The New Glamour: Interiors with Star Quality, Andrews Jeff

The year is 1860. A young slave named Isaac toils in the tobacco fields while longing for the freedom that Henry, his boyhood friend and owner's son, takes for granted. Awaiting his chance to escape, he steals away under cover of darkness to shepherd others on their journey north along the Underground Railroad.

When war comes, Henry enlists to fight for Virginia. In his absence, Patrick, his older brother, seizes control of the family farm. Fear grips the slave quarters as Patrick's harsh new ways become law. Suddenly, slaves feel the sting of the whip, Patrick sells Isaac's father, and Isaac's mother must now shield her children, as well as Henry's invalid father, from Patrick's greed-driven brutality.

Following false promises and failed escapes, Isaac's only hope of reuniting with the woman he loves lies in joining Henry and the Rebels on their march north. When Henry is wounded and taken prisoner, Isaac is finally behind Union lines and free, but facing a choice: should he follow his dreams north or return to slavery to save his friend?

The Freedom Star unfolds against the backdrop of the Civil War, bringing added tension to this gripping family drama. One reader said, "Jeff Andrews paints a vivid picture of the civil war slave life. His character development is superb. By the end of the story, you feel like you know each of the characters intimately."

"Riveting and real - Just two words to describe this wonderful book."

"A Wonderful Story - Transporting me back in time, I was pulled into the lives of the slaves and the slave owners. Mr. Andrews created characters that soon either won my heart or made my blood boil."

"Fantastic - ...impossible to put down, which resulted in me staying up way too late for too many nights. It has been quite sometime since I have become this involved in a book. A MUST read "

"Fascinating Novel - The author did a wonderful job creating believable, three-dimensional characters and portraying realistic scenarios and interactions between them."

"Great story with characters that will be hard to forget -A very well-written story that will stay with you well after the last pages are read."

"Strongly recommended - The characters are so real I miss them now that I have finished reading the book."

Mitch's quest takes him to the Virginia mountains and his ancestral home. There, he becomes locked in a life or death struggle to save his daughter as seventy-year-old family secrets and the fate of a long-forgotten railroad worker combine to shatter the very foundations of his world.

The Gandy Dancer weaves together parallel stories, one modern, one set in the 1930s. One reader described it this way: "Jeff Andrews...intelligently knits together two separate stories and comes up with quite a curve ball of an ending. The novel is not so easily categorized, while it contains elements of a thriller, it is also a story touching on love, racism, interracial relationships, and self-discovery..."More Reader Reactions:

Fascinating, Suspenseful, Clever and a Very Well Written Read - "'The Gandy Dancer' is one heck of a crime story - in fact two crime stories. Suspenseful, well written, it grabbed me in the first chapter and never let go."

Fantastic and unpredictable - "This book was one that I did not put down."

A Great read - "I loved the characters and the story line. I was sad when it ended I wanted more. I really enjoyed the book."

Fascinating stories intertwined - "Powerful and riveting stories that eventually unite. Wonderful insight into gandy dancers. Would recommend this novel to all readers interested in racial and cultural ties to the deep south."

Loved it - "I really enjoyed this book. The story hooked me from the start and I just didn't want to put it down. The characters are still on my mind "

Unexpected jewel - "Loved this story. It has it all ...mystery, romance, history, love and hate. It spans generations where family secrets are brought to light during a time when it was unlawful for whites and blacks to socialize together or find love."

Wow page turner - "I love how the two books went together...This book was full of surprises...Can't wait for another book by this author."

Stunning history - "What a testament to honoring and loving relationships. This is a must read..."

One of the best books I've read in a long time - "I loved this book. I read every day and am always looking for books I can't put down. This is that book."

Spellbinding - "A gripping story reflecting a dark period in our country's history. A poignant love story with a surprise ending."