REVIEW: The Runaway Daughter by Lauri Robinson
From stowaway…
After years of playing the local gin joint to pay off his father’s debts, talented musician Brock Ness has landed a radio gig in Chicago. Now he’s on the up-and-up, his next stop is securing the dame of his dreams, Ginger Nightingale…
…to Chicago celebrity!
If Brock is headed for fortune and fame, Ginger won’t be left behind! She may be the youngest of the Nightingale sisters, but she’s old enough to know what she wants. And Brock is right at the top of her wish list!
Dear Ms. Robinson,
I’m so excited that this time period is seeing more action lately and snapped this one up after I saw it on our new releases post. It’s a great start to the series.
The story has great period feel and use of language. It flows fairly naturally and doesn’t come across as forced just to get it in. There’s also good chemistry between the two leads who have already noticed each other for a long time before the story starts. Ginger is a woman as driven to reach success as Brock and she’s not going to let anything stand in her way. It’s too bad for her father that she’s headstrong and fearless. Brock’s a stand up guy who’s determined to become a radio star and earn enough money to claim Ginger as his own. It’s respect for her and fear of her father that keeps him from taking any advantage of her.
In historicals first physical contact sometimes is convoluted and out of place but here it is believable with Ginger straightening Brock up before they reach the radio station for his interview and him getting a glimpse of her red lace camisole.
The set up for the two of them to remain together doesn’t strain my brain to accept and Brock knows her father will kill him if anything happens to Ginger. Ginger poses as Brock’s manager and she just lets the mistaken idea that she’s Brock’s wife go uncontested. She’s smart too and able to work crowds to Brock’s advantage.
Everything zips along with Brock fighting his attraction and Ginger going after him tooth and nail. Finally it’s his realization that she has to escape her confined life as much as he needs to earn money for his family – their shared need – that gets him on the side of keeping her there instead of sending her home. Not that most men could have gotten her home as even her father admits she’d give almost anyone the slip and be bound for CA. Turns out Brock’s integrity and straightforwardness would win her father’s approval before any amount of money Brock could earn – though that’s not bad either.
A little bit of telling instead of showing scoots the romance and quick marriage along – it’s nice to have a mobster friend of daddy’s be able to summon a judge to do the ceremony at any time – and we’re almost done here. This is a nice, quick start to what I hope will be a standout series. B
~Jayne
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Thank you, Jayne! There is so much to love about the Roaring Twenties–and to write about!
Cheers,
Lauri
Sounds fun – I might have to check it out. Thx for the heads up.
Do they mention both parts of his name together often in the book? Brock Ness makes me wonder if he is of scottish descent and has a thing for lakes which is unfortunate because this sounds good.
@Variel: His first and last names don’t appear together much and yeah, I briefly thought of the Loch Ness monster too.