Diamond

By Cynthia Jordan

Book Review: Diamond by Cynthia Jordan

Corsets are out. Freedom is in. The 20's are ROARING! Movies are silent and Hollywood is shaping American culture. From coast to coast young girls like Heather Smith dream of becoming a movie star. One day two men shooting a western film near San Angelo, Texas, come to Pearl's Parlor for some fun. Is this Heather's big chance?

Wyatt Earp, Mae West, John Wayne, Charlie Chaplin, Louise Brooks, Barbara Stanwyck...their stories will astound you. DIAMOND reminds us that when we remove the glitzy glamour, smoke and mirrors it is our human nature and the need to be loved that makes us all the same.

In Diamond, Cynthia Jordan crafts a lush and emotionally charged historical fiction novel that transports readers to the 1920s-a time when America was dancing to jazz, women were redefining freedom, and the lights of Broadway and Hollywood beckoned with promises of fame and fortune.

At the center of the story stands Miss Victoria Pearl, a strong and compassionate woman who once worked for the famous Everleigh sisters in Chicago and now runs Miss Pearl's Parlor in San Angelo, Texas. Her home becomes a refuge for women who have been broken by society but rebuilt by sisterhood. Each of her "Lady Pearls" has a story that intertwines hardship with hope, and together they form a family that transcends circumstance.

Jordan's storytelling brilliantly bridges the glamour of Broadway and the allure of Hollywood. Through vivid descriptions and authentic dialogue, she captures the era when stage and screen were converging-when aspiring actresses, singers, and dancers migrated west from the New York theatres to the new dream factories of California. References to the Ziegfeld Follies, vaudeville, and early motion pictures like The Hunchback of Notre Dame ground the novel in real history, while fictional characters like Harvey Rochester-an elegant, flamboyant patron of the arts who performs in New York's theatre scene-embody the bold cultural transformation of the time.

The story also sheds light on the darker side of the entertainment world-the exploitation of women seeking stardom and the double standards they endured. Yet through Miss Pearl's wisdom and unwavering belief that "all women have value," the book transforms pain into empowerment.

Jordan's prose is cinematic-readers can almost hear the jazz, see the sequins, and feel the dusty Texas wind giving way to the glow of the marquee lights. Diamond is not just about showgirls and socialites; it's about survival, self-respect, and the unbreakable spirit of women who dared to dream between the footlights of Broadway and the camera flashes of Hollywood.

Verdict:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A beautifully written and deeply human story that bridges two golden worlds-the bright lights of Broadway and the silver screens of Hollywood. Cynthia Jordan's Diamond shimmers with authenticity, heart, and hope-a tribute to the women who helped shape the American dream.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 098865783X
• ISBN13: 9780988657830
• Release Date: July 2015
• Publisher: Emerald Eagle Productions
• Length: 370 Pages
• Weight: 1.09 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 16 years and up