Let us Talk of Many Things; of Books and Queens and Pirates, of Mystery and Kings...: The Coffee Pot Book Club The Roll of the Dice by J.A. Quarles

Monday, 5 October 2026

The Coffee Pot Book Club The Roll of the Dice by J.A. Quarles

Welcome to my Blog!
Wander through worlds real and fictional,
meet interesting people, visit exciting places
and find good books to enjoy along the way!

About the Book

Book Title: The Roll Of the Dice

Series: We Who Endure

Author Name: J. A. Quarles

Publication Date: June 30th, 2026

Publisher: Historium Press

Pages: 330

Genre: Historical Fiction / Alternate History

Any Triggers: The American Civil War…and all of that entails

As the fires of war spread across a divided nation, three brothers from Louisiana are swept into the storm that will decide the fate of the Confederacy-and perhaps the future of America itself.

In the bloody aftermath of Fredericksburg, young Confederate officer Johan Lutze escapes Union captivity through courage, cunning, and sheer determination. Returning to General Robert E. Lee's army just in time for the Battle of Chancellorsville, Johan performs an act of heroism that saves the life of the legendary General Stonewall Jackson and thrusts him into the inner circle of Confederate power.

Now, with Vicksburg under siege and the Confederacy teetering between survival and collapse, Johan's bold strategic ideas begin to influence President Jefferson Davis himself. But in Richmond, ambition and politics can be as deadly as bullets, and not everyone welcomes the rise of the young officer from Louisiana.

While Johan helps shape daring military campaigns alongside Generals Lee, Beauregard, and Johnston, his brothers wage battles of their own. Paul Lutze Jr., maimed at Shiloh and fitted with a prosthetic leg, enters the shadowy world of Confederate espionage, where secrets and sabotage may alter the course of the war. Meanwhile, sixteen-year-old Jacques Lutze marches north with the ferocious Louisiana Tigers, consumed by grief, vengeance, and a burning desire to kill Yankees before they kill him.

From the fields of Pennsylvania to the banks of the Mississippi, from the halls of Richmond to the courts of Europe and the rising empire in Mexico, the war expands into a conflict of global consequence. Armies maneuver. Governments scheme. Brothers bleed.

And as the summer of 1863 approaches its reckoning, the Lutze brothers will stand at the center of history-where triumph and tragedy walk hand in hand.

Buy Link:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/3yBj1L

Author Bio:

Born and raised in New Orleans, Justin has always had a passion for storytelling. This writing process has always been important to Justin, a lifelong history nerd, who received a Bachelor’s in History from the University of New Orleans.

After he is done with his day job, Justin loves to come home and play with his two wonderful kiddos and watch movies with his wife.

Author Links:

Website: www.jaquarles.com

Historium Press Author Page:

https://www.historiumpress.com/hp-authors/justin-quarles

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064276294035

Amazon Author Page:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/J-a-Quarles/author/B0HG4D47LM

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/32189286.J_A_Quarles

Excerpt 1:

Chapter 3 May 10, 1863, 10:00 AM, City of Washington, White House

“It’s a catastrophe,” said President Lincoln somberly.

Edward Stanton, Secretary of War, cut in, “Our losses were high, Mr. President. But we inflicted heavy losses on the rebels as well.”

“We suffered over 30,000 casualties, Mr. Stanton. The rebels suffered under 10,000, probably closer to 8 or 9,000. Going by that math, I would have handily beaten Douglas for the Senate back in ‘58 if a win was for me, only to have a third as many votes as him.”

General Halleck, General-in-Chief of the Armies of the United States, tried to restore peace to the conference. “It was a defeat—a bad one. However, Hooker did manage to recover whatever brains he had left after his concussion and extracted the Army of the Potomac from Lee’s little trap. Our forces are now back on the north sides of the Rapidan and Rappahannock Rivers.”

Secretary of State Seward asked, “What are we doing to replenish our forces and ensure Lee cannot move on Washington?”

Halleck was ready for the question, “The garrison for the city has been strengthened with a combination of Marines and 5,000 regulars. We are also mobilizing the state militias in Pennsylvania and New York. We are hoping to convert 7,500 from each state into regulars. So that is an immediate 15,000. We are also pulling forces from the Atlantic Seaboard. We will have to scale back our operations in the Carolinas, especially around Charleston. However, winding down those operations won't significantly impact our overall war effort. We can redeploy 10,000 to 15,000 troops immediately, with more available later if needed. So, more or less, we have immediate replacements for Hooker’s losses at Chancellorsville without affecting any other theater of operations.”