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Ships of War Murky Waters - Book One

"This is a finely paced story displaying admirable craftsmanship and a welcome addition to the bookshelf of any fan of the period and subject."

HFC (Historical Fiction Company)

Ships of War Shadow of War - Book Two

"For fans of Patrick O'Brian's books "Master and Commander", historical readers will love the rich vibrant details of this stellar novel... Bradley John is a rising star in the historical adventure genre."

HFC (Historical Fiction Company)

Ships of War Murky Waters - Book One

"Heavily spiced with action… an unbridled and no-holds-barred adventure story that is very much in the illustrious rip-roaring style of the 'Hornblower' books of the great C.S. Forester…"

HFC (Historical Fiction Company)

Ships of War Shadow of War - Book Two

HFC (Historical Fiction Company)

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Ships of War

Murky Waters - Book One

1791 — England's cannon remain ever silent as her shipping is ruthlessly preyed upon, a detestable state of affairs, though soon to be remedied...

England is ill prepared, Europe is in turmoil and the French Revolution is readying to sweep across the continent. A tedious uneasy peace poises on a knife's edge. Brittana rules the waves, yet as more and more ships mysteriously vanish, it is rightly thought an act of war. However, England needs more time, or all could be lost.

With war looming, Lieutenant Hayden Reginald Cooper, Royal Navy, awaits in Portsmouth braving a bitter cold winter with half pay, beached in a constant state of penury. With little prospects, little "interest" and no chance of promotion or advancement, he is the perfect choice for the Admiralty: unknown, unimportant and wholly dispensable.

As so it begins, a turbulent action-packed naval adventure within the murky waters preceding war, the French piracy soon to discover the grit of a lowly Lieutenant, one who has very little to lose…

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About "Ships of War" — a Naval Adventure Fiction Series

"Ships of War" by Bradley John is a naval adventure fiction series. The first instalment of the series is set in England in 1791, titled "Ships of War — Murky Waters". The reigning monarch of England is George III. Louis XVI is the monarch of France, but he is not exactly reigning, his authority somewhat diminished within the rising revolution. War is nigh and eventually is declared by France on 1 February 1793 (following the execution of Louis XVI on 21 January 1793). Bradley John's series commences in 1791 in the prelude to war. It seems a solution must be found by the English Admiralty to resolve the piracy preying upon their merchant shipping. In doing so, they select a complete unknown, someone wholly dispensable, in particular, an unknown officer who had served under one Captain Horatio Nelson.

Reviews

HISTORICAL FICTION COMPANY

HFC Reviews (Historical Fiction Company)

Heavily spiced with action… an unbridled and no-holds-barred adventure story that is very much in the illustrious rip-roaring style of the 'Hornblower' books of the great C.S. Forester…

HFC Reviews (Historical Fiction Company)

This is a finely paced story displaying admirable craftsmanship and a welcome addition to the bookshelf of any fan of the period and subject.

HFC Reviews (Historical Fiction Company)

This is a finely paced story displaying admirable craftsmanship and a welcome addition to the bookshelf of any fan of the period and subject.

Ships of War

SHADOW OF WAR - Book TWO

1792 — England is on the precipice of war. Louis XVI has been deposed. The continent is in chaos and terror reigns in the streets of France…

Under the resilient watch of Sir Hayden Reginald Cooper, the waters about England are finally emptied of pirates. A lion upon the sea, the Royal Navy's newest captain triumphantly returns from France, though an uneasy harmony barely persists.

England hurriedly prepares for war. Yet the Whigs bicker and squabble, ruinously contriving to seize power. Cooper must crowd all sail upon "Menelaus", or risk being caught in the oncoming squall. Yet within the swelling tempest he shockingly learns of the arrest of his particular friend, Captain Poulain, earmarked for execution. The defection of the Brittany fleet now perilously hangs in the balance.

Matters become dire as Louis XVI is sentenced to be guillotined. France is divided. Cooper calls upon the imprisoned Chevalier Lafayette to join the fray with England — his only way into France and to Poulain. In quest of duty, honour and hopefully victory, not to mention prizes and fortune, Cooper readies his squadron for Toulon.

And so the second instalment of Ships of War weighs anchor! Hold fast for a turbulent action-packed and somewhat cheeky naval adventure, fearlessly thundering within the precarious shadow of war — the Jacobins of France soon to behold the ingenuity, determination and utmost loyalty of their newest foe…

READ CHAPTER 1

READ BATTLE EXCERPT

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ABOUT BRADLEY JOHN

Bradley John Tatnell (aka "Bradley John") is an Australian novelist whose ancestry can be traced back to the Norman Conquest in England. His forbears lived mostly in Kent, Hertfordshire and the Isle of Thanet. Some were mariners and some were even of the aristocracy. His direct ancestors arrived in Australia soon after its colonisation in the late 1700's, most of which were proud country folk. James Squire, a notable character in history, who arrived on the first fleet in 1788, was his (sixth) great grandfather.

Bradley John graduated from the Church of England Grammar School at age 16 and the Queensland University of Technology at age 19. His early life was spent mainly in the arena of law. Notably, he has studied Korean Martial Arts his entire life (including sword)...