In the spring of 1927, ambitious cub reporter Calvin Hogue covers a family reunion in the Florida Panhandle.
He learns two Malburn brothers fought on opposing sides during the Civil War, and encourages them to tell their stories.
Before the night is over, Calvin realizes he has a far greater story than a run-of-the-mill family reunion.
Thus begins the first of many sessions with the Malburn brothers. The saga unfolds in their own words with wit, wisdom and sometimes, sadness. Before long the brothers are confronting troubled pasts and conjuring up ghosts laid buried throughout the long post-war years. Calvin is swept along by the harrowing eyewitness account of our nation’s most trying era, through bloody battles, personal trials and losses, and the mutual love of a beautiful young woman.
Book One follows the exploits of Daniel Malburn and the 6th FL Infantry through the battles of Chickamauga and Lookout Mountain/Missionary Ridge. While working at the salt works along St. Andrew Bay, Elijah is taken prisoner by Union forces. Faced with imprisonment, he reluctantly chooses to join the 2nd US FL Cavalry as a scout, only to learn he must lead a destructive raid on the Econfina Valley—his lifelong home.
Thus begins the first of many sessions with the Malburn brothers. The saga unfolds in their own words with wit, wisdom and sometimes, sadness. Before long the brothers are confronting troubled pasts and conjuring up ghosts laid buried throughout the long post-war years. Calvin is swept along by the harrowing eyewitness account of our nation’s most trying era, through bloody battles, personal trials and losses, and the mutual love of a beautiful young woman.
Book One follows the exploits of Daniel Malburn and the 6th FL Infantry through the battles of Chickamauga and Lookout Mountain/Missionary Ridge. While working at the salt works along St. Andrew Bay, Elijah is taken prisoner by Union forces. Faced with imprisonment, he reluctantly chooses to join the 2nd US FL Cavalry as a scout, only to learn he must lead a destructive raid on the Econfina Valley—his lifelong home.
Reaction: This is the first novel that I have read by author E. Michael Helms. Of Blood and Brothers was a unexpected surprise for me, as historical fiction is a genre that I am not too familiar with. After reading the synopsis, I was expecting a "Hatfields and McCoys" kind of story. If you are old like me you will know what that is.
Of Blood and Brothers was far from that! I fell in love with the writing style almost from the beginning. The descriptions of scenery, characters, events were phenomenal. You truly become part of the story, you begin to feel as if you ARE part of this historic fictional story. Very few authors have been able to accurately describe scenes so clearly that you are able to close your eyes and become emerged in that particular environment. Being able to "live and breathe" in the pages of a novel is an amazing experience.
What excites me the most and keeps me anxiously waiting is the next "chapter" in this series. This is only book one, and I would love nothing more than to read book two this very moment. This is one of my few experiences with historical fiction and it has left me craving more.
E. Michael Helms is a USMC combat veteran. His
memoir of the Vietnam War, The Proud Bastards,
has been called “As powerful and compelling a
battlefield memoir as any ever written ... a modern
military classic,” and has been in print for most of
the past 20 years.
His work has also appeared in the books: Semper Fi:
His work has also appeared in the books: Semper Fi:
Stories of U.S. Marines from Boot Camp to Battle
(Thunder’s Mouth Press, 2003); Soldier’s Heart:
Survivors’ Views of Combat Trauma (The Sidran
Press, 1995); and Two Score and Ten: The Third Marine Division History
(Turner Publishing, 1992).
Book One of his two-part historical saga, Of Blood and Brothers, will be
Book One of his two-part historical saga, Of Blood and Brothers, will be
released Septemeber 1, 2013, with Book Two following in March 2014. The
first novel of his Mac McClellan Mystery series, Deadly Catch, is scheduled
for a Fall 2013 release.
Helms lives with his wife in the Upstate region of South Carolina in the
Helms lives with his wife in the Upstate region of South Carolina in the
foothills of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.
1 comment:
I'm so glad you liked it! Book 2 should be coming out in the spring, I'll let you know as it gets closer. Michael's mystery novel, "Deadly Catch" is on tour in January. :-)
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