The Roll of the Dice blog tour is through The Coffee Pot Book Club and includes an exclusive excerpt below. Check out the book, share, comment, follow.
Book Title and Author Name:
The Roll of the Dice
by J. A. Quarles
Blurb:
As the fires of war spread across a divided nation, three brothers from Louisiana are swept into the storm that will decide the fate of the Confederacy-and perhaps the future of America itself.
In the bloody aftermath of Fredericksburg, young Confederate officer Johan Lutze escapes Union captivity through courage, cunning, and sheer determination. Returning to General Robert E. Lee’s army just in time for the Battle of Chancellorsville, Johan performs an act of heroism that saves the life of the legendary General Stonewall Jackson and thrusts him into the inner circle of Confederate power.
Now, with Vicksburg under siege and the Confederacy teetering between survival and collapse, Johan’s bold strategic ideas begin to influence President Jefferson Davis himself. But in Richmond, ambition and politics can be as deadly as bullets, and not everyone welcomes the rise of the young officer from Louisiana.
While Johan helps shape daring military campaigns alongside Generals Lee, Beauregard, and Johnston, his brothers wage battles of their own. Paul Lutze Jr., maimed at Shiloh and fitted with a prosthetic leg, enters the shadowy world of Confederate espionage, where secrets and sabotage may alter the course of the war. Meanwhile, sixteen-year-old Jacques Lutze marches north with the ferocious Louisiana Tigers, consumed by grief, vengeance, and a burning desire to kill Yankees before they kill him.
From the fields of Pennsylvania to the banks of the Mississippi, from the halls of Richmond to the courts of Europe and the rising empire in Mexico, the war expands into a conflict of global consequence. Armies maneuver. Governments scheme. Brothers bleed.
And as the summer of 1863 approaches its reckoning, the Lutze brothers will stand at the center of history-where triumph and tragedy walk hand in hand.
Excerpt 2:
The memory of the heated arguments of the last two hours between Johan and the President still hung in the room. Johan had volunteered for Andre to be his personal secretary, but because he could not be on active duty, Andre had no choice but to accept. By being with Johan almost every waking minute of the day, he had a front-row seat to Johan’s new “ideas” and Uncle Jefferson’s anger at many of them.
Andre sat uncomfortably at Johan’s desk while his friend paced the room. Andre felt he would be on at least easy duty with his left arm in a sling. Well, when your cousin’s godfather is the goddamn president, that does change things, he thought to himself. With his good hand feeling his collar, Andre could not believe he had been promoted to First Lieutenant. The highest rank he had ever achieved was Master Sergeant, and Andre’s big mouth had assured him that any promotion he received was always temporary. But hell, something momentous had to be happening if his past indiscretions were overlooked and he was made a junior officer, no questions asked.
“Are you ready, Andre?” asked Johan in an exasperated voice.
“Sorry,” Andre rubbed his eyes with his good hand. “Must have drifted off.” He picked up the ink pen and dipped it in the ink well. “Where do you want me to start?”
Johan stopped pacing momentarily to look out a window into the darkness of the night. “Where do you think?” He gave Andre a seditious smile. “Let’s rewrite the section about enlisting negros into the army.”
“Alright”, thought Andre. “It’s your hide on the line.”
Johan began again, oblivious to Andre or the servant Thomas entering the room to replace their empty water pitcher. “This report recommends that a bill be presented to Congress authorizing the enlistment of Confederate Negros. As an incentive, Negro soldiers will be given emancipation upon honorable completion of their enlistment as well as the emancipation of their families.”
Letting out a breath, Andre finished writing, “This will be interesting tomorrow.”
Buy Link:
Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/3yBj1L
Author Bio:
Born and raised in New Orleans, Justin has always had a passion for storytelling. This writing process has always been important to Justin, a lifelong history nerd, who received a Bachelor’s in History from the University of New Orleans.
After he is done with his day job, Justin loves to come home and play with his two wonderful kiddos and watch movies with his wife.
Author Links:
Website: www.jaquarles.com
Historium Press Author Page: https://www.historiumpress.com/hp-authors/justin-quarles
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064276294035
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/J-a-Quarles/author/B0HG4D47LM
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/32189286.J_A_Quarles
