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The daughter of Mennonite farmers, I grew up in the Kokomo, IN, area and graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Germanic Languages. I am a publisher, a professional editor, and a lifelong student of history. I am also the author of the American Patriot Series, the only accurate, comprehensive historical fiction series set during the American Revolution, and an award-winning modern-day retelling of the Christmas story, One Holy Night. Currently I live in the Elkhart, IN, area with my husband, a retired United Methodist pastor.

Description

Emerging from the long shadow cast by his formidable father, Harold Godwineson showed himself to be a worthy successor to the Earldom of Wessex. In the following twelve years, he became the King's most trusted advisor, practically taking the reins of government into his own hands. And on Edward the Confessor's death, Harold Godwineson mounted the throne—the first king of England not of royal blood. Yet Harold was only a man, and his rise in fortune was not blameless. Like any person aspiring to power, he made choices he wasn't particularly proud of. Unfortunately, those closest to him sometimes paid the price of his fame. This is a story of Godwine's family as told from the viewpoint of Harold and his younger brothers. Queen Editha, known for her Vita Ædwardi Regis, originally commissioned a work to memorialize the deeds of her family, but after the Conquest historians tell us she abandoned this project and concentrated on her husband, the less dangerous subject. In THE SONS OF GODWINE and FATAL RIVALRY, I am telling the story as it might have survived had she collected and passed on the memoirs of her tragic brothers. This book is part two of The Last Great Saxon Earls series. Book one, GODWINE KINGMAKER, depicted the rise and fall of the first Earl of Wessex who came to power under Canute and rose to preeminence at the beginning of Edward the Confessor's reign. Unfortunately, Godwine's misguided efforts to champion his eldest son Swegn recoiled on the whole family, contributing to their outlawry and Queen Editha's disgrace. Their exile only lasted one year and they returned victorious to London, though it was obvious that Harold's career was just beginning as his father's journey was coming to an end. Harold's siblings were all overshadowed by their famous brother; in their memoirs we see remarks tinged sometimes with admiration, sometimes with skepticism, and in Tostig's case, with jealousy. We see a Harold who is ambitious, self-assured, sometimes egocentric, imperfect, yet heroic. His own story is all about Harold, but his brothers see things a little differently. Throughout, their observations are purely subjective, and witnessing events through their eyes gives us an insider’s perspective. Harold was his mother's favorite, confident enough to rise above petty sibling rivalry but Tostig, next in line, was not so lucky. Harold would have been surprised by Tostig's vindictiveness, if he had ever given his brother a second thought. And that was the problem. Tostig's love/hate relationship with Harold would eventually destroy everything they worked for, leaving the country open to foreign conquest. This subplot comes to a crisis in book three of the series, FATAL RIVALRY.

Reviews

"J. M. Hochstetler is able to bring history to life with her exceptional prose and attention to detail. If you want a Last of the Mohicans-type adventure with a hearty dose of romance and realism, buy these books! My only regret is that she doesn’t write fast enough and there aren’t enough books like hers! Wonderful, inspiring, educational reading!” —Laura Frantz, author of The Colonel’s Lady “Native Son picks up where Daughter of Liberty left off and doesn’t let go of the reader even beyond the last word on the last page. Ms. Hochstetler has crafted a story full of intrigue, romance, and heart-racing action, all woven around the most accurately portrayed historical events and settings this reader has ever seen. Her characters—main and secondary—come alive on the page and stay with the reader long after the book is over. The spiritual conflict is both touching and challenging. Hochstetler is a skilled author whose style engages and allows the reader to get lost in 1775 . . . I can’t wait to read the next installment.” —Kaye Dacus, author of The Ransome Trilogy “Hochstetler introduced me to a fascinating aspect of the revolution here and I’d say more except I don’t want to give away too much of the first book. I highly recommend you read the series in order. I loved the glimpse into the lives of George Washington as he built his guerrilla forces into a fighting army, and the names and actions of the factual British generals, intermixed with the fictionalized daring of our heroes. Fiction like this is a great, fun way to teach history.” —Mary Connealy, author of Out of Control “While I was swept away by the first book in the American Patriot series by J.M. Hochstetler, I was thoroughly grabbed emotionally as well by this second in the series, Native Son. The newfound romance between American spy Elizabeth Howard and patriot Jonathan Carleton suffers an abrupt interruption: While they are planning their wedding, General Washington is sending them on dangerous missions that will separate them by hundreds of miles. Their intense love is put to a test. Can they put the needs of their new country struggling for freedom over their personal desires? It is a heartbreaking, thrilling, and gut-wrenching journey on these pages filled with rich historical detail that will be visualized with clarity in readers’ minds. I am so anxious to pick up Book Three in this series, as my own heart wants resolution for this couple. A definite “Must-Read” for lovers of American History—as well as for lovers.” —Elaine Marie Cooper, author of The Promise of Dear Run “Native Son is an intensely moving story, impeccably researched and excellently written. It is an intricate look into some aspects of the birth of our nation, and the struggles and temptations faced by two unforgettable characters. J. M. Hochstetler expertly weaves a tale of historical fiction with a romance that must survive the trials and dangers of the times. Outstanding!” —Erika Osborn, Christian Book Previews “I found it refreshingly honest and devoid of religious platitudes and cliche. . . . Heartbreaking and brutal at times, Carleton’s journey in particular resonated with me. His battle to retain faith in the midst of personal, political, physical, and total upheaval left an impression as few other stories have—challenging my own conventions, foundations, and moral bedrock. As the first in the series, Daughter of Liberty, was, this is a wealth of research and regional history. From the southwestern New York border where much of the book was set, I recognized and appreciated the veracity and intimacy of her details in native custom, flora, fauna, and people. Almost Michener-esque in scope, this is a historical fiction piece worthy of note.” —Kathleen L. Maher, Reviewer

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The Sons of Godwine: Part Two of The Last Great Saxon Earls

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