Archway Publishing – Rosepoint Publishing

Rosepoint Publishing: Five Stars

Book Blurb:

On the eve of WW1, amidst the turbulence of the Ludlow Massacre and the Triangle Shirt Factory fire, the young Haskell brothers Davey (16) and Jacob (21) dream of escaping the poverty of their lobsterman life in Deer Isle, Maine. Their sailing talents catch the eye of the powerful New York Yacht Club, with a chance for glory in the prestigious America’s Cup race series.

The brothers’ bond is tested as they both fall for Edith, a captivating Irish maid. Family loyalty is at stake, and now, the pursuit of sporting fame threatens to drive them apart. Complicating matters further, someone must stay behind to care for their ailing parents.

When a near-fatal accident leaves one brother hospitalized and consumed by the need for revenge, a compassionate Latina nurse helps him heal, showing him a path beyond bitterness.

Meanwhile, the millionaire yachtsmen harbor dark secrets. A glamorous concubine is hidden away on a luxury yacht, leading to blackmail and scandal.

As the bachelor heir to the Vanderbilt railroad fortune grapples with his future, preferring the freedom of the sea over his family’s wealth, the Haskell brothers must navigate their own choices between love, family, and ambition.

Can they overcome the trials that threaten to tear them apart, or will the winds of change leave them stranded in the past?

His Review:

Brothers by their very nature and birth are competitors. Jacob and Davey are two such individuals who fit perfectly into that mold. Jake is the older more worldly brother who has all of the girls fawning over him; Davey is the little brother lagging behind his big brother in everything. Angst and jealousy are an integral part of their relationship.

The Americas’ Cup is a coveted race of sailboats with crafts from all over the world. The British are a proud maritime nation with a heritage of being the fastest and best sailors. The Americans continually knock them off their pedestal. This story is about the America’s cup contested in 1913. Some of the contestants and boats are owned by the Lipton, Rockefeller-Vanderbilt, and Astor families.

The best sailors come from some of the small fishing villages north towards Penobscot Bay and Maine. These sailors start young and spend 14-plus hours per day tending lobster nets and other fishing equipment in the cold northern seas off the coast of New England. Jacob and David are two of these young sailors. Like most brothers, there is always stiff competition between them. Jake the older brother appears more handsome and able to engage any young lady he wants.

The extremely wealthy racing boat owners hire them to man their boats in the race to ensure that their vessels finish first. A million dollars is the sum offered to the winner of the race, a very large sum of money prior to the Great Depression.

This story is based upon a true race and the venue is around Penobscot Bay in the northern waters of America. The competition is fierce and ruthless. Who will take home the coveted million dollars and the title of best boat and crew in the world?

I found the action fast-moving and the topic very informative. The story includes a wealth of information regarding sailing vessels and their riggings. Anyone who has ever dreamt of sailing the seas or crewing an ocean-going vessel will enjoy this book. 5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. These are my own opinions

Book Details:

Genre: Sea Stories, Historical Thrillers
Publisher: Archway Publishing
ISBN-10: ‎ 1665758317
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1665758314
Print Length: 318 pages
Publication Date: April 22, 2024
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Thomas Morgan Robertson, known by his stage name Thomas Dolby, is an English musician, producer, composer, entrepreneur, and teacher, renowned for his innovative contributions to music and technology. Born on October 14, 1958, in London, Dolby rose to prominence in the 1980s with his hit singles “She Blinded Me with Science” and “Hyperactive!”. His distinctive blend of electronic music and inventive compositions made him a key figure in the new wave movement, though his work spans a wide array of musical styles beyond the high-energy pop sound.

In the 1990s, Dolby founded Beatnik, a Silicon Valley software company that developed polyphonic ringtone software, including the iconic Nokia tune. His groundbreaking work in technology extended to serving as Music Director for TED Conferences and leading the Music for New Media program at Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Institute since 2014.

Dolby’s talents have earned him numerous accolades, including a “Lifetime Achievement in Internet Music” award from Yahoo! Internet Life in 1998, The Moog Innovation Award in 2012, and the Roland Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. A versatile artist, Dolby has collaborated with legends such as David Bowie, Joni Mitchell, and Foreigner, and has contributed to numerous film scores and video games.

An author as well, Dolby’s memoir “The Speed of Sound” chronicles his adventures in the music industry and beyond, offering readers a glimpse into his multifaceted career. With his novel “Prevailing Wind” set to release in June 2024, Dolby continues to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation, inspiring audiences worldwide with his endless passion for music and technology.

Enjoy Your Sunday!

Book Blurb:

This book is not about poetry, even though the title and limericks sprinkled within might lead you to that notion. This book is not about sports, though many of the characters connect as coaches or teammates. This book is not even about a father and son, even though it deals with a man and his recently deceased father.

This is a familiar tale of family, friendship, community, loss, and the renewal of faith. Even though the book takes place over the course of only one week, its message delves deeply into life and living.

We all question the usefulness of our past, the course of our present, and—on our more challenging days—the point of our future. We wonder about the significance of our efforts. In other words, this book poses the question we often ignore through activity, defy with arrogance, or accept as unanswerable: “What’s the point?” In the vein of film classic It’s a Wonderful Life, author Antony Saragas reminds you that life is worth living and that sometimes your friends and family are your angels.

His Review:

Dylan nicknamed Oskie is a budding baseball star. His father is the coach. Each of the characters in this novel went by a different nickname. The coach meant well but the overall presentation left a lot to be desired. The cover alludes to “One Week, Three Lives, and Three Deaths,” not a happy premise going in.

Each of the chapters ended in small poems or more accurately simple rhymes. I wanted to get more enthusiastic about the book but the entire presentation seemed rudderless and scattered. The development of young men with a strong character in their lives is important. Team sports certainly helps to develop those characteristics but I felt the thread of that development was broken in many places.

As the book rambled through many phases of the young players’ development I was hoping for a more concrete plot. I was hoping that a couple of them would join the military and have further direction in their lives. This didn’t happen and the lives lost were avoidable. 3.5 stars-CE Williams

Rosepoint Publishing: Three Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Limericks and Humorous Verse, Literature and Fiction
Publisher: Archway Publishing
ASIN: B08K3VZYX6
Print Length: 136 pages
Publication Date: September 10, 2020
Source: Author requestTitle Link: Once Upon a Rhyme [Amazon]
Barnes and Noble
Kobo

The Author: [Goodreads] Antony L. Saragas is a father, coach, attorney, judge, and writer. He has worked as a sports journalist and radio broadcaster and founded the Harlan County Boys & Girls Club in his hometown of Harlan, Kentucky. He now lives in Savannah, Georgia, where in addition to his career and writing, he enjoys any time with his kids, any nearby weight room, and any sunrise at the beach. His newest venture is The Average Man’s Adventures podcast. He is the author of Tales of a Small-Town King, which was published in 2018. –This text refers to the hardcover edition.