Semi-Finalist in the Laramie Book Awards

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The Gamble: Lost Treasures has been chosen as a Semi-Finalist in the Laramie American Western Award sponsored by Chanticleer International Book Awards. The first place winners will be announced at their conference in April in Bellingham Washington.

The authors, Kelly Abell and Troy Abell are very proud of this honor.

GAMBLE COVER 3-5-18

Who fights in a war he doesn’t believe in…twice? Captain Jackson Gamble does, because he’s loyal to his war-decorated father. After leaving the Confederate Army once to care for his ailing father, he reluctantly accepts a second commission to escort the Confederate Cabinet to safety as Richmond falls at the hands of the Union Army.

Secretary of State Judah P. Benjamin has been visited by his daughter, Ninette, at a very inopportune time. She escapes to America to avoid an arranged marriage by her Parisian mother. Willful and stubborn, she finds herself in even more danger than an arranged marriage. She’s kidnapped by Scar, a rogue Union Captain in search of the remaining Confederate gold. While Richmond burns around them, a desperate Benjamin sends Jackson to rescue his beloved daughter with a promise to reunite and find sanctuary at Jackson’s Florida plantation.

Follow the harrowing journeys of Judah, Jackson and Ninette separately traveling the back trails of the deep South. Benjamin is desperate to avoid capture while Jackson and Ninette do all they can to survive hunger, the wilderness, and their growing desire for each other. If that isn’t enough, they must constantly look over their shoulder for the thwarted Union Captain obsessed with ending Jackson’s life and retrieving the woman he believes is his connection to untold wealth.

 

 

The Gamble: Flight of a Statesman

Usa And Confederate Flag

As a favor to his father, Captain Jackson Gamble has accepted a commission to a war he doesn’t believe in. Escorting the Confederate Cabinet to safety is more than he bargains for.

Secretary of State Judah P. Benjamin has been visited by his daughter, Ninette, at a very inopportune time.  She escapes to her father to avoid an arranged marriage by her Parisian mother. Willful and stubborn, she finds herself kidnapped by a rogue Union Captain in search of the remaining Confederate gold.

Desperate, Benjamin sends Jackson for his beloved daughter with a promise to find sanctuary with Major Robert Gamble at his Florida plantation.

Follow the harrowing journeys of Benjamin, Jackson and Ninette as they travel the back trails of the deep South. Benjamin is desperate to avoid capture while Jackson and Ninette do all they can to survive hunger, the wilderness and the thwarted captain focused on ending Jackson’s life to retrieve his link to the Confederate gold.

Thank You

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To Our Readers,

We want to thank you for being so patient with us in regard to The Gamble. The research to get this story accurate has been a tremendous undertaking, but there is finally light at the end of the tunnel.

The goal is to have the first draft completed by the end of this year for publication in 2018. Troy and I are very excited to bring you this project that we have lovingly nurtured and brought along painstaking piece by painstaking piece. Stay tuned as we post more about the process of writing a historical adventure.

If the Civil War is your thing and you’d be interested in doing some Beta reading for us, just contact us through the site.

It’s a fabulous journey through time and we can’t wait to share it with you.

The Gamble – A Civil War Saga

Read below to find out what this marvelous book is all about. Follow our Cover Reveal Page to get a sneak peek at the cover over time.

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In the Spring of 1865, conditions were deteriorating for the Confederate States of America as General Ulysses S. Grant pursued General Robert E. Lee near Appomattox, Virginia. Former Captain Jackson Gamble has been asked to re-join the Rebel Cause after caring for his ill father at their Sugar Plantation near Tallahassee, Florida. With his unique skills developed from his Native American and Spanish heritage, Jackson proved himself an exceptional scout and tracker of deserters. Even animals respected him. He feared nothing except fighting in a war he didn’t believe in. Now he’s being asked to serve as an escort for President Jefferson Davis and the fleeing Confederate Cabinet as they evacuate Richmond for a new capital, the Yankees hot on their heels.

When Jackson and his loyal friend and slave, Chauncey arrive in Richmond at the end of March things are direr than he’d expected. Secretary of State Judah Benjamin enlightens him on the true nature of the President’s circumstances, but there’s an even more desperate situation the Secretary needs Jax’s assistance with. Ninette Benjamin, Judah’s stubborn yet beautiful daughter has arrived unannounced from Paris, fleeing an arranged marriage by her mother. Her safety is Benjamin’s main priority, and he orders Jackson to escort her safely to the coast to catch the next available ship to England.  Before the reluctant Captain can fulfill his mission as babysitter/bodyguard, Ninette is captured by a rogue Yankee Officer and ransomed for a hefty sum of the Confederate Government’s dwindling gold.

Jackson must now find Ninette, bring her to safety and catch up with her father and the Confederate Cabinet as they leave a burning devastated Richmond behind.  Unbeknownst to Jefferson Davis and the rest of his peers, Benjamin and Jax formed a plan to get both the Secretary of State and his daughter to safety. Their journey will take them through the fields and back woods of the south all the way through Monticello, FL to The Gamble Mansion in Ellenton. Based on a true story, this novel brings back the tragedy and triumph of those who fought so bravely in a time when brother was pitted against brother and the face of an entire country is changed forever.