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Principles of Navigation
Charter captain Rigger Tavernier never imagined he could lose his bearings in the Florida Keys, until Jenna came along. A football star’s bride from a rich family, she seemed to be out of his league. But after that first night with Jenna, Rigger would give everything and more to keep her. First, however, he’ll have to sift through the wreck of his first marriage and the death of an old friend.
For Jenna McDowell, life was supposed to run like clockwork: marry the hunk, settle down, and make babies. She never thought she’d pursue someone like Rigger. But when your husband is shooting blanks, sometimes you take desperate measures. Jenna grew up around the horse track, so she knows a thing or two about stud service. But when the horseplay is over, who should be the child’s father?
In the end, both Rigger and Jenna find their bearings, but not until they learn that the Principles of Navigation are nothing more than the rules of the road—and rules are made to be broken.
Set in Florida and in Europe—among the sport fishing, horse racing, and professional football industries—this novel delivers a glamorous and salty love story.
For Jenna McDowell, life was supposed to run like clockwork: marry the hunk, settle down, and make babies. She never thought she’d pursue someone like Rigger. But when your husband is shooting blanks, sometimes you take desperate measures. Jenna grew up around the horse track, so she knows a thing or two about stud service. But when the horseplay is over, who should be the child’s father?
In the end, both Rigger and Jenna find their bearings, but not until they learn that the Principles of Navigation are nothing more than the rules of the road—and rules are made to be broken.
Set in Florida and in Europe—among the sport fishing, horse racing, and professional football industries—this novel delivers a glamorous and salty love story.
252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 30, 2013
1 person is currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Peter W. Fong
5 books12 followersConservationist and adventurer Peter W. Fong has a hard time keeping still. He's worked as an artist-in-the-schools in Montana, a travel guidebook writer in China, and a flyfishing guide in Mongolia. In 2018, he led an international team of scientists on a thousand-mile expedition to Russia's Lake Baikal. His stories and photographs have appeared in The FlyFish Journal, High Country News, the New York Times, and many other publications. He and his wife live with a tortoiseshell cat on the sunny island of Madeira.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 31, 2016
Wow, what an unexpected surprise. I loved this book, though I didn't think that I would, since it centers around fishing. I initially yawned and thought, oh no, another male-centered-fishin'-and-huntin' mentality story. Then a younger and beautiful woman stepped in and again I groaned because really, isn't it the ultimate male fantasy: an older, weathered man and the young and beautiful woman?
Yet, this wasn't that story at all.
For the writing is so well done, the prose so waterlogged with images (and smells) of the sea and the sky and the fish and constant rocking of the boat that it transported me to Florida, where I've never been, and to a lifestyle that felt both familiar and right.
The book revolves around a love story. In fact, it's another telling of the age-old romance: Man and woman meet, obstacles are put in the way, they hang on and finally let go and then (spoiler alert!) find themselves back together again.
Except that Fong adds dimensions of humanity and unexpected emotions that gives the story a depth and grit. It’s impossible not to feel as if you know these people, as if they live right next door, as if any moment Bally or Jenna or Rigger or Pammie might knock on the door and ask if you want to hop on the boat, pop a beer and hunt up a dolphin or two.
But mostly it’s the writing that carries the story. Fong writes so well, and establishes such strong images and odd phrases that the book, and characters, become a paradox of sorts, not only on life but on the moments, the small hesitations we make between choices.
Here's one example: "She was too crisp and bright, like a tropical songbird, or one of those potato chips that come fresh in the can."
How odd and yet right is that, eh?
I highly recommend “Principles of Navigation.” It’s an encompassing, satisfying and well-rounded read.
Yet, this wasn't that story at all.
For the writing is so well done, the prose so waterlogged with images (and smells) of the sea and the sky and the fish and constant rocking of the boat that it transported me to Florida, where I've never been, and to a lifestyle that felt both familiar and right.
The book revolves around a love story. In fact, it's another telling of the age-old romance: Man and woman meet, obstacles are put in the way, they hang on and finally let go and then (spoiler alert!) find themselves back together again.
Except that Fong adds dimensions of humanity and unexpected emotions that gives the story a depth and grit. It’s impossible not to feel as if you know these people, as if they live right next door, as if any moment Bally or Jenna or Rigger or Pammie might knock on the door and ask if you want to hop on the boat, pop a beer and hunt up a dolphin or two.
But mostly it’s the writing that carries the story. Fong writes so well, and establishes such strong images and odd phrases that the book, and characters, become a paradox of sorts, not only on life but on the moments, the small hesitations we make between choices.
Here's one example: "She was too crisp and bright, like a tropical songbird, or one of those potato chips that come fresh in the can."
How odd and yet right is that, eh?
I highly recommend “Principles of Navigation.” It’s an encompassing, satisfying and well-rounded read.
Displaying 1 of 1 review