I picked this up just for the cover.
It looked so apropos at the Jazz Age Lawn Party!
Upon reading it, at first I was a little taken aback by the 'juvenile' feel to it - it's got a hefty dose of teen romance. At times I felt as if the author's ideas about teen relationships were not very firmly grounded in her time period, and were based instead on modern conventions.
However, as the book went on, I got more into it, and fond myself caring what happened with the characters.
It still suffers from stereotypes, and an oversimplified sense of bad/good.
But if I come across the sequel (it's very much set up for a sequel) I just might pick it up...
It looked so apropos at the Jazz Age Lawn Party!
Upon reading it, at first I was a little taken aback by the 'juvenile' feel to it - it's got a hefty dose of teen romance. At times I felt as if the author's ideas about teen relationships were not very firmly grounded in her time period, and were based instead on modern conventions.
However, as the book went on, I got more into it, and fond myself caring what happened with the characters.
It still suffers from stereotypes, and an oversimplified sense of bad/good.
But if I come across the sequel (it's very much set up for a sequel) I just might pick it up...
Reviewed by McKenzie Tritt for TeensReadToo.com
Meet Gloria Carmody, the girl with everything - clothes, money, and a well-to-do fiancé. She, as the case always seems to be, wants what she can't have: the life of a flapper. Filled with drama, booze, and jazz, Gloria wants to escape into the life she's never known: one full of intrigue, one that isn't scheduled for every hour of the day. When she finds love - or is it lust? - with another man, she must make decisions that she's never had to before.
All is not well, however, in this historical drama set during the Roaring Twenties. Gloria's cousin, Clara Knowles, is back in town, running away from a secret or two of her own. And when Lorraine, Gloria's best friend, decides she's tired of living in her friend's shadow, things quickly get complicated.
Lorraine is a bit too typical, while Gloria toes the edge of being an interesting character. Clara, for me, proved to be my favorite character. I found her to have some depth that I didn't expect. Her secrets, as well, kept me flipping the pages, enjoying myself all along. What surprised me most, in a pleasant way, was the fact that I didn't see the end coming. In what I expected to be your average chick-lit book, it was nice to see that a dramatic freshness was added.
Though VIXEN may be not the most intellectually stimulating novel, it offers danger and dark romance, proving to be a great guilty pleasure read.
Meet Gloria Carmody, the girl with everything - clothes, money, and a well-to-do fiancé. She, as the case always seems to be, wants what she can't have: the life of a flapper. Filled with drama, booze, and jazz, Gloria wants to escape into the life she's never known: one full of intrigue, one that isn't scheduled for every hour of the day. When she finds love - or is it lust? - with another man, she must make decisions that she's never had to before.
All is not well, however, in this historical drama set during the Roaring Twenties. Gloria's cousin, Clara Knowles, is back in town, running away from a secret or two of her own. And when Lorraine, Gloria's best friend, decides she's tired of living in her friend's shadow, things quickly get complicated.
Lorraine is a bit too typical, while Gloria toes the edge of being an interesting character. Clara, for me, proved to be my favorite character. I found her to have some depth that I didn't expect. Her secrets, as well, kept me flipping the pages, enjoying myself all along. What surprised me most, in a pleasant way, was the fact that I didn't see the end coming. In what I expected to be your average chick-lit book, it was nice to see that a dramatic freshness was added.
Though VIXEN may be not the most intellectually stimulating novel, it offers danger and dark romance, proving to be a great guilty pleasure read.
"The Vixen" takes you to the 1920's when flappers and speakeasies were daring and on the edge. And liquor was illegal.
The story is about growing up, making choices and living on the edge. Just the setting is enthralling. The story is solid and I'm looking forward to the 2nd installment "Then Ingenue".
The story is about growing up, making choices and living on the edge. Just the setting is enthralling. The story is solid and I'm looking forward to the 2nd installment "Then Ingenue".
