AMERICAN AMARANTH, BOOK ONE
Olivia, a political exile from the island of Cuba, had lost her father to Fidel Castro's Revolution. He had been executed by firing squad after the Bay of Pigs landings. Her deep emotional losses as a child had eventually led her to Dartmouth College and her studies on the origins of Democracy in Ancient Greece. Her love of America was profound and her personal concept of "American Amaranth" was carefully engrained in all her children as they grew older. Julian Stansfield had learned the truest meanings of freedom from his wife.
The three Stansfield sons had all graduated from Annapolis and entered the services of the United States Navy. Rebecca, the only daughter, was a world renown concert pianist.
By early 2015, the world was at the brink of war. Olivia was also dying. Shortly before her death, Admiral Julian Stansfield had been named Director of Naval Intelligence at the Pentagon. Julian had promised Olivia that he would use all his resources to end the coming war as quickly as possible and get their boys home safely.
The story begins in May 2016 as world war finally comes. It follows Admiral Stansfield as he helps direct the order of battle for the US navy. It also follows his sons and their unique duties during this war. The story unfolds with repeated reminiscences by the admiral of his life with his beloved Olivia and of her "American Amaranth".
LIBERTAS AMERICANA, BOOK TWO
In "Libertas Americana", Book Two of the American Amaranth Anthology, brothers Julius and Michael Stansfield are brought together by CIA Director Joseph Mitrano in a mission to Europe to stop a terror plot destined for the American homeland. Assisted by other CIA and US Naval Intelligence officers, and agents from France, Switzerland, Poland and the Ukraine, the Stansfields take the reader on a high-risk odyssey along the Danube, Main, and Rhine rivers in a classic tale of "Good versus Evil". As in Homer's idealized epic heroes, the mortal fears, strengths, and weaknesses of a diverse cast of champions are studied philosophically. The villain antagonists are also morally investigated in detail. The virtues espoused in "American Amaranth" are seen in the actions of the various individual proponents of liberty throughout the novel. The journey on which you are about to embark, follows a cast of freedom fighters as they risk their lives to stop a human calamity. Their thoughts and emotions are dissected to better understand the concepts of honor, courage, hope, love, justice, and the need for liberty. It explores the human mind and all its complexities in the eternal struggle for freedom. I pray that the reader comes to better understand the values which make America the greatest land the world has given.
AMERICAN AMARANTH ANTHOLOGY by J.R. Ortiz
Speculative Historical Fiction
Political Thriller/Global War