This book was hard for me to get into. It took a while for the story to get going. The characters were hard to connect with as well. This one was just OK for me. Thank you Netgalley for the review copy.

Gilded age Hollywood, Italy, an international crime spree, all things that pulled me in! I really enjoyed this book. I loved the development of Lottie and Vivs relationship, and the way they both became strong women throughout the book. This book had lots of elements that kept me turning the pages!

This was a fun, fast-paced story set in the golden age of Hollywood. It kept me on my toes, anxious to see what was going to happen next.

I love classic movies, so I really enjoyed all the nods to Hollywood movies and stars from that time period. I also loved how, as I read this book, it played out in my mind like one of these wonderful old movies.

I loved Vivienne and Lottie, and how their friendship grew. Their adventure through Europe as they fled the villains was exciting, intense, and at times quite funny. There is a scene involving Ben Hur and a race car that was so good.

This is a great read for movie buffs and fans of historical mysteries. If you’re either of those, grab a copy of The Starlets, a bowl of popcorn, and enjoy an entertaining and well-written read!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Muse, and Austenprose for a digital review copy. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

A great historical fiction book about two rival Hollywood stars on the run from dangerous criminals. It was such a fun one!

I read it in just 2-3 hours - I couldn’t put it down! I absolutely loved how it played out, and thought it was very easy to read, with a great storyline.

Was it a quick read? Absolutely. But it was full of depth too.

The characters themselves were flawed, and you could see it. But watching their growth, understanding, and adventures was intriguing. I absolutely loved following along, and it almost felt like a movie.

Also, all of the updates via newspapers/articles? They added so much and were a great addition!

A fun new read if you’re looking for a historical fiction with just a hint of thrill.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, received from @jennmariethorne @leeykelly @harpermusebooks and @austenprose . However, all thoughts and views reflected are strictly my own opinions.

A story set in the 1950s involving glamorous movie stars would be enough to entice me. However, when you also include movie worthy baddies versus goodies pursuit throughout Europe - from Mediterranean islands, to Monaco, to the Alps - then all is set for a romping read.

The Starlets is a fun, fast paced story in the style of an old Hollywood movie where two female leads go from enemies to friends in order to solve the mystery. An old fashioned movie set with a good murder mystery thrown in is a sure fire winner in my view. The authors so cleverly achieved a balance between old Hollywood celebrity drama, to daring Mafia pursuits, to old fashioned comedy! They certainly captured the ‘feel’ from this era. It reads like a movie playing out in your mind's eye.

This is more than a historical fiction story. It is a classic adventure story of two women coming together as the drama unfolds. The Starlets is glamour, action and suspense all rolled into one. If this is your vibe then get ready for a fun and entertaining read.

‘Movies are the closest thing we have to magic. Every problem, complication, disaster solved in an hour and a half. Every hero deserving of love and redemption.’




This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Do you have a favorite epic movie from the golden age of Hollywood? Gone with the Wind is my favorite epic classic movie.

In the summer of 1958, Vivienne Rhodes, has traveled to the Italian island of Tavalli, to star in the new epic movie, A Thousand Ships, about Helen of Troy and the Trojan War. She is surprised to discover that she will not be the star, but her nemesis, Lottie Lawrence will be the star. Lottie “stole” Vivienne’s fiancé and Vivienne is still reeling from the heartbreak. Vivienne and Lottie inadvertently discover a murder on the island and are soon on the run. Will they be able to find help and solve this mystery?

My thoughts on this novel:
• The storyline moved very quickly and kept me on my toes. I really wanted to know what was going to happen.

• I loved all the nods to real Hollywood movies and stars from that time period. I love classic movies and old Hollywood.

• I enjoyed how the two women were enemies, but were able to put aside their differences, get to know each other, and work towards a common goal. They became friends by the end. I loved how their relationship developed.

• The characters were great. I loved Vivienne and Lottie, but the other characters on the set were fun and interesting as well. The villains were very dastardly.

• I liked the adventure too as the two women fled through Europe. There is a scene involving Ben Hur and a race car that I will never forget.

• There were great moments of humor in the book as well.

Overall, The Starlets by Lee Kelly & Jennifer Thorne was a fast-paced historical fiction novel set in the golden age of Hollywood with unforgettable characters. I loved it and highly recommend it!

3.5 stars rounded up
1958 - Hollywood starlet, Vivienne Rhodes, thinks she has finally landed her big break playing Helen of Troy in a big-budget epic called A Thousand Ships which is expected to be the blockbuster hit that turns around the fortunes of failing studio Apex Pictures. Vivienne, however, is devastated when she arrives on the remote Italian island of Tavalli to start filming and learns that changes to casting have been made and she is now playing Cassandra while her nemesis, Lottie Lawrence, has been given the leading role. Shortly after filming begins, the two arch rivals stumble into an illegal operation on set and find themselves on the run with key evidence trying desperately to contact someone at Interpol.

Alternating points-of-view between the two women, this was a light, fun read - a fast-paced European adventure combining the glamour of Old Hollywood with the thrill of a murder mystery and a frenetic running-for-their-lives chase across Europe that takes them to Monaco, across France to the Alps, to Rome's Cinecittà Studio and finally back to Tavalli where the lives of cast and crew are in grave danger.

The mystery is twisty and satisfying as is the unlikely development of an enemies to friends relationship between the two former rivals. The Starlets is an entertaining read with a plot that could easily have been an Old Hollywood movie - perfect for a fall or winter afternoon of reading while curled up on the couch!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for sending a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Rival Hollywood actresses uncover a criminal plot

Vivienne Rhodes, daughter of LA royalty, is known for her looks, talent and athletic abilities. She is also ready for “the part”, one which will catapult her into the roster of Oscar winners, and after a recent heartbreak she thinks she just might have found it. She is set to star in Apex Pictures epic movie A Thousand Ships which is filming on the Mediterranean island of Tavalli near Corsica. She is stunned when she arrives to find on set not only the man who broke up with her months earlier, actor Teddy Walters (who is set to play Paris) but also Lottie Lawrence, the perky actress for whom she was dumped. Worse still, it has been decided that it will be Lottie rather than Vivienne who will portray Helen of Troy, with the role of soothsayer Cassandra earmarked for Vivienne. The new head of the beleaguered Apex studio, wealthy and handsome Jack Gallo, is able to persuade Vivienne that her role is every bit the major role that Lottie’s is, and she reluctantly agrees to stay…but only with the understanding that she will have significant input into making her part shine. Gallo is new to Hollywood and picture making, but cast and crew all hope he has the money and charm to restore the shaky finances of the company and make A Thousand Ships the most talked about picture in town. As the two leading actresses snipe at one another and the usual complement of lecherous men in power pursue their basest impulses, there is plenty of drama on the set in true Hollywood fashion. But things are about to get worse, as Vivienne and Lottie separately stumble upon proof of nefarious doings behind the scenes. They find themselves on the run, trying to stay alive and get the proof that a dying man handed to Vivienne into the hands of the authorities as they are pursued by nasty looking men (at least some of whom are police officers themselves). From Monaco to the Alps to Rome, with cameos by Frank Sinatra and Charlton Heston, can the two women elude their pursuers and find out what is going on back on Tavalli before they and the friends and co-workers they left behind meet a decidedly unglamorous end?
The Starlets is part historical fiction, part madcap mystery, and 100% entertaining. The two leading ladies are far more than just pretty faces; each has surmounted a less than ideal childhood and they soon find that they have more in common than either believed. Scrappy Lottie, who has had to claw her way up to reach her current level of success (though not by the ways the gossip rags would have people believe), and Vivienne whose seemingly storybook childhood was anything but ideal were both thrown into a manufactured relationship with Teddy, a common PR stunt at the time for studio players, and which turned out to have been even more of a lie than either woman knew. Glamorous locations and ambitious, talented women against the backdrop of the Golden Years of Hollywood, with more than a few real headliners popping in along the way….a great read for movie buffs and historical mysteries both. Readers of authors like Daisy Goodwin, Peter Blauner and Taylor Jenkins Reid should grab a copy of The Starlets, a big bowl of popcorn, and maybe even a glass of red wine before settling in to enjoy an engaging romp. Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for allowing me early access to this delightful novel of capers and crime.

I love the old Hollywood stories and this one had so much within the storyline! There was the glamours actresses, an exotic island with amazing set and something else happening behind the scenes. Vivienne might finally have gotten her front and center film, however when she gets to the filming set on the island of Tavalli, she finds that things are not as she was told. Her ex and his new love interest are there as well and things are about to get close and personal amongst her and Lottie. Filming is a disaster, it's hot on this island and there is nothing but tension and high tempers. When Vivianne and Lottie find themselves having to rely on each other for their lives after they both stumble upon scenes that were not part of the set, they must work to put their feelings for each other aside and trust each other to get the truth out meanwhile trying to get somewhere safe. As they fight to find someone not wrapped up in the corruption, they also learn about each other and how they are not so different after all. This was such a fast paced adventure and I loved the cameo of big name stars of that time, that were sprinkled throughout. Thank you to the author for the complementary novel and Austenprose PR for the tour invite. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

3.5*...The Starlets is a fun look at 1950s Hollywood intertwined with an action-packed mystery. I enjoyed the characters and the details of their lives as competitive actresses in a rapidly-changing business. At first glance I was thinking this might be a type of historical fiction but the plot was more of a slapstick comedy. The audiobook lent to this feel with the narrator over utilizing stereotypical old actor-type voices and elocution. I think this was accurate for the book, but at times felt annoying within the flow of the story.
The mystery worked, however, and the way the characters worked together to solve it and get to know one another better was endearing.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for this ARC. All opinions are mine.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was looking for books about Hollywood on NetGalley when this book popped up. It was the sort of book I needed after reading a lot of books with heavier topics. This was a very engaging book that I flew through, enjoying almost every second of it.

The first part of the book takes part on the set of a movie, one of those old Hollywood epics, in 1958. One of the things I liked about this book is its own distinct set of fictional characters, with the mention of real-life actors and movies and popular magazines and newspapers interspersed throughout. This lends the reader to find the situations more believable because they’re in the same sphere as movies like Ben-Hur, also filming in Europe at the same time, and a trip to Monaco, to visit Princess Grace, who was married two years prior.

However, this book isn’t just historical fiction, it’s also an action thriller/mystery! The two main characters, Lottie and Vivienne, stumble upon some shady dealings and nearly get caught. Soon, they’re on the run all over Europe. And as much as it’s life-in-danger, there are times when there’s comic relief, too. The two women think they are safe, yet time and time again, they discover they’re not so good at this stuff and that the people chasing them have caught up.

My favorite parts of the book where when the focus was on Vivienne, the Esther Williams-like actress who swam her way to stardom and is trying to break free from the typecasting. Her ability to swim plays a crucial part to the adventure, which I appreciated.

If you’re looking for an escape and enjoy an action-filled historical fiction book, and a love of the golden age of Hollywood, you might enjoy this book!

In 1958, Hollywood starlets and rivals Vivienne Rhodes and Lottie Lawrence end up on the same set, shooting a movie In Italy. When they discover illegal activity on set, they end up on the run through Europe.

I wanted to read The Starlets because I love classic movies and found the old Hollywood theme intriguing. This book surpassed my expectations! It is fast paced, exciting, and a great snapshot of another time and place. The characterizations were strong, and the storytelling was engrossing.

I highly recommend this novel for fans of historical fiction, and especially for anyone interested in old time moviemaking.

** “Trust your instincts.” **

Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne once again join forces to deliver the fun and wild “The Starlets.”

When actress Vivienne Rhodes agrees to star in a new Helen of Troy film, she believes she will be in the lead role. So imagine her surprise when she finds her younger nemesis, Lottie Lawrence, who also stole away her beau Teddy Walters, now in the role … with Vivienne seemingly demoted to the priestess Cassandra.

Fuming, she attempts to make Cassandra’s role into a greater part. But when deadly trouble begins to pop up on set, Vivienne and Lottie find they must join forces to save themselves and the cast and crew. As they initially bumble their way through survival — including a trip to Monte Carlo, the Alps and Rome — they quickly get in tune with each other to work together as a team, maybe even building a friendship along the way.

The authors create a great story filled with thrills, danger, mystery and laugh-out-loud moments. They create a great cast of characters that will draw the reader in, all while also delivering some good themes, like trusting in your self and your instincts; the treasure of friendship (“Maybe friendship is its own rare treasure”); women helping each other through adversity (“Women had to help women or nothing would ever change”); and learning from your past.

The book does contain occasional cursing and hints of a relationship that might make some uncomfortable.

Fans of series similar to Clive Cussler’s Fargo series will enjoy “The Starlets.”

Five stars out of five.

Harper Muse provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

I was lucky enough to get multiple copies of this book. I love being able to tandem read a physical or digital copy with an audio copy and I was able to switch between all three to enjoy this book.
This was a great mix of mystery and historical aspects. I liked reading about the life of movie stars back in the 50’s and what filming was like on set. This was definitely more centered around the mysterious film and Vivienne and Lottie’s attempts to contact Interpol and save themselves and their film. It was exciting reading about the girls fleeing across Europe, Monaco, an attempt in getting to Paris, the Alps, and back to Italy.

Thank you Bibliolifestyle, NetGalley and Harper Muse for my gifted copies of this book.

Lottie and Vivienne are arch enemies. Now Vivienne finds out that Lottie has been cast in her movie and has been given HER PART! Vivienne is the one supposed to play Helen of Troy and she is not going to let this slide.

Not only is there a battle between these two stars…a body has been discovered and these two ladies get caught up in a drug ring.

This is a unique tale that has some unique situations. I swear, I could just picture Lottie and Vivienne in some of their escapades. And believe me…they have quite a few experiences.

This is more of a 3.5 star read…rounded up, of course. There are parts that just tend to be a bit slow. And the voice for Lottie got on my nerves a bit. That being said, the narrator, Gail Shalan, had a lot of voices to do. Each one is very distinctive.

Need an old Hollywood romp through Europe…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this audiobook from the publisher for a honest review.

The Starlets by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne is a book that captured me from the very beginning. Set within the Italian island of Tavalli, we have enemies turned allies in a quest to survive a murderous plot full of old Hollywood adventure. The setting alone will captivate all your attention, I guarantee! Twists, turns, complexity of character, and just plain fun fill each page. The Starlets is absolutely delightful in every way!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone

“Vivian Rhodes calling her a dumb blonde. Again.
𝑰’𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒅𝒖𝒎𝒃, Lottie tells herself, even her inner voice coming out petulant. 𝑰’𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒆.”

2.5 stars. This book was like 2 books in one. It started out with a bit of drama in old Hollywood. You have cutthroat casting calls, affairs, and revenge. And if it would have stayed on this trajectory I think I would have loved it.

But then it developed into a crazy wild and kind of over the top murder mystery with these rival women being chased all over Europe. It was a bit outlandish and such a drastic pivot form the part of the story that I loved that I had a hard time staying invested.

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Muse, and the authors for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

In The Starlets by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne, the reader has a “front row” seat to the life of Vivienne Rhodes and Lottie Lawrence, both major movie stars. The ladies are being asked to star in Apex Pictures’ newest venture, one that is supposed to save the studio. The ladies have a history of wanting the same parts and even the same fiancé. The tension of the set is through the roof. Added to this situation is that Viv and Lottie have learned there are some illegal activities taking place on the set, and they have the proof. Now, they must run for their lives. The novel takes Viv and Lottie across the continent and through many adventures and close calls to get the proof to the authorities. These adventures are engaging and some of the interaction between Viv and Lottie is funny. As their story ends, both the stars are happy and have formed a strong friendship. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.

This was such a good historical mystery! There were so many things to love about this story. I especially enjoyed seeing Lottie and Vivienne’s friendship develop as the story progressed and I loved that they were both such strong characters. If you are looking for a historical mystery with an interesting plot look no further.

Old Hollywood but onset in Europe? Enemies to besties? James Bond-esque action? Quiet on set[galley]!

To be read in movie trailer man voice: In a world where you're trying to catch your next big break...what happens when you stumble into an undercover operation and have to go on the run with your nemesis?

This was an action-packed story with bad guys galore and I really enjoyed all the twists and turns this took. It was fun to see Vivienne and Lottie's relationship develop and I loved running across Europe with them. The ending was a cinematic masterpiece that would be really cool to see on the silver screen, but honestly most of the book would be cool as a movie - it was fast-paced, fun, and tense in the best way.

I've really enjoyed these two authors teaming up and look forward to more by the both of them!