New Fiction title-Daughter of the Regiment

For those who like historical fiction I received this press release recently from Hachette Book Group.

DAUGHTER OF THE REGIMENT

Stephanie Grace Whitson

 

“Whitson celebrates the strong but unknown heroines who marched off to war with their men, as well as those who maintained the home front in this Civil War-era inspirational...Based on true events, [Daughter of the Regiment] will capture the hearts of historical fiction fans.” —Publishers Weekly

 

During the American Civil War, thousands of women organized to join the war efforts, turning their attention from household to battle in support of the soldiers. In her new novel, DAUGHTER OF THE REGIMENT, Stephanie Grace Whitson describes this time in history through life-threatening encounters and action-filled romance, sweeping readers into the world of Irish immigrant Maggie Malone and her privileged neighbor Elizabeth Blair.

 

 

Maggie Malone inevitably experiences the effects of war firsthand—first, when her brothers join the Missouri Irish Brigade, and again when a group of unknown bandits attack her farm. Desperate to hear news from her brothers, Maggie sets off to find them at the Federal Army camp. There she quickly captures the admiration of Sergeant John “Colt” Coulter, who immediately notices her skill and dedication. When Maggie realizes that she must stay among the brigade, she discovers that there’s a lot a good woman can do to help these brave soldiers in need.

 

As the hostess to an acclaimed Missouri plantation, Miss Libbie Blair has learned to play her part and remain uninvolved in the business affairs and political aspirations of her brother, Walker. When his endeavors lead him to organize the “Wildwood Guard,” a group of locals in support of the Confederacy, Libbie must gracefully manage the house with officers camped out on the lawn. With war drawing closer to her doorstep, she must find a way to protect those who depend on her.

 

Despite being neighbors, Maggie and Libbie have led such different lives that they barely know one another—until war brings them together, and each woman discovers that friendship can come from the unlikeliest of places.

 

Whitson brings extensive research on the role women played in the military during the American Civil War to life in DAUGHTER OF THE REGIMENT. These women, known as “vivandiers” or “daughters of the regiment,” were continuously finding ways to work on the front lines of battle. With Missouri as a border state in the war, Maggie and Libbie represent the efforts from two opposing sides and demonstrate that we all have potential for determination and courage in times of uncertainty.

 

About the Author

Stephanie Grace Whitson is the author of over 20 inspirational novels and two works of nonfiction. She received her Master of Arts degree in history in 2012. Whitson is a frequent guest lecturer for quilt guilds, civic organizations, libraries and historical sites, and she has keynoted conferences throughout the Midwest. When Stephanie isn’t writing, speaking, or trying to keep up with her five grown children and perfect grandchildren, she loves to take long distance rides aboard her Honda Magna motorcycle named Kitty. Her church and the International Quilt Study Center and Museum take up the rest of her free time. Stephanie resides with her husband in Lincoln, Nebraska.

 

Pub date: March 24, 2015 | 978-1-4555-2903-2| 336 Pages | $15 | Trade Paperback Original  | Available where books are sold.

 

Upcoming Post--Stonewall Goes West

Thanks going out to author Rich E. Thomas for sending along a copy of his new work of fiction Stonewall Goes West: A Novel of The Civil War and What Might Have Been.

Stonewall Jackson's death at the Battle of Chancellorsville is the great "what if" of the Civil War. In Stonewall Goes West, the fabled Jackson survives his wounding at Chancellorsville in 1863 to assume command of the South’s Army of Tennessee. In a final bid to reverse the failing fortunes of the Confederacy, a maimed but unbowed General Jackson confronts not only Sherman's Union armies on the western front, but his own recalcitrant generals. Stonewall Goes West gives the classic "what if” a fresh, new answer in a fast-paced tale, rich with authentic detail, filled with battle and strategy, and populated by the Civil War's most colorful personalities.

R.E. Thomas is the Managing Editor of The Whiskey Reviewer, a freelance boxing and travel writer, and holds degrees in history and international relations. He has previously published a book about Port wine, and "Stonewall Goes West" is his first novel.

For those interested in more information Mr. Thomas has several websites available. For information on his book visit:

Website--Stonewall Goes West
Facebook--Stonewall Goes West-Facebook

If you are interested in more information on the Whiskey Reviewer you may visit the website linked above or visit the Facebook page.

Upcoming Post--My Brother, My Friend, My Enemy

Thanks go out to George Winston Martin for kindly sending along a nicely autographed copy of his new book My Brother, My Friend, My Enemy: A Novel of the American Civil War.

Mr. Martin is the author of the highly regarded book I Will Give Them One More Shot: Ramsey's First Regiment Georgia Volunteers published in 2011 by Mercer University Press.  Mr. Martin publishes a blog dealing with the 1st Georgia Volunteers. I highly recommend you take a look by clicking here.  You may also keep up with him by checking his website here. I found out from his website that he is a graduate of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University which I worked at many years ago at the start of my college book selling career. Small world huh?

Here's a preview of My Brother... from Amazon and also the back cover of the book:

Caught up in the calamity of a nation teetering on the brink of Civil War, two brothers, both Southern-born but separated by hundreds of miles and vastly differing traditions, struggle to find themselves in the radically opposing cultures of North and South. William Marsh of Dahlonega, Georgia, enthusiastically answers his state's call for volunteers and marches off to war. While naively searching for glory, he pines for beautiful Mary Stewart, a temptress who rewards his affections with deceit as she obsesses over Jonathon Evans, a rogue and William's sworn enemy. Residing with relatives in the rugged mountains of Northern New Hampshire, William's older brother Thomas struggles against inner demons and regional prejudice, all the while daring to love the intelligent and passionate Stephanie Carroll, whose rabidly anti-Southern uncle schemes to drive them apart. As the nation tears itself apart in ever more bloody clashes, the brothers not only face perils and temptations at home, but also the hazards of distant battlefields, as their destinies thrust them into the ranks of opposing armies - where one wears gray, and the other blue.

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Press Release--The Reckoning: Saga of a Civil War Blockade Runner

Thanks to author Bob Larranaga for sending along a nicely signed copy of his new work of fiction The Reckoning: Saga of a civil war blockade runner . Recently published through the Createspace platform the book has received a couple of nice comments already and looks like it would be a book that anybody interested in adventure fiction would enjoy.

"Ex-soldier Ed Canfield is haunted by what he did in the Mexican American War. When the Civil War erupts, he bars his son from joining the Confederate army. But an attack by a Union gunboat forces them deep into the Everglades where Yellow Fever strikes their refugee camp. In a race against time, Ed runs the Union blockade for the medicine needed to save the refugees. In his absence, renegade rebels take Ed's love ones hostage. Saving them will test Ed's soldier's heart to the core."

Mr. Larranaga has a website for his book that you may visit, just click here. The site is nicely done and includes biographical information, book club ideas, a contest, links, and more. Please take a minute to have a look.

For those who are Amazon Prime members you may borrow the book for free from the Amazon Kindle Lending Library.

Book Review: The Lincoln Letter

Martin, William. The Lincoln Letter. Macmillan Publishing. New York, NY, 2012. 448 pages, ISBN 9780765321985, $25.99.

Set against the backdrop of Washington, D.C. author William Martin has written what can be called a dual novel. There are two rotating stories going on and despite the fact that 150 years separate them the two stories are in a way intertwined.

During one of his frequent night stops at the telegraph office Abraham Lincoln loses a pocket diary that contains his inner thoughts and ideas. Some of these are his working through of emancipation. The diary is discovered by Lt. Halsey Hutchinson. Hutchinson is a former soldier who was shot in the throat but managed to survive and found himself unwittingly a trusted friend to the President. Despite his efforts Hutchinson is unable to return the diary to Lincoln and as might be expected it is stolen. In his attempts to find the diary Hutchinson is exposed to and by some of the seedy elements in the nation's capital. Eventually Hutchinson ends up back in the war and serves at Antietam. We meet memorable characters both good and bad, black and white who both help and hinder Hutchinson in his efforts. Readers are even introduced to John Wilkes Booth.

Flash forward to today and we have relic hunter/document dealer Peter Fallon and his on again off again fiance/girlfriend Evangeline Carrington who stumble upon a letter that leads them to conclude the mythical Lincoln diary is real and could be found. As with the Civil War portion of the story there are many others also looking for the diary with many different goals in mind. We again meet an interesting array of characters both good and bad, black and white who both help and hinder Fallon in his efforts.

Does Hutchinson find the diary before Lincoln's death? Does Fallon discover if the diary is actually real and does he ever find it? In a book that moves along at a pretty quick pace with vivid descriptions of both modern and 19th century Washington D.C. readers will likely find themselves rooting for the good guys as the stories move toward their conclusions.

While I personally preferred the 1860's storyline with it's descriptions of a world long gone, both stories worked well and while the premise maybe a stretch of reality this was a book that students of Lincoln will at least find entertaining. The thought of such a diary would whet the appetite of many scholars. Readers of thriller novels will surely enjoy the dual plot lines and the action that is in both. This is a good read that I can easily recommend!

Thanks to Sullivan & Partners for providing a complimentary review copy.

John Jakes Novels Are Now Available as eBooks

I received the following a while back and have been remiss for not passing it along for those interested Civil War fiction. You can see John Jakes eBooks on Amazon by starting here wit North and South: The North and South Trilogy (Book One) . Thanks to Open Road Media for supplying the press release.


NEWS FROM OPEN ROAD: July 10, 2012

John Jakes's North and South Trilogy, Kent Family Chronicles, and Three Other Titles Now Available as Ebooks from Open Road Integrated Media

"The godfather of historical novelists." —The Los Angeles Times

Today marks Open Road Integrated Media’s ebook publication of fourteen titles by celebrated author John Jakes, including his well-loved sagas—the North and South Trilogy and the Kent Family Chronicles.

 

Jakes's acclaimed North and South Trilogy is a sweeping saga about a friendship threatened by the divisions of the Civil War. North and South begins in the years leading up to the Civil War: Orry Main from South Carolina and George Hazard from Pennsylvania forge a lasting bond while training at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Together they fight in the Mexican-American War, but their closeness is tested as their regional politics diverge. As the first rounds are fired at Fort Sumter, Orry and George find themselves on different sides of the coming struggle. In Love and War, the Main and Hazard families clash on and off the Civil War’s battlefields as they grapple with the violent realities of a divided nation. Finally, Heaven and Hell brings the battle between the Mains and Hazards—and Confederate and Union armies—to a brilliantly satisfying end. In the series’ epic conclusion, Jakes expertly blends personal conflict with historical events,crafting a haunting page-turner about America’s constant change and unyielding hope.

 

The eight-volume Kent Family Chronicles begins with The Bastard, as one man’s quest for his destiny leads him to the New World and into the heart of the American Revolution. Phillipe Charboneau is the illegitimate son and unrecognized heir of the Duke of Kentland. Upon the Duke’s death, Phillipe is denied his birthright and left to build a life of his own. Seeking all that the New World promises, he leaves London for America, shedding his past and preparing for the future by changing his name to Philip Kent. He arrives at the brink of the American Revolution, which tests his allegiances in ways he never imagined. The first volume of John Jakes’s wildly successful and highly addictive Kent Family Chronicles, The Bastard is a triumph of historical fiction. In The Rebels, the rousing Kent family saga continues as Philip Kent fights for his new country alongside the greatest figures of the Revolutionary War. The Seekers is set against the backdrop of the harsh and unforgiving American frontier, as Abraham Kent seeks to build a life and identity of his own. Opening twenty-two years after the events of The Seekers, John Jakes’s fourth Kent Family novel—The Furies—spans the blood-soaked era of America’s relentless expansion into the West, and its first heroine takes center stage in the relentless struggle to build the family dynasty. In The Titans, the members of the Kent family’s most dynamic generation face internal clashes as the Civil War ignites. Book six, The Warriors, blends the Kents’ ruthless push for an empire with murderous betrayal and the Civil War’s life-altering culmination. In a flourishing post–Civil War America, the Kent family seizes good fortune again in The Lawless—until all is suddenly threatened by one woman’s return. Finally, in The Americans—the definitive volume in Jakes’s bestselling series—we find the Kent family reaching to finally embrace its legacy and its future.

 

In addition to the two series, Open Road Media is also releasing ebook editions of Jakes's other historical fiction, including The Bold Frontier, California Gold, and Homeland. On July 31, three works of Sword & Sorcery by John Jakes will join his Open Road Media ebook collection.

 

Extra content includes:

• Behind-the-scenes author commentary and video at www.openroadmedia.com/authors/john-jakes.aspx

• An illustrated biography in each ebook, including never-before-seen photographs and documents from Jake's personal life and distinguished career

Available July 10, 2012, from Amazon.com, Apple iBookstore, Barnesandnoble.com, Google eBookstore/IndieBound, Kobo Books, Sony Reader Store, and OverDrive.

 

 

Upcoming Post--The Lincoln Letter

I seem to be receiving a fair amount of Civil War related fiction lately.

Thanks to the good folks at Tor/Forge and Sullivan and Partners  for sending a copy of the new book The Lincoln Letter written by William Martin. This book continues his popular Peter Fallon series of novels this time centered around a race against evil to find a lost Abraham Lincoln diary.

The promotional page included with the book contained positive words from the likes of Doris Kearns Goodwin and Jeffry Wert so I have high hopes.

Book Review--Pittsburg Landing

Clark, Robert Burns. Pittsburg Landing. Definitive Words Cyber Publishing, 283 pages. ISBN 9780985537500, $19.95.

Best known for his work as a writer and producer for The Dukes of Hazzard, Robert Burns Clark is a veteran writer with many credits under his belt. Pittsburg Landing however is his first novel. While showing promise this is a book that could have been improved through better editing (was the term "slacker" really used in the 1860's?). In addition, having tied his story to a major Civil War battle it seems Burns should have had the battle play a more pivotal role and the setting should have seemed more authentic. A good reading of Killer Angels might have been in order.

The book revolves around two basic story lines. First are Amos Bingham and his son Noah. Amos is a veteran of the Mexican War and from his experiences there he has taken a vow not to fight again. He has never told this to his son Noah who feels his father is a coward for not joining a local regiment. Noah vows to save the family name and despite being too young is able to join an infantry unit. Amos leaves home to find his son and bring him home. Unfortunately along the way his character becomes repetitive and predictable.

The other major story involves Union officer William Moore. We follow Moore through his reenlistment in the army, his budding love affair with the headstrong daughter of a friend, and his call to the front ultimately leading him to battle at Pittsburg Landing.

The story leads the major characters to the gruesome battle that took place in Tennessee at Pittsburg Landing. With over 23,000 casualties at this battle readers should expect for there to be bloodshed, loss, and lives changed forever.

Overall this was a fast reading story and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. The fact that I kept turning the pages means there is something there despite the fact that as Civil War fiction I think there is better out there. I didn't finish the book wanting to know more about the actual battle of Shiloh (Pittsburg Landing). Rather, I felt I had just read a war related book that could have been set at any battle and possibly at any time. And some times that's OK.

Pittsburg Landing won Honorable Mention at the 2012 San Francisco Book Festival in the fiction category.

Please feel free to keep up with Mr. Clark by going to his website.

Thanks to Susan Schwartzman Public Relations for sending a complimentary review copy.

Book Review--Cain at Gettysburg

Peters, Ralph. Cain at Gettysburg. Forge Books. New York, NY. 2012. 429 pages, ISBN 9780765330475. $25.99.


For those who feel that the Civil War fiction sun rises and sets with The Killer Angels you may want to reconsider.

Author Ralph Peters had already built a successful fiction career under his pseudonym Owen Parry. If his Abel Jones series of Civil War mysteries is anywhere near as good as Cain at Gettysburg I will have to find them because his newest work is a masterpiece.

Peters gives us a good telling of the three days battle at Gettysburg. The major events are covered and discussed but not beaten into the ground. If you want to know more about the fights that took place at a specific location just find one of the hundreds of non fiction accounts out there.

This book excels on the human front. Union general George Meade is the key player on the Union side and for my take I feel that James Longstreet is the key Confederate. Robert E. Lee is a major player of course but I think that Longstreet is pushed to the front in this story. We tend to see Lee through Longstreet.

Human interaction pushes this story ahead. As Meade takes over the Union army he realizes he will have to work with Dan Butterfield despite their dislike and distrust of one another. On Day 2 Meade has to deal with political general Dan Sickles who has moved his corps well out of position. There is a well written scene involving the headbutting of generals Winfield Scott Hancock and Henry Hunt over control of artillery on Day 3. Confederate interaction is also well done with the scenes between Lee and Longstreet particularly memorable.

The front line soldier also plays a large part of this story. We see the horrors of the war through their up front and personal eyes. We meet soldiers from varied regiments and backgrounds: Irish and German are prominent. We see  jealousy, hatred, humor, bigotry, sadness, and more as they deal with realities of war. Many of these scenes are not pleasant. The violence of the Civil War is not implied but rather is spelled out in clear language. The reader can have no doubt of the hell these men endured as we see them walking through the battlefield able to land on a corpse with each step (see page 162).

A line in the book states that "Wars were won not by the most competent army, but by the least incompetent on a given day" (page 139). As an author Peters is not shy about putting forth those who should come under scrutiny for their actions in July, 1863.

A general knowledge of the battle would be a help for readers but not essential. There are several maps in the book which are helpful. For any reader who enjoyed The Killer Angels or likes to read military related fiction this is a must read. For those who study Gettysburg this is a worthy addition to your library and well worth reading!

Please see my review of The Killer Angels here.

*Thanks go to Tor/Forge Books for sending a complimentary review copy.

Book Review--The Shenandoah Spy

Hamit, Francis. The Shenandoah Spy: Being the True Life Adventures of Belle Boyd, CSA, The "Confederate Cleopatra". Brass Cannon Books. 433 pages, ISBN 9781595959027, $22.50.

For a young woman of her time Belle Boyd can surely be called unusual based upon the traditional view and role of women. Her actions during the Civil War cemented this view of her.

In his entertaining fictionalized account of real life Confederate heroine Belle Boyd author Francis Hamit has done her a favor. He has brought her to life in a way that will appeal to those not normally inclined to read fiction. His work will also bring a real life character to those who only read fiction perhaps inspiring them to research her life further.

The Shenandoah Spy covers the time frame from July 1861-July 1862. In this brief time frame Boyd kills a Union officer who insulted her mother, is cleared of this due to the officer's actions, takes a job as nurse which was considered outlandish for a woman, delivers messages to Confederate military leaders both in person and through coded letters, helps run a hotel, has an affair with a Union officer, and more.

In addition to the story of Boyd, the work also shows the interplay of black and white. Belle has a devoted slave whose views on freedom at the hands of northerners show the mixed feelings some slaves had and the devotion that could be shown between slave and master. The book neglects what for many/most slaves were the harsh or brutal conditions that they dealt with on a daily basis.

Belle Boyd
Library of Congress

Belle was not above using her sexuality to get the information she wanted. While not considered a traditional beauty it appears that she had no problem attracting men. She particularly caught the eye of Union Captain Daniel Keily who she carried on an affair with and from who she gained much intelligence. This openly sexual attitude however cost her dearly as readers of the book will discover. There are several graphic scenes in the book so readers who are averse to this should take note.

Hamit has done his research that is clear. However at times it seemed that things were added just to prove this research. An example was the scene involving "Stonewall" Jackson. He of course had to have his lemons. Some may call it historical authenticity I thought it just seemed out of place at times. Really a minor quibble however.

I did not know much about Boyd before reading this book. While a fictionalized account, this seems to be a good introduction to her life. Overall well written and quick moving this is a book that would appeal to those who enjoy historical literature/romance and to many that study the Civil War.

*Thank you to Mr. Hamit for providing a complimentary review copy.

**While self published, the book is available in a less expensive Kindle version for those who prefer e-books.

Press Release--The Shenandoah Spy E-Book Sale

I received the following press release today from online friend and author Francis Hamit regarding a special sale on the e-book version of The Shenandoah Spy. Click the photo for easy ordering and further information.

For Immediate release:


BRASS CANNON BOOKS OFFERS NINETY PERCENT OFF ON E-BOOK EDITION OF

“THE SHENANDOAH SPY” FOR THE HOLIDAYS: 99 CENTS FOR 115,000 WORDS!

(Pine Mountain Club, California)

“The Shenandoah Spy”, Francis Hamit’s riveting and dramatic account of how 17 year-old Belle Boyd became a spy and scout for the Confederate Army in 1861 and ‘62 was published in 2008 and garnered many five stars reviews and other critical praise. Originally published in trade paperback and currently priced at $22.50 in that edition , it is also available as an e-book for the Amazon Kindle and the Barnes & Noble Nook e-readers at $9.99.

“We want to reacquaint readers with this exciting novel about the American Civil War and inspire them to buy the second one in our “Acts of War” series, “The Queen of Washington”, which is about Confederate spy Rose Greenhow,” Hamit said; “So in the spirit of the holidays we are temporarily marking down the e-book of “The Shenandoah Spy” to 99 cents until about January 8, 2012. Our goal is to sell at least 100,000 copies at that price.

“It’s not quite a giveaway, but if you can’t spend a dollar on this, then you just don’t know a great deal when you see one. Amazon Kindle has dramatically improved in recent years and you can read Kindle editions on a wide variety of devices. It’s now a great venue for consumers. We hear great things about the Nook as well. We have some titles which are only available in e-book format because they are too small for regular book publication or not of wide enough interest to justify the expense of a printed edition.

“ These novels do have print editions, but we understand times are hard right now and want to give people the best chance we can to read this one. We have to make something. This is a business, after all, but 35 or 40 cents net is about as low as we can go.”

The holiday sale is only offered in the USA and UK.

Hamit also hopes that customers will buy some of his other titles in these e-book formats and might even buy his new book “The Queen of Washington”, which is currently offered only in hardbound by online bookstores at a substantial discount from list price.
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For further information contact:

Francis Hamit
(661) 242-1686 or by e-mail at francishamit@earthlink.net
Printed review copies available of either book upon request.

Author and Book Information--Nancy Brewer

I received some information from author Nancy B. Brewer today and thought I would pass it along. Ms. Brewer is the author of Carolina Rain and the recently released Beyond Sandy Ridge.

 

As she says about her work "I must say my writing has opened the eyes of Yankees and Southerners alike. Many of whom would have never read a history book about the so called, "Civil War". Yet, they were happy to read a romance/historical fiction novel. My books are well researched and they do not bash the North."

From her website:

"Carolina Rain"

A fiction novel based on history. The story takes place in the 1860's with The War Between The States in the background, but the real story revolves around the life of Thedosia Elizabeth Sanders.

Listen as she tells you about her life, the joys, the sadness and the unbearable.
Step back in time and find out the details and the secrets of daily living in the 1860's.
Beyond Sandy Ridge

As The War Between the States closes in, Lizzie flees her home leaving behind her hopes and dreams. She finds a new home, where finery and social graces will buy nothing, not even friends. To the people of Stanly, County North Carolina, Lizzie is a familiar story. She is just another young widow with a babe in her arms. Her secret past will forever be buried deep in the sandy soil of Charleston.

"Beyond Sandy Ridge," is one woman's journey of survival, a collection of her most intimate desires and her passion for a man named Joel. Many of those she loved are forever silent. It was for their sake, she found the courage to tell her story.

Also on her website you may order books, listen to audio previews, and watch Ms. Brewer's YouTube videos or get a nice blackberry cobbler recipe. While I haven't read either of her books Ms. Brewer looks to be the type author who would appeal to those who read historical fiction/romance.

New Arrivals

A couple of recent arrivals compliments of publishers I would like to share with you. I hope to be caught up on my backlog of posts soon and get the book pile down a bit.

In an earlier post I mentioned a new book coming out from LSU Press. Thanks to LSU Press for sending a review copy of Inventing Stonewall Jackson: A Civil War Hero in History and Memory.

Thanks also to Francis Hamit and Brass Cannon Books for sending a copy of The Shenandoah Spy: Being the True Life Adventures of Belle Boyd, CSA, The "Confederate Cleopatra". This is a fictionalized account of the first two years of the Civil War and it's effect on Isabelle Boyd, a seventeen year old who becomes a Confederate spy.

Book Review--Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Grahame-Smith, Seth. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Grand Central Publishing, New York, New York. 2010. 336 pages, b/w illustrations. ISBN 9780446563086, $21.99.

It was really only a matter of time I suppose before somebody happened upon new information regarding the life of Abraham Lincoln. I suppose we all thought it would be someone like Harold Holzer or Michael Burlingame. Little did we know it would be Seth Grahame-Smith the fiction writer. Somehow Smith was chosen by a stranger to be the recipient of a package of previously unknown writings from Lincoln. These writings came in the form of a diary titled the Secret Journal of Abraham Lincoln. Here we gain insight into the true Lincoln and the events that helped shape him and ultimately our nation. The beloved emancipator was actually a blood thirsty vampire hunter.

Forget everything you know about Lincoln and his legend, it is all wrong. Almost all the sorrow and sadness in Lincoln's life is due to vampires. His beloved mother did not die from illness but was rather taken as payment for a debt owed by his father Thomas Lincoln. Ann Rutledge--vampire victim. You get the picture. Lincoln is befriended by a mysterious character (i.e. vampire) by the name of Henry who helped save his life during an early encounter with another vampire. Henry helps guide the young Lincoln and kept him on the trail of vampires throughout his life.

Throughout the book we meet many people including Edgar Allen Poe, Martin Luther King Jr., John Wilkes Booth (of course), Stephen A. Douglas, Jefferson Davis, and others. Are these characters vampires? Is Abraham Lincoln himself a vampire and still amongst us today? You'll have to read the book and find out. As you read the book be sure to check out the b/w illustrations. Are they the real thing and have we been fooled all these years? You judge.

There are two ways to look at this work. The first is to read it and get upset with the liberties that Grahame-Smith has taken with known fact. It's obvious that he has done a certain amount of research in order to write this book. He does play loosely with fact however and that can be dangerous. We live in a world where many people feel if something is printed it must be fact. As serious readers we know that to be false and that leads me to the second way to look at this book and that is the way I choose to view it. It's a work of fiction. Of course the author has to play loose with the facts. We all know vampires do not really exist. Have you ever met one? Has anybody you know ever met one? That's what I thought. That said just read this as a work of fiction. In that realm this is a pretty good book. It moves along well and kept this reader entertained.

Far-fetched? Yes. A decent enough read when you don't want anything too serious? Absolutely!

Book Review--Knoxville 1863

Stanley, Dick. Knoxville 1863. Createspace. 2010, 221 pages. ISBN 9781451580310, $14.50.

Fellow blogger Dick Stanley was nice enough for send me a copy of his historical fiction work, Knoxville 1863. As I have not read anything on this battle I really didn't know what to expect. Would I need to have knowledge of the battle? Would I be able to follow the action? Would it be historically accurate?

After reading this work I have come to the conclusion that a reader doesn't really need to know anything about this battle to enjoy the book. The action is easily to follow but with each chapter being told from a different viewpoint you do need to pay attention. The characters do show up in each others chapters in ways that make sense. I really can't say if the battle scenes are historically accurate but I have to say I'm not sure it really matters. As a work of fiction this stands on it's own.

I didn't get the feeling that Stanley was trying to teach us the history of the Battle of Knoxville despite the fact that he seems to have done his research. Weaving true life characters with those he has created Stanley has created a work that keeps moving while not getting bogged down in details the way a non-fiction work might. Be sure to read his interesting Afterword where he discusses the characters, true and fictional, and also goes on to discuss some of the sources he has used in his research. Well worth the additional few minutes!

As Mr. Stanley works his way through the history of the siege and Longstreet's attack on Fort Sanders he shows us the difficulties of camp and battle life. Soldiers are subjected to bad weather, poor food, and lack of sanitation. The Confederate attack on Fort Sanders is shown as it might have happened. With poor information Longstreet sends his men into a nearly impossible situation. Stanley doesn't hide the gore but nor did I find it gratuitous. Afterwards, under a flag of truce, Stanley shows us how soldiers many times had to care for the wounded or bury the dead. Again, Stanley paints a picture showing how war is not glamorous to those fighting it.

This is a work of fiction I can recommend. While it helps to have some knowledge of the Civil War it isn't mandatory. The work should be accessible to any reader. The storyline moves along well. While this is not published by any of the big boys I didn't find the spelling and grammar mistakes I thought I might.

Dick Stanley is the author of several blogs that you might find worth checking out. The one I read most often is 13th Mississippi Infantry Regiment. Be sure to check his website for the book Knoxville 1863 as well. There is good information on both sites.

Thanks to Dick Stanley for providing a free review copy.

Book Review--The Mule Shoe

Trouche, Perry. The Mule Shoe. Star Cloud Press. Scottsdale, AZ. 2009, 216 pages. $18.95.

I would imagine every soldier who goes off to war has lingering doubts as to whether they are good enough. They also have concerns about those they have left behind. To top it all off those in war see sights the rest of us never dream of in our worst nightmares and many are never able to forget them. Dr. Perry Trouche, a psychiatrist from Charleston, South Carolina, has written a quick moving story dealing with these issues in his fictionalized account of a Confederate soldier whose regiment is on their way to Spotsylvania.

Connor Dumont is the newbie who is often picked upon by veteran soldiers. Characters (voices in his head) from his past including Grandma Mamere who berates him and constantly tells him he's not brave enough or good enough, Ezekiel the slave who condemns him for being a slaveholder, and others show up on a regular basis. As Connor loses friends and fellow soldiers in battle they too end up in his mind gnawing away to what sanity is left. Many times these voices battle for space in Connor's mind all looking to exert influence over him. Connor survives and begins working towards normalcy all the while changed due to the horrors he has witnessed and participated in.

The Civil War was not pretty and Dr. Trouche does not attempt to mask the violence. Soldiers are killed and their deaths are not sugar coated. This is how it should be. If you are going to write a war-time story tell it like it was. Overall I found Dr. Trouche to write engagingly and the book flowed well. The speech worked for me and sounded realistic.

For me however this story really could have been any war and Connor transported in time. For whatever reason I didn't really get a "Civil War vibe" out of the book. I can't put my finger on why however. Maybe it's because the main focus is on the lead character rather than the war itself.

A couple of small issues I noted...There were times when I found it difficult to keep track of what was real vs. what was being played out in Connor's head. I found myself on occasion rereading sections to make sure I understood what was happening. Maybe putting the sections that are in Connor's head in italics would make it easier for readers. On a picky note there are some spelling and grammatical errors spread throughout that could have been picked up during the editing process. And for me what I really didn't understand was why in a book dealing with Spotsylvania is the cover photo "Confederate Soldiers after the Battle of Gettysburg". It's a great Matthew Brady photo but it seems a bit out of place. I suppose though casual reader would not even notice such or care one way or the other.

While not the best work of fiction I have read this is a story that moves along well. The writing is enjoyable and accessible. Dr. Trouche creates atmosphere nicely. You are not going to learn anything about the Civil War here but that's not the point as I see it. You will however be entertained and that is the point. Overall a good read and recommended for times when you don't want anything too involved.

Thanks to the good people at Star Cloud Press for providing a review copy!

Book Review--The Killer Angels

Shaara, Michael. The Killer Angels: A Novel of the Civil War. Ballantine Books, New York, NY. 374 pages, 18 maps.

I am really not much of a reader of fiction. There are of course always exceptions to the rule and there are a few fiction books that are worth the time to read. For me the more hyped a book is the less likely I am to find them worth my effort. A pack mentality for fiction is usually a bad thing. The Killer Angels however is an exception. It is a wonderful book to read and should be required reading before any trip to Gettysburg. I wish I had read it before my first (and so far only trip).

For me good fiction should have several characteristics all of which Shaara accomplishes skillfully. The story should interest me just from reading the jacket. Accomplished. Second, the author should be able to set a mood and make you feel you are really there. Accomplished. For me a good example of this comes in the death scene of General John Reynolds. "A moment later Buford looked that way and the horse was bare-backed. He did not believe it. He broke off and rode to see. Reynolds lay in the dirt road, the aides bending over him. When Buford got there the thick stain had already puddled the dirt beneath his head. His eyes were open, half asleep, his face pleasant and composed, a soft smile. Buford knelt. He was dead." (pages 101-102) In a brief few lines Shaara has brought his readers onto the battlefield as if we were really there at the scene of Reynolds death. The language is not overdone nor does Shaara go overboard in his description. Third, and in many ways the most difficult, is speech has to sound realistic. Accomplished. More authors should read out aloud what they write and see if it sounds natural. The interplay between Generals Lee and Longstreet or maybe the exchanges between Colonel Joshua Chamberlain and his brother Tom show Shaara's mastery of this. Lastly, and maybe of less importance, is that side characters should be interesting and not just space filler. Accomplished. Arthur Freemantle fills this role nicely.

Let's face it this is not history at it's finest. It doesn't claim to be. What it is however is a powerful read that doesn't gloss over the horrors of war. Fighting is not glamorous and Shaara doesn't make it out that way. What I think a reader will take away from this work is a rudimentary knowledge of the Battle of Gettysburg and the major players. Before my visit to Gettysburg over a year ago I had read a long work on the battle. I was not prepared for what I was reading. Once I got back I read Killer Angels for the first time and much of what I had read previously made more sense. I can highly recommend this as a good starting point for the study of the battle and a book that is well worth rereading for those with in depth knowledge.