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Novel Spotlight: Willow Pond by Carol Tibaldi

As the Roaring Twenties crumble into the Great Depression, Virginia Kingsley, New York’s toughest and most successful speakeasy owner, is doing just fine; with the whole world falling apart for so many, bootlegging is a flourishing business.

But when a former lover, Rudy, attempts to coerce his way into her business, Virginia sends him packing and her entire family pays the price: Her niece, Laura, is devastated when her infant son vanishes without a trace. Speculation and rumors abound in the media circus that follows the abduction, and the police have few leads, most of which point straight back at Virginia and her fellow bootleggers.

Suspicious of Rudy but unable to go to the police, Virginia pursues her own investigation, shaking down, threatening, and killing one petty crook after another as she races against time to find her missing great-nephew. In the mean time, Laura’s lover and Herald Tribune reporter, Erich, tries to convince Laura that Virginia knows more than she is telling… and may be behind the boy’s disappearance.

With time flying past and hope thinning, Virginia, Laura, and Erich must set aside their differences and work together in one last, desperate bid to find the missing child and whoever really abducted him.

I have one paperback copy of Willow Pond by Carol Tibaldi up for grabs! To enter, please leave a comment below sharing a period in time that you would like to visit. For me, it would be a toss up between the 20’s the Victorian Era! A winner will be chosen Monday, June 11. Please note this will be open to US/Canada residents only.

Willow Pond by Carol Tibaldi

Carol Tibaldi is currently on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Willow Pond. I was really curious about this book as it is set just after the Roaring Twenties, an era that I am in love with. Seriously, I can’t tell you how many times I have dressed up as a flapper for Halloween or costume parties. I love it! The story revolves around the kidnapping of Laura’s infant son, Todd. Snatched out from under the nanny’s nose, Todd’s kidnapping makes headline news because his father is a famous movie star and Laura is a popular author. Laura’s Aunt Virginia is also infamous as one of New York’s toughest and most successful speakeasy owners, and is known to be flourishing in the bootlegging business. After Todd is taken, eyes turn to Virginia, who may know more about the abduction than she is letting on. A new romance in Laura’s life also shakes things up in her world, but her most important quest is getting Todd back. Will she ever be reunited with her son?
The story started off a bit slow for me. There was a lot of changing of POV’s, which threw me for a loop. I think a few could have been eliminated, and it could have been much easier to follow. I did really enjoy the ending though. A lot of action started happening and I found myself flipping pages quickly to try to keep up with the storyline. I think the writing could have been a bit tighter as a whole, and there were a few scenarios that could have been cut out completely, letting the story move along quickly throughout, but a good debut novel nonetheless.
[Rating: 3.5]

On Tour: Willow Pond by Carol Tibaldi

Carol will be on tour May May 28-June 11 with her novel Willow Pond The Roaring Twenties crumble into the Great Depression. Bootlegging is flourishing.…

Future Tour: Willow Pond by Carol Tibaldi

The Roaring Twenties crumble into the Great Depression. Bootlegging is flourishing. Virginia Kingsley, New York’s most successful speakeasy owner, is queen of that castle. Rudy Strauss wants to help with her business. Virginia, wisely suspicious, refuses. He shifts his trademark toothpicks to the other side of his mouth and asks about her niece, Laura, and Laura’s nineteen-month-old son, Todd. Virginia warns him off, but Rudy is intrigued. Laura is movie star beautiful but it is her ex-husband, Phillip, who is an actor. Laura, a writer, is devastated when Todd’s nanny calls, hysterical, saying Laura’s son has been kidnapped.

Blog Tour Sign Up: Willow Pond by Carol Tibaldi

Carol will be on tour in May/June with her historical mystery novel Willow Pond. Print books will be available to US/Canada residents. Please leave your…