Behind Her Smile: The Adventures of a Tall Girl from WVA and Her Life as a Stewardess by Beverly Golden Cuevas | #BookReview #Memoir #Giveaway (1 Signed Copy)
A book blog tour from iRead Book Tours.
Thank you to the author, publisher, & Lauren at iRead for providing me with the information for this tour. 
Book Details
Behind Her Smile: The Adventures of a Tall Girl from WVA and Her Life as a Stewardess by Beverly Golden Cuevas
Published by Urlink Print & Media LLC on August 2023
Genres: Adult Non-Fiction 18+, Non-fiction, Autobiography, Memoir
Format: eBook, Hardcover, Paperback
Pages: 392
Source: iRead Book ToursBeing raised just above the poverty line in Parkersburg, WVA, Janie didn't have big aspirations and dreams for her life. Yet moving to Columbus, Ohio changed everything about her including her name.
She was in a dead-end job at the phone company when a dare from her best friend took her to an interview to become a Stewardess. Fearful she would be rejected on sight because of her height; she was shocked when she was accepted to be the one out of 5,000 applicants who applied for the job.
A whole new world opened up to her. Seeing places she had only read about, spending time with politicians, movie stars and professional athletes. One very special athlete, a professional basketball player named Wendell Ladner stole her heart with his southern charm. An extraordinary 'connection' with the King of Rock & Roll (Elvis Presley) allowed her the unique experience to spend 'one on one' time with him and remain in touch until his passing. You'll share with her the challenges of marrying someone so different from her upbringing and coping with the attempts to try and fit in. Behind Her Smile reveals a devastating event that deeply affected Beverly and made her reexamine her life and what she truly wanted out of it.
Content Rating: PG. Suitable for adult audiences.
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Purchase Links for Behind Her Smile
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Cuevas, Beverly Golden (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 532 Pages - 09/28/2023 (Publication Date) - URLink Print & Media, LLC (Publisher)
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Author’s on iTour Interview Video
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My thoughts on Behind Her Smile
“Behind Her Smile: The Adventures of a Tall Girl from WVA and Her Life as a Stewardess” by Beverly Golden Cuevas is a captivating exploration of Janie’s life, weaving a narrative that unfolds beyond the confines of her small-town upbringing in Parkersburg, WVA.
The book brilliantly captures a variety of emotions, drawing readers into Janie’s world as she navigates the unexpected turns her life takes. From the apprehension of applying for a stewardess position to the astonishment of being accepted, Janie’s journey opens up a whole new realm of experiences.
The narrative skillfully portrays her encounters with politicians, movie stars, and even a special connection with the legendary Elvis Presley. These encounters add layers of depth to Janie’s life, creating a rich tapestry of adventures that keeps readers engrossed.
One of the standout qualities of the book is the highly relatable main character, Janie. As someone who grew up in a small rural town, I found myself easily connecting with her aspirations, fears, and triumphs. The relatability of Janie makes her journey all the more engaging, allowing readers to empathize with her challenges and cheer for her successes.
For those like me who once viewed being a stewardess as the pinnacle of a glamorous life, the book provides a delightful and entertaining perspective. The narrative not only offers a nostalgic trip down memory lane for those who shared similar aspirations but also serves as a testament to the universal theme of chasing dreams, even when they seem out of reach.
“Behind Her Smile” delves into the complexities of Janie’s life, exploring the challenges she faces in marrying someone so different from her roots and the struggles of trying to fit into a new and unfamiliar world.
The book takes an unexpected turn as it reveals a devastating event that profoundly impacts Janie, prompting her to reexamine her life and reassess what truly matters to her. This emotional depth adds a poignant layer to the narrative, elevating it beyond a mere chronicle of glamorous adventures to a story that resonates on a personal and introspective level.
Overall, the book earns its well-deserved four-star rating, delivering a compelling tale that blends entertainment with relatability and emotional resonance.
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
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I love to read books through my Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscription.
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About Beverly Golden Cuevas
Beverly Golden Cuevas was born Beverly Jane Golden in Ironton, Ohio in 1945. She spent the first 10 years of her life in Parkersburg, West Virginia with her family. Her father had a job opportunity in Columbus, Ohio in 1955 so away they went.
Beverly started working at the age of 14 to contribute to her family finances. She graduated Columbus North High School in 1963. She moved on to work at the Ohio Bell Telephone Company after graduation.
In 1965, on the dare of her best friend, she went to an interview to be a Stewardess for American Airlines. American hired her and she started her flying career in New York, then commuting from Tulsa, Oklahoma to her Dallas base. She flew both domestic and international.
During her career, she never received a bad passenger letter. In 1977, she was 1 of 12 Flight Attendants selected out of 16,000 to participate in a highly coveted special assignment to work at the prestigious American Airlines Golf Classic. Her flying career ended on December 1, 2001 after 35 years.
Beverly now lives in Dallas, Texas. She has been married to her wonderful husband Randy for 43 years. She has two sons, Joshua and Kaleb. She is a loving wife and mother, never missing a baseball game or school talent show, in spite of her flying schedule! Mimi is blessed to pass on her knowledge and love of life to her grandchildren Eden, Elijah, Ellie, Logan and Holly.
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Guest Post from the Author of Behind Her Smile
Three Amazing Pilots I Flew With by Beverly Golden Cuevas
The first pilot I would like to thank is Donald B. Johnson. I was asleep on the airplane before we boarded our passengers. I had my head resting on the tray table between two seats in First Class. Don turned the air vent on so that it went directly into my ear. I awoke with a start to see a nice-looking pilot standing above me. We had an immediate attraction and started dating.
I got hurt on a flight when a folding tray table above my jump seat fell while I was under it. I ended up with severe headaches. I didn’t know any doctors in New York, so Don took me to his doctor and I ended up in the hospital with a concussion. Any time I ever needed him, for anything he was there! My Mom chose him (from the three men I was dating) to be my future husband. I should have listened to my mom. Don and I are still close after all these years.
Secondly, a special “Thank You” goes out to Don Holson. He was a very large, very tall man with snow white hair. He loved his Stewardesses and fondly referred to us as “His Girls.” I happened to have long hair after I had flown for quite a while. I was sitting in our crew lounge when a supervisor approached me and told me I was out of uniform. I reminded her that I had been up since 4:30 a.m. in Boston and had a headache. Since I was not in front of my passengers, I did not understand her demand that I confine my hair. But I did as I was told.
I went on my airplane and heard someone on the jet bridge. I turned to see the supervisor there checking out my hair. Suddenly the cockpit door opened with a slam and there stood Captain Holson. He stepped between her and me and stated, “I trust you are not here to check Bev’s hair. As you can see it is regulation. Now I suggest you get off my airplane and back into your office.” She left immediately (he had heard the whole encounter in operations). He was always there for us.
The last pilot that I would like to mention is Captain Jerry Gilliland. He was, without a doubt, the most Christian, caring man I had ever had the pleasure to fly with. He was always positive! There to encourage you if need be. Share his love of the Lord with his incredible memory of biblical verses. Whenever I flew with Jerry I knew if I was ever having a bad day that a chat with Jerry would bring my spirits up and cause the return of my smile. He and his wife are my dearest friends today!
I was so blessed to encounter and fly with these great pilots.
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Purchase Behind Her Smile online from your local bookstore.
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Easy Amazon Links
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Cuevas, Beverly Golden (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 532 Pages - 09/28/2023 (Publication Date) - URLink Print & Media, LLC (Publisher)
If the above link does not take you to your country, here are a few more:
Please send me a note if your country isn’t listed and you would like to purchase using my links. Using my link does not change the price you pay. Amazon pays me a minimal amount out of their share.
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Giveaway!
Win a signed copy of Behind Her Smile: The Adventures of a Tall Girl from WVA and Her Life as a Stewardess by Beverly Golden Cuevas (one winner) (USA only) (ends Feb 2)
Please visit more stops on the tour for extra chances to win!
Official Tour Page for Behind Her Smile
Full Tour Schedule:
Jan 8 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Jan 8 – Cover Lover Book Review – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 9 – fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 9 – My Reading Getaway – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Jan 10 – Country Mamas With Kids – book review / author interview / giveaway
Jan 11 Gina Rae Mitchell – book review / guest post / giveaway
Jan 15 – WELCOME TO MLMOPINION’S REVIEWS – book review / giveaway
Jan 16 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review / giveaway
Jan 17 – Splashes of Joy – book review / giveaway
Jan 17 –Paws.Read.Repeat – book review / giveaway
Jan 18 – Kim’s Book Reviews and Writing Aha’s – book review / giveaway
Jan 19 –Liese’s Blog – book spotlight
Jan 22– The Sexy Nerd Revue – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 22 –FUONLYKNEW – book review / guest post / giveaway
Jan 23 – Leanne Bookstagram – book review
Jan 24 –Pause for Tales – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 25 – Peaceful Pastime – book review
Jan 25 – Authors on iTours: Let’s Talk Books! – book review
Jan 26 – Reading is My Passion – book review / giveaway
Jan 26 – Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews – book review
Jan 26 – Reading Excursions – book review
BEHIND HER SMILE by Beverly Golden Cuevas Book Tour Giveaway
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Book Title: Behind Her Smile: The Adventures of a Tall Girl from WVA and Her Life as a Stewardess by Beverly Golden Cuevas
Category: Adult Non-Fiction (18+), 392 pages
Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir
Publisher: Urlink Print & Media, LLC
Release date: August 2023
Tour dates: Jan 8 to Jan 26, 2024
Content Rating: PG. Suitable for adult audiences.
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Sounds like such an interesting book and it looks like the plot gets pretty good too. Great review.
Thanks, Pooja! I enjoyed it.