Review: Great read, well written
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 16, 2013
Unlike most free Kindle ebooks--which are often unimaginative attempts at books in sore need of plot/character development, and severe doctoring from a bevy of editors--The Whiskey Tide is both well written and well crafted. Engaging storytelling, with interesting plot and subplot twists, the book is replete with complex character development, realistic dialogue. Who could ask for more?The Whiskey Tide really captures the era of the Prohibition, when social mores were in flux. It's a rollicking rum-running tale--replete with a a nod to the gangster underworld, the jazz age, flappers. Imagine The Great Gatsby meets Road to Perdition on the high seas.Though the characters are somewhat stereotypical: smart rich girl falls for handsome, working-class guy, a gullible widow, evil plotting uncle, a gangster, a fallen sister, a damaged WWI vet--they each rise above their character flaws--except the gangster, who is a bad guy, of course.Morally upstanding heroine, Kate (who reminds me of Katharine Hepburn), overcomes the straitjacket imposed by a privileged upbringing, is believable, even though she breaks the law for all the right reasons to support family and home. However, we don't get a backstory of her being conflicted by the (lack of) justification of her illegal actions but the arc of the plot is solid. It holds.Authentically told historical fiction at its best: I found myself wishing for a sequel. I will miss the supporting character, Mrs. Cole. I've read far too many bad ebooks--which I delete from my library as soon as I'm done reading them--this book is a keeper. Four point five stars.(FWIW, I am using real n-lines, not double hyphens; it's an Amazon typo, not mine.)