Guest Post & Giveaway: Man of War by T.J. London

Man of War by T.J. London

Publication Date: April 14, 2020

Paperback & eBook; 681 Pages

Series: The Rebels and Redcoats Saga, Book #4

Genre: Historical Fiction

The man who wants everything gets nothing… July 1755 War is brewing between England and France. Impressed into the Royal Navy, Lieutenant Merrick, against all odds, advanced through the ranks to become an officer—but he is not a gentleman. A man with a tainted past from a traitorous family, cast down by King George—a stain no man can remove. Merrick’s thrust into the role of captain, when the HMS Boudica is attacked by pirates off the coast of Nova Scotia. On a captured enemy vessel he discovers a King’s ransom in treasure and a woman chained in the hold from passenger ship that mysteriously disappeared at sea. Beautiful, defiant, and hell bent on revenge, India makes a deal with Merrick to uncover the pirates’ scheme, promising him everything he desires: fortune, glory, and the chance to bring honor back to the McKesson name. Now, they race against time to uncover a plot that links those in the highest ranks of the British aristocracy, to a failed rebellion that is once again trying to topple the monarchy and place an old pretender on the throne. But all that glitters is not gold as passions stir and an impossible love blooms, threatening to undermine all Merrick and India have done to protect their King and a country on the brink of war.


 

Author Guest Post #2 Man of War Book #4 The Rebels and Redcoats Saga

Can I read Man of War first? It’s a prequel, right?

“If I am a man of war, it’s because you made me this way. Years spent under your thumb and on a ship, fighting more battles than you can possibly imagine, have made me a hard, violent man. I’ll take pleasure in killing you. I want there to be no doubt in your mind.”

Huzzah, sailors, T.J. London here! The first question I always get when people see Man of War, Book #4, Prequel to The Rebels and Redcoats Saga is: Can I read this book first or do I have to read the others before it? I love Royal Navy stories, but I don’t have any interest in the Revolutionary War. The appropriate answer is: Yes, you can read this book first; it is a prequel, and you’ll (hopefully) enjoy it, and you won’t spoil the rest of the saga. It’s technically meant to stand alone. But… I dare you to consider why I wrote a prequel as the fourth book in the saga!

Go with me for a minute. 




While this is a historical fiction, and the main characters are creations of my imagination, the overarching goal of The Rebels and Redcoats Saga is to shine a light on this missing history of the Oneida Nation and the colonists in Upstate New York during the American Revolutionary War. In TRRS, we see this story play out through the eyes of my fictional hero, John Carlisle, and my heroine, Dellis McKesson. Yes, this is a saga, so the goal is to follow my main characters and the secondary characters over many years and many challenges; which means there is a lot of story to tell and many ways to do it. In my wicked author brain, I want to yank your emotional chain so you feel pain, fall in love, experience ecstasy, and witness horrific acts of war when I want you to (Yes, I really planned this). I never promise the reader a happily ever after because life and war just don’t work that way. The saga is meant to be gritty, often jarring, uplifting, and a realistic historical experience for the reader. I recognize that not every reader looks for these things in a story, but that’s the T.J. London promise I give to the reader for each and every one of my books—should you choose to pick one up.

Each one of the books, from The Tory all the way to Man of War, are placed where they are to reveal the secrets of the story when I intended them to be revealed. Yes, I really am that much of an evil plotter. In fact, I have four more books already somewhat planned in my head, making sure the story progresses as intended.

In The Tory, The Traitor, and The Turncoat, we learn about John Carlisle and Dellis McKesson’s torrid love affair in the backdrop of the Revolutionary War, but there are aspects of their story that are nebulous to the reader, and Man of War was written to fill in those gaps. All the secrets of the McKesson and Carlisle families are revealed (or are they?), and the story comes together within the many pages of Merrick and India’s tale, bringing the truth into the blinding light of day, so when we return to the Revolution in Book #5, The Rebel, we’re ready and up to speed for what comes next. 

The roots of the McKesson family struggle boils down to nothing more than sibling rivalry so severe its rippling affect can be felt twenty years later and drags the Carlisle family, kicking and screaming, along with it. The hatred between two brothers runs so deep it knows no boundaries, and we see the ramifications of that play out in the lives of Dellis, John, and the members of their family throughout the saga. 

But it all starts with Man of War. 

It’s always so much fun to find out how everything was laid to waste. What was that pivotal moment in a character’s life that changed everything? Hindsight is twenty-twenty, and so it is Man of War. And that’s why the prequel is book #4 in the Rebels and Redcoats Saga. It’s like opening up a family album and looking back on the past only to say, “Ah ha!”

In the prequel, we learn the tragic story of James and Dane and how the McKesson family title and fortune was both lost and eventually brought back. Instead of taking place in Upstate New York during the Revolution, we’re far away on the HMS Boudica at the start of the French and Indian War when a mysterious woman washes up on deck, bringing turmoil and intrigue in her wake. We’ll see many of our favorite, and not-so-favorite, characters from the Saga when they were young and impressionable, before life sets them on their various paths—those pivotal moments I mentioned earlier when they could’ve done things so differently. 

So, I leave you with this: Whenever you chose to read Man of War, it will be an adventure, you will fall in love, you will have your heart broken, and history will be presented to you as accurately as possible. That’s my promise to you, the reader, with every book I write. You decide if you want to read this book first or fourth. 

Huzzah, rebels and sailors! I wish you happy reading. 

Much love in trying times and be safe.
T.J. London

Available on Amazon

About the Author

T.J. London is a rebel, liberal, lover, fighter, diehard punk, and pharmacist-turned-author who loves history. As an author her goal is to fill in the gaps, writing stories about missing history, those little places that are so interesting yet sadly forgotten. Her favorite time periods to write in are first and foremost the American Revolutionary War, the French Revolution, the French and Indian War, the Russian Revolution and the Victorian Era. Her passions are traveling, writing, reading, barre, and sharing a glass of wine with her friends, while she collects experiences in this drama called life. She is a native of Metropolitan Detroit (but secretly dreams of being a Londoner) and resides there with her husband Fred and her beloved cat and writing partner Mickey.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway 
To enter to win an amazing prize pack from T.J. London, please complete the Gleam form below!

Giveaway Rules
 – Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on May 15th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
–  Paperback giveaway is open to the US only. – Only one entry per household.
–  All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.

: Man of War