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The Unfinished Work: A Novel of Abraham Lincoln, by Jeff Shaara

Thank you to NetGalley for the Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of The Unfinished Work: A Novel of Abraham Lincoln, by Jeff Shaara. Publication Date: Nov 10 2026. https://amzn.to/4xBABzR

Jeff Shaara specializes in turning historical events into historical fiction. I’d like to think that the things he writes about are true, but with historical fiction, I can’t assume that.

Some distinctions Shaara highlights which you may not find in non-fiction histories include the complete lack of discipline of Lincoln’s children; Tad’s menagerie of animals in the White House; Mrs. Lincoln’s compulsive shopping; Mrs. Lincoln’s obsession with the occult; Mrs. Lincoln’s devotion to wounded soldiers; Lincoln’s close association with his secretaries, particularly Nicolay; and Lincoln’s love of cats.

Shaara is fond of using sentence fragments, especially when he wants to accelerate the pace of the narrative. I’m not a fan of breaking grammatical rules, but evidently his editor has no problem with it. The fragments aren’t as prolific in The Unfinished Work as in some of Shaara’s previous books.

Shaara ends the story with a pinnacle moment: Lincoln’s masterful speech, the Gettysburg Address. This is entirely fitting. Few literary works approach the perfection of this short but powerful oration. Shaara summarizes the rest of Lincoln’s life and those of other major characters.

If you value immersion in the period and easily imagined scenes such as Lincoln propping his long legs on the presidential desk, you’ll enjoy this fictional version of history.

#AbrahamLincoln #JeffShaara #NetGalley #StMartin’sPress #historicalfiction #bookreview #Americanhistory

Looking for a gift?

This time of year can find many folks searching for the perfect gift. Even those who don’t like to read often enjoy audiobooks.

I love listening to audiobooks! My Audible Premium Plus Annual membership is worth every penny. Through September, I’ve logged over 323 listening hours.

Lately, I’ve revisited some old favorites.

Audible has plenty of affordable options for yourself or to give as a gift. Give a membership or a single audiobook.

Audible Premium Plus Annual Membership

Audible Premium Plus Monthly Membership

Audible Gift Membership: 12-month plan

Audible Plus Membership

Audible Gift Membership: 3-month plan

Audible Gift Membership: 6-month plan

Audible Gift Membership: 1-month plan

Audible Premium Plus Free Trial

Audible Plus Free Trial

”Authors should take note. The days of waiting for a publisher to promote your book are gone. Be bold, be inventive, and do something readers will remember.“

I thought this quote was too good not to share. This is the type of motivational phrase I might print out and pin to my bulletin board. It comes from today’s email from Self Publishing With Dale.

If you’re an author, are you constantly working to improve your craft and stay current in the industry? We all learn differently, but nearly all of us can use some help along the way. I’ve used writing conferences, webinars, podcasts, books on writing, writers’ groups, and more to become a better writer and to learn how to better market my writing.

Writing and publishing experts often send out a FREE version of their newsletter in email format. Two such newsletters I subscribe to are by Jane Friedman and Dale L. Roberts. Of course, there are other great newsletters and experts in the writing world, but I don’t have time to follow all of them. Jane and Dale both summarize current, essential information about what’s happening in the writing and publishing realm.

I’ve followed Dale (and at times his wife Kelli) since 2020. Dale always has the latest news about platforms indie authors use. Jane is an expert on the business of writing, the influence of AI in writing, and what I like to think of as “the big picture” in publishing. Both Jane and Dale provide high-value content. All you have to do is sign up and take a few minutes to read their emails. If you are serious about writing and publishing, you’ll be glad you did.

Review of Tom Paine’s War, by Jack Kelly

Tom Paine’s War is a book aptly titled. It isn’t an in-depth examination of Paine’s political pamphlets, although it brings out their highlights. This is the story of Tom Paine and his writings in the context of the politics, culture, and fight for America’s independence from England. If you are looking for an accessible overview of the Revolutionary War, this is a good place to start.

Paine was curious, intelligent, and gregarious. He befriended Benjamin Franklin, who introduced Paine into the worlds of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Although he knew many great people of this era, Paine wasn’t an insider. His Common Sense pamphlet had grand ideas written in everyday language, making it appeal to both the intellectuals and the common man.

Paine’s political essays rallied the colonists and helped unify thoughts of a new government, independent of the King. This made Paine popular for a time, but people didn’t embrace all of his ideas. Written in his later years, The Age of Reason was a deist critique of the Bible, through which Paine lost much credibility.

FUN FACT: Tom Paine was possibly the first war newspaper correspondent.

Thank you @StMartinsPress and @NetGalley for the advance reader copy of Tom Paine’s War. Pre-order now at https://amzn.to/3IAxg0k for January 6, 2026 release.

#JackKelly #AmericanRevolution #CommonSense #TheAmericanCrisis

Do recent world events make you want to draw near to God? He promises if you draw near to him, he will draw near to you. James 4:8a

The UP! Daily Devotional is a great way to #DrawNear.

Here’s a tip for accessing a digital or audio copy of the latest reads on the cheap.

I stepped into a chain bookstore to kill a little time between appointments. A prominent display of current popular books greeted me just inside the door.

I’d already read a couple of them, and some others looked interesting. I snapped a few pictures of the books I wanted to consider further.

These are bestsellers at full price. I rarely purchase books at full price unless I can justify it as a work expense. New bestsellers usually don’t go on sale for several months. Here’s how to read or listen to the book in weeks, days, or immediately, and for FREE.

1. Download the free Libby library app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. On a computer, visit libbyapp.com in your web browser.
2. Link your library card.
3. Search for the title you want to borrow or browse categories. Select the format, ebook or audio, if available.
4. Tap Borrow. You might have to wait if others requested the title before you. Loan periods can range 7 to 21 days, depending on your library’s rules. You may have several pending requests at once. Libby will notify you when it’s your turn. If you are too busy, you can ask to be skipped until you have more time to read.
5. Read or listen to your book.
6. Post a review of the book on Goodreads (optional, but appreciated by authors).
7. Return the book for the next reader. If you forget, the system automatically returns the book at the end of the loan period. No late fees.

I just finished Abraham Verghese’s generational saga set in India, The Covenant of Water. I didn’t have to wait as long as Libby originally predicted.

I checked out another book that had intrigued me at the bookstore, but after listening for two hours, I chose not to finish it. I’m so glad I didn’t purchase that book!

Enjoy more books without paying more! Happy reading!

Audible gives me a snapshot of some of the books I’ve enjoyed.

The late John Gierach wrote engagingly about fly-fishing.

Come Fly With Me is a terrific historical fiction novel—with a side of suspense—about becoming an airline stewardess.

The Liberator tells the true story of an American soldier who fought through four invasions and liberated the Dachau concentration camp.

I could go on and on…

Audible breaks it down for me. I’ve spent over 229 hours listening to books.

I’ve listened to 47 books so far this year.

But don’t think that’s all I do! Audiobooks are great because you can easily multitask while listening!

Get access to podcasts and thousands of titles in the Audible Plus Catalog.

Who is My Neighbor? is FREE on Kindle Unlimited!

If you like page-turning Christian-themed thrillers, check out Creston Mapes’ books! Who is My Neighbor? is the latest in the Signs of Life series.