Book Blurb:
Love and Adventure Live On. . .
After defying death during her wartime activities, Jana Brady leaps to accept President Andrew Johnson’s bid for her and her soldier-sweetheart Keeley Cassidy to track down a two-million-dollar army payroll, stolen from the caboose of a prisoner train in the chaotic aftermath of its collision with a coal train. Her consent to the mission, without consulting Keeley, complicates their relationship. She is crushed when Keeley suggests they delay their wedding. Knowing Keeley fears Jana will choose adventure every time over a quieter life with him, Jana worries this venture will expose incompatibilities too irreconcilable to sustain a future together. This mission challenges their bond on every level, from a life-changing decision to adopt a runaway orphan to a frightening encounter with a bear. Will this adventure be the truest test of their love?
Jana and Keeley discover that the train wreck reveals a more sinister plot behind the stolen payroll than mere petty thievery. They race against two Rebel train-wreck survivors, a bankrupt politician and his goons, and members of a powerful organization who aim to amass wealth to incite a second rebellion and perpetuate slavery. With help from Jana and Keeley’s coonhound, Tracker, and cavalry comrades, Leanne and Charlie Watson, they sniff out the trail of the federal treasury and confront the thieves in a final showdown. Can Jana, Keeley, and friends outwit their foes to recoup the money? In this third book of Glory: A Civil War Series, Lisa Potocar continues to masterfully interweave adventure, romance, and suspense with a sweeping portrayal of post-Civil War times and women’s expanding roles within it.
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/Ph8vw
Author Bio:
Lisa Potocar lives in Upstate New York with her husband and two cuddly keeshonds. Her passion for writing and research stems from her former work in healthcare administration and as a professor. When not tracking some morsel of history to shape into a story, she is a tomboy at heart who loves to hike and bike and has traveled the world to do it.
You can chat with Lisa about the American Civil War or the craft of writing right here on Amazon or at her website & blog: www.lisapotocarauthor.com; FB Page: www.facebook.com/LisaPotocarAuthor; or Goodreads Author Page: www.goodreads.com/author/show/5779385.Lisa_Potocar.
Editorial Review:
“Jana recognized the fancily clad woman immediately as the famous Kate Warne: first female detective, whom Allan Pinkerton hired after she convinced him that women make better spies than men because they can goad intelligence out of male braggarts and cozy up to their wives and sweethearts out of whom they could pump more secrets. She’d proven her mettle by uncovering the details of a plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln on his way to his debut inaugural as president of the United States. Afterward, she’d safely escorted him to Washington City, disguised as her invalid brother. And Jana believed, if Kate had been in the Union capital after she’d helped capture those conspiring to harm Jana along her lecture tour, she would’ve prevented John Wilkes Booth from slaying President Lincoln.”
Jana Brady is in love, and planning her marriage to her sweetheart Keeley Cassidy. Jana is also passionate about her adventurous career, and is hot on the trail of stolen government payroll, at the behest of the President himself. This pursuit, in a dynamic familiar to many modern women, causes tension in her relationship with Keely. This personal challenge is expertly set against the chaotic end period of the Civil War, and the opportunities and risks that abound. “Gold Guts and Glory” by Lisa Y Potocar commences in 1865 and is Book 3 in a series, but this reviewer read and enjoyed it as a standalone story. The opening pages, in particular, convincingly show the reader the strength of Jana and Keely’s relationship, and more than hint at their physical anticipation of their wedding day (and night!). The romantic aspect to this plot is a welcome one and, together with Jana’s independence and fortitude, creates a gripping yarn with various strands to the plot.
Both Jana and Keely are well-characterized, with backstories that are easily gleaned from the narrative, whether or not the readers is familiar with the earlier two books in the series. Jana is immensely relatable, both as a woman of her times, using her wiles and also her mind (in socially acceptable ways!) and also as a woman testing the bounds of personal and professional independence.
The secondary characters are also compelling – there are the usual sidekicks, the villains, and everyone in between. Potocar rightly keeps the focus on Jana and Keely, but there is ample reference to the life and times of America in the 1860s – the storytelling is vivid and fast paced, which accurately reflect the state of change in society during those years of upheaval and eventual semblance of peace.
“The emaciated condition of these men’s horses registered with Jana for the first time. The poor animals were obviously starving and dispirited, evidenced by their ribs poking out around their saddles and their heads bowed low, almost to their knobby knees. Fanning herself again, Jana said with conviction, “Even if out of necessity, I’m glad y’all have concluded to capitulate. The South needs capable men, such as y’all, to help it rise from the cinders of rebellion and stand proud again. We Southerners have one thing in our favor: One of us is running the federal White House. I ardently believe Andrew Johnson won’t forget us during Reconstruction.” “I hope you’re right, ma’am.” Gray Fox tipped his hat at her. “Good luck to ya and yer brother.” Jana swiped the back of her hand across her forehead. “I’ll pray for y’all to thrive in our destitute times.”
The author’s writing style is distinctive, with dialogue and action sometimes running together. While this conveys urgency, some readers may find it a less than smooth read. There is extensive use of dialect to represent both Keely’s background but also Jana’s manner of speech. The detailed research that Potocar has undertaken is obvious, and this will likely compensate for any perceived stylistic issues. As well as the research that is cleverly woven into the narrative, there is also an extensive author’s note providing further context. The ending of the narrative will be a rewarding one for the reader as it ties together the aspects of the plot in a convincing way.
“For the next couple of hours, Jana, Keeley, Leanne, and Charlie occupied themselves purchasing new clothes in the shops along Pennsylvania Avenue. Jana, Keeley, and Charlie easily found their sizes, but Leanne’s men’s trousers, shirt, and coat required tucking and stitching at the seams. President Johnson would’ve been impressed with the tailor’s diligent and seamless work. Afterward, they freshened up and rested a spell in their rooms before meeting in the lobby around suppertime. Eager for word to come from President Johnson, Jana drummed her fingers against the dark wood armrest of her upholstered chair while Leanne leaned against a colossal granite column, snapping and unsnapping her holster, and Keeley and Charlie paced across the plush and colorful rugs.”
“Gold Guts and Glory” by Lisa Y Potocar is a gripping read that weaves together romance, personal and social challenges, and the turbulence that evolves from the end of the Civil War. Most of all, there is adventure, and the age old pursuit of stolen property and solving a mystery, when others are also joining the chase. Will Jana and Keely prevail? Potocar leads the reader through twists and turns in post-Civil War America that will certainly keep the pages turning. An entertaining read!
*****
“Gold Guts and Glory” by Lisa Y Potocar receives 4 stars from The Historical Fiction Company
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