When you read a great many books it takes an incredible story to truly capture your attention. I have found such a book! The Moonshine Women by Michelle Collins Anderson hits all the categories of being a time honored best seller when it is published March 31, 2026. I received a preview copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
If I could rate a book more than 5 stars, I certainly would. The author's voice as she tells the tale was so engaging that I completely lost myself in the lives of the Strong family women and their world as moonshiners during the prohibition era of Ozark mountain history. Each woman is unique and so vivid that I was grieving with their losses and rooting for their accomplishments as if they were close personal friends. Three sisters, Rebecca, Elsie, and "Shine" , with startlingly different personalities, exude resilience throughout the many trials of eking out a living in a poor Arkansas community.
In addition to the Strong family, Anderson introduces some famous characters to add intrigue to the story and create a historical element to enhance the setting and timeframe. My favorite one is Al Capone, the famous Chicago mob boss. The youngest sister, "Shine" impresses Mr. Capone with her forthright personality and expertise in drinkology,, within the confines of Hot Springs Arkansas's teaming bars and bath houses. Such an interesting element to add to the plot.
The story is absorbing. It is as if I could see the story in its entirety within my mind. The Moonshine Women would make an amazing major motion picture and I would be one of the first in line to purchase a ticket. But in the meantime, book clubs should add it to their must read lists. It even includes a discussion guide in the back of the book.
Needless to say, I strongly recommend setting an alert on your phone to go and buy this book next March. I was enchanted by it and will tell everyone what a gem it is.
#TheMoonshineWomen #NetGalley.
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