Book Reviews: The Fastest Ship, a Historical Romance Novel

"Just occasionally, you can come across a book where the author has had a flash of inspiration and written a story with great verve. "The Fastest Ship" is unusual in that an American author, with a lot of sailing experience, has chosen one of the UK's most famous ships as its centrepiece. We are unlikely to get another story that features HMS Warrior, and which moves at flank speed between the Caribbean and the England of the mid-nineteenth century. This is "Damn the torpedoes - full speed ahead!" territory, complete with hero, heroine, villain, and a mighty steam-powered Nemesis; in full 3D."

The Fastest Ship: A Novel
Larita Arnold
Silver Messages Publishing, Highlands Ranch, CO, paperback, (252p)
ISBN: 0-9774849-0-4

Larita Arnold has scored a winner with her novel, "The Fastest Ship." It is a moving and dynamic story of romance and passion, revenge and retribution, pirates, plunder and pirate's treasure-which takes place for the most part on the high seas of the Caribbean in the mid-19th century. As the author states, the tale is set "at the close of the Golden Age of Sail," - 1860, a turning point for European maritime history. It was a time when the mighty all-sail wooden ships were being made obsolescent by the advent of the steam-and-sail ironclads, which were faster, better armed and protected.

Placed within this historical framework is the story of sixteen-year-old Elena Williams of the British colony of Jamaica. Kidnapped by the dreaded pirate John McGwyer, she manages to escape his clutches, and is rescued off the high seas by Admiral John "Jack" Ashbury of the Royal Navy on board the HMS Griswald. "My crew spotted her lying unconscious in a longboat floating in the open sea off the coast of Barbados...and our ship's Doctor said he feared her skull had been cracked," recounts Jack. Elena's traumatic experience at the hands of the pirate causes total amnesia, obliterating from her shocked and ravaged mind the fact that she is actually the daughter of the Governor of Jamaica, and the fiancee of Colonel James Whitworth of the Jamaican Royal Guards-and she is carrying his child.

The seven-foot-tall McGwyer is the terror of the Barbados seas, and captain of the privateer, the ship-with-no-name. He had kidnapped Elena in a crazed act of revenge, for he blamed Whitworth for the death of his beloved wife Christine and their child, while in custody. Meanwhile romance blossoms on board HMS Griswald; Jack and Elena find true love and marry in London. Elena, now called Angelica Ashbury, is happy with her new life with husband Jack and baby Charles. However, as her memory returns slowly and painfully, she and Jack are horrified to discover that she is the legal wife of McGwyer!

The author's adept use of the flash back technique keeps the story going at a swift pace. It moves from the open seas of the Indies to the opulence and high society of London-and to the "world's first iron-hulled capital ship"-the mighty ironclad of the Royal Navy, HMS Warrior. Jack is promoted to Admiral, and given the task of supervision and financial management of her construction. Crewed by seven hundred men, she has a top speed of 17 knots, is four hundred and twenty feet long, and very heavily armed. Jack's aim is to get the ship operational as early as possible, for he seeks revenge for the agony caused to his beloved Angelica by the crazed McGwyer. There is also the interesting question of McGwyer's hidden treasure, its secret location known only to the pirates-and Angelica!

This is a novel with a difference. Author Larita Arnold has managed an intricate yet vibrant interweave of historical fact with romantic fiction, putting together a tapestry that comes alive when she tells the story of HMS Warrior, "The Fastest Ship." This ship actually existed, and was built to the specifications mentioned in the book. She commenced active service in the Channel Squadron in 1862, and was de-commissioned in 1883. A retired telecommunication engineer, the author has always had a passion for tall sailing ships, the Caribbean, and pirate history.

An exciting historical novel especially for nautical buffs, January 11, 2006

Set in 1860, at the close of the Golden Age of Sail, The Fastest Ship is an exciting novel of rescue, adventure and lost treasure. When the daughter of the Governor of Jamaica is abducted by pirates, the man she is destined to marry, and who will build England's first iron-armored warship, the HMS Warrior. The Warrior's maiden voyage in search of a long-lost treasure and hidden memory, on the brink of a revolutionary transformation in nautical technology makes for a rousing fierce saga of the high seas. An exciting historical novel especially for nautical buffs.

From Fallen Angel Reviews (http://www.fallenangelreviews.com):
Rating: 5 Angels!

Elena Williams was abducted by her fiancé’s enemy and forced into marriage, but when she is beaten and abused severely, she sees an opportunity for escape and takes it. Unfortunately, she wakes up on another ship with no recollection of who she is or where she came from. It isn’t long before she winds her way into the hearts of the crewmen, and one handsome captain will find his way into hers. Now she will begin anew with a new home, a new life and a new name, Angelica.

Captain Jack Ashbury brought the woman onto his ship hoping she would survive the trauma that was cast upon her. It isn’t long before his feelings start to grow and he knows he is in love with her. With this revelation he vows to protect her and to get revenge for the cruelty she has suffered at the hands of the pirate known as McGwyer.

Can Jack and Angelica overcome the torments of her past and keep their newfound love in tact?

The Fastest Ship is a charming read although somewhat unique. This did not take away from the story at all but seemed to add to it. In the beginning you meet the two main characters that are currently together but then the author takes you on a journey back to the time surrounding the abduction and events before. It is easy to fall in love with Jack and Angelica. They are both two very heartwarming characters who believe in love and will take a chance even if their discoveries may not be to their liking. Captain McGwyer is a villain you will love to hate. While mainly we see the evil side of him, we do see a spark of humanity in this villain with his lovely wife, Christine.

This story will hold your fascination and have you wanting to know what happens next. Ms. Arnold does an excellent job in her plotting and keeping a nice rhythm throughout the story. This author is definitely worth keeping an eye out for future releases. The Fastest Ship is truly a captivating novel.
Reviewed by: JoAnn, Fallen Angel Reviews

From Heartstrings Reviews:
Change is glorious when a man is prepared to embrace it. Although once the Captain of the HMS Griswald -- a proud ship in Her Majesty's Royal Navy -- Admiral John "Jack" Ashbury has long foreseen the end of the golden age of sail. Advances in technology will soon put ships like the Griswald to shame, in fact. But during his voyage to the Caribbean, Jack gloried in every moment he spent on the sea as the Captain of such a fine ship.

It was an eventful time in his life, and in that of his beautiful young wife, Angelica's. Beaten nearly to death, she was brought aboard the Griswald in a very bad state, indeed. Her memories of that time are still elusive, though they now have a better idea of what must have transpired: a heinous crime, to be certain. Abduction and piracy are hanging offences, by God, and the pirate, McGwyer, will pay for his sins...but all in due course.

Other priorities will need to take precedence, you see, as Admiral John "Jack" Ashbury has been put in charge of the construction of England's first iron-clad warship, the HMS Warrior; an exciting development that will eventually bring Jack and Angelica back to the Caribbean for a reckoning of sorts. For what was lost will soon be found again.

With such a strong historical backdrop, The Fastest Ship will deftly feed into a reader's fascination for factually-inspired fiction. I daresay, the writing of this novel was a labor of love for debut author, Larita Arnold. The descriptive detail found in the narrative about sailing, shipping and iron-clad warships is certainly edifying -- ever wonder why a ship's speed is measured in knots?! -- and splendidly enriching to the storyline...The romance is sweet; the adventure is thrilling; and the writing is remarkably smooth for a debut effort. Larita Arnold's readership should therefore be vastly appreciative of this novel's many charms. Cheryl Jeffries, Heartstrings Reviews at http://romanticfiction.tripod.com

As reported in amazon.com:

Allbooks Reviews Highly recommends this adventure.
"Elena Williams, daughter of the Governor of Jamaica, is kidnapped by pirates in the mid-1800's. Her fiancé searches frantically only to discover she has married another man. Elena now lives in England with Admiral Jack Ashbury and although she is expecting a child by her fiancé Colonel Whitworth, she has no memory of her past life.

"The Fastest Ship is a tale of swashbuckling pirates, true romance and high adventure in the Caribbean Sea. Pirate McGwyer is a privateer, hired by the English government to rid the seas of foreign vessels. He meets and falls in love with Christine, a brown-skin island girl. Author Larita Arnold spins a tale of intrigue and excitement as we learn how Elena was kidnapped by McGwyer in revenge for the death of his wife Christine and her unborn child. ... [in] the caves of Barbados, she discovers the pirate's gold. How does Elena Williams become Angelica Ashbury? Will she return to Jamaica with her fiancé or stay in England? What will become of the pirates treasure hidden away in the caves of Barbados?

"Captivating colorful characters are endearing to readers as the tale unfolds. Faultless technological research of the HMS Warrior, England's first iron-clad ship, add realism and timeline to this novel. The pace will hold the reader's attention until the last page.

"Author Larita Arnold lives in Colorado with family and owns a silver jewelry company. Recommended for historical fiction and adventure buffs." Shirley Roe, Reviewer for AllbookReviews.com

Adventure awaits
"Hot Summer Reading List - Romance - Fiction
Title: The Fastest Ship
Author: Larita Arnold
Rating: Excellent!

"Adventure awaits within "The Fastest Ship," where pirates get away with
murder, for awhile, young women meet their very different fates, and
more than one man's heart is torn asunder. Pirate stories offer a
special romance, of the sea and of the mind. Larita Arnold's tale is an
exciting escape into the past.

"It is 1860 when "Captain" McGwyer pirates away the daughter of the
Governor of Jamaica. Elena is also the fiancée of McGwyer's mortal
enemy, Colonel James Whitworth of the Royal Guard of Jamaica. Whitworth
had arrested McGwyer's wife and so he felt it was an eye for an eye to
take away Elena. McGwyer is a devil of a man, sick and twisted, and
uncaring of the harm he inflicts, or deaths he induces. He beats Elena
severely and in the night she manages to slip away, barely hanging on to
life, but leaving her memories behind her.

"Floating in a small craft, she is rescued off the coast of Barbados by
Captain Jack Ashbury and is brought aboard the HMS Griswald. They set
sail for England and by the time they arrive, Elena, using the name
Angelica (for she can't recall her real name), and Captain Ashbury are
engaged to be married. They have fallen in love, and there is the
urgency of the fact that Angelica is with child. But by whom? She can't
recall her past, but the reader can guess, either the pirate McGwyer or
her first fiancé James. There are greater things to ponder though.

"There is a wedding, and a good many surprises, for Captain Ashbury has
been away for two long years. The baby is born, and life is good.
Captain Ashbury is made an Admiral and is put in charge of the
construction of England's first iron clad ship, the HMS Warrior. Upon
her maiden voyage the Ashburys journey once again across the ocean where
Angelica meets her past face to face. Will it change her future? Only
the pages in the book can tell.

"This is a wonderful adventurous romance (with a number of steamy
moments). Larita Arnold has created a cast of personable characters that
jump off the page and into the reader's mind. Likely you will wish to
read the book all in one sitting, but should you not have the time, you
will find yourself daydreaming of the adventure that is waiting in the
Caribbean for your return to reading. I very much enjoyed the book and
recommend it to anyone in need of a little romantic piracy (and aren’t
we all?)." Heather Froeschl, Bookreview.com

"FOUR AND A HALF BEACON REVIEW FOR THE FASTEST SHIP
by Larita Arnold

Watch out Pirates of the Caribbean! Here comes THE FASTEST SHIP. With more romance and more of a dislikable pirate, this story will have you panting to get to the next page! Elena Williams stolen from her own engagement party as payment to the vengeful pirate McGwyer, she is then beaten and left for dead. But only her body and mind are damaged, her spirit and will to live are strong. Found by a sea captain and his crew, she is dubbed Angelica when it is clear that amnesia has stolen her memories...I was extremely impressed with the knowledge and use of the actual ship the HMS Warrior. It fit perfectly into this story of love and lost treasure. I highly recommend this novel." Lighthouseliteraryreviews.com

Navy in transition

The 1860s proved to be one of the most pivotal periods in the history of naval warfare. For the first time in over 3,000 years of combat on the high seas, ships began migrating from being made of wood to being made of iron. As everyone knows, the MONITOR and the MERRIMACK were the first ironclads to do battle in the American Civil War. However, other countries were catching on to the idea of constructing ships out of iron at the same time.

This is a fictional story of a historical vessel: the HMS WARRIOR. Ironically enough, this technological change caused navies to hire more people per ship rather than less. More sailors were needed per ship than the crews that mustered aboard sailing ships. Additional men were needed to shovel coal in the engine room as well as man the machinery aboard these ships.

The novel also covers the waning age of the infamous pirates of the Carribean. Arnold toys around with history a bit to combine these two historical epochs into an enjoyable maritime tale...

I would highly recommend the current book to anyone with a passing interest in naval history or pirates. For that matter, people who enjoy love stories will also get a lift out of this book. We will hope that Larita Arnold will offer us more tales of the high seas in the future. D. Roberts, Amazon.com Top 500 Reviewer

Romance, with some adventure and history
"The Fastest Ship is a blend of romance, adventure, and history mixed with historical fiction. The main focus of the story is a romance between the first captain of the first British ironclad, HMS Warrior, and a young woman with amnesia and a past shrouded in mystery. Lurking in the background is a vengeful pirate, his dead girlfriend, and the man who was the first (pre-amnesia) love of the woman who ends up with Warrior's captain.

"For those of you who are fans of romance novels, I think you will like this one, although I am not a good judge of that, as romance is far from my regular genres. For those of you who like history and historical fiction, especially about the sailing ships of the mid-nineteenth century, this should be a pretty good book for you. If your main aim is to find an adventure novel, this might not be your cup of tea, as the adventure component is not strong.

"The writing is technically good, and the pace is fairly quick. There is a lot of detail about clothing, jewelry, houses, and furnishings, but very little about the geographical settings. The characters are likeable and interesting, albeit a bit two-dimensional, i.e., the hero and heroine are nearly flawless, and the villain is purely evil.

"If you like this mix of adventure, sailing, pirates, romance, and the sea, Robin Hobb's "Liveship Traders" trilogy, with a strong element of fantasy in it, might be another good choice." C. McCallister, Amazon.com Reviewer

An engaging tale of romantic historical fiction
"The Fastest Ship was sort of an adventure in and of itself for me, seeing as how I drifted a little ways into the personally uncharted waters of the Sea of Romance during the journey. Of course, there's really no reason why a guy can't enjoy a little romance every now and again - and there's pirates and treasure here to boot, so there you go, Matey. There's also an historical backdrop to the story, namely the maiden voyage of the HMS Warrior, England's first iron-clad ship, in 1861. All of the book's characters are fictitious, but the ship's description is based on fact, making this a story of both historical and human interest.

"The Fastest Ship is a rather complicated love story surrounding the young daughter of the governor of Jamaica. During her engagement to a young Colonel Whitworth, Elena Williams is kidnapped from her home by a tough-as-nails pirate named McGwyer. Blaming Whitworth for the death of his wife and unborn baby, McGwyer seeks to return the favor to his nemesis. After a forced marriage, McGwyer and his reluctant bride do not enjoy a night of wedded bliss; instead, a seriously beaten Elena manages to escape. She is found the next day by Captain Jack Ashbury of the HMS Griswold. Unable to remember anything about her previous life, Elena - who now takes the name Angelica - falls in love with the dashing captain, and the two are married upon the ship's return to England (despite the fact that Angelica was obviously pregnant by someone other than McGwyer). A short time later, Colonel Whitworth finally tracks down his former fiancé and is heartbroken to learn she is now happily married. Newly acquainted with her true history, Angelica begins to remember more and more about her experiences - including the location of McGwyer's cave full of treasure. Two years later, she accompanies her husband back to the Caribbean on the maiden voyage of the Warrior (a ship now-Admiral Ashbury helped build). Violent past and blissful present collide upon her return, setting up a drama seemingly preordained by fate itself.

"There's really no question that this is a romanticized story. I don't think any British sailors of the 1850s and 1860s lived the kind of idyllic lives of Ashbury's loyal crewmen, Ashbury is remarkably accepting of his new wife's pregnancy by another man, and the two lovebirds do get awfully lovey-dovey at times. The characters, though, are remarkably well-developed, especially the roguish pirate McGwyer. The reader's knowledge of the events fuelling his murderous rage makes him very human and even sympathetic to some degree.

"Larita Arnold has written a novel of romantic historical fiction that should appeal to a whole cross-section of readers. Whether you come for the romance or the historical details surrounding the transition from wooden ships to iron-clad monsters, readers should enjoy Arnold's mixture of the two genres. This tale of romance on the high seas is certainly worth the price of the voyage." Daniel Jolley, Amazon.com Reviewer; also posted at:

Romance rules the waves
"This is not my typical reading by any means. It is a romance novel, not the kind of book I usually pick up. However, it was offered by a friend, and I'm the sort who will usually give a book a chance. Couple this willingness with an interest in things British and one sees that there was a more natural affinity for this book than at first glance.

"The story begins in the year 1860, at the peak time in the world where the Britannia ruled the waves with the Royal Navy, and had an empire upon which the sun never set. The year 1860 was pivotal in another sense as well - it was the time of transition from sail-based to powered ships, and the world would never be the same.

"This was certainly true for Angelica, or Elena as she was originally called. Daughter of one of the many British hierarchs stationed around the world flying the British flag (this one in Jamaica), she was stolen away by a pirate named McGwyer, and ended up married to another - a disturbing idea to her 'real' fiancé, James Whitworth, who saw the marriage certificate in Jamaica shortly before she left for England.

"The story is told in flash-back sequences interspersed with the ongoing narrative. Angelica/Elena is both victim and instigator of some of the intrigue; Jack Ashbury is captain of a ship, HMS Griswald, patrolling the Caribbean region and finds Angelica/Elena, who seems to not recall her identity. On the voyage back to England, Jack and Angelica fall in love and are shortly married; Angelica is pregnant with child, but it is unknown whose child this might be.

"The pirate McGwyer, the colonial Colonel Whitworth, Angelica/Elena and her family end up with different fates, while the work of the world (and in particular, the upgrade of the British Navy) continues apace around them. There is romance in the lives of each of the characters, love both unrequited and fulfilled for many of them. Author Larita Arnold does a good job at character development and description as well as plot and conversational development. The scenarios are interesting without being beyond fantastic, and the outcome makes sense, without being overly sentimental or predictable.

"(And no, I'm not going to divulge the ending - you must read that for yourself!)

"A good yarn, as they say, and I couldn't help but occasionally hum a bar or two from Gilbert & Sullivan, whose work was often set in similar scenarios." Kurt Messick, Amazon.com Reviewer

Piracy, adventure and a story of unconditional love
"The year is 1860 and fierce pirates still roam the Caribbean, preying on helpless ships and terrorizing the population. It is also a time of great change, as the British Navy is beginning the process of using iron to turn their vulnerable wooden sailing ships into nearly indestructible steam powered weapons.

"The captain of the most notorious pirate ship is a man named McGwyer and he kidnaps the daughter of the Governor of Jamaica (Elena) and forces her to be his bride. She is beaten into submission, but after only one night, she manages to escape. Bloody to the point of being near death, she is adrift on a small boat until rescued. She has lost her memory, but a naval officer falls hopelessly in love with her, they marry and she changes her name to Angelica. They live happily in England until another man arrives and fills in some of her past.

"This begins a tale of love, revenge, recovery and closure. Angelica's husband, Admiral John Ashbury oversees the construction of the HMS Warrior, the first ironclad in the British fleet. They sail to the Caribbean on her maiden voyage, find and destroy McGwyer's ship, see that he is hanged for his crimes and get Elena's marriage to McGwyer annulled.

"The story is one of unconditional love that lives and thrives in the presence of great strain. Angelica is pregnant with the child of another man and yet her husband does not care. Her mysterious past also does not concern Admiral Ashbury, he only wants her to be happy. It is a story that is very pleasant to read, the historical backdrop, which is reasonably accurate, helps flesh it out and make it interesting. I enjoyed the book very much, even though as a rule I find romance novels dull and uninteresting." Charles Ashbacher, Amazon.com Reviewer

"Love this novel! A fine job of writing, great vocabulary, interesting story content and a lot of research." Lorna Olson

"It was indeed a pleasure to be one of the first people to read this book...It was definitely better than the average romance novel, as I get halfway through them and quit. The time period is such a wondrous time in our nation's history and it was nice to see how a fair amount of history was included in the book. I most certainly would recommend this book to anyone seeking an afternoon of relaxation. Good job!" Sandi Baum

"Sitting down to read The Fastest Ship is a treat. The story is powerful, heartwarming and full of life. A book about the ways of the heart and the compelling ties of love...a major achievement." Jean Hughes

"In a confusing world, Larita Arnold's book The Fastest Ship is like a breath of fresh air. She takes you back to a simpler time when love was honorable & so were most of the men. She fulfills a desire for action, romance, intrigue & interesting descriptions of old ships--also courage, daring & suspense. It has it all and just makes you feel better for reading it. This would make a great movie!" Shirley Jackman

"From the first word to the last, I was immersed in this riveting novel of love, innocence, passion, heart-gripping truth about marriage, life and man's evil manipulation and 'lust' for control. Larita Arnold's novel took me along a journey with more than just words on a page, but took me away to a place where I could escape." Belle-Lyssa Dreher, Intentions in Art