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Crowe
Johnny Crowe is an outsider who longs for the acceptance of the folks of the small town of Fiddler’s Picket. In the spring of 1862, Johnny enlists in the Confederate Army with the hope of making something of himself and, in return, earning the respect that he yearns for.Leaving his home on Devil’s Knob as well as his beloved Anna Lee behind, Johnny travels to Richmond, Virginia, to enlist. Over the spring and summer, the war takes its toll on Johnny's mind, body, and soul. Aid comes in the form of the mysterious Mr. Scratch, who always has a solution for Johnny’s predicament in his magical trunk; provided that Johnny is willing to pay the price.Follow Johnny as he works his way up through the ranks of the Army in the process of finding his way back home to Fiddler's Picket. Will Anna Lee accept man who comes home in place of the boy she once knew? What price is Johnny willing to pay to make it back to her? And what dark secret is awaits him upon his return to Devil's Knob?
- GenresHistorical Fiction
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 26, 2011
3 people want to read
About the author
Joey L Mills
1 book6 followersFull-time stay-at-home husband and father of three special needs kids. Part time volunteer. Published author. Casual gamer. All-around good guy. Contributor at GeekDad.com
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 6, 2011
As I began to read Crowe, I felt as though I was stepping through a door in time and was submerged in a place where history was made. From the very beginning, I felt a connection with Johnny Crowe, the protagonist and hero of the story. You see, Johnny represents us in so many ways that you feel you are a part of him or maybe that he is a part of you.
Johnny struggles with who he is and what he is capable of, but never sees his strengths or accepts himself, until he tangles with the Devil and goes places he never would have gone otherwise.
Johnny has so much at his fingertips, a home and a young woman who loves him and sees the good in him. Granted, Johnny hasn't always had it easy being abandoned by his parents at a very early age, being left in the care of his grandfather who drank too much, and soon thereafter, being left all alone when his grandfather dies and untimely death.
Johnny thinks joining the army will solve all of his problems. He thinks it will make a man of him and gain him respect, not only in the eyes of his beloved, Anna Lee, but in the eyes of those around him.
Johnny struggles to find his way, traveling far from home, the only home he has ever known, through trials and tests and just when he starts to feel he is finally on the right path, the fighting begins, for this story is set in the Civil War and if your history lessons come to mind, you know that it was not a bed of roses by any means.
The conditions are rough and for Johnny, it is traumatizing seeing his fellow soldiers shot down in front of him. But nothing can compare to the tribulations Johnny goes through.
I had the good fortune of meeting Joey Mills, the author of Crowe, and know that Mr. Mills takes his writing very seriously. He put a great deal of thought, effort, and imagination into writing this wonderful story and I hope he feels a sense of satisfaction through sharing his thoughts with others so that they too might enjoy his work and become a part of the world he has created.
Mr. Mills draws on the fears and struggles each of us face on a daily basis in his characterization of Johnny. We have a choice to use our will to do what is right over the ever tempting desire to do something that is harmful to ourselves or others, no matter how minute it may seem at the time.
The old saying ‘everyone makes mistakes’ is true in regards to this story, but learning from ones’ mistakes is the prevailing message. In Crowe, we can be renewed and feel a sense of victory over our ever present adversary, as we share the life and times of Johnny Crowe.
I hope that this is just the beginning for Mr. Mills and that he will continue to bring us stories like Crowe, which will touch us long after the book as been closed and put upon the shelf.
Johnny struggles with who he is and what he is capable of, but never sees his strengths or accepts himself, until he tangles with the Devil and goes places he never would have gone otherwise.
Johnny has so much at his fingertips, a home and a young woman who loves him and sees the good in him. Granted, Johnny hasn't always had it easy being abandoned by his parents at a very early age, being left in the care of his grandfather who drank too much, and soon thereafter, being left all alone when his grandfather dies and untimely death.
Johnny thinks joining the army will solve all of his problems. He thinks it will make a man of him and gain him respect, not only in the eyes of his beloved, Anna Lee, but in the eyes of those around him.
Johnny struggles to find his way, traveling far from home, the only home he has ever known, through trials and tests and just when he starts to feel he is finally on the right path, the fighting begins, for this story is set in the Civil War and if your history lessons come to mind, you know that it was not a bed of roses by any means.
The conditions are rough and for Johnny, it is traumatizing seeing his fellow soldiers shot down in front of him. But nothing can compare to the tribulations Johnny goes through.
I had the good fortune of meeting Joey Mills, the author of Crowe, and know that Mr. Mills takes his writing very seriously. He put a great deal of thought, effort, and imagination into writing this wonderful story and I hope he feels a sense of satisfaction through sharing his thoughts with others so that they too might enjoy his work and become a part of the world he has created.
Mr. Mills draws on the fears and struggles each of us face on a daily basis in his characterization of Johnny. We have a choice to use our will to do what is right over the ever tempting desire to do something that is harmful to ourselves or others, no matter how minute it may seem at the time.
The old saying ‘everyone makes mistakes’ is true in regards to this story, but learning from ones’ mistakes is the prevailing message. In Crowe, we can be renewed and feel a sense of victory over our ever present adversary, as we share the life and times of Johnny Crowe.
I hope that this is just the beginning for Mr. Mills and that he will continue to bring us stories like Crowe, which will touch us long after the book as been closed and put upon the shelf.
December 27, 2011
In an original take on a tried and true story line, Crowe anchored me in with Johnny's sweet and endearing nature. It pulled me along with unexpected forays wedged between wicked creatures and noble men in battles fought on land and battles fought in the soul.
For a boy with so little, Johnny has a wealth of the most important possession - a pure heart of gold. A heart that even General Lee himself can see as clear as day as he welcomes Johnny into the ranks of the Confederate army.
“A lot of heart,” the General murmured. “Be a shame to ever lose that.”
Setting out on a journey to prove himself to other people, he ends up discovering the truth through the challenges he faces and choices he makes - he already was someone important. But without taking that journey, poor Johnny never would find the character and courage buried beneath his self-doubt.
With Crowe, as in life, it’s not one hundred percent clear what Johnny is facing as he walks his path to self-fulfillment. Is it something simple like a turn of bad luck? Is it a matter of perception and there’s nothing there at all, or is there something darker at play? One thing is for sure, you’ll be anxious to discover Johnny just as Johnny discovers himself. Cheering him on and wondering how in Sam Hill is he going to get back home?!
For a boy with so little, Johnny has a wealth of the most important possession - a pure heart of gold. A heart that even General Lee himself can see as clear as day as he welcomes Johnny into the ranks of the Confederate army.
“A lot of heart,” the General murmured. “Be a shame to ever lose that.”
Setting out on a journey to prove himself to other people, he ends up discovering the truth through the challenges he faces and choices he makes - he already was someone important. But without taking that journey, poor Johnny never would find the character and courage buried beneath his self-doubt.
With Crowe, as in life, it’s not one hundred percent clear what Johnny is facing as he walks his path to self-fulfillment. Is it something simple like a turn of bad luck? Is it a matter of perception and there’s nothing there at all, or is there something darker at play? One thing is for sure, you’ll be anxious to discover Johnny just as Johnny discovers himself. Cheering him on and wondering how in Sam Hill is he going to get back home?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2011
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June 8, 2011I loved it... of course, I wrote it.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews