Peace in the Valley: A Quest for Redemption in the Old West – 5 out of 5 stars – A must-read!

By Amazon Customer

On October 1, 2017

“Peace in the Valley” is a beautifully written historical fiction novel that incorporates all the aspects that make it so compelling: it has a touching love story, vivid battle scenes, memorable characters and of course personal dilemmas they have to resolve.

The story starts with the Civil War, when a wounded Rebel officer Mark falls in love with a Yankee nurse Ruth who happens to be a Quaker. Thinking that his soul is beyond redemption, he gradually gives in to Ruth’s pacifistic views and hopes to find peace at last after the war is over, together with his new beloved and her peaceful and loving community. However, the real world can be far too cruel and even after the war is over, the conflicts and injustices continue to take place, but this time the target is not the rebellious South but the Indians, and both Ruth and Mark find themselves once again in the thick of it…

I absolutely loved Mark’s character development, from the bloodthirsty soldier to a peaceful and God-loving family man to a man who has to pick up his guns – even though against his will – to fight for justice for the people who otherwise would face complete annihilation. Mark’s relationship with the Sioux and even a former foe who later becomes his best friend are so well developed that I couldn’t help but applaud the author for creating such a wonderful character arc.
Detailed descriptions of the places where major historical events took place, authentic language and dialogue, and of course multiple, highly important messages that are dotted throughout the narration make this story a must read for all the fans of the historical fiction genre. Five huge stars!

 


Highly recommended!  5.0 out of 5 stars 
By Amazon Customer on August 18, 2017

Format: Kindle Edition | Verified Purchase

Being a history buff, I love reading stories that are not only entertaining but have the actual historical figures which are used as characters. “Cable of Fate” is one of those novels: rich in history, fast-moving, meticulously researched and impossible to put down.

               Another thing that I highly appreciated was the plot that was chosen as the center of this story – a conflict that broke down in the South of the United States that almost resulted in WW1 moving to a Western Hemisphere. Even though it’s the kind of a plot that falls under the alternative history category, it’s such an interesting concept that it kept me on the edge of my seat while I tried to imagine what could have happened if such events indeed took place.

               The real historical figures, starting with the German Kaiser Wilhelm II, a Mexican president Carranza, a rebel General Pancho Villa, the American President Woodrow Wilson and last but not least Teddy Roosevelt, make this historical novel a true gem due to the masterful characterization and vivid descriptions of the unraveling events.

Highly recommended to all lovers of historical fiction genre.

 


Midwest Book Review: “Small Press Bookwatch,” Vol. 16, No. 2, February, 2017: “Fiction Shelf.”

Cable of Fate
John Eric Vining
Page Publishing
101 Tyrellan Avenue Suite 100 New York, NY 10309
ISBN: 9781684090617, $15.95, PB, amazon.com

February 3, 2017

“…very highly recommended…”

Synopsis: On both sides of the turn of the twentieth century, there emerged a style of writing that was a distant kin to the modern historical novel. It was known as Les Guerres Imaginaires, which can basically be translated into “The Imaginary War.”

It was a literary device used to tell how future wars might occur and be fought. This type of novel was written by military authors who sought to mold and enhance their foresight with intricate historical and political analyses. Examples of this genre include “The Battle of Dorking,” a 1871 short story in Blackwood’s Magazine by Sir George Tomkyns Chesney; The Great Naval War of 1887, written in 1886 by Sir William Laird Clowes and Commander Charles N. Robinson; The Great War of 189-, A Forecast, by Rear Admiral Philip Colomb, written in 1893; The War Inevitable (1908), by Alan H. Burgoyne; The Valor of Ignorance (1909), by Homer Lea; and two great novels of the 1920s, Sea Power in the Pacific (1920) and The Great Pacific War (1925), by Hector Bywater.

In “Cable of Fate: The Zimmermann Affair and The Great Southwestern War of 1917”, author John Eric Vining resurrects a mirror image of this genre to look back into history and explore what might have happened if Mexico had taken Germany’s 1917 Zimmermann Telegram seriously and attempted to recapture the American Southwest at the height of World War I.

While this is fantastically unbelievable at first glance, a further analysis is warranted. What you might find is that not only was a Mexican invasion of the American Southwest quite possible in 1917, the real surprise is that it did not happen in the actual history of World War I!

Critique: With a kind of imaginative realism, “Cable of Fate: The Zimmermann Affair and The Great Southwestern War of 1917” is a consistently compelling read from cover to cover. An iconoclastic but thoroughly riveting ‘what if’ look at history, “Cable of Fate” is an unfailingly engaging read that is entertaining — and clearly showcases author John Eric Vining as having a genuine flair for originality and storytelling. While very highly recommended, especially for community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that “Cable of Fate” is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).


Cable of Fate
John Eric Vining
Page Publishing Inc.
101 Tyrellan Avenue Suite 100 New York, NY 10309
www.pagepublishing.com
9781684090617, $15.95, PB, 268pp, www.amazon.com

Midwest Book Review: “MBR Bookwatch”: Vol. 16, No. 2, February 2017

“Vogel’s Bookshelf”

 

“…unreservedly recommended…”

“Cable of Fate” is what might be termed an ‘alternate universe’ story of what might have been possible for the United States and Mexico to have fought the Great Southwestern War of 1917.

 

Critique: An original, deftly crafted, engaging, compelling, and unfailingly entertaining novel, “Cable of Fate: The Zimmermann Affair and the Great Southwestern War of 1917” is unreservedly recommended, especially for community and academic library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that “Cable of Fate” is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).

 

Paul T. Vogel
Reviewer

February 2, 2017

 

 


Reviewed by Chris Fischer for Readers’ Favorite

January 29, 2017
Wow! Just, wow! That’s exactly what I thought when I finished reading Cable of Fate: The Zimmerman Affair and the Great Southwestern War of 1917 by author John Eric Vining. In a creative tale that explores what could have happened if the “Zimmerman Telegram” had actually gotten through to the Mexican government during the First World War, this book is full of twists, turns and political intrigue, and does an amazing job of providing a look at what might have been if one thing had changed. Will Mexico be able to secure a second front that will stop the United States from supplying its troops and allies? Will this change the course of history? You’ll have to read this excellent new book to find out!

I loved Cable of Fate: The Zimmerman Affair and the Great Southwestern War of 1917. Loved. It. How’s that for a review? Well, it’s certainly how I felt about this highly unique and interesting new tale by author John Eric Vining. Vining has done an amazing job in creating characters that his readers will connect with and relate to. If that isn’t a hallmark of a great author, I’m not sure what is. His scenes are vividly drawn and provide a level of detail that is simply second to none. His readers will feel as if they have slipped through the pages in time and are actually sitting in 1917 Mexico. Any reader who enjoys historical fiction and likes to wonder “what if” should absolutely read this book. I am so pleased to be able to highly recommend Cable of Fate: The Zimmerman Affair and the Great Southwestern War of 1917 and look forward to reading more from the very talented author, John Eric Vining, as soon as I can!

Rating: ***** (5 stars out of 5)