Cindy Vallar's Blog, page 10

Review of Henry Willis Wells' I Am Fighting for the Union

I Am Fighting for the Union: The Civil War Letters of Naval Officer Henry Willis Wells by Henry Willis Wells

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


In August 1862, twenty-year-old Henry Willis Wells joined the United States Navy. His rank was master’s mate, a position that placed him between higher-ranking officers and seamen. Several months after volunteering to serve, he explained to his mother that “I am fighting for the Union,” and he believed that serving his country was important during this time of conflict between the North and the South. (ix)

He did not enter the navy as a novice; his first sailing venture took him to the West Coast aboard a clipper ship at the age of fifteen. Between subsequent cruises in the merchant marine, he studied navigation at Boston Mercantile and Nautical College to add to his nautical knowledge learned at sea. His first posting in the navy saw him serving as an acting master’s mate aboard the Cambridge, a steam vessel that had previously seen duty as a merchantman. The ship was part of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. He would serve on other vessels that patrolled waters off North Carolina and the Florida Coast, including Key West, and several months before his death, he was finally given his own commands, first the US Sloop Rosalie and then US Schooner Annie.

Throughout his journeys, Henry wrote letters home, many of which survive and were first gathered together by his great-nephew. Now they have been published in chronological sequence as part of the University of Alabama’s Maritime Currents: History and Archaeology series, for readers and historians interested in the day-to-day life of a junior naval officer during the American Civil War. These missives provide personal glimpses into the men he served with and what transpired on each voyage from his entry into the navy until his death in December 1864. Also included are occasional official documents, such as orders and notices of his brief capture by Confederate forces and his death. Browning includes maps, a timeline of events in Henry’s naval career, and period illustrations (including a map that Wells drew of Union defenses at Washington, North Carolina). Notes, which explain or elaborate on details found in the letters, are also included, as are a bibliography and an index.

Among the war-related news that Henry shared are what he witnessed on day one of the Battle of Hampton Roads, chasing blockade runners, sleeping arrangements aboard his ships, interactions with contraband (escaping slaves) and prisoners of war being exchanged, participation on court-martials, and the effects of illnesses on himself and others.

Even though the letters shared are only his, readers still get to learn about his family and homelife during the war. Most missives are addressed to his mother, but he also wrote to his father, sisters, and cousin, Louisa May Alcott. There are several poignant stories, including one of a Rebel prisoner who shows Henry a Bible that saved his life or the wounded soldier who was sitting by an ambulance when guerrillas murdered him. There are requests for specific items in care packages and feelings of homesickness when he fails to hear from those he loves.

In addition, he shares personal opinions and thoughts on subjects pertinent to the time or his family, allowing readers to experience these from a 19th-century perspective. Although he volunteered to serve, he was not classified as regular navy personnel because his experience came more from firsthand knowledge rather than formal education by the navy. This resulted in encounters where prejudice and bias were prickly thorns for him, as was his age which was given as one reason for his not being promoted even though he was better qualified for advancement than others with whom he served. Even so, this inquisitive and determined young man eventually achieved his goal of promotion and command.

This is a highly enlightening volume that provides readers with eyewitness perspectives of what it was like to serve in the Union navy during the Civil War. If there is any drawback to this volume, it is the location of the notes. Rather than inserting the relevant information on the bottom of the pages where the mention is made or at the end of particular letters, the notes are found after the correspondence ends. This necessitates that the reader flip back and forth, which most will not do, and some of the endnote numbers are difficult to see, which means the reader may miss that there is additional information or explanations that are relevant.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates & Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Wells.html)



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Review of Lauren Smith's Devil on the High Seas

Devil of the High Seas by Lauren Smith

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


1742. Gavin Castleton is Admiral of the Black, leader of a loose confederation of Caribbean pirates. He is not, however, in control of his own ship. One of his men has turned most of the crew against him and he fights for his life in the midst of a storm off the coast of Cornwall, England. Seven years ago, he vowed never to return to his homeland but now has no choice. Wounded, he makes his way to the manor house through the smugglers’ cave below. He stumbles into his twin brother’s bedroom in the middle of the night. Instead of finding Griffin, he falls at the feet of a beautiful lady.

Her life is ending. There is just no other way to see it, as far as Josephine Greyville is concerned. Her brothers, one of whom is a former pirate, have grand adventures. Being a woman, she is entitled only to life as a wife and mother. Until the wounded man enters her room. She surreptitiously tends to his wounds and helps him hide, but once she discovers his identity, she must tell her intended, Griffin Castleton, a consummate gentleman.

Smitten by the spunky lady who comes to his rescue, Gavin decides the time has come to turn the tables on his brother. Griffin stole his beloved away seven years ago; now Gavin kidnaps Josie on the eve of their wedding. She and Gavin board a new merchant ship appropriated by his quartermaster. They pose as master, wife, and first mate instead of pirates and set sail. Speed is of the essence since the Royal Navy is hunting pirates in coastal waters and because Gavin has discovered just who owns the vessel they have absconded with: Josie’s older brother and Gavin’s former associate among the pirates. He and Griffin will come after them, but in the meantime, Gavin intends to give Josie the daring and courageous life she craves. Hopefully, he will also find the devil who stole his ship before their brothers find them.

Gavin is the flawed hero who immediately captures the reader’s heart, while Josie is the daring heroine willing to risk everything for the one she loves. The villain personifies the devil and his brutality is as legendary as his vileness. Smith artfully weaves description with such magic that the reader is transported back in time to the locations where this third book in the Pirates of King’s Landing series takes place.

The story, which is written for adults only, is a rip-roaring romantic adventure spiced with humor and emotion. (My favorite line is: “Lady Josephine, you cannot keep a pirate as a pet!”) As special treats, a secondary romance is interwoven with the first and the epilogue hints at the next book in the series, which involves Josie’s twin brother.*


*In the interest of full disclosure, I read and commented on an early draft of the manuscript. My review, however, is based on the published book, which I did not see or read until after publication.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates & Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/LSmith.htm...)



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Review of Philip K. Allan's Clay and the Immortal Memory

Clay and the Immortal Memory by Philip K. Allan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Invasion. This single word sums up Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte’s most ardent wish: to claim England as his own. But the British Royal Navy blockades France’s ports and while he has enough barges to carry his troops across the Channel, he lacks enough ships of the line to go up against this irritating foe. During 1804, his shipwrights build new ships as fast as they can. He has also reached a secret accord with Spain that will soon allow him to sufficiently increase his naval forces. What he does not have and what he has no control over are two elements that his admirals deem essential: calm waters and no enemy ships. He is certain, however, that 1805 will resolve these issues and he will have the victory he desires.

Francois Brissot is excited to join the crew of the 74-gun Redoubtable at Toulon. He only hopes she will not be relegated to sitting in the harbor as happened to his previous ship because of the British blockade. Once aboard, he finds that many of the men are new to the sea, but he has a way of leading and training them that strikes a jealous chord with the first lieutenant, Camille Dupotet. The rivalry deepens after Redoubtable fails to elude the British patrol blockading the harbor and Francois is the only officer to suggest a creative way that might give them the edge the next time they confront the enemy.

Successfully preventing the French from capturing a convoy from China provides Captain Alexander Clay and his men the opportunity to return to England. Monsoon winds are less accommodating, requiring him to venture close to the French base in the Indian Ocean. As a result, the Griffin is doggedly pursued by three enemy ships; an ingenious ruse allows him to escape unnoticed. Once they are in the Atlantic, they happen upon a French fleet and Clay faces a dilemma: pursue this fleet or head to the nearest British base to report the enemy’s whereabouts.

A bit closer attention to copyediting would have corrected some misspellings, but these are not sufficient to disturb the reader’s enjoyment of this tenth adventure in the Alexander Clay series. My one complaint is that the French characters speak more like their English counterparts than as Frenchmen. This tends to weaken the feel of the French world they inhabit.

Allan does a commendable job portraying both the tedium of daily ship life and the intensity of those occasional bouts of nail-biting action. He deftly weaves humor or anguish into his scenes. One example of the former occurs when one of Sean O’Malley’s schemes backfires. One example of the latter takes place aboard Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.

Clay and the Immortal Memory is a tale of Napoleon’s successful maneuverings to strike a devastating blow against the British that eventually culminates in the Battle of Trafalgar. Readers get to view these events from both perspectives. The focus, however, is on the aftermath of the clash, which proves just as riveting as the battle. Fans of this series will enjoy this latest adventure.


This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers (http://www.cindyvallar.com/Allan.html...)




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Review of Julian Stockwin's Treachery

Treachery by Julian Stockwin by Julian Stockwin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Neither Kydd nor Renzi are in good places when this latest Kydd Sea Adventure begins. Renzi suffers from guilt for abandoning his friend when he needed him most. Kydd wallows in grief at the sudden loss of his beloved. Renzi makes a new vow to help Kydd, but it takes an encounter with footpads and the press gang to draw Kydd sufficiently out of his anguish to at least do his duty as captain of Teazer.

This Thomas Kydd is not the one that his men admire and willingly follow. This is a harsh, unyielding commander who demands immediate obedience. As a result, unease and possible mutiny ripple through the crew, though Kydd is too blinded to see or listen to Renzi’s warnings. It takes another to turn the tide before it’s too late.

Teazer and her crew have been relegated to the isolated station of the Channel Islands, where Admiral Saumarez is in charge. For Renzi, this provides him with new opportunities to continue his research. For Kydd, he is given a chance to show his mettle; Saumerez judges by deeds and courage instead of hearsay and innuendo. Kydd accepts the chance to prove himself worth; in doing so, he draws the ire of those who have been on station longer than he has. Then Kydd receives secret orders, which he successfully carries out. Upon returning to home port, his ship is boarded and he is accused of smuggling, which is against Admiralty rules. And the admiral denies ever giving him secret orders.

Treachery is the tale of what happens when an officer loses his command and must seek employment on land. It is also about backstabbing and vowing to clear one’s name, as well as following paths that go against one’s beliefs. Privateering and espionage play key roles in these struggles. The machinations behind a plot to kidnap Napoleon Bonaparte show the tenuous scheming between the English government, French émigrés, and French royalists. The action is riveting and the emotions are profound. Internal struggles play out alongside external ones. This ninth title in the series is one that fans will enjoy not only for these reasons but also because it delves further into multi-dimensions of character.


This review was originally published at Pirates and Privateers (http://www.cindyvallar.com/Stockwin.h...)




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Review of Colin Martin's and Geoffrey Parker's Armada

Armada / A Little History of the World by Colin Martin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


In late July 1588, two fleets engaged off the coast of England in what has become known as the Spanish Armada. It was King Philip II’s attempt to invade England and return her people to the Catholic faith. Queen Elizabeth and her ministers took the threat seriously, and all understood the stakes should England lose. To Philip, this was an operation blessed by God and He would not allow Spain to fail. But the endeavor did fail and the reasons for that failure were many, as Martin and Parker deftly show.

The authors explain the historical background, starting with King Henry VIII’s setting aside his wife, the Spanish Catherine of Aragon, in favor of Anne Boleyn through to Queen Elizabeth’s execution of her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots. We meet the key players on both sides of the conflict, including the monarchs and their ruling styles, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the admirals, the navies, and the ships. Also shared is information gleaned from exploring the shipwrecks and artifacts that have been found.

This book is divided into four parts: The Fleets Assemble, God’s Obvious Design, “It came, it saw, it departed,” and The Aftermath. It contains more than 155 illustrations and six tables, as well as a glossary, a chronology, notes, a bibliography, and an index. There is also a URL to a downloadable digital file that contains five appendices. The majority of illustrations are in color – some artifacts are black-and-white renderings, rather than photographs – and these are spread throughout the book rather than in separate sections.

This new edition of Armada, which was previously published in 1988, has been revised and expanded. At over 700 pages, it is a comprehensive and highly readable account of this well-known event. Written by an underwater archaeologist and a historian, it incorporates artefacts and contemporary documents to entertain, enlighten, and separate reality from myth. Archives around the world have been searched to provide the most comprehensive account of the events and people involved in this historical milestone.

What also makes this a compelling read is that the authors allow the participants to tell the story without relying on the myths and nationalistic fervor that have colored many previous histories of the Armada. In addition, the authors explore the failures on both sides, the aftermath of the attack, who should take the blame, lessons learned and not learned, survivors’ stories, what if’s, how England and Iberia remember the Armada, and what we might learn in the future. For those seeking an informative account of the events that occurred in the summer of 1588, Armada is well-worth the read and a bargain since readers are left with a clear understanding of who was involved, what happened, and why it unfolded as it did without needing to undertake the depth of research that Martin and Parker have.


This review was originally published at Pirates and Privateers (http://www.cindyvallar.com/Martin-Par...)




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Review of I. M. Foster's Murder on Oak Street

Murder on Oak Street by I.M. Foster

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Jilted at the altar, Daniel O’Halleran accepts a job that combines his two passions: medicine and criminal investigation. He moves to Patchelogue, Long Island, where Kathleen Brissedon, the daughter of a wealthy resident, asks him to look into an unsolved murder for her desolate stepbrother. The case is one that has haunted Daniel for two years; he did the autopsy and was frustrated because the New York City police gave the crime only a cursory examination.

Before Daniel has a chance to delve into the mystery, a new murder occurs. On a hot summer night in 1904, someone slits Thomas Brissedon’s throat. With the help of a local police sergeant, as well as an uncle who works for New York’s police department, Daniel learns the victim collected secrets and was willing to use anyone, including his own children, to get what he wanted. Daniel discovers there is a connection between the two murders, but how and why must wait until he figures out who killed Thomas. Was it the angry stepson? The callous, drunken son with gambling debts? The guttersnipe wooing Kathleen? The cousin in love with the maid, whom Thomas fired? The wife whose husband has what Thomas wanted? The partner he ruined? Or is Kathleen the murderess?

While it takes one third of the book to introduce the characters and set the stage for the murder, once Thomas succumbs, the pace quickens and it becomes an intriguing who-dun-it. This first book in the South Shore Mystery series interweaves murder, mayhem, and romance with well-drawn characters rife with foibles and a vile, despicable villain. Foster, a historian and librarian, brings the Edwardian period and bygone Patchelogue to life, and readers will look forward to Daniel’s next mystery as well as his developing relationship with Kathleen.


(This review originally appeared in Historical Novels Review: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...)



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Review of Karen K. Brees's Crosswind

Crosswind by Karen K. Brees

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The invitation to present at a botanical conference is in direct opposition to Dr. Katrin Nissen’s research, but it provides the MI6 agent with the perfect cover for visiting Germany in June 1940. Another American agent has gone missing; Katrin must determine why, find him, and recover missing microfilm. His half-sister may be helpful, but she is a staff photographer for Heinrich Himmler. Or there is the mole within the University of Berlin’s physics department if Katrin can determine who he is. Soon after her arrival, small items go missing, her room is searched, and she happens upon the body of a murdered professor. The deceased is neither the first nor the last victim, and most are in direct opposition to current Nazi thinking. The mystery intrigues her, and there are many suspects, but solving it is not her primary objective.

Crosswind is an entry in a well-researched World War II series, but it is not a spy thriller. There are occasional passages filled with information readers may find themselves skipping over, and the author occasionally repeats explanations about cultural differences within the narrative and the afterword. The story unfolds from three perspectives – Katrin’s is in first person, while the missing agent and his half-sister are in third person – which is the only justification for using similar names for Katrin and the half-sister (Kristine). Although reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, Crosswind lacks as much tension as readers may expect. The most compelling scene unfolds during a side trip in which the Gestapo arrest Katrin, yet her extrication from the situation seems contrived. For readers seeking an interesting tale without full immersion, or who want to see the seemingly innocuous ways in which the Nazis manipulated research to reinforce their goals, Crosswind is worth the read.


(This review originally appeared in Historical Novels Review: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...)



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Review of Baptiste Pinson Wu's Yellow Sky Revolt

Yellow Sky Revolt by Baptiste Pinson Wu

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Liao Hua, a defeated general, dictates his story to keep alive the memory of his fallen comrades and to recount the upheaval in imperial China after the Han dynasty falls. The present is 263 CE, yet like all stories, his begins in the past . . . a past when he tilled the earth but dreamt of being a soldier like his uncle Cheng.

Six-year-old Liao accompanies Cheng on a trip to Xiangyang in 183 CE where they witness an unjust beheading. In a time when ripening unrest ripples through the countryside, Liao realizes his uncle may face a similar death. The militia arrests Cheng, but the villagers retaliate; soon, others join the revolt. Known as the Yellow Turbans, this army of peasants fight for freedom and justice against corruption and greed. They lack martial weapons and training, but win battles until the emperor unleashes his hardened warriors. Taken prisoner, Liao is noticed by one victor. If Liao swears loyalty to him and does his bidding without question, Colonel Cao Cao will educate and train Liao to be a warrior. But the way is filled with painful and bitter lessons that leave indelible scars.

Yellow Sky Revolt is the first book of ten in The Three Kingdoms Chronicles and covers the first seven years of Liao’s journey. It is told in first person, with interludes of the present interwoven with the past. Wu vividly re-creates time and place, bringing to life the characters and history. Rife with emotions, the recounting hooks readers much like Cheng’s stories captivate Liao. This is a tale of endings and beginnings, of love and vengeance, of actions and consequences, of rivalry and trust. Readers connect with Liao and witness how he begins to mature from a child to the man he will become.


(This review originally appeared in Historical Novels Review: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...)



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Review of Teri M. Brown's An Enemy Like Me

An Enemy Like Me by Teri M. Brown

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The American flag: a symbol of freedom, a symbol of sacrifice. William Miller is proud to be an American, but Veteran’s Day 2016 brings back memories. Some long forgotten. Others as vivid as they were in 1944 when four-year-old William watches the train depart. He only understands that his father is leaving, Mommy is sad, and nothing is the same.

Jacob Miller is proud to be a first-born American, but he also has an abiding affection for his German heritage. With minor hiccups in their lives, he and Bonnie welcome their first child. Then Japan bombs Pearl Harbor. He wants to fight the Japanese, but his conscience tells him it’s more important to take care of his family. Until his friend is sent to an internment camp because his loyalty is questioned. If Jacob wishes to keep his family safe, he must enlist to fight the Japanese. Instead, he ends up fighting Germans.

Born into money, Bonnie Phillips finds her world upended when the stock market crashes. She’s been taught that classes don’t mix, but meeting Jacob alters her perspective. She doesn’t understand his insistence on joining the army, until she sees other German-American men boarding the train. While Jacob is away, she fights her own battles, waging a mental war of “what-ifs” that threaten to overwhelm her.

This novel spans nearly a century, although the majority occurs in the United States between 1939 and 1946. Brown poignantly demonstrates how war affects everyone, not just those who fight, and that trying to understand those changes may take years. This story tugs at heart strings and skillfully depicts life-altering events from the perspectives of a child, a wife and mother, and a husband and father. It will also affect readers as strongly as it affects the characters.

(This review originally appeared in Historical Novels Review: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...)



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Review of C. Michael Hiam's Murder Aboard

Murder Aboard: The Herbert Fuller Tragedy and the Ordeal of Thomas Bram by C. Michael Hiam

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


On 3 July 1896, the Herbert Fuller left Boston. Ten days later, the captain, his wife, and the second mate were dead. Murdered with an ax while they slept. Surrounded by ocean, that meant someone on board had done the horrendous deed and any one of the survivors could be next.

There was no inkling of anything out of the ordinary before that fateful night. The barkentine carried a cargo of white pine bound for South America on a journey that should have taken about two months. There were twelve people aboard the ship, including Lester Hawthorne Monks, a student at Harvard University. That night, before going to sleep, he read a story of mutiny and murder by William Clark Russell. Sometime after he retired, he was awakened by a scream. When he went to investigate, he found Captain Charles Nash dead. Later, he and the steward also found the bodies of Laura Nash and August Blomberg.

Soon after, the remaining nine men aboard decided to preserve the bodies and some of the evidence and to sail for Halifax, Nova Scotia, which they deemed the closest port where they could report the murders. They also tried to determine who did the deed. The most likely suspect was Charley Brown, a Swedish sailor who acted suspiciously. But perhaps Thomas Bram, the first mate, was the murderer. Or maybe the two acted together. Whatever the truth, surely the authorities in Halifax would find the answer. If not them, the Americans would since the victims were American, the Herbert Fuller was American, and she had departed from an American port.

What ensues, however, is an account of questionable justice rife with lies, exaggerations, racism, and manipulation. No one, not even the passenger Monks, the victims, the sailors, or even the attorney who prosecuted the case, were above reproach. Only one victim supposedly got justice, because errors made by the grand jury meant the defendant could be tried for only one murder. Black-and-white pictures and diagrams, some submitted as evidence, are included, as is a bibliography and index.

Hiam provides an insightful and riveting account of the days before, during, and after the murders were committed. He shows how even some of the participants and those who followed the proceedings questioned the findings and the verdicts. It is also a compelling commentary on society and the legal system in the final years of the 19th century.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates & Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Hiam.html)




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