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    Stars Over Sunset Boulevard
    Stars Over Sunset Boulevard
    Stars Over Sunset Boulevard
    Audiobook10 hours

    Stars Over Sunset Boulevard

    Written by Susan Meissner

    Narrated by Ann Marie Lee

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    In this new novel from the acclaimed author of Secrets of a Charmed Life, two women working in Hollywood during its Golden Age discover the joy and heartbreak of true friendship. Los Angeles, Present Day. When an iconic hat worn by Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind ends up in Christine McAllister's vintage clothing boutique by mistake, her efforts to return it to its owner take her on a journey more enchanting than any classic movie… Los Angeles, 1938. Violet Mayfield sets out to reinvent herself in Hollywood after her dream of becoming a wife and mother falls apart, and lands a job on the film-set of Gone With the Wind. There, she meets enigmatic Audrey Duvall, a once-rising film star who is now a fellow secretary. Audrey's zest for life and their adventures together among Hollywood's glitterati enthrall Violet…until each woman's deepest desires collide. What Audrey and Violet are willing to risk, for themselves and for each other, to ensure their own happy endings will shape their friendship, and their lives, far into the future.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherChristianAudio.com
    Release dateMar 15, 2016
    ISBN9781633898585
    Stars Over Sunset Boulevard
    Author

    Susan Meissner

    Susan Meissner is a USA TODAY bestselling author with more than three-quarters of a million books in print in eighteen languages. Her novels have been named to numerous "best of" lists, including Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Goodreads, and Real Simple magazine. A former newspaper editor, Susan attended Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego and lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their yellow Lab, Winston. When she's not writing, Susan loves long walks, good coffee, and reading bedtime stories to her grandchildren. Visit her online at susanmeissnerauthor.com; Instagram: @susanmeissnerauthor; Twitter: @SusanMeissner; Facebook: @susan.meissner; and Pinterest: @SusanMeissner.

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    Reviews for Stars Over Sunset Boulevard

    4/5

    86 ratings10 reviews

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    • 3/5
      Not my favorite Susan Meissner, but perhaps I’m especially spoiled just after listening to her Fall of Marigolds, which was outstanding! (I also preferred that narrator, as well).

      Still a nice story though, filled with fun historical facts about the making of Gone with the Wind! Love that kind of detail.

      Well done!
    • 4/5
      Stars Over Sunset Boulevard by Susan Meissner is an interesting story of two young women who are working at the Selznick Studios as secretaries during the time of the filming of Gone With the Wind. Both girls have secrets that they don’t want exposed, Violet Mayfield is recovering from an operation that left her unable to have children. She was abandoned by her boyfriend and decided to leave the South and come to Hollywood. Audrey Duvall meets Violet and invites her to share her bungalow. Although working as a secretary, Audrey dreams of becoming a star, in fact she has no room in her life for anything other than her ambition. Audrey’s secret is that she has been pregnant twice and given up both babies.While it was pretty obvious where the story was going, it was well written and engaging. I really enjoyed that the story was set against the backdrop of filming Gone With Wind, one of my favorite movies. Both the glimpses into cinematic history and the way the book examined the ups and downs of the friendship between these women kept the story moving along and the author wisely provided a couple of likeable yet flawed characters that kept the story from becoming too sweet.There is a dual timeline to the story, but the modern parts are really just used to cement the story together and, in my opinion, didn’t add much to the story. This was the first book that I have read by this author although I have a number of hers on my shelf. I look forward to reading another one later on this month.
    • 4/5
      4.5 stars.

      Set against the backdrop of the Golden Age of Hollywood, Stars Over Sunset Boulevard by Susan Meissner is a truly captivating novel that explores the bonds of friendship.

      The past intertwines with the present when vintage clothes store owner Christine McAllister discovers a hat from Gone with the Wind. How did the hat end up in the attic of a bungalow that she soon realizes has unexpected ties to her childhood? The answer lies in the distant past and a long ago friendship between two women who worked together during the filming of the epic movie.

      When life throws her an unexpected curve, Violet Mayfield moves from Alabama to Hollywood to work for Selznick International. Working as a secretary on the set of Gone with the Wind, she is befriended by Audrey Duvall, another secretary who still dreams of stardom. In a world where close friendships are rare, Violet and Audrey quickly become bosom buddies despite their different backgrounds and personal dreams. Their relationship becomes complicated when Violet begins to fall in love with Audrey's close friend, Bert Redmond, a kindhearted young man who makes no secret that he would like more than friendship with Audrey.

      Violet is a proper southern belle who has been groomed for marriage and motherhood. After an unexpected loss shatters her lifelong dream, she is eager to start over in a new place. She genuinely cares for Audrey but her love for Bert soon eclipses their friendship. When the opportunity to drive a wedge between Audrey and Bert presents itself, Violet impulsively makes a decision that she will eventually deeply regret in the later years of their friendship.

      Years earlier, Audrey's movie career was over before it began but she never stops hoping for another big break. She is vivacious and fun-loving, but she has endured her share of heartache. After meeting Violet, Audrey's hopes for the future are revitalized and she renews her efforts to make it as an actress. Just as Violet achieves personal happiness, Audrey despairs her chance at stardom has passed her by but she finds surprising success in the theater. However, a failed relationship has repercussions that forever change the course of her professional life and her friendship with Violet.

      An engaging and emotional novel that tugs at the heartstrings, Stars Over Sunset Boulevard by Susan Meissner is a beautiful story of a friendship that manages to survive despite deceit, betrayal and jealousy. A fascinating and entertaining novel that I highly recommend to fans of historical women's fiction.
    • 5/5
      Stars Over Sunset Boulevard takes the reader on a journey from its opening in 2012 back to the year of 1939 where the story actual starts. Violet is a somewhat shy Southern girl who has decided to reconstruct her life in California after a life-altering medical problem. She accepts a secretarial position at Selznick Studios and meets Audrey who is looking for a roommate. Audrey is an almost-star who works in the secretary pool and knows everyone and everything. A good person to have as a friend. Add into the mix a shy man named Bert, Audrey’s best friend. Bert has a crush on Audrey but her feelings are very different from his. Audrey still has hopes of being a star; Bert harbors a secret desire to be an ornithologist; Violet’s dream of a husband, children, and a white picket fenced house seems just beyond her reach. Together the three form an odd sort of friendship. Add to this the fact that Gone With The Wind has just started filming and the three are kept busy at all hours of the day and night, and you have the sort of book that grabs your attention and won’t let go. The story starts with the discovery by a young woman named Christine who owns a vintage-clothing store and receives by mistake the green and gold hat that Scarlett creates from the drapes at Tara. How did this hat come to Christine? And why does she remember seeing this exact hat as a child and trying it on? The story will have you turning the pages and burning the midnight oil.I’m a huge fan of Gone With The Wind as well of 1930s and 1940s Hollywood. I love the glamour of it all. This story is rich in detail and it is obvious that Ms. Meissner has done her research on this one. I was captivated by the life of the two secretaries who lived on the fringe of the movie sets for months; and following their lives after Selznick Studios was just as captivating. By the third chapter I felt like these two were old friends of mine. The contrasts between Scarlett and Melanie from GWTW and Audrey and Violet were well drawn and it was easy to see how the bonds of friendship can form in the most unlikely ways.I thoroughly enjoyed this book and give it an easy five stars. Looking forward to reading more by this author.
    • 4/5
      Thank you to Bookreporter.com for the opportunity to read this wonderful historical fiction. I love anything that has to do with movie/film and old Hollywood.


      The two main characters, Violet and Audrey, form an interesting and complicated friendship. Susan Meissner takes us back to Hollywood during the filming of Gone With the Wind. She weaves two story lines — one present day, one during the late 1930’s era — with a hat worn by Scarlett O’Hara as the common link.

      Highly Recommend!
    • 3/5
      I can't help but compare this novel to one I read last year - A Touch of Stardust - which also fictionalized the filming of Gone with the Wind. Unfortunately, the comparison isn't all that favorable, especially when I consider the writing and how easy the characters were to relate to. That said, I did enjoy how the story tied together at the end, even if I felt the span between the present and past wasn't necessary - the tale would have been complete without the interludes in the present. I would suggest this novel to those interested in Hollywood of the 1940s and the film Gone with the Wind.
    • 3/5
      Stars Over Sunset Boulevard is the latest book by Susan Meissner. The novel starts out in 2012 with Christine McAllister discovering a beautiful green Robin Hood style hat in her latest acquisitions for her vintage clothing boutique. There is a tag inside that reads Scarlett #13. Could this be an actual hat from Gone with the Wind? This hat is supposed to be at the University of Texas. How did it get in the box of items they just acquired? We then join Violet Mayfield in 1938. Violet is the newest secretary in the secretarial pool at Selznick International. Violet heard that Audrey Duvall is looking for a roommate. Violet is originally from Alabama, but she needed a change (she was in the right place at the right time). Audrey wants to be an actress. She almost got her big break when she was a teenager (before talkies), but then the movie industry changed. Audrey’s voice is too deep many feel for the movies. Bert Redmond works in the wardrobe department and is involved in the costumes for Gone with the Wind. Violet is lucky enough to be picked to be the secretary to Miss Susan Myrick (technical advisor for the film). These three have adventures around the city after they finish work (especially at parties where Audrey tries to network). Bert likes Audrey, but Audrey is not interested in Bert (except as a friend). Violet is interested in Bert, but she is scared to tell him her big secret. We follow these three through the filming of Gone with the Wind and their lives following the film. Audrey and Violet both have secrets that will continue to affect their lives for many years to come.I am a fan of Susan Meissner, but I did not feel that Stars Over Sunset Boulevard was her best work. It was an interesting book, and I loved the behind the scenes information on Gone with the Wind that Ms. Meissner worked into the book. I just felt the book was lacking (hard to explain). I think I wanted more spark, but it was more ordinary especially after they finished working on Gone with The Wind at Selznick International. I really did not like what happened to the hat at the end of the book (it was a big disappointment). I give Stars Over Sunset Boulevard 3.75 out of 5 stars. The book has some good moments and some very slow parts (I skimmed through these sections). This does not put me off Ms. Meissner’s books. I will definitely continue to read her stories.I received a complimentary copy of Stars Over Sunset Boulevard from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      After moving to Hollywood, Violet finds a roommate, Audrey. Audrey and Violet both work as secretaries in the movie industry. When Gone With the Wind begins filming, Violet begins to come into her own. She finds a boyfriend, Audrey’s best friend, and quickly does anything and everything to win him over. Once they marry and move away, Violet adopts Audrey’s child. I enjoyed the scenes revolving around Gone With the Wind. It was an interesting glimpse into the movie world. However, I really disliked Violet. She was so insecure and a rotten friend. Overall, well written and engaging. 4 out of 5 stars.
    • 5/5
      To what lengths would you go to make your deepest desires come true? For Audrey Duvall and Violet Mayfield, the lines of reason are blurred. Will the bond of true friendship be enough to hold them together? A hat is found in a vintage boutique in Los Angeles 2012. It is unmistakably Scarlett's green curtain hat from Gone With the Wind. But how did it end up there? In 1938 Violet leaves home and travels to California and gets a job as a secretary at a movie studio. With high hopes of starting a new life she meets Audrey Duvall, a fellow secretary who was once rising star in Hollywood. As the filming for Gone With the Wind commences both Audrey and Violet find themselves in places they never thought imaginable. And when the infamous curtain hat goes missing, more than one person's future is at stake. Will Violet finally get the family that she dreamed about for so long? Will Audrey finally make her big break? And what will they sacrifice to see it all come to pass? Through the joys and the heartbreak, they are always there for each other. We know that love comes in many forms, and that ultimately, love conquerors all.There is something about Susan Meissner's books that have me completely enraptured from the start. Her ability to paint pictures in my mind is outstanding. The history and colorful detail is captivating. Gone With the Wind has always been a favorite of mine, and I enjoyed the creative liberties of the setting! This story is a wonderful reminder to us that even when we do things to protect others, there are consequences to face. In my opinion, truth and honesty are always the best route to take. A quote from my High School Drama teacher that has always stuck with me is: "Can we be brave? Will we be brave? We MUST be brave for life requires it." It doesn't matter if we are making curtains into a dress to beg a man for money. Or your child undergoing a bone marrow transplant at 9 weeks old. Or speaking the truth to someone you love. Life requires us to be brave on a daily basis. But we are never alone. We never have to walk through the shadows on our own. Whether it is a friend, sister, mother or auntie, reach out for support. Because they most likely need you, just as much as you need them. I highly recommend Stars Over Sunset Boulevard!It will make you cry, laugh out loud and be truly thankful for the loved ones that surround you. Now I am off to curl up in a warm blanket, drink some tea and watch Gone With the Wind.I received a free digital copy of Stars Over Sunset Boulevard from Penguin Group through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
    • 3/5
      Violet, Audrey, and Bert are three young people with dreams in 1938 Hollywood, all working at Selznick International studio. Violet wants a husband. Audrey wants to be a film star. Bert wants to go back to college and become an ornithologist. Bert also dreams of Audrey; he has such a massive crush on her he can’t see anything but her. And Audrey and Violet have secrets as well as dreams; secrets that could easily destroy those dreams. Their lives play out as ‘Gone With the Wind’ gets filmed at the studio, starting with the massive burning of Atlanta scenes. After the movie finishes, Audrey and Bert leave Selznick Studio, but the three remain close friends. The story takes us through WW II and after. Audrey and Violet have times when their friendship threatens to implode, but somehow things work out. The story is framed with short chapters set in 2012, when Violet’s family is cleaning out the bungalow where she and Audrey lived, and a vintage hat accidently gets sent to the consignment store. The hat is one anyone would recognize: it’s the green velvet hat Scarlet O’Hara made out of her mother’s drapes. How did this come to be in Violet’s possession? I was disappointed. I couldn’t manage to like Violet; she came across as sweet and innocent at first but turned out to be very manipulative. Audrey was okay, but kind of flat. Bert is just a prop for the women to use. They just didn’t seem real and the dialogue is stilted. It’s almost like the book was a first draft, and the author needed to go back and flesh out the people. Not unreadable but only 3 out of 5 stars. I did really enjoy the parts about the filming of GWTW.