Arrested: A Memoir of the American First Lady of Nice, France and the French Riviera

(Paperback)

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Growing up in Beverly Hills with two famous uncles - a cosmetics magnate and a well-connected mobster - eventually led Ilene Mdecin to a romantic and glamorous life as the American First Lady of Nice and the French Riviera. "Arrested" follows Ilene through her marriage to Jacques Mdecin, a Medici Count fondly known as "King Jacquou," who was the last scion of a century old political dynasty. Her unique experience is from the perspective of an American woman living in France, married to a powerful French politician ruling the Cte d'Azur as they shared their social circle with Princess Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier. Life was extraordinary among royals, celebrities, and politicians. From the enchanted pages of a storybook Camelot, being at the pinnacle of a fantasy existence, only to fall from grace to the depths of a French prison cell. While there were trysts and scandals, nothing prepared Ilene for the demise of a prominent political family and her eventual arrest for her husband's alleged wrongdoings. As for Jacques, sadly, taking up residence in Uruguay was a puzzling end to a stellar political career.

Neither political exile nor arrest had ever been on Ilene's bucket list, but she found herself checking them both off. Her late husband, Jacques Mdecin, had been Mayor of Nice, President of Alpes-Maritimes (presiding over the Cte d'Azur), French Minister of Tourism, Member of Parliament, and a Medici Count. Rest assured, "King Jacquou" was no ordinary politician as he ruled the expanse of the French Riviera. Curiously, he also gained notoriety being the official reference for proper Salad Nioise as the published author of a widely acclaimed cookbook, "Cuisine Nioise, Recipes From A Mediterranean Kitchen."

Author Bio

Ilene Mdecin was the First Lady of Nice, France and the French Riviera. She is the only American, other than Grace Kelly, to have gained such prestige on the French Riviera. Being born and raised in Beverly Hills, California with two famous uncles - Max Factor, the cosmetic mogul, and Jake the Barber, a man who helped put Las Vegas on the map, finding her place in the public eye always seemed natural. Her life has been described as unique, riveting, glamorous, exciting, and dangerous.