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Blonde Ambition: The Untold Story Behind Anna Nicole Smith's Death
YOU PROBABLY THINK YOU KNOW ALL THERE IS TO KNOW. ANNA NICOLE SMITH LOST HER SON. SHE ACCIDENTALLY OVERDOSED. SHE WAS A DRUG ADDICT. YOU DON'T KNOW A THING... She was famous for being famous-Americana at its Scarlet Letter-wearing best. A bodacious young girl from Texas, Anna remade herself into the centerfold of the world. She was a "dumb blonde," a stripper, a Playboy Playmate, who boldly took her case against her billionaire husband's family all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Her tragic life and untimely death evoke an odd mix of fascination, shock, and dismay. And through it all, there still exists a voracious thirst to discover more about who she actually was...and how she really died. In a book that is sure to surprise even the most avid pop culture junkies, Rita Cosby blows the lid off this astounding story. After an in-depth investigation, this is the definitive journalistic account of the Anna Nicole Smith saga-with unearthed secrets and explosive, never-before-told information.
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
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825 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
May 5, 2020
"This is the story of untold secrets. It proves that truth is stranger than fiction, and reality is sometimes unreal."
Blonde Ambition: The Untold Story Behind Anna Nicole Smith's Death by Rita Cosby
I was always a bit fascinated by Anna Nicole Smith. And I was quite sad at her early demise. So I chose to read this book about her life. I actually read it quite awhile ago and just never reviewed.
It was an OK read but very sensationalistic. I cannot say I learned anything new from it and I can also say I could have received t he same info from any News show although I am glad that someone chose to write a book about her.
It was also painful in some places. That Anna Nicole Smith was exploited isn't even up for question and it was terribly sad reading about someone with so much beauty, charm and intelligence once again being exploited by creeps and hangers on. Not everybody in the book were evil but, as with many tragic figures out of Hollywood, the fighting and clashes between people in her life were at times bitter and cruel. I cannot say I enjoyed the book.
I was appalled that nobody stepped in to help Anna Nicole. Parts of the book were compelling but ultimately I'd say what I like best about the book is the beautiful cover. I hope she has found peace.
Blonde Ambition: The Untold Story Behind Anna Nicole Smith's Death by Rita Cosby
I was always a bit fascinated by Anna Nicole Smith. And I was quite sad at her early demise. So I chose to read this book about her life. I actually read it quite awhile ago and just never reviewed.
It was an OK read but very sensationalistic. I cannot say I learned anything new from it and I can also say I could have received t he same info from any News show although I am glad that someone chose to write a book about her.
It was also painful in some places. That Anna Nicole Smith was exploited isn't even up for question and it was terribly sad reading about someone with so much beauty, charm and intelligence once again being exploited by creeps and hangers on. Not everybody in the book were evil but, as with many tragic figures out of Hollywood, the fighting and clashes between people in her life were at times bitter and cruel. I cannot say I enjoyed the book.
I was appalled that nobody stepped in to help Anna Nicole. Parts of the book were compelling but ultimately I'd say what I like best about the book is the beautiful cover. I hope she has found peace.
April 26, 2015
Terrible! Nothing but conjecture and tabloid trash. Practically everything in this book is a work of fiction. Disappointed to see so many people buying this when it was proven that Rita attempted to bribe witnesses and was unable to produce ONE credible (or otherwise) source. I could see how people not knowing a lot about Anna Nicole would find it interesting, but if you are a true fan; SKIP THIS ONE. It is salacious and interesting but it should be categorized as a novel not a biography. Good for anyone looking to read something "sexy" without caring about the truth-but if you want the truth? Check out Pol Atteu and Patrik Simpson's tribute book to Anna, "Portrait of an Icon"
March 23, 2015
Yes, blonde ambition: Vickie Lynn Hogan Hart Smith Marshall was a single mom high school drop-out with a little boy named Daniel Wayne Smith. She wanted to be Marilyn Monroe. In October, 1991, she met J. Howard Marshall, who was a retired trust and probate attorney worth $550,000,000 while she was working the lunch shift as a topless dancer at a gentlemen's club in Houston. Marshall helped fund and promote her career. 1n 1992 she was on the cover of Playboy and was the Playmate of the Year in 1993. She changed her name to Anna Nicole Smith - ANS - and got other modelling jobs.
Howard K. Stern became an attorney in February, 1994 and ANS became his client. Managing her career, she got jobs in movies and modelling and as a spokesmodel for Guess, Lane Bryant, Live, and TrimSpa.
In June, 1994, At age 26, ANS married Marshall, age 89. He gifted Vickie a ranch, jewelry and other valuables worth over a million dollars. Marshall had an updated Will and left his probate estate to his son. He died a year later, and multiple lawsuits were filed asking that ANS get half the estate (Stern vs. Marshall).
ANS had a reality show on TV from 2002-2003. ANS was moved "offshore" to the Bahamas. Her son Daniel had become isolated from her, and he claimed that Stern would not let him see his mother. He consulted a detective. When ANS gave birth to a daughter in September, 2006, Daniel went there to see his mother and newborn sister and died in ANS's hospital room in the maternity ward of an overdose of three drugs. Daniel had the business card of the detective in his pocket. Stern was present in the room. The last photo of Daniel was sold by "someone" for $600,000 dollars. A photo taken in September, 2006 of a commitment ceremony between ANS and Stern was sold by "someone" for a millions dollars.
ANS died in February, 2007 of an overdose of drugs, eight of which were prescribed to Stern. Stern had himself listed on the birth certificate as the father of the newborn girl, but a paternity lawsuit was filed and DNA showed the biological father was Birkhead and not Stern.
If this book were fiction, I think it would never be published because of the snarled complexities of the plot. But truth is stranger than fiction.
I liked this book because it exposed some of the greed, fraud, amorality, manipulations and complexities of human predators. There were multiple lawsuits. I feel disgust when I hear the names of some of the protagonists, and in my opinion, there were two murders as well as multiple other crimes committed. This is a tangled mess of lawsuits and appeals which I believe is keeping lawyers busy even today.
Howard K. Stern became an attorney in February, 1994 and ANS became his client. Managing her career, she got jobs in movies and modelling and as a spokesmodel for Guess, Lane Bryant, Live, and TrimSpa.
In June, 1994, At age 26, ANS married Marshall, age 89. He gifted Vickie a ranch, jewelry and other valuables worth over a million dollars. Marshall had an updated Will and left his probate estate to his son. He died a year later, and multiple lawsuits were filed asking that ANS get half the estate (Stern vs. Marshall).
ANS had a reality show on TV from 2002-2003. ANS was moved "offshore" to the Bahamas. Her son Daniel had become isolated from her, and he claimed that Stern would not let him see his mother. He consulted a detective. When ANS gave birth to a daughter in September, 2006, Daniel went there to see his mother and newborn sister and died in ANS's hospital room in the maternity ward of an overdose of three drugs. Daniel had the business card of the detective in his pocket. Stern was present in the room. The last photo of Daniel was sold by "someone" for $600,000 dollars. A photo taken in September, 2006 of a commitment ceremony between ANS and Stern was sold by "someone" for a millions dollars.
ANS died in February, 2007 of an overdose of drugs, eight of which were prescribed to Stern. Stern had himself listed on the birth certificate as the father of the newborn girl, but a paternity lawsuit was filed and DNA showed the biological father was Birkhead and not Stern.
If this book were fiction, I think it would never be published because of the snarled complexities of the plot. But truth is stranger than fiction.
I liked this book because it exposed some of the greed, fraud, amorality, manipulations and complexities of human predators. There were multiple lawsuits. I feel disgust when I hear the names of some of the protagonists, and in my opinion, there were two murders as well as multiple other crimes committed. This is a tangled mess of lawsuits and appeals which I believe is keeping lawyers busy even today.
September 2, 2008
Very straight forward and seemingly accurate account by a reporter familiar with Anna Nicole, of how Howard K. Stern murdered Danial Smith and Anna Nicole. Very sad and pathetic what a person can do when they take over your life. Howard was an abuser who isolated Anna from friends and family and kept her dependent on drugs. Very insightful and sad, a wasted life of an honestly very naive young woman and the love of her life, her son Danial.
July 21, 2011
Great book! Rita "shocking" Cosby's (MSNBC reporter) shocking account of Anna Nicole's shocking death. Objective, yet shocking, shockingly trashy. Wished I'd saved it for a shocking read at the beach. Highly recommended.
July 22, 2022
I always wondered why nobody ever tried to push Anna Nicole Smith in the RIGHT direction and try and release her from the hold of manipulative and awful people. If only someone who really cared about the person and not the fame and money coming their way could have intervened. The same goes for Amy Winehouse, and I'm sure a lot of other celebrities who get dragged down into a life of drugs and surrounded by users. Unfortunately in Anna Nicole's case, it seems her son tried to get her away from the truly awful Howard K Stern, and he ended up dead. And then so did Anna. Suspicious at all???? Not that Anna was completely naive to things, obviously she was also very attracted to money and fame but I do believe she was drugged out of her mind in her last years with Stern and hadn't a clue what was going on around her.
June 2, 2012
This story is very disturbing. Some of it I knew from news accounts, other parts came as a total shock.
The parallels between Marilyn Monroe and Anna Nicole are, quite frankly, creepy.
Both addicted to drugs, both surrounded themselves with toxic people who had agenda's, both were murdered (I believe that Marilyn was murdered and I do believe that Anna Nicole was murdered.)
It actually seems as if Marilyn was reincarnated into Anna Nicole Smith.
Rita Cosby makes some allegations in this book that I actually find believable. In fact, Howard Stern filed a lawsuit against Rita Cosby and he dropped it - what does that tell you.
This poor, broken soul did not have to die, but because of greed and fame hungry morons, she did die.
But it gets worse - because not only did Anna die - but her son Daniel died as well. I bet dollars to donuts that he was murdered as well. Daniel was going to great lengths to get his mom out of her current situation - and look what happened to him.
The parallels between Marilyn Monroe and Anna Nicole are, quite frankly, creepy.
Both addicted to drugs, both surrounded themselves with toxic people who had agenda's, both were murdered (I believe that Marilyn was murdered and I do believe that Anna Nicole was murdered.)
It actually seems as if Marilyn was reincarnated into Anna Nicole Smith.
Rita Cosby makes some allegations in this book that I actually find believable. In fact, Howard Stern filed a lawsuit against Rita Cosby and he dropped it - what does that tell you.
This poor, broken soul did not have to die, but because of greed and fame hungry morons, she did die.
But it gets worse - because not only did Anna die - but her son Daniel died as well. I bet dollars to donuts that he was murdered as well. Daniel was going to great lengths to get his mom out of her current situation - and look what happened to him.
January 1, 2014
First book I finished reading this 2014! yay! :)
This is the untold story of the events that led up to Anna Nicole Smith's death in 2007. As a Pop-Culture geek, and some sort of a fatalist, when I came across this book, I realized that I really had to buy it because I always like getting an inside look regarding these mysterious Hollywood Deaths.
Anna Nicole's death affected me in such a way that back then, it really opened up my mind to what drugs can do to someone. She was trying to get her life back, but people around her were vicious, and yes, she really fell into the perils that greed, loneliness and despair can bring.
This book was written well and is a fast-paced read. I barely like non-fictional books because they bore me but this one was very effective. It was written with the help a series of investigations, and is something that will help you understand what happened to Anna Nicole Smith. It's shocking, it's poignant, and it's albeit disturbing, but worth reading.
Whether or not you were a fan of the deceased model, this book is worth spending your time on.
This is the untold story of the events that led up to Anna Nicole Smith's death in 2007. As a Pop-Culture geek, and some sort of a fatalist, when I came across this book, I realized that I really had to buy it because I always like getting an inside look regarding these mysterious Hollywood Deaths.
Anna Nicole's death affected me in such a way that back then, it really opened up my mind to what drugs can do to someone. She was trying to get her life back, but people around her were vicious, and yes, she really fell into the perils that greed, loneliness and despair can bring.
This book was written well and is a fast-paced read. I barely like non-fictional books because they bore me but this one was very effective. It was written with the help a series of investigations, and is something that will help you understand what happened to Anna Nicole Smith. It's shocking, it's poignant, and it's albeit disturbing, but worth reading.
Whether or not you were a fan of the deceased model, this book is worth spending your time on.
March 5, 2012
This book was an excellent time line. I enjoyed reading the book because I felt it broke down for those of not involved in the immediate the events that took place. I believe that something took place out of the ordinary with this group of scum, I believe innocent people did get tangled up in their mess However, I believe "birds of a feather flock together." It is ironic that when I first heard the mention of Larry Birkhead being gay , I laughed only because I stated to my husband when the whole pregnancy was announced that he looked totally "gay." I believe all of them will get what is due to them. I am astonished that the general public is surprised by the garbage and behavior that the so called "hollywood people" have graced our society with. Shame, Shame on them. The book was just another glimpse into there poor pathetic lives.
July 23, 2016
Didn't get to write a review when I finished, so I will now......Learned a lot from this book. I was always suspicious of what went on when it was in the news. And if this book is true, then what I suspicioned is true. That she was killed & her son Daniel was too. All for the money she might get from the billionaire Marshall she married. I didn't follow her or anything she did, because I didn't agree with how she lived her life. But when everything that happened started to be reported on the news, it just sounded "not right" to me. So when I saw this book, I wanted to read & see if someone else thought the same or just what they thought.......I liked the flow of the it. Was written well I thought. I read it fairly quickly for me. Very interesting. Beware who your friends are, especially if you might be inheriting a LOT of money.
October 3, 2007
This isn't going to win any awards, but it was an interesting look into the "third side of the story". In my opinion, Rita Cosby can't write for anything, but if you're interested in the scandal surrounding Anna Nicole's murder, it's worth a read. It took me about a week to get through, so it's quick. I'm not sure how much of this story I believe though...part of me wants to say it's too far fetched, but if there's one thing Anna Nicole taught us, it's that sometimes truth is stranger than fiction!
September 23, 2011
I had wanted to read this book for years, and went for it the other day at the library. Did I learn anything new? NO...maybe two things that I really did not know from all the news reporting after her death...Larry is gay and she was bisexual... What did I want to learn about Anna Nicole Smith and did not learn? Maybe more information about her childhood and growing up. There was a little information, maybe a chapter of the book, but not much. This book was simply a review (rehash) of everything published previously about Anna Nicole Smith.
May 28, 2008
This was okay, but as with any book of this type, you have to take it all with a grain of salt. Cosby does seem to nail some things directly on the head, but then she turns around and reports false information without having actually done the appropriate fact-checking. I will say this, though - it was far better than the other Anna Nicole Smith book that hit the shelves at that time (Train Wreck).
September 10, 2016
Oh yes, I really did read this. Right after the book about the Korean War. I like to keep my brain guessing.
I was never a fan of Anna Nicole Smith, and I wasn't particularly upset or intrigued by her death, but I read this for the sake of it and it fulfilled pretty much everything it promised to fulfil.
That said, it wasn't particularly well-written, and I feel pretty confident that a fan of Smith would be able to read something more, and better, elsewhere.
I was never a fan of Anna Nicole Smith, and I wasn't particularly upset or intrigued by her death, but I read this for the sake of it and it fulfilled pretty much everything it promised to fulfil.
That said, it wasn't particularly well-written, and I feel pretty confident that a fan of Smith would be able to read something more, and better, elsewhere.
January 27, 2020
Completely heartbreaking. I’ve always been fascinated with this case and I remember my family watching it really closely in real time. Now that I can comprehend everything, I understand why they did. I don’t believe in everything Rita Cosby wrote; in fact, I don’t know what to believe from anyone involved in Anna Nicole’s death. I do know however that Anna’s life up to her tragic death will be remembered forever. Our modern-day Marilyn Monroe.
January 25, 2008
Very interesting book, detailing events of Anna's life. Although, this book may leave you with more questions then answers, it is a great book to get your mind wandering. Some pieces of the "Anna" puzzle come together like a light bulb going off. I hope there is a follow up by someone who was personally closer to Anna, but NOT Howard K. Stearn - read the book to understand that comment!
May 1, 2012
My friend told me to read this and It took me over a week to read do to losing lack of interest in reading it. Everything in the book could've been told in a 30min news segment on tv...which I think they did anyway. I guess if your wanting to know more about Anna's death and events leading up to it....this is the book for you.
May 3, 2014
A real page turner, this one. It tells the story of how shady and questionable the death of Anna Nicole Smith really was and the true motives of her manager, Howard. Anna Nicole Smith's life was a strange one, but her dependence on Howard and her death were even stranger events. This is definitely worth a read. Disregard the trashy vibe and dig in.
October 29, 2007
A quick, easy read. The author alleges that Howard K. Stern was responsible for the deaths of Anna Nicole and her son. She also alleges that Stern and Larry Birkhead are/were gay lovers. The truth is stranger than fiction.
January 28, 2008
I had to add another book to my celebrity gossip obsession. I like Rita Cosby and she did a great job of drawing connections between Anna Nicole and her son's death. Exceptionally sad but a great look at how celebrity and drugs don't mix.
March 7, 2011
This was an OK book, I wasn't thrilled with it. It was quick and easy to read. I really didn't learn
anything new from reading it, everything had already been covered by the media. I was glad when
I was finished with it and a few times I had to convince myself to keep reading it.
anything new from reading it, everything had already been covered by the media. I was glad when
I was finished with it and a few times I had to convince myself to keep reading it.
July 5, 2012
To be honest, I wasn't a big fan of Anna Nicole Smith. But this book interested me because I'm into Hollywood gossip.
Howard Stern is a slimy dog. Larry Birkhead starts out being a hero, until he falls under Howard's spell and gets greedy.
Definitely a good read!
Howard Stern is a slimy dog. Larry Birkhead starts out being a hero, until he falls under Howard's spell and gets greedy.
Definitely a good read!
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April 11, 2013I love true crime and I did overall like this book, however I just found the subject matter to be very disturbing. It was actually just a very sad story about the events leading up to Anna's death. The book was well written, easy to read and interesting.
March 28, 2018
A great book about an icon gone too soon. Lots of untold information presented clearly.
A great book about an icon gone too soon. Lots of untold information presented clearly. A must read for any fans of Anna Nicole.
A great book about an icon gone too soon. Lots of untold information presented clearly. A must read for any fans of Anna Nicole.
October 24, 2007
a pitiful look at the life of Anna Nicole Smith...and the people who surrounded her
October 22, 2007
i'm not scerd. loved every pathetic minute of it.
January 3, 2008
If you watched this whole thing unfold on TV, then you pretty much know the story. It was an easy read and good "junk food for the brain".
November 6, 2007
hmmmmm. Historical reading at it's best. Wanted to get this one read before it's pulled from the shelves??? The lawsuits made me wonder what's all the fuss.
November 26, 2007
I thought this book was a waste of time to read. I didn't learn anything new from it - everything had already been covered by the media. In my opinion don't waste your time.
February 8, 2008
Ironic I finished this book on the anniversary of Anna Nicole's death !
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews