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Rating: 
Summary: A Romance Novel for Men
Review: No kidding, this is a romance novel for mature husbands and wives to enjoy. It focuses on the trials of aging love when politics and war eventually force the lovers-Lady Somervell and Admiral Bolitho-apart (but also Adam, Keene, and Allday-familiar series characters-from their loves, too). Why, the story is a real tearjerker in the most honorable sense, and has uncommon psychological depth. What it doesn't have is much naval action-Bolitho doesn't even put to sea until half way through. He then experiences the wrenching responsibility of conscientious command, a theme of this series and especially in these later books. The title of this story has special meaning of a "just war" to Bolitho, but also to Kent's many American readers, for this is a story from late in the Napoleonic world war when a young America took up arms against the ruler of the seas. It is a story particularly instructive for Americans because it exposes the internal rifts and conflicts of conscience within the ranks of the faceless British in the War of 1812. A hallmark of Kent's style is the smooth transition between the thoughts of one character and another, a style of presenting multiple viewpoints not even attempted by most authors. While Kent is "second-rate," I don't agree with another reviewer that Parkinson is one of the best: his prose is wooden and his sailors seem to end up doing a lot of land soldiering.
Rating: 
Summary: Tired formula writing
Review: There really is no point in straying beyond O'Brian, Forrester, Parkinson or Showell Styles. Kent and Pope are in the same mould; poor research, improbable characters, formula writing. Don't waste your time on this book.
Rating:
Summary: Not up to par!
Review: While I enjoyed this book, I don't feel that it was up to par with the rest of the books in the series. The story seemed a bit too contrived and there was not enough action in the book. In addition, the action sequences were not up to par with what has been written in previous books. In summary, the story seemed a bit forced.
Rating:
Summary: Not up to par!
Review: While I enjoyed this book, I don't feel that it was up to par with the rest of the books in the series. The story seemed a bit too contrived and there was not enough action in the book. In addition, the action sequences were not up to par with what has been written in previous books. In summary, the story seemed a bit forced.
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