Book Review: The Last Confederate Battle by John Cline

Steeped in Civil War history, The Last Confederate Battle by John Cline is a novel of three brothers and how the War between the States impacted their lives. It is also the story of Frank Stone, New York City Chief of Detectives and Allan Pinkerton, as they search for answers to mysterious murders and work to find out who is behind war-profiteering to bring them all to justice.

In this moving story, Cline brings the Civil War up front and close to readers as they explore how the conflict impacted the lives of several fictional characters. The three Davis brothers are called on to play different important roles for the Confederacy, and Andy pays a huge price for it.

The alternate plot finds Frank Stone brought in from New York City to assist Pinkerton in uncovering certain plots at President Lincoln's request. I like how Cline portrayed Lincoln in this novel. The caring persona that evolved throughout the story is exactly how I feel Lincoln has been remembered throughout history. In addition, Lincoln did what he felt was best to win the war, not necessarily what made him popular with Congress.

How the author tied the stories together is well done. I was wondering exactly how he would pull it off, but he managed quite nicely and it all made sense in the end.

My one challenge with this novel is that it is very plot-driven. The author obviously is well-versed in Civil War history, and he includes an abundance of historical detail within the pages of The Last Confederate Battle. While I enjoyed this aspect, since this is my favorite time in American history to read, the extensive pages of narrative made it read more like narrative non-fiction than a novel. Typically, with historical fiction, you have historical events molded around the characters. In this instance, it felt like the characters' stories were molded around American history, and this means the characters can get a bit lost in the shuffle. It puts a character-driven reader at a slight disadvantage, because you don't get to know the characters as well as you would like.

Now, for some this won't be an issue. Many readers enjoy plot-driven novels. I've read many of them myself. The Last Confederate Battle is a good book that accurately depicts the times in which the story is set. I would definitely look for more books from Cline in the future.


Title:  The Last Confederate Battle
Author:  John Cline
Publisher: Borderline Publishers
ISBN-10: 0984366997
ISBN-13: 978-0984366996
SRP:  $7.99 (Kindle and Nook)

Book Spotlight: Speed of Light by Lee Baker

Living the life of his dreams, and married to his longtime sweetheart, Pierce Black has been selected to be the first to pilot the Speed of Light plane. He is destined to make history like John Glenn and Neil Armstrong. Pierce’s idyllic world screeches to a halt when, three weeks before the historic flight, his wife is killed in a tragic car accident.

Determined to carry on with the groundbreaking flight in spite of his grief, Pierce is changed forever when, during the flight, his body is transformed into light. The shock throws Pierce into a deep coma and when he wakes time is not relevant to his mind. Suddenly able to step into visions of the past, Pierce struggles to make sense of what he sees as he learns that his wife’s death was not an accident, but murder and the murderers are still after him.

As Pierce and the beautiful attorney, Vanessa Trace, sort through the bizarre attacks on Pierce and his vivid visions of the past, they cannot substantiate any evidence to his claims. In a frantic race to stay alive, Pierce and Vanessa find themselves matching wits with a conspiracy with seemingly endless resources and a police department convinced Pierce is a murderer, while at the same time they question whether or not Pierce himself is crazy.

Standing out from traditional suspense novels, Speed of Light is fast-paced, intelligent and intricately layered with mind expanding concepts.

Read the reviews!

"Speed of Light by Lee Baker is a terrific read that takes you on a fast-paced, thrilling experience and journey with twists and turns that surprise and entertain! It’s a book you won’t want to put down. Lee Baker makes a strong impact with his first novel, and reveals himself as a master storyteller!”

—Larry King, CNN

“A thrill ride like no other. Futuristic technology collides with edge of your seat suspense… This action-packed, intelligent novel is intricately layered with mind expanding concepts that will take your imagination to new levels.”

—Jennifer St. Giles, NovelsAlive.tv

Lee Baker is the president of Sandman Studios, a visual effects and animation company and has taught courses at UCLA Extension, Loyola Marymount University and the University of Utah. He is the author of the illustrated books “Humbug, A Christmas Carol” and “Beau and the Beanstalk,” and now his latest thriller “Speed of Light.” Lee lives in Utah with his wife and five children.

Visit the author online at http://www.speednovel.com/

Book Preview: The Last Confederate Battle by John Cline

History records that the last battle of the Civil War was fought on the red clay soil of the Rio Grande River at Palmito Ranch, near Brownsville, Texas. That battle took place in mid-May 1865, more than a month following General Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, Virginia. There are factual accounts of skirmishes that took place long after Lee’s surrender. The historical attention to detail is highly accurate giving the reader a front row seat to life before, during and after the Civil War.
The Last Confederate Battle brings to light the perspectives from both sides, revealing the positive and negative natures of men. Conflict within our own country is remarkably described through the writings of John Cline; the main characters of this multifaceted story come to life as real historical experiences are interwoven into each page.

Originally, my review of The Last Confederate Battle by John Cline was scheduled for today. I did not have time to complete the book yet, as during that week I lost power, I had very little reading time. Here I am going to provide my thoughts on what I have read so far, and then my full review will appear on December 22nd, hopefully earlier, if I get caught up on my reading.

The book opens with a Prologue that takes place in July 1865. After four years of war, Captain Andrew Jefferson Davis returns to Georgia to the land which once housed the Davis plantation. Foraging Union soldiers had set fire to the plantation's barns and fields, and tortured and killed Andy's wife and son. The book then travels back in time to when Andy was growing up with his brothers, Dwayne and Everett, before moving forward to the spring of 1857, then through the years of the Civil War and beyond.

I've enjoyed what I've read so far. The author is taking his time developing the characters, especially Andy. The cover art captures your attention with the prominent flag. I look forward  to reading more.

Following a twenty five year career in both the enlisted and officer corps’, John Cline retired from the U.S. Navy as a Limited Duty Officer (Mustang) in July 1993 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He was the director of the Idaho Bureau of Disaster Services until he retired in 2005.


He has a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Workforce Education and Curriculum Development from Southern Illinois University, and a Master of Art degree (M.A.) in National Security Studies; Homeland Security and Defense from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy (140th Session), and was nationally certified by the National Coordinating Council on Emergency Management and the International Association of Emergency Managers. He is an avid Amateur Radio Operator with the call sign W5USN. John and his wife Pat have three children and four grandchildren. 

Guest Blogger: Scott Davis, Author of If My Body Is A Temple, Then I Was A Megachurch

IF THERE’S ONE THING that’s guaranteed, it’s that you will bust a gut reading comedian Scott Davis’ hilarious yet poignant story about how he lost 132 pounds without any exercise. Spiced with his trademark comedy and self-deprecating humor, Scott serves up a dose of reality about the correlation between the state of our hearts and the location of our waistline. Scott explores the spiritual depths and practical steps to losing significant weight and shows how you can adopt a healthy lifestyle too.

Whether you need to lose 150 pounds or five pounds, Scott’s hilarious memoir will not only make you laugh but it will also equip you for your own journey to a happier and healthier you.

Ring Around The Store by Scott Davis

I never understood as a hefty five-foot, nine-inch 309-pound man why it was that I would eat deli turkey slices and still not lose any weight! Why was it that when I downed cans of tomato soup, I would still bloat up!? Why would drinking “healthy” jars of V-8 still cause my scales to groan under the weight of my girth as I planted my portly body on them?? WHY? WHY! OH THE HUMANITY!!

This was frustrating! I mean, I was eating “right.” I was eating stuff that was low in calories, yet I was still gaining, or at the least not losing any.

On my weight loss journey that I talk about in my book, If My Body Is A Temple, Then I Was A Megachurch, I learned some key, really cool things that I think may help you. Not only if you are warring with the battle of the bulge, but even if you one of those people who don’t struggle with their weight. Oh, by the way, if you are the latter, I would like to slap you!

Anyway, even if you are thin, these tips will help you literally feel a lot better. They really will!
First, go easy on the salt. Those items I mentioned earlier were loaded with salt which will slow your weight loss tremendously. Yes, we need salt to live, but God naturally supplied most of what we need in our everyday natural foods that He provides.

Are you one of those people who grabs the salt shaker and starts tipping it over and pounding the bottom to cover your food before you even taste it? Well, STOP IT! I used to use salt on everything! However, during my weight loss journey, I only used one to two teaspoons of Morton’s light salt per day. That’s it. No more.

I found that food has a taste. Yep, I learned the flavor of the various vegetables I was eating. I didn’t have to mask it with salt. Recently when I went to my local steak restaurant and ordered my asparagus the “old” way. It came floating in butter and little diamonds of salt on top. That first bite was a revelation to me! I could not taste the flavor of the vegetable. I might as well have taken some flat bread and wrapped it around a stick of butter and jammed a toothpick though the center, held it up and bit in. I would have gotten about the same taste sensation.

My second tip is when you go grocery shopping, avoid the center of the store. Shop around the outer walls, or what I call the ring around the store. That’s where you find all the fresh veggies, meats, dairies, eggs, and so on. Stay away from the packaged, canned goods.

Oh, and don’t get the deli turkey slices anymore either! They are not as healthy as the fresh meats. I started looking at those packages and noticed the huge amounts of sodium (salt) in those tightly sealed plastic bags. It’s like licking a salt block!

And the last tip is if you are out to eat and you can’t have total control over the amount of salt being used, get a cheap bottle of apple cider vinegar. If you take a swig of that at night, it will help flush the excess salt out of your system. I know it sounds weird, but it works.

I hope these few little tips will help you stay motivated. Keep the faith, don’t give up, and put down the donut!

Scott is a comedian, singer and entertainer. He received Christ at the age of sixteen on July 10, 1979. He graduated from Liberty University where he attended on a full scholarship for traveling with the Light Singers. While working toward his degree in cross-cultural studies, Scott traveled across the U.S. and to ten foreign countries.


Scott’s ministry has continued in the U.S. and abroad since his graduation in 1984. He has appeared on Mark Lowry’s videos and has written comedy for Mark while under contract with Word Records. For a year, Scott appeared weekly on the national television show, “The Mark & Kathy Show,” with Mark Lowry and Kathy Troccoli. Along with his weekly appearances, he has been a guest on numerous religious and secular radio and television broadcasts, including an appearance with comedian Dennis Swanberg on Swan’s Place.


Today, Scott conducts GET REAL national conferences with the nation’s top speakers and musicians. He also presents music and comedy concert events.

For more information on this tour, please visit

http://mediaguests.net/online-tours/if-my-body-is-a-temple-then-i-was-a-megachurch/

Interview: Daniel Sullivan, Author of The Greatest Patriot

Joining us today is Daniel Sullivan, author of The Greatest Patriot.

After graduating from Oregon State University Dan worked for three years in Seattle and Portland, Oregon before quitting his job and spending three months backpacking around Europe in 1990. Upon returning from Europe, Dan moved to Boise, Idaho where he went to work in the Real Estate industry.

He earned his Scuba Dive Master certification and spent years traveling to destinations such as Fiji, Belize, Mexico, and throughout the Caribbean. Dan and his wife Amy enjoy the incredible natural wonders of Idaho and the Pacific Northwest with their two children.

Welcome to The Book Connection, Dan. It's wonderful to have you here.

Where did you grow up?

La Grande, Oregon…a idyllic little town nestled in a beautiful valley in Northeastern Oregon.

What is your fondest childhood memory?

In the winter, the city would block off Oak Street hill, a few blocks from our house. My brothers and I would sled down that hill over and over again until we were frozen. Then we would go home, warm up and do it over again. Sledding after dark was especially fun!

When did you begin writing?

I began writing short stories as soon as I could write. I wrote funny stories for my classmates and funny letters to friends and girls I liked. I remember telling stories before I could write.

Do you write during the day, at night or whenever you can sneak a few moments?

I like to get up early and write. After about 8 pm, I’m toast.

What is this book about?

It’s a “What if”. I have always wondered what the world would look like if JFK hadn’t died in ’63…I simply changed that question to a statement, the world looks as it does today because he didn’t die in 1963.

What inspired you to write it?

I wanted to write an alternate ending to the tragedy of JFK’s death. Wouldn’t it have been great to have been there and be able to yell “duck!” before the shooting started.

Who is your favorite character from the book?

You can’t help but love Hal Rumsey, the Secret Service agent who was assigned to JFK for all those years after 1963. But I really like Demetrius, the island’s little caretaker who has a wonderful sense of duty and a unique sense of humor.

Are you a member of a critique group? If no, who provides feedback on your work?

I’m not a member of a critique group. I have a large number of friends who provided great feedback throughout the writing process. I feel sorry for them, reading the first half of the book and having to wait for me to write the second half

Who is your favorite author?

Probably Clive Cussler. I like Tom Clancy and Dan Brown as well.

Do you have an agent or are you looking for one?

Neither. I wouldn’t have a problem using an agent, but I didn’t see any reason to beg somebody to read my book and represent me when I could do it myself.

Was the road to publication smooth sailing or a bumpy ride?

Once I decided to self publish, it was pretty smooth sailing.

If you knew then, what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently?

Not that I know of….can I answer this question again in a year or two?

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, all the e-readers or on my website http://www.thegreatestpatriot.com/

Do you have a video trailer to promote your book? If yes, where can readers find it?

On the website!

What is the best investment you have made in promoting your book?

The investment of time I’ve put into Facebook, Twitter, and being active on relevant blogs

What is one piece of advice you would like to share with aspiring authors everywhere?

If you are going to write a book that you want to sell, write something that is interesting. People will buy books that interest them, they won’t necessarily buy a book that is of interest just to you. I sat next to a kid on a flight a while back who was hoping to sell a book full of stories about he and his friends…but he couldn’t tell me what was unique about his group. When I got off the plane he had bought one of my books but I still wasn’t sure what he was trying to sell. Think sales first!

What is up next for you?

I’m just putting the finishing touches on a novel I wrote a few years ago, a sailing and drinking adventure (two things I know quite a bit about) that takes place in the Caribbean. I’m also about 1/3 of the way finished with the follow up to The Greatest Patriot. Jose Telleria is in a lot of trouble!

Is there anything you would like to add?

There is a book in everybody. If you want to write, sit down every day and write 250 words. After a year you will have a 365 page book. It’s easier than it seems.

Thanks for spending time with us today, Dan. We wish you the best.

Guest Blogger: John Cline, Author of The Last Confederate Battle

Today's special guest is John Cline, author of The Last Confederate Battle. For those who might have missed it, I am a Civil War buff. I have an entire bookshelf in my home dedicated to nonfiction titles about the conflict and Abraham Lincoln. I also own and have read several novels set during this time period. It remains one of my favorite time periods in American history, despite it being such a dark time for our country.

Look for my review of The Last Confederate Battle on November 14th.

History records that the last battle of the Civil War was fought on the red clay soil of the Rio Grande River at Palmito Ranch, near Brownsville, Texas. That battle took place in mid-May 1865, more than a month following General Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, Virginia. There are factual accounts of skirmishes that took place long after Lee’s surrender. The historical attention to detail is highly accurate giving the reader a front row seat to life before, during and after the Civil War.

The Last Confederate Battle brings to light the perspectives from both sides, revealing the positive and negative natures of men. Conflict within our own country is remarkably described through the writings of John Cline; the main characters of this multifaceted story come to life as real historical experiences are interwoven into each page.

The Story, Inspiration and Research Behind The Last Confederate Battle by John Cline

First, let me thank The Book Connection for the opportunity to talk about my book, The Last Confederate Battle. I think readers will be surprised to learn that the book is not so much about war, as it is about people – individuals in a wartime setting. Also, I guess it should be revealed here that no one was more surprised that I wrote a novel in a Civil War setting than me. While I have always believed that the Revolutionary War may have been our nation’s brightest moment in history, I have similarly believed that the Civil War was our darkest years with Americans fighting (and killing) fellow Americans, and the country ripping itself apart in an epoch that didn’t have to happen.

Regarding the story behind the story, there are several: By 1861 the United States was entering the Industrial Revolution. Some forward-thinking Southern planters were realizing that they could make greater profits by getting away from slave labor and turning to machinery; they were severely shunned for their beliefs. The fictitious stories of U. S. Senator Hill and his Chief of Staff, Winston Harrison, highlight the effects of unelected power brokers called “staffers” within the network of Congressional offices. And the liaison of really big business and individual Members of Congress depict how corruptible the lure of money from the private sector can be, and how that corruption can effect Main Street and the average citizen. And lastly, the expansion of railroads across the country during the Reconstruction Period was sometimes laced with accounts of violence that have largely gone untold. The economy, following the Civil War, played a major role in westward expansionism. But it was the Panic of May 9, 1873 that was so devastating, especially in the West. It did, however, allow me to start thinking about a sequel, tentatively titled, Rebuilding American Dreams.

The inspiration for The Last Confederate Battle, came from a mental image of a Confederate soldier squatting beside a small campfire near midnight on what had been the lawn in front of a grand plantation house that had been put to the torch during the war. I gave it little regard at the time, but the image would not go away, so I did the most dangerous thing a writer can do. I began asking questions. Why was he there? Why was he alone? What had happened to the plantation that was only miles away from Madison, Georgia, one of only seven towns that had not been put to the torch during Sheridan’s March to the Sea? Those questions, and a lot of later research, resulted in the book being written.

What methods of research were used? First, I am a product of the South, having been born in Memphis, Tennessee, so I was regaled with many Southern stories. As a boy, I spent summers visiting the battlegrounds of the Revolutionary War, upon which many of the Civil War battles were fought. I didn’t care for History in school because classes were all about the rote memorization of names, dates, and places without stories. So as a child, I went to the battlegrounds in search of those stories. I was fortunate, again as a child, to meet survivors and relatives of survivors who had Civil War stories to tell. I guess those people and their stories remained in the deepest storerooms of my memory, lying dormant these many years. The computer and several city, county and university libraries became my greatest sources of information. As a matter of interest, the antebellum house on the cover of the book, a house that actually survived the Civil War, is located in Madison, Georgia where several stories in the book take place. A friend, with whom I served in the Navy, and with whom I remain in constant contact, detoured on a road trip to stop by Madison where he and his wife took several pictures and emailed them to me for use in the book.

John J. Cline
The Boise Author
http://www.theboiseauthor.com/

Following a twenty five year career in both the enlisted and officer corps’, John Cline retired from the U.S. Navy as a Limited Duty Officer (Mustang) in July 1993 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He was the director of the Idaho Bureau of Disaster Services until he retired in 2005.


He has a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Workforce Education and Curriculum Development from Southern Illinois University, and a Master of Art degree (M.A.) in National Security Studies; Homeland Security and Defense from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy (140th Session), and was nationally certified by the National Coordinating Council on Emergency Management and the International Association of Emergency Managers. He is an avid Amateur Radio Operator with the call sign W5USN. John and his wife Pat have three children and four grandchildren.