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Tinker
For readers of Outlander and Stephanie Dray, Tinker is a propulsive Whiskey Rebellion tale of defiance and rebellion, love, and divided loyalties on the early American frontier.
Pittsburgh, 1794. The people of western Pennsylvania suffer under a hefty tax on whiskey. When the local militia takes up arms against the hated tax collector, his estranged daughter finds herself caught in the crossfire.
Her safety threatened and her name in tatters, Caroline Neville begs her father to present the farmers' case to the President and ask for relief. When he refuses, Caroline adopts a nom de guerre, submitting articles to the Gazette under the pseudonym "Tom the Tinker." She calls for a peaceful gathering to coordinate a plea for the tax’s repeal, hoping to turn the tide before her family’s lives are lost.
Then she meets Tench, the reporter who prints her demands. He’s part of the militia opposing the tax, and he has no idea she’s Tom the Tinker or a Neville. The deeper they fall in love, the harder it is to tell him the truth. Meanwhile, Caroline’s efforts for peace take a turn toward rebellion. As she faces losing her family, her home, and Tench, she must race to put it all right before she’s charged with treason.
TINKER, adult alternate historical fiction set during the Whiskey Rebellion, is the latest release from Jennifer M. Lane, award-winning author of Of Metal and Earth, Downriver, and The Collected Stories of Ramsbolt.
Pittsburgh, 1794. The people of western Pennsylvania suffer under a hefty tax on whiskey. When the local militia takes up arms against the hated tax collector, his estranged daughter finds herself caught in the crossfire.
Her safety threatened and her name in tatters, Caroline Neville begs her father to present the farmers' case to the President and ask for relief. When he refuses, Caroline adopts a nom de guerre, submitting articles to the Gazette under the pseudonym "Tom the Tinker." She calls for a peaceful gathering to coordinate a plea for the tax’s repeal, hoping to turn the tide before her family’s lives are lost.
Then she meets Tench, the reporter who prints her demands. He’s part of the militia opposing the tax, and he has no idea she’s Tom the Tinker or a Neville. The deeper they fall in love, the harder it is to tell him the truth. Meanwhile, Caroline’s efforts for peace take a turn toward rebellion. As she faces losing her family, her home, and Tench, she must race to put it all right before she’s charged with treason.
TINKER, adult alternate historical fiction set during the Whiskey Rebellion, is the latest release from Jennifer M. Lane, award-winning author of Of Metal and Earth, Downriver, and The Collected Stories of Ramsbolt.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 2, 2026
About the author
Jennifer M. Lane
13 books48 followersA Maryland native and Pennsylvanian at heart, Jennifer M. Lane holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Barton College and a master's in liberal arts with a focus on museum studies from the University of Delaware, where she wrote her thesis on the material culture of roadside memorials. Her interest in writing historical fiction is rooted in her research of historic house museum residents and building interpretive plans. She is a member of the Authors Guild and the Historical Novel Society.
Lane's debut book, Of Metal and Earth, won the 2019 Next Generation Indie Book Award for First Novel and was a finalist in the 2018 IAN awards for General / Literary fiction.
She is also the author of Stick Figures from Rockport; the six-book series of The Collected Stories of Ramsbolt; Downriver and Upstream, the Poison River Duology; and the upcoming Tinker, an alternate historical romance.
Lane's debut book, Of Metal and Earth, won the 2019 Next Generation Indie Book Award for First Novel and was a finalist in the 2018 IAN awards for General / Literary fiction.
She is also the author of Stick Figures from Rockport; the six-book series of The Collected Stories of Ramsbolt; Downriver and Upstream, the Poison River Duology; and the upcoming Tinker, an alternate historical romance.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 24, 2026
I love stories that involve American history and this one did not disappoint. It’s an engaging story that keeps you on your toes and turning the pages to know what happens next.
Caroline was a spitfire and I enjoyed every second of her personality. A woman who could stand on her own but relent in times was the perfect center to this story. The supporting characters gave even more color and life to the plot. There wasn’t one moment where I was thinking this needed to hurry up. Everything flowed well and melted into a beautifully written ending.
Caroline was a spitfire and I enjoyed every second of her personality. A woman who could stand on her own but relent in times was the perfect center to this story. The supporting characters gave even more color and life to the plot. There wasn’t one moment where I was thinking this needed to hurry up. Everything flowed well and melted into a beautifully written ending.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Little known niche interest of mine: the 1794 whiskey rebellion! So when I saw this historical fiction story about that time period, I knew I had to read it.
Thank you to Pen & Key Publishing and Jennifer M. Lane for the ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I think this book had an identity crisis, if it wanted to be true historical fiction or historically-flavored modern social commentary. The setting should be historic, but many of the interactions and the majority of Caroline's conversations are straight out of a modern book. There's a lot of whining about what women are and aren't allowed to do that is just not based in the reality of the setting. It's projected from today backwards in time. The plot is flat, and I didn't have any emotional connection to the characters. I'd still love to read a story based on this time period someday, but wouldn't recommend this one.
Thank you to Pen & Key Publishing and Jennifer M. Lane for the ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I think this book had an identity crisis, if it wanted to be true historical fiction or historically-flavored modern social commentary. The setting should be historic, but many of the interactions and the majority of Caroline's conversations are straight out of a modern book. There's a lot of whining about what women are and aren't allowed to do that is just not based in the reality of the setting. It's projected from today backwards in time. The plot is flat, and I didn't have any emotional connection to the characters. I'd still love to read a story based on this time period someday, but wouldn't recommend this one.
June 1, 2026
Ohhhhh, this book. Everyone needs to read this and then channel their inner Caroline - she is one fierce female and I was spellbound by her wit, her principles, her intelligence and her sheer determination which shines through this story from the very start.
Caroline is the daughter of a local tax collector who is determined to impose steep taxes on the community, which thrives on farming and distilling rye. Whiskey is the local currency, but this new measure will see farms and families descend into poverty. Caroline knows that this is folly, so much so that she tries to distance herself from the family name as much as possible, which isn’t easy in a small town.
Caroline’s solution, to partition the government for a kinder form of taxation, goes unheard because she is a female who should know her place - so Caroline becomes Tom the Tinker, writing rousing paragraphs for the local paper under a secret identity so that people actually take notice. But, it doesn’t stop there. Soon, Caroline finds herself caught between trying to make the powers that be see the error of their ways, whilst the local militia target the farmers who do pay any tax, for being traitors - all whilst trying not to reveal her identity as the Tinker. She also has one other worry - she has fallen in love with Tench but hasn’t quite got round to telling him her full story, but she will….. it’s just a bit tricky, because Tench also happens to be part of the militia who have their sights set on one person: Caroline’s father.
This book is utterly fantastic. It illuminates a lesser known chapter in American history: the heavy taxation of whiskey stills and the impact that this had on the small communities who relied on unique rye crops to earn a living. It is far from just a history lesson though - it is a story of the true cost of this move, how it tore families apart with violent consequences, and at it’s centre is the most wonderful, witty and strong willed heroine who gets tangled up in this trouble in more ways than one - every family needs a Caroline, that’s for sure.
Thank you Jennifer M Lane and NetGalley for this early read it was such a pleasure.
Caroline is the daughter of a local tax collector who is determined to impose steep taxes on the community, which thrives on farming and distilling rye. Whiskey is the local currency, but this new measure will see farms and families descend into poverty. Caroline knows that this is folly, so much so that she tries to distance herself from the family name as much as possible, which isn’t easy in a small town.
Caroline’s solution, to partition the government for a kinder form of taxation, goes unheard because she is a female who should know her place - so Caroline becomes Tom the Tinker, writing rousing paragraphs for the local paper under a secret identity so that people actually take notice. But, it doesn’t stop there. Soon, Caroline finds herself caught between trying to make the powers that be see the error of their ways, whilst the local militia target the farmers who do pay any tax, for being traitors - all whilst trying not to reveal her identity as the Tinker. She also has one other worry - she has fallen in love with Tench but hasn’t quite got round to telling him her full story, but she will….. it’s just a bit tricky, because Tench also happens to be part of the militia who have their sights set on one person: Caroline’s father.
This book is utterly fantastic. It illuminates a lesser known chapter in American history: the heavy taxation of whiskey stills and the impact that this had on the small communities who relied on unique rye crops to earn a living. It is far from just a history lesson though - it is a story of the true cost of this move, how it tore families apart with violent consequences, and at it’s centre is the most wonderful, witty and strong willed heroine who gets tangled up in this trouble in more ways than one - every family needs a Caroline, that’s for sure.
Thank you Jennifer M Lane and NetGalley for this early read it was such a pleasure.
June 2, 2026
“A man like George Washington could not possibly be enticed to listen to little me…Father still commanded respect in those circles, but I was merely his obtuse daughter who refused to take her place in society. I might be powerless writing as Caroline, but Tom the Tinker could earn a whole first page.”
Jennifer Lane's novel Tinker delves into the tumultuous late-18th century Whiskey Rebellion - one of America's forgotten revolts - with an independent, spirited heroine who must balance love, loyalty, and duty to survive a sparking fire that could consume all in its path.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1794. In the aftermath of the American Revolution, President George Washington levies an excise tax on whiskey to pay off war debts. Western Pennsylvanians suffer threats to their property and livelihoods, and the local regiment rises up against the hard-nosed tax collector. Caroline Neville, the tax collector's courageous daughter, assumes a nom de guerre and submits letters to a newspaper under the name of Tom the Tinker. Her aim? Bridge the gap between the pro-tax and anti-tax parties and find a peaceful resolution.
Independent, strong-minded, and tenacious, Caroline refutes 18th-century social mores for women of her class. Instead of marrying her respectable but boorish cousin, she prefers to engage in reading, correspondence, and managing her brother's farm outside Pittsburgh. Even more controversial and dangerous, beneath Caroline's decorous demeanor simmers a rebellious sympathy at odds with her father's prominent position as an enforcer of federal law.
Caroline's loyalty and duty to her family are further tested when she meets Tench Coyle, a journalist who works for the Pittsburgh Gazette, a local newspaper. He's part of the local regiment, one known for terrorizing tax collectors and those who pay the tax. As tensions rise, Caroline, under the pseudonym of Tom the Tinker, writes to the Gazette and encourages her fellow citizens to peacefully gather and press for the tax’s repeal.
As her and Tench’s relationship deepens, Caroline's identities as a Neville and Tom the Tinker remain a secret, one that threatens to unravel as the militia grows more restless. When chaos erupts, can Caroline right her wrongs and protect herself before she's branded a traitor?
Tinker presents itself, at its core, as an alternate historical fiction romance. Caroline, a separate and fictionalized portrayal of tax collector John Neville’s daughter created to “embody the sentiments of the time”, envisions how someone - and a woman no less - could have influenced the oft-forgotten Whiskey Rebellion through her words. Rather than simply reimagining someone to fit into a historical mold, Jennifer crafts an authentic heroine who does not diminish Neville’s daughter Amelia and instead paves her own way in the world. It’s a version of alternate history that works and works well.
Perhaps just as importantly, Tinker illuminates a key struggle in early American history: that of a newly-found country struggling to find an identity and sustain authority among disparate populations. In Pennsylvania, western county-dwellers lived on the frontier whereas their eastern neighbors lived closer to civilization. As a result, some social and judicial institutions - such as a centralized court - hadn’t yet migrated westward. During the Whiskey Rebellion, those who failed to pay the excise tax were summoned to court in Philadelphia, a substantial journey that took them from home during peak growing and harvesting seasons. The costs incurred from travel and the loss of productivity, as well as the fee itself, could decimate a farmer. The rebellion broiled over into armed conflict when it was clear there’d be no reconciliation between eastern and western ideals and federal and state legislative authority.
Replete with familial drama, the looming threat of war, sweet romance, a fast pace, suspense, and a well-intentioned and well-informed protagonist, Tinker brings to life a fragile time in American history where the country stood on a defining precipice between its past, present, and future. It was a time of chaos and uncertainty, but through Caroline’s eyes, we also espy a glimmer of hope and light. And perhaps that’s the novel’s key takeaway: through patience, understanding, staying informed, open-mindedness, and love, Americans can weather any storm, no matter how hard it blows.
Thank you to Jennifer for sending me physical and digital copies of Tinker in exchange for my honest thoughts!
Jennifer Lane's novel Tinker delves into the tumultuous late-18th century Whiskey Rebellion - one of America's forgotten revolts - with an independent, spirited heroine who must balance love, loyalty, and duty to survive a sparking fire that could consume all in its path.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1794. In the aftermath of the American Revolution, President George Washington levies an excise tax on whiskey to pay off war debts. Western Pennsylvanians suffer threats to their property and livelihoods, and the local regiment rises up against the hard-nosed tax collector. Caroline Neville, the tax collector's courageous daughter, assumes a nom de guerre and submits letters to a newspaper under the name of Tom the Tinker. Her aim? Bridge the gap between the pro-tax and anti-tax parties and find a peaceful resolution.
Independent, strong-minded, and tenacious, Caroline refutes 18th-century social mores for women of her class. Instead of marrying her respectable but boorish cousin, she prefers to engage in reading, correspondence, and managing her brother's farm outside Pittsburgh. Even more controversial and dangerous, beneath Caroline's decorous demeanor simmers a rebellious sympathy at odds with her father's prominent position as an enforcer of federal law.
Caroline's loyalty and duty to her family are further tested when she meets Tench Coyle, a journalist who works for the Pittsburgh Gazette, a local newspaper. He's part of the local regiment, one known for terrorizing tax collectors and those who pay the tax. As tensions rise, Caroline, under the pseudonym of Tom the Tinker, writes to the Gazette and encourages her fellow citizens to peacefully gather and press for the tax’s repeal.
As her and Tench’s relationship deepens, Caroline's identities as a Neville and Tom the Tinker remain a secret, one that threatens to unravel as the militia grows more restless. When chaos erupts, can Caroline right her wrongs and protect herself before she's branded a traitor?
Tinker presents itself, at its core, as an alternate historical fiction romance. Caroline, a separate and fictionalized portrayal of tax collector John Neville’s daughter created to “embody the sentiments of the time”, envisions how someone - and a woman no less - could have influenced the oft-forgotten Whiskey Rebellion through her words. Rather than simply reimagining someone to fit into a historical mold, Jennifer crafts an authentic heroine who does not diminish Neville’s daughter Amelia and instead paves her own way in the world. It’s a version of alternate history that works and works well.
Perhaps just as importantly, Tinker illuminates a key struggle in early American history: that of a newly-found country struggling to find an identity and sustain authority among disparate populations. In Pennsylvania, western county-dwellers lived on the frontier whereas their eastern neighbors lived closer to civilization. As a result, some social and judicial institutions - such as a centralized court - hadn’t yet migrated westward. During the Whiskey Rebellion, those who failed to pay the excise tax were summoned to court in Philadelphia, a substantial journey that took them from home during peak growing and harvesting seasons. The costs incurred from travel and the loss of productivity, as well as the fee itself, could decimate a farmer. The rebellion broiled over into armed conflict when it was clear there’d be no reconciliation between eastern and western ideals and federal and state legislative authority.
Replete with familial drama, the looming threat of war, sweet romance, a fast pace, suspense, and a well-intentioned and well-informed protagonist, Tinker brings to life a fragile time in American history where the country stood on a defining precipice between its past, present, and future. It was a time of chaos and uncertainty, but through Caroline’s eyes, we also espy a glimmer of hope and light. And perhaps that’s the novel’s key takeaway: through patience, understanding, staying informed, open-mindedness, and love, Americans can weather any storm, no matter how hard it blows.
Thank you to Jennifer for sending me physical and digital copies of Tinker in exchange for my honest thoughts!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Jennifer M. Lane’s Tinker is a sharp and intimate historical novel set during the Whiskey Rebellion, told through Caroline Neville's eyes, a woman caught between family loyalty, political unrest, and her own hunger to be heard. Caroline is the daughter of John Neville, whose role in collecting the whiskey tax has made the family name dangerous in western Pennsylvania. From the opening image of her father burned in effigy beneath a “Liberty and No Excise” ribbon, the book makes it clear that Caroline’s world is already on fire, even before she starts writing under the name Tom the Tinker.
What makes the novel work so well is Caroline’s voice. She’s funny, stubborn, observant, and often painfully aware of the ways men underestimate her. Her first battle over a bottle of ink with Tench Coyle is playful, but it also sets up the larger conflict of the book: ink matters because words matter. When Tench later says, “The written word stands as nothing more than a testament to its creation,” it feels like the book is telling us what it’s about.
The romance between Caroline and Tench gives the story warmth without pulling it away from the political stakes. Their connection grows through books, banter, shared ideals, and secrets that can’t stay hidden forever. Tench isn’t just a love interest, and Caroline isn’t simply choosing between love and family. She’s trying to decide what kind of person she’ll be when every side claims righteousness, and when silence might be safer than honesty.
I appreciated the way Lane makes the Whiskey Rebellion feel personal rather than like a history lesson. The tax, the writs, the smashed stills, the burned homes, and the fear spreading through the countryside all come through in lived-in details. Caroline’s position is especially compelling because she sees the farmers' suffering, but she also understands the people within the Neville household. Her line, “I just wanted people to have some hope and stop feeling powerless,” captures the heart of her choices.
Tinker is a thoughtful and lively novel about voice, consequence, and the messy places where private lives meet public history. It has the sweep of historical fiction, but its best moments are often small ones: a horse betraying Caroline by liking Tench, Nonnie’s blunt wisdom, a family argument that finally cracks something open. The result is a historical fiction novel that feels grounded, romantic, tense, and deeply interested in how ordinary people try to do the right thing when the whole world around them is choosing sides.
What makes the novel work so well is Caroline’s voice. She’s funny, stubborn, observant, and often painfully aware of the ways men underestimate her. Her first battle over a bottle of ink with Tench Coyle is playful, but it also sets up the larger conflict of the book: ink matters because words matter. When Tench later says, “The written word stands as nothing more than a testament to its creation,” it feels like the book is telling us what it’s about.
The romance between Caroline and Tench gives the story warmth without pulling it away from the political stakes. Their connection grows through books, banter, shared ideals, and secrets that can’t stay hidden forever. Tench isn’t just a love interest, and Caroline isn’t simply choosing between love and family. She’s trying to decide what kind of person she’ll be when every side claims righteousness, and when silence might be safer than honesty.
I appreciated the way Lane makes the Whiskey Rebellion feel personal rather than like a history lesson. The tax, the writs, the smashed stills, the burned homes, and the fear spreading through the countryside all come through in lived-in details. Caroline’s position is especially compelling because she sees the farmers' suffering, but she also understands the people within the Neville household. Her line, “I just wanted people to have some hope and stop feeling powerless,” captures the heart of her choices.
Tinker is a thoughtful and lively novel about voice, consequence, and the messy places where private lives meet public history. It has the sweep of historical fiction, but its best moments are often small ones: a horse betraying Caroline by liking Tench, Nonnie’s blunt wisdom, a family argument that finally cracks something open. The result is a historical fiction novel that feels grounded, romantic, tense, and deeply interested in how ordinary people try to do the right thing when the whole world around them is choosing sides.
June 6, 2026
I love that there is more and more fiction about the early US Republic! I am so happy this novel exists!
Tinker is the story of one woman's quest for autonomy from and the respect of her family set amid the Pennsylvania Rebellion against Alexander Hamilton's whiskey tax.
A historical romance, it is fiction based on the entirely historical "Tom the Tinker," a pseudonymous letter writer whose words inflamed the rebellion.
The fictional Caroline Neville is the daughter of the tax inspector for the four counties of western Pennsylvania in the summer of 1793. Angered by how her father's legalistic inflexibility over the tax's enforcement has caused suffering and made the family a target, she goes to buy ink to write against the whiskey tax and for peace. But there is another customer for the ink: Tench Coyle, a reporter for the regional newspaper and son of a local farmer with a whiskey still.
Their budding courtship is carried along by Caroline never getting around to telling him her surname as the countryside grows militant. As they fall for each other over punch, she is sneaking up to the porches of local men to stick the Tinker letters on their doors. Then Tench sets the type for these broadsides that push the western Pennsylvania countryside into insurrection.
Tinker is a novel about an unmarried woman in her twenties told in first-person limited, and Jennifer Lane does not stand on the artifice of costume drama that some might expect from historical fiction set in the late 18th century. The period details are there, but it is lovely how ordinary Lane makes them feel. This was ordinary life in that time, not a costume party in stiff wigs and italics.
How refreshing! How lovely that this approach was brought to a lesser-known episode of US history.
Some reviews have apparently misinterpreted this accessible writing style as being a sign the novel is really YA. That is an ironic echo of the novel's own theme of the lack of respect given to women who don't do what convention tells them to.
Read this novel for its portrayal of the ordinary past and the dynamics of resentment and populism that made this historical episode a lot like our present.
Tinker is the story of one woman's quest for autonomy from and the respect of her family set amid the Pennsylvania Rebellion against Alexander Hamilton's whiskey tax.
A historical romance, it is fiction based on the entirely historical "Tom the Tinker," a pseudonymous letter writer whose words inflamed the rebellion.
The fictional Caroline Neville is the daughter of the tax inspector for the four counties of western Pennsylvania in the summer of 1793. Angered by how her father's legalistic inflexibility over the tax's enforcement has caused suffering and made the family a target, she goes to buy ink to write against the whiskey tax and for peace. But there is another customer for the ink: Tench Coyle, a reporter for the regional newspaper and son of a local farmer with a whiskey still.
Their budding courtship is carried along by Caroline never getting around to telling him her surname as the countryside grows militant. As they fall for each other over punch, she is sneaking up to the porches of local men to stick the Tinker letters on their doors. Then Tench sets the type for these broadsides that push the western Pennsylvania countryside into insurrection.
Tinker is a novel about an unmarried woman in her twenties told in first-person limited, and Jennifer Lane does not stand on the artifice of costume drama that some might expect from historical fiction set in the late 18th century. The period details are there, but it is lovely how ordinary Lane makes them feel. This was ordinary life in that time, not a costume party in stiff wigs and italics.
How refreshing! How lovely that this approach was brought to a lesser-known episode of US history.
Some reviews have apparently misinterpreted this accessible writing style as being a sign the novel is really YA. That is an ironic echo of the novel's own theme of the lack of respect given to women who don't do what convention tells them to.
Read this novel for its portrayal of the ordinary past and the dynamics of resentment and populism that made this historical episode a lot like our present.
July 27, 2026
(This review previously appeared on CozyingUp.com)
In most history classes (at least when I was in school), there seems to be too much emphasis on wars. While I do enjoy learning about the war years of various civilizations (mainly the home front aspects), the times in between the wars are often neglected.
Tinker by Jennifer M. Lane is set during a time that I barely remembered: the Whiskey Rebellion of the 1790s. This alternative history weaves together real participants and incidents (tax inspector John Neville and the attack on his home) with fictional characters (John’s estranged daughter Caroline and a local reporter named Tench).
The title of the book comes from a series of anonymous notes and newspaper articles that are signed Tom the Tinker. In this story, Caroline tries to submit an article under her own name, but it is rejected. So she tries again, but signs the new submission as Tom the Tinker.
The love story between Caroline and Tench is well written and I would have liked to have heard more about them, both as a couple and as individuals. Their romance was definitely a whirlwind and some more time for them to discover each other seemed needed.
My one gripe with the writing is that at times, Lane seems to squeezes in extraneous details that sometimes pulled me out of the narrative. It seemed like she found some historical tidbits and shoehorned them in. This didn’t happen often, but enough that I made note of it.
I got my love of history from my mother and her particular interest was the American Revolution. After finishing Tinker, I was thinking how much I wished she was still here so I could share this book with her and we could discuss our favorite parts.
4 lattes out of 5
Disclaimer: I received this book as a free eARC from the author. All views shared here are my own.
In most history classes (at least when I was in school), there seems to be too much emphasis on wars. While I do enjoy learning about the war years of various civilizations (mainly the home front aspects), the times in between the wars are often neglected.
Tinker by Jennifer M. Lane is set during a time that I barely remembered: the Whiskey Rebellion of the 1790s. This alternative history weaves together real participants and incidents (tax inspector John Neville and the attack on his home) with fictional characters (John’s estranged daughter Caroline and a local reporter named Tench).
The title of the book comes from a series of anonymous notes and newspaper articles that are signed Tom the Tinker. In this story, Caroline tries to submit an article under her own name, but it is rejected. So she tries again, but signs the new submission as Tom the Tinker.
The love story between Caroline and Tench is well written and I would have liked to have heard more about them, both as a couple and as individuals. Their romance was definitely a whirlwind and some more time for them to discover each other seemed needed.
My one gripe with the writing is that at times, Lane seems to squeezes in extraneous details that sometimes pulled me out of the narrative. It seemed like she found some historical tidbits and shoehorned them in. This didn’t happen often, but enough that I made note of it.
I got my love of history from my mother and her particular interest was the American Revolution. After finishing Tinker, I was thinking how much I wished she was still here so I could share this book with her and we could discuss our favorite parts.
4 lattes out of 5
Disclaimer: I received this book as a free eARC from the author. All views shared here are my own.
May 24, 2026
I really really enjoyed this book. Caroline lives in Pennsylvania in 1794 where by a tax has been put onto whiskey and the people are suffering from it. She pleads for her father to take this to the president, but he refuses. Does Caroline have the power within herself to make the people heard through her own alias of Tom The Tinker?!
The book was very interesting, well written and extensive research was done by the author to keep the setting and social politics as accurate as possible. Caroline as a character was very strong, intelligent, fierce, funny and loyal to her friends and community. I loved that the chapters were dated and of varied lengths depending on the plot within each. I learned a lot about American politics in 1971 and the Whiskey Rebellion of the time. The book kept great pace and suspense and I loved that it was female lead.
Tench was a great character, companion and partner to Caroline. I loved following their relationship throughout the book and how he was one of the few who believed in her like her Nonnie did. The themes of the novel centred around struggle, societal pressures for women, social politics, community, roles of women and men and grassroots change in American culture.
Tinker was a very thought provoking and gripping book from beginning to end. I had to give it 5 stars, for how in-depth into American history the book went throughout while keeping the focus on societal issues and the character growth throughout. I wpuOne of my favourite reads of 2026.
Thank you to Penn and Key Publishing and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
The book was very interesting, well written and extensive research was done by the author to keep the setting and social politics as accurate as possible. Caroline as a character was very strong, intelligent, fierce, funny and loyal to her friends and community. I loved that the chapters were dated and of varied lengths depending on the plot within each. I learned a lot about American politics in 1971 and the Whiskey Rebellion of the time. The book kept great pace and suspense and I loved that it was female lead.
Tench was a great character, companion and partner to Caroline. I loved following their relationship throughout the book and how he was one of the few who believed in her like her Nonnie did. The themes of the novel centred around struggle, societal pressures for women, social politics, community, roles of women and men and grassroots change in American culture.
Tinker was a very thought provoking and gripping book from beginning to end. I had to give it 5 stars, for how in-depth into American history the book went throughout while keeping the focus on societal issues and the character growth throughout. I wpuOne of my favourite reads of 2026.
Thank you to Penn and Key Publishing and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
June 15, 2026
First, I want to thank Jennifer M. Lane and paste creative tours for the gifted physical copy of Tinker to read and provide my honest, spoiler free review.
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Thoughts:
This book definitely caught my attention surrounding what this book was focused around. As a historical novel set around the time of the Whiskey Rebellion, I honestly had no idea what I was getting into. However, as I was reading, I felt like Jennifer did a really great job at researching and then using that research to create this story. I don’t always know or remember everything from history but since this novel was set in an area close to my home, I loved being able to learn about the rebellion through the eyes of Caroline, our FMC.
This novel practically placed us in the middle of an ongoing conflict that we get to witness through Caroline’s eyes. Seeing this conflict play out, it honestly brought out so many emotions that I could only imagine were what people felt who lived during that time. This novel didn’t shy away from showing a rough patch in American history and I really liked that Caroline went through it all even when she wasn’t sure what would happen to her or her family along the way. There was also a feeling of hope and love even during these dark times which really made this into a good historical story. Especially after everything that has happened in America, having that sense of hope really is the American way. I’m happy I had a chance to read this one.
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Thoughts:
This book definitely caught my attention surrounding what this book was focused around. As a historical novel set around the time of the Whiskey Rebellion, I honestly had no idea what I was getting into. However, as I was reading, I felt like Jennifer did a really great job at researching and then using that research to create this story. I don’t always know or remember everything from history but since this novel was set in an area close to my home, I loved being able to learn about the rebellion through the eyes of Caroline, our FMC.
This novel practically placed us in the middle of an ongoing conflict that we get to witness through Caroline’s eyes. Seeing this conflict play out, it honestly brought out so many emotions that I could only imagine were what people felt who lived during that time. This novel didn’t shy away from showing a rough patch in American history and I really liked that Caroline went through it all even when she wasn’t sure what would happen to her or her family along the way. There was also a feeling of hope and love even during these dark times which really made this into a good historical story. Especially after everything that has happened in America, having that sense of hope really is the American way. I’m happy I had a chance to read this one.
July 9, 2026
I had the pleasure of meeting Jennifer (Hello Jennifer!) at a Craft Fair earlier this year and was given the synopsis of this book in person and a signed copy of the book before it was officially out. It was a great experience meeting her and she had awesome energy and I could tell how passionate she was in bringing this historical event to life! She did not disappoint!
The historical event was fascinating to learn about through this story. It makes me want to research the event further. The characters are refreshing and the romance between a high class lady and news reporter feel unique and I love everything about their dynamic and the tension of Caroline hiding her identity from Tench kept me turning the page. (I love Tench's token! You'll know what I mean when you read the book!)
About Jennifer's writing: She sneaks in profound sentences that make you want to underline something on nearly every other page. It had me rereading the sentences and stopping just to ponder and appreciate her use of language. I could really feel Jennifer's authorial voice through them.
The only thing that stopped this from getting five stars was that the romance felt slightly rushed (But I understand it's a quick read but I wanted -- no-- needed more of them ugh!) and the conflict at the end of the story I think could have had more weight but resolved in a way that felt a little too easy. Besides that, this was a great read! I think I'll go pour myself a glass of whiskey now.
The historical event was fascinating to learn about through this story. It makes me want to research the event further. The characters are refreshing and the romance between a high class lady and news reporter feel unique and I love everything about their dynamic and the tension of Caroline hiding her identity from Tench kept me turning the page. (I love Tench's token! You'll know what I mean when you read the book!)
About Jennifer's writing: She sneaks in profound sentences that make you want to underline something on nearly every other page. It had me rereading the sentences and stopping just to ponder and appreciate her use of language. I could really feel Jennifer's authorial voice through them.
The only thing that stopped this from getting five stars was that the romance felt slightly rushed (But I understand it's a quick read but I wanted -- no-- needed more of them ugh!) and the conflict at the end of the story I think could have had more weight but resolved in a way that felt a little too easy. Besides that, this was a great read! I think I'll go pour myself a glass of whiskey now.
June 23, 2026
1794. Caroline Neville and her family live in Pittsburgh in the time of the high whiskey excise tax. Her father is the tax collector. Caroline wants peace and economic relief for the farmers. She pens articles in the Gazette, using the name ‘Tom the Tinker.’ She advocates for words rather than force to resolve the problem.
She meets, Tench, a reporter who helps publish the articles of Tom the Tinker. He is unaware, however, that Tom is also Caroline. They form an immediate connection, and as it grows, we see the challenges Caroline faces: expressing her voice about the tax; sharing her truth with Tench, and finding peace in the midst of rising tensions.
I enjoyed Caroline and Tench’s story. I thought they had great chemistry and enjoyed reading how they navigated the aforementioned challenges. There is tension and anticipation that draws the readers to the story. Readers have the opportunity through the novel to learn more about the early years of a new nation that faced challenges and disagreement.
Readers of historical fiction, including late 18th century history will enjoy this novel. The novel is well researched, building around Caroline and Tench’s story the events and historical figures of the time. I recommend the author’s note as well as at the end of the book as an additional resource for learning more about the time period.
She meets, Tench, a reporter who helps publish the articles of Tom the Tinker. He is unaware, however, that Tom is also Caroline. They form an immediate connection, and as it grows, we see the challenges Caroline faces: expressing her voice about the tax; sharing her truth with Tench, and finding peace in the midst of rising tensions.
I enjoyed Caroline and Tench’s story. I thought they had great chemistry and enjoyed reading how they navigated the aforementioned challenges. There is tension and anticipation that draws the readers to the story. Readers have the opportunity through the novel to learn more about the early years of a new nation that faced challenges and disagreement.
Readers of historical fiction, including late 18th century history will enjoy this novel. The novel is well researched, building around Caroline and Tench’s story the events and historical figures of the time. I recommend the author’s note as well as at the end of the book as an additional resource for learning more about the time period.
Read
September 17, 2026This is a fascinating historical fiction about the 1794 whiskey rebellion. The main character, Caroline, is the daughter of John Neville who is the local tax inspector. Caroline opposes his position and knows the collection of the tax is harming local farmers. She tries to submit an article to the local newspaper but is turned down because she’s a woman.
Tom the Tinker is a historical figure who wrote letters in an effort to resolve the conflict, and the actual identity of Tom is still a mystery. In the novel, Lane has Caroline pen them in order for her voice to be heard. She battles as an independent woman to be respected by her family and refuses to marry the man of their choice. Although she claims to be happy in solitude, when she goes to buy ink and meets Tench, she realizes life could be so much better shared with someone.
Tench, however, supports the regiment who is against the tax, and Caroline keeps secret who her father is. After many twists and turns, battles and rebellions, Tench discovers her truth. Caroline must then face the consequences of her actions with Tench and her family. It’s a tale of love, honor, rigidity, and loyalty to a budding nation.
This is a great novel for people who love historical fiction focused on lesser-known events and would like to be inspired to learn more.
Tom the Tinker is a historical figure who wrote letters in an effort to resolve the conflict, and the actual identity of Tom is still a mystery. In the novel, Lane has Caroline pen them in order for her voice to be heard. She battles as an independent woman to be respected by her family and refuses to marry the man of their choice. Although she claims to be happy in solitude, when she goes to buy ink and meets Tench, she realizes life could be so much better shared with someone.
Tench, however, supports the regiment who is against the tax, and Caroline keeps secret who her father is. After many twists and turns, battles and rebellions, Tench discovers her truth. Caroline must then face the consequences of her actions with Tench and her family. It’s a tale of love, honor, rigidity, and loyalty to a budding nation.
This is a great novel for people who love historical fiction focused on lesser-known events and would like to be inspired to learn more.
August 5, 2026
Review of a free copy, provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
The story is woven around historical details that are thrilling in their own right, and offers an interesting suggestion for an unsolved nom de guerre. The American frontier. Rebellion against oppressive taxes. The nobel farmer, Revolutionary War heroes, an independent woman, Monongahela rye whiskey, and the star of Hamilton: The Musical. All the elements are there, but I couldn’t trust the story.
There’s too much time spent with Caroline riding her trusty horse through the western Pennsylvania woods at night to end up (safely) at the edge of the action.
Tinker’s letters aren’t supported enough in the text to have the effect they were credited with in the narrative, and possibly historical events.
The most difficult element to overcome was Caroline’s ability to remain anonymous to her love interest so deep into their courtship. The daughter of a high-ranking political and military official, who has been actively offered as eligible, could not have remained unidentified by a militia man working as a journalist, let alone all of his acquaintances that interact with them as a couple. The suspension of disbelief was hard to maintain after the masquerade party.
Read this book for the historical suspense, but skim over the love story.
The story is woven around historical details that are thrilling in their own right, and offers an interesting suggestion for an unsolved nom de guerre. The American frontier. Rebellion against oppressive taxes. The nobel farmer, Revolutionary War heroes, an independent woman, Monongahela rye whiskey, and the star of Hamilton: The Musical. All the elements are there, but I couldn’t trust the story.
There’s too much time spent with Caroline riding her trusty horse through the western Pennsylvania woods at night to end up (safely) at the edge of the action.
Tinker’s letters aren’t supported enough in the text to have the effect they were credited with in the narrative, and possibly historical events.
The most difficult element to overcome was Caroline’s ability to remain anonymous to her love interest so deep into their courtship. The daughter of a high-ranking political and military official, who has been actively offered as eligible, could not have remained unidentified by a militia man working as a journalist, let alone all of his acquaintances that interact with them as a couple. The suspension of disbelief was hard to maintain after the masquerade party.
Read this book for the historical suspense, but skim over the love story.
June 18, 2026
Tinker by Jennifer M. Lane is a historical fiction based in the late 1700's in Pittsburgh with our FMC named Caroline who is fighting the whiskey tax with the fellow Pennsylvania inhabitants of the time frame. Caroline works hard as a writer under a pen name, as women were not allowed to be political at the time. The reason that Caroline is involved in the Whiskey tax due to her father who is an important figure in the whole Whiskey Tax situation. She writes articles under a newspaper, where she calls herself “Tom the Tinker”. She meets Tench who is the reporter who prints her articles. There starts a relationship between Trench and Caroline that is sweet at times and their banter back and forth is really well written. I liked that this novel was about choices and what happens when you make right and wrong choices. Also the FMC is a strong woman who is trying to do the right thing for her state and for her family. If you like historical fiction interlaced with romance you will love this book!
June 12, 2026
I will say if you are looking for a novel that takes place in the early days of the constitution then Tinker is a book you should definitely check out. I will say that this book really opened my eyes when it came to American History because first of all I had no idea about the Whiskey Rebellion that took place in 1794. This book will really open your eyes to the fact that even though at the time America had managed to win their independence from Britain they were still facing hardships when it came to the tax of goods.
You really have to admire the main fmc Caroline. She really has no idea where to go because the whole matter is causing divided loyalties. She decides to use the opportunity to start writing and she picks up the pen name Tom the Tinker. Through this situation she meets a young man named Tench but with hiding her identity and all the other issues around them it makes you wondet if their newfound romance can survive?
You really have to admire the main fmc Caroline. She really has no idea where to go because the whole matter is causing divided loyalties. She decides to use the opportunity to start writing and she picks up the pen name Tom the Tinker. Through this situation she meets a young man named Tench but with hiding her identity and all the other issues around them it makes you wondet if their newfound romance can survive?
June 25, 2026
Tinker by Jennifer M. Lane was such an interesting read because it dropped me into a period of American history I don’t often see in fiction, the early days of democracy after the American Revolution. We often think independence meant everything was suddenly settled, but this story shows that the new nation was still figuring itself out and facing deep divisions.
I especially loved learning about the Whiskey Rebellion through Caroline’s eyes. She was a strong, determined FMC who found herself caught between family, loyalty, and what she believed was right. Her journey made the history feel personal and real rather than just dates and events on a page.
Jennifer M. Lane clearly did her research, and it shines throughout the story. The blend of political unrest, hope, love, and divided loyalties kept me invested from beginning to end. If you enjoy historical fiction that teaches you something while also giving you characters to root for, Tinker is definitely worth picking up.
Review of advance copy
4.25/5 ⭐Entertaining Historical Fiction
I am not a history buff, but I love when an author such as Jennifer M. Lane does their research and the reader can just enjoy the story and not wonder if it is historically accurate. Lane is brilliant at taking real people and situations from the past and turning them into an un-put-downable read. I like that Lane includes a chapter at the end explaining where the inspiration for her stories comes from adding validity to the tale. I would recommend this book to 13+ readers due to some heavy subjects such as unfair taxing, rebellion, and the violence that is a result. The only thing keeping me from giving a higher rating is there is a little bit too much repetition when it comes to explaining or repeating events and feelings that the reader should already be aware of, so it took me out of the story when I felt like I was reading something I already knew. The pacing of the plot and character development were great and I was invested until the conclusion.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I am not a history buff, but I love when an author such as Jennifer M. Lane does their research and the reader can just enjoy the story and not wonder if it is historically accurate. Lane is brilliant at taking real people and situations from the past and turning them into an un-put-downable read. I like that Lane includes a chapter at the end explaining where the inspiration for her stories comes from adding validity to the tale. I would recommend this book to 13+ readers due to some heavy subjects such as unfair taxing, rebellion, and the violence that is a result. The only thing keeping me from giving a higher rating is there is a little bit too much repetition when it comes to explaining or repeating events and feelings that the reader should already be aware of, so it took me out of the story when I felt like I was reading something I already knew. The pacing of the plot and character development were great and I was invested until the conclusion.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 20, 2026
Paste Creative Book Tours
Step back into 1794 Pennsylvania with Tinker by Jennifer M. Lane! This gripping, high-stakes tale follows Caroline Neville, the daughter of a hated tax collector during the height of the Whiskey Rebellion.
To save her family and protect her community, she adopts the secret identity of "Tom the Tinker," penning letters to the local paper to advocate for peace. But things get complicated when she falls hard for Tench Coyle—a rebel militia reporter who has no idea who she really is. ❤️
If you love strong heroines, slow-burn romance, and rich American history, you won’t want to miss this one.
My Review
Step back into 1794 Pennsylvania with Tinker by Jennifer M. Lane! This gripping, high-stakes tale follows Caroline Neville, the daughter of a hated tax collector during the height of the Whiskey Rebellion.
To save her family and protect her community, she adopts the secret identity of "Tom the Tinker," penning letters to the local paper to advocate for peace. But things get complicated when she falls hard for Tench Coyle—a rebel militia reporter who has no idea who she really is. ❤️
If you love strong heroines, slow-burn romance, and rich American history, you won’t want to miss this one.
My Review
June 3, 2026
Thank you to Pen & Key Publishing, Jennifer M. Lane and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
This book was set during the 1794 Whiskey Rebellion in western Pennsylvania. I must admit that it is not a part of history that I have ever studied or know anything about so I was interested it learning a bit about it. Tinker is set during the Rebellion when local militia take up arms against the taxes levied on whiskey production. Caroline, the estranged daughter of the local tax collector asks her father to present the farmers’ pleas to the President. When he refuses, she takes matters into her own hands and under a nom de guerre, stirs up strong sentiment with several letters to the local newspaper. Will her actions have the desired effect or will she lose everything?
Overall though, I didn’t really love this book. Caroline, the protagonist, is perhaps well intentioned but her actions are reckless and have violent consequences beyond her. I didn’t really connect to any characters and it was a struggle to get through. Perhaps someone who has more background in this subject would feel more connected to it.
This book was set during the 1794 Whiskey Rebellion in western Pennsylvania. I must admit that it is not a part of history that I have ever studied or know anything about so I was interested it learning a bit about it. Tinker is set during the Rebellion when local militia take up arms against the taxes levied on whiskey production. Caroline, the estranged daughter of the local tax collector asks her father to present the farmers’ pleas to the President. When he refuses, she takes matters into her own hands and under a nom de guerre, stirs up strong sentiment with several letters to the local newspaper. Will her actions have the desired effect or will she lose everything?
Overall though, I didn’t really love this book. Caroline, the protagonist, is perhaps well intentioned but her actions are reckless and have violent consequences beyond her. I didn’t really connect to any characters and it was a struggle to get through. Perhaps someone who has more background in this subject would feel more connected to it.
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