Kelly Ames for the Stars

The Best General in the Civil War By Conrad Bibens Historical Fiction Publisher: Stoney Creek Publishing Pages: 256 Publication Date: November 6, 2024 SYNOPSIS The North might have lost the Civil War if not for the heroics of a Southern-born general. The Best General in the Civil War tells the true story of Union General George Thomas, hated throughout the South for siding with the Union and helping end slavery. In this powerful autobiographical novel, the Southern-born General George Thomas reveals his journey from a Virginia boyhood to becoming a Union hero in the Civil War. Despite his fierce loyalty to the United States and his opposition to slavery, Thomas faced distrust and delayed promotions from Union leaders like Lincoln and Grant. Disowned by his family and resented in the South, Thomas nonetheless achieved pivotal victories, earning the titles "Rock of Chickamauga" and "Sledge of Nashville." Thomas recounts his friendship with Lee, rivalry with Grant and...

  Sallowsfield: A Novel By Cliff Hudder Literary Fiction / Humor / Saga / Texas / Yorkshire Publisher: Texas Review Press Pages: 390 Publication Date: October 21, 2024   SYNOPSIS Wyatt W. Sallow, MBA—poet, business ethics professor, and coach of the 8th ranked collegiate chess team in East Texas—travels to the heart of northern England to trace his family origins in mundane Sallowsfield, only to find his supposed ancestry a mirage. He does have a real past, however: one that stalks him across the green hillsides in echoes of his catastrophic marriage, the lingering shadow of a lost child, and—there, in person, inexplicably emerging from the town’s faux-Victorian train station—“X,” the enigmatic object of his unrequited passion and a figure as perplexing as an algebraic variable. On his eight-day tour/pilgrimage/mock epic journey, Wyatt pursues the specter of his lost love and crosses paths with the citizens of this down-at-its-heels market town as they struggle to grasp th...

WOODS AND WINGS By M.W. Devers YA / Fantasy / Action & Adventure Publisher: Midnight6 Publishing Pages: 430 Publication Date: November 19, 2024 SYNOPSIS She never sought the path of a hero. Destiny had other plans. In the peaceful village of Rhigov, where traditions hold sway, fifteen-year-old Astraya Myna dreams of little more than escaping the confines of her kitchen duties. But when a malevolent force known as Vronti shatters the village's tranquility, Astraya is thrust into a journey she never imagined. Guided by a legacy she barely understands, Astraya joins forces with her brother, Raustra, and a small band of allies. Together, they embark on a dangerous quest to protect their home from wingroans, dragon-like creatures whose powers are as formidable as their intentions are mysterious. As shadows of betrayal and hidden truths close in, Astraya navigates a world where loyalty is tested and power proves both elusive and dangerous. With each step she uncovers more about her f...

  RICHARD COKE: TEXAN By Rosser Coke Newton, Sr. History / Biography Publisher: Stoney Creek Publishing Pages: 300 Publication Date: November 4, 2024 SYNOPSIS Richard Coke played one of the most crucial roles in Texas history. His leadership of his beloved Texas still resonates today—150 years after he became governor. Richard Coke: Texan weaves a rich mosaic of real people and events, immersing the reader in the life and times of Richard Coke. Coke brought Texas out of Reconstruction following the Civil War and is often credited with restoring democracy to the state after this perilous time. Richard Coke: Texan tells the story of a young Virginia lawyer who emigrated to a Texas frontier village and changed history. It follows Coke as he starts a new life in Waco, Texas, serves in the Civil War, endures the hardships of Reconstruction, and is called to serve as governor to rebuild the state and restore rights to local government and the people of Texas. The story of Coke and his le...