"Lots of times, great blessings are disguised as great suffering." Painstakingly researched, this newly discovered true story will restore your faith in the power of Love. Set in Reconstruction Era Indiana, Archie and Emma recounts the whirlwind romance of the author's own great-grandparents as they fight to overcome the enormous obstacles that come their way. ARCHIE MERCER is a giant of a man and the gentlest of souls, but his deep understanding of right and wrong will be severely tested as he is forced to leave the love of his life in Indiana after the sudden death of his father. EMMA WILLIAMS is a dreamer and imagines her life as being so much more than her small-town upbringing can offer. When Archie is taken from her, those dreams turn to nightmares as she struggles to adjust to life without him. Neither the many years nor miles between them can dim the flame of their love for each other until one day each gets the surprise of a lifetime. Action-packed and funny, painful and inspiring, Archie and Emma is a family bedtime tale that will warm your heart even if you aren't part of the family. Archie & Emma isn't just a classic love story - with an ending that would be preposterous if it weren't true - it's an adventure. It's slave hunters and love letters, backrubs and fistfights, naval battles and family conflict, pirates and poetry - it's bases loaded, two outs and you're up. It's about honor, family legacy and never losing hope. Brian Mercer is a trained historian and theologian, but he's also a stand-up comic and fantasy baseball geek. Put all of those pathologies together, mix in a serious romantic streak, and you get a novel that's more than just a page turner; it's a life lesson.