Jazz . . . Booze . . . Boys . . . It’s a dangerous combination.
Every girl wants what she can’t have. Seventeen-year-old Gloria Carmody wants the flapper lifestyle—and the bobbed hair, cigarettes, and music-filled nights that go with it. Now that she’s engaged to Sebastian Grey, scion of one of Chicago’s most powerful families, Gloria’s party days are over before they’ve even begun . . . or are they?
Clara Knowles, Gloria’s goody-two-shoes cousin, has arrived to make sure the high-society wedding comes off without a hitch—but Clara isn’t as lily-white as she appears. Seems she has some dirty little secrets of her own that she’ll do anything to keep hidden. . . .
Lorraine Dyer, Gloria’s social-climbing best friend, is tired of living in Gloria’s shadow. When Lorraine’s envy spills over into desperate spite, no one is safe. And someone’s going to be very sorry. . . .
From debut author Jillian Larkin, VIXEN is the first novel in the sexy, dangerous, and ridiculously romantic new series set in the Roaring Twenties . . . when anything goes.
My Review:
The highlight of Vixen is the way the 20s comes alive (eg: Some Like It Hot, The Great Gatsby). There are mobsters who run the smoke filled speakeasies as well as glamorous flappers dancing to jazz music. The girls are also constantly using phrases that were popular during the 20s. Larkin has made an effort to keep within the time period, and it truly shows.
Each chapter is told from the perspective of one of the three girls which allows for the characters to develop somewhat independently. You can also understand the reasoning behind the deceptions and backstabbing that take place between the girls, allowing the reader to sympathize with all three characters.
Faced with modern teenage dilemmas (interracial relationships, societal pressures, etc.), you can easily relate with any of the girls. Naturally, loyalties are tested as each problem unfolds showing betrayal after betrayal.
Unfortunately, the pacing of the novel is off. The first 200 hundred pages are entirely set up, and the story really doesn’t pick up until the second half of the novel. This can be overlooked because you will not want to put it down once the backdrop of the novel is set.
Of course there is a surprise twist at the end, leaving readers waiting for the release of Ingenue on August 9, 2011.
The Bottom Line:
Vixen is a charming, character driven, historical fiction novel for older teens. It’s great for those who want to try out the historical fiction genre or anyone wanting romance with a hint of mystery. 4/5
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