Loved this historical sapphic romance.

I really enjoyed the background stories of Dax and Rose. It really fleshed out their characters and gave them a solid foundation to begin their love story.

The supporting characters were also beauty notes to this tale. A wonderful found family.

Brilliant. If you are already a fan of the author, you will not be disappointed with this new book.

A thrilling, historical storyline with plenty of action to mix in, surely to keep you turning the pages.

Really looking forward to the second book.

4.3 out of 5.

Anytime I see a book by Stacy Lynn Miller, I grab it as quickly as possible because I know it will be an excellent story. It couldn’t be anything else with Ms. Miller as the author. That’s why I asked for Devil’s Slide as soon as I could, and I’m so happy I did.

This is a historical fiction novel and so much more. The reader is dropped right into the middle of the 1920’s. It’s the Prohibition Era that created an underworld of speakeasies, and the transport and sale of illegal liquor to those places. It was also a time when LGBTQ+ folks had to be very careful, being out could mean your life would be ruined (at the very least).

In this time and place we meet Dax and Rose, two teenagers who begin as best friends, but gradually admit to feeling much more than friendship for each other. Unfortunately their romance is found out, and they are forcefully separated and sent away by their families. Dax actually ends up in a better place, being sent to live with her older sister in San Francisco. Rose is sent to a distant cousin who treats her almost as a slave in the tourist town of Half Moon Bay.

I truly felt I was back in time as I read this book. The author creates a world that is realistic, and in many ways historically accurate. Dax and Rose very quickly wormed their way into my heart. Ms. Miller knows how to make her characters realistic and complex. Dax and Rose are a perfect example. Their tale is filled with excitement, suspense, drama, danger, heartbreak, and love. The best part is, this book is just the first in the ‘Speakeasy Series’ so we will get to read more about the adventures Dax and Rose face as they work to create a future together.

I recommend this novel if you love historical fiction, adventure, suspense, and romance.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.

I made it to about 60% before deciding to quit. I actually quit reading this book three times before the final "I just can't do it anymore" moment happened.

I wanted to love this book. I love historical romance and second-chance romances are my absolute favorite so I had really high hopes. I also thought I'd read this author before but I was confusing her with another three-name-author.

The first of my two biggest gripes were the choices that Rose made. Some of them made no sense to me when it seemed there were better options available. Even as a woman during the 1920s. But maybe the biggest problem I had was Dax's quick, violent temper. If someone's first instinct when they get mad is to physically attack someone - no matter who and not in self-defense - that's a huge red flag. And also a huge turn off for me. A bonus issue I had was the dialogue felt unnatural. It didn't flow well for me.

I still thank Bella Books and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read Devil's Slide even if it wasn't a winner for me. I'm sure others will love it.

Definitely not what I expected. The main characters had amazing chemistry. Amazing dialogue, I enjoyed it a lot. I was not disappointed, there was romance, suspense and drama. I can't wait for book 2. 4.5 stars

Thank you, Bella Books, and NetGalley.

This book was so much more than I was expecting, and that was a lot!

You should know that anything written by Stacy Lynn Miller is going to be well-written. Devil's Slide though, is phenomenally written! Emotional, exquisitely paced, and tense for almost the entirety of the tale, readers are kept on the edges of their seats, never sure how things will turn out. Themes of family, both loyal and shitty, carry us throughout the novel, and culminate into fierce family loyalty.

"Devil's Slide" is so much more than merely historical fiction. It is also suspense-filled drama worthy of many hours of lost sleep. Thank goodness Dax and Rose's tale isn't quite over!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The chemistry between the characters was well written and the dialogue even better.
I learned a lot of the prohibition time and thought the history lesson was the best part.

I would recommend this book to anyone but especially someone who may be hesitant to try historical fiction.

This story takes place in San Francisco and surrounding towns in 1925. Rose and Dax are two 16 year olds who are attracted to each other. One day their kisses become more in Rose’s bedroom and Rose’s mother catches them. Afterwards they are each sent away to live with relatives. Dax has grown up as a her father’s carpenter apprentice and once at her sisters house she’s able to help out and find odd jobs. Rose is sent to live with a very mean and nasty cousin and is treated like a slave in their dinner at a vacation beach town.

Rose ends up being discovered by the town entrepreneur who owns a speakeasy and she becomes the vocalist there. Years later Dax and her sister May end up in this same resort town after inheriting a restaurant. .

Miller weaves a very entertaining historical fiction book, with several plot twists, action and memorable characters.

I highly recommend this book for Miller fans and people who enjoy historical fiction. I can’t wait for the second book in this series.

ARC received from NetGalley for an honest and voluntary review.

On the day best friends Dax and Rose decide to show their true feelings to each other, they are caught in the act and sent away. Adding to their grief is not being told where the other is being sent. Nine years after this happened Dax and Rose end up in the same Californian town. Devil’s Slide is set in the 1920’s Prohibition era where serving liquor was ignored and homosexuality would ruin your life or worse. 

Dax’s character really drives this story although Rose gets equal time behind the wheel. In the 1920’s Rose blends in while work boot and pants wearing Dax stands out as a gay stereotype. The restrictions they face push Dax and Rose to find a private corner in their world where it is safe to be themselves. This brought back memories of being a lesbian in the 1960’s. The fear for your life if people knew.

The story stumbles a few times with the repetitive use of both characters imagining what sex will be like when they actually do get to it. This part dragged on a bit and I found myself skimming through these sections. Once we reach their first time making love it was anticlimactic to me, at least. The heat and combustion was just not there.

What was there is an exciting story with lots of action to entertain the reader. I am excited to read the next book in this series.

I received an advance review copy from Bella Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Enjoyable start to the series. Sent away for kissing each other, Dax to live with her sister and Rose to live with a distance cousin. Both women end up in Half Moon Bay. After nine years, Rose and Dax see each other again. This second chance romance set during prohibition starts with a bang and never lets up. The supporting characters especially Dax's sister May, Rose's piano player Lester, Rose's best friend Jules, Rose's romantic interest Grace, Jules's girlfriend Charlie and Charlie's dog Brutus. The story deals with several issues that makes the reader take pause yet is not so heavy that it takes away from the interesting story. I look forward to the nest book in the series.

I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Where to start, it's 1920s, California, and high school best friends, Dax and Rose fall for each other. Unfortunately after bing caught kissing, they're forced apart, Dax is sent to live with her sister in San Francisco, Rose to her cousin in Half Moon Bay. Nine years later their paths cross again,when Dax arrives in Half Moon Bay to run a restaurant with her sister and where Rose is now a singer in a speakeasy. Still in love can they make it work this time round even though the world is against them?

What a great start to a new series I loved both the main characters and many of the great side characters. The story was interesting and kept me reading untill the end , which leaves the reader on a bit of cliffhanger.

Can't wait to read the next one and hope we are not left waiting to long to see what happens next.

would like to thank netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this book

rose and dax are friends and they both have a secret.... they like each other but this is the 1920s and women where like objects to own... but to admit they really liked each other well that was a sin

but they were caught and sent away from each other...not knowing where the other was

dax was sent away to her sisters, where she had an easier time of it...

but rose worked with distant relatives and was paid a pittance. ...and treated like slave labour.

but rose and dax story didnt end... and one day they were meant to see each other again.... but what had changed and could they still be together again

an interesting story that kept me reading till the end and i became invested in their stories... they were both interesting characters to get to know... and i cant wait to read the next one in this series to find out what else happens cos life back in the past was hard for women and more so if they were attracted to each other

In 1920s, Prohibition California, high school best friends, Dax and Rose fall for each other. Unfortunately after bing caught kissing, they're forced apart, their families refusing to let them know of each other's whereabouts.

As chance would have it, nine years later their paths cross again. Has too much time passed? Or can they make it work even though the world is against them?

I loved both the main characters and many of the great side characters. This book manages to tackle many hard hitting issues while still being fun and hopeful at times.

A very enjoyable start to a new series; can't wait to read the next one.

A new series set during the days of prohibition in northern California. Rose and Dax are best friends in high school. They don’t really have a name for what they feel for each other beyond first love. Being caught kissing their families separate them. Dax goes to live with her sister in San Francisco while Rose goes to work for a cousin in Half Moon Bay. They meet again years later when Dax arrives in Half Moon Bay to run a restaurant with her sister. She is stunned to see that Rose is here and is now a singer in a speakeasy. Of course their first love feelings are still there.

This is a fast reading action, drama historical romance. There are rum running thugs and Dax, with the help of friends, wants them to pay for the damages they cause. I enjoyed the previous Falling Castles series from the author. I’m not sure I’m as interested in the time period but the action scenes are dramatic and fun to read. The storyline is set up to continue in another book. Thank you to Bella Books for the ARC via NetGalley and I am leaving an honest review.

Two teenagers separated by their parents for wanting to love someone of the same sex. A bit slow to start as the story took a bit of time to set the scene. We then see the two characters (Rose and Dax) over the years as they make their way in the worlds into which they were each sent. Of course they eventually manage to meet again. Rose has become a singer in a speakeasy and Dax, now a carpenter, also helps her injured sister in a restaurant, coincidentally in the same small town where Rose is.
They have some trials and tribulations to overcome, helped by friends they have made, and the story gets quite tense towards the end. Which was quite exciting. It also ends on, not exactly a cliff hanger but an unanswered question. I look forward to the next instalment.

This starts out as a "coming of age" story with tragic endings then morphs into a 1920's Saturday matinee. There is a sweet cast of characters but also includes the evil villains. (Cue the drama music)
It's a sweet romance with many, many barriers that existed in the 20's for lesbians and women in general.
And there are some exciting, yet predictable, actions scenes.
Their future is the mystery and will continue in book 2,
"The Whiskey Wars".
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.