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Life Boat
Life throws curves.
Sometimes the curves are so sharp and dramatic that recovery seems impossible.
On February 2nd, Cort and Lucie Palmerton are thrown a curve so devastating that it threatens their happiness, their health, and their lives.
Sensing Cort is on the brink of giving up, Lucie proposes a long-shot idea in a desperate effort to change their path.
Her plan to leave everything behind, buy a sailboat, and explore the world, sounds like nothing more than preposterous to Cort.
Lucie's proposal ignites a small flame of hope. The flame grows, and convinced they've got nothing more to lose, the Palmertons make plans for their new life. On a brisk November day, after months of preparation, Cort climbs aboard their soon-to-be home, a 46-foot catamaran named Sea Sleigh. As he and two shipmates leave Rhode Island Bay for an 8-day sailing lesson, the water beckons, and the horizon holds the promise of a brighter future.
But even in the middle of the Atlantic, curves exist. The ocean of hope and healing soon becomes a catalyst for suffering beyond anything Cort has ever experienced, bending him to his breaking point and threatening to destroy everything.
When Sea Sleigh's course is unexpectedly altered, Cort finds himself in a perilous fight for survival and in jeopardy of losing it all, including his life.
Sometimes the curves are so sharp and dramatic that recovery seems impossible.
On February 2nd, Cort and Lucie Palmerton are thrown a curve so devastating that it threatens their happiness, their health, and their lives.
Sensing Cort is on the brink of giving up, Lucie proposes a long-shot idea in a desperate effort to change their path.
Her plan to leave everything behind, buy a sailboat, and explore the world, sounds like nothing more than preposterous to Cort.
Lucie's proposal ignites a small flame of hope. The flame grows, and convinced they've got nothing more to lose, the Palmertons make plans for their new life. On a brisk November day, after months of preparation, Cort climbs aboard their soon-to-be home, a 46-foot catamaran named Sea Sleigh. As he and two shipmates leave Rhode Island Bay for an 8-day sailing lesson, the water beckons, and the horizon holds the promise of a brighter future.
But even in the middle of the Atlantic, curves exist. The ocean of hope and healing soon becomes a catalyst for suffering beyond anything Cort has ever experienced, bending him to his breaking point and threatening to destroy everything.
When Sea Sleigh's course is unexpectedly altered, Cort finds himself in a perilous fight for survival and in jeopardy of losing it all, including his life.
409 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 13, 2023
5 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 15, 2023
After reading and loving Eckley's debut, God's Country, I knew I was in store for another stellar read. And trust me, I was not wrong.
This story was masterfully written with rich dialogue, likable characters and every emotion you could dream of. I cried more times than I can remember for Cort, the main character, as he lays his emotions all out there, grieving and trying to get his life back on track, not only for himself, but for his daughter Lucie. He's real and relatable, allowing you to feel the inner turmoil he is experiencing.
Lucie, his lovable daughter, wise beyond her years is a great character. Her love for her father is sincere and heart warming. Their relationship will tug at your heart strings as they try to navigate their new normal.
The story builds on their relationship, taking a deep dive into how hard it is to lose a loved one. Being there for one another through the toughest times is a God send for them both, growing and healing together as they bond over their mutual love for the sea and sharks.
What I love about Eckley's books are how they don't shy away from hard topics. Loss is difficult on everyone but it is handled with grace and realism.
Eckley is also a master at taking the reader on the adventure with him. You get caught up in the moment, tasting the salty air and feeling the waves slap you in the face as the storm rips through the sails. It's a wild, captivating ride that is so well written I felt sea sick right along side Cort.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves heart pounding, fast paced adventure, human condition and resiliency. Warning... be prepared to get all the feels.
This story was masterfully written with rich dialogue, likable characters and every emotion you could dream of. I cried more times than I can remember for Cort, the main character, as he lays his emotions all out there, grieving and trying to get his life back on track, not only for himself, but for his daughter Lucie. He's real and relatable, allowing you to feel the inner turmoil he is experiencing.
Lucie, his lovable daughter, wise beyond her years is a great character. Her love for her father is sincere and heart warming. Their relationship will tug at your heart strings as they try to navigate their new normal.
The story builds on their relationship, taking a deep dive into how hard it is to lose a loved one. Being there for one another through the toughest times is a God send for them both, growing and healing together as they bond over their mutual love for the sea and sharks.
What I love about Eckley's books are how they don't shy away from hard topics. Loss is difficult on everyone but it is handled with grace and realism.
Eckley is also a master at taking the reader on the adventure with him. You get caught up in the moment, tasting the salty air and feeling the waves slap you in the face as the storm rips through the sails. It's a wild, captivating ride that is so well written I felt sea sick right along side Cort.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves heart pounding, fast paced adventure, human condition and resiliency. Warning... be prepared to get all the feels.
August 9, 2023
This was a very deep and emotional book. It was beautifully written and really showed us Cort’s journey and how he had perseverance. I liked how there were twists in the story that kept me guessing. Definitely a beautiful story well worth the read.
August 23, 2023
This is the second book I read by this author and I can confirm - He is an excellent writer! Lifeboat is an action packed book that kept me up late! Unexpected twists and surprising turns kept me hooked to the very end. A great read.
May 28, 2023
This book totally blew me away. Everything about it makes you think about the meaning of life and the power of hope. Life Boat is a deep exploration of grief and how it keeps us trapped in a cycle of depression that leaves us in a monochrome world where nothing feels like it has any meaning. But to keep on living, we need a life boat. We need something to keep going for. Knowing what that is can be incredibly hard, it can seem almost impossible to find, but it will come to us in time, even if it's in hindsight.
When we're struggling with grief, those around us, our support network, are most important. The life boat is often among those. As someone who has been a life boat for others and also had times where I needed a life boat myself, I want to reiterate the importance of the message in this book. It's never too late. It's never something we have to bear on our own. There is always someone who can lend an ear, if only to listen. This book is so powerful in that it shows both the power of having a life boat in times of grief and what can happen to a mind that doesn't have a life boat or believes there isn't one.
The twists keep coming and I enjoyed all the guessing games that kept me at the edge of my seat. I absolutely loved how Eckley brings it all together at the end. It is an unexpected and delightful read, and I highly recommend it.
When we're struggling with grief, those around us, our support network, are most important. The life boat is often among those. As someone who has been a life boat for others and also had times where I needed a life boat myself, I want to reiterate the importance of the message in this book. It's never too late. It's never something we have to bear on our own. There is always someone who can lend an ear, if only to listen. This book is so powerful in that it shows both the power of having a life boat in times of grief and what can happen to a mind that doesn't have a life boat or believes there isn't one.
The twists keep coming and I enjoyed all the guessing games that kept me at the edge of my seat. I absolutely loved how Eckley brings it all together at the end. It is an unexpected and delightful read, and I highly recommend it.
May 19, 2023
With a ferocious start, Life Boat jumps right into the deep end with a tenacious hold on our heartstrings and our adrenaline. Cort, a hardworking father and devoted husband, quickly sees the life he has envisioned for his family crumble before his eyes, and just when he can’t take any more, the hits just keep coming.
Eckley’s portrayal of an ordinary family man facing extraordinary obstacles is impeccably detailed yet utterly relatable in its characterizations of guilt, of “what ifs,” of what we could have done differently. I felt like I was riding the waves of hopelessness and renewed determination right there with Cort as he fights to keep it together for the daughter he loves more than anything.
Life Boat is a beautiful journey of finding hope and meaning again when all seems lost. The action scenes are so suspenseful that you find yourself holding your breath page after page, a testament to the author’s skill at pacing and momentum.
Cort and his daughter jump right off the pages, three dimensional and complex while remaining very likable. Life Boat is truly enjoyable to read, with elements of adventure and drama flowing through its pages, offering something for all readers.
Eckley’s portrayal of an ordinary family man facing extraordinary obstacles is impeccably detailed yet utterly relatable in its characterizations of guilt, of “what ifs,” of what we could have done differently. I felt like I was riding the waves of hopelessness and renewed determination right there with Cort as he fights to keep it together for the daughter he loves more than anything.
Life Boat is a beautiful journey of finding hope and meaning again when all seems lost. The action scenes are so suspenseful that you find yourself holding your breath page after page, a testament to the author’s skill at pacing and momentum.
Cort and his daughter jump right off the pages, three dimensional and complex while remaining very likable. Life Boat is truly enjoyable to read, with elements of adventure and drama flowing through its pages, offering something for all readers.
May 21, 2023
A must read book that immediately swept me up in its emotional current! Eckley’s second novel not only explores the journey of love and loss, but the relationships between human nature, Mother Nature, and the animal kingdom.
The story carefully sets the stage for an oceanic adventure that seeks to heal Cort’s grief stricken soul with the hope to navigate a course to a new life. Amazingly crafted by Eckley to incorporate many of life’s critical themes, readers won’t have a choice but to connect on some level with one or all of the characters. Both on land and sea, his ability to weave realistic dialogue, vivid descriptions, and curious intrigue is compelling. I found my eyes welling with tears, my mind racing with anticipation, and my heart aching for the characters in many scenes. Life Boat is an emotionally charged book that will continually pull you out to sea, push you back to shore, and leave you wondering until the very end if it is love or someone or something else that has the power to keep anyone afloat who is caught in seemingly the worst of life’s storms.
I highly recommend this to lovers of realistic fiction with not only a desire for an adventure, but a journey and test of survival for the body, the mind, and most of all, the heart.
The story carefully sets the stage for an oceanic adventure that seeks to heal Cort’s grief stricken soul with the hope to navigate a course to a new life. Amazingly crafted by Eckley to incorporate many of life’s critical themes, readers won’t have a choice but to connect on some level with one or all of the characters. Both on land and sea, his ability to weave realistic dialogue, vivid descriptions, and curious intrigue is compelling. I found my eyes welling with tears, my mind racing with anticipation, and my heart aching for the characters in many scenes. Life Boat is an emotionally charged book that will continually pull you out to sea, push you back to shore, and leave you wondering until the very end if it is love or someone or something else that has the power to keep anyone afloat who is caught in seemingly the worst of life’s storms.
I highly recommend this to lovers of realistic fiction with not only a desire for an adventure, but a journey and test of survival for the body, the mind, and most of all, the heart.
August 29, 2023
Eckley’s debut novel God’s Country really set the tone for the kind of stories readers can expect from him. Powerful, thought provoking, and gripping are just a few of the words I would use to describe this story. When I say Eckley is prepared to take you on an adventure with each one of his novels, I do mean ADVENTURE!
Not only are you swept up in the action of the story, you’re just as blown away and pulled in by the difficult topics discussed. As father and daughter cope with loss and seek to find healing and peace for the life that remains in its wake, you can’t help but feel the twists and pulls on your own heart strings. With moving dialogue, authentic characters, and plenty of lessons to learn along the way, this book is a real page Turner!
Read if you love:
⛵️Relatable and real characters
⛵️Moving reads that discus real issues
⛵️Father/Daughter bonds
⛵️Suspenseful adventure
⛵️Moving and inspiring dialogue
Not only are you swept up in the action of the story, you’re just as blown away and pulled in by the difficult topics discussed. As father and daughter cope with loss and seek to find healing and peace for the life that remains in its wake, you can’t help but feel the twists and pulls on your own heart strings. With moving dialogue, authentic characters, and plenty of lessons to learn along the way, this book is a real page Turner!
Read if you love:
⛵️Relatable and real characters
⛵️Moving reads that discus real issues
⛵️Father/Daughter bonds
⛵️Suspenseful adventure
⛵️Moving and inspiring dialogue
May 25, 2023
Life Boat is a heartfelt story about hope and love. Instead of dodging the ugly parts of grief, Luke Eckley is honest about its brutality. Through Cort’s hardships, the readers watch him crumble and slowly pick himself back up again. My favorite part is the sweet and obvious love between Cort and his daughter Lucie. Their trusting relationship is refreshing and reminds me of my own family. If that hasn’t convinced you to read, wait for the plot twists later in the book that will leave you gasping! This beautiful story provides hope to the hopeless, and I recommend it if you are looking for a sweet but sometimes heartbreaking story full of family love and healing. Let yourself get swept away to the sea and remember how there is always hope, no matter how dark the circumstances.
August 16, 2023
This was a difficult book for me to read on many different levels. Pregnancy loss, loss of a parent, etc. With that being said, I really enjoyed this story. I absolutely adore Lucy and the constant she is in her father's life. Grief is such a fickle thing and can make you want and do things you normally wouldn't. But if we allow it, it can also help us forgive and give us more compassion for others. Although this book was about boating and learning to sail a catamaran, it was so much more. The analogy of a boat's life boat to the life boats we have in our lives, friends, family, therapists, etc., was really cool.
July 9, 2024
Emotional Masterpiece
Cortland Palmerton has been suffering a severe loss that's left him a wreck of a man. His daughter, Lucie, becomes the most important person in his life drving him to move forward. But closure and acceptance are going to wait as more horrors and tragedies come his way.
This book had me feeling for the characters quickly. I cried many times reading this story; both loving and annoyed at the author for it.
In my opinion, the best stories invoke emotion in the reader. This book should be a best seller.
Cortland Palmerton has been suffering a severe loss that's left him a wreck of a man. His daughter, Lucie, becomes the most important person in his life drving him to move forward. But closure and acceptance are going to wait as more horrors and tragedies come his way.
This book had me feeling for the characters quickly. I cried many times reading this story; both loving and annoyed at the author for it.
In my opinion, the best stories invoke emotion in the reader. This book should be a best seller.
May 16, 2023
What an emotional journey.
This was a well crafted tale of going to the brink of all human extremities. The characters so well rounded evoked empathy and left you wanting them make it to calm waters. Luke Eckley has crafted a survival drama for the human spirit coming forward from the brink of despair into the light of hope.
This was a well crafted tale of going to the brink of all human extremities. The characters so well rounded evoked empathy and left you wanting them make it to calm waters. Luke Eckley has crafted a survival drama for the human spirit coming forward from the brink of despair into the light of hope.
August 26, 2023
This book was captivating. Although slow-paced it really gave the characters a chance to develop. The climax of the story was breath-taking and jaw-dropping and my head was rushing with thoughts yet thinking of nothing all at once. I loved this story and it had a beautiful message.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews