“Because I normally gravitate towards nonfiction books, I was surprised how much I loved AMBER WAKE: Gabriel Falling. Historical fiction has never been on my reading radar but the Old English dialogue was a standout pleasure. Much of the story is set upon a large sailing ship on the not always calm seas as they travel across the Atlantic from England to North America, then heading southward down its eastern coastline. They do have a fair amount of adventure also (or should I say problems) whenever they step onto land.
Having enjoyed reading articles on a range of subjects, as well as a few short fiction pieces by Ronovan Hester on his blog RonovanWrites, I was probably a bit closed-minded to doubt I would enjoy reading this also. He has a great style to his writing and storytelling, and though I haven’t met him, I feel his personality shines through his words; caring, thoughtful, and imaginative, with a wonderfully straight forward sense of humour and high moral standards–much like the main character of this novel, Royal Navy Captain Gabriel Wallace, aka Pirate Captain Rasmus Bergman. The ocean setting, pirate plot, and the desire to read a longer piece by Hester meant I couldn’t resist diving into the book, making it a perfect segue into fiction reading for me.
Gabriel Falling is a prequel to a series of other books written by Bartlett, though it most definitely works on its own. Now I’m curious about the rest of the story, particularly as to if and how far Captain Wallace’s polished persona transforms as a result of the personal vendetta which this story revolves around. There are definite indications that the experience has either changed him or perhaps only revealed his true feelings and desires.
“It would seem so, Miles.” I held the parchment in my hand, somehow not surprised by its words.
“Gabriel, they can’t mean it. The hand of his own first lieutenant killed Admiral Hawthorne. That dagger you pulled from the Admiral’s chest belonged to the man and we all know it.” The big Scotsman paced before what was once my father’s desk.
I scanned the message again. “The court seems to hold a belief the Admiral would be alive today if I not for my restraining him from murdering young Lieutenant Carbonale.”
My best friend and first lieutenant stopped his pacing. “So you are to be tried for stopping a murder?” Hands flew in the air in exasperation. “That’s the Admiralty for you. How this nation remains in control of the seas with that lot of idiots in command is beyond me.”
The firm knocks at the study door kept Miles from further expounding upon his thoughts of England’s lack of leadership. “Yes, Mildred?”
The housekeeper entered with paper in hand. “Another?” I asked.
“Yes, sir, only just now delivered.” A delicate hand passed the message over. “The young man would not say from where he came, but he had an air of polish about him unlike the previous.”
I saw her hands ring with anxiety. “Mildred, all is well. There is no need to—”
“All is well? Gab—”
“Miles, there is nothing to become upset about. The Admiral’s murder took place in a sailors pub frequented by less than reputable sorts. It is only natural for there to be some sort of inquest made.” I turned to my housekeeper. “Mildred, will you make certain Adam stays away from the study for the next hour? I don’t want those highly tuned ears of his overhearing just enough to become worried himself.” I smiled and squeezed one small hand with a reassuring firmness.
A deep breath escaped the housekeeper that had worked for my father before me. A smile returned to her face and she nodded. “Yes, sir, I’ll make certain the boy is busy elsewhere.”
I sat behind the polished mahogany as the door clicked shut behind her. I broke the seal and opened the message.
“Is it another accusation?”
I looked up at Miles, his fists pressed onto the desk. “No, only a simple message. It would seem the Admiralty does not have a monopoly on my life.” I folded the letter and replaced it in its envelope.
“What do we do now?” Miles stood straight, prepared for battle.
“We are to do nothing. You are to return home or find a barmaid about who hasn’t heard of your reputation and may be able to calm that rising blood in you.”
The broad smile stretched across the sea-tanned face as if a reflex. “That sounds like a good idea. Why don’t you come along?”
“No. I have other things to do. At some point we need to gather the crew and explain to them what is occurring.” I rose and turned to the window behind me. “I have no fear of their doubting my honor in the matter. Enough were there that night and they know me as man and captain. They need to hear from our mouths what is afoot.”
“Agreed, I’ll spread the word to gather two days’ time aboard the Majesty’s Venture. And now, I’m off to find a cure for what ails me.” The big laugh infected me and my spirits rose. There was nothing like a happy Scotsman to chase away a dark cloud.
My fingers rubbed the envelope in my hand.
I returned to my seat and opened the letter again. With Miles now gone, I could read for better understanding.
Come to the site of the King’s fall at one past noon.
Your father’s friend.
The clock showed it was nearing noon now. The invitation was not a request as much a command, a command not to ignore. I exited the study with purpose. “Mildred! I will be out for a time. Make certain Adam completes his studies. I expect a report from his tutors left for me to examine later today.”
“Yes, Lord Wallace.”
Jerome would need to run strong to make the meeting. I smiled. The big roan loved given his head, or at least given a direction and allowed his own speed.
What would he of all people want to meet with me at a time like this?
With Amber Wake: Gabriel Falling out for almost a month now, with reviews coming in from continents all over the place, the majority of which are 5 Stars, I thought I would share some correspondence I had with one of my beta-readers, author Annette Rochelle Aben. Not every beta-reader is asked to give the same feed back. Knowing Annette’s affinity was not for the Pirate genre, I asked for feedback with that in mind.
~~~
Guess what???
I have finished reading your novel. Congratulations, this is really good. Considering I had second thoughts after I said yes, simply because this is NOT a genre I would normally read, I was pleasantly surprised. So, what’s my next step, how can I help you with this?
Annette
~~~
Mainly your opinions, likes, dislikes. Anything that didn’t work for you.
I wrote with believable characters in mind, not super heroic or over the top, except for Wallace’s resolve about character/beliefs/behavior/loyalty and the like.
Ron
~~~
I must say that I did find the characters to be believable, and if this makes any sense, very human. I was expecting the story to be violent and crude, and that would turn me off completely. However, in your story, I felt like I was simply experiencing men who would have been pirates around the time of Errol Flynn. You had a part where this was pretty much spelled out when you wrote that a good captain would take care of his men, feed them properly, etc. and they would want to stay and work with him. That, of course, comes closer to the end of the book, yet I felt that way all the way through.
There was a lot of feeling of YOU, a Southern gentleman, all the way through. I felt as though I were reading a story about people I wanted to know more about, which again, was very surprising to me.
This gave the entire story a rather romantic feel. Can’t believe I just said that because I am NOT a romantic and that is a genre I avoid at all costs…
So, what didn’t work for me.. gee whiz. I got the impression that the “down with the establishment” or “getting some of my own back” motivation was present but I’m not certain the differences were spelled out. Like here is one chapter of what life was like IN the Navy and the next chapter telling the story of what life was like as a pirate. If this was done for each character, the back and forth thing, it might have brought a different level of contrast to the story. Not that one needs to legitimize the role of a pirate, almost pointing out that they were driven to that life. Did that make any sense?
Thought that treatment of the girl was almost more “missionary” than pirate. Not that I am complaining[…]
If I come across anything else, floating through my head, I will be happy to share
So happy for you, Ron. This is quite the endeavor and you seem to have a firm grasp on how to make it happen. Oh, and the ending? Left the door open and peaked the curiosity!
Cheers,
Annette
As with all the beta-readers involved, the information was considered and applied to the manuscript where did appropriate for our purposes. There really wasn’t much we could do about the line between pirate and Navy life as there is a blurring of the lines in the book because of the situation Captain Wallace and his crew are in. Once you read the book you’ll understand what I mean.
The one part edited about the girl in the story was done so due to a spoiler of sorts.
Annette is correct in that I did put a lot of me into the creation of Gabriel Wallace. In the future, Wallace becomes someone else, and that character changes over time because of life and situations that warrant that change. At the core, he’s the same man in both this book and the future, just the exterior is different. A obvious captain in the Royal Navy would not fair well in the later adventures that have been written about Wallace.
Part of my mission was to give a history and foundation for a character who could be that future character that now exists in other books in the series. He had to be a man who could lead, teach, and love. The love aspect is not as prevalent in the book because it is not a romance, but there are hints of the romantic in him because of certain conversations had, and Wallace’s views about women and being a man.
With the correspondence and the reviews coming in so far, I think PS Bartlett and I achieved our goal. The ending was changed from the original manuscript to meet future plans, and that ‘peaked the curiosity’ is thanks to PS Bartlett. My original had more of a closure but open to further adventure because we weren’t sure if there would be a second book or not at the time. I think PS Bartlett has some plans you may be interested in. She also made more sense in the location of a Naval battle I wrote. Where I had Wallace doing what might have made sense in some historical sense, she gave it a better flow with how the story was going and headed. As well, I think the location of the battle might come in handy in future stories. A very smart change on her part.
Annette did give the book 5 Stars on Amazon and Goodreads, but she didn’t gush about it. She gave a straight forward reader review rather than an Author Reader Review. I know all of you can tell the difference.
Check out this 5 Star Review and support this aspiring author! She has great imagination and talent. As she continues, we’ll hear a lot more from her in the future!
I recently finished reading Amber Wake by PS Bartlett & Ronovan Hester and I must say it is such a catching and intriguing storyline. It is set around the classic storyline of a hero trying to right a wrong done to him but it is so much more than that. When Royal Navy Captain Gabriel Wallace finds himself unknowingly tricked into a situation the ruins his career and risks his family he makes the decision to leave England. With the help of his friends and crewmates, they make an escape and become regarded as Pirates. As a reader, you truly get caught up in the need for Captain Wallace to take down Admiral Chambers and all that he corrupts. With drama leaping off the first page, it gets its hook into you straight…
It’s time for an Amber Wake: Gabriel Falling update!
We keep selling and people keep reviewing. Unfortunately, they don’t all end up on Amazon.com or Goodreads. However, for those that are on those sites, we have 5 unique 5 Star Reviews, and 2 unique 4 Star Reviews. With one of those 4 Stars noting she rated it a 4.5. I’ll take it!
“I thoroughly enjoyed Amber Wake and the set of circumstances that brought Royal Navy Captain Gabriel Wallace to find himself a reluctant pirate. When I said this was not your typical pirate tale, I wasn’t kidding.
This seafaring tale is really the study of a man finding himself in a situation where his quick wits and sense of right and wrong lead you on a rollicking good adventure. The captain is clearly the star of the book and you get a clear sense of his internal struggle where he is obliged to reveal the darkness that lurks within himself.
I loved the depth that each of the characters portrayed. I was able to step inside of their minds and live the story through their eyes. History came alive and showed the chivalry this group of men possessed not only for the crew but for others as well.
When the raging sea battles ensued I found I could not put the book down. I had to know what was going to happen next!“
“What I found when I began reading was immediate engrossment in the cleanly written character of Captain Wallace, who is a seafaring man of high rank, with a conscious. That his first person voice is as confessional as it is kept me turning the pages. There is a humanness to Captain Wallace that the reader is privy to via his internal monologues, and this is what kept me engaged with this fast paced, undulating story of a man falsely accused by the English court, who then takes to the sea with a cast of supportive characters.
It is an unusual spin on the idea of a pirate story in that Wallace has little other recourse but to go rogue, as it were, and because this premise is wonderfully set up in the beginning, the reader sympathizes with Wallace, who is motivated by the edification of his own reputation. This is a fun book: it is action packed, full of time and place appropriate language, and quite a departure from what I typically read”
“Hats off to the team of Ronovan Hester and P.S.Bartlett for breathing life into this swashbuckling tale, that put this reader in mind of Errol Flynn! I enjoyed meeting the characters, kept turning the pages to see what was happening next and am looking forward to more great adventure tales from these two authors”
“Amber Wakes is a story of change and one man’s transformation, telling the tale of one Gabriel Wallace, captain of the Royal Navy, an educated and honourable man.
The book opens with an unfortunate incident leading to Gabriel being court-martialled for murder and subsequently disgraced. Choosing to flee with the support of his loyal crew, he embarked on adventures and survival on the high seas, all the while intent on clearing his name, hell bent on revenge against the men who had accused him of murder and thereby banishing him to the other side of the law. As he faced the challenges of being a reluctant pirate and a leader of men, Gabriel’s baser instincts revealed themselves.
What will he do to redeem himself? What will he do to assuage the fury within? Will he be thwarted by beauty? By his closest confidante? What makes a man with integrity? And who is the little boy of whom he is so protective?
Captain Gabriel Wallace is a man with a moral code that is largely unwavering; a confident man who holds himself with pride yet humble. A romantic hero for sure!
“… I must say it is such a catching and intriguing storyline. It is set around the classic storyline of a hero trying to right a wrong done to him but it is so much more than that…As a reader, you truly get caught up in the need for Captain Wallace to take down Admiral Chambers and all that he corrupts. With drama leaping off the first page, it gets its hook into you straight away. A page-turner from start to finish.
I adore historical fiction novels anyway, but I must say Amber Wake’s storyline is excellent and unlike anything I have read before. I don’t know much about the British Royal navy (and maybe that made it all the more intriguing to me), but felt I could easily have lived through each setting from the British courtroom, the American Colonies, Caribbean ports, and, of course, the ships themselves.
The characters throughout the book were superb. As a reader, you could feel the strength of Captain Wallace, the loyalty of his crew, the difficulties with trust and friendship. All the emotions leapt straight from the page.Of course, there is also moments of strong comradery and humorous touches too. One of my favourite quotes being:
“His face was puffed-up and as red as a drunken Irishman with an empty wages packet.”
For me, the book was totally unpredictable and a real gem of a discovery. The authors writing style, the plot twists, the locations and most importantly the strong storyline all kept me turning each page eager for more. Highly recommended.”
Oh, and my father who is in his 80s and isn’t into historical fiction of the Royal Navy and Pirate genre says, “A good read. I am wondering how you get Gabriel out of his current predicament.” From him, that’s praise.
Hello everyone! I have a treat for you today. I’m an avid reader and self proclaimed bookworm and to me as well as others like me it is always fun when a new, intriguing book is released. Do you enjoy fascinating stories about pirates? Well then you’ll love The Razor’s Adventures Pirate Tales by P.S. Bartlett. I have featured P.S. Bartlett and her books on this blog and you can check out that post here.
Today’s focus will be on the wonderful and talented Ronovan Hester since P.S. Bartlett’s recent installment in The Razor’s Adventure series, Amber Wake: Gabriel Falling is co-authored by him. This is not your typical pirate story since Ronovan puts his love of History and his 20+ years of writing experience to use in his debut Historical Adventure set in 1705 England, American Colonies, and Caribbean.
Just over two years ago, I had an accident in my home. I was walking down the hall one moment, and the next thing I remember I’m in the hospital. I don’t remember the walking down the hall part, but that’s where they found me. Migraines have always been a problem of mine and I had a bad one that morning. I fainted or passed out, got dizzy, something happened; hit my head on about three surfaces before hitting the floor. I was somehow able to hit the speed dial on my cell phone that I always carried in my hand and help was on the way.
From that accident, I was no longer able to work, and in my need for an intellectual outlet I ended up blogging. Sometimes it hasn’t been so intelligent, but it’s been fun for the most part.
I see that some authors have blogs and others don’t? As a blogger and author, what advantage does blogging give you?
Any writer these days needs to do his or her own promotion. That is, unless they are already established authors. Even signed to a publishing deal must do promoting to some degree. The biggest promotion one has in selling their book is word of mouth. One friend tells another about your book. That friend enjoys the book and tells another.
Although I never started out blogging to promote anything, I had nothing to promote at the time, I have a small picture of my book cover at the bottom of each of my posts/articles. I haven’t been over the top about promoting the book. I’m excited but I don’t want to use my friendships and trusts I’ve developed like that. Yes, I want my friends to buy the book and maybe make it a bestseller wherever possible, but my main goal is to make my 11-year-old boy proud and he can say his daddy is a bestselling author. If not, then he can say his daddy is a published author.
I’ve been looking forward to this interview, Ronovan. Your constant help to new aspiring authors has earned you a place among the leaders in the literary world. It’s a pleasure to interview such a great guy, but I have to say… You are so normal and approachable. All of us are forever in your debt and are looking forward to getting to know you a little better.
So, let’s get started:
Heidi: What genre do you write? Ronovan: Historical Fiction seems to be my natural leaning. Although, I have been working on a Southern Contemporary Romance for a while now. For the most part history finds its way into my thoughts. I have several manuscripts that deal with something to do with the past.
Heidi: When did you start writing? Ronovan: I guess it’s been at least 20 years now, but the real sit down and do it part has been the last few years. That’s when I began to pay more attention the craft of writing itself, in how to tell a story the right way.
Heidi: What are you working on now? Ronovan: I’m working on the Southern Romance I mentioned. I also have a YA Historical Adventure I go to when my brain needs a rest from the Romance. The YA book is one I wrote in the present but it’s gone back and forth between past and present in the idea stages. The manuscript is complete in the present version but I want to change it.
Heidi: Who is your favorite character in your stories? Ronovan: In the book I just released, Amber Wake: Gabriel Falling, Captain Gabriel Wallace is my favorite for various reasons. I also like a character named Gimby, he’s the helmsman for Wallace’s ship and has a matter of fact way about him people can’t help but like.
Click HERE for the rest of the interview PLUS Author H. Schussman’s 4.5 Review of Amber Wake: Gabriel Falling
AMBER WAKE – Gabriel Falling by P.S. Bartlett & Ronovan Hester
Author Ronovan Hester 