I loved Crossing the Line by CF Frizzell. The action never stops. Lots of sweet talking, rum running and guns. It was great to be back with “Stick” and her family.

I was really disappointed with this. It sounded such an interesting read- a 1920s gangster lesbian romance but i found the story dragged so much and it was a slog to get through. The characters felt flat at times and i really wanted a pay off to happen that was worthy of this story. I think if my expectations had been lower i would have enjoyed this more and instead was left feeling disappointed by it.

I was offered this in return for a fair review and as I often will if the book is part of a series, I bought and read the previous Stick McLoughlin novel "The Prohibition Years" so that I had some context etc. I was very glad I did. Not only would I have been lost without having read it, it's a much cleaner read than this second offering, which seemed to be quite muddled and trying to do too much. The ingredients for another good novel are all there, rum-running, mafia interference, a bitter ex-fiancé and of course our swaggering butch hero, but rather than staying with what works Frizzell over-complicates things with endless detail about hotels being built and faffs about with a new relationship that doesn't really develop properly (setting up the third book maybe?). Either way, not bad but not up to the high standard set by the first book.

This is the first book I have read by this author and I was not disappointed. I didn’t know this was a sequel but I was able to really get into the story regardless (though I do plan to pick up the first book it was that good).

The story line has multiple characters to follow but this book was more about Rey, a bootlegger having problems with the mob cutting in on her business. I loved the late 1920’s/early ‘30s backdrop, even the dialog seemed to match up with the times-I found it fun to read about having to go down to the general store to make a phone call (oh those times :-). From what I gathered the first book in this series is where Mac and Ellie came about, so in this book they were also main characters but supported Rey more than did the bootlegging themselves, and the character Millie was a hoot (to throw in some 30s vocab here :-).

The story line moved along at a good pace. The timeline is around a 5-6 months period so in places it jumped a few weeks at a time, but I felt the author carried it all well. Other things I liked about this book (that I like about all books I read) is that there is lots of dialog (meaning the book wasn’t filled with 60% of thought monologue that happens in other books). With the on-going dialog I really got to know the characters and could really picture them in my imagination. They stayed with me long after I finished the book which to me is a sign of a good author.

Again being my first book for this author, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride back in time and will add this author to my ‘watch for other books’ list. I even plan to purchase the first book in this series to get the back story of Mac and Ellie.
Keep up the great writing Ms. Frizzell, look forward to your other work.

I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, but would have written the same opinion if I had come across this author on my own.

To see my Amazon review, it is under CC-September 3-just enjoyable

I didn’t read the first in the Stick series, but after reading this I am definitely going back for it. I’m really interested in Stick and Ellie’s relationship and how it began. But this story can certainly be enjoyed as standalone, especially for the historical gangster feel. Rey and Millie are adorable together as complete opposite ends of the spectrum. Don’t be misled by Millie’s petite soft flapper persona! I’m not normally a fan of historical fiction, but this one really drew me in.

Although I did not read the first book in the series, I was able to understand what was going on with the characters. I believe what I missed was the emotional connection among the team. I enjoyed the historical aspect and the beautiful description of the Adirondacks. Really like Mac and Ellie and their little girl Katie. Mac's willingness to help another was interesting as was the romance between Rey and Millie. The butch/femme dynamic was interesting as you observed the interaction/dialogue among the different characters. Women gangsters are interesting to read about as they work to navigate the male terrain in their own way which parallels how women today operate in male dominant settings.

For fans of Jean Harlow, Joan Blondell elegance, style and sass.

Well written, evenly paced story. Likeable characters in a celebration of love and family.

I look forward to more by this author.

A few years have passed since Elizabeth (Mac/Stick) reunited with her childhood love, Ellie. She’s out of the bootlegging business and her priority is building a safe family unit with Ellie and toddler, Katie. That is, until she comes across Rey being attacked while they’re on holiday in Lake George. Rey is a strapping woman trying to run the same kind of operation Mac ran in Boston but she’s being squeezed and assaulted by various gangs in, and out of, the area. Mac sees a kindred spirit and asks her former gang if they’d be willing to help out.

This is as much a continuation of Mac and Ellie’s story as it is a beginning for Millie and Rey. I much preferred this to the first instalment although “The Prohibition Years” was vital for my understanding of where Mac and Ellie came from. There’s a much greater concentration on getting to know the characters from Mac’s gang like Jackson, Jersey and Millie and less about the intricacies of the other gangs from New York. Or maybe the information in the first book penetrated my brain so that I had a good idea of who they all were already.

I enjoyed the unfolding of Mac’s family life and the baby talk from little Katie was quite sweet. There was even a moment of realism where the child interrupted some intimacy. I found the first half a little slow in parts but the second half has a dramatic and thrilling shift of pace. I’m still not sure whether the time period is accurate but the descriptions are vivid and evocative. When Mac bought a tin of marshmallow fluff I was dubious but Google tells me that it is 101 years old. Who knew? All told, it was a good read.

Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.