Have you read Jenni L. Walsh yet? If not, you are missing out on a quiet master of historical fiction. In Madame Moustache, Walsh brings the story of an engaging and spirited woman to us in a style that makes us feel as if we are in the intrepid heroine’s skin. From the moment we meet the highly intelligent Simone Jules, we come to understand that her adaptive, take-no-prisoners attitude will serve her well through life and help her carve a path that no woman before had traveled. Bravo to Walsh for her elegant prose - every word in this novel is finely wrought and lovingly chosen. Highly recommend!

This book is both fiction and non-fiction as it combines the real character of Madame Dumont and actual events that took place, then fills in the blanks with well thought out ideas. I loved the story of the first female croupier from start to finish and would recommend this to any history buff!

I’m a woman. I love blackjack. What could go wrong? This was a great first look into Madame Moustache, one of the first female professional blackjack dealers and I have to admit, I’m hooked! Jenni Walsh takes us back to the California gold rush and into the life of this confident woman who broke barriers in her own time! I loved every second of it and can’t wait to see more from this author! I received an free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

An incredibly engaging story of a singular woman that you cant help but root for. Walsh paints her as a woman who takes control of her own destiny. She sets her own story and her own mythology into motion, instead of being a bland character only given identity as a reaction to external occurences. Walsh's Madam Dumont is a human being to look up to, to inspire. Walsh also pays great attention to the pacing of her novel, never allowing the story slow, lag, or get drawn into self-depricating streams of conciousnes. It is as rough, quick, exciting, and ever-changing as the wild west that the Madam conquers.

B O O K R E V I E W

Triggers : domestic/sexual abuse

What I thought :
I DID NOT want this book to end!! I really enjoyed getting to know Eleanor Dumont. She was a fierce female character and it was fun seeing how she changed and grew into a very strong woman. There was conflicts, drama, romance and SO MUCH detail. You can tell A LOT of research was done to tell this story from accurate points of time. I continued to want to know what happened next in the life she lived. It felt so exciting like I was physically there. I loved all of it.

Characters :
Some were short lived and some were carried throughout. This book has one main character and that was Simone Jules - Eleanor Dumont.

Read if you like : strong female lead
Would I pick it up again? Yes

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

“Born Simone Jules, reinvented as Eleanor Dumont, and largely remembered as Madame Moustache.”

It’s 1849. Simone Jules, at nineteen years old, arrives at the booming town of San Francisco to reinvent herself. While on a ship, she was eavesdropping for any ideas of reinvention. She is of good manners and couldn’t imagine encouraging men to play, drink and stay a while at saloon. But when she sees a deck of cards waiting to be dealt, she sees herself doing just that. She becomes a croupier of modern-day blackjack.

When a tragedy strikes her again, she is off to another place and another chance at life. She learned how to be an independent woman. Now, she wants to be an independent businesswoman. She starts the first gambling house in the California town of Nevada. Moreover, her own gambling house. She indulges men in evenings of sophisticated gambling.

Loved the grasping prose, the word choice, the speed of lyrical like sound carrying the story constantly forward. “I’d learned at Papa’s shop (…) that men often needed a velvet voice and a smattering of flattery for encouragement.”

Loved the classy and quick-witted character who at the game of cards is mostly surrounded by rogues with crude, unrefined tongues. She knows how to sassy them with her beauty, cleverness and French-ish background. Can’t say enough how much I enjoyed this phenomenal woman. Petit in stature, but larger than life in character. Beautifully developed character of a self-sufficient woman during a time when it was almost impossible.

The injections of historical background are brief but they happen often, giving depth and a good sense of time and period. There is a constant reminder of that. This is the level of historical fiction I greatly appreciate. It’s not just a one-time long description of a time period and then forgotten throughout the story.

The feelings shine throughout the story. Her contagious excitement about someone or a grief over losing someone or the coldness of the mountains that gets to you or a warmness of a place she creates for herself that you enjoy as well.

Spellbinding novel. Superbly written by amazing talent crafting such an intriguing and clever story.

P.S. Kudos to cover designer(s) for such original cover.

when you finish a book and feel very sad that the story is over - you know you've read a great book.  When you finish a historical fiction story and want to read everything that has to deal with the main subject - you know that the author has done his or her job in presenting a piece of history.
And when you enjoy the authors note as much as the story you know that you admire the author and will read everything he or she has written.

on the author side, full disclosure, i am A HUGE FAN of Jenni L walsh as not only a writer but as a person.  I have had the opportunity to spend time with her as both a friend and a fan and never leave the room unimpressed.

Prior to hearing about this book I did not know anything about the history of Black Jack.  I was so surprised to hear that it was not only invented by a woman but that men allowed themselves to be held almost hostage by said woman to play.  I adored the character of Madame Mustache in all 3 of her iterations.  When the book opens we are introduced to Simone - a well to do lady, betrothed to her first love, living happily with her parents and twin sister.  Simone is pleasant and nice and hardworking she is a force.   when she is orphaned she follows her heart somewhere knew and leaves it all behind.  All except the card game that reminds her of her mother.  Simone lands in san fransico where she is tough and brave.  she experiences another awful lose and follows her heart to seek revenge.  I loved the story of her and Arthur.  the thought that she would do something different than what is expected.  I love how Jenni uses her imagination to create a love story and a back story.  So when Simone has to start over she develops a new image this one of Eleanor Dumont - again a strong lady and one who is all about class.  I loved the  backstory that is created here and how Eleanor is so determined to make a name for herself. I love how she befriends and saves other women.  And then finally, Madame Mustache - given the name out of spite, she is still full of class

I love finding out what parts are imagined and what are true.  And I loved all aspects of this story.

Walsh's first two books humanized the villian - Bonnie Parker.  I loved that this character was likeable all the way through and I can tell that the research and story was a labor of love.

I am so honored to be one of the first readers of this book and implore everyone to get it when it hits shelves this summer.  jenni states she likes to transport readers with her words well with her stories Id say MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

I loved it.  And I miss this story already.  It will stay in my heart

I really enjoyed getting to know Eleanor Dumont, the characters were great and I really enjoyed going through this story. I look forward to more from the author.