Books by James Rada

The Civil War split the United States and now it has split the Fitzgerald Family. Although George Fitzgerald has returned from the war, his sister Elizabeth Fitzgerald has chosen to remain in Washington to volunteer as a nurse. The ex-Confederate spy, David Windover, has given up on his dream of being with Alice Fitzgerald and is trying to move on with his life in Cumberland, Md. Alice and her sons continue to haul coal along the 184.5-mile-long C&O Canal. It is dangerous work, though, during war time because the canal runs along the Potomac River and between the North and South. Having endured death and loss already, Alice wonders whether remaining on the canal is worth the cost. She wants her family reunited and safe, but she can't reconcile her feelings between David and her dead husband. Her adopted son, Tony, has his own questions that he is trying to answer. He wants to know who he is and if his birth mother ever loved him. As he tries to find out more about his birth mother and father, he stumbles onto a plan by Confederate sympathizers to sabotage the canal and burn dozens of canal boats. He enlists David's help to try and disrupt the plot before it endangers his new family, but first, they will have find out who is behind the plot.

Catoctin Mountain runs from northern Frederick County, Md., to northern Loudoun County, Va., crossing the Potomac River as it does. Its natural history dates back to prehistoric times. Its history during the era of man is more recent and more fascinating filled with crimes, secrets, monsters, and drama. Hunt the snallygaster and dwayyo, legendary monsters that roam the mountain ridges. Train to be a WWII spy in the secret OSS camp on Catoctin Mountain. Search for the forgotten gold mine near Catoctin Mountain. Discover the hidden presidential getaway tucked above Thurmont, Md. Watch the early flying machines of a family of Braddock Heights, Md., inventors. Secrets of Catoctin Mountain: Little-Known Stories & Hidden History in Frederick & Loudoun Counties tells stories of railroads, canals, war, saints, and sinners. These are the stories that history textbooks won't tell you, but they give Catoctin Mountain its character. Collected from the writings of award-winning author James Rada, Jr., these fascinating stories and dozens of photographs tell some of the hidden history of Catoctin Mountain. Midwest Book Review calls Rada "a writer of considerable and deftly expressed storytelling talent." He had written about Catoctin Mountain in Frederick, The Thurmont Disptach, The Catoctin Banner, and Maryland Life.