Shelley Blanton-Stroud

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
I didn’t read the first book in this series, but I had no problems getting to know Jane and what was taking place in this book. She is trying to master raising a toddler as well as her job as a tomboy reporter while dressed in her finest young man’s clothes. And even when her boss found her out, she was so good at her job, he keeps her on as his employee. That’s a bit to say in the 1930’s. She masters at several interesting things, including a trip across the ocean and back. But will she get the big jobs she wants to make a good life for she and her toddler?

This is quite the journey to follow this character throughout the book. Jane is definitely not the perfect person, but she strives yo do what need by to survive. The author does a very nice job of writing with so much detail that it is easy to follow the story. The characters are well written into the story, and I enjoyed their development throughout this story, although the adventures of Jane and sometimes Tommie as well were kinda wild and truly adventurous. Tomboy is getting Four Stars from me. If you like Hidtorical Thriller type books, you are surr to like this one.

A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.… (mere)

Tomboy is the second installment from Shelley Blanton Stroud’s Jane Benjamin series. I enjoyed reading the first book in the series, Copy Boy and was happy to have the opportunity to read the continuation of the series. I thought it was a good read. It was interesting to travel back in time to the late 1930s and catching up with Jane to see where she was at in this stage in her life. Once again, she finds herself that she wishes she would not be a part of. The first couple of chapters were a little slow but once I got past there, I was hooked and wanted to keep reading to see what she would find out on what happened and who done it. I was often left guessing on how it would all conclude. I was engaged and interested most of the time. I thought it was a great read.

I giving Tomboy four and a half stars. I would be interested in reading more by Shelley Blanton Stroud in the future. I believe readers and fans of historical mysteries, particularly those focused on pre World War II era will enjoy this one and give it a try. It is most definitely not one to miss and worth a read. I hope there will be more to come from the Jane Benjamin series.

I received a paperback copy of Tomboy from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.… (mere)

It’s 1939. The world is slowly emerging from the Depression while lurching toward the Second World War. Jane Benjamin is emerging as well, from the child of dirt-poor migrant workers to an independent young woman with a career as a reporter on The Prospect, a daily newspaper in San Francisco.

It’s a tough go for Jane. Women are hardly as liberated as they are today. They are relegated to specific roles in society and that includes the newspaper industry. Her only chance of breaking in to come up with a “scoop”, a front-page worth story that no other newspaper has. Not only does she have career challenges, but she’s taken custody of Elsie, her toddler half-sister and shares the caregiving with her reluctant friend, Rivka.

Through a series of misadventures, Jane gets chance to accompany The Prospects publisher on a transcontinental/trans-Atlantic journey to England to cover the world famous Wimbledon Tennis Tournament. One of the competitors is a charismatic local girl, Tommie O’Rourke, and that alone would make a big story, though another angle to consider would be the growing animosity between the athlete and her coach, Edith Carlson. Tommie prevails at Wimbledon, but “Coach” doesn’t do so well, succumbing to what appears to be a heart attack while watching the match.

Coach’s sudden and mysterious demise, the appearance of her eccentric niece, Tommie’s overzealous protective brother and the enigmatic “captain of industry” Adam Lowe present more questions than Jane’s got answers for. So, like any good reporter, she does a bit of snooping and what she finds out is that Tommie and Coach had more than just a professional relationship.

Now that’s a story, one that if revealed, would be scandalous and ruin Tommie. Jane’s torn between her budding friendship for the tennis star and her desire for a successful career. Before she can decide she discovers the interests of others could also be compromised if the truth comes and just how far they’ve gone and will go to keep it concealed.

In Tomboy - A Jane Benjamin Novel, author Shelley Blanton-Stroud introduces a reluctant antiheroine who struggles to overcome the circumstances of her birth, parenting and social conventions of the time. As the intriguing mystery unfolds, interspersed with context flashbacks of Jane’s childhood, the reader is immersed in the history of the 1930’s including modes of transportation, emerging technologies, social mores and morals.

The decisions and the consequences the protagonist has to consider in Tomboy have changed radically since then, but the reader is reminded gender equality and equal rights for the LGBTQ community still have a long way to go.… (mere)

Copy Boy by Shelley Blanton-Stroud is the second in the series that started with Tom Boy. The protagonist is Jane Benjamin who is a cub reporter, itching to get 'the' story of a lifetime. Jane is the caregiver of her little sister and she just wants to have a good job so she can take care of her. This story takes place mainly on the RMS Queen Mary, there is talk of an upcoming war.

When the chance she finagles her way onto the RMS Queen Mary to go to Wimbleton. The story she is after is that of a tennis pro and cover girl Tommie O’Rourke. She is excited to cover the story of the star but once she gets there she finds that things are not what they appear regarding Tommie.

At Wimbleton, she witnesses Tommie's coach Edith “Coach” Carlson drop dead in the bleachers. It is suspected that it was a heart attack but Jane thinks otherwise. She wants to write this bombshell gossipy story for her newspaper but she starts to rethink that when she gets to know Tommie and those who surround her.

Jane has a dilemma, should she divulge all she has learned about Tommie and the coach, chance ruining Tommie's career, or should she do what is right? In Tom Boy, Jane dressed as a boy so she could get her position at the newspaper. In Copy boy, Jane is a bit more mature and thinking of what is best for her sister and her new friend, Tommie.

I enjoyed Tom Boy and was excited when the opportunity to review Copy Boy came up. I liked how Jane, grew up from this tomboy to a young lady. I applauded her for wanting to do a job that was historically male-dominated.

Shelley Blanton-Stroud does a wonderful job setting up the atmosphere to the times. Great research to tell a story that is authentic. Her descriptions of the clothing matched the era. Very glamorous.

Tom Boy is written as a series but can certainly be read as a stand-alone. I would recommend that you read the first one to get the whole context of Jane. I give the book 4 stars!

I received a copy of the book for review purposes only.… (mere)