I love a scandalous historical fiction book. Organized (and not so organized) crime, the Jazz Age, the moonshine business.....give it to me!

1920's New York and Paris...what's better than that? May Valentine is. This is a story of the dark side of glamour, addiction, secrets and passion.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I really enjoyed this story of a strong young woman trying to find her way through this world via Virginia, New York and Paris. Set in the gilded age of glamour, Jazz age, crime and moonshine. I found this historical fiction a wonderful read as we follow along May Marshall who became May Valentine as she battles her past as she tries to survive the odds set against her.

Taylor navigates the world of post WWI America writing about the other side of glamour, the dark side of addiction, temptation, secrets and passion in this addicting story.

Set in the 1920’s, with great characters and a well researched story, I found myself enthralled and immersed in this exciting historical fiction, coming-of-age read.

"We all make mistakes, have struggles and even regret things in our past..
BUT
You are not your mistakes,
you are not your struggles..
YOU are HERE now WITH the POWER to SHAPE your DAY and YOUR future‼️"
___________

ETIQUETTE FOR RUNAWAYS: A NOVEL by @lizanashtaylor @blackstonepublishing
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A sweeping Jazz Age tale of REGRET, AMBITION, and REDEMPTION inspired by true events, including the Great Moonshine Conspiracy Trial of 1935 and Josephine Baker’s 1925 Paris debut in Le Revue Nègre
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The TITLE WILL BE AVAILABLE on 18th Aug.2020
PRE-ORDER PRICE
INR 755.29/- @amazonkindle
$ 27.99/- @amazondotcom
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336 pages; 48 chapters.
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Here's the storyline:

MAY MARSHALL, the protagonist gets herself expelled from her college, suffers a heartbreak. That's her FIRST MISTAKE & lesson.
She comes to her father's farm & joins his business, which she eventually finds out is illegal. Her friend BRYD tries to put some sense into her but still she joins it.
She has to hide herself, once the racket is busted & her father arrested. That's her 2nd MISTAKE.
In an attempt to reinvent, re-establish herself in a new city, she ignores the vague lines of right & wrong. Her 3rd MISTAKE.
Her loyal friend, BYRD tries to reason with her again but she pushes him away. 4th MISTAKE.
Then she makes friends with addiction & depression. 5th MISTAKE.

"MAY" MUST MAKE A CHOICE: surrender to failure and addiction,
or
face the truth and make amends to those she has wronged.
But before that, she need to indulge in some self-forgiveness.
___________
#qotd Do you forgive yourself easily for your mistakes❓and others❓❓ Do you believe in 2nd chances❓
___________
LESSONS I LEARNT:
1️⃣ Never ever give up on yourself‼️
2️⃣ Life is too precious..❤️
3️⃣ Always always convey your feelings...💕
__________
❤️p.s : Do read the AUTHOR'S NOTE, it's amazing ‼️
✨4.5/5 ✨

#noorthebookwormreviews
#etiquetteforrunaways

Etiquette for Runaways was a total gem of a debut. Actually, had I not known it was a debut before reading, I never would have guessed it was. Set in VA, NYC and Paris, Etiquette for Runaways is a coming of age novel about a girl wanting an adventure during the prohibition and roaring 20s..and hers was such a crazy, wild ride. I fell in love with the characters and didn't want it to end. I cannot wait to read whatever Lizs Nash Taylor comes up with next.

I thought the writing was quite solid in terms of flow and pacing. I overall found the main character interesting and nuanced. I liked May's arc as well as her geographic journey accompanying her personal journey. Anything with a French flair automatically gets points in my book!

I will say though that I found the side characters to be a bit weaker in that unlike May, who felt like a very "real" character, the side characters felt like archetypes to me: the perfect boy quite literally next door, the spoiled rich boy and rich boy arch nemeses, the spunky best friend, and so on. I think I struggled the most with Elsie's monologues/dialogues as for me they felt a bit out of step with the rest of the characters and I suddenly felt like I was reading a different book. She just felt a bit overly crafted or "typed."

I will give it a 3 star review as I think it is overall solid, but not one that I would recommend to my followers. Because I only publicly post my strong recommendations, this is the only place I will be sharing my rating.

*I received this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
This was kind of... lame is the only way I can describe it. I had hoped for a little more excitement.