ARC BOOK REVIEW: Hang the Moon by Jeannette Wells

Publication Date: March 28 2023 Format: Kindle Genre:  Historical Fiction

Publisher: Scribner Length:  364 pages Buy: Kindle | Audio

Synopsis

Most folk thought Sallie Kincaid was a nobody who’d amount to nothing. Sallie had other plans.

Sallie Kincaid is the daughter of the biggest man in a small town, the charismatic Duke Kincaid. Born at the turn of the 20th century into a life of comfort and privilege, Sallie remembers little about her mother who died in a violent argument with the Duke. By the time she is just eight years old, the Duke has remarried and had a son, Eddie. While Sallie is her father’s daughter, sharp-witted and resourceful, Eddie is his mother’s son, timid and cerebral. When Sallie tries to teach young Eddie to be more like their father, her daredevil coaching leads to an accident, and Sallie is cast out.

Nine years later, she returns, determined to reclaim her place in the family. That’s a lot more complicated than Sallie expected, and she enters a world of conflict and lawlessness. Sallie confronts the secrets and scandals that hide in the shadows of the Big House, navigates the factions in the family and town, and finally comes into her own as a bold, sometimes reckless bootlegger.

You will fall in love with Sallie Kincaid, a feisty and fearless, terrified and damaged young woman who refuses to be corralled.

Review: 

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley.com.  I am leaving this review voluntarily.  

I loved this book from the very beginning. I was sucked in by the daring and charming main character and her larger than life father. 

 I appreciated how strong most of the women are in this book even if they don't appear to be. Living in this time period would have been difficult, and "needing"a man was how you survived. But Sallie Kincaid knows her own mind and doesn't want a man controlling her, plus she doesn't trust very many of them. As she sees it they cheat, they lie and the women bear the brunt of it. 

Through many tragedies Sallie starts to run the Duke's business.  I loved that Sallie is just as competent in running the business as her father the Duke and that others see it as well. 

Overall this is a fantastic historical fiction novel set during prohibition and the struggles that put on so many families. So many families relied on their production of whiskey and other spirits as payment - and while the Duke knew its worth I feel that Sallie with some help really grew the business in new ways. 

If you like strong female characters who break stereotypes and are interested in the prohibition period this book is a sure thing...even if you aren't interested in the history portion its still an amazing read. 

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