Blogoversary Giveaway: Speak Easy & Speak Low by Melanie Harlow

Posted May 3, 2014 by Erin in Blogoversary, Book, Books, Giveaway / 16 Comments

In honor of our first BLOGOVERSARY, All month long I will be giving away copies of books that I have reviewed in our first year of blogging. 🙂 The first prize up this month is AUTOGRAPHED paperbacks of Speak Easy and Speak Low by Melanie Harlow with matching autographed book marks. 🙂
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Review Revisited:

speak easySpeak Easy by Melanie Harlow 
Series: Speak Easy #1 
Released: July 22nd, 2013 
Genres: CrimeHistoricalNew AdultRomanceSuspense 
Format: eBook 
Source: Author 
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The 1920s are roaring, and twenty-year-old Tiny O’Mara wants to be a part of it.

By day she works for her father’ s smalltime bootlegging operation, by night she craves the sexy roll-your-stockings-down lifestyle of a flapper—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.

Suddenly she’ s thrust into an intoxicating underworld of greed, lust, lies, and betrayal.

Enzo DiFiore is the son of the mobster holding her father hostage, but his sexy screen idol looks and dangerous charm leave her breathless. When the forbidden spark between them refuses to burn out, she tries to use their powerful chemistry to buy more time. And irritatingly handsome childhood pal Joey Lupo has the street smarts Tiny needs to make a quick ten grand, but he’ s got his own agenda where gang rivalries are concerned.

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. And anything goes.

**Due to mature material, this New Adult historical is recommended for ages 17+.**

Erin’ s Review:

Tiny is a 20-year-old girl dreaming of someday finishing nursing school, and moving out of her dad’ s house. Tiny works for her father’ s bootlegging operation while simultaneously helping out in her older sister’ s small grocery store when she is needed. At night,  she craves the lifestyle of the flapper, but instead is at home taking care of the kids.  NOT HER KIDS, her own little sisters,  While their dad is off customizing cars with hidden compartments, gambling or picking up the shipment of booze that’ s just come in over the lake.

One day, about a week after Tiny notices “The Sheik”, aka Enzo, coming into her family’ s grocery store. Enzo comes into her store asking her to pass something on to her father. That night her father goes missing.

Oh no, what’ s a girl to do? Enters Joey, a serious pain in Tiny’ s ass, but someone she and her family have known all her life. With his help, she is able to collect the ransom money needed to get her dad back.

The chemistry between Enzo and Tiny is explosive, and Tiny tries to use it to her advantage. But what’ s this? An almost unwanted attraction for Joey has decided to sneak up on Tiny. Who is she going to choose? The mobster whose family has kidnapped her dad, or the boy from down the street that she’ s known all her life and has done all he can to help her get her dad back?

—————

Once I started reading this book, I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. IT WAS AMAZING. It was like reading through an episode of Boardwalk Empire: DETROIT. Bootlegging,  dancing, gangs, sex, etc. It’ s all there. Though instead of Atlantic City, it takes place in Detroit, Michigan. The writing and detailing of this story is flawless and the execution of it is as well. The characters were well written and I enjoyed all of them. Melanie really did her research into 1920s fashion, Detroit history, Prohibition, etc. to write this story and make it seem REAL.

Being a native of Michigan, I hardly ever get to read books that take place in my own state. When I do get to, it’ s nice to already know what is being referenced to in the book. Yes, Speak Easy does take place in the Roaring 20s, but that doesn’ t mean the streets and various parts of Detroit and the suburbs that were mentioned in this book do not still exist today!

I enjoyed this book and I cannot WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE. Thank you, Melanie, for letting me read and review your book. :)

 

About Melanie Harlow

 

 

Author-MelanieHarlow-300x300

Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her lipstick red, and her history with the naughty bits left in. She’ s a 20th century fanatic and gets her kicks from historical fiction and TV series like Boardwalk Empire, Magic City, Deadwood, Mad Men, and Downtown Abbey (although she wishes it were more HBO and less PBS). Her debut novel, Speak Easy, was inspired by Detroit’ s fascinating Prohibition-era history.

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16 responses to “Blogoversary Giveaway: Speak Easy & Speak Low by Melanie Harlow

  1. Brenda

    First and foremost HAPPY BLOGOVERSARY!
    Nope, I have not had the chance, but Speak Easy has been on my TBR list since I read your review.

  2. Laura C - Michigan

    This went to my spam folder – GLAD I FOUND IT – this book is on my “to read” list

  3. Kim S.

    I’ve read Frenched and absolutely loved it. I’ve never read historical romance and would love to give it a try sometime. I’m thinking a good place to start would be with Melanie Harlow’s books. Love her writing style.

  4. Kim S.

    I’ve read Frenched and absolutely loved it. I’ve never read any historical romance, but I’m thinking a good place to start would be with one of Melanie Harlow’s books. Love her writing style.

  5. Zandalee

    Have read them all and they’re amazing. I love her writing style and her characters are so likable.

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