This was a unique coming of age story. I loved the cast of characters as they were unique also. The author catches these quirky, complex people and their world flawlessly.
Many thanks to She Writes Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a fantastic story that I thoroughly enjoyed. The spiritual aspect was really done so well and the characters were rich and engaging. I did not know about the devastating disaster and thought it was well woven into the story. A few phrases "just saying" felt a little misplaced but it wasn't distracting. I'm not sure the visit that occurred with the main character and the counselor was necessary... it wasn't as pivotal to me as maybe it was meant to be. I would definitely read more from this Author and recommend this book.

BOOK REVIEW:

Moon Water by author, Pam Webber

Sit back and enjoy the journey through the Blue Ridge Mountains of 1969 as our protagonist, Netti, punches her way through all that life brings. Her lessons, her faith, doubts, redemption, her spirit and antics are all part of a soul-searching experience with the addition of Native American Lore, the Historical Flood of Virginia, the exploration of nature and... love.
Ms. Webber will take you on an inspirational, compassionate yet humorous ride through it all with a cast of characters that take you from one end of the spectrum too the other, and then some.

I found this story too be engaging, intriguing and most entertaining. It's historical and geographical features lend to its amazingly descriptive beauty which paints a picture so vivid you will experience something special here. You will find yourself living it all through your own reflection as to personal choices, you will become part of friendships, the beauty of summer nights, and inspired by its richness, and of course, memorable storyline.

A highly recommended read....I

I thank the author and NetGalley for this copy of Moon Water. A truly wonderful story.

5 Stars

#MoonWater
#PamWebber

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Overall I enjoyed this book. The author transported me to be with Nettie and Win. It was interesting to learn about making the dream catchers. However the Christianity aspect of this book was really off putting for me, which is why I downgraded it a star.

4.5 stars

You can read all of my reviews at https://www.NerdGirlLovesBooks.com.

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical fiction book. It's full of heart, and wonder, and a little bit of mystery. It's an original, fresh story that you won't want to put down.

The story focuses on two 16 year old best friends, Nettie and Win, living in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains in 1969. Nettie is forthright and mischievous and trying to figure out the whole sex thing with her longtime boyfriend Andy. When he talks about their future together, Nettie worries that their young love won't be enough to survive college and his future in the military. As a result, the couple decide to take a break, giving her archenemy an opportunity to try to steal Andy away from her. Nettie must also contend with a pastor that doesn't believe she's ready to be baptized because she questions some of the fundamental tenants of religion. Much to her consternation, Nettie is forced to participate in extra one-on-one classes with an associate pastor.

Win is struggling with her calling as a future medicine woman. Her grandmother Nibi, a Monacan Indian medicine woman, helps guide Win in her future position with lessons and antidotes. She tasks the girls with making an authentic dream catcher during their summer break, saying they are crucial to both girls' futures. This task is more difficult than the girls expected, challenging them both physically and emotionally. When a natural disaster hits the girls' home, the skills and strength they gained climbing and searching the mountain over the summer could be the key to their survival.

This book caught my attention right away and didn't let go until the satisfying end. The characters are well-written, the story is interesting, and it flows so smoothly you get lost in the book and don't realize how much time has passed. Unbeknownst to me, the author's first book The Wiregrass is set in the same world with many of the same characters. It's set during a time period before the events of this book. I am definitely going to read that book as well.

I can't say enough good things about this book. I highly recommend you read it.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the plot, it moved at a good pace, a lot happened and it kept me interested. I loved the setting. The descriptions of the Blue Ridge Mountains were detailed and I could easily picture them. I loved Nibi and reading about how she uses nature. I found what happened to the Blue Ridge Mountains in August of 1969 fascinating and did more research about the events and looked at pictures to see better what happened.

However, I just never really connected with the characters. Big things were happening to Nettie and she had a lot to process and think about and I wanted to go on that journey with her. Everything ended so nicely and easily for her and it just didn’t feel authentic to me. I didn’t feel the struggle that she must have gone through

"Nature doesn't seek right. It seeks balance." A beautiful coming of age story about two 16 year olds set in the Blue Ridge Mountains in 1969. It is historical fiction based on a real event. I don't like to go into detail for fear of spoilers but I will say there were interesting discussions on Christianity vs Native American traditions. It is a time period when racism was still rampant. Nettie is white while her BFF Win is Native American. They spend a lot of time with Nibi, Win's grandmother who is a Monacan Medicine woman.
There is also the matter of Nettie's boyfriend who is pressuring her for sex and commitment. At 16 she has a lot of conflicts.
Fast paced and interesting read although I would have preferred more info on the Native American aspects.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC>
4*

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this! That said, I went into the book thinking it would be one thing but it ended up being another. It's certainly written well, however, I found myself uninterested in the characters and story so I decided to forgo finishing Moon Water and to leave it "unrated."

I can see many loving this book, especially those who enjoy reading about torn romances written in lyrical prose. It is written wonderfully, but it's not a story for me. At least, not at this time!

A story about Nettie 16 now and full of questions but can she and Andy make it in their love life what will happen under blood moon.. well pick up your copy read and find out this book pulled me in from the very first page and I have to say I truly loved it as I know you will and I recommend it to everyone I feel privileged to have been able to read an early copy I truly enjoyed the story.. one of my favorite Parts in the book is the cayenne pepper... I don't want to tell anymore about that but it's truly a good book check it out this story has so many awesome things and you learned so much...

I received a free electronic copy of this historical novel from Netgalley, Pam Webber, and SheWritesPress. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.

Moon Water is an excellent story, taking us back to Central Virginia in 1969, and immersing us into this small community, the youth, the Baptist community, the Monacan First American sub-genre with highlights on bad and good people, ideas, responses. It is a photograph of an era lost - but one that was very important to those children raised in this stew-pot of religions and social mores. Much of this structure of society has been lost over the last 50 years. Some consider that a good thing. Everyone has a right to their own beliefs and cultures. Some consider much lost in the modern, generic times when freedoms and history are lost to communities in the name of equality. Have you really offered equal footing to all takers by dismissing our differences? Or have we just all given up the hearts that made us special? Time will tell.

This is a well researched, well-written look into an era many of us old ones remember fondly. It is, I think, something to give the newest generations of young adults pause and to perhaps help them find some treasured keepers in our discarded past.

Most of the time we pick the book, but ever so often, it’s the book that picks us!
Never doubt a book’s power of influence.
A true gift to a reader.
Pam Webber wrote such an extraordinary work of Art with Moon Water.
When I saw it I just knew it was speaking to me, without even reading the blurb I felt it’s pull.

I’ll never forget Nibi, Win, and Nettie, or their adventures into nature’s bounty.
Examining one’s own life is the hardest endeavor to accomplish.
Win and Nettie apply lessons they learn from nature into dreamcatchers, all weaved together into a beautiful coming of age gift.
Nibi knew an evil darkness would descend upon them when the blood moon rose, she knew preparing Win and Nettie before this fateful event occurs might be her last calling. Times running out, will they have time to absorb all Nibi needs them to learn?

“Some of the most important journeys start in the wrong direction.”
“SEE THE INVISIBLE, BELIEVE THE UNBELIEVABLE, AND RECEIVE THE IMPOSSIBLE.”

I highly recommend this book. I was given this book by netgalley for an honest review.

I didn't particularly care for the book, but it's because I like fast paced stories and this one just isn't. It is good with character development - and for delving into Native American (herbal, etc.) medicine. The characters are mostly women and how they navigate through their lives.

Pam Webber's Moon Water was a very interesting and informative book. 16-year-old Nettie and her BFF Win live in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. Win's grandmother, Nibi, is a medicine woman for the Monacan Indians. She calls Win and Nettie to her home. She instructs them in making a dream catcher of their own. Nibi believes that the Blood Moon will bring bad things to the area and to the girls. In addition to the dream catchers, Nettie has been refused Baptism by her pastor and is trying to sort out her feelings for her boyfriend. Moon Water has a wonderful cast of characters, interesting plot with twists and turns and surprises along the way. I would definitely recommend.

Wonderful book for a young teen , the characters were first rate and girls were true to life. I would highly recommend this book.

Living near the Blue Ridge Mountains and spending many summers there, the story and setting of this novel intrigued me. While I am very "on guard" about anything to do with the occult, this story quickly captured my attention. It was an interesting read.

I like this book it was a little bit of everything book full of mystery, history and a coming of age story . It has a beautiful setting too .
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book

This was such an interesting read and I was hooked from the first page. Nettie is 16 and confused about the world and her place in it. She and her best friend Win must hold on to each other as they navigate life and the meaning, and they go on a journey to find answers to all of their burning questions.

This was so unique! The author has a way of writing that brings you right to the edge and back again, feeling as if you’re a 16 year old girl who must grow up much faster than any of us did at that age. I adore Nettie and her friend and didn’t want their story to end. Highly recommend!

Not for me. A little to god-y for me. I didn't really connect with the characters. A very quick and easy read. I didn't hate the book just wasn't my normal type of book. I have been trying to read different types of books and this one was good but just not something I would want to read again.

Huge Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow, what an adventure! This was incredible! I really enjoyed it and I loved the elements of faith, love and a little bit of mystery.
Im crazy about romance so I wanted to know how Nettie was going to fix her situation. I loved her honesty and trouble followed her everywhere she went. She was likable and fun with lots of determination to love those closest to her.
There was lots of great characters with many hidden meanings and a great ending.
I will definitely read another by this author. I thought it was very well written.


This was a NETGALLEY gift and all opinions are my own.

If you’re old enough to remember 1969 you may recall reading of the devastation caused by Hurricane Camille and the flooding of biblical proportions that inundated an entire valley in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. It is within this framework that “Moon Water” is set. It chronicles 16 year old Nettie’s struggles to choose wisely about decisions that will affect her entire future. To aid them in their rites of passage,
Nettie and her best friend Win are tasked with scouting out and obtaining several natural materials needed to make their dream catchers. This trek tests their courage, faith, hope, commitment and strength. Along the way Nettie begins to find answers to some of her more puzzling life questions - questions she’s been struggling with, especially precepts that others blindly accept. Her reputation for speaking her mind is well known. These questions lead to Nettie’s pastor refusing to baptize her. But then, this is 1969.

“Moon Water” is so much more than a trip down memory lane, but it does take us back to a simpler time, before cell phones and social media. This is a masterwork and deserves its own place among the classics. I approached this book with a ho-hum attitude that was quickly dispelled. You’ve all heard the mantra, “I couldn’t put it down,” I can testify that it’s true. Pam Webber’s writing is substance with style.

My thanks to She Writes Press for furnishing an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) for an honest and unpaid review. Publication date for “Moon Water” is August 20, 2019. and was named “Read of the Month” for September 2019 in the Southern Literary Review. Five stars.

#NetGalley #MoonWater #PamWebber