Moonshine River
by Marie Wells Coutu
She’ll break the law….
Moonshine River
She’ll break the law to save her mother. He’ll uphold it to save her soul.
Book 1 in the Between the Rivers Legacy Series
In the rugged hills of Depression-era Kentucky, two people on opposite sides of the law must discover whether love and faith can survive the shadows of the liquor trade.
After her father’s sudden death, Naomi Ross faces an impossible choice: watch her ailing mother deteriorate without lifesaving medical treatment—or take over the family moonshining operation she never wanted.
Then Cullen Downs returns to Golden Pond.
Naomi has loved the preacher’s son since childhood, but Cullen is no longer the same boy who left town. Haunted and humbled by one big mistake, he comes home determined to redeem his faith by eliminating the illicit whiskey business that destroyed his own future.
That mission places him squarely against the only woman he has ever truly loved.
As Prohibition weakens, violent rival moonshiners, corrupt local lawmen, and ruthless Chicago syndicates close in. Naomi’s desperate choices threaten far more than her freedom—they jeopardize Cullen’s mission, their fragile rekindled bond, and any chance of a future together.
Set against the rich historical backdrop of western Kentucky between the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, Moonshine River is an inspiring historical romance about sacrifice, forgiveness, and discovering that God’s grace is deep enough to redeem any past.
| Detail | Information |
| Title | Moonshine River |
| Series | Between the Rivers Legacy (Book 1) |
| Author | Marie Wells Coutu |
| Genre | Christian Historical Fiction / Inspirational Romance |
| Era & Setting | 1930s Great Depression • Golden Pond & Trigg County, Western Kentucky |
| Themes | Redemption, sacrificial love, family duty, moral compromise, God’s grace |
| Publisher | Mended Vessels Press |
| Formats | Kindle eBook, Paperback |
Moonshine River is a beautiful tale of forgiveness and sacrifice. Marie Coutu once again dazzles with an amazing story rich in faith and a heart-stirring romance engrained in the tumultuous era of Prohibition. Naomi and Cullen’s story is one to savor and Coutu is an author to follow!
—Tara Johnson, Carol and Christy award nominee of Engraved on the Heart
From the first paragraph, Moonshine River drew me in and kept me fascinated through the turn of the final page. Marie Wells Coutu has crafted a beautifully written story of struggle, love, community, and grace. Flawed but relatable characters. A plot rooted in the history surrounding Prohibition and the Great Depression. Love for family and neighbors. The setting may be a century ago, but this story triumphs over time through its life lessons and spiritual truths. All that to say, I can’t wait for the next book!
—Sandra Ardoin, author of Christian historical and contemporary fiction, including the House of Fire and Hidden Veil Hometown series
Moonshine River by Marie Wells Coutu is a beautifully written historical Christian romance set in the 1930s. There are so many threads interwoven in this small Kentucky community that has you rooting for them to survive the harsh conditions of poverty, society acceptance, and prohibition. I loved the message of forgiveness both for ourselves, and for others in this story and I enjoyed seeing life from this era and what people had to do to survive. Marie does a wonderful job weaving in daily life for these characters with real concerns along with hopes, dreams, and expectations. The details in the setting and the characters come to life in this well-written story. Cullen and Naomi belong together but the obstacles put in front of them had me shaking my head wondering how they were going to make it work. It’s a romance, so they do, and along the way they also learn what’s important. Truth, faith, and love.
—Denise M. Colby, award-winning author of When Plans Go Awry
Great Beginnings Contest, Utah RWA – Finalist, 2016
Joyce Henderson Contest, Southwest Florida RWA – 2nd place, 2016
The Sheila Contest, Valley Forge Romance Writers – Finalist, 2016
Linda Howard Award of Excellence, Southern Magic Birmingham RWA – Finalist, 2016
Cascade Awards, Oregon Christian Writers – Finalist, 2017
Touched by Love, Faith Hope Love RWA – Winner, 2019 (historical)
The Sheila Contest, Valley Forge Romance Writers – Winner, 2019 (historical)
Great Expectations Contest, North Texas RWA – 2nd place, 2020 (Inspirational)
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Where does moral duty end and legal obedience begin when family survival is at stake?
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Overcoming shame and past failure: Cullen’s journey to redemption and spiritual renewal.
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The historical tension between rural mountain moonshining traditions and the social reform movements of the 1930s.