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A Betting Woman: A Novel of Madame Moustache
A Betting Woman A Novel of Madame Moustache Author:Jenni L. Walsh Born Simone Jules, reinvented as Eleanor Dumont, and largely remembered as Madame Moustache, A Betting Woman is a historical novel inspired by the tumultuous life, times, and loves of America’s first professional croupier of modern-day blackjack, bringing to life an intrepid and entrepreneurial real-life woman who lived on her own terms. — ... more »When her whole family dies in a fire, young Simone flees her grief and travels west to reinvent herself in burgeoning San Francisco. Down to her last dollar and facing some unsavory options, Simone quick-wits her way to a gambling table where she begins to deal vingt-et-un -- modern-day blackjack. Word travels fast among of this French-speaking, card-playing novelty, and she begins to build a new life for herself.
Self-sufficient Simone doesn’t count on falling for an artist -- not to mention a man of a different skin color -- who society, and the law, says she can’t have. When he is murdered, Simone is devastated and sets off to find closure for his death.
Finding her way to a new boomtown, she adopts a new name, Eleanor Dumont, and opens her very own gambling emporium. "Dumont's Place" is a great success, drawing mountain men and fortune seekers from far and wide.
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But the boom and bust of the gold rush stops for no one, nor do the challenges of a man’s world. Eleanor must continue to fight -- for her livelihood, for her self-worth, and most of all, for her legacy.
A gripping and endearing tale, A Betting Woman brings to life an intrepid and entrepreneurial female who lived on her own terms...« less