Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Spotlight: Scarred by Michael Kenneth Smith

SCARRED: A CIVIL WAR NOVEL OF REDEMPTION
By Michael Kenneth Smith
Publication date: August 30, 2016
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN (13) 978-1-5303-7974-3; $12.95
Paperback; 182 pages; Historical Fiction

After fatally wounding the Confederate sharpshooter who killed his best friend, Zach Harkin’s sense of revenge shifts to deep remorse when he views the dead man’s diary and finds a treasured family photo in his pocket. Haunted by what he’s seen and unable to continue to fight, he is mustered out of service and begins an epic journey in search of the dead man’s family. Captured, imprisoned, tortured and thoroughly tested as a human being, Zach is keenly aware escape is his only hope—but he never expects love to be his redemption.

SCARRED is a touching, gripping sequel certain to satisfy fans of HOME AGAIN and an equally confident stand-alone sure to create new fans for the writing of Michael Kenneth Smith.

Praise:

“Michael Kenneth Smith’s absorbing historical novel explores the violence and moral
dilemmas endured by civilians, prisoners, and soldiers alike during the bloody Civil War….Harkin is a vibrant protagonist who grows increasingly sympathetic throughout. Meanwhile, Scarred’s pace is nearly cinematic… This, however, isn’t a war novel; it’s the story of Harkin’s quest for redemption and closure. Historical fiction and Civil War buffs will wish Scarred were closer to the epic length of Gone with the Wind, simply because the subject never grows tiresome….an engrossing, moving read.”--BLUEINK REVIEW

“This lean Civil War sequel packs in more history and raw emotion than a 600-page epic….Smith writes wonderfully and realistically, and one can hear the pacing and menace:… Smith knows the Civil War in his bones, and his novel will leave readers emotionally drained but grateful.”--Kirkus Reviews

“SCARRED is an eloquent tale told through vividly fleshed-out characters…and is enjoyable historical fiction with a romantic twist.”—Foreword Clarion Reviews

“This is a novel not just about the Civil War - or even war itself – but rather an examination of the layered scars of trauma laid down by months and years spent in the battlefield. Ultimately it is a story about the human heart and how love and friendship heals and maybe even redeems.”
—Rafael Lima, Professor, University of Miami, School of Communication

“Smith is a master of description and dialogue. . . . In a long weekend, one could read Scarred all the way through and feel rewarded by the familiarity of characters, enhanced knowledge of the Civil War and excellent writing.”—Jill Zima Borski, Board chair, Florida Outdoor Writers Association, and author of Know That I Have Lived, a memoir in essays

“ . . . a haunting love story . . . . keeps the reader turning pages, rooting for this man who finds himself trapped between the North and South and only wanting peace.”—Susannah Carlson, author of Picnic Point

About the Author:

Michael Kenneth Smith trained as a mechanical engineer and began a successful auto parts business in the early 1980’s. He sold his business in 2000 and retired. Since then, he fished, golfed, cooked, played bridge, became an oenophile, socialized, and even edited a local newspaper. Throughout his journey, Mike had one thing that always came easy to him; telling stories. In 2013, he published his first novel, Home Again, an award winning Civil War saga. Scarred is his second novel.

Please visit Michael Kenneth Smith online at the following places:

http://www.michaelkennethsmith.com/
https://twitter.com/AuthorMikeSmith
https://www.facebook.com/Michael-K-Smith-446349665500089/?ref=hl
https://www.pinterest.com/authorMikeSmith/
https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Kenneth-Smith/e/B00OFEOHHO/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10674237.Michael_Kenneth_Smith

GIVEAWAY!

2 comments:

  1. Thanks for this historical novel which sounds captivating.

    ReplyDelete
  2. One of my favorite time periods to read about. I have added this to my TBR list.

    ReplyDelete

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