"terrific "Gay Nineties" New York romance"

In 1882 at the Founders Home Convent in Ireland, the orphan thirteen years old Lana Dunleavy protects her sickly twelve years old best friend Siobhan Riley as best she can until they finally escape. Three years later, they are heading to New York with Siobhan pregnant along with her husband Billy O'Malley, who prefers to gamble and drink than be with his wife.

In 1890 Lana works at the Blue Goose Tavern where she watches the expert card playing of Stone. When Siobhan tells her she is pregnant, Lana vows to help her as Billy is too busy gambling and obtains work as a Cook's assistant at a fine mansion where to her shock she sees Stone as a guest. She assumes he is going to con her employer, but has no idea how to inform them without losing her job. However, not long after telling Billy, Siobhan and the unborn die when a carriage hits her, but crashes also killing the driver too, her husband who deliberately murdered her. Lana adopts her godson Colin while Stone "adopts" her with a plan to make her not just part of the upper crust, but his DUCHESS OF FIFTH AVENUE while she thinks the mans she loves is a con artist.

This terrific "Gay Nineties" New York romance brings to life in the city at a time when immigrants struggled to obtain work while high society enjoyed the good life with parties and galas. The story line is character driven especially by the intrepid loyal Lana. Stone will remind the audience of Sky Masterson from Guys and Dolls while the extended cast augments the deep look at the era. Ruth Ryan Langan provides her fans with a powerfully descriptive historical romance.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted July 19, 2006

Summary

To save her best friend and her child from a wretched husband, New York City maid Lana Dunleavy must transform herself into a lady. But she never imagines her heart will be transformed by the confidence man whose help she enlists.