Whichever Way The Road Leads

 

 

WHICHEVER WAY THE ROAD LEADS

J.A. Boulet

GENRE:  Historical Romance

 

Meet Jesse Eastman, a young man from a powerful and wealthy American family. When he joins a group of rough fur traders on a journey to open up the American Northwestern Frontier, Jesse thinks his days are numbered.

The looming War of 1812 and a rugged farm woman from Upper Canada may prove him right.

Zee Collard and her father, George, are half-American, and half-Canadian. They will stop at nothing to protect their livelihoods in Upper Canada. The Collard's family history goes back to the Revolutionary War and their past is not something many Americans are keen on.

Whichever Way The Road Leads will pull you into the lives of two American families on both sides of the border who struggle as war breaks out in 1812. This engaging and graphic first book of The Eastman Saga will take you through raging mountainous rivers and early Northwestern Frontier landscapes to the bloody Niagara battlefields of 1812.

Be careful which road you take, you never know where it'll lead.

Enjoy an Excerpt:

Jesse walked confidently to the group as the man spoke commandingly to him in the Arikaran language. Jesse looked at him in bewilderment.

“He said that he would take everyone into the village and save our lives in exchange for the bear pelt and the canoe,” the woman translated slowly. 

The Arikara guard spoke again, quickly, almost jumbling over his words with passion.

“He also says that this is not a free stay. Everyone must work once they are healthy enough.” The woman explained the rest of the agreement and looked at Jesse for confirmation.

Jesse looked back at the stranded Overland Astorian group. They were probably three more days away from dying, he thought. Losing the bear pelt was nothing, but the canoe would be a huge sacrifice. “Tell him we will give him what he wants,” Jesse replied, rubbing his long beard. “But he must allow us to rebuild a new canoe with the surrounding trees. It is our only survival to return to St. Louis.”

The woman frowned, turned to the Arikara guard, and relayed the message in their native tongue.

The Arikara man’s mouth frowned in deliberation. Then, a half smile graced his face. He spoke rapidly to the woman, then turned to his group of guards, gesturing for them to grab the canoe and bear fur. They began approaching the Astorians as the native woman spoke to Jesse. “They have agreed,” she translated, with a funny grin on her face. “He also said that you are stupid and young.”

Jesse laughed and patted her on the shoulder. “Thank you,” he said. “You saved our lives.”

“No,” she replied. “You did, Jesse.”

About the Author:

J. A. Boulet is the passionate author of six historical fiction novels. Raised in a Hungarian refugee family, J. A. was born and grew up in Canada with a strong moral foundation, which she has stood behind all her life. Ms. Boulet began writing poetry at a very young age and progressed to short stories and novels easily. She quickly became a history geek and became fascinated with ancestry and the rough path of immigration. Her university studies ranged from photojournalism to accounting. After decades of working in accounting, J. A. published her first book in 2020 and has since published one to two books annually. 

She lives in the Niagara region of Canada with her two sons, a crested gecko, a large Doberdor dog, and a small orchard of fruit trees.

Follow her on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Reddit.

Q&A With the Author: 

Who is your favorite author and why? 

Currently, I would say my favorite author is JA Johnstone. Westerns seem to have an amazing appeal to me now. They are entertaining and fulfill my historical needs too!

What is something unique/quirky about you?

I am very mathematical and artistic. My mind seems to have a certain duality. I can only work on mathematical projects on specific days when I am not working as an author. My writing days are kept very separate from mathematical pursuits and I need that freedom to allow my artistic wings to take flight.

 

What was your inspiration for writing this book? 

My inspiration for my most current book, Whichever Way The Road Leads, came from the many battle sites in the Niagara region that I drive by every day. My inspiration grew to a curiosity about American history and how much it is woven into Canadian society. In the Niagara region, many loyalists settled here after the Revolutionary War and built their livelihoods here. The War of 1812 was a threat to their peace here in Niagara. It was the start of an amazing American Canadian cross-border family saga.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book? 

I enjoyed writing about Zee Collard, a rugged Canadian farm woman, and Jesse Eastman, a young man from a wealthy American family. The way people met back in the 1800s was so glaringly different than how it happens today. I can’t say much more than that without revealing the twist! 

Do you have any other books you are working on that you can tell us about?

I am currently focusing on the new release of Whichever Way The Road Leads. I am very methodical and cannot begin another book until the most current one has been released and I have put every ounce of my effort into the book signings, interviews, etc.

I will be starting on Bk 2 of The Eastman Saga in late August. The story picks up in Philadelphia during the 1830s.

 

Anything more you would like to say to your readers and fans?

I have immense gratitude for every single reader, reviewer, and follower. Without the support of readers, authors wouldn’t exist like we do today. I strive to release a new book every year so keep watching for the next one!

Website: https://jaboulet.ca/

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Whichever-Road-Leads-Eastman-Saga-ebook/dp/B0D4FCQ66D

Twitter link: https://twitter.com/love_walk_life

Instagram link: https://www.instagram.com/jabouletauthor/

YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHyJHrncBj09F5119oxt6Vw

Reddit link: https://www.reddit.com/user/NormalFemale

GIVEAWAY

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