Gilded Cage

The Canary Club Books

By: Sherry D. Ficklin

Narrated by: Meghan Kelly

Length: 1 hr and 43 mins

Publisher's Summary

Masie, the flaxen-haired daughter of notorious bootlegger Dutch Schultz, returns home from boarding school to find her family in crisis.

Her mother is dangerously unstable, her father's empire is on the brink of ruin, and the boy she once loved has become a ruthless killer for hire. To keep her family's dangerous secrets Masie is forced into a lie that will change the course of her future - and leave her trapped in a gilded cage of her own making. As she watches her world fall apart, Masie must decide whether to take her place in the hierarchy, or spread her wings, leaving the people she loves, and the life she despises, far behind her.

©2016 Sherry Ficklin (P)2017 Sherry Ficklin

Gilded Cage

Any additional comments?

This short novella takes place in the Gatsby Era, it follows Masie Schultz's family. She has recently come home from boarding school due to a family emergency. When she returns home she finds that life is much darker, things have changed while she's been gone and her father's club is in danger of flopping. More than that, his business in general has begun to threaten the family.

A cage of her own making, exciting, thrilling

Any additional comments?

This is short but carries a big punch the author fills a lot in few words never leaving anything out. You know just what is happening as she and the narrator pulls you in taking you away giving you a really enjoyable read. Masie’s family is very well to do even if her father might not have made all his money the illegal way. The book starts out with her being away in school being called home because of her mother’s illness. There is a little mystery around the mother, we never see her and you are left wondering just what happen to her. Marsie’s father is a very tough man and not always kind he is a user. Her brother I just haven’t made my mind up fully about him. What I do know is Masie is playing with fire and a dangerous game between her father and the man she lusts after. She has just about set the trap for herself putting her in a cage of her own making leaving her to wonder just what kind of mess she has gotten herself into.

Ms. Kelly as always does a great job I do believe this might be her best work. She gives you a smooth clean and clear audio that pulls you in painting a picture you have no trouble picturing the danger as it unfolds. I really enjoyed her character voices, you have no trouble knowing who is talking and what they are feeling. The confusing and excitement along with the anger comes through very clear. Her tones are even, there was no background noise or any places where the volume changed it one steady listen. Her male voices are just as good as her female ones. She really has come a long way from the first audio I have listened to of hers. I had no trouble picturing and feeling Masie anger, hurt, sorrow and excitement at finally getting her father’s attention. It really was a great listen with powerful emotions.

I liked a few of the characters and a few not so much. It was very easy to get the feel of Masie since the book is mostly about her. I could really feel her pain over her mother and really felt sorry for her. I understood that she just wanted to make her father proud and wanted his love. Her old love is a mix of let’s do it to let’s stop her father wouldn’t be too happy and he does want to keep his job. This story reminds me a lot of a mob but I do not get the feeling it is as of yet. I thought it has a good plot with a good writing style. This is a cliffhanger which I do not care for, I think it could have all been put in one book. The story held my attention and at times very exciting, there is passion and a few little hot scenes. I did enjoy it enough to want to read the next in the series. It is very short but I think worth the listen. I know when the book ended I just put my head in my hands and as OH Masie what have you done….

Wonderful!

A wonderful, coming of age, period work. Masie tries to find a way to be of use as her family's speak-easy and other aspects of the chaos awaiting her-though she's discouraged by her father & his thugs.

Meghan Kelly's best performance, yet!


*I received this work in exchange for my review; good, bad or meh. I've written all 3 kinds.

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Entertaining roaring 20's story

An entertaining novelette that really gives you the feel of what it was like to be the daughter of a speakeasy owner during the early 1920's. It is the prelude to what will be an enjoyable series, as we follow the sassy, determined and talented Masie in her new role as her father's "canary". The narrator, Megan Kelly, did a great job. She gave the characters individual voices and made the story feel like you were back in the time of gangsters and prohibition. Between the great descriptive writing and the captivating narration you could easily visualize the flapper dresses, smoky club atmosphere and the rough demeaned of Dutch's boys. I will look forward to hearing more in this engaging series. I received the audiobook at no cost and under no obligation to review.

Boot-leg father and speakeasies, life's challenges

What made the experience of listening to Gilded Cage the most enjoyable?

It was great to hear different voices created for each character along with getting the feel of the era they live in. The personality and attitude comes through clear with Meghan's narration. By the end, Meghan was Masie's voice for me, along with other characters. I was stunned at the beginning of the story as Meghan seemed to start off with a faster pace than I expected. But I took a breath, rewound, and started over again. This time I slipped into the story easily with Meghan voicing the characters.

Any additional comments?

*I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.

Speakeasies, flapper dresses, alcohol, gangsters, danger, love, and more all in one place.

Masie is mixed up in the dangerous world of her fathers. She didn't realize how explosive her home was until she was sent away, something her mother wanted so she didn't see the life style they were living. Masie has been gone for three years and returning seems as though everything is natural, but it gives her pauses as well.

Masie lives the inside life of being a daughter of a boot-legger. It's not all the fun and glamour people think it is. Masie has to give things up, even people she loves, to carry on. This life is one that's not easy and she always has to be aware of what she's saying and who's around her. Masie is reminded that she's a bit of light and hope in the lives of the men around her - her father, brother, and the boy that she's loved. Masie will not let this life beat her or those she loves. She's determined to save someone, even if it's just herself. But she'll help the family all she can along the way.

There is a romance here. Masie and Vinny. They grew up together as her father took Vinny in when he was abandoned by his mother at a young age. Their relationship started to grow into more before she left, but neither acted on it, and now she sees it is more. Vinny's the hired hand that is dangerous when sent after people, but he's also the bad boy I can't help but love. He feels as he needs Masie in his life, to keep from falling down a very slippery, dark slope.

Masie finds herself on a new path she never expected to take. I'm worried though. There has to be some serious trouble in Masie's future, and with the warning Vinny gave her... will someone get hurt or die in the future books? This is not a cake walk in this business.

The beginning of what seems like a very good new series. Oh how things are going to change for Masie... I can't wait to see all the trouble and excitement she lives through!

A glimpse of a crime family in the flapper era

Narration: Just fabulous, the overall tone was great and the character voices were all excellent. It was so well done you’d be forgiven for thinking you were listening to a cast of narrators, not one person.

The story is short but it packs a lot in and manages to create characters you want to get to know. There’s no cliff-hanger and yet I still want to know what is going to happen next. Fingers crossed there are more books to follow this one.

This book offers a look into what it would be like to be part of a crime family in the flapper era, it’s interesting and makes you want to know more. The interactions between Masie and the other characters are interesting, particularly with Vinnie, I found myself wishing they could work as a couple and hoping she would get out of the families influence.

Note: This book was provided free by the author/narrator/publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

Just give me more!

This was a fun, very short story. I could picture the era perfectly and everything that was going on was incredible. I could see myself having a bootlegger father/brother/boytoy and the gang related activity from it based off the story. It was an amazing read. I highly suggest this book and I can't wait to pick up another by the same author. The narration was also spot on. I normally listen to books at 1.5 speed through the app, and I did have to slow it down a bit because the narrator does speak quickly, which I love (it's why I normally speed up the narration, I hate having to listen to a bunch of pauses.

This review copy audiobook was provided by the author/narrator/publisher free of charge.

Entertaining Gatsby Era Short Story!

Any additional comments?

Gilded Cage is an outstanding start to a new series by Sherry Ficklin called The Canary Club. It is the perfect blend of historical romance and adventurous intrigue.  Even though this is a short story running at less than two hours, it feels much longer due to the well-developed characters that are easy to connect with them. Set during the early 1920’s in the prohibition era, I can see why those who were reared during this time are called the "Lost Generation" with headstrong young women and wandering young men.

The heroine of the story is Masie whom we first meet at boarding school where she likes to escape the confines and strictures of the school to go dancing and flirting until the wee hours of the morning. Despite her party lifestyle, she is very innocent to the ways of her family’s wealth. After Masie is unceremoniously summoned home by her infamous father (a stereotypical mobster from the Jazz era), she arrives home to find everything darker than it was before she left. It’s like her rose colored glasses are no longer in place; she finds that her brother is now in the family business, her mother is on her deathbed, and her childhood crush, Vinny, is the family’s enforcer. The only question left is will Masie succumb to her father’s corruption or can she save the family from those who want her father's business to disappear.

I listened to the Audible version of The Gilded Cage narrated by Meghan Kelly and she did an outstanding job. Her narration flows naturally and is easy to listen to, providing subtle character nuances for both male and female voices. Simply put, I can’t wait for the next Canary Club book written by Sherry Ficklin and narrated by Meghan Kelly!

Nice!

I really liked this story, and am definitely hungry for more! The characters are great, and I enjoyed the interactions, drama, and thrills throughout. Will definitely be getting more from this series.

Has its moments

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

the audio brings to life the super romance found in this book, if you like dramatic romances you may like this

What other book might you compare Gilded Cage to and why?

Twilight or Anita blake, because of the over the top romance that is kind of out of place.

Would you be willing to try another one of Meghan Kelly’s performances?

Yes, as I think she has a good style, and it would be nice to hear her in something other then a romance

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

the plot is really interesting and I love how it had mystery to the family

Any additional comments?

I got a free copy of this book in return for an unbiased review