April 17th, 2020
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
Gathering Storm by Sherilyn Decter, is the first installment in highly anticipated series, The Rum Runners Chronicles.
In the 1920’s, Edith Duffy arrives in sunny Florida, all the way from Philadelphia, after excepting an invitation from Mae Capone, wife of the notorious mob gangster Al Capone. Just six months widowed, Edith was married to Philadelphia’s King of the Bootleggers. Mickey Duffy, a mobster who was heavily involved in the bootlegging industry.
Hoping to leave heartache behind, and feeling pensive and restless, the life of idleness is not something that appeals to her. By taking her destiny in her own hands, with incredible strength and determination she hopes to exceed in a male dominated business.
Opening a speakeasy is a dangerous business in the criminal world during prohibition. When all she wants is a good place to offer her customers a little bootleg liquor. Following her dreams, she makes up her mind to purchase one in the backwoods of the Florida marshes of Coconut Grove.
She settles on and purchases Gator Joe’s, and with some renovations it could be the perfect joint. But everything is not as simple and easy as Edith hopes it will be. What with the local boss and his cronies do everything to sabotage Edith attempts to get her place off the ground. The towns people are too excepting either, they don’t exactly roll out the the red carpet for Edith.
But, this one tough dame, and when she sets her mind to something, there is no one, or nothing she can’t accomplish.
Sherilyn Decter, delivers an intriguing, unique and enthralling story here that was so irresistibly written. I absolutely loved Edith’s voice and thought she was such a fantastic character. The novel is written in third person, with little passages of first person. Giving the reader an insightful opportunity to be more in tuned to the characters themselves. The author writing is vividly descriptive, bringing this iconic era in our history stunning to life in atmospheric imagery.
So if you’re into American historical times, and prohibition, along with a stellar strong woman. This fast paced historical read will be the perfect book for you.
You can read Gwendalyn’s book blog at https://gwendalynbooks.blog/