Jillian Larkin: Vixen

While the cover is beautiful, it is misleading and disheartening.  There are 3 main characters, and EACH should be on the cover.  They are each VERY different, and this cover makes them seem like they all blend together and have no individual characteristics.

I tried to avoid the negative reviews on GoodReads, and I am glad that I did.  I enjoyed this book.  I enjoyed being taken back in time to flapper days and the prohibition.  Lorraine bothered me, Clara intrigued me (though her secrets and story perhaps were too drawn out, but I know why Larkin did what she did), and Gloria was the one I wanted to be.

I am nervous for what will come in book two due in 2011, especially with the way Lorraine and Gloria's stories left off, and interested to see how one of the final events will play off in the next book.

The story did seem familiar--think Titanic's love story only with no boat, during the 20's and an African American piano player versus Leonardo DiCaprio.  And some of the scenes, while completely essential, seem almost too contrived (Lorraine showing Gloria how to fire a gun, individual, hands-on music lessons with Jerome, Marcus falling for the girl instead of staying true to the "plan," etc), but overall this was a really fun read, and a fun time period.

I wish more was developed with the flapper lifestyle versus the socialite lifestyle, but I think that book 2 will bring that since it appears that one character may be on the lam.
I did love the vernacular.  "Cats pajamas,"  "flibbertigibbet," and "barney mugging" --LOVE IT!! I also was envious of the time period where flat-chested women with short, bobbed-hair  were the epitome of flapper beauty--women taped themselves to ensure a flat chest and true flappers cut their hair off rather than just pin it up.

I am looking forward to book 2, even though the title (Ingenue) might not get the appreciation it deserves. 
One thing about this book though--recommending this book to students will really require knowledge of the student--a student with good vocabulary, an interest in history, and a student who will look up unknown things--speakeasies, Chicago in the age of prohibition, flappers, etc. 

The three-person narration makes the length manageable and it was a pretty quick read--even for 417 pages!!!