Bloody Jack Adventure Series by LA Meyer

I just copied each book explanation from my library's webpage because there are so many (6) in this series, and it has been a long time since I read the first 5 and all the details are smooshed together in my brain. Any of my own personal notes are in paranthesis (). This series is something I read for FUN-FUN-FUN!! One thing I don't like about this series is it is really repetitive--she gets in trouble and rescues herself over and over and over, some of her sayings and the narrative writing can also be very repetitive, and the guys are always falling in love with her. One way it may not seem so repetivie would be to not read them one after the other if you can help it--personally, I just can't stop myself, so good luck with that.

I also want to post a rating on this series. Its about a young teenage girl involved with a very male-dominated world, and some of her escapades put her in precarious positions (to put it delicately), and so deals with things I would rate PG-13.

Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy
Reduced to begging and thievery in the streets of London, a thirteen-year-old orphan disguises herself as a boy and connives her way onto a British warship set for high sea adventure in search of pirates. (Things get complicated when she falls in love with a fellow ship's boy!!)

Curse of the Blue Tatoo: Being an Account of the Misadventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady
In 1803, after being exposed as a girl and forced to leave her ship, Jacky Faber finds herself attending school in Boston, where, instead of learning to be a lady, she battles her snobbish classmates, roams the city in search of adventure, and learns to ride a horse.

Under the Jolly Roger: Being an Account of the Further Nautical Adventures of Jacky Faber
In 1804, fifteen-year-old Jacky Faber heads back to sea where she gains control of a British warship and eventually becomes a privateer. (On one ship she ends up on, the captain decides she will be his "mistress" and though sex doesn't happen, be forewarned.)

In the Belly of the Bloodhound: Being an Account of a Particularly Peculiar Adventure in the Life of Jacky Faber
Jacky Faber and her classmates at the Lawson Peabody School for Young Girls in Boston are kidnapped while on a school outing and transported in the hold of a slave ship bound for the slave markets of North Africa. (Some nudity, but its entertaining and necessary to escape)

Mississippi Jack: Being an Account of the Further Waterborne Adventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman, Fine LAdy, and the Lily of the West
In 1806, the exploits of Jacky Faber continue as she heads west to avoid capture by the British and discovers adventure aboard a keelboat on the mighty Mississippi River.

My Bonny Light Horseman: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, in Love and War
While trying to run a respectable shipping business in 1806, teenaged Jacky Faber finds herself in France, spying for the British Crown in order to save her friends. (Through all of Jacky's adventures she is trying to remain faithful and pure to her true love, the ship's boy she falls in love with in the first book.)

Thumbs UP

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas

Okay, so first of all, I found the original version of this story somewhat disappointing. Probably because I am a "happy ending" type of girl, and its not that this doesn't have a happy ending, but it isn't a satisfying ending for me. Maybe because I've seen the movie starring James Caviezel a number of times and I really like its version of the story, though, now I wonder where they came up with the movie version of the story 'cause its way out there. Anyways . . .

Edmund Dantes has it all, at 19 he is about to be appointed captain of the Pharoan, marry Mercedes, the love of his life, and live happily ever after. Unfortunately, there are men around him who are incredibly jealous of his achievements and decide to do what they can to prevent Edmund from his success. In the middle of Edmund's betrothal feast he is arrested and accused of being a supporter of Napolean Bonaparte. He is immediately sent to jail, not because he is unknowingly carrying a letter holding the details of Napoleon's plans of escaping Elba, but because the letter is to be delivered to the father of lawyer interviewing him and the lawyer wants to prevent his family being involved. In prison Edmund is alone, until a fellow prisoner attempting escapes finds his way into Edmund's cell. It is from this man that Edmund learns of a treasure on the island of Monte Cristo, and with the man's death Edmund is able to escape. He recovers the treasure and sets out seeking revenge on the men who put him in this place.

I enjoyed the greater background and historical information, as well as the greater character involvement versus the movie. I also felt there was a greater sense of Edmund realizing his revenge affects more people than just those he is targeting, which doesn't come across much in the movie. Aside from the happy ending I was hoping for and anticipating, which never happened, this was a fabulous novel. I understand the Penguin classics version has the best translation, but I read the Signet classics.

Thumbs UP

Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini

Just the title of this book makes me smile!! Set in England when the Duke of Monmouth is revolting against King James Stuart. A battle occurs, the Duke's followers are beaten and hundreds of people were arrested, most just simple country folk who happened to be in the area where fighting took place, such as Peter Blood, a man who served as a mercenary in european countries before settling down in a small English town to practice medicine. When he is found aiding a rebel he is arrested. The trial is decided before it takes place and luckily for Peter Blood, the king has requested men to be sent to the Barbados as endentured servants instead of directly to the gallows. If the men survive ten years of slave labor they will be released. In Barbados, Blood is purchased by Colonel Bishop, a violent plantation owner, who discovers Blood's medical training and sells Bloods services to people on the island, including the govenor. It is here that Blood also meets the Colonel's niece, Arabella Bishop, Blood's love interest, enough said.

The story really gets exciting when the island is attacked by a Spanish ship, who quickly overcome the English defenses and lay waste to the city. Blood seizes the chance to escape with the other English prisoners who have so far survived the slave labor. While the Spanish celebrate in the city, Blood and his companions overtake the few guards remaining on the Spanish ship. In the morning when the Spanish return to their ship, the captain and loot on the first boat are captured and the other boats are blown up, leaving the few Spanish sailors who make it to the beach alive in the hands of the angry English.



Blood is unable to return to England, and so sets about pirating Spanish and French ships, but never the English because he dreams of being able to return to there. He must face many horrible characters including the Spanish Admiral Don Esteban, a French pirate named Lavasseur, and a French general named Rivarol who all strive to beat Blood during his adventures on land and sea. Blood's goal is to clear his name so he can court Arabella Bishop, but will he get to marry her?

Thumbs UP!! I guess there are some Peter Blood sequels so you will get to hear more about him in the future!!