Part one of two.
In 1967, George was the legendary Georgina Monroe, the best Marilyn Monroe drag impersonator New York City had ever seen. But in 1994, George is a recluse who is scared of everyone and everything. Enter Ruiz, a young Latina pageant drag queen known as Audrey the Ritz, famous for her Audrey Hepburn impersonation. Since she was fourteen, she had admired Georgina Monroe's career obsessively, always wondering about why she disappeared so suddenly. During a chance encounter, Ruiz gets to meet George, and through a gentle friendship and a strong bond, Ruiz starts to uncover a story she never could have imagined in her worst nightmares. Stories of the mob, glamour, love, heartbreak, addiction, murder,and intensely dangerous secrets abound in this lgbt novel about ever present issues that pervade throughout time. Told through voices young and old, we follow the story of Georgina and Ruiz as witnesses to truths that are rarely told.
"Kiss me."
"I think I'll pass."
Before I could say anything else, her hands grabbed my hips and slammed my back against the wall. And her lips found mine.
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When Jo Anderson stumbles into a secret Mafia meeting in one of New York's many bars, she quickly discovers there is something special about the establishment, Stella Nera. When she is cornered by none other than the Mafia Lord himself, Jo is forced to make a deal. Do the Mafia a favor, and in exchange, don't die.
The Mafia Lord gives her 48 hours to complete the request: rescuing the gang's most trusted spy from a rival crime boss. If Jo can rescue her, she gets to make it through the weekend. Just in time for school on Monday.
#1 crimefiction 2/15/22