Tomboy: A Jane Benjamin Novel

By Shelley Blanton-Stroud

Book Overview

It's 1939. On the brink of World War II, Jane Benjamin wants to have it all. By day she hustles as a scruffy, tomboy cub reporter. By night she secretly struggles to raise her toddler sister, Elsie, and protect her from their mother. But Jane's got a plan: she'll become the San Francisco Prospect's first gossip columnist and make enough money to care for Elsie.

Jane finagles her way to the women's championship at Wimbledon, starring her hometown's tennis phenom and cover girl Tommie O'Rourke. She plans to write her first column there. But then she witnesses Edith "Coach" Carlson, Tommie's closest companion, drop dead in the stands of apparent heart attack, and her plan is thrown off track.

While sailing home on the RMS Queen Mary, Jane veers between competing instincts: Should she write a social bombshell column, personally damaging her new friend Tommie's persona and career? Or should she work to uncover the truth of Coach's death, which she now knows was a murder, and its connection to a larger conspiracy involving US participation in the coming war?

Putting away her menswear and donning first-class ballgowns, Jane discovers what upper-class status hides, protects, and destroys. Ultimately--like nations around the globe in 1939--she must choose what she'll give up in order to do what's right.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1647424070
• ISBN13: 9781647424077
• Release Date: June 2022
• Publisher: She Writes Press
• Length: 312 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Intriguing

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK @IREADBOOKTOURS 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.

Tomboy

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.

A well-written, compelling historical mystery

Tomboy is the sequel to Copy Boy but works as a standalone. It is set in 1939 and Jane Benjamin aspires to become a gossip columnist at the San Francisco newspaper where she is a cub reporter, so that she can provide for her toddler sister Elsie. An unexpected opportunity arises, and Jane finagles her way to Wimbledon to cover local tennis star Tommie O'Rourke. When Tommie's coach dies unexpectedly of an apparent heart attack, Jane realizes that there is more than meets the eye behind her death. Most of the story takes place on the Queen Mary, which makes for an interesting and atmospheric setting. Jane is a flawed character who sometimes fails those she cares about, but she is tenacious, bright, courageous and resourceful. She finds herself in an ethical dilemma and must figure out how to do the right thing, while also not jettisoning her chances for advancement. I could not stop reading this incredibly well-written, perfectly paced, compelling historical mystery. I can't wait to read Copy Boy and any further books in the Jane Benjamin series. Thank you to BookSparks, She Writes Press, and Shelley Blanton-Stroud for a complimentary copy. @BookSparks @SheWritesPress @BlantonStroud #TomboyBook