The Private Revolution of Geoffrey Frost: Being an Account of the Life and Times of Geoffrey Frost, Mariner, of Portsmouth, in New Hampshire, as Faith

I would have loved this book regardless of where it was set, but the fact that it takes place in and around the area where I grew up made it even more special for me. Rich and believable characters, settings, and battles make for an exciting and compelling read. The only detraction from an otherwise excellent book: it could have used a bit more (or maybe less?) editing. While Fender's writing is rich and excellent, it suffers from occasional punctuation errors in some places and from garbled phrasing that could have easily been cleared up in others. That's just nitpicking, however. I recommend this book very highly and am looking forward to the rest of the series.

In his first book of what hopefully will be a long series, James Fender has shown promise of being a timely and worthy successor to Patrick O'Brian. "The Private Revolution of Geoffrey Frost" builds gradually into a fascinating and entertaining account of the stirring rescue of American prisoners held under brutal conditions at an obscure port in Nova Scotia. Like O'Brian, his story is based on real events, but from an American perspective and during the Revolutionary War period. I can't wait until the next volume of the series appears.

After Hornblower and the O'Brian books, it's great to read a series from the American point of view. The hero, Geoffrey Frost, is suitably larger-than-life, but still an interesting character with doubts and worries. The author certainly seems to possess the requisite command of naval lore, and he keeps the action moving at a brisk and exciting pace. A wonderful balance of seafaring adventure and historical detail.

The first book of what will be a great historical and nautical fiction series.

I was very pleasantly surprised by this novel. The protagonist is an interesting, well-rounded character, far from being a stock-issue hero. The plot has intriguing believable twists, and the Newfie dog that enters the picture just about steals the whole story! Outstanding - I look forward to any that may follow.