The Ancient Words Series ~ A.M. Heath

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The Ancient Words Series consists of two books: Where Can I flee (released August 13, 2014) and In The Shadow Of They Wings (December 8, 2015). Both books were independently published.  To purchase your copy of Where Can I flee, click here.  To purchase your copy of In The Shadow Of Thy Wings, click here.

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Where Can I Flee

War is on the horizon during the spring of 1861. It will be an event that will change the lives of everyone in its path. The Harper family included.

Frank Harper is a young man full of dreams and ambitions. Even when the country is split and war breaks out, Frank will do whatever is necessary to see his dreams come true, even when that means putting on a uniform and leaving home.

For the first time, Claire Harper is forced to consider the reasons behind such a conflict. Should slavery be abolished? Which side should she be on, and what does God have to say about this? Claire is torn between her own opinions and those of her family. The struggle within her only increases when she repeatedly runs into a kind and handsome Union soldier. She longs to see her brother turn to Christ before it is too late. Desperate to reach her brother with the gospel, Claire pens a series of inspiring letters. Will she be able to handle all the obstacles of war and continue to be a witness to those around her?

How long can Claire last when her heart is torn in half and she is burdened for her brother’s soul? How long can Frank resist his sister’s urgent pleas or the gentle tugging from within? Can a man outrun a holy God?

In the Shadow of Thy Wings

Devastation sweeps across the land, and the families of Maple Grove cannot escape when war arrives at their front doors. After her father entrusts her with a new and dangerous task, Sally Chandler must find the courage to obey despite her fear. Meanwhile, her best friend, Claire Harper, is determined to serve others, even if it means putting herself in danger. But with a certain handsome Union soldier stationed nearby, Claire finds her heart in danger of falling for the enemy. Their differing loyalties create complications that neither could expect; her twin brother fighting for the Confederacy is only one of them. Frank Harper left home with one goal in mind – to become a prosperous plantation owner. Two years later, not only is he further from his goal, but he’s beginning to question his own desires–something that becomes more complicated when his heart becomes involved. The families of Maple Grove must learn how to survive the uncertainty of war and a country split in two. While the war in the nation rages on, the battle within grows stronger. Will they learn that the only safe place to hide is in the shadow of Thy Wings?

Author Information:

Being raised in a small Tennessee town, A.M. Heath grew up with a love for southern history and nostalgia. She lives with her husband and four children in Southern Tennessee where they embrace the small town lifestyle.

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Where Can I Flee (Ancient Words Series Book 1)Where Can I Flee by A.M. Heath
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Where Can I Flee centers around Frank and Claire, twins separated by the Civil War. Frank takes a stand for slavery and joins the confederacy, while Claire is not so sure. The story chronicles the letters between Frank and Claire and Claire’s initiative to convert her brother to Christianity.

I’ll be honest, I had a tough time following this, not only is there head-hopping (not just shifting point-of-view, but flipping from head to head within a few lines) that I couldn’t get into the story. My second issue was that I had trouble figuring out what the whole thread of the book was. I think it is redemption, but there was so many other threads going on that it never took front and center in the story.

The writing itself is not bad, it is simply that the focus of the story needs to be clear and a point of view needs to be held through an entire scene. I think this novel could have been excellent but it just had too many irons in the fire.

In the Shadow of Thy Wings (Ancient Words Series, #2)In the Shadow of Thy Wings by A.M. Heath
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wish in this case I could give three and a half stars, I rounded up instead of down in this case. The story is the continuation of the first book in the Ancient Words series and follows the life of Claire and Frank Harper and their close friends, the Chandlers.

If it is true that the middle book is the most difficult to pin down as far as plot, this novel is no exception. I had difficulty pinpointing a plot arc in the first book and this one is quite possibly even more ambiguous. It is quite literally as if the reader is dropped in the middle of the lives of two ordinary families.

This book is labeled as a Historical Christian Romance, it isn’t. While there are portions of romance which are sweet, if you pick up this book hoping for the happily ever after that is required for romance…well you will get a taste of it but the book is more historical fiction, documenting feelings of the period of the civil war than that of lovers.

If you are looking for a novel that relates normal life in all it’s sometimes harsh and occasionally sweet (especially during a horrific war) reality, I highly recommend it. If you are looking for a lighthearted romance, this might be more than you bargained for.

I received this book free for an honest review, it in no way guarantees the review will be positive.

View all my reviews

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