This was an enjoyable read of the Probibition era. I liked the colorful cast of characters and their adventures making moonshine.
Many thanks to Humpback Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

i really enjoyed reading this book, it worked perfectly as a historical novel. The story was well done and the characters worked.

This story takes place in North Carolina from the early 1900's into the late 1930's especially through the prohibition era. It follows Rufus who leaves a home where there are some that he will not be missed and he wants to be able to put food in his belly. He runs into a child of the O'Hara family looking play tricks on passersby. It is fortunate for Rufus as is able to get some additional food and a place to sleep. But he also finds himself in the middle of a family feud between the O'Hara's and the Harvey's. He also finds himself in the middle of a new profession when the 15 year-old matriarch of the O'Hara's Jolene decides to start making Moonshine to make more money for the family. This is an interesting read as it progress while you follow Rufus who progresses as moonshine runner and his attraction to Jolene. The author tells you in the beginning that this written in the voice of Rufus and what would have been his speech or vocabulary of the time and this at times makes the book a challenge to read. The only other issue I have is in my opinion there are two instances in the book that could have been left out and still got the story across. One was a time when Rufus walked into the barn and the other was when Rufus was serving time. Overall this was a good read. Thank you to Netgalley and HumpBack Books for an ARC for a fair and honest review.

This is a story of the prohibition era, set in North Carolina where running moonshine made one a good living. The author chose to tell the story in the speech pattern of Rufus, the main character which takes some getting used to. Full of quirky characters out of the backwoods with an authentic feel of the times, this is not a book to be rushed to get the full impact.

Jolene and Rufus are almost star crossed. If it were not for feuds and wrong-doing as okay and let us not forget moonshine. Rufus left one family and is allowed to stay with another the O’Hara’s as long as he pulls his weight. Jolene has taken on the responsibility of her siblings with a ferocity of a lioness. Rufus through a twist of fate ends up in jail. Jolene takes on the big boys and wins. Turning her moonshine business into gold with Prohibition and little education. Just as quickly life takes a tragic turn for Jolene, even as Rufus is free. It’s almost Shakespearean I it’s complications and intrigue.

This is a very interesting story especially since I am from the South. I didn't have a problem following the language,however I kept waiting for the climax in the ending and was disappointed. The dialogue just goes and goes but.never gets anywhere but in a circle. Not a bad read but definitely not my favorite.
Thanks to Net Galley for allowing me to read this arc for my honest opinion.

I received this from Netgalley.com.

"1920s North Carolina, Rufus leaves his family knowing nobody will miss him. He falls in with the O'Hara's and learns to make white lightening and prospers in selling it."

Good story capturing the ups and downs of prohibition and running illegal 'moonshine likker'. It took a few pages to get into the rhythm of the story and the cadence of Rufus' speech and quickly became an enjoyable read.

4.25☆