Category: Historical Fiction Publisher: The HayeCountry Collection
ISBN-10: 1470190990
Type: Fiction
Pages: 290
Copyright: April 2, 2012
ISBN-13: 9781470190996
An Epic Novel of Spanish Louisiana. Young soldier-settlers and their families help drive the British from the Mississippi River Valley ensuring victory for the American colonies.
It’s January 1779 when their ship makes landfall in Spanish Louisiana. Stand beside them as they brave the chilly winds and early morning fog leaning against the railing as the ship enters mouth of the Mississippi River—the first river they have ever seen. Within months of their arrival, these young soldier-settlers help drive the British from the Mississippi River Valley ensuring victory for the American colonies.
Harrison brings to life three generations—ordinary people—whose lives are entangled with the extraordinary events of world history. Danger lurked at every turn—every day! Their resilient story is filled with adventures, passion, disasters, wars, romance, and murder. Ultimately, with victory at the Battle of New Orleans, the Isleños (Islanders) find freedom as citizens of the young United States.
Excerpt
Juan Cabañero, age thirty-nine, a tall, strong-looking man, stood and tapped his knife on the table. He looked at the weather-beaten, tanned faces of men he had known all of his life pondering how he could tell them it was all over. He was the de facto leader of the island’s loosely knit band of tenant farmers and he carried the responsibility solidly on his shoulders.
Last week, everyone was confident and upbeat when he and Manuel had left with their petition. Now, the farmers were waiting for Juan himself to confirm or deny the rumor that had spread over the entire valley.
Without taking his eyes off the crowd, he resheathed his knife. “My friends, I was turned away in Santa Cruz. The court would not accept our petition. I was told the court was ready to put an end to our protests as was done on La Gomera.”
A young man Juan knew only slightly rose from his seat. He stood erect, motionless, and then straightened his well-worn coat. With a firm voice that carried no malice, he said, “My family and my brother’s family have passage to Cuba; we sail in three weeks.” Tears spilled down his cheeks as he tried to contain his emotions. He looked around the room and breathed deeply. “I will carry the memory of Tenerife in my heart forever, and I will always be an Isleño (Islander) as I am today. My forefathers have always tilled the land of others—now we leave the aristocrats their land; let their hands take my plow.”
He remained standing as if he had not fin-ished. Men stared at him in shocked silence until. . .
Ireland 1947. Seven weeks of relentless snow. Guard Eamon Foley is searching for a missing child.
At Toby Appleyard’s farm, he discovers the kitchen littered with dead cats. And the skeletal remains of a woman. Upstairs, Toby is dead in his bed.
Fourth Book in the Southern Swallow Series finds the Academician Li K'ai-men in exile on Hai-nan Island. China has a new invasion threat. A showdown between ingenuity and technology explodes as the Sung Dynasty tries to preserve itself.
