Selected Praise for All Is Fair
“This is a well-constructed and paced story. A polished novel with really good characters… convincing and entertaining. The flying scenes and the particularities of each plane, of course, add to the authority of the novel. The scenes build on each other, by turns emotional and exciting.” —Greg Michalson, Publisher, Unbridled Books
“Smith creates a moving, memorable account of World War II which personalizes the times and military experience…Strong characterization and an attention to details of place and communities brings these milieus to life in a manner most military fiction can’t match…While its focus on military engagements and war make it highly recommended for libraries strong in military historical fiction, All is Fair’s concurrent examination of not just survival and conflict, but matters of the heart open this world to non-military-fiction readers, as well.” —Midwest Book Review
“Michael Kenneth Smith drafts readers into the heart of wartime with his latest novel…an action-packed and thought-provoking read…Capturing the tension and visceral experience of an aerial dogfight is a challenge, but Smith can tear a scene out of the sky and throw it onto the page…a timeless story that rings with relevance in ever age, so long as war exists.”—SPR
“All Is Fair captivates readers from beginning to end, with suspenseful, tension-packed passages…historical fiction readers and those who enjoy war stories will definitely enjoy this book.” —City Book Review
“This book does a wonderful job of documenting a pilot’s life from 1938-1944…a great read and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.” —San Francisco Reviews
Selected Praise for In the Shadow of Gold
“Veteran author Michael Kenneth Smith has spun another unique tale…offer[ing] thoughtful and sometimes direct commentary on issues of inequality and racial injustice, drawing a hopeful picture against a dark historical background…This is a historical novel for our own challenging times.”—CIVIL WAR MONITOR
“[T]he author’s comprehensive knowledge of the Civil War and its aftermath lends depth and texture to a high-stakes, well-paced adventure saga.”—KIRKUS REVIEWS
“Michael Kenneth Smith really knows how to draw together the nuances of personal lives, history, special interests, and evolving drama”—MIDWEST BOOK REVIEWS
“Packed with suspense, mystery, and adventure, ‘In the Shadow of Gold’ is an intriguing story which lovers of historical fiction, will thoroughly enjoy. Highly recommended! “ —THE COLUMBIA REVIEW
Selected Praise for The Thin Gray Line
More so than most Civil War novels, The Thin Gray Line successfully captures the dilemmas faced by all sides in the form of displaced peoples, crumbling communities, challenges to family and faith, and more….Civil War novels are typically replete with battle scenes, but this story’s focus on evolving social issues, changes, and individual impacts places it a cut above others in its genre. The Thin Gray Line is a spectacular exploration that Civil War buffs will find revealing and hard to put down. —D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW
Quite simply, the story itself is thoroughly compelling….increasingly so up to its closing pages….The scenes come vibrantly to life as readers become absorbed into the world of the novel as they feel the downright dangerous environment and read about the grim, graphic depictions of war….Smith is also good at down-to-earth dialogue. Listening to the exchanges between Luke, the McCallisters, Posey, Hangar, Cuff, and with others, you feel you are eavesdropping on real conversations….all of which makes the novel even more realistic.—BOOKPLEASURES
The premise is intriguing, and by emphasizing medical rather than martial heroism,the author strikes a different note than most Civil War novels.—KIRKUS REVIEWS
Michael Smith has done it again! With remarkable attention to historical detail and a penchant for delving beneath the well-trod surface, Smith’s new novel tells a gripping and unexpected Civil War tale that will both educate and delight readers. — Michael T. Bernath, PhD, Professor of Civil War History, University of Miami
Selected Praise for the #1 International Bestseller The Postwoman
“Its consistent tone keeps the story on track and maintains its quick pace. Indeed some passages are succinctly chilling….A worthy addition to WWII resistance literature.” —KIRKUS REVIEWS
Michael Kenneth Smith’s riveting World War II novel The Postwoman is based on the life of Andrée De Jongh, who worked to help downed Allied flyers. It’s a fascinating and heroic account, with elements of a captivating exposé….Dialogue is fast and believable. Though driven by action, glimpses into Dédée’s personal life add a human touch, rounding her out beyond her stony will. Her emotional trials add depth to her unwavering characterization, and make it all the more easy to get caught up in her captivating journey…..Intrigue, tension, and fear ground the story, along with a pervading hope that righteousness will prevail. The war’s atrocities are acknowledged unflinchingly.
The Postwoman is a satisfying and inspiring World War II account of heroism against enormous odds. —FOREWORD REVIEWS
Michael Kenneth Smith tells the fictionalized story of real-life WWII Belgian Resistance leader Andrée De Jongh (Dedee) in his engaging novel, The Postwoman. Smith brings Dedee’s bravery to light in an action-packed narrative that immerses readers in German-occupied Europe. By imagining conversations she had with others, the author brings the characters to life and illustrates wartime relationships that endured amidst the “chaos and hatred,” of a time when “the rule of law was nonexistent.”
With maps, sources and an epilogue, this title should please fans of historical fiction, who will find it a gripping, inspiring account of a little-known WWII heroine. —BLUEINK REVIEWS
“…outstanding…shines a well-deserved light on the true story of an amazingly brave young woman, Andrée (Dedee) de Jongh, a formidable member of the Resistance in WWII…a story everyone should read….Highly Recommended!”—THE COLUMBIA REVIEW
Selected Praise for Scarred: A Civil War Novel of Redemption
“This lean Civil War sequel packs in more history and raw emotion than a 600-page epic…Smith writes wonderfully and realistically, and one can hear the pacing and menace…Smith knows the Civil War in his bones…” —KIRKUS REVIEWS
“Scarred is Michael Kenneth Smith’s emotional, fast-paced sequel to his debut Civil War novel Home Again…In his description of the Richmond prisons and Andersonville, the author demonstrates that he is quite knowledgeable about Civil War prison camps. History buffs and scholars alike will appreciate Smith’s dedication to historical accuracy…Readers will especially enjoy Smith’s inclusion of well-known officers into the narrative, as this heightens the reading experience and helps anchor the story firmly into Civil War history…Smith’s almost cinematic novel could easily be the true story of a Civil War prisoner of war. Historians have recently demonstrated that both Union and Confederate veterans, especially ex-prisoners, struggled to reintegrate into civilian society after the war; while not all were as hesitant as Zach, many did not share their stories until the turn of the century. As a result, the story of Zach’s quest for redemption and closure will interest and surely entertain all those fascinated by the Civil War, from professional historians to history buffs…Overall, Smith provides an intense reading experience that leaves the reader wanting more.” —THE CIVIL WAR MONITOR
“Although this book takes place during the Civil War, it isn’t a story about the war. Instead it looks at the effects of war and one man’s conflict among friendship, duty to country, and personal actions. Scarred would be a good match for Civil War buffs and historical fiction fans as well as anyone interested in a good story.”—BETH FISH READS
“Scarred by Michael Kenneth Smith is an outstanding read…powerful writing from an experienced hand.” —SAN FRANCISCO REVIEW OF BOOKS
“Michael Kenneth Smith’s absorbing historical novel explores the violence and moral dilemmas endured by civilians, prisoners, and soldiers alike during the bloody Civil War…Harkin is a vibrant protagonist who grows increasingly sympathetic throughout. Meanwhile, Scarred’s pace is nearly cinematic…This, however, isn’t a war novel; it’s the story of Harkin’s quest for redemption and closure. Historical fiction and Civil War buffs will wish Scarred were closer to the epic length of Gone with the Wind, simply because the subject never grows tiresome…an engrossing, moving read.” —BLUEINK REVIEW
“Scarred is an eloquent tale told through vividly fleshed-out characters…the setting is detailed and imaginative…the engaging writing style, along with the novel’s strong characterizations and attention to detail, help maintain a driving pace. Scarred is enjoyable historical fiction with a romantic twist. —FOREWORD REVIEWS (5 Stars)
“Scarred is not your typical Civil War novel by any stretch of the imagination….This is not a long novel but it’s a rich one….[Smith’s] story is strong, compelling and one to read more than once.”—BROKEN TEE PEE
“I give it 5 stars…well done…” —INJOYFUL BOOK REVIEWS
“Scarred“…is well written, informative and sometimes gut-wrenching….the story will keep readers engaged up to the very last pages. Smith has a great skill in drawing his readers into each character and scenario. The difference in Smith’s book in comparison to others I have read is that it provides just enough facts about the Civil War so as not to bog down the reader. Five Stars!”—READERVIEWS
“This action-packed American civil war drama is a must read for fans of historical fiction. Scars are torn open when Zach Harkin, former sharpshooter for the Union Army, agrees to an interview with New York World Newspaper reporter, Chris Martin, more than forty years after the war’s end. This poignant story brings a personal and human aspect to an atrocity of American history that goes well beyond the typical history lesson and delves into the personal cost of war. Both men, though separated by over a generation and from vastly different life experiences, share a common conviction to do what they feel is right, no matter what the consequences. I found the story engaging, with well crafted descriptions that immediately yanked me into the story and held my attention.”—Mark Bierman, author of Vanished
“…a haunting love story…keeps the reader turning pages, rooting for this man who finds himself trapped between the North and South and only wanting peace.” —Susannah Carlson, author of Picnic Point
“This is a novel not just about the Civil War – or even war itself – but rather an examination of the layered scars of trauma laid down by months and years spent in the battlefield. Ultimately it is a story about the human heart and how love and friendship heals and maybe even redeems.” —Rafael Lima, Professor, University of Miami, School of Communication
“Smith is a master of description and dialogue. . . . In a long weekend, one could read Scarred all the way through and feel rewarded by the familiarity of characters, enhanced knowledge of the Civil War and excellent writing.” —Jill Zima Borski, Board chair, Florida Outdoor Writers Association, and author of Know That I Have Lived, a memoir in essays
Selected Praise for Home Again: A Civil War Novel
One of Indie Reader’s Best Books, 2014
IndieFAB Honorable Mention Award Winner—War and Military, 2014
“In the end, the brilliance of Home Again lies less in its fictional machinations, and more in the author’s impressive depth of historical research and knowledge. Home Again is a novel for military and Civil War enthusiast who already know the historical backstory, love to revel in it, and will thrill to the action, both real and imagined.”—INKSPOTS REVIEWS
“A fantastic debut.”—SELF-PUBLISHING REVIEW
“With wonderful attention to historical detail, Michael Smith tells the bracing story of two young men caught in the vortex of bloody civil war.”—Michael T. Bernath, Ph.D. Charlton W. Tebeau Associate Professor in American History at the University of Miami and author of Confederate Minds: The Struggle for Intellectual Independence in the Civil War South
Scarred: A Civil War Novel of Redemption has received several awards including:
Reviewers Choice Honorable Mention/Historical Fiction
eLit Silver Book Award/Historical Fiction
NIEA (National Indie Excellence Awards)/Military Fiction
Home Again: A Civil War Novel received IndieFab Honorable Mention from Foreword’s Book of the Year Awards
