Review will be posted on 3/26/19

Jennie Jerome comes from a wealthy American family during the Gilded Age and it was very common for many women during the time period to travel to England to obtain an aristocratic husband. Except Jennie isn't your usual American wallflower. She's energetic, she's opinionated, she's independent, she's beautiful and she enjoys sex. (Gasp!) When she meets Lord Randolph Spencer-Churchill, she is instantly drawn to him and his brains. He actually talks to her about things that matter and in turn, he matters to Jennie. Once they marry, years go by and she truly enters the limelight when he enters Parliament. She is just as important to her husband's political career as he is, especially when it comes to socializing with the Prince of Wales. While visiting Sandringham without her husband and dining with the Prince and his friends, she meets Count Charles Kinsky. She gets to know him that weekend and things turn into much more than friendship. But she is playing with fire as she is not only jeopardizing her husband's career, but she has her sons' futures to think about too and one of those sons is none other than the famous Winston Churchill. Jennie Jerome lived a fascinating life and Stephanie Barron depicted it very well in That Churchill Woman.

To be honest, I really didn't know much about Winston Churchill's mother, Jennie Jerome, before reading That Churchill Woman. I actually didn't even realize she was American. (Oops!) How did I miss that? So, immediately I was drawn into Jennie's history and her relationship with Winston. While I didn't like her as much as Alva Vanderbilt, she was a contemporary of Alva's and I think being in Victorian England made it a little harder for her to be as unconventional as Alva. Jennie had to play more of a game politically and plant seeds in people's minds. I also appreciated her loyalty to her family and even her husband when he didn't deserve it in the very least. Now that is not to say she didn't have affairs, because she did, but it wasn't like her husband was loyal to her either. Like Alva, Jennie broke social norms and challenged society regarding a woman's place in society.

I always wondered how Winston Churchill became such a formidable adult and now I know it came from his mother who was always supporting him. Essentially, Jennie had to choose what was right for herself and her heart or what was right for her sons and I admired that she always had her sons' backs even when their father didn't care too much in That Churchill Woman.

I think books like That Churchill Woman are a reminder that behind every great man is an even greater woman and often women's stories go untold. I am glad I was able to learn more about Jennie Jerome and her fascinating life. Instead of thinking her as scandalous, as many historians would want me to believe, I like to think of her as independent and before her time. If you enjoy historical fiction, especially featuring strong women, check out That Churchill Woman.

This is the story of Winston Churchill's mother and her life. It was an okay novel, but not really what I was expecting. I expected there to be more about Winston than there was.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

Title: That Churchill Woman
Author: Stephanie Barron
Pg: 400
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 3.5 Stars
That Churchill Woman by Stephanie Barron is a historical fiction account of the life Jennie Jerome who would go on to marry Randolph Churchill and become the mother of Winston Churchill. They say fact is stranger than fiction and I believe that they are right. Jennie Churchill lead one heck of life. And raised a son who in many people’s minds one of the best Prime Ministers of Great Britain.
But if she hadn’t been Jennie Jerome and a bit of a spitfire I don’t believe Winston would have grown up to be the man and prime minster he was.
After reading this historical fiction account I know want to read a biography about her to find out how much was true in this and how much was fiction. It is however a book that is worth the read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Lady Randolph Churchill is one of history’s most interesting women. She was an American Dollar Princess and was the mother of Winston Churchill. However, this novel did not do her justice. Jennie comes off a bit of a bland character. She was not given any depth to make us feel any emotion to her story. The other characters were also flat. The writing was a bit choppy and hard to follow with the time jumps. Thus, Mrs. Churchill’s story was interesting but not well-written. Still, I recommend this for fans of Paula McLaine, Melanie Benjamin, and Karen Harper.

Jennie Jerome Churchill was a fascinating woman! To say she led a scandalous life is an understatement. She appears to have been the strong woman behind the man in her life. A wonderful book by Stephanie Barron, definitely a must read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

This book was not for me. I had trouble following the story and found it kind of random. I didn't quite see the point the introduction had and it jumped around in a way that was confusing.

Though I learned a bit about historical characters I knew nothing about, which is always kind of fun.

Some may like it, I just wasn't the person for it.

Based on the description, I thought this novel would have far more substance and overall be more literary fiction vs. trashy romance. While I enjoyed parts, I was mainly disappointed.

I could not get into this book. I found it incredibly boring and not well written. The characters were one dimensional and not very interesting. Very disappointed.

I'm a big fan of historical novels so I was quite surprised that That Churchill Woman by Stephanie Barton never succeeded in drawing me in. There's much to learn about the time periods involved, the political and social climates of the times, but (oh-oh, a but!) it all seemed rather dry and soul-less to me.

Not every book is a match for the reader; I'm chalking this up to that.

My thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

That Churchill Woman by Stephanie Barron is a sweeping historical fiction novel about one of the most influential women in Winston Churchill's life, his scandalous American mother, Jennie Jerome.

Jennie was raised in a life of luxury and privilege. Following her arrival in England, she became a woman who, although often spoken of in a disparaging manner, was the modern day equivalent of one to see and be seen with.

After knowing him for a mere three days, she married Lord Randolph Churchill, despite the misgivings of her mother. Their marriage was not a pleasant one due to Lord Randolph's frequent absences and closeted homosexuality.

Jennie is rumored to have engaged in many affairs, but ultimately falls in love with Count Charles Kinsky. Acknowledging the times, however, she stays with Lord Randolph and orchastrates his rise in the British political world and Parliment. Jennie Jerome was a woman ahead of her time in that she she was a strong and resourceful woman who forged her own path.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for my free e-ARC.

Behind every great man is a great woman without whom he would not succeed. This is the story of one of those women, Jennie Jerome, the mother of Winston Churchill who, for a time almost singlehandedly, fended off the Nazi invasion of Britain when the rest of Europe had fallen and America had yet to enter World War II. While it's technically historical fiction, author Stephanie Barron appears to have extensively researched by her subject and the time period to create an accurate (if fictionalized) portrayal.

For most of the book, though, this is Jennie's life story, often told through flashbacks beginning with reminiscences of friends following her funeral. Given her impact on American and British society even before her son made his mark (indeed, she died long before Winston became known beyond Britain), the reader of these pages gets the impression that there would today be books about Jennie even had Winston never existed. As one of the "Buccaneers", the American princesses who ascended to an even higher level of social elite by marrying into the British nobility, Jennie, who became the wife of Lord Randolph Churchill, herself fascinates. Add to her own charm the names and personalities of those in her circle -- the circle surrounding the Prince of Wales, later to become King Edward VII -- and this is an engaging life story whether written in nonfiction or fiction as presented here.

Abundant descriptions of fashions and foibles are featured, along with characters who played important roles in history, who step in and out of Jennie's story as they did in real life. Jennie's intelligence (she rewrote her husband's parliamentary speeches), her affairs (especially with Count Charles Kinsky), her strained, unconventional relationship with her husband, and her struggles to fulfill her social butterfly image along with her role as a (somewhat distant but at times loving) mother of two sons (who adored her) make for an engaging read.

There are a few negatives: The flashbacks are at times a bit distracting -- the reader just wants to get through them just to get back to the point where the plot moves ahead. And given that this is a well-researched, skillfully written novel about a real person, one wishes for at least one real-life photo or rendering of Jennie. Readers already familiar with the age and social customs of England may rate this a bit higher than the average novel reader. Given the richness of the subject matter and the author's demonstrated familiarity with British society of the late Victorian/early Edwardian age, I'm willing to grant the book four stars.

I received an advance reader copy of this title from NetGalley; this is my honest review.

The story begins in Sandringham where Jennie Churchill is a guest of The Prince of Wales. This is where she meets one of her many lovers. Yes…she has quite a few. This tale rotates time periods between her childhood in America and her time with her husband.

The story itself is just ok. It contains a good bit of politics, which I enjoyed more than I expected. But, it just doesn’t have a lot of action. I did enjoy the historical aspects, especially the expectations of Jennie. There were a lot of restrictions placed on her and many women of that time period. Nothing new, but just different because of the Churchill’s status among society.

I really did not enjoy this novel as much as I thought I would. I think it is because I am not a fan of Jennie Churchill. I found her shallow and selfish. However, I also found her intelligent. I just expected her to show more backbone, maybe buck the system more.

I received this novel from Ballantine Books via Netgalley for a honest review.

I'll admit that I do not know a lot about Winston Churchill except knowing that he was Britain's prime minister for awhile and was a brilliant man in his own right, so when I picked up That Churchill Woman I figured I would learn more about where Winston came from, and I learned that and so much more.

Jennie Jerome, or Lady Randolph Churchill, lived a life not of her own choosing. Losing her sister at a very young age, who also happened to be her best friend, then marrying a man with deep, dark secrets; having to put her wants and needs aside to help her husband live out his dream, while trying to be the best mother that she can under the circumstances. Extramarital affairs were commonplace among the wealthy, which allowed Jennie to have her personal needs met, but this took her away from her two young sons, and gave her an unsavory reputation.

Jennie's story is disturbing and heartbreaking. Stephanie Barron did an incredible job of describing every detail, pulling you into that world. There were scenes that were incredibly hard to read due to the graphic nature and unbelievable detail, yet fascinating that these horrific instances could've possibly happened.

Stephanie Barron's years of research shines on every page and gave me a craving to know more about the Churchill family. Deeply thought provoking, this is a book that is hard to put down. The ending was especially gratifying and filled with sweet freedom on numerous levels, which leaves the reader with a sigh of relief.

Though incredibly graphic at times, That Churchill Woman is a story about a woman who shined despite being in almost constant conflict and scandal, and worth knowing more about. She was more than Lady Randolph Churchill. She was Jennie, a woman who did what she could and never gave up.

Jeanette (Jennie) Jerome is the daughter of a very wealthy American family. As was the case with many wealthy American young women of the time period, she moved to Europe hoping to marry a man with a title. Thus, she married Lord Randolph Spencer-Churchill, a younger son of the seventh Duke of Marlborough whose family home is Blenheim Palace in the Cotswolds.

When Jennie and Randolph first met, she was impressed with his drive to stand for Parliament and he admired her athleticism. They had two sons, the oldest being the famous Winston Churchill. Jennie often wrote or rewrote Randolph’s speeches in the House and they were spectacular. As Randolph was not a strong man and as he did not like to leave London where he was so involved with Parliament, Jennie ended up going alone to attend house parties.

At a house party, Jennie met Count Charles Kinsky with whom she fell in love. They had an affair but she tried to cut it off. It was not the first affair that she had had. They continued to meet up over the years and their love was true.

We learn the truth about Randolph, his homosexuality, and resulting syphilis from which he suffered for many years. Randolph was not a warm father to his sons and never failed to criticize them. Winston was not a top student and this infuriated his father. Both Jennie and Randolph were not hands-on parents in any way. The children were sent off to school at a very young age and their nanny raised them the rest of the time. Even when Winston was very ill, Jennie’s presence at a dinner party was more important than being at her son’s side.

This book covers lots of political debate of the time period which some readers may not care for, but I learned a lot from it.

I have read other books about Jennie and her sisters. In addition, I am a huge fan of Winston Churchill and have read numerous books about him as well. So, when this book came along, I was very anxious to read it. I was not disappointed. It is terrific. I love English history and this book is tops.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

That Churchill Woman, by Stephanie Barron, is an engaging, atmospheric work of historical fiction. Jennie Jerome is best known as the rather scandalous society mother of Winston Churchill, the savior of England during World War II. This book reveals so much more about this smart, independent, artistic and politically shrewd woman. Jennie leaves America for Europe and at age 20 marries Lord Randolph Spencer-Churchill. She soon finds her marriage to be a sham, but decides to make the best of her life, working to raise her husband’s standing in Parliament as well as in England’s aristocratic society.

Barron immerses the reader in the time-period, both the good and the bad. She portrays the restraints put upon women of this era yet shows us the ways in which these women often pushed back at those restrictions. The book is well researched and richly detailed with provocative and sumptuous prose.

I highly recommend this book for fans of Victorian England and the gilded age as well of fans of strong, independent women who helped to shape history.

Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced reader’s copy of his novel.

Beautiful, stylish and an accomplished musician, when American heiress Jennie Jerome married Lord Randolph Churchill she aligned her family with one of England’s most noble families. Producing an heir and a spare, her homelife was run by servants while she partied with aristocrats and royalty. Lady Randolph appeared to have it all, yet like other bright shining stars in society, such as Emma Hamilton, Marie Antoinette, or Jennie’s childhood friend Alva Vanderbilt, we soon discover “varnish and gilding hide many stains.”

Her husband Randolph, whom she accepted after a three-day courtship, and against her mother’s advice, has brought heavy baggage with him into the marriage. While she dutifully assists him in his career by re-writing his speeches for parliament, accompanying him to important social and political events, and entertaining royalty in their London home, his heedless actions and rash decisions cannot be offset by her social graces when he blunders and resigns his hard-earned government post in protest. As his career and health decline, Jennie is shocked to learn that he is a closeted homosexual and is seriously ill with syphilis, which will eventually rob him of his political aspirations and his life.

His follies and vices have set a bad tone for their relationship slashing a whole in Jennie’s happiness. To survive her loveless marriage, she escapes to country manor houses for long weekends with the Prince of Wales’ set were gossip, hunting, feasting, and bedroom hopping is de rigueur. In her heart, and in her bed, is the dashing Austrian Count Charles Kinsky, diplomat, prominent horseman and the future Prince of Wchinitz and Tettauis. He is the one man in her life that she truly loves. Sadly, their romance is doomed. A divorce from her husband would result in a scandal that no one of her class could rebounded from, and he must marry royalty.

Renowned by Jane Austen fans for her Being a Jane Austen Mystery Series, Stephanie Barron is also a best-selling author of thrillers as Francine Mathews (Jack 39, Too Bad to Die). That Churchill Woman, while resplendent with period detail and vivid characters, is as intricately plotted as one her mysteries or thrillers, cleverly moving between Jennie’s childhood and her present-day life, mirroring conflicts or recalling memories that help her through a crisis. What really resonated for me was Jennie herself. She was no saint, yet Barron shapes her choices with plausible instinct and solid reasoning.

Reading about Jennie’s wild gallop on horseback through the English countryside with Count Kinsky, I recalled the advice of her father on cheating death by living two lives in the space of one. She did. What I thought would be a novel about a scandalous Victorian socialite honors a strong, fierce woman who embraced life and love, celebrating the indomitable human spirit.

A remarkable achievement. Victorian Jennie Churchill is an inspiration for women today. Impassioned, brilliant and smashing. You will love her!

Laurel Ann, Austenprose

This book was amazing!!! Learning about Jennie Jerome, Lady Randolph is a mystical figure to me and I adored learning about her and her life.

When we think about Winston Churchill, we think about his political career - and maybe the fact that every bulldog looks like him. Rarely do I think about his mother. Until now. Stephanie Barron has created a fabulous story about Jennie Jerome, Churchill's American born mother.

Raised in luxury, Jennie Jerome marries Lord Randolph Churchill after three days. While the marriage wasn't a happy one, Jennie does things her way. She has affairs, she dazzles everyone around her. She pushes her husband's rise into British politics.

While this is historical fiction - it is based on truths. Jennie Jerome was a woman of means who married into more money and power. She birthed someone who changed the world.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

"That Churchill Woman" tries to catch to glitter and charm of Jennie Jerome Churchill, and the Gilded Age in which she lived. Although glimpses of that glitter come through, overall I found the book disappointing. Unevenly and ponderously written with a timeline that jerked the reader from the 'present' to various memories in the past, it was often difficult to follow the thread of the story or what the point was of certain longwinded chapters of reminiscences.

For a novel trying to reach into who Jennie was, the reader comes away with only a shallow understanding of her and what she wanted out of life. Unhappily married, Jennie travels through the Marlborough House set of Prince Bertie without seeming to particularly enjoy the Society she is a part of. While she has a reputation of being politically savvy and a huge part of her husband's political success, only brief nods are made to that here. Most of the novel is focused on the tragic love affair between Jennie and Charles Kinsky. No matter how many times Jennie tries sending Charles away, she ends up going to him- for help, for support, for love. She sends him away and then is distraught when he doesn't come to her. "That Churchill Woman"is full of people trying to follow tradition, doing their duty- and making themselves and everyone around them miserable in the process. This often ends up including the reader. I wanted to like this book, I wanted to discover who Jennie was, what drove her through life. But by the end I didn't feel any closer to knowing this enigmatic American than when I started.

For fans of throughly researched and presented historical fiction about both American born Gilded Age heiresses and Winston Churchill, That Churchill Woman is an enjoyable read.

Jennie Churchill is best known as Winston Churchill's mother, but she was a complex woman with a fascinating and larger-than-life life. An American heiress, she met and married her husband, Lord Churchill, within days of meeting him. It was a whirlwind courtship, but the marriage was not a happy one, and Stephanie Barron does a good job of showing the constraints women, even the very wealthy and titled, faced and the scandals and smears they endured if they dared to step out of line.

Jennie Jerome Churchill had a complex life, and That Churchill Woman does a great job of shedding light on a woman who is best known for her eldest son, but was and is fascinating in her own right.