In this fascinating new dual timeline historical fiction novel, readers discover Lola Grayson, a protege of Louis B. Mayer and one of the top actresses of the Golden Age of Hollywood, but her tragic death shook the industry in the 1930s. Now in the present day, fate has come for novelist Joey Cabot, as she was able to purchase Lola Grayson’s former home in Los Angeles. Planning on restoring it and using it as inspiration for her new book project about Lola, a secret safe in the wall might just change the direction of Joey’s book and what everyone knows about Lola Grayson. Complex, immersive, and full of incredible historical details, the novel’s balance between multiple stories and timelines really brings the drama and intensity of the Golden Age of Hollywood to life. With its great and complicated characters, readers will love the emotional storyline and the mystery of Lola Grayson, while the immersive historical details really bring the era to life. Exciting, entertaining, and very interesting, the book really highlights the perils and complications of Old Hollywood stardom and the balance of information and respect in writing about public figures, as Joey must learn in this fantastic new historical fiction read.

A delightful soap opera of a book!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love the old historian movie drama and this book is full of it!!!!!!!!! Enjoyed this book immensely.

The Girl Made of Stars by K. E. Le Veque is a novel set in two timelines, one in the present following novelist Joey who recently bought her old Hollywood Idol Lola Grayson's home in order to help her write; and Lola's timeline where the starlet is trying to navigate the world she lives in now under the control of her mother and the studio mogul's to find life and love.

This is a very quick read and mostly formulaic. What saves the book from being totally forgettable is the last third of it. If you are a fan of old Hollywood, this book might just be for you. I still advise picking it up, as with the short length, it is still worth adding to your reads.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Girl Made of Stars by K E Le Veque
Historical fiction. Multiple timelines.
Part 1. Joey Cabot buys the house she believes belonged to Lola Grayson and Robert Taggart back in the 1930’s. She searches through records hoping to find proof and be able to write a book about The Siren of MGM.
Part 2. The last year of Lola Grayson’s known life. The Golden Age of Hollywood. A determined stage mother, a fiancé, famous friends, contract requirements and bad health.
Part 3. Joey’s discoveries and what she’s does with those facts.

I struggled with the story in the first part trying to keep the three men straight (her brother, her boyfriend, her research assistant) and remembering Joey is the woman who bought the house. One I picked it up again and got to the core of the story and Lola’s life, I was enraptured and finished the rest of it quickly.
Lots of tears here.
Lola struggles but is determined to keep her baby when everyone else just wants to get rid of the problem. They all have their own agenda.
The health things we know now that weren’t a concern in the 30’s are just a little shocking to read.
And more tears. Full circle though. And glad I read this. It’s powerful. And again, I’m grateful and happy to be in the “now” age.
Family is important but not always healthy.

I was gifted a copy of this from NetGalley.
4.5

This is a dual-timeline novel--one story of Old Hollywood's glamour and seedy underbelly and a modern-day mystery. It follows Lola Grayson, a 1930s starlet whose life ended at the height of her fame, and Joey Cabot, a novelist who uncovers Lola’s secrets after buying her former home. While I loved the setting, and the premise is intriguing, it did feel like the pacing drags in the first section. Also, although the 1930s story is told by one of the extremely elderly people who have survived to the present day, the narration has omniscient knowledge of everything going on with the main and supporting characters. How would a ten-year-old boy have known what Clark Gable was thinking? And it does seem very convenient that so many people have lived to be 90 or 100 (or more?) but are still in California. And I would have liked to get more of the story of Joey writing the novel and renovating the home. But it was still an enjoyable, fast read.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

In 1934, Lola Grayson was on top of the world. She quite literally had it all.

We are told this story in three different parts, going back and forth between the past and current day (AKA, present day.) In the past, Lola is seen struggling in Hollywood in the 1930's. She made probably the biggest mistake falling for the MGM star, Robert Taggart. Lola wanted what most every woman wanted at that time, which was a family. She wanted a husband and children....However, that was a death sentence for a major star.
Now, in the present day, we are introduced to Joey Cabot who buys Lola’s old house that she had lived in with her lover, Robert Taggart. Along the way, Joey starts to unravel everything we have yet to find out about Lola. She is a novelist who is struggling and thinks that she might be able to figure out what her and Robert hid from the entire world.
The novel tells us all about the harsh realities of the movie-industry. Showing us themes of of sexual violence, power dynamics, and complicity in abuse. I couldn't help but think about Marilyn Monroe, who was an absolute icon (& really still is, even in today's time and age.) Marilyn Monroe suffered a lot, just like Lola and Joey did.
This definitely lined up with showing us how classic Hollywood is and how actors/actresses can still be timeless, even after their death.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of this eARC! I can't wait to read more from this author.

The stunning cover picture of 'The Girl Made of Stars' picture belies a dark and tragic story.

Lola Grayson is a fictional character but her story is one that echoes the tragic stories of many real life actors/actresses/performers who suffered, and are still suffering, a similar or far worse treatment/fate by becoming a pawn in the hands of powerful and greedy media moguls, politicians, producers, directors, corporate heads, even fellow actors and parents.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Dragonblade Publishing and the author K. E. Le Veque for the digital ARC of the book.

What an enjoyable tale. We had the discovery, the story and the aftermath. We see a novelist, a Hollywood star and the movie making machine that, during the era, dictated much regarding their stars lives. Lola is one of those stars. She's been manipulated by not only the studio, but by also by her mother, who sees her not as her daughter, but more as the cash cow.

Lola is determined to remain a star while reaching for her heart's desire - with unfortunate results. I appreciated that the ending managed to bring the aftermath to an amazing finish.

Wow! This book truly exceeded my expectations. A beautifully written text that included love, loss, humor, friendship and family. The way that Le Veque's main character, Joey, researched her own novel and thr journey it took her on was so authentic and heartwarming. Truly a beautiful, thought-provoking book! Highly recommend to anyone!

Joey writes historical fiction books. She loves using actual history to make her stories feel real. Her current project is about the love nest and secret relationship of two of the biggest Hollywood stars of the 1930s. Will her research give her inspiration to write a great fiction book or will this books forever change her life?

This book is written in three sections. Part one is the setup and introduction. Part two is the story of the history of Lola and her house. Part three brings it all together and gives the big emotional payoff. I thought part one was a little boring but I could see how the author needed to get all of the major players in place and set up the mysteries of the house. The second part makes Lola come to life. The author creates a character that is a wildly successful actress while also being a victim of the acting system of the 1930s. I wanted to punch Lola’s mother in the mouth for pushing her daughter into that world! The author does a great job showing how Lola is sad on one hand and determined to find happiness on the other hand. Once readers reach the third part, the author has created a complex world. I was so invested that I cried. More than once! I thought the ending was very fulfilling and happy.

This is a story that takes place in California. Joey has big plans for the house and the book based on Lola’s life. I was so happy that the author gave some twists and turns to make the book more exciting. I would recommend this book if you are looking for a romance that is also women’s fiction and historical fiction. I will read more from this author in the future.

Wow this book brought out all kinds of emotions. I cried for pages and then smiled with tears in my eyes for a well ended story. It was emotionally a well written book. I did struggle with connecting to the storyline for the first four chapters and then magic happened in chapter seven and I was hooked in the whole dramatic story of "The Siren".

The reader will enjoy Joey and her stubbornness to solve the mystery of Lola's life. I also feel that all her discoveries built up an anticipation in the reader much like a mystery book and it was exhilarating. Secondary characters lacked dimension but they fit perfectly in this story because they had very little to do with the major chain of events.

I loved the emotions this book brought out and I'd read it again.

The Girl Made of Stars, by K.E. Le Veque, is a dual timeline story that will take the reader back to the 1930's when the studios controlled every aspect of a star's life Not only was she "owned" by L.B. Mayer, but she was the daughter of a very domineering stage mother. who also controlled Lola and lived off her earnings. Wanting a normal life, with a husband, a home and children, she had to fight the system. Her dreams were shut down, even with her fiancé Joey is a modern World War II fiction writer whose last two books were not equal to her talent. It was then she decided to write about the life of Lola Grayson. She bought the star's home where she found documents of a hidden life, uncovering the true story of Lola Grayson. Within the story there is a cast of characters that we all know...Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Myrna Loy and more. It was interesting to read what goes on beyond the glamour of Hollywood. .I read this book in one day finding it difficult to put down. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to K.E. Le Veque, Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. My review is voluntary and all opinions expressed are my own.

Hearing my Mom speak of old time Hollywood and the glamor has always peaked my interest. This book was excellent going between present day and the past. Showing some of the good and the dirty little secrets of the studios back then. There were parts that brought me to tears of sorrow for Lola Grayson.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions written are completely honest and my own.

An amazing book that fed on my love of all things Old Hollywood. Then ending was a bit slow, but that's okay. A wonderful addicting read

The Girl Made Of Stars , K. E. Le Veque It Does Not Matter What First Name Or Initials Miss Le Veque Puts Before Her Story Or What Genre She Writes They All Have Her Gifted Style ! When You Read Them You Just know You Will Be Captivated !
This Totally Emotionally Heart-Wrenching Tale Brought Me To Tears More Than Once ! It is Not Just About The Famous Actress And Her Story , But A Relatable One About a Mother And Daughter Relationship And Trying To Prove Something ! Somehow She Always Has You Connecting, Caring , And. Not Forgetting About The Characters ! Always Waiting For The Next Book That She Will Dazzle Us With !
Joey Cabot was a Novelist .She was obsessed with the Mystery of The Actress Lola Greyson and The Actor Robert Taggart . So much so the she purchased there Secret Love Nest . Hoping to give Her Inspiration to finding out what really Happened to
Lola ? She is on a Mission ! Leaving No Stones Unturned ! Stopping At Nothing Till She Gets The Answers ! There Are Many Surprising Moments , Shocking Ones , Heartbreaking Ones , And Thinkable Ones To Make You Question !
Amazing Story ! A Reading Experience ! Touching ! Somethings I Am Still Thinking About !

Brilliantly Crafted Historical Fiction

This incredible story grabbed me from the first page and would not let go until the last. I was pleasantly surprised since I don’t normally enjoy this genre as I do historical romance. However, when I found out that Kathryn Leveque authored the book, I had to read it.

Lola’s story is heartbreaking, and Joey, who bought her house, decides to tell it. As she discovers some shocking secrets, she is more determined than ever to share the story with the world. What secrets did Joey uncover about Lola’s life?

This fantastic story kept me turning the pages. I absolutely loved it. I recommend it to those who like historical fiction and enjoy an excellent story that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. You might want to keep a box of tissues handy. There are emotional parts that might make you cry.

I grew up in Hollywood, so this story instantly caught my attention. Additionally, I'm a total fan of this author so my expectations were high and I wasn't disappointed. Step back into the old Hollywood age of agents, movie mongrels, stables of actresses and actors as this author takes you on an adventure from a current writer who delves into the history behind the movies. Joey, the current writer takes us into Lola's life, love, struggles and secrets as a Hollywood super star from the past. Well written, engaging and fully captivating this is a unique step away from this author's usual genre but no less amazing in its detail, historical research and thrilling tale.

Thank you to Net Galley and Dragonblade Publishing for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
I really liked this book! It centers around one of my favorite settings-Old Hollywood! In the present day, writer Joey Cabot buys a house in Los Angeles. She discovers it was the love nest of 1930's movie stars Lola Grayson and Robert Taggart. During the time they were popular, it was prohibited to get married. Basically, the studio owned you. Soon Joey begins to investigate their lives, and she uncovers so many secrets. I liked the way the author unfolded the plot and let the reader into their world. It was very well written with a lot of exciting surprises. This book was very good, and I hope the author continues to write this type of story. I highly recommend it!

Love a story about old Hollywood? This new release from K.E. Le Veque is just what you are looking for.

In the present, an author named Joey Cabot is immersing herself in researching all things Lola Grayson. She finds a house in Los Angelos that once belonged to Lola Grayson and her fiance Robert Taggart. A safe is discovered in a closet and contains a treasure trove -- eventually leading Joey to the connection the former owner had to the deceased screen siren.

Le Veque divides the narrative into three parts:
1) Joey 2) Lola and 3) Joey and Lola

It took a bit for me to become invested in the story, but once I reached Part Two I was fully engaged. Then Part Three really brings things full circle. In Part One, Joey meets a neighbor named Annie who remembered Lola and Robert and I had hoped to learn more about their conversations. Part Two is a reminder that being famous in old Hollywood was not always as golden as it looked. Readers who loved The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo might also enjoy this one.

Thank you to Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book! I’m glad I was able to finish the ARC just in time for its release.

Overall: 3.5 stars

The Girl Made of Stars tells the haunting story of Hollywood siren Lola Grayson, a star who shined brightly but was consumed by the industry that created her. Dubbed "The Siren," Lola was MGM's biggest name before the rise of Carole Lombard and Jean Harlow. But beneath the glitz and glamour, the novel exposes the dark underbelly of the Golden Age of Hollywood—its rampant exploitation, control over its stars, and the deep scars left behind.

Told in a dual timeline, the novel follows present-day novelist Joey Cabot, who, purchase and moves into the secret love nest once shared by Lola and fellow star Robert Taggart. As Joey digs deeper into Lola’s past, aided by the son of one of Lola’s maids, Dr Jackson, who met and loved Lola when he was a child, she uncovers shocking secrets. The novel doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of the industry, tackling themes of sexual violence, power dynamics, and complicity in abuse. In doing so, it draws unsettling parallels to real-life stars like Marilyn Monroe, making Lola’s story feel all too believable.

Le Veque does a great job evoking Old Hollywood, weaving in well-known figures like Clark Gable, Joan Crawford, and Mayer (the one and only), adding a layer of authenticity to the narrative. However, there are a few elements that feel underdeveloped. Things are mentioned like her past controversy involving a Nazi-sympathizer protagonist are mentioned but never fully explored. Likewise, her friend Diesal’s disregard for a woman’s privacy in the name of historical preservation becomes a pattern later in the book, but it feels like it could have been better examined. Her unresolved issues with her mother also get brushed aside by the end of it.

The novel raises many questions about morality, agency, and justice. Joey’s relentless pursuit of the truth is compelling, but at times, it feels like a therapist might have been a simpler route to closure. Additionally, the reveal of Diana Kuhn’s identity feels fairly predictable, which somewhat lessens the impact of the mystery. Every so often, I felt like some of the language could have been cleaned up just a bit more; like this book would have benefitted from being untouched for a month or two and then re-read and edited.

That said, the book excels in its ability to immerse readers in the tragedy of Lola’s life. It’s a gripping read that highlights both the allure and cruelty of classic Hollywood.