Beautiful Aurora Borealis--Latest Captain No Beard Story Takes Us There! And More!!! Check out 3 Reviews!

Captain No Beard and the Aurora Borealis 

 By Carole P. Roman

 Have you ever seen it? I haven't, but I sure would love to! This time Captain No Beard takes children, and adults, to a place few will ever experience! Want to come?! I can't wait!

First, have you met Captain No Beard? Well this is the latest story, Volume 7 and it just might be something one of your children will love as a stocking stuffer! In fact, since it's that time of the year, I decided to read all of the Captain No Beard stories that I've not yet published...

Let's Start With the Latest!

The Captain and his crew are heading north where it is very cold--and lots of icebergs! That's another thing I've never seen! How about you?! 

The Crew called them giant ice mountains but, you know what, they are totally made of... Water! Yes, just like we drink! 

But it was also very dark and everybody started asking questions about where they were going! Can you imagine feeling that cold after sailing through all those warm climates that the crew has explored? BRRRRRRR!  I'm already shivering here and it hasn't even started snowing yet this year!

The Captain pointed and announced they were heading North, following the North Star, or Polaris... 

I love to see the stars, but have never studied astronomy, which is how you learn about stars. Maybe you'll get a chance to have classes someday, but here's a pic in the meantime...and a way for you to find the North Star by finding the Big Dipper... Wow!


The Crew was getting excited and also very nervous, because the Captain announced that, as a Pirate, he wanted to take something back home from that strange place! But everybody started exclaiming that that was stealing! The Captain got upset, at least with his crew! What should he do?

And what he wanted to steal and take home was something so beautiful that nobody could deny it would be wonderful to see all the time! Can you imagine what they could do instead of stealing the Aurora Borealis? 

But did you know that different colors in the sky also can help you predict what weather changes are coming? That's one of the things they discovered in the adventure to Snake Island!

The sun lit up the clouds on the horizon. All of the crew stopped their chores to watch the beautiful sunrise.
"Oh, how pretty!" First Mate Hallie exclaimed.
"I see orange, yellow, and bright pink," Mongo the monkey called from the mainmast.
"It is special," Captain No Beard agreed...

But then Polly the parrot squawked, and she should know,  "It may look colorful, but all I have to say Is: 'red sky at night, sailors delight; red sky in morning, sailors take warning." Now some of you may have heard that little saying before, but it often proves to be true...and soon the rain was coming down!

Well, they did finally make it to Snake Island... and you wouldn't believe what the treasure was that they found! Of course, I was pleased that I already enjoyed that treasure--and hope all children everywhere have the opportunity to share it too! Do check this book out! It's a Treasure!

The next story is an important one about meeting strangers! The title puts it right out there as even on the high seas, there will be strangers...

This important story has a great touch of humor. Because, as you may have guessed, the stories of Captain No Beard are all imaginary while the crew are all friends--real and imaginary alike. 

But reality has to play a part sometimes, and now Captain No Beard has been assigned baby sitting duties! Actually the crew doesn't mind much and by the end of this story,  everybody was glad to have their new cabin girl with them!

Because there was a great big, dark ship sailing their way!
Well, that ship kept coming and their captain started asking for help with directions, but Captain No Beard was not deceived and had his crew recite rules about what to do when strangers talk to them...

Naturally, they turned the ship and started away from the other one...but they followed!

Roman has taken a somewhat dark subject and allowed it to become a bit humorous about who saved the day! But it also provided guidance about sibling relationships which I appreciated...

Cute ending to a warning of danger... More reviews coming soon

GABixlerReviews

I'd Join The Society of Scoundrels Sponsored by Doug Boren!

Pirates Revenge:
Part of the Alexander Family Chronicles

  By Doug Boren


Behind every action adventure, there is always personal stories of individuals--people who became what they were in life, many times by happenstance--but sometimes from the "dastardly deeds" of others! Even in the Society of Scoundrels, there were many who became pirates because they liked to fight--they were quick to take a drink, quick to take offense, and quick to start fighting. And if those fun things could lead to money, all the better! Many of these individuals took to the seas sailing to various ports or conquering other ships on the seas, taking whatever was being shipped to another place for their own, most times killing all on board and sinking the ships they had attacked, if they had not already gone under due to the damage from their cannons...

But there were also many who had turned to piracy because of the deceit and theft of others, those who were already wealthy and continued in their thirst for power, regardless of how they got it...

That's why I would have joined the Society of Scoundrels if it had happened to me! LOL

Readers will meet Maggie, a young servant girl who was beaten and raped by a visiting friend of her boss. He, of course, wouldn't accept the truth when he was told of the attack. And when she became pregnant, he dismissed her in order not to be tainted by the gossip. Maggie had a son who she called Rafe. She had met and fallen in love with a captain who worked for the government, sailing a ship. They were to be married but Maggie was killed on the streets by thugs shortly before and Rafe had too late come to her rescue, but had killed her attackers...The police considered him guilty as well! He ran to the ship owned by Maggie's lover and was immediately taken on as a cabin boy, learning as much as he could about sailing... But when he learned what had happened to his mother and learned who his real father was, his only thought was--revenge!

And when the man who had taken him in and raised him discovered that the government had reneged on his financial payments and property grants, he was penniless and had no choice but to take to the seas as a pirate... But there were limits to what he would do and he taught Rafe that there was no reason for killing when unnecessary--but then he was killed! By then they had become part of the Society of Scoundrels--and was loyal to the Black Widow!

Ah, the Black Widow was a beautiful woman! At one point she had faced a traumatic experience. From that day, she had known nothing but blackness in her life--she had become ruthless and showed no mercy as she captained the ship now renamed after her. She was just a bit mad and while she continuously planned her own revenge, she was quite willing to take everything in her path. Soon she had built a hidden stronghold that soon became a town...Soon individual captains came into her town seeking the protection and friendship offered. Slaves that had escaped were pleased to be accepted as equals and served on the small fleet that she was slowly building. Her tactics soon became known and feared--just the sight of the various flags that were flown on each ship ensured surrenders. Those who did not found themselves surrounded by two or three ships and soon were captured and later sunk...

Rafe was attracted to the Widow and soon they became friends, then lovers...It didn't mellow the Widow's need for revenge though--because Rafe's own needs were merged--they found that the tyrants in their pasts were the same men!

Battles at sea were the norm at that time. Pirates were fast gaining control and were the terrorists that attacked, no matter what country... Soon individual countries had lost so many ships that they were unable to respond to the needs of their respective lands... Wealthy land owners/shippers were losing everything they had to the pirates as well...

Pirates of the Caribbean Indeed! You may have seen the movies, but Doug Boren takes us deep into the lives of many of the captains--leaders of the ships that had turned to piracy. The story cannot be changed to ever forget what damage was done by those scoundrels. But we see a side of those individuals that you've perhaps never thought of. Based upon some historical facts about those men and women who were actively working to plunder ships and towns, Boren, nevertheless, looks at those ancestors of many of us, who may have had no choice, but to turn their backs on former lives...

Those who love action and adventure will get their fill! Sword fights, knives, pistols, cannons and other "stolen" weapons available at that time, walking the plank, burning and killing...with the reward of riches and supplies to live on...It happened historically! But I loved the underlying stories of the characters, including those in minor roles, such as the Indian who asked to join the ship and became Rafe's friend, after the love of his life had been raped and committed suicide... Invaders to the Americas were just like now--good and evil. Boren has created a fascinating tale of the individuals who were, perhaps, on both sides of any given battle. And he has done it without any loss of the thrills, danger and suspense that we all love.

An intriguing glimpse at our history from a totally different perspective, in my opinion. Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended!



GABixlerReviews