Author:  Jillian Larkin
ISBN:  978-0-385-74034-0
 
Click Here To Purchase Vixen (The Flappers)

The Jazz Age, Chicago.  I ask you…are there any more exciting words than those?  And, I assure you, this book is for ALL ages of readers who are interested in scintillating adventure, and a fiery romance that will leave them breathless.
 
When we begin this story, a young, gorgeous female has donned her flapper outfit and slipped a shiny silver handgun into her sparkling purse.  To get to this frightening moment, two teenage girls with completely different lives ended up finding out exactly who they really were – deep down inside their souls.
 
Gloria is what you would definitely refer to as a “good” girl.  She comes from a wealthy family that lives on Astor Street, and is engaged to the “right” man who has a career in front of him and is a staunch supporter of Prohibition.  His name is Sebastian Grey III – a blue-blood import from the line of the British royal family, and hugely eligible.  But, most importantly, Gloria has all this and…is absolutely bored out of her mind.  Gloria’s best friends are Marcus, who is also very eligible and likes to date as many girls as possible; and, Lorraine, who has a huge crush on Marcus, and likes to carry a flask with her wherever she goes. 
 
One night, Marcus accompanies Gloria to a speakeasy hidden in the depths of Chicago, and the “good” girl’s life turns upside down.  Her first taste of alcohol sets her mind abuzz, as she soaks in the images of the flappers surrounding her in the bar.  These independent single women look like exotic birds to Gloria; the bright lipstick combined with the jewels and strands of pearls hanging around their porcelain necks takes her breath away.  She is certainly far from her life as the president of the honor society at Laurelton Girls’ Preparatory.  The gangsters in their pinstripes don’t even keep her attention; only the sensual roving fingers of the piano player make her heart catch in her throat.  His name is Jerome, and he’s about to change the course of her future.
 
Clara is a young woman from Pennsylvania.  She’s being shipped to Chicago by her mother to “straighten herself out.”  You see, Clara did live in New York City for a time, and spent her days and nights dating the rich and famous, and thriving in her flapper world.  Unfortunately, one night, she ends up in a prison cell and is shipped back to her boring childhood home.  Her family can’t take it anymore; they need Clara to become a proper young lady before it’s too late.  So her job is to stay with her Aunt Bea (a hideous woman), and help her cousin Gloria plan her wedding.  Soon, Clara realizes exactly what she has to do; she dumps the “fearless flapper” attitude and becomes a virtual saint.  And while she turns into “good” girl, Clara – Gloria takes the path leading directly to friends of Al Capone, and singing sultry songs to the piano man who has stolen her heart.
 
Add in a bet between Lorraine and Marcus about how to get rid of country Clara, and some mysterious frightening letters that are showing up around Aunt Bea’s house, and you have a story that is filled with twists, turns, provocative characters, and a fantastic time inside your own head.
 
Right out of the box, when I saw this beautiful cover, I heard the saxophone begin to play in my head.  From the very first paragraph on the very first page, when I met the flapper with her short ‘bob’ cut, in her gold-beaded dress and two-tone Mary Jane’s, the piano joined the saxophone in my brain, and the world of 1920’s Chicago soon took me over completely.  The whiny dog next to my bed – and the whiny teenager in the other room – ceased to exist, as I was literally taken into the world that once contained vamp-red lipstick and ivory cigarette cases.  I’m telling you…you just don’t get better than this for teens or adults.  This is a debut novelist who has certainly chosen the right career-path, because this story was outstanding.  I can’t wait for the next in this fantastic series!
 
Click Here To Purchase Vixen (The Flappers)