THE NAVAL HERO
Matthew Loftus is not born to command — he earns it. An orphan from the Whitby shipyards, his life begins among sawdust, tar and the crash of the North Sea. Gifted with a navigator’s mind and a craftsman’s hands, he claws his way up from the lower decks. But the age of sail is a brutal teacher. Amid shipwrecks, mutinies and the clash of empires, Loftus must learn to survive storms both natural and man-made — and to command men’s loyalty when every voyage could be his last.
IN THIS THREE-BOOK SERIES:
BOOK 1: MATTHEW’S PRIZE
England, 1670s. Young Matthew Loftus dreams of freedom beyond Whitby’s docks. But when he is press-ganged aboard a merchant ship bound for the New World, his dreams turn to survival. Among ruthless sailors and corrupt officers, his skill with navigation charts and his courage in battle bring him both allies and enemies — and a dangerous opportunity that could make or break his future.
BOOK 2: DEVIL OF A FIX
Caribbean 1700s. Now a seasoned seaman, Loftus is drawn into the deadly intrigues of Port Royal — a haven for pirates, traders, and spies. Tasked with recovering a stolen cargo of silver, he uncovers treachery stretching from Jamaica to London’s Admiralty. Pursued by cutthroats and betrayed by his own, Loftus must decide where his loyalties truly lie — to his country, his crew, or his own hard-won honour.
BOOK 3: TO THE BITTER END
Newfoundland, 1708. Loftus commands a ship of his own and faces his greatest trial. Charged with defending the fledgling colony of Esperantia against invasion and rebellion, he stands at the edge of empire — and of his endurance. Storms rage, enemies close in, and mutiny brews below decks. In the howling wind, one man’s resolve will determine the fate of all.