At the Edge of Honor

Rating:
Summary: Better than O'Brian's Master & Commander
Review: At The Edge of Honor is a great story about the East Gulf Blockading Squadron of the U.S. Navy, based to patrol Florida, Cuba, & the Bahamas during the civil war. The main character of this story is Peter Wake, U.S.N. who gets himself caught up in a pretty good fix; he's in a war on the Union side and is in love with a "Reb"; if the war wasn't trouble enough! Without giving away the story, this book is very well written and is easy to read. You do not need a nautical dictionary to help you read it; as was the case in Patrick O'Brian's Master & Commander series. I found this nautical adventure story very interesting on two accounts. First, it is dealing with the U.S. and takes place in nearby US waters, Florida Keys area. Secondly, it is easy to read; nautical terms are very few when compared to other nautical fiction/historical books. I enjoyed this book alot. I can't wait to read the second book in the series.

Rating:
Summary: Better than O'Brian's Master & Commander
Review: At The Edge of Honor is a great story about the East Gulf Blockading Squadron of the U.S. Navy, based to patrol Florida, Cuba, & the Bahamas during the civil war. The main character of this story is Peter Wake, U.S.N. who gets himself caught up in a pretty good fix; he's in a war on the Union side and is in love with a "Reb"; if the war wasn't trouble enough! Without giving away the story, this book is very well written and is easy to read. You do not need a nautical dictionary to help you read it; as was the case in Patrick O'Brian's Master & Commander series. I found this nautical adventure story very interesting on two accounts. First, it is dealing with the U.S. and takes place in nearby US waters, Florida Keys area. Secondly, it is easy to read; nautical terms are very few when compared to other nautical fiction/historical books. I enjoyed this book alot. I can't wait to read the second book in the series.

Rating:
Summary: Better than O'Brian's Master & Commander
Review: At The Edge of Honor is a great story about the East Gulf Blockading Squadron of the U.S. Navy, based to patrol Florida, Cuba, & the Bahamas during the civil war. The main character of this story is Peter Wake, U.S.N. who gets himself caught up in a pretty good fix; he's in a war on the Union side and is in love with a "Reb"; if the war wasn't trouble enough! Without giving away the story, this book is very well written and is easy to read. You do not need a nautical dictionary to help you read it; as was the case in Patrick O'Brian's Master & Commander series. I found this nautical adventure story very interesting on two accounts. First, it is dealing with the U.S. and takes place in nearby US waters, Florida Keys area. Secondly, it is easy to read; nautical terms are very few when compared to other nautical fiction/historical books. I enjoyed this book alot. I can't wait to read the second book in the series.

Rating:
Summary: The real Florida
Review: Forget the air conditioning and the TV in the background. Sit on your back porch with a Florida sunset when you read this book. Macomber's characters join Rawlings' denizens of the scrub pines and Remington's cracker cowboys to remind us when Florida was America's frontier--a time not too distant past.

Rating:
Summary: Neat Nautical Novel - From Florida's Finest
Review: Naval historical novels are rare; those situted around Florida are rarer still. Few know that FL was a WBTS site of battles, etc. Macomber has brought to light the little known, and wrapped it in an appealing work of fiction, apparently one of a series. REAL naval knowledge is obvious -- almost too much so -- I read it with the dictionary beside me. Character development evolves well while scene descriptions evoke a "you are there" feeling. Will Peter Wake regain his Linda? Sure hope so! Want a romantic ending after a super first novel.

Kudoes, Sailor Macomber --keep it up. You have us in your preemptive thrall, make us beg for more and keep 'em coming. More dialogue would be nice, but the descriptive passages make up for it. As a friend said, a "Warm Ocean is sure better [and more readable] than a Cold Mountain..." You will have groupies galore, we predict. You make book signings real experiential, complete with "ships-ahoy" cookies to nibble. Throw out the anchor, we've got the lifeline well in hand. And so do you.

Martha and Don

Rating:
Summary: Great Read
Review: There are two things that I thoroughly enjoyed about this book. First, there just isn't enough written about not just the naval theater during the Civil War, but on routine daily life in the Navy. When we think of naval war, we often imagine life aboard the CSS Alabama or running the gauntlet at Mobile Bay as being the norm during this time frame. In fact, as Bob Macomber very ably demonstrates, many sailors served on smaller vessels, in remote areas, and performed relatively routine duties. In order to understand the Navy experience, it is crucial that we understand what sailors actually did, and Macomber explains this very well and, as a result, fills a niche that otherwise would remain vacant.

In addition, he also writes in a manner and format that is very appealling to many who otherwise would not even pay a second thought to the Civil War. Macomber effortlessly intertwines the fiction with the non-fiction so that the entire story flows seemlessly. In some circles, historical fiction is maligned as distorting the truth or not representing historical fact. However, Macomber demonstrates that you can predicate a fictional work on facts and documented history to produce a compelling, enjoyable, and highly educational work.

There's a lot to offer a variety of people here, and I would recommend this to both the casual reader as well as the avid Civil War enthusiast.

Rating:
Summary: Great Read
Review: There are two things that I thoroughly enjoyed about this book. First, there just isn't enough written about not just the naval theater during the Civil War, but on routine daily life in the Navy. When we think of naval war, we often imagine life aboard the CSS Alabama or running the gauntlet at Mobile Bay as being the norm during this time frame. In fact, as Bob Macomber very ably demonstrates, many sailors served on smaller vessels, in remote areas, and performed relatively routine duties. In order to understand the Navy experience, it is crucial that we understand what sailors actually did, and Macomber explains this very well and, as a result, fills a niche that otherwise would remain vacant.

In addition, he also writes in a manner and format that is very appealling to many who otherwise would not even pay a second thought to the Civil War. Macomber effortlessly intertwines the fiction with the non-fiction so that the entire story flows seemlessly. In some circles, historical fiction is maligned as distorting the truth or not representing historical fact. However, Macomber demonstrates that you can predicate a fictional work on facts and documented history to produce a compelling, enjoyable, and highly educational work.

There's a lot to offer a variety of people here, and I would recommend this to both the casual reader as well as the avid Civil War enthusiast.

Rating:
Summary: Looking forward to Volume Two!
Review: This is not my usual genre. I bought it on advice. This book is a compelling read. Not being knowledgable with regard to Civil War era Naval warfare, Macomber pulled me in with his storytelling. His nautical experience is evident as he recreates strategies and battles, and his intimate knowledge of the Florida Keyes makes me believe it is one of the more beautiful places on earth. I like the development of the relationship between Wake and Linda, and the socio-policital plays this book sets up for future volumes. Mr. Macomber is onto a very good thing! I now buy this book as gifts!

Rating:
Summary: Looking forward to Volume Two!
Review: This is not my usual genre. I bought it on advice. This book is a compelling read. Not being knowledgable with regard to Civil War era Naval warfare, Macomber pulled me in with his storytelling. His nautical experience is evident as he recreates strategies and battles, and his intimate knowledge of the Florida Keyes makes me believe it is one of the more beautiful places on earth. I like the development of the relationship between Wake and Linda, and the socio-policital plays this book sets up for future volumes. Mr. Macomber is onto a very good thing! I now buy this book as gifts!

Rating:
Summary: Thrilling nautical yarn!
Review: Wonderful new CW novel depicting Florida in the Civil War, a seldom written about perspective of this horrific struggle. Master Peter Wake is all that is heroic, albeit seemingly sometimes to struggle as he learns his way about the US Navy having recently transferred from commercial sailing. The narrative is compelling, characters honest and convincing. The chapter "River of Peace" still has me riveted with the depiction of the river chase and afterwards battle scenes. I wish Master Wake would listen to his superior officer more about "dangerous shoals" when falling in love with Linda! ;-) I look forward to the next novel in the series. Well Done PHP!!