Welcome to my stop on the Speak Easy Blog Tour, to check out the rest of the stops please click here.
Author: Melanie Harlow
Publication Date: July 22, 2013
Age Group: New Adult
Synopsis:
Temptation is everywhere.
It's July, 1923. By day twenty-year-old Tiny O’Mara works for her father’s smalltime bootlegging operation. By night she craves the roll-your-stockings-down lifestyle of a flapper, but with her mother gone, she’s usually stuck at home with two younger sisters—until her father is kidnapped by a mobster in Detroit's exploding organized crime scene, and it’s Tiny who has to come up with the ten-thousand-dollar ransom.
In one week.
Enzo DiFiore’s screen-idol looks and dangerous charm leave her breathless, even though he’s the son of the mobster holding her father hostage. But when the forbidden spark between them refuses to burn out, she tries to use their powerful attraction to buy more time.
And then there’s Joey Lupo, the irritatingly handsome pest from her childhood who’s got the street smarts Tiny needs to smuggle enough booze to make a quick ten grand. But he’s got his own agenda where gang rivalries are concerned, and despite his promise to protect her, Tiny isn’t sure she can trust Joey—or stop her growing feelings for him.
To save her father’s life, she’ll have to choose between them. But deciding whom to trust isn’t easy in a world where everyone wants something—be it booze, money, power, or sex—and no one cares what it takes to get it.
Review
Tiny’s Father is a small time bootlegger in early 1920’s
Detroit, and because he refuses to pay the local crime syndicate for protection
he is kidnapped and it falls on Tiny to team up with Joey, he childhood
‘enemy’, and Enzo, the crime lords son, in order to work out a deal and save
her father.
Tiny was an interesting main character. Most of the time she
seemed more like a modern woman then a 1920’s bootlegger. The only time I got
the vibe that she wasn’t from this era was when she was talking about things
like the vote. Otherwise Tiny was very in control of her sexuality, and
destiny. I liked that about her, although I wonder how many women living during
this time actually felt this way.
The romance in Speak Easy was a sort of love triangle,
although it was obvious who Tiny preferred. I just wish she had preferred
someone else. Honestly, the romance in Speak Easy, because I had such a dislike
for the male lead, Enzo, was not my favorite part of the story. Don’t get me
wrong this book was definitely HOT! The scenes between Tiny and the Enzo were
electric and intense. I just wish I had liked the guy more. I even felt at many
points in the story that Tiny herself didn’t like the Enzo so it made it almost
impossible for me to feel anything for him.
I did like the story itself though. A girl trying to rescue
her father while taking care of her sisters, running a bootlegging operation,
and navigating 1920’s Detroit
was awesome! I also liked the fact that the novel gripped me the entire time,
it was hard to put it down because something new and interesting was always
happening.
Overall, I enjoyed Speak Easy. My one other gripe, aside
from the romance, is the length of the novel. At 194 ebook pages (for the ARC)
it was relatively short and I am now eagerly awaiting the next book in the
series!
*Special note this book is New Adult and I recommend readers
be 18+ due to sexual content
About The Author
Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her lipstick red, and her history with the naughty bits left in. SPEAK EASY was inspired by her cocktail culture obsession, her affection for good gin, and the view from the end of her street. She lifts her glass to NA readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI.
Thank you so much for reading and participating in the blog tour! I really appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that you guys are participating in this blog tour and for giving us reviews because those reviews helped me increase my list of to-read books:)
ReplyDeleteOoooooh. This sounds so good. It sucks that you didn't like the romance though, and that it is so short but I'm really looking forward to reading it.
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