Customer Reviews

Gone For a Soldier (Gone For Soldiers - Volume 1)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is a look a the Revolutionary War through the eyes of people who lived it. It is very well written and makes you want to keep reading to find out what is going to happen next. It is full of historical facts, but is so much more than a chronology of the War. A great read for anyone who enjoys American history.

`Gone For a Soldier' is a novel set in the time of the American Revolutionary War as seen mostly through the eyes of John Van Buskirk and his wife, Anna. Think you know about the Founding Fathers? Wait until you read the real stories of the political intrigues and personality clashes surrounding the events leading up to the Declaration of Independence! Patriots, Loyalists, British and French officers, women of easy virtue, and spies of all persuasions figure in this story of the turbulent events surrounding the difficult birth of the United States of America.
Is this a perfect book? Of course not- the long direct quotations from historical documents included for accuracy may not be to all reader's tastes and the detailed battle descriptions may not interest every reader but these are minor faults in a sweeping and colorful tapestry created by Mr. Hepple. He gives us characters we can care about, some based on members of his family in Revolutionary America. The research that went into this novel must have been mind boggling- a labor of love.
This is a story well worth reading and the characters will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

This book is a very well written treatise on the nation during the time of the Revolutionary War. The author knows the history and imparts it in a very well written piece that keeps you moving along looking forward to the next page. His writing shows intelligence but not dryness or aloofness. This is definitely a worthwhile read. Recommended with 5 stars.

I finished this book a few weeks ago, but did not review it right away. I wanted to give the review as much thought as Mr. Hepple obviously did in writing it. Hopefully, I'll do it justice. At least I'll try.

This book made me feel like I was there. The story became very personal through the characters of John Van Buskirk and his wife, Anna Livingston. Their thoughts, their feelings, what they did for their country, were all very believable to me. When I think about the courage and sacrifice of these two young people, I am deeply touched.

Added to the personal story, is the story of the founding of our country. Yes, in high school, I had to read the "Declaration of Independence" and "Common Sense." I certainly didn't undersand the reality of those documents at the time. Reading them in this book as an adult against the backdrop of the people who fought and died, brought tears to my eyes.

I also enjoyed all the correspondence Mr. Hepple included. It was real and made the people who wrote those letters real, too.

I was sad when the book came to an end. I wanted it to continue. Thankfully, it has in the next installment, "Land of the Free."

From the first page this story grabs hold and doesn't let go. Following the service of John Van Buskirk from the Continental Congress through the defeat of the British at Yorktown this thoroughly researched book offers excitement, romance and adventure seasoned with the perfect touch of humor. A number of historical documents have been included word-for-word which provide an insight into the thoughts, hopes and reactions of our founding fathers. They also bring a humanizing element, bringing the story to a much more personal level than otherwise might be the case. Included, to my delight, is one of the most eloquent documents ever produced; the American Declaration of Independence.

The action in the story will grab your attention; the personalities, good and bad, will keep your attention. One of my criteria for a good book is to make a fictional account become almost a reality - Jeff has succeeded. All in all, a book well worth reading.

Those of you who love history in the vein of McCullough's '1776' and 'John Adams' will love this book (and the rest of the series I would think). Let's get the spoiler out of the way, the British do not win the War of Independence! Although it's not from lack of expertise, or from inefficiencies in the Colonial political and patronage system of military command, but rather I think by sheer bad luck. And Mr. Hepple gives us many examples from real history wherein the Americans snatched defeat from the jaws of victory as they say, only to have the British continue to underestimate the enemy and spend an inordinate amount of effort on play that in many cases caused them to wear blinders.

The exploits of the principles in this first of three long books are without question a serious description of the personal struggles many of the colonists faced as independence became a reality. While all yearned for an illusive freedom, many could not allow themselves to give what was necessary to achieve that freedom.

But John and Anna Van Buskirk had the will and found the way to fight their enemies within and without to make the sacrifices needed for the fight for independence to move forward. And move forward it does, although the many pages of transcription of documents you may have also read in McCullough's books, seemed a bit to long, even for this lover of both mystery and history. But that's just some quick page turns (or clicks in my case) which still kept keep me engaged with this story of high intrigue.

I'm not sure if Anna was a real woman of independence or just included as a means to make us all realize the plight of women in the 1770's, but I loved her courage and constant reaching for, I think it was fulfillment. And John who's approach is described as 'immature and yet he'll be great if he lives to 30', is someone I found inspiring for his inability to suffer fools well.

So to those who may read this long review, I hope you'll make the plunge and join us in embracing historical novels like this as a step to understanding our ancestry yet still love the entertainment that is available with history.

An Excellent view of the Revolutionary War, which follows the Van Buskirk family through the war. Where all the characters felt very real (showing both the good and bad sides that everyone has). In the beginning of the book I found myself wishing that some of the chapters (character development) would have been expanded, but I soon found that Mr Hepple develops the characters over time, which I enjoyed just as well. I also appreciated that while Mr Hepple did not shy away from the horrors of war, he did not rub the readers face in it. I would highly recommend this book

Don't do it, don't read this unless you have time to read the rest of the series. Great historic fiction, up there with Newt Gingrich, once you start you want to keep reading about the family that starts before the war for our Independence and ends abruptly before the civil war is decided. I can't find the book that would finish the series, it goes from about half way through the civil war and the next one is about special forces as far as I can tell. Maybe it isn't written yet.
I emailed what I thought was the publisher about the next in the series and the Author himself Emailed me back saying that the next book in the series is in draft form and not yet ready to publish due to health reasons of the Author, Jeffry Hepple. He wrote me a very nice note thanking me for buying his book. A genuine surprise. I bought them on my Kindle. The whole series is great.

This book is a good, sweeping epic novel of the War of Independence, certainly not complete but with enough detail to make it interesting. The heroic women are overplayed for the time period but at least everyone's dialog is somewhat appropriate to the time and place. My biggest quibble is with the copy editing of the book. It must have been done with a word processor's spell checker. Lot's of incorrect prepositions and one instance of "cousin" instead of "cushion". Distracting but not a major flaw. All in all, I liked it and will continue the series.

great book. good read with history coming alive and the people in the story fighting uncertain outcomes and real sorrow with family fignting family as they risk everything for the dream of freedom.