I’ll be honest, historical fiction and mystery are not my forte, but this book intrigued me.

While this is called The Bootleggers Bride, it really follows more so his son and his sons life, and it ends on such a sweet note. I like that A.J ended up with a lady whose name starts with H, it feels like a sweet homage to his mom and aunt. I feel like A.J had so much happen in the span of the first 20 years if his life, and he deserved some luck towards the end.

There was romance and quite the element of mystery that surrounded this story and its easy to get caught up in, I loved A.J tenacity and learning more about what bootlegging looked like. Prohibition was such an interesting time and it was fun to read. If you love historical mystery fiction then this is for you.

Im so thankful to Lori over at GetRedPR for the arc copy. I am always so thankful for the opportunity to read a new one, and this didn’t disappoint.

This was a good, decently paced historical fiction. I liked it the overall story, and I would recommend it - but I wasn't rushing to read it. There was something missing, but I'm not entirely sure what that is. I just didn't connect with it like I thought I would.

Describe the last book you read in less than 3 words. For this book I would chose love, death, legacy.

The Bootlegger’s Bride by Rick Skwiot starts with A.J. Nowak ice skating one winter and finding the body of his mother trapped beneath the ice. Was it an accident or who killed his mother? Hazel Robinson was a schoolteacher when she met the enigmatic Jan Nowak. He had made his money as a bootlegger during prohibition but continued building his wealth afterwards through “banking.” The two fall in love and get married. Their life seems perfect until World War II interferes. Will A.J. be able to find out the truth about his parents and move on with his own life?

My thoughts on this novel:
• I would almost rather call this book The Bootlegger’s Son. I feel like it was really A.J.’s story as he pieces together the truth about his parents. They weren’t perfect people but were caught in tragedies of the times they lived through.

• Jan Nowak was a fascinating character. He was the son of Polish immigrants and made is own way in the mean streets of St. Louis as a youngster involved in bootlegging. He must make hard choices in order to keep himself alive and wealthy.

• Hazel was a woman who loved to read and loved Jan. When tragedy strikes, she is unable to move on with her life. It was really sad reading about her decline into alcoholism and despair.

• The novel flashed through time and different character points of view. It was mostly told through A.J.’s, Jans, and Hazel’s point of view, but there were some others in there as well that helped to advance the story. The time period was roughly the 1920s through the 1970s.

• I loved the family home on Long Lake. It sounded so peaceful. Hazel’s sister Helen and brother-in-law, Raymond were the rock stars of this novel and took care of A.J.

• It took me a bit to get into the book, but once I got into it, I couldn’t put it down. Love, revenge, depression, family, and more were themes that kept me riveted. This book was a good mixture of family drama and historical mystery.

Overall, The Bootlegger’s Bride by Rick Skwiot was an engrossing historical fiction story with mystery, romance, and compelling characters.
Book Source: Review copy from Blank Slate Press as part of the Get Red PR Book Tour. Thank-you!

The Bootlegger’s Bride was such a cool, unexpected read. I don’t usually reach for historical romance, but something about the Prohibition setting and the promise of danger pulled me in and I’m so glad it did.

It had just the right mix of tension, romance, and grit. The vibe felt like an old noir film: smoky rooms, shady deals, and a love story you’re rooting for even when everything’s stacked against it.

I loved how the romance felt real not perfect or overly sweet, but layered and intense. Definitely a good one if you’re into stories with high stakes, strong atmosphere, and characters who don’t always do the right thing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bootlegger’s Bride
Rick Skwiot
7/1/2025
Amphorae Publishing Group, LLC

If you’re looking to get swept away this summer by a richly layered historical mystery, The Bootlegger’s Bride by Rick Skwiot is a must-read. From the moment I saw the striking cover, I was intrigued—and the story didn’t disappoint. Skwiot masterfully transports readers between Prohibition-era St. Louis and the post-WWII Midwest, immersing us in a gritty, emotionally charged world full of secrets, loss, and redemption. The atmosphere is so vivid, you can practically feel the chill of Long Lake and the tension in every family interaction.

This was my first novel by Rick Skwiot, and I’m already planning to explore his other work. He has a way of drawing you in with emotionally complex characters and placing them in morally tangled situations that feel both timeless and deeply human. The dual timelines were seamlessly woven, each equally captivating, and the unexpected plot twists kept me hooked. It’s a compelling blend of heart and suspense—perfect for readers who crave substance with their summer fiction.

The Bootlegger's Bride
Rick Skwiot ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ | No spice | History lessons wrapped in family trauma
This one left me in such a complicated headspace. Skwiot's research is absolutely meticulous—I could practically smell the speakeasies and feel the desperation of Depression-era survival. But here's the thing: sometimes I felt like I was reading a textbook disguised as fiction.
The story unfolds with deliberate slowness, allowing you to truly absorb the historical atmosphere, though I found myself occasionally getting swept away in the rich detail rather than the narrative flow. While I genuinely appreciated learning about bootlegging operations and the historical nuances, it occasionally overshadowed the emotional core of A.J.'s story.
What kept me turning pages was the complicated family dynamics. A.J.'s relationship with his parents felt so realistically messy and emotionally distant, which made the moments of genuine care from other family members feel even more precious.
It's beautifully written historical fiction that taught me so much, even if it tested my patience.
Vibes We Are Tracking:
📚 Academic energy meets family drama
🥃 Prohibition-era atmosphere
💔 Emotionally distant parents
⚖️ Moral complexity and revenge

Spread throughout three decades, The Bootleggers Bride is a great historical fiction that has a mix of mystery.

Thank you so much to Get Red PR for my ARC of this story.

The multiple settings were very immersive and made me feel as if I was there. There is a lot of detail and description in this story. This is a historical fiction that focuses on the prohibition era. We see how our characters were effective by this time period and how sometimes they had to do whatever they needed to in order to survive.

We also see how lifelong sorrow and secrets can affect someone throughout their youth and adulthood.

On top of that, there is an element of mystery that kept me guessing. I did not see the big twist coming.

I really enjoyed how this story ended as well.

This is a great fast paced read.

Thank you @getredprbooks for my complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

BRIEF SUMMARY: This historical fiction novel follows dual timelines, starting in 1939 when Hazel meets her soulmate, Jan, and they marry, eventually having a son named A.J. Sadly, Jan goes off to war and never returns; and Hazel never recovers from his death, and turns to alcohol and men.

More tragedy strikes in 1953 when a young A.J. discovers his mother's lifeless body. As A.J. navigates his anger and the threat of a blackmailer, he is faced with a crucial choice: to seek revenge for his mother's death or find a different path.

SUMMARY: While the book presents a deep and engaging narrative rather than a light read, it offers a well-researched portrayal of the era, including references to the tensions of the time and popular writers. The story explores the difficulties of overcoming a painful past and examines the effects of vengeance on one's life. Read this if you enjoy Prohibition Era historical fiction!

If you enjoy historical fiction, I recommend The Bootlegger’s Bride, by Rick Skwiot. I remember my grandparents talking about this time, at the end of the Great Depression, when everyone did whatever they need to do to survive. It was a time of poverty which naturally feeds crime. It was an era of hidden stills, speakeasys, and widespread bootlegging. I enjoyed learning the inside story of these liquor runners.

The book is well-written with many more references to authors and literature. The characters are developed and very believable. The author has done a great job with research, too.

A huge thank you to the publisher, Get Red PR, and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I love a good historical fiction and then you add a deeply layered mystery, sign me up. This book had me on my toes, constantly guessing and each time realizing how wrong I was. A must read!

I enjoyed this historical fiction set during the end of the Great Depression and beyond. Set in the Midwest states of Missouri and Illinois. This book about crime, and bootlegging is full of action. This time period was full of poverty, depression and things one had to do to survive.
I loved hearing the names of Old Time Hollywood legends like Olivia DeHavilland, Errol Flynn and Clark Gable as I enjoy their movies.
The main protagonist, A. J. was orphaned as a child and he struggles during his life to overcome many obstacles.
Thank you Get Red Pr and the author for this advanced copy.