In his latest historical novel Ike and Kay, acclaimed author James MacManus brings to life an unbelievably true and controversial romance and the poignant characters and personalities that shaped the course of world history.In 1942, Kay Summersby’s life is changed forever when she is conscripted to drive General Eisenhower on his fact-finding visit to wartime London. Despite Eisenhower’s marriage … marriage to Mamie, the pair takes an immediate liking to each other and he buys Kay a rare wartime luxury: a box of chocolates.So begins a tumultuous relationship that, against all military regulation, sees Kay traveling with Eisenhower on missions to far-flung places before the final assault on Nazi Germany. The general does dangerously little to conceal his affair with the woman widely known as “Ike’s shadow,” and in letters Mamie bemoans his new obsession with “Ireland.” That does not stop him from using his influence to grant Kay citizenship and rank in the US army, drawing her closer still when he returns to America. When officials discover Eisenhower’s plans to divorce from his wife they threaten the fragile but passionate affair, and Kay is forced to take desperate measures to hold onto the man she loves . . .Based on the scandalous true story of General Eisenhower’s secret World War II love affair, Ike and Kay is a compelling story of love, duty, sacrifice, and heartbreak, set against the backdrop of the most tumultuous period of the twentieth century.
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I’m putting this one back on the shelf. The narration is strange. Her reading of all the male characters is flat. By the 50% mark, it should be more clear to the reader why it’s important to know about Eisenhower’s affair with his military car driver. The romance certainly wasn’t portrayed as remarkable by that mark. It’s on Audible’s Included program. Thank goodness I didn’t pay for this book.
As an American who was born in the 1950s, I’m embarrassed to say I know little about my own country at that time. So I picked up “Ike and Kay” with interest, curious about the pre-presidential Eisenhower. Our protagonist Kay starts out as Eisenhower’s driver in war-torn Europe, but soon becomes an indispensable part of his staff. Rumors quickly spread about their relationship since they are never found apart, but it takes a long time for appearances to become reality. In the forties, an affair with a married man must have been much more of a scandal than today. It’s an interesting conundrum. Ike is under a lot of pressure and Kay provides him with some sanity; it seems that most everyone surrounding them—including Roosevelt and Churchill—accept the situation without undue judgment. That is, as long as the war is on. In my eyes, Kay finds herself in a situation that most people experience at least once in their life: loving another while at the same time knowing this is not going to end well. And like many, she fools herself into thinking that love conquers all. This is a bittersweet story that I found quite enjoyable.
This was such an engaging read that drew the reader into war in Europe in a personal way that kept one interested until the last page.
I was not aware of Ike’s affair during WWII.
This was a story that was based on the life of Dwight Eisenhower and Kay Summersby. It documents both the war and the relationship between “Ike” and Kay. I found the story interesting and was intrigued by the way things progressed both in the relationship and war strategy. I did find that the story was much too long. After a certain point, it became bogged down with too much introspection from Kay and I felt like I’d never get through it. This took away some of the pleasure of the story. All in all it is a very well written account of one of the most historical wars ever fought.
I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have to say I am not a History buff but have heard of Eisenhower – who hasn’t, but it was fascinating reading from this angle. I loved the imagery and could almost smell the cigarette smoke and stale ashtrays after an intense meeting of superminds. The relationship between Ike and Kay was at first more of a friendship which then developed through mutual respect and admiration. I felt for Eisenhower’s wife but could also empathise with Kay – to a degree. All in all, I found it to be fast paced and I could not put it down as I had to find out what happened. I was disappointed by Ike’s choices but loved the way James McManus rounded things off at the end. I found it to be a really interesting read and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a warm fuzzy, tear my heart out Wartime romance with a well known historical figure at the centre of a scandal. Is there truth in this? Who knows – we draw our own conclusions. Read it!