Like her previous books, Mallory O'Meara does an amazing job of digging into a forgotten piece of history and bringing it to light. I learned so much through this book, not just about Helen Gibson but also about early Hollywood. All of this was presented in a conversational style that drew me in and made me want to keep reading. The level of humor and snark throughout the book that made me laugh at several points. A thoroughly enjoyable read and O'Meara will continue to be an automatic read for me.

This book was not disappointing. It was the first book I've read by this author so I didn't know what to expect. I never knew Helen Gibson's story, which upset me because she seemed to be such an integral part of the film industry during her time. I hope more people pick up this book because the author really captivated Helen's amazing story.

A great story of a Hollywood trailblazer. O'Meara's terrific research and organization not only chronicles Helen Gibson's life and career, it illustrates the sexism and inequality that plagued early twentieth-century America and in many ways continues to plague it today. O'Meara's conversational style of prose makes for easy reading, but sometimes her snarky comments come across as immature and amateurish and undermine the tremendous work she's put into this book. Overall though, a great read, especially for anyone who's interested in film history.

Mallory O'Meara has written a fascinating and funny look at the early days of filmmaking. The book focuses on Helen Gibson, stuntwoman and actress, but it continuously branches off to shine a light on the other important women working in film at the time. With humorous footnotes, O'Meara keeps the tone conversational and the 'girl power' at the forefront. This is an important book that will change the way you look at Hollywood.

O’Meara always offers excellent research and facts with a delightful, chatty tone. Reading this is like talking to your smart, mildly gossipy friend who has all the receipts. (The footnotes might be my favorite part of the book.) You think you know something about a subject, but then O’Meara busts open the doors with more information and history than you dreamt of. Sure, there were stuntmen doing their thing since the dawn of movies…what do you mean there were stuntWOMEN? Read this, enjoy it, then show off your new knowledge when you talk to your pop culture obsessed friends. If they doubt you, you can show them the footnotes!

My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing - Hanover Square Press for an advance copy of this new book that looks at a trailblazer in American cinema, a woman who has somehow become lost to time, and the Hollywood where she was not alone in an industry that seems more inclusive 100 years ago than today.

As I grow older I realize how poor the education I received was. My school offered classes in Ap like Calculus and Physics, and yet didn't teach us how to balance a checkbook, nor how to make a household budget. I had classes that taught us history, but it was always a white washed history. Manifest destiny, white man's burden, a patriot's view of war. Women and minorities, were glossed over. Women it seemed were quite happy to be at home making meals and martinis until that Jane Fonda and Gloria Stenem drove them out of the kitchen. We never learned about women in science, or medicine. Or entertainment. Even the classes I took on film history glossed over the role of women. I don't remember much discussion about Helen Gibson, thought I think I should have. A woman who was a box office sensation, leaping off horses, trains and planes, and creating stunt work for women, should not be forgotten. Thanks to this book she will not be. Daughter of Daring: The Trick-Riding, Train-Leaping, Road-Racing Life of Helen Gibson, Hollywood’s First Stuntwoman by Mallory O'Meara is not just a biography of this woman of derring-do but a look at Hollywood from a different point of view, one that had more women working in it from assistants to directors, than the Hollywood of today.

Rose August Wenger, later to become Helen Gibson, was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1892. Rose was a tomboy, one who loved to roll in the dirt, jump off of things, and take risks, something that would serve her well in life. At a young age, working a factory job, Rose saw a rodeo, and something inside of her said this is for me. The show was a traveling show, and didn't have any openings, but Rose soon found a show in Oklahoma that would train her. Soon Rose was trick roping, riding, bucking and having fun in a traveling rodeo show that covered the country. A stop in California changed her career path. Many film companies had come to California for the light, the weather and to flee lawsuits from the Edison company. A film studio hired the rodeo to be riders in a series of western movies and soon Rose was in the movie industry. Hollywood was a different place back than, and many women were in positions of power, writing, directing even producing. The opportunity to replace an ill actress in a popular serial, The Hazards of Helen, lead to a name change, Helen Gibson, and with one leap a new career. One that made her a box office sensation, and a trailblazer in many different ways.

Not just a fascinating story about a woman who should be better known, but a look at Hollywood that is far different than people know or would expect. O'Meara has a gift for finding stories of women who should be better known, bringing them to life and giving them the red carpet treatment they deserve. O'Meara also looks at the history of the times, the racism, the misogyny, and how Hollywood for all its faults still seemed to have more opportunities 100 years ago than today. More female directors, more control, same dealing with brutish men. There is a bit of snark, which is fine. O'Meara is a very good writer and brings moments to life, from stunts, to little interactions, and makes one care about the people involved, even though much time has passed.

A book that fans of Hollywood history will enjoy, and anyone who loves biographies of women will love. O'Meara is doing great things by finding this stories, and showing that women have always been there creating beautiful things from behind the camera. I can't wait to see what O'Meara has planned next.
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Another great look at early Hollywood for women. O’Mearas snark is really what brings this book the attention it deserves. Her ability to do professional research with a comedic flair makes the readability that much better. Can’t wait for her next subject.

Mallory O'Meara has written another engaging biography of a forgotten female pioneer in Hollywood history. She has done plenty of research to support her story. I think other readers will appreciate her chatty, contemporary style.

I’m really conflicted of how to review “Daughter of Daring” by Mallory O’Meara. I love old movies - the older the better (yes, including silents). I love the history of that time - how nearly everything was new, exciting, changing, and developing. How the hub of movies moved from the East out to the West (better weather and more diverse landscapes nearby). How silents weren’t always silent and the development of “movie theaters” from their start (rather sketchy) to their golden day heydays. When you could, for a dime, be entertained by a three year old with curls (Shirley Temple) and forget your troubles. I actually had heard of Helen Gibson before reading this book - but I mainly knew her as a trick rider and wife of Hoot Gibson. So, I was eager to learn more about her stunt adventures. Stunts back in the early days of film were rather daring - and quite often the star of the film stood in for his/her own stunts (Gloria Swanson and Buster Keaton immediately come to mind). So, phone in hand, I started reading … and realized a few things. First - there’s a lot of history that went into researching this book. That’s pretty obvious. Ms. O’Meara peppers her story with names that should not be forgotten as early movie pioneers. Ms. O’Meara also does a great job explaining the history of Hollywood itself - growing from a small enclave to becoming part of the larger LA area. She does a good job balancing the dull boring facts with colorful stories. Second - As Ms. O’Meara, herself, is involved in the movie industry, she can make a personal connection with stories in this book - and she often does. The history of movies - not on the screen but actually how movies evolved - can be fascinating from a historical viewpoint. That a movie about a kiss (available to view online) was amazingly popular today is mind boggling (they kiss, that’s it). “The Great Train Robbery,” which gets a mention, is still pretty dang entertaining (also available online). But - and this is huge - I couldn’t make it through all of this book without a lot of skimming. Why? Because Ms. O’Meara’s lens is that of a modern day woman with a message. There’s a lot of #MeToo and white male bashing. Unfortunately when you take a modern lens and apply it to a previous time, the interpretation is not always accurate. While I found the story of Helen Gibson an interesting one, I really had issues with Ms. O’Meara’s lens and commentary through that lens. I’m obviously not the audience for this book - as it has a number of five star reviews - but I applaud Ms. O’Meara for bring the story of Helen Gibson to modern audiences. This wasn't the book for me, sadly.

I was a huge fan of Mallory O'Meara's debut novel surrounding her search to discover who Millicent Patrick was as a woman and as an artist so hearing that she was coming back with a novel all about cinema's first female stuntwoman, I was sat. That said, this book didn't disappoint. O'Meara's voice is clear cut in telling Helen Gibson's story which makes for a captivating read. I had no clue how much women ruled the industry and was sadden to realize I, a woman who went to film school, was never taught about how prevalent female filmmakers were in the initial creation of what the film industry became. Even though that saddens me, I was glad to hear it from O'Meara's perspective and glad to know Helen's incredible story. She deserves all the recognition for such a varied and amazing career. 5⭐️

O'Meara blends the story of Hollywood's first stuntwoman, Helen Gibson, with the early development of the film industry, focusing on Los Angeles. I found myself fascinated by the history of early serials and their dynamic female leads (where Helen came to fame) and the widespread and powerful roles women played throughout the industry's early decades. O'Meara's writing made reading the book felt like attending an engrossing, chatty history presentation that you don't want to end.