Step back in time, with this compelling story of two women—both strong, intelligent, and gifted. One uses her gifts for good, the other for gain. Shining a light on their vulnerabilities, you'll find yourself rooting for both characters, somehow wanting each of them to come out on top—hoping the Queen of the Rumrunners will change her ways, let go of the darkness and live in the light.
With her in-depth knowledge of these two women in history, Erika Robuck does an amazing job of painting a picture of a bygone era, while taking creative liberties to make it sparkle.
And the cover...Swoon...

Summary: The legend of Spanish Marie lives on in Florida and Cuba. During the Prohibition Era, Marie and Charlie Waite ran a rum-running empire, transporting and wholesaling liquor from Cuba and Bahamas to the US. On the opposing side was the US Coastguard and a husband-and-wife team specialized in cryptanalysis, or the deciphering of secret codes and messages. Elizebeth and William Friedman worked as agents of the US government in cracking the codes used by smugglers to communicate and transport their goods. The title refers to the fact that there is a distance of 90 nautical miles from Cuba to Florida; for 78 of those miles their cargo was perfectly legal on the seas, but for the last 12 miles in US waters their cargo of liquor was a criminal offense.

Thoughts: This was a well-researched and conceived novel depicting the author’s vision of the battle of wits between Marie and Elizebeth. Marie is a fully developed character in this story, struggling with her alcoholic and temperamental husband, and aspiring to legendary status among the smugglers in the goal of providing herself and her children with all the trappings of the good life. Marie desperately wants to overcome the poverty and shame of her early life and to be important and memorable, however she has no intention of spending time in prison. Elizebeth is motivated by the sheer love of cracking a mystery which seems impenetrable to other people. This is a novel of historical fiction, in which the author acknowledges that not all the facts are known about Spanish Marie and much of what exists is legend and lore. However, she does an amazing job crafting a story which blends historical fact with her interpretation of events and personalities. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and recommend it to any fan of historical fiction or anyone with an interest in the rum-running trade during Prohibition.