British Sea

'A fantastic writer.' Donald Ray Pollock 'Nigel Bird is fast becoming one of the top writers in his genre.' Luca Veste DIRTY OLD TOWN is the debut collection from the prize-winning writer Nigel Bird. His brilliantly observed slices of life allow us to visit places we may not normally choose to enter and to walk a few miles in the shoes of others. Though his tales have darkness at their core, they are also full of a heart and spirit that one rarely finds in the world or ‘noir’ or ‘crime-writing’. There are 9 stories here: Drinking Wine (Spo-Dee-Oh-Dee); Dirty Old Town; Sea Minor; ...

A thrilling adventure set in the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean during the early 20th century. Set against the backdrop of tumultuous seas, Terror at Sea is a harrowing tale of survival and heroism. The story begins with the San Martin, captained by Antonio Perez, journeying from Realejo to Tahiti. Among the five passengers are Mr. McKay, his son Andy, Terence Donaghue, Fanshaw Ellerton, and Quexo, a young ranch worker. The group finds themselves aboard the aging steamer due to Mr. McKay’s injury during a Central American revolution. As the steamer plods along, it falls into a fierce ...

It is the late 1700s and America has won its independence. Ships sail across the Atlantic delivering goods back and forth from America and the Caribbean to Europe. English, Spanish, and Dutch ships routinely make the passage from America and the Caribbean to their home ports back home. While these ships have become bigger, faster, and more reliable in the past three hundred years since Columbus landed, one thing still threatens them; pirates. Captain Nonn has a vendetta against the British for what they did to his family; those are the ships he tends to attack with his battle-tested ship, ...

Jodie Jackson is leaving her London life, her career and her husband behind. She'd like a chance to turn back the clocks, but she'll settle for some peace and quiet on her brother Bill's houseboat. But from the moment Jodie steps aboard her new home, it's clear she'll struggle to keep herself to herself. If it isn't Marilyn, who cleans for Bill and is under strict instructions to look after Jodie, then it's Ned, the noisy sculptor on the next-door houseboat. Ned's wood carving is hard on the ears, but it's made up for by the fact that he's rather easy on the eyes.

Stella loves her life in London, being far from the foul-mouthed, flame-haired grandmother who raised her. Then, she gets the dreaded call in the middle of the night, and finds herself living with Gina in the crazy coastal town of Mapton on Sea.

On 16 July 1940, Hitler issued Directive No. 16, setting in motion Operation Sea Lion: his plan to invade England. The success of Operation Sea Lion hinged entirely on the destruction of the RAF and the Royal Navy, but even as Hitler's plans swung into action and England, barely recovered from Dunkirk, rallied her defences, the Battle of Britain began and in just a few months Germany had lost all hope of dominating England's skies and with it, the key to the invasion. On 17 September, 1940, Hitler postponed Operation Sea Lion indefinitely and the entire episode faded from memory.

Tangled Moon heeled slightly to the gentle northwest breeze. A low patchy fog obscured smaller islands but taller peaks still poked above the mist. Chandler Gray sat on the bow, wearing a life vest and hanging on to the bow rail. He was five. His job was to watch for logs. Chan leaped to his feet and waved his arms. “A log! A big log!” he cried out. At the helm, Cindy spotted the log. It was more of a tree, with roots and branches. She didn’t change course since it was well off to starboard. As she was about to tell Chan it was okay, one of the branches waved. It was a pale human arm....

NOTE TO READER: This is a reprint of Surrender the Heart, published in 2010 4 Stars! A new historical series, Surrender to Destiny, centers around the War of 1812. Tyndall brings new life to the old story of finding romance during war. Her characters are courageous, smart and believe in what they are fighting for. --Patsy Glans RT Book Reviews 2010-08-11 A young mistrustful lady, desperate to save her family A man, burdened by guilt, desperate to please his Both caught in the brink of a war that could change the course of history forever On the brink of the War of 1812, Marianne Denton must...

A summer wedding.... An eccentric aunt.... What can possibly go wrong? Libby's instincts tell her there's something amiss in the picturesque villages, small towns, and rural farms of Exmoor. Then, people begin to disappear.... She's joined forces with on-off partner Max in a private investigation business, but she's getting cold feet about the idea of marriage. After all, it's taken plenty of hard work to regain her independence after her husband's death. Meanwhile, a sinister new acquaintance sends shivers down her spine....

Impersonating a King's Officer is a death sentence, but Brent had decided long ago, even before the boy died that he would do it. It would be a far better life than that of a power monkey. After the years of torture and pain his chance had come but could he manage it? Setbacks are a part of life and Brent has more than his share after his rescue. His dream of being a naval officer depends on an improbable rescue attempt of four important men from the pit of his nightmares. He, alone, knows of an entrance to the pit and it falls to him to succeed or die.

READY FOR COMMAND is the fourth novel in the Rian and Mouse saga. So much has happened both to and for our friends, Mouse and Rian as they navigate the many happenings (and even perils) which cross their bow as they begin to learn what living life truly entails. In this installment, Mouse is unexpectedly thrust into the command chair when England’s largest warship, a dreadnought named HMS Devastation, is captured by the French. When Captain Bumper and Tom Andersen, along with the hapless Rian are taken prisoner, it is Mouse and the hardy Cleos who must devise a way to rescue their ...

In this romping romance, a low-born beauty branded as a witch has no chance to live unless she goes with the illegitimate son of King Charles II on his adventure to recover his hidden gold treasure and soon she discovers much more—first passion under sweet breezes and tropical moonlight and the promise of bliss with a man she truly loves. "Read it years ago and fell in love with it, it's just one of those quick sweet romances you can revisit over and over again! :)”—Nessah, Amazon verified purchase “Fortune's Mistress is a wonderful tale of two people brought together by chance and ...

In Of Bygone Days, the seventh and final novel in the Rian & Mouse seafaring series, it is 1859 when Chumley Preston's periodical, the Weekly Standard publishes a news article about life at sea. The incredible adventures experienced by Adrian Pembroke and Richard Jay is duly reported by journalist, Julius Lightbody. But the fledgling writer learns more than he ever expected as the tale unfolds and he is faced with a decision that will break all Victorian social conventions. It is revealed to him that his subjects have lived an extremely happy and fulfilling life together as homosexuals in a...

18th and 19th CENTURY ENGLISH WOMEN AT SEA is a lively and entertaining account of the three types of women one would normally find, legally, or illegally, on board a ship during the 18th and early 19th Centuries—prostitutes, officer’s and midshipmen’s wives and other female passengers during wartime, and women masquerading as sailors or crewmen. Colorful but factual accounts of surprising and certainly, little-known, incidents are drawn from letters written by sailors and other men at sea, from diaries of such figures as Admiral Horatio Nelson, and autobiographies written in the late...

“A fast and delightful read! There is something here for everyone. Highly recommend!”-- Mrs. Virginia A. Butterfield Caroline Steele, a secret rebel during the colonial war, finds a Royalist rogue sea captain hiding in her bedroom armoire as English soldiers swarm through her home with a warrant for his arrest. Her reputation in tatters, she boldly takes a chance on him. “I won’t turn you over to the Redcoats if you agree to be my husband and take me to the Caribbean.” Garrett Faulkner is a clever smuggler and outlaw who is more than up to the task of wedding and bedding this ...

When prison inmate and former police officer John Brace says he’s willing to give up information about the location of a dead body in return for protection for his family, Vera knows that she has to look into his claims. But opening up this cold case strikes much closer to home than Vera anticipates as her investigation takes her back in time to The Seagull, a once-decadent and now-derelict nightclub where her deceased father and his friends used to congregate.

There have been reports of a phantom ship attempting to run down other vessels on the waters. It is said to be a cutter that went missing, along with its crew. A ship eventually stumbles across the missing cutter, a final log from those on board shedding light on the fate of the cutter.

Ishmael, Foley Baha, Flank, “Ned” Hanford and George Washington Black survive the sinking of the ship Pilgrim. For over a week in a whaleboat with limited supplies of food and water, the castaways hope for rescue from a passing ship. Their hopes are dashed before they finally find the British ship Amazon and board her to try to unravel the mystery of why there are no officers or men aboard.

In February, 1806, the frigate carrying Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Bolitho drops anchor off the shores of southern Africa. Bolitho's instructions are to assist in hastening the campaign in Africa where an expeditionary force is attempting to recapture Cape Town from the Dutch. Bolitho is still brooding over the loss of his flagship, and hi socntinuing personal troubles are only brightened by his love for Catherine, Lady Somervell.

As his birthday, and pre-Christmas celebrations begin, trawler Skipper Tom prepares to set sail on his final fishing trip of 1974. As always at this time of year, he reflects on the events of the past twelve months. Now reconciled with his wife, Debbie, he is on a much more stable financial footing. Due to a very good year`s fishing on board his boat, Dorothy Hood, all his debts are now paid. In fact, a small surplus means they can now finally enjoy a few more luxuries in life. But everything in the garden is far from rosy. His father Fred`s memory loss is now such a cause for concern, that...