#BookReview — Northern Wolf (Northern Wolf #1) by Daniel Greene #HistoricalFiction #AmericanCivilWar

Northern Wolf

(Northern Wolf #1)

By Daniel Greene

A broken man will be forged in the flames of war...

It is late 1862, and the United States has been ripped apart by civil war for over a year with no end in sight. The war is a distant thought to Johannes Wolf, a young German immigrant with a crippled leg keeping him off the muster lists.

Desperately dredging the gutters for recruits, Wolf cons his way into the depleted, demoralized, and poorly run Union army, and is promptly placed in the undesirable F Company of the 13th Michigan Cavalry.

Wolf's company find themselves riding with Custer and the Michigan Brigade on a collision course with master horseman J.E.B. Stuart and the Army of Northern Virginia in a small town in Pennsylvania, called Gettysburg.

Will they stand tall against the knights of the South and prove themselves worthy? Or will they fall beneath screaming bullets and sweeping blades, becoming more bloody fodder for a lost cause?

"We will either carry this day in glory or fade into history as the men who lost the United States of America."

Johannes Wolf had been waiting his whole life for this. He may not be able to walk very well, but he could ride, and he could fight. With his trusted steed, Billy, he was confident that the day would be theirs and the states of America would once again be united. At least, he hoped...

From a drunken brawl outside a tavern in Michigan to the largest and bloodiest battle fought during The American Civil War. Northern Wolf (Northern Wolf #1) by Daniel Greene is an utterly victorious novel from start to finish.

The historical detailing of this book is staggering. The American Civil War (1861 – 1865) was an especially savage period of history — as civil wars so often are. Such conflicts are tediously protracted, and the loss of life is always nothing short of a tragedy. There are many great fiction books written about The American Civil War, and I will now count Daniel Greene's Northern Wolf among that number. Greene has extensive knowledge of this era and the people who are forever immortalised by their deeds and daring. At the same time, Greene has a novelists intuition of what makes a book entertaining. He has gifted his readers with some truly unforgettable characters, both fiction and historical. Northern Wolf is not, however, a balanced account of The American Civil War for it is told from the Union's perspective. The Confederate States Army is standing in the way of a united America, and therefore it needs to be defeated. Greene wants his readers to lament when the South are winning because of what it means for the characters in his story. I have read several American Civil War books of late where the author tries to tell both sides of the story, which can sometimes make the story rather cumbersome in the telling. Greene's approach to his novel worked exceptionally well, and it made the narrative fast-paced and very engaging.

Greene takes his readers on a march alongside the fictional 13 The Michigan Cavalry as they enlist, train, prepare for war, and finally fight in a battle that would leave tens of thousands dead. For most of this book, we follow the story of Johannes Wolf. After a horrific injury to his leg, Wolf falls into a spiral of alcoholic destruction. He wanted to join the army and fight, for he believes in the Unionists' cause. But he is prevented from doing so because of his disability. His frustration is understandable, and his cunning and his uncanny knack of being able to manipulate an event so that he is eventually considered for the cavalry shows his reckless determination. Like many young men, he has a rose-tinted vision of what war is. He imagines honour when the reality is that he is going to do things he never thought he would do and see things he wishes could be unseen. This brash, hot-headed young man learns that his father was right all along. War is not glorious. It is not honourable. War is death. It is a dark and horrible thing where the losers die, and the winners have to live with a lifetime of nightmares. Wolf goes on an incredible journey during this book, and it was one that was endlessly fascinating and impossible to turn away from. I thought Wolf's depiction was especially well-drawn, and he was a character that I really came to care about.

Dressed in black velvet, his cascading fair hair streaming in the wind, and his sabre drawn, twenty-three-year-old Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer, the Boy General, takes to the stage. Greene presents Custer in all his daring brashness. We watch as Custer rallies his men, inspiring them by leading from the front in this story of battle, blood and patriotism. His almost cavalier attitude and a hefty helping of Custer's Luck meant that men were not only willing to follow him but were willing to die for him. For one so young to animate so many, to give courage in the face of adversity is a legacy that not many generals could ever hope to leave, but Custer does, and Greene honours that legacy in this book. I thought Greene's depiction of Custer was absolutely fabulous. There is a beautiful scene in this book where Wolf admits to Custer that he has disobeyed an order and Custer simply smiles and replies "Haven't we all?" which for me, really sums up Custer's approach to life. History tells us that Custer was often in trouble at West Point, and graduated last in his class, but what he had could not be taught. Greene has drawn on the historical sources for Custer and given his readers a very realistic depiction of a man whose name is still, almost 160 years later, associated with courage, camaraderie, and controversy.

There are several secondary characters in this book, both historical and fictional, but I thought Greene's portrayal of Corporal Wilhelm was sublime. Unlike the eager young men in his regiment, Wilhelm has the wisdom of experience, and he is in the same regiment as his son — perhaps to keep an eye on him. Wilhelm is something of a fatherly figure to these young lads, and he knows how to inspire confidence. Wilhelm brings a great deal to this story, and it was an absolute pleasure reading about him.

Brimming with confidence, General Lee marched his army northwards, across the Potomac River into Maryland and onwards into southern Pennsylvania. And here his army met the newly promoted Major General George Gordon Meade's, Unionist Army. This was the battle which Lee thought would see the Confederacy victorious. Only, it did not quite work out like that. Told with an epic, almost cinematic approach to the writing, Greene has depicted The Battle of Gettysburg in all its desperate horror. The despairing screams of the horses, the thundering roar of the artillery guns, the terror of hand-to-hand combat, all of this and more has Greene portrayed. I could almost taste the smoke from the cannons and gag on the metallic scent of blood. When it comes to writing battle scenes, Greene really comes into his own. They are vivid, evocative and all too graphic. I felt the desperation of the soldiers as they fought to stay alive — their utter fear, as well as their despair, rang clearly out through the expressive prose. There is no doubt in my mind that Greene was in his absolute element as he composed this scene. Brilliantly executed. Fabulously written. Battle scenes don't get better than this.

If you are a fan of battle heavy Historical Fiction, then check out Daniel Greene's Northern Wolf (Northern Wolf #1). I, for one, cannot wait to get my hands on book 2 of what promises to be a fabulous series.

I Highly Recommend.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde.

The Coffee Pot Book Club.

Pick up your copy of

Northern Wolf

Amazon UK • Amazon US

Daniel Greene

Daniel is an award-winning and best-selling multi-genre author. He made his debut in the post-apocalyptic genre and quickly became known as a must read with his award-winning and best-selling hit The End Time Saga. His deep passion for history has inspired him to tackle the historical fiction genre with launch of the best-selling Northern Wolf Series.

He is an avid traveler and physical fitness enthusiast. He fulfilled a quest of iron by worshipping at the shrine of Arnold Schwarzenegger, in Graz, Austria, an experience he will never forget. If he isn’t working on his next book, you can find him training to survive the impending rise of the dead. 

He is a proud member of the Horror Writers Association and the Historical Novel Society. Although a Midwesterner for life, he’s lived long enough in Virginia to call it home. 

Connect with Daniel: Website • Facebook •  Goodreads.

TUESDAY, 10 MARCH 2020 #BookReview — Torn Asunder by Renny deGoot #HistoricalFiction #Ireland

Torn Asunder

By Renny deGroot

He is an inspiring journalist, but Emmet Ryan has no idea that his words have the power to destroy those he loves the most. This is a story about a conflicted man, opening in Dublin, 1916 and set during one of Ireland’s most turbulent eras.

"Ireland should belong to the Irish."

Was that such a difficult concept to understand? It seemed rather simple to the men in the Ryan family. Emmet Ryan was determined to follow in the footsteps of his father and his elder brothers and join the Fingal Volunteers despite what his mother might say on the subject. He was sixteen, he was a man, and he was determined to be a part of Éirí Amach na Cásca, The Easter Rising. Even after the subsequent internment of the Fingal Volunteers, Emmet felt that The Cause was worth the danger, worth the sacrifice. It was way past the time for Ireland to become an independent republic free from British rule.

However, there was more than one way to win a war. Emmet was clever, quick. He could do more damage with a pen and paper than he could with a gun. And although being a journalist did not seem quite as glamorous as the war his brother, Kevin, and his best friend, Liam, fought, it was still incredibly important.

Emmet loved Ireland. He was of Ireland. Ireland was in his blood. The Cause justified the means. But then on one auspicious evening down the pub, Liam pointed out a young woman whose red hair cascaded in waves down her back, and Emmet would soon find himself wondering — if he had to choose between The Cause and those he loved, which would he choose?

From the fanciful patriotic excitement of a sixteen-year-old boy on the eve of the 1916 Easter Rising to the 1943 Commemoration of the Rising at the Broadway Cinema, Torn Asunder by Renny deGroot is the story of one young man as he navigates life, love, family, and the Irish Republican Army (IRA).

With an enthralling narrative that left my heart pounding in fearful anticipation for the protagonists and a story that is as compelling as it is powerful, Torn Asunder is a fabulous work of fiction set during an extraordinary violent time in Irish history. Through deGroot's carefully crafted prose, I felt as if I had been transported back in time to the early 20th Century and was witnessing the events that led up to the Irish Civil War and beyond.

Not only does deGroot tell the story of Emmet Ryan with an impressive sweep and brilliance, but she also has a novelist’s understanding of what makes history worth reading. This novel is tautly gripping, so much so that I found it near on impossible to put down. This is the kind of book that demands your attention and certainly commands your respect.

The historical detailing of this book has to be commended. deGroot depicts this period in history with a confidence that can only be gained by many long hours of research. Reading this book was effortless, I am sure the hours of research that went into it was not, but it has certainly paid off. There is an authority in deGroot's writing, an assurance that deGroot knows what she is talking about. Torn Asunder is a truly gripping account of family, war, and to an extent, historical controversy. And what a story it is.

The story is told, for the most part, from Emmet Ryan's perspective. Emmet is an unlikely hero. He is swept up in the patriotic fever that gripped the nation and his family. He is determined to do his bit for The Cause, but he realises very quickly that he might not be suited to a soldier's life. Emmet is an intellect. He is uncommonly good with words, which makes him the ideal commentator, the voice behind the speeches. His press pass also means he has access to places that others cannot enter. Emmet is, however, a very honourable man, and he wants to be both a patriot and a husband. His passion for The Cause never leaves, despite the many things that happen in this book. His dismay at the Anglo-Irish Treaty and in particular the fact that Ireland was split between the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland was a bitter pill for him to swallow, as it was for many. He is steadfast in his beliefs, and despite life getting in the way of The Cause, he does remain a loyal disciple. I thought Emmet's depiction was brilliant. He believes in what he is fighting for wholeheartedly, and yet he is also rational enough to know when to take a step back.

Another character who becomes more prevalent in the second half of this book is Emmet's daughter, Maeve. Maeve grew up with stories of the Easter Rising and the subsequent Civil War, and although Emmet told his tales because he wants his children to be proud of their heritage, Maeve takes the stories to heart a little more than what Emmet had expected. Maeve is a young woman who knows her own mind but is heavily influenced by her father and her Uncle Liam. However, neither men want Maeve to become involved with the IRA, it is too dangerous. I adored Maeve. She is this wonderful woman who is determined to do her bit, however small, to help her country. Her relationship with Daniel, a young English man, is also incredibly sweet — it is full of starlight and first kisses. This is a young heroine that takes up her father's story and The Cause with determination, but she is also wise enough to know, as her father was, when to walk away.

There are, as you would expect, some historical figures in this book — from Sir Roger Casement to Michael Collins, and although many of these names are mentioned only in passing, they still, especially in Collins' case, unwittingly drive the narrative in this story.

Torn Asunder by Renny deGroot is a fabulous novel that not only captured my attention but kept it throughout. It is immensely readable and absolutely irresistible. When historical fiction is written in such a way, then there is no such thing as too much.

I Highly Recommend.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde.

The Coffee Pot Book Club.

Pick up your copy of

Torn Asunder

Amazon UK • Amazon US

Renny DeGroot

I am a first generation Canadian of Dutch parents. I was born in Nova Scotia, Canada but grew up in Toronto, Canada. I studied English Literature at Trent University and creative writing at Ryerson University.

I am a published poet, short-story author and an active member of SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada), having written the lyrics for a song which has now been recorded twice.

My debut novel, Family Business, was shortlisted for the Kobo Emerging Writer Prize, 2015.  My strong Dutch roots continue to influence me while the love of my Canadian homeland with its beauty and freedom, flavours all that I do.

I live in rural Ontario with my Great Pyrenees and Chocolate Lab.

Connect with Renny: Website • Facebook • Twitter.

#BookReview — The Definition of Experience (Dan Gamble, Book 1) by Jim Adameit #Thriller

The Definition of Experience

 (Dan Gamble, Book 1)

By Jim Adameit

One Man’s Stand Against the Corporate Machine

An edgy, racy, action-packed business / financial / technology thriller, about the global industry that manufactures and brings us all our smart phones, laptop computers, cloud servers – and virtually any other electronic products you can think of.

Think this is boring stuff?

In a US$500 billion global market – with careers and that much money at stake?

Think again…

A primer on an industry that most people don’t know exists…

A cautionary tale for those people who do…

"Pawns are rarely left on the board at the end of the game..."

Dan Gamble was three short months away before he became fully vested in Stygian Electronics Manufacturing Company. He had sacrificed the last five years of his personal life, travelling all over the world at the company's beck and call, so that he could get to this moment. Dan had suffered the arrogant and ignorant corporate director, Calvin 'Cal' Beaudry's, jibes and the snide remarks, with quiet dignity. So it came as quite the shock when he was formally dismissed.

While Dan was tying up loose ends with Stygian, he noticed a document in his miscellanies file on his computer that he had never seen before. When he opened the document up, he could not believe what he was seeing. Someone was stealing product designs from companies that Stygian worked with. The question was, who?

The Definition of Experience (Dan Gamble, Book 1) by Jim Adameit is an action-packed Financial Thriller, filled to bursting with intrigue, lies, suspense, and drama.

The premise of this book piqued my curiosity, and even though I have no first-hand experience of the contract Electronics Manufacturing Services Industry, I was looking forward to reading and hopefully while reading, learning about it. When I started to read The Definition of Experience I did begin to have a few reservations, for this is an in-depth look into this industry, and I feared I would become lost in the technical jargon and the day to day activities of this vast industry. Thankfully Adameit is a competent tour guide, and he goes to some length to explain what things mean. When a lot of explanation is needed in a book, as this one does, it can sometimes make the narrative somewhat slow and cumbersome, but Adameit has made these explanations part of the story, and therefore it did not affect the pace of this novel at all, nor did it hamper my enjoyment. The short chapters also made this book feel incredibly fast-paced.

The protagonist of this novel, Dan Gamble, is an extremely likeable character. Dan is approaching retirement and knows the industry inside out. However, the rug is pulled out from under Dan when he loses his job. Still, Dan is a very pragmatic man who, although concerned about how employable he is with regards to his advancing years, is determined to secure the future retirement of himself and his wife. When he discovers that there is something sinister going on at Stygian, he becomes this very shrewd detective as he begins to piece things together. After the way he has been treated, he owes no loyalty to his former employer, and he is determined to see justice served. I thought Dan's depiction was fabulous. He is an unlikely hero that you can really get behind and root for. I enjoyed reading about him very much.

It is said that an antagonist can make or break a story, in the case of The Definition of Experience the antagonists, for there are several, made this book unputdownable. The first self-centred and self-important antagonist we meet is Cal Beaudry. Cal is despised at work and feared at home. He is this disgustingly creepy man who has all the charisma of a tormented serpent. Cal really made my skin crawl, and he is the kind of superior that no one wants to be under. Another antagonist that brought out strong emotions is Vincent Spagano. Vince reminded me of a leech. He is almost inseparable from Carson Hayworth "Bud" Styres, the CEO of Stygian. When Vince is not sliming up to Bud, he can be found in strip clubs. He certainly wasn't the nicest of characters.

The real villain in this tale is, however, Bud. He is an especially ruthless man who revels in his position of authority and power. And he gets a kick out of terrorising his subordinates. Adameit does give his readers a glimpse into Bud's life outside of Styres, and although I sympathised with his poor wife, I could not find any sympathy for Bud. He is, in all ways, a predator. Saying that however, his character drove this story forward, and for a villain in a suit, I thought Adameit portrayed him wonderfully.

There are many supporting characters in this book, each with their role to play. Juggling so many characters is always a risk, for sometimes such a considerable cast can confuse a reader. However, Adameit has firm control of his characters and his story, so I did not once find myself confused as to who everyone was and what part in the story they were going to play. Kudos, Mr Adameit.

If you love a good thriller, with an extremely entertaining and gripping plot, then look no further than The Definition of Experience (Dan Gamble Book 1) by Jim Adameit. It is, in all ways, a great success.

I Highly Recommend.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde.

The Coffee Pot Book Club.

Pick up your copy of

The Definition of Experience

Amazon UK • Amazon US • Smashwords

Jim Adameit

Jim Adameit is the author of ‘The Definition of Experience’, his debut thriller novel in this series. Jim is a 30+ year seasoned veteran of the Contract Manufacturing / Electronic Manufacturing Services industry, in which he’s held various senior level global positions, including sales & marketing, contract administration, and project management.

Connect with Jim: Website • Facebook • Twitter.

#BookReview — Witch of the Wild Beasts by Catherine Stine #HistoricalFantasy #supernatural

Witch of the Wild Beasts

By Catherine Stine

When Evalina is imprisoned for witchcraft, will her supernatural bond with animals be her curse or salvation?

In 1854, Evalina Stowe witnesses the murder of her brother by Dr. Dowdrick, an enraged client at the tailor’s where they work. Desperate to stop him, she rouses a swarm of wasps that sting the doctor while she stabs him with scissors, and then flees. At a subsequent job when birds race to her defence, Evalina is declared a witch and sent to Philadelphia’s Eastern State Penitentiary.

While imprisoned, Evalina is horrified not only to learn that Dr. Dowdrick is still alive, but he’s experimenting on inmates. Determined to get inside his Eclectic Medical School, to expose his nefarious activities, she’s passionate about protecting fellow prisoners, especially Lewin, a child thief who knew her brother, and Birdy, a kind, resilient Welsh man serving time for a worker’s death while blasting granite for the railroad.

Evalina, her friends and her “wild beasts” work against time to unmask Dowdrick’s crimes when she participates with him in a symposium, showcasing Philadelphia’s premium doctors. If they fail, not only will the doctor’s evil deeds continue unchecked but Evalina and her crew will surely be hung.

“They were my heart. My soul. Though they uttered no English, they spoke my language. They never called me Evalina Stowe, my given name, or Eva, my nickname, but most importantly they never called me murderess.”

To murder a man was no small thing but to wrap your hands around a child's neck and squeeze until there was no more breath in his body, that was something different altogether. Evalina Stowe had done everything she could to free her young brother from Dr Horace Dowdrick's evil hold. She had summoned the wasps to sting his face, but still, Dowdrick refused to let go. In desperation, Evalina had stabbed the doctor with a pair of dressmaking scissors. But it was too late. Her brother was dead.

Evalina did not know what to do — she had killed a respectable man. Who would believe that it was in defence of her brother? So, she did the only thing she could do — she fled. However, living as a fugitive was no easy life. It was only a matter of time before she was caught and sent to Cherry Hill Prison. But at least Dowdrick was dead. It was a small comfort.

Kept in solitary confinement at Cherry Hill Prison, Evalina's only comfort was her small wild beasts who squeezed through cracks and crevices to comfort and console her. However, it was not long after her incarceration that Evalina discovered a terrible truth. The man she thought she had killed was not dead. He was here, looking for more victims to use as test subjects for his medical experiments. It was inevitable that Dowdrick would, at some point, call for Evalina. Evalina must gather her courage and her wild beasts if she is to have any chance of defeating him...

From a gruesome murder to a clever plot that exposes a man for what he truly is, Witch of the Wild Beasts by Catherine Stine is the utterly enthralling story of one young woman's fight for justice.

Told with an impressive narrative that captured my attention from the opening paragraph, Witch of the Wild Beasts has an awful lot to recommend it. Stine has penned a story that is both lush, lyrical and next to impossible to put down. I was captivated by this story. I loved every sentence, every word, every syllable. In all ways, it is a Historical Fantasy success.

With a cast of highly appealing characters and a setting that is rich, vibrant and crystalline in the telling, this is the kind of book that gets readers of quality Historical Fantasy very excited about. I adored the characterisation of Evalina Stowe. Evalina suffers greatly in this book. With the murder of her brother, Evalina is all alone in the world — there is no one she can turn to for help. And, unfortunately, being able to communicate with animals is both a blessing and a curse. Although Evalina can bribe the animals and make friends with them, their actions are not controlled by her and many times she finds herself in trouble because of the animals' desperate desire to protect her. They feed on Evalina's emotions. When she is happy, they are calm. When she is fearful, they become protective. I thought Stine's depiction of Evalina was dazzling. This is a heroine whom a reader can really get behind. Evalina is an especially strong young woman who, despite all the suffering, does not become bitter and cynical. Her desire to see justice done is at the forefront of her mind, but she also cares deeply for the friends she makes in prison. She realises that many of the people incarcerated with her should not be in prison. They are good people despite what the authorities might say. Evalina becomes somewhat of a crusader, desperate to make a difference, and if possible, achieve the freedom that her friends deserve. Evalina's sense of right and wrong, her pureness of heart made for a compelling read. There is also a simmering romance throughout this book between Evalina and another inmate which was very sweet.

Bertram "Birdy" Castell was a character that I simply adored. He is a very tender-hearted man who, like many inmates of Cherry Hill Prison, should not be in jail. Yet, with quiet dignity, he is resolved to his sentence, that was until he met Evalina. Although this story is told from Evalina's perspective, we come to know Birdy rather well. Birdy was a character that I enjoyed reading about. His gentle calmness and his tender ways made him a character that was very easy to like.

The antagonist of this tale is Dr Horace Dowdrick. Dowdrick is a man who is corrupted by his desire for recognition and success within the medical profession, and he will do anything to receive the accolade that he thinks he deserves. He is also a ruthless man who is quick to anger. He murdered Evalina's young brother on a whim because the child innocently did something that upset him. He is renowned in the more impoverished community for his violence, and yet he is a respectable man who is trusted and free to go about his business. The social injustice of the time is cleverly weaved into the story, which I thought was very well done. Stine has given her readers a very dark and dangerous antagonist to pit against a young and refreshing heroine.

If you enjoy wonderful escapism fiction, then check out Witch of the Wild Beasts by Catherine Stine. You won't be disappointed. I loved every minute of it.

I Highly Recommend.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.

Pick up your copy of

Witch of the Wild Beasts

Amazon UK • Amazon US

Catherine Stine

Catherine Stine is a USA Today bestselling author of historical fantasy, sci-fi thrillers, paranormal romance and YA fiction. Her novels have earned Indie Notable awards and New York Public Library Best Books for Teens. Catherine's newest historical fantasy, Witch of the Wild Beasts, was a second prize winner in Valley Forge's 2019 RWA Sheila Contest.

She loves spending time with her beagle, writing about supernatural creatures, gardening on her deck, and meeting readers at book events. Catherine suspects her love of dark fantasy came from her father reading Edgar Allen Poe to her when she was a child.

Connect with Catherine: Website • Twitter • Instagram • Pinterest • BookBub • Goodreads.