Honorable Mention

Honor/Peter Wake #3

by Robert N. Macomber

Robert Macomber's Honor series of naval fiction follows the life and career of Peter Wake in the U.S. Navy during the tumultuous years from 1863 to 1901. Honorable Mention is the third in the series. It's the fall of 1864. The Age of Sail is passing, and Lt. Peter Wake finds himself again in Key West, but this time in command of the steamer USS Hunt. He quickly plunges into action as he chases a mystery ship during a tropical storm off Cuba, deals with a seductively dangerous woman during a mission in enemy territory ashore, confronts death to liberate an escaping slave ship, and comes face to face with the enemy's most powerful warship in Havana's harbor. Wake is no longer alone in this dangerous world. His wife Linda, hiding in a pro-Union camp on Useppa Island, gives him a future to look forward to as the war nears its end. But then in January 1866, as most Union soldiers are preparing to go home, a powerful ocean raider shows up in a remote corner of the Caribbean, and Wake finds that for some the war is not over yet. The first book in the series, At the Edge of Honor, received the 2003 Patrick D. Smith Literary Award for Best Historical Novel of Florida, and the second, Point of Honor, was named the 2003 recipient of the John Esten Cook Literary Award for Best Work in Southern Fiction. His sixth novel, A Different Kind of Honor, won the highest national honor in his the American Library Association's 2008 W. Y. Boyd Literary Award for Excellence in Military Fiction.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

327 pages, Paperback

First published January 10, 2004

About the author

Robert N. Macomber is a multi-award winning author, internationally acclaimed lecturer, former Dept. of Defense consultant, adventurous expedition leader, an accomplished seaman, and a reviewer for the New York Journal of Books. He was named “2020 Florida Writer of the Year” by the FL Writers Association

His reputation for historical detail, engaging plots, distinctive characters, helpful maps, extensive bibliographies, and educational endnotes creates eager readers and listeners alike.

He is best known for his "Honor Series", the popular maritime thrillers which describe the life and career of his protagonist, a U.S. naval officer, Peter Wake, from the American Civil War in Florida, beyond the Spanish-American War in 1898, and well into 2023.

When not traveling for research treks, lecture tours, or book signings, Macomber enjoys cooking exotic cuisines inspired by his novels and sailing quietly among remote islands.

Reviews

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert Macomber continues to amaze. This, the third in a series about the exploits of Captain Peter Wake, did not disappoint! I have always liked historical fiction and have always liked stories from the Civil War era; but these books and this author brings it all more alive and interesting than most! One of the best parts is that Wes is a bit ahead of me in the series and it is so much fun to discuss this series. Well researched, great characters, vivid settings and I'm always learning something new.

[Brian V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good follow-up to the previous 2 novels. Each novel expands the historical and geo-political context of the Civil war in the Caribbean. Cuba. Havana, the Spanish, French, and Costa Rica.

Honorable Mention, the third volume in the award-winning "Honor" series, covers the tumultuous end of the Civil War in Florida and the Caribbean, from the re-election of Lincoln in 1864 to the relocation of former Confederates to Latin America in 1866. Now in command of the steamer U.S.S. Hunt, Lt. Peter Wake quickly plunges into action, chasing a strange vessel during a tropical storm off Cuba, dealing with a seductively dangerous woman during a mission in enemy territory ashore, confronting death to liberate an escaping slave ship, and coming face to face with the enemy's most powerful ocean warship in Havana's harbor. Finally, in January 1866, when he tracks down a colony of former Confederates in Puerto Rico, Wake becomes involved in a deadly twist of irony.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

U.S. Navy Lieutenant Peter Wake is in command of the steam vessel Hunt in this Civil War adventure. Based out of Key West, Peter is sent on various assignments including Puerto Rico and Cuba. He distinguishes himself with his leadership skills and innovative thinking, earning the admiration of his crew and his superiors. Separated from his wife due to the machinations of war, Peter carries out his duties with honor and aplomb. He’s a noble hero and one worth following throughout this entertaining and educational series. If you want to escape into an earlier era with a hero worthy of Horatio Hornblower, look no farther than Robert N. Macomber’s Honor series. This title is book three but could easily be read as a standalone.

[Ted Clark]

Florida US NAVY

I loved the book, especially as a Navy veteran and resident of Florida. The naval culture was very familiar and in such a mbmanner as to be accurate and timely. The places visited and battles fought were very familiar, and the details of the battles were particularly accurate and exciting. The book maintained an air of suspense, never knowing the outcome until the final moment of every confrontation.

[Michael Shayeson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the third of the series and the best one so far. Looking forward to the next book!

[Mark Linney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoy this series. Look forward to reading the other books.