Every book she's written gives voice to a girl who society never understood.
I actually got A Betting Woman in the Once Upon a Book Club box. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this subscription box, Once Upon a Book Club sends you a book and goodies to open at specific pages throughout the book. This enhanced reading experience has me giddy each time I get to a page that says "Open your gift!"
So everything you see in the photo came in my Once Upon a Book Club box.
So A Betting Woman is set during the California Gold Rush.
In New Orleans, Simone Jules has just lost her entire family to a fire. Not wanting to continue on living with constant reminds of her twin sister, she leaves everything behind......her house, her shop, even her fiance. She starts new in San Fransisco. To pay for her housing, she accepts a job downstairs in the saloon. But she refuses to be a saloon girl. Instead she propositions Monsieur Sullivan for her very own card table. Vingt-et-un is her game of choice, better known in today's world as blackjack or 21.
After losing everything in another fire, Simone continues to travel with the miners and muleteers. At each stop, she knew men would flock to her table. Who wouldn't want to lose their money to a mysterious, exotic, French-tongued woman? Upon landing in Nevada, Simone decides to reinvent herself. She decides to start fresh with a new name.... Madame Eleanor Dumont.
Under this guise, she quickly buys a storefront and begins crafting her very own emporium, aptly named Vingt-et-un. She expects men to be respectable when entering her establishment. No weapons, no cussing, no fighting, and no beer. Just card tables, rolled cigarettes, and whiskey.
For several years, business is booming. Miners from all over are coming to Nevada for work and winding down at Madame Dumont's. Being a croupier is in her blood, but what is she to do when all the gold dries up in this town? Be someone's wife? Absolutely not. She follows the miners wherever they may go. Dealing cards and taking names. Her legacy and quirks follow her. The miner's know who she is. They've all heard of the French woman who has no problem taking money from men. They respect her and she always listens to them.
At times, this book really felt like nothing was happening.
But I think that comes with the comfort Eleanor was experiencing.
This story literally spans over 15 years.
If you like historical fiction, strong women, and the Gold Rush then you'll absolutely love this book.
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