I've known a couple die-hard Winston Churchill fans, but military history never interested me at all. However, Stephanie Barron's brilliantly written and conscientiously researched representation of Win's parents, of course his mother in particular, had me fascinated throughout. The Churchills didn't have a romantic marriage, but they honored one another in their own genteel yet polyamorous ways; she kept his secrets for twenty years! This isn't just the story of Lady Randolph Churchill nee Jennie Jerome, it's about love and loss, high-stakes political intrigue, the heights and perils of gossip, public health initiatives, and a comparative study of social mores on parenting through generations in the US and UK. I would read anything by this author, and am grateful to her for introducing me to a new subject I can look to read more on (copious citations in her Aferward).

Jennie Churchill was a force to reckoned with - a brazen American who could not be tamed by her less than romantic husband nor the British aristocracy. She captivated and shocked people in equal measure and was not the model mother to Winston Churchill or his brother. Stephanie Barron paints a no holds bar portrait of a fascinating woman who may have broken every rule but was fiercely loyal and inspired her wimpy son to achieve greatness. The one thing she craved was the love and attention of the one man she could never have. This should be your next read if you enjoy stories of women whose energy and spirit could not be dampened by convention. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

This is another gripping novel about a little-known woman who influenced history, Lady Randolph Churchill or Jennie Jerome. By the title, I assumed this was about Winston Churchill’s wife, what a pleasant surprise to find out it is about his mother. Jennie was an unconventional woman, in an unconventional marriage that managed to cultivate a son who played a major role in World War II.

Ms. Barron uses a very interesting writing style to tell this story. It starts out in the third person, with Jennie being discussed but quickly switches to first person, in Jennie’s own voice. This works well for this novel, it allows you to live and feel through her own eyes, with all her triumphs and incredible heartbreaks brought to life.

This is great historical fiction about an incredible woman who lived life on her own terms. Her contemporaries either loved or hated her as she followed her own rules. Although it involves delicate adult subjects, they are handled gracefully, allowing the book to be enjoyed by teens to adults. I recommend this to anyone that is interested in the more obscure side of history.

Absolutely phenomenal read. Although a work of fiction, finely detailed research made this story come alive. Historical fiction as it was ment to be written. Jeannette (Jennie) Jerome Churchill was part of the British Invasion of young New York heiresse’s who saught titled husbands in England during the late 1800’s. Brilliant and spirited Jennie got what she desired, the second son of the Spenser-Churchill clan and intimidate of The Prince of Wales Marbourough set. This came at a horrific price, but Jennie was a woman who would not be denied her place in Society and was the greatest support of her very ill husband. Not a love story of a marriage, but one of duty, respect, and unfortunate suffering. She may have been a distracted mother of Winston and Jack Churchill, but she protected their father and their legacy at great cost to herself. A women well before her time, living life on her own terms as much as one could in Victorian Society. I so enjoyed the historical lives of her women friends who joined her in the invasionto Britian. The Prince and Princess of Wales and other characters came alive under Ms Barton’s deft hand. Thank you Net Galley and the publishers for allowing me to read and review “That Churchill Woman”.

I knew little about Churchill's birth family so this was a real eye opener into a world of eminence and family dysfunction. It's amazing that Winston turned out even remotely sane. Barron weaves her tale in such a lyrical manner and based on immense research. She does a remarkable job of pulling the reader to sympathize with Jennie, yet other times we believe she is the worst mother on the planet.
I was shocked when Barron reveals Randolph's sexual choice because I never saw it coming due to Barron's lovely way of writing. Of course in Randolph's final illness, my heartstrings were pulled - another reason to applaud the author.
I hope she writes more. And I thank the publisher for allowing me to read this book.

Thank you Netgalley for sharing “That Churchill Woman” with me in exchange for an honest review.
I was drawn to “That Churchill Woman” because of my deep fascination with all things Winston. From these readings I had a general idea about the more scandalous aspects of her life, yet little about her as a distinct person. Granted, works of historical fiction are probably not the best way to address this issue, but it certainly makes the process more entertaining. All of this being said, I came away with a deeper appreciation for both Lady Churchill and her lasting impact on her son.
Throughout the first half of the book I found myself playing a sort of “Where’s Winston” game; partially paying attention to the details of the narrative, but more interested in finding events and details in the lives of his mother (and father) that could be interpreted as the roots of personality characteristics that later shaped the course of history. As the second half of the book unfolded I realized that the author had won me over: I was more focused on the woman, the mother, and less obsessively reflective on the son. And this brings me to my one critique of the book: I think the title doesn’t do justice to the value in learning about the life and loves of this fascinating woman ---- regardless of her last name and regardless of the historical immensity of her son. Jenny Jerome seems to me the epitome of Victorian contradictions: silly and superficial, yet complex; serially unfaithful, yet perfectly loyal and devoted; a mother who was absent and distant, yet inseparably attached to her children.
Finally, I enjoyed the author’s elaboration of aspects of Victorian society. It is fashionable today to speak of the decline of morals, but I was struck by the shear banality with which people confronted syphilis and its horrifying consequences. ON a more positive note was the fact that, even without the vote, the wives of members of Parliament were seen to be a powerful political force that had a clear and direct impact on their husbands, their government, and their country. That Churchill Woman provides a valuable perspective on both the roots of a most remarkable man as well as the life, loves, trials and tribulations of his fascinating mother.

#ThatChurchillWoman#NetGalley is a novel based on the story of Jennie Churchill, mother of Winston and another son.
The author, Stephanie Barron, writes, “The chief rule of British Society, Sleep where you like, but be in your own bed by morning.”
American heiress sets sights on British politician. American heiress catches British politician and marries him before the birth of their first son.
The author takes us through Jennie’s headstrong and nonconformist life which seems totally exciting on the outside but in reality she suffers terribly from the loss of a sister, has to raise her sons from afar and later protect and care for her husband, Randolph.
The book is full of beautiful people and far away places.
It moves along very slowly and other than Jennie, the other characters are just there to fill out the story.

Who knew that Winston Churchill’s parents were more flamboyant than he was? This was an enthralling story of his parents, particularly his mother. The entire novel was rich in historical detail, and it’s obvious an infinite amount of research went into Jennie’s life. I loved how the author presented her in a nuanced way, and allowed you to judge her decisions through the lens of her time and not ours.

My only complaint would be that the book dragged a tiny bit in certain places, and there were tons of names and dates to keep track of—-you might need to keep a chart.

Thank you netgalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a delightful quick read shedding light on one of the most famous and influential families in modern history. Jennie Jerome seemed to be one-of-a-kind. Barron goes to great lengths to show her as more than one-dimensional.

It took me awhile to get through this one, but I am glad I stuck with the story. I know about Sir Winston Churchill, but was clueless when it came to his heritage. Although this is a work of fiction, there is a lot of truths being portrayed. I love to research characters I am reading about and am fascinated with the history I learned. I love having Alva Vanderbilt in the book as I just recently read “A Well-Behaved Woman”,
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read for an honest review.

We are always on the lookout for Historical Fiction novels and this will definitely be the cream of the crop of our collection. Winston Churchill is known as one of the most powerful historical fiction throughout all American history and I was unfamiliar with the story of his mother...until now. It is mindblowing the history from just Jennie Jerome and how she married a duke at nineteen and all the mess she has gotten herself into being thrown into royalty and power. Fascinating read that will directly pull you in immediately.

Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. We will definitely consider this title for our historical fiction collection. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

I was totally mesmerized by Stephanie Barron's portrait of Jennie Churchill. It is easy for 21st Century women to get so engrossed in our own social politics that we forget the demands and challenges that women like Jennie Jerome Churchill faced. This book pulled me in to the social politics of her day, the challenges of her life, and the strength it took to face it headlong.

Years ago I read a popular biography of Jennie. Perhaps I forgot more than I recall, but I concluded Barron's book with a sympathy and admiration for the the subject that I didn't have after reading the earlier non-fiction account of her life. The fact that this book focused on the period of her marriage to Lord Randolph Churchill and her affair with Charles Kinsky provided a clear contrast between the characters of the two men and the impact of their relationships with Jennie.

Accepting the fact that this book is fiction, and offers the author the license to imagine thoughts, feelings and circumstances---it feels pitch perfect to the period it covers, and illuminates the societal constraints a woman like Jennie Jerome Churchill faced on a daily basis. THAT CHURCHILL WOMAN is a "ripping good read" but also a reminder that although our generation of women still face very high hurdles and outright obstacles, we are also every bit as strong and determined as she was. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

NETGALLEY provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a candid review.

That Churchill Woman by Stephanie Barron delivers an insight into the mores of the upper class during the end of the eighteen century in England and the United States. Jenny Jerome, who married Randolph Churchill, was an interesting and intelligent woman. During her youth her father raised her to be independent. She was influential in Churchill’s political career;however, her marriage was troubled as revealed in the novel. Throughout the years, though, she raised her sons shielding them from the truth about their father and guiding them toward a better future. Of course, the most successful was Winston Churchill, who entered into politics. The novel gives us insight into his temperament.
I confess that I was curious about this woman of whom I knew nothing. My interest was piqued because of a recent resurgence of interest in Winston Churchill’s life. I had read some of her quotes and found her intriguing. While reading about her, I felt she was a victim of circumstances and in some respects her life was tragic. She remained in a marriage that brought her joy in the beginning but became almost a prison that kept her from a man she loved.
The story is very entertaining and engrossing. I recommend it to history enthusiasts who want to delve into the life of the eighteenth century and the beginning of the nineteenth. It is well worth reading.

Stephanie Barron has written a novel about a woman who was more than just a mother to the famous Winston Churchill. Stephanie did a lot of research on the family and tries to pull you into the history of the the life of Lady Churchill. This is a story of tragedy, obligation, passion, luxury, and a difficult time for women.

That Churchill Woman was interesting and about a woman that I had never thought about. I love the historical fiction books that come across from a strong woman point of view. However, I did not find Jennie Jerome Churchill and her life all that fascinating nor did I see any great contributions to history. She did give birth to Winston Churchill but he was sent to boarding schools so she did not raise him. This is more about Jennie's life in American and European society. I thought her life got more interesting in the second half of the book. Stephanie Barron did seamlessly move from the current to the past which is fun to read when done well.

This was an ARC from Netgalley in return for a honest review.

The story starts in 1883, England. Jennie Churchill is a guest at Sandringham estate, which belongs to Bertie, the Prince of Wales. There, she meets Count Charles Kinsky, a knight of the Holy Roman Empire. He becomes one of her many lovers.

The story alternates in time, including the time when she meets her husband and her childhood in NYC and Newport.

In 1873 on the Isle of Wight, a 19 year old Jennie Jerome meets Lord Randolph Spencer-Churchill, 24 years old, at the Regatta Week races. At their first conversation he already reveals the passion for history and says to stand for Parliament. She questions herself, if she comes across as too shallow. But what he sees is: “She radiates life; he finds her vitality mesmerizing.”

“The Duchess (Randolph’s mother) (…) mourned Randolph’s marriage to an American of no family. (…) whom she judged to be too showy, too opinionated, and far too much in the public eye.”

When Randolph visits his mother, Jennie gallops every day with Charles Kinsky.

When her older son catches pneumonia at boarding school, her visits are quick as she still has parties to attend. “Sick child or not, the dinner must go forward.”

Some parts are interesting, especially those including the structure of society and politics. But when it comes to the story of Jennie as a woman, mother, a human being, I didn’t find her story compelling. Overall, the story is not that engrossing.

The “Dollar Princesses” are experiencing a surge of popularity and I can’t say I’m upset to see it. In a blatant exchange of cash for class, these women crossed the Atlantic to marry into the old-world aristocracy. Their wealth revitalized the fortunes of Europe’s elite, but their marriages were often complex, challenging, and dramatic affairs.

Taking her inspiration from the life of one of the most scandalous of these women, author Stephanie Barron reimagines the charisma, vitality, and fortitude of the American-born mother of Sir Winston Churchill. Jennie Jerome was a force in her own right and Barron’s work explores both the roots of her strength and the trials it saw her through.

I enjoyed That Churchill Woman. The cast felt decadent and fresh and I loved the social politics of the story. Barron put a great deal of research into the narrative and I felt her supporting cast, notably Consuelo Yznaga and Mary ‘Minnie’ Paget, as dynamic as Jennie herself. Jennie’s relationship with Kinskey didn’t read as strongly as I’d hoped, but you can’t win them all right?

Barron has some really interesting content in this piece, but I felt the lack of focus created thematic conflict. Jennie is the heart of the story, but Winston inexplicably becomes a second narrator in the latter chapters and the book subsequently shifts from Jennie’s character to interfamily relationships. I liked the idea, but I couldn’t help feeling it weakened the ending by allowing the novel’s heroine to be eclipsed by her firstborn.

This well written, entertaining book gives us a look at the life of a fascinating woman who was so much more than just Winston Churchill's mother. It gives us a glimpse into a by-gone world of riches and power that we can only dream about and shows us the real person underneath the glamor.