Moonshine Corner, Keys to Rocky Mount

I have recently had the privilege of reading "Moonshine Corner: Keys to Rocky Mount." In this marvelous story of a 30-year-old Colorado woman's journey of self-discovery, the reader will visit a compelling novelistic museum gallery in which author Ibby Greer colorfully paints unique American thematic subjects, spaces, essences, and imagery. In "Moonshine Corner," the reader will discern literary hints of Ray Bradbury combined with traces of Eleanor Emily Hodgman Porter. "Moonshine Corner" is the narrative ballroom where the restorative municipal patriotism of Eleanor Porter's "Pollyanna" mingles and dances the foxtrot with the pensive, introspective, and supernatural ambiance of Ray Bradbury's "October Country." This historical novel is an aesthetic masterpiece of historical fiction, a story whose narrative, characters, settings, and themes constitute a magnificent quilt that depicts the history, heritage, persons, developments, conflicts, triumphs, and essences of the United States of America, The South, the Commonwealth of Virginia, Franklin County, and the Town of Rocky Mount, in Southside Virginia. The story centers around the story's protagonist Lacey Brew, and what appears to be Brew's mundane career change from that of a Colorado art teacher to that of a Franklin County, Virginia, real estate agent. With a setting in Rocky Mount and Franklin County, Virginia, Lacey Brew's personal journey of self-discovery may appear initially to be merely a drive across the singular plane of the North American landscape, and a new job in an old Southern town, but upon arriving in Moonshine Corner the reader will soon stumble into a rich treasury of discovery and understanding of the aesthetically suffused, and ancestrally interlocking multiverse of United States history, culture, and historical development, from Revolutionary War Era and the Civil War, to the Great Depression, and the current, contemporary age. Through the life and experiences of Lacey Brew, "Moonshine Corner" orchestrates and integrates distinctive elements of the American Revolution, the Civil War, the Great Depression, and the contemporary age with grace, reverence, and the coal-fired fervor of historical preservation and discovery. It is imperative for the reader to carefully read author Ibby Greer's epilogue and afterword regarding her personal and historical reasons for writing "Moonshine Corner." The afterword provides remarkable historical insight into Ibby Greer's own familial and ancestral relationship to the themes, characters, and premises of "Moonshine Corner." This work symbolizes a healing of the division between The North and The South in United States history. This novel is destined to become a classic of historical Americana, a portrait of the multiple, inextricably linked, and mutually interactive layers of United States history, regional identity, personal identity, faith, loyalty, fear, heritage, and destiny. Follow Lacey Brew on her journey to Moonshine Corner, along the deep Appalachian sidewalks and staircases of time, history, and heritage. Experience vicariously Lacey Brew's journey of self-discovery, healing, romance, and fulfillment in "Moonshine Corner: Keys to Rocky Mount."

Lacey Brew needs to make major changes in her life, so she moves across the country from Denver to the small southwestern Virginia town of Rocky Mount and takes a job as a real estate agent – both locale and job practically sight unseen. After jumping in feet first she discovers The Grove, an antebellum plantation house associated with Confederate general Jubal Early, along with a number of interesting local characters who harbor a strange secret – which even they might not be aware of themselves. Some of those people, in fact, don’t belong in Lacey’s time at all, and she realizes that somehow she is jumping back and forth between the present, the Civil War, and the Great Depression at the height of southwest Virginia’s moonshining era. Ibby Greer combines a fun time-traveling and paranormal cozy mystery with the enjoyable Lacey and a healthy dose of immersion in southern Virginia history and culture, where all three time periods – and their residents, along with others who happen in – are connected in ways that Lacey has to tie together…or untie…for the peace of all. And maybe she’ll find the new life she’s looking for while she’s at it.

"Moonshine Corner" is a trip through history, literally, when a young woman discovers that old keys can unlock doors into ages past. Lacey Brew is searching for a new beginning after an horrific accident and finds herself entangled in a supernatural world of 'returned souls'. Her quest for answers leads to her awareness that the spiritual void in her life is the link between her own happiness and the release of the souls. The characters are rich in personality and the quirkiness of a small southern town lends a real charm to the story. Greer is a talented writer with an obvious passion for history and takes the reader on a tour of a region known for rolling hills and stately Civil War era homes, shadowed by bootlegging and family secrets.

Lacey Brew is a tribute to many symbolic events of modern time. She herself is a key for the noteworthy enthusiasm, love, friendship and generosity that she turns toward, meets and engages her life with friends from and Rocky Mount, Virginia. These characteristics along with her unbreakable faith and scriptures helps her delve into the depths of characters, art and history that might be impossible to imagine for some.The historical local landmarks, the days of civil war, the moonshine conspiracies and famous people living The Grove were revisited by Lacey. Her love for history, art, and the people she meets become more real as her love and involvement become stronger to solve the mysteries of her stories that she discovers.

I never believed in ghosts myself, until, summer-before-last, I met one. But even if I disavowed blips in the universe like returned souls and time travel, it would have been easy to suspend disbelief and enjoy this up-close and personal romp through some fascinating points in American history. I particularly enjoyed the theme of how sweet it is to settle in to a new town, get to know it and make it your home! Ibby Greer's well-knit story brims with southern flavor and hospitality - I wanted to put my feet up on one of the home hearths and stay awhile in Rocky Mount, Virginia. (My stars are based on a comparison to other works in similar genres.)

Moonshine Corner is like an old-fashioned church potluck in the guise of mystery, historical fiction, the para-normal and melodrama. Served up in a sprawling book by the author Ibby Greer, instead of the basement of the local house of worship, it's like the church table laden with seemingly disparate offerings that somehow leaves you feeling entirely satisfied by the time you've polished off the last lemon bar and finished your sweet tea.

I loved this book! I used to live in the small town that the story is based in and I learned so much local history while being totally absorbed in the story. Very interesting plot!