss Susan Myrick (technical advisor for the film). These three have adventures around the city after they finish work (especially at parties where Audrey tries to network). Bert likes Audrey, but Audrey is not interested in Bert (except as a friend). Violet is interested in Bert, but she is scared to tell him her big secret. We follow these three through the filming of Gone with the Wind and their lives following the film. Audrey and Violet both have secrets that will continue to affect their lives for many years to come. I am a fan of Susan Meissner, but I did not feel that Stars Over Sunset Boulevard was her best work. It was an interesting book, and I loved the behind the scenes information on Gone with the Wind that Ms. Meissner worked into the book. I just felt the book was lacking (hard to explain). I think I wanted more spark, but it was more ordinary especially after they finished working on Gone with The Wind at Selznick International. I really did not like what happened to the hat at the end of the book (it was a big disappointment). I give Stars Over Sunset Boulevard 3.75 out of 5 stars. The book has some good moments and some very slow parts (I skimmed through these sections). This does not put me off Ms. Meissner’s books. I will definitely continue to read her stories. I received a complimentary copy of Stars Over Sunset Boulevard from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.