Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

Mary Vere, who lived at the Jarvis home, was a maid to Mrs. Jarvis. She was neither a slave nor was she family.  Mary’s mother, a free person, told her of her father, a fine white gentleman from the north, a traveling man. When the money quit coming from California where he lived, Mary’s mother had no choice but to go to work. This is how Mary ended up at the Jarvise’s.



Mary is determined to find her missing father and become a lady. She will get away from the Jarvise’s and the Randolph Twins, Micah and Esau.



Meeting Philippe Manigault and Jeremy Johnston, she learns this is her chance for freedom and a way out of where she is living now.   Philippe teaches her the ways of a  southern lady, but she  has already found the love of her life.



From the Southern Ball to a ship bound for California, the three head for California.  Mary is more in love with Jeremy, but he seems to avoid her.  She finds out that he already has a fiancée. Philippe, on the other hand, knew this all the time, and he  has big plans for her. If she only knew how cruel and heartless he really is.



Things are not going right in California.  Jeremy is getting married, and she is unable to find any trace of her father, Mary along with Philippe, whom she now learns is a professional gambler, moved to Virginia City, Nevada.  Mary has now changed her name to Monique.



Now faced with the prospect of earning a living, Monique opens a high-class Women’s Parlor, which she names “The Flame”.  Still plagued with scandal, controversy, and Jeremy’s wife, Monique becomes a power to be reckoned with.  She is faced with the likes of Alex Campbell, who is a ruthless and self-styled “king of Virginia City.  Monique is now set to bring him down.  Can she succeed?  Will she ever find true love?



Follow Monique as she braves the advances of the lustful ruthless miners, as she boldly remains the lady she was meant to be. Will she ever find her father?  I recommend this book.