Legacy's Road

Harold Knutt, a hero of the French & Indian war, returns to England and begins his search for Sinclair, daughter of his mentor, Sergeant Major Scott. With the help of a recent acquaintance, he soon falls in love with the independent and willful woman of means. He wins a seat in the House of Commons, speaking out against the onerous taxes levied on those who bled for the English Empire in the fight against the French. He soon realizes his journey through the shadowed halls of politics might lead him back to the red path, with the conflict between colonies and the crown looming on the horizon. He soon finds himself pitted against a secretive cabal made up of politicos, pamphleteers, and men of commerce, holding the reins of power firmly in their hands, manipulating events in the colonies to their personal advantage, backed by a sinister group of 'unnamed men' striking from the shadows against anyone daring stand in the way. Legacy's Road: The Shadowed Way is a novel about people choosing to set morals aside, joining themselves with vile men intent on countering Harold's efforts. Political warfare ensues, ending in acts of violence as deadly as those he fought through in Legacy's Road: The Red Path. Join the citizens of the American colonies, native peoples, and members of Harold's family as they discover their destinies along the shadowed way.

Visceral and violent, all the necessary boxes are ticked. Endurance, treachery and love. The overall effect can, at times, be quite breathtaking. M. Daniel Smith clearly possesses a far-reaching vision and paints a large landscape with a very broad brush. (Excerpted from Historical Fiction Book Company review of the Legacy's Road series, Book One: The Red Path) The Knutt family saga continues with a new generation taking on the reins of power. Marion remains in the Scottish Highlands, while Aaron heads to the colonies in the latter half of the Revolutionary War, joining a group of insurgents fighting the English. Harold, along with Sinclair and Meghan soon follow, moving to the outskirts of Philadelphia, where they hope to reunite with their son. A colleague from the past emerges, helping Harold find his son, manipulating them to his own ends, playing a deadly game against the same cabal that threatened Harold's family in a highland draw. The balance of power shifts from father to son, Aaron fashioning victories against great odds, earning a deadly reputation. He is joined by Chatte, a woman of Acadian background, seeking vengeance against the English, who forced her family from their ancestral lands in Nova Scotia. Relationships are formed with the Knutt sisters bringing a fourth generation into the story as they struggle to find their own way along a twisted trail, leading from Scotland, to France. From Pennsylvania to South Carolina, then deep into the Ohio wilderness.

Visceral and violent, all the necessary boxes are ticked. Endurance, treachery, and love. The overall effect can, at times, be quite breathtaking. M. Daniel Smith clearly possesses a far-reaching vision and paints a large landscape with a very broad brush. (Excerpted from Historical Fiction Book Company review of the Legacy's Road series, Book One: The Red Path)The Knutt family saga continues, with a fourth generation making its appearance. Aaron takes on his father's cause, while Meghan and Sinclair move to the colony of Pennsylvania. Marion remains in the Scottish Highlands, with Angus wielding the power behind Laird Declan's leadership of clan Scott.Aaron, left to pick up the pieces after the massacre at Gnadenhutten, returns to the red path, exacting vengeance on those guilty of the heinous act. His wife Eliza, coming to believe she speaks for God, suffers additional trauma, with Aaron left to choose between his love for her and his own beliefs. Noah, coming of age, facing his own challenge, torn between sister and mentor.The balance of power, having shifted from crown to colonies, is now aimed west, with colonists flooding native lands. Encouraged by the shadowy actions of the secretive cabal, inciting chaos, igniting flames of hate and mistrust wherever possible. Aaron resists their efforts, supported by men he once fought and bled with. Angus and Sinclair become involved, providing information vital to his attempts to rebalance the scales of freedom.Relationships are formed, then torn asunder, forcing Aaron to choose between his family and destiny's plans for him. All the while yearning for make his way back to the Scottish Highlands. Back to his ancestral home.