Hey and welcome to my stop on the Speak Easy blog tour hosted by AToMR Tours. Click here to follow the tour to see reviews, guest posts, and excerpts. :)
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Title: Speak Easy (Speak Easy #1)
Author: Melanie Harlow
Release Date: July 22nd 2013
Age Group: New Adult
Genre: Historical Fiction
Cover by: Tom Barnes Design
Source: Review copy provided for the blog tour
Blog Tour organized by: AToMR Tours
My Rating: 5 / 5
**Reviewers received a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy by the author in exchange for their honest thoughts/review of the book. The provided review copy was not a finished copy on sale. Reviews should be based on content and not editing as some things may change in the finished copy.
~Synopsis~
July, 1923. The ‘20s are roaring, and twenty-year-old Tiny O’Mara is desperate for a little anything-goes excitement. But when her father is kidnapped by a mobster in Detroit's exploding organized crime scene, she’s shocked to find herself caught up in the bootlegging wars of Prohibition—and torn between two gorgeous gangsters on opposite sides. 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.
Temptation is everywhere.
*Due to sexual situations in this book, I recommend it for readers 18+*
~My Thoughts~
Wow!! Melanie Harlow has done a spectacular job drawing me into the roaring '20s! I loved this book, every minute, every page, every moment. The action was nonstop, and I was completely riveted. I'll never look at the Prohibition era in quite the same way again.
Tiny and her father are in the bootlegging business. Tiny takes care of her younger sisters after their mother died while giving birth a decade earlier while her older sister has three boys to look after alone since her husband died. Almost right away, Tiny finds herself sinking deeper and deeper into trouble after her father is kidnapped and his kidnappers demand a ransom without much time to come up with the money for his release.
Tiny is street smart, brave, and quick on her feet - and those are just a few of the qualities I love about her. She dives headfirst into danger to save her father and protect her sisters, and every time a wrench is thrown into her plans, she quickly devises a new one. I have no idea how she found the strength to hold it together, but she did.
While she's undeniably clever, she's also reckless - playing with fire in her attraction to Enzo, one of the sons of the man who kidnapped her father. And the attraction is most definitely mutual. Enzo and Tiny's desire for one another sizzles right off the page. They don't trust one another, but they can't stay away from each other either. The more she becomes entangled with Enzo, the more she finds herself enmeshed in the kind of life she claims she doesn't want - a life of danger, illegal gains, and risks.
No matter how much Tiny tries to deny it, she's also attracted to Joey, whom she grew up with and a cousin of her older sister's late husband. Joey has feelings for Tiny, and I liked the way he tried to hide them because they both are fighting their attraction for one another. Though Tiny ends up having to choose between Enzo and Joey, it isn't in the way you might think.
With every twist and turn the plot took, I was impressed with the way everything played out so convincingly and realistically. I loved it! Melanie Harlow took me on an unbelievably wild ride packed with tension, action, and romance. I admire the way she intricately weaved the different characters and plot elements into a story that left me catching my breath at the end. Stop what you're doing and read this book! :D
Tiny and her father are in the bootlegging business. Tiny takes care of her younger sisters after their mother died while giving birth a decade earlier while her older sister has three boys to look after alone since her husband died. Almost right away, Tiny finds herself sinking deeper and deeper into trouble after her father is kidnapped and his kidnappers demand a ransom without much time to come up with the money for his release.
Tiny is street smart, brave, and quick on her feet - and those are just a few of the qualities I love about her. She dives headfirst into danger to save her father and protect her sisters, and every time a wrench is thrown into her plans, she quickly devises a new one. I have no idea how she found the strength to hold it together, but she did.
While she's undeniably clever, she's also reckless - playing with fire in her attraction to Enzo, one of the sons of the man who kidnapped her father. And the attraction is most definitely mutual. Enzo and Tiny's desire for one another sizzles right off the page. They don't trust one another, but they can't stay away from each other either. The more she becomes entangled with Enzo, the more she finds herself enmeshed in the kind of life she claims she doesn't want - a life of danger, illegal gains, and risks.
No matter how much Tiny tries to deny it, she's also attracted to Joey, whom she grew up with and a cousin of her older sister's late husband. Joey has feelings for Tiny, and I liked the way he tried to hide them because they both are fighting their attraction for one another. Though Tiny ends up having to choose between Enzo and Joey, it isn't in the way you might think.
With every twist and turn the plot took, I was impressed with the way everything played out so convincingly and realistically. I loved it! Melanie Harlow took me on an unbelievably wild ride packed with tension, action, and romance. I admire the way she intricately weaved the different characters and plot elements into a story that left me catching my breath at the end. Stop what you're doing and read this book! :D
~Purchase Links~
~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.
~Author Links~
~Giveaway~
US ONLY: One grand prize swag pack which includes: Valentine Vodka Swag, JewelNinjas Agatha Bracelet, Chrome Cocktail Shaker, MAC Lipstick, Great Gatsby Soundtrack or $10 iTunes gift card, Gatsby Style Flapper Headband, Signed Copy of Speak Easy, $25 Amazon Gift Card: Total Value $150 USD
INTERNATIONAL: Eight (8) eCopies of Speak Easy: mobi or ePub only; value $3.99 USD
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Wow, not gonna lie, this review made me all teary and and lumpy-throated! THANK YOU so much for reading and posting today, and I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteSo cool, Melanie! Glad you liked it, and you're welcome. I loved it, and I can't wait until the next one comes out! :D
DeleteThis book sounds so good! I love this time period, too. And Melanie, can I just say, your profile pic is so awesome! I love it. :)
ReplyDeleteMelanie did an awesome job writing a book that takes place in this time period! I love her profile pic, too!! :D
DeleteAw, thank you! And I'm always happy to hear other people are into the 20s too. I don't feel so alone in my obsessions! :)
ReplyDeleteYou've gotten me into the 20s now. :)
DeleteThis book looks very intriguing...as if it pulls you and wont let go :)
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly what it does! :)
DeleteGreat review! All I've seen so far of this book are 5 star ratings. I just bought this book yesterday, and I can't wait to start!
ReplyDeleteThank you! When you get a chance to read it, let me know what you think. :)
DeleteI am team Joey but I'm only four chapters in. Loving it can't wait to get back to it tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteMia
I do like Joey quite a bit, lol. :)
DeleteWhat a great review, Jennifer! I'm rarely seduced by the cover, but this one is so beautiful. And now your review ups this one on the TBR list. I haven't read a single book from this era, seen plenty of movies, but I can't wait to go at a slower pace. Oh, and awesome giveaway. If I get the lipstick I promise to wear it!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Robyn! I remember you and I talking about how spectacular the cover is when I did the cover reveal. :) It's such an awesome book and so unique from what I've read in the past. If you win, you've gotta post a pic of you wearing the lipstick! :D It's a super awesome giveaway!
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