Literary Las Vegas: s. h. montgomery

Local author s. h. montgomery grew up in Texas and lived in Chicago for 30 years before moving to Las Vegas in 2003. The Texas Tech journalism major also took creative writing at Northwestern and Columbia College and has written freelance travel features for newspapers. The author is slated to speak and sign copies of her book "Whisper in the Blood" at 6:30 p.m. March 16 at Atria Seville, 2000 N. Rampart Blvd.

Culminating in 1940s Chicago, montgomery's novel follows two families divided by class and background. After his abduction as a young boy, Fin Callahan had every reason to join his mother in her hatred of Italians. But Fin first found friendship with half-orphan Dino Moretti and then love in Francesca Savio, a girl whose family was just as wary of Fin's Irish roots.

For more on the book, visit shmontgomery.com.

Excerpt:

"Upset? I'm devastated. They're determined to be together. It's frightful! You should have seen the way Fin stood his ground. Didn't listen to anything I said."

"Sounds as if they've made up their minds. Maybe you should resign yourself to their marriage in order to keep the peace." Kitty dropped a sugar cube into her teacup.

"But Aunt Kitty, Fin's too young. Are you deaf? The girl's Italian. She's one of those gangsters. Uneducated. No! I won't accept it."

"A gangster? Really, Meghan!"

"Well, okay. So, she's not a gangster. But I'm sure someone in her family is. They all are. I can't bear this." Meghan put her cup down so hard Kitty was surprised it didn't shatter.

"Fin's in love, and if you love him, you'll give the girl a chance. You might even grow to like her."

"Never! I don't understand you, Aunt Kitty. Irish are Irish, and that's the way it should stay."