Tag: J.D.R. Hawkins

  • More Reviews for Fool’s Gold Folly

    I took a look today and saw that there are a few more reviews for my latest book, Fool’s Gold Folly, so I thought I would share them with you. This novella accompanies the Renegade Series and tells the story of one of the minor characters, Patrick Mulligan. Patrick is an Irish immigrant who decides to take his family to Colorado Territory after the Civil War in search of gold. But what he finds there is far more valuable than riches. Thank you so much, Daina, Diane, Daniel, Taylor, and Chris for your awesome reviews!

    Daina

    July 22, 2026

    Such a good read!! I loved the dynamic between Patrick and old Silas. Hawkins writes frontier life so well, you can practically smell the cold mountain air. Highly recommend if you like historical fiction.

    Diane Sundstrom

    July 27, 2026

    Really appreciated how this book shows that “making it” isn’t just about striking gold, it’s about family and integrity. It’s a fast read, but the theme hits home. Definitely makes me want to dive into the rest of the author’s books.

    Daniel Hurst

    August 17, 2026

    What I liked most is that the gold is almost secondary. The real story is about ambition, loyalty, family, survival, and what people are willing to sacrifice for a better life. That gave the book much more depth than I expected.

    Taylor Duran

    August 17, 2026

    “I would love an audiobook in French”

    This would be a wonderful book to experience as an audiobook, especially in French. The historical setting and dramatic events seem perfectly suited to narration. I would definitely be interested if a French audiobook version becomes available.

    (Note from the author: this book is available as an audiobook.)

    Chris Evans

    August 17, 2026

    The theme of resilience really stood out to me. Patrick leaves behind what is familiar and enters a dangerous new world because he wants something better for himself and his family. His determination gives the story its heart.

    Fool’s Gold Folly: A Story of Irish Resilience (The Renegade Series): Hawkins, JDR: 9798249986124: Amazon.com: Books

  • Official Book Trailer for Double-Edged Sword

    As promised last week, here is the brand-new official book trailer for my novel, Double-Edged Sword. This is the fourth book in the Renegade Series and tells the story of David Summers. After he serves in the Confederate cavalry during the Civil War, he returns to his home state of Alabama but isn’t prepared for what he will find there. He realizes that he doesn’t belong in the south anymore, nor in the north. His loyalties are split and he is confronted with an enemy who wants nothing more than to destroy him.

    Once again, here’s a special thanks to my son, Jesse Hawkins, for creating this book trailer for me. I hope you enjoy it. Please let me know what you think! And as always, thanks so much for your continued support!

    Double-Edged Sword: A Novel of Reconstruction Book Four of the Renegade Series: Hawkins, J.D.R.: 9781685363161: Amazon.com: Books

  • Official Book Trailer for A Rebel Among Us

    Last weekend, I went to Seattle to visit my son, Jesse, and of course, put him to work. He is the man behind all of my book trailers and teasers. (My other son, Jeremy, who I also had the pleasure to visit, is my editor/beta reader. I like to get the whole family involved when I can.) It took Jesse a while, but he finally finished the last two trailers. I’m happy to present the official book trailer for A Rebel Among Us, which is the third book in the Renegade Series (and also, coincidentally, dedicated to Jesse). This series tells the story of a family from north Alabama and how the Civil War impacts them. Please let me know what you think of the new trailer! I’ll share the book trailer for Double-Edged Sword next week. As always, thank you so much for your continuing support! And thank you too, Jess!

    A Rebel Among Us Official Book Trailer

    A Rebel Among Us: A Novel of the Civil War (The Renegade Series): Hawkins, J.D.R.: 9781648030796: Amazon.com: Books

  • New Five-Star Reviews for Fool’s Gold Folly

    I remembered to check Goodreads today and saw that my latest book, Fool’s Gold Folly, has received some new five-star reviews! This novella compliments the Renegade Series and takes up where book four in the series, Double-Edged Sword, left off. It tells the story of Patrick Mulligan, a minor character in the series, who decides to take his family out west to Colorado in search of gold after the Civil War ends. What he discovers there is far more valuable than gold. Thank you so much Cole, Divine, Philip, Joel, Joshua, Matthew, Moses, and Gracey, for your five-star reviews!

    Cole

    Honestly loved this! I flew through it in one sitting. Patrick and Briana are such a sweet couple, and you just want everything to work out for them after everything they go through. Really great depiction of post-Civil War West. If you want a quick historical read that actually has a lot of heart, grab this one!

    Divine

    J.D.R. Hawkins always nails the historical backdrop, and this was no exception. Setting it in 1869 Colorado during the gold rush made for a great backdrop, but what stood out to me was how realistic the prejudice against Irish immigrants felt. Silas was easily my favorite character. Really solid companion story!

    Philip

    Wow, what a story. I’m always sucker for family stories where people rebuild their lives against all odds, and Patrick’s resilience made me so emotional. The ending felt so earned and satisfying. Really happy I picked this up.

    Joel

    It’s the characters that make this novella work so well. Briana’s quiet strength and Patrick’s pure determination to protect his family had me hooked from chapter one. Hawkins has a real gift for making you care about her characters fast.

    Joshua

    5 stars!! Fool’s Gold Folly is full of heart, struggle, and real hope. Loved seeing the history woven in so seamlessly. Silas and Patrick’s friendship was definitely the highlight for me. Don’t sleep on this one!

    Matthew

    Short, sweet, and gritty in all the right ways. You really get a sense of how hard life was in Breckenridge back then. Great pacing, strong characters, and a very uplifting takeaway.

    Moses

    I wasn’t sure what to expect going in since it’s a shorter novella, but it packs so much story into its pages! No fluff, just good, honest storytelling. The Mulligan family won me over right away.

    Gracey

    Another hit from J.D.R. Hawkins! She has such a great way of bringing the West to life without making it feel dry or overly textbook. Warm, gritty, and super memorable.

    Fool’s Gold Folly: A Story of Irish Resilience (The Renegade Series): Hawkins, JDR: 9798249986124: Amazon.com: Books

  • Two New Developments

    Last week, I was informed that my latest book, Fool’s Gold Folly, has climbed up the Goodreads Listopia chart to #1! This novella tells the story of one of the minor characters in the Renegade Series, Patrick Mulligan. It describes what happens to him when he decides to uproot his family and take them to Colorado Territory after the Civil War in search of gold. The novella started out at #343, but it is now at #1 in the Great Historical Fiction division.

    Fool’s Gold Folly: A Story of Irish Resilience (The Renegade Series): Hawkins, JDR: 9798249986124: Amazon.com: Books

    In other news, my nonfiction book, Horses in Gray, was featured on L.A. Talk Radio. Here is the broadcast recording.

    As always, thank you for your continued support. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it!

    Horses in Gray: Famous Confederate Warhorses: Hawkins, J. D. R.: 9781455623273: Amazon.com: Books

  • Fool’s Gold Folly Honored

    My most recent novella, Fool’s Gold Folly, has received the Award of Excellence by Spring Arbor University. The novella tells the story of a minor character in the Renegade Series, Patrick Mulligan, and what happens to him and his family once he decides to uproot them and take them out west to Colorado Territory in search of gold. The award is a very special honor, and I am so proud to share it with you! Thank you again for all of your ongoing support!

    Fool’s Gold Folly: A Story of Irish Resilience (The Renegade Series): Hawkins, JDR: 9798249986124: Amazon.com: Books

  • Updates on Books

    Here are some updates on a few of my books that I thought you might be interested in. First, Fool’s Gold Folly has been featured in the Daily Mail!

    Here is the article:

    Fool’s Gold Folly: A Story of Irish Resilience (The Renegade Series): Hawkins, JDR: 9798249986124: Amazon.com: Books

    Second, A Becharmed Callie Christmas has been rising to the top of Listopia on Goodreads. It is now tied for fifth place!

    Amazon.com: A Becharmed Callie Christmas: A Story of the Civil War (The Renegade Series): 9798866387212: Hawkins, J. D. R., Hawkins, J. D. R.: Books

    And third, I have a new cinematic book trailer for A Beautiful Glittering Lie, the first book in the Renegade Series. Let me know what you think! And thanks again for all your ongoing support!

    Amazon.com: A Beautiful Glittering Lie: A Novel of the Civil War (The Renegade Series): 9781643619941: Hawkins, J.D.R.: Books

  • New Review for Fool’s Gold Folly

    Last week, I received a wonderful review from Kirkus Reviews for my novella, Fool’s Gold Folly. This book accompanies the Renegade Series and tells the story of one of the minor characters, Patrick Mulligan. Thank you so much, Kirkus Reviews, for your awesome review!

    Kirkus logo

    Despite the hardships and disappointments, the Mulligans never give up hope.

    In 1869, an Irish immigrant couple move to Colorado with hopes of making their fortune in gold. Hawkins’ novel centers on Patrick Mulligan, his wife of two years, Briana, and the widowed Briana’s two children from a previous marriage (10-year-old Keegan and 8-year-old Kathleen).

    As the novel opens, this Irish immigrant family is staying at a small hotel in Denver while patriarch Patrick looks for a job. They’ve recently arrived from Pennsylvania, and their hotel room is paid up only until the end of the week. But, as readers soon find out, bigotry against the Irish is keeping him from finding employment. They get by for the next few weeks until it’s time to move west to the town of Breckenridge, where Patrick stakes his claim for a parcel of land. Briana is offered a job as housekeeper for the widow Mrs. Tydings, in exchange for room and board for the family. Mrs. Tydings seems sweet at the beginning, but she is a harsh taskmistress, even putting the children to work. Meanwhile, Patrick secures a job tending bar. Every day he toils in his search for gold and then returns to work in the evening, serving drinks to customers. It’s a tough existence, but despite the hardships and disappointments, the Mulligans never give up hope. Patrick at one point befriends Silas Garvey, an elderly former prospector who’s dying from consumption, and the friendship leads to a pivotal turning point in Patrick’s life.

    Hawkins’ gentle novella ambles along at a moderate pace, perked up with a bit of adventure: There’s a raucous bar fight and a dangerous standoff when Patrick must defend his family against “Runnin’ Wolf,” a renegade Native American. Simple prose, lavishly sprinkled with an Irish lilt, conveys bittersweet remembrances from the old country. The descriptions of the heat, dust, and back-breaking work of mining are evocative of the best tales of the Old West. Silas turns out to be a wily old-timer with a couple of surprises up his sleeve, giving the narrative a bit of a concluding twist through which Patrick learns the real meaning of a “rich” life.

    A pleasant enough read … a bonanza of literary riches.

    – Kirkus Reviews

    Fool’s Gold Folly: A Story of Irish Resilience (The Renegade Series): Hawkins, JDR: 9798249986124: Amazon.com: Books

  • New News for This Week

    I have several things I’d like to share with you. First of all, my novellla, A Becharmed Callie Christmas, has climbed to number 12 on Goodreads Listopia rankings. This is such exciting news! Here is the link for you to check out:

    https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/19880.Amazing_Historical_Fiction?page=1

    The book was originally listed at number 476 but climbed all the way up to number twelve. Here’s special thanks to my assistant, Marla P., for making it happen!

    Second, the A+ content on my Amazon has all been updated, and it looks amazing! I’d like to give a special shout out to my assistant, Olivia W., for assisting me with this. Here is the link so you can see it for yourself!

    Amazonhttps://kdp.amazon.com/aplus/api/GetContentPreview?contentId=74acf66d-10e4-4c68-9f51-ca47bea0082f&projectId=74acf66d-10e4-4c68-9f51-ca47bea0082f&revision=1781644025003&deviceType=MOBILE

    And third, my book, A Beautiful Glittering Lie, is being featured on Bookbub. Here is the link to the article:

    A Beautiful Glittering Lie — J.D.R. Hawkins | Editorial Review

    The book is also featured on BookSignal Studio.

    BookSignal Studio — Get Your Book Noticed by Real Readers

    Thanks again for your ongoing support! I truly appreciate it.

    Amazon.com: A Beautiful Glittering Lie: A Novel of the Civil War (The Renegade Series): 9781643619941: Hawkins, J.D.R.: Books

  • Featured on Books4Guys Podcast

    A few weeks ago, I was invited to record a podcast with Books4Guys reading group. This is an amazing organization that strives to get men and boys to read more. I was more than happy to participate. Below is the manuscript, as well as the links for the podcast. I hope you enjoy it!

    Chris sits down with historical fiction author J.D.R. Hawkins to discuss the Civil War, historical storytelling, writing fiction inspired by real events, the Victorian era, research, creativity, publishing, and the inspiration behind her popular Renegade Series.

    J.D.R. Hawkins shares her fascinating journey from growing up fascinated by history and storytelling to becoming one of the few female authors writing Civil War fiction from the Southern perspective. The conversation dives deep into American history, historical research, battlefield experiences, family history, creativity, and the process of building a long running historical fiction series.

    Throughout the episode, J.D.R. discusses:
     • Her fascination with the Victorian era and Civil War history
     • Visiting Gettysburg for the first time
     • Why she chose to write from the Southern perspective
     • The inspiration behind the Renegade Series
     • Historical misconceptions surrounding the Civil War
     • The role of family, economics, and regional conflict during the war
     • Researching cavalry units, battlefields, and historical events
     • How her characters and storylines evolved naturally over time
     • Writing historical fiction that balances education and entertainment
     • Why readers connect emotionally with family sagas and historical stories

    Chris and J.D.R. also explore:
     • The emotional realities of war and division
     • Historical fiction versus traditional history books
     • The challenge of writing Civil War fiction as a female author
     • The importance of storytelling in preserving history
     • The publishing process and building a multi book series
     • Creativity, songwriting, and artistic expression
     • The connection between reading, writing, and imagination

    One of the most interesting moments of the episode comes when J.D.R. explains how visiting Gettysburg completely changed her understanding of the Civil War and inspired her to begin writing stories that explored perspectives and experiences she felt were often overlooked in traditional education.

    Books discussed during the episode include:
     • The Renegade Series
     • Gone With the Wind
     • Animal Farm
     • The Outsiders
     • Old Yeller
     • The Yearling

    If you are interested in books, American history, historical fiction, Civil War history, writing, storytelling, publishing, creativity, leadership, or learning how fiction can help bring history to life, this episode is packed with fascinating insight and conversation.

    Subscribe to Books4Guys for conversations focused on books, storytelling, leadership, history, entrepreneurship, mindset, creativity, personal growth, and helping people become better readers, thinkers, leaders, and professionals. 

    https://www.books4guys.com

    The Untold Side of the Civil W… – Books4Guys – Apple Podcasts

    The Untold Side of the Civil War | J.D.R Hawkins on History, Writing, and the Renegade Series • Books4Guys

    The Untold Side of the Civil War | J.D.R Hawkins on History, Writing, and the Renegade Series