Ingénue: The Flappers Series

By: Jillian Larkin
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: August 2011
ISBN: 978-0-385-74036-4
Reviewed by: Amy Lignor 
Review Date: August 2011

The first book in this incredible series titled, The Flapper Series, was Vixen. And with that first incredible noel, readers were introduced to the ‘Roaring 20’s’ and the fun, power, and mystique that the twenties still carry today. The clothes were cool, the music was jazz, the mobsters were many, and the people who had their own little niches had their own little secrets, romances, and futures all planned out in the crazy, entertaining world.

Ingénue is the second installment in The Flapper Series, and it begins only a few months after Vixen left off. Luckily, the author is still at her highest heights. From page one, readers are not left wanting, as the amazing characters are driven full-force back into our literary lives.

The girls are the same. For a brief recap, Lorraine Dyer is the one who exposed Clara Knowles secret “trampy” past, but lost her best friend Gloria when she played that card. Gloria Carmody is in love with Jerome Johnson and has left Claire and her backstabbing behind. And, Clara Knowles is with the man she loves, yet even though she knows its wrong - the flapper life, the dazzling music and smoke-filled rooms - that scene is still something she can’t forget.

Book II begins in New York City. Clara has followed Marcus to New York looking for a fresh start where she was formerly known as a wild flapper. Lorraine is also in the big city and is hired to run a speakeasy owned by Ernesto Macharelli, a man said to be second only to Al Capone. Gloria and Jerome, who are still skulking around, are living in poor circumstances and are very desperate not to be found by their families. Jerome’s younger sister, Vera, discovers that Jerome’s life is still in danger from the vengeful Carlito Macharelli, son of Ernesto, so she and her friend Evan go to the City to find Jerome and Gloria to let them know about the danger.

Clara starts to come into her own by becoming a reporter for a slick magazine; Gloria and Jerome’s story is very sad as issues of race seem to take over their dreams; and, Lorraine is really something else. She is basically a good person but, not a very good friend. She is up to no good and can’t seem to make up her mind between the good guys versus the bad. And, Vera, Jerome’s sister, is an extremely loyal girl and wants so much to find her brother to warn him, but when she finally does find him, things start to go bad for everyone.

Ingénue follows the same path as Vixen. This book is full of action! From Mob dealings, deception, betrayal, to romance and flappers galore, this is so much fun to read that it can’t be put down. The author, once again, does a wonderful job of bringing you back to a sincerely mesmerizing time in history.

Quill Says: This series should definitely be on your list to buy, as these books tell what 1920’s New York was really all about - good gossip and a whole lot of fun.