Review: Ten Cents a Dance

I thought I'd get started here by posting a review of a book I read recently and absolutely loved!

Ten Cents a Dance by Christine Fletcher

Goodreads Summary: 
With her mother ill, it’s up to fifteen-year-old Ruby Jacinski to support her family. But in the 1940s, the only opportunities open to a Polish-American girl from Chicago’s poor Yards is a job in one of the meat packing plants. Through a chance meeting with a local tough, Ruby lands a job as a taxi dancer and soon becomes an expert in the art of “fishing”: working her patrons for meals, cash, clothes, even jewelry. Drawn ever deeper into the world of dance halls, jazz, and the mob, Ruby gradually realizes that the only one who can save her is herself.  A mesmerizing look into a little known world and era.

My thoughts: 
I thought this was an absolutely fantastic novel! I never wanted to put it down. I absolutely loved the main character, Ruby. It has been a long time since I read a novel with such a strong, outspoken, independent spitfire of a female lead! She knows when to speak up and she's not afraid to slug someone who gets in her way, yet she has her heart in the right place. She had me cheering for her the whole way. Another thing I loved was the author's descriptions. Christine Fletcher has a gift for bringing the setting alive around a reader. I could see and hear and almost smell every scene. It was enthralling. The plot moved along quickly enough that I was never bored; there was always something happening or something on Ruby's mind to mull over. The concept was exciting, the pace was quick but not rushed, and there was plenty of excitement and attitude to keep a reader interested. Love love loved it!

Rating: 5 Stars!

Get it here:
http://www.amazon.com/Ten-Cents-Dance-Christine-Fletcher/dp/B005K5Z23A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350849726&sr=8-1&keywords=ten+cents+a+dance