The New York Saga: It Was Like This

Rating:
Summary: I CAN SEE IT AS A MOVIE!
Review: I stumbled across I LOVE YOU BECAUSE, which is the first in this series set in New York about the McGlory family, and was amazed how history came alive on the Lower East Side. Now, the hero and heroine's son Billy is 25 years old during Prohibition in 1932, and I didn't want the story to end! He gets into one mess after another, but the historical details are amazing. It's like you're right there, in the smoky speakeasies, watching the gangsters plot their next heist, the bawdy nightclubs, the glittering Broadway scene. Then, the ending is such a shock, I had to read it twice! Diana Rubino's books really put you THERE--right in the middle of Manhattan, and you sweat right along with Billy as he's dragged to a graveyard by gangsters to show what can happen if he doesn't watch his step, as he gets beat up by a crooked cop, and as he meets Al Capone, (who comes to REAL life in this story). I saw Road to Perdition and Gangs of NY, and think this would make a much better movie! It was pure suspense, and parts are very funny, too. I can't wait for the third book in the series. This is a very promising author, I say Bravo!

Rating:
Summary: Gripping historical romance!
Review: This is a very unusual historical romance - set in the world of NYC's Prohibition and the theatrical world of the time. It's the story of Billy McGlory, who reminds me of a more innocent version of George M. Cohan, and how his quest for artistic success gets him involved in shady dealings. But at the heart of the book is the bittersweet love story between Billy and his wife, Prue. The ending is a terrific didn't-see-it-coming surprise, the plot is well-paced, and the characters won't leave you for weeks. Highly recommended.