The Bootlegger's Wife by Denise Devine

 

The Details

The Bootlegger's Wife: Moonshine Madness Series by Denise Devine

Publisher: Wild Prairie Rose

Published: 2019

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 165

Available: Paperback, ebook

Author Bio:

Denise Devine is a USA Today bestselling author who has had a passion for books since the second grade when she discovered Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. She wrote her first book, a mystery, at age thirteen and has been writing ever since. She loves all animals, especially dogs, cats and horses, and they often find their way into her books.

She has written sixteen books, including books in the Beach Brides Series, The Perfect Match Series and the Hawaiian Holiday Series. Besides the USA Today list, her books have hit the Top 100 Bestseller list on Amazon and she has been listed on Amazon’s Top 100 Authors.

If you’d like to know more about her, visit her website at: https://www.deniseannettedevine.com or join her VIP list today to get the scoop on free books, new releases and lots of goodies at http://eepurl.com/csOJZL

The Blurb:

It's 1925 in St. Paul, Minnesota, a haven for hardened criminals - and the women who find themselves trapped in a dangerous game...

Charlotte LeDoux's nine-year marriage to bootlegging kingpin, Gus "Lucky" LeDoux is falling apart. The same day Char learns she is pregnant, she catches Gus in the act of adultery and it's clear he has no intention of ending the affair. Soon after, their night club is raided by Federal agents. As she flees from the chaos, Char is separated from Gus and faces a choice; search out her fugitive husband or change her identity and disappear. With her life in shambles and her future in doubt, she knows what she must do to protect her child.

Char alters her appearance and takes a job in domestic service for a private investigator. At first, living in Will Van Elsberg's home is quiet, comfortable and safe, but everything changes the day Gus seeks out Will to find his missing wife. As Will's investigation closes in on her, Char must once again make a decision. Should she run away again or face her violent husband and fight for her freedom? With her back to the wall, Char discovers she has more strength and determination than she ever thought possible.

My Review:

The plot in brief: (no spoilers) Charlotte LeDoux, a young woman, helps her cheating husband Gus run a nightclub serving bootleg whiskey during Prohibition. Before she can tell him of her pregnancy the club is raided by Federal agents. It's just the chance she needs to breakaway and start over.

The Characters: The main character, Charlotte is a delight right from the get go. She tough but tender, loyal to those who deserve her respect. A forward thinking woman for her time, she wants the best for herself and her unborn child, and her husband, Gus, does not fall in that category. They have a complex relationship which we learn about over the course of the book, and I'm glad that in the end Charlotte had conflicting feelings about him. 

Her employer, Will, is an intriguing guy, a private detective, who we don't know too much about. I'm hoping to learn more about his character in book two. All in all, I thought the characters were well drawn and believable. 

The History: The year is 1925 and Prohibition is in full swing. Devine fills the pages with period details. From the flapper era clothing, the cars, the customs and norms of the day flesh out daily life in early 20th century America. I enjoyed reading about this era, one I'm not too familiar with. An added bonus are descriptions of the food and a few recipes tucked into the back of the book!

The Writing: I thought the writing was excellent with a zippy pace. The book is well edited. 

Overall: I really enjoyed reading this book. It's on the short side at 165 pages and I finished it in a day. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good historical fiction story. 

I give this book: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars