A New Captain's First Patrol Turns into a Fight for Their Lives
Sam Powell gets a well-deserved promotion to Lieutenant Commander and a coveted slot at the Naval War College. His replacement, hard-charging young Lieutenant Haley Reardon, is about to get a baptism of fire.
Opening with the rescue of a young family from a stricken sailboat in the middle of a major hurricane, Bravely and Faithfully presents an exciting series of adventures, culminating in the covert insertion and recovery of an assault team from a hostile Caribbean island.
Enjoy the action, the teamwork and camaraderie of the crew as they face life and death together with their new captain, and the course of second-in-command Ben Wyporek’s sweet courtship of the beautiful, neurodiverse genius Victoria Carpenter.
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: This is a captivating tale that will interest even readers who are not familiar with the Coast Guard nor its lingo. While there is plenty of action in the story, it is the character-driven plot that elevates this adventure novel.
Prose: With alternating POVs, Hochsmann's prose maintains a consistent tone while allowing for the distinct traits and quirks of his characters to come through. The prose may not be flowery, but it can certainly be evocative and it expertly places the reader in the middle of some harrowing situations.
Originality: Bravely and Faithfully is an adventure tale with elements of the suspense novel woven within. Its setting, alternating POVs, and excellent writing put it ahead of many comparable novels.
Character Development/Execution: The characters in Hochsmann's tale ring true to life and the camaraderie that is on display greatly aid the story and its action. The villains are intriguing, and readers may crave additional time with them on the page.
Date Submitted: June 06, 2022
MUST READ!
Take a deep breath before you start because Bravely and Faithfully goes from 0 to 60 right from the start!
The danger and excitement of the rescue during a hurricane literally had me holding my breath. Afterward, there is little respite for the Kauai (or the reader) as they are drawn right back into the thick of things before you can catch your breath.
The plot of this third adventure delves into exciting areas. Really, Hochmann’s stories always seem to probe unexplored territory. They are never dull or run-of-the-mill, and this one was no different. I enjoyed the political shenanigans which severely handicapped the captain’s and the crew’s abilities to accomplish their assigned mission in a way they felt was right. Orders and circumstances left the new CO with tougher than usual decisions to make on “a helluva break-in patrol.”
This small crew of men and women has just so much heart. When Sam was promoted with the subsequent change in command, I was worried about bringing in such a critical unknown to the series, and frankly, it took me some time to warm up to Haley. She seemed so cold and, unnecessarily, by the book at first. But I liked how she eventually works out the transition and preserves what is so good about this crew, especially with Ben and Hoppy. Speaking of Ben, he’s come back from his pretty catastrophic injury in the previous book, ready to get on with life. Ben just has what it takes. I liked what the author has done with Ben’s always delightful relationship with Victoria.
I really like this author’s writing style. He puts you on the scene and in the moment. Each scene is presented in such a way that you are there with the characters. Dialogue is well written, even when technical language is needed. I never felt confused by jargon, and I felt even more caught up in the action with the use. The unfolding scenes felt realistic and genuine.
From witty banter to a marriage proposal that doesn’t quite go as planned, there are some good laughs to level out the danger and tragedy. There are many emotionally-charged moments in this adventure; along with the excitement and joy, there is great sadness and shock. There are also some tough topics and situations described. I laughed and cried with the characters, and I so look forward to their continued future. They’ve almost become friends and family.
I recommend Bravely and Faithfully and the entire USCG Cutter Kauai Sea Adventure series to readers who enjoy character-driven military action-adventure stories. Although, Bravely and Faithfully is the third book in the series and could be read as a standalone, for the best reading experience, start at the beginning. You won’t be sorry.
★★★★★
A riveting sea adventure with a top-rate protagonist, Bravely and Faithfully by Edward M. Hochsmann throws the reader into a series of missions carried out by the Cutter Kauai and her crew. When a young Coast Guard officer gets her first command, she thinks she is on top of the world until she finds herself supporting dangerous operations which require her to go far beyond her training. With strong characters that have ties to the other books in the series, this military thriller enthralls with fast-paced action and carefully-crafted detail, which brings to life the setting in every scene. Hochsmann manages to pack a huge story into a short read, making this a page-turner from beginning to end.
★★★★½
A gripping high-stakes adventure on the sea, Bravely and Faithfully recounts the missions of the Cutter Kauai - a Coast Guard boat with a penchant for tackling unique operations with heroic teamwork. Lieutenant Haley Reardon assumes command of the tight-knit Kauai crew just in time for an incredibly dangerous assignment: apprehending a syndicate leader from a Chinese-controlled Haitian island. Hochsmann’s dynamic cast, energetic prose, and tense plot - showcasing everything from perilous hurricane rescues to the liberation of human trafficking victims - make this novel an enjoyable must-read for fans of character-driven military fiction.
★★★★½
