Hemlocks

by Ben Schulz

War. Families are torn apart, estates are plundered, farms are torched, and the war lays bare the dilemmas of mankind--the struggle, boredom, treachery, and fear. Brothers Jacob and Aaron Abbott serve His Majesty's Army nobly, but circumstance and fate violently disrupt their lives, removing them from a peaceful war to a dangerous peace. They embark on a thrilling journey across the great state of Pennsylvania, a wilderness, in 1778. From Swatara Creek to Chambers Gate, they guard against the elements, befriend some unlikely locals, and display courage and good sense to combat the danger and confusion that lurk inside the dense gray foliage that engulfs them. One thing is for the sun sets in the west, and that is where the adventure will send them.

217 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 21, 2021

Reviews

[Timothy M Minette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible journey

Ben's vast knowledge of history & subject made this journey go by far too quickly. Beautiful & graphic, Hemlocks reminds us indoor cats that our American ancestors were outdoor dogs.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was good until the end. I was disappointed the author failed to update some of the major characters.

[Kathy Schulz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A war story. . .a love story. . .a coming of age story. . .a flight through the forest. . .this book has many elements and many colorful characters. I was mostly fascinated by the careful view it gives us of eighteenth century life. I assume this is an accurate picture of how people on the frontier (Pennsylvania!) experienced the Revolution. No fife-and-drum patriotism here—just a struggle to manage no matter what the war brought. This author spins a great tale, then leaves you wanting just a bit more of it in the end. But he’s laid enough breadcrumbs through that forest that you can piece together what may happen next—interesting and fun to allow the reader this role.