The US Review of Books (USRB) highly praised “In the Presence of Wolves: The Adventures of Ranger Jacob Clarke” by Erick W. Nason 

“In the Presence of Wolves: The Adventures of Ranger Jacob Clarke” by Erick W. Nasonis acclaimed by Mihir Shah of the US Review of Books.

Erick Nason was born and grew up in Glens Falls, New York, spending much of his childhood in the Lake George region and the Adirondack Mountains. He served in the United States Army, serving with the 2nd Ranger Battalion and the 10th Special Forces Group for twenty years.

While in the service, he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in World Military History and a Master of Arts Degree in Military Studies: The American Revolution, both from the American Military University.

He retired from the Army in 2005, went to work for TATE Incorporated as an instructor, specializing in personnel recovery, and earned a Doctorate in Education, specializing in military history, from Walden University. He previously published his autobiography From Desert Storm to Iraqi Freedom: One Soldier Story.

As a hobby, he has been a living historian and reenactor since 1987. Nason lives with his wife Karin and daughter Samantha in Virginia.

“In the Presence of Wolves: The Adventures of Ranger Jacob Clarke” is a historical novel set during the French and Indian War that follows the exploits of Ranger Jacob Clarke and Rogers’ Rangers, a rough-hewn group of frontiersmen, in the British efforts against the French. 

The story presents Jacob, who, due to his skill as a leader, rises quickly in the army’s ranks. Camped at Fort William Henry, Jacob proves his abilities as he is sent on scouting expeditions to bring back word of the French. When he, fellow Ranger Samuel, and Jacob’s Native-American friend, Konkapot, find three orphaned wolf pups, they each adopt one. 

The pups, Smoke, Raven, and Otto, become an asset to the Rangers, going with them on scouting adventures. As the war progresses, Clarke meets indentured servant Maggie, who works for Frederick Best, the camp’s store owner. With the war raging on, Clarke and Maggie grow close while the French become an increasing threat to the British, bringing Rogers’ Rangers to the forefront of the British war efforts.

Here’s an excerpt from the US Review of Books that highlights:

“Nason has created a wonderful tale of the importance of Rogers’ Rangers during the French and Indian War. His attention to detail brings the Rangers to life. One gets a sense of not only the usefulness of this group of frontiersmen but also of the failure of the British forces to grasp their importance. The author does a wonderful job of getting into the mire and muck of war with attention to the nuances of eighteenth-century colonial life both on and off the field. The budding romance between Clarke and Maggie brings a needed break in the narrative, which mostly consists of the Rangers’ war adventures. The novel holds the reader’s attention from start to finish. Though the first in a series, this novel can be read as a standalone. Its fast-paced action should appeal to fans of American history and war strategy.”