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Second on the Right
Spawned from an ancient promise, treachery and intrigue follow the protagonists through our world and one lost to the waves. Bound by an invisible bond, they are thrust into a fantastical world of pirates and demons.
James Benedict is a just man haunted by evil. Pushed to the edge, everything stripped from him, a new man arises . . . a man whose name strikes fear into the hearts of all who hear it: "Captain Hook".
Eileen Davis was a timid woman. Through a fateful cruise she finds herself in the company of the Captain of the Mistral Thief. With his guidance, and the meddling of the local barista, she eventually finds her inner strength.
Will the two of them unite through time to fulfill the promise of their ancestors or will tempers ignite leading all to failure?
James Benedict is a just man haunted by evil. Pushed to the edge, everything stripped from him, a new man arises . . . a man whose name strikes fear into the hearts of all who hear it: "Captain Hook".
Eileen Davis was a timid woman. Through a fateful cruise she finds herself in the company of the Captain of the Mistral Thief. With his guidance, and the meddling of the local barista, she eventually finds her inner strength.
Will the two of them unite through time to fulfill the promise of their ancestors or will tempers ignite leading all to failure?
506 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
2 people are currently reading
1452 people want to read
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December 23, 2016
Review:
Second On The Right
By Elizabeth Los
Reviewed by D. G. Speirs
18 January 2013
One of the bravest thing a writer can do is take on a legend. Elizabeth Los had decided to do this in an imaginative reboot of the Peter Pan story in her novel, Second On The Right.
The story of the novel veers back and forth across time and space freely, as myth and legend should. The story centers around the story of Eileen Davis, the multi generational descendent of a pirate captain, who is swept back through time and ends up aboard the pirate ship Mistral Thief under the tutelage of the legendary pirate, Captain Robert Benedict. Benedict teaches Eileen the ways of a pirate, all the while falling in love with her. But this experience changes the young woman, and she has a different destiny. Returned to her own time, she instead falls in love with Benedict’s descendent, James. These two are soul mates. But a dark presence in the world stalks the Benedicts – a fey creature of legend that steals children and takes their youth to stay forever young. How the different generations of Benedicts finally deal with this threat form the core of this novel.
This novel has its share of problems. It takes a long time to get started. The author has a tendency to switch viewpoints - not just within the chapter, but often in mid paragraph as well. It’s difficult at times to keep track of who exactly is doing what. Additionally, at first, the character of Eileen is not very realistically portrayed. She’s described as a med student who is within a few credits of completing her license, yet she is unable to tie a knot. One of the first things you learn in med school is how to suture – a skill that involves tying knots.
The author could also have benefitted from some judicious editing. There are grammatical and formatting errors. But more importantly, there’s a general looseness in the early parts that indicates it was written at different times and parts were overlooked. For example, in one chapter, she introduces and describes the character of Patrick, the best friend and confidant of James Benedict. Then in a later chapter, she reintroduces the same character and does the exact same descriptive process. There are also grammatical and formatting errors.
Throughout the first half of the book, there were also these pieces of poetry that I believe were supposed to be prophecy of a sort, foreshadowing of the action. To this reader, they seemed to be more of a distraction than anything else.
Despite all of this, it really is two stories. All of the problems I’ve described literally occur in the first half of the novel; I found only one or two formatting errors in the last half. If you can push your way through first half and make it to the confrontation at sea between James and Eileen and the dark force opposing them, you will be well rewarded. This book takes off like a rocket from that point! Los hits her stride as an author in this, confident both in her prose and subject material. She hits all the right notes; you’ll find yourself nodding as you see all the touchstones from James Barrie’s original Peter Pan tale. Her tale ebbs and flows, moving from hope to despair and back again. She certainly kept this reviewer in suspense until the very last pages.
And one really special mention: how Los explains the origin of the name of Captain Hook’s second in command caught me by surprise as I was taking a sip of a beverage. In other words, a soda out of the nose moment, because I laughed so hard. Well done, Elizabeth!
So, like any adventure, you may have to brave rough seas at first, but there truly be treasure at the end of this tale. I give it four stars.
Second On The Right
By Elizabeth Los
Reviewed by D. G. Speirs
18 January 2013
One of the bravest thing a writer can do is take on a legend. Elizabeth Los had decided to do this in an imaginative reboot of the Peter Pan story in her novel, Second On The Right.
The story of the novel veers back and forth across time and space freely, as myth and legend should. The story centers around the story of Eileen Davis, the multi generational descendent of a pirate captain, who is swept back through time and ends up aboard the pirate ship Mistral Thief under the tutelage of the legendary pirate, Captain Robert Benedict. Benedict teaches Eileen the ways of a pirate, all the while falling in love with her. But this experience changes the young woman, and she has a different destiny. Returned to her own time, she instead falls in love with Benedict’s descendent, James. These two are soul mates. But a dark presence in the world stalks the Benedicts – a fey creature of legend that steals children and takes their youth to stay forever young. How the different generations of Benedicts finally deal with this threat form the core of this novel.
This novel has its share of problems. It takes a long time to get started. The author has a tendency to switch viewpoints - not just within the chapter, but often in mid paragraph as well. It’s difficult at times to keep track of who exactly is doing what. Additionally, at first, the character of Eileen is not very realistically portrayed. She’s described as a med student who is within a few credits of completing her license, yet she is unable to tie a knot. One of the first things you learn in med school is how to suture – a skill that involves tying knots.
The author could also have benefitted from some judicious editing. There are grammatical and formatting errors. But more importantly, there’s a general looseness in the early parts that indicates it was written at different times and parts were overlooked. For example, in one chapter, she introduces and describes the character of Patrick, the best friend and confidant of James Benedict. Then in a later chapter, she reintroduces the same character and does the exact same descriptive process. There are also grammatical and formatting errors.
Throughout the first half of the book, there were also these pieces of poetry that I believe were supposed to be prophecy of a sort, foreshadowing of the action. To this reader, they seemed to be more of a distraction than anything else.
Despite all of this, it really is two stories. All of the problems I’ve described literally occur in the first half of the novel; I found only one or two formatting errors in the last half. If you can push your way through first half and make it to the confrontation at sea between James and Eileen and the dark force opposing them, you will be well rewarded. This book takes off like a rocket from that point! Los hits her stride as an author in this, confident both in her prose and subject material. She hits all the right notes; you’ll find yourself nodding as you see all the touchstones from James Barrie’s original Peter Pan tale. Her tale ebbs and flows, moving from hope to despair and back again. She certainly kept this reviewer in suspense until the very last pages.
And one really special mention: how Los explains the origin of the name of Captain Hook’s second in command caught me by surprise as I was taking a sip of a beverage. In other words, a soda out of the nose moment, because I laughed so hard. Well done, Elizabeth!
So, like any adventure, you may have to brave rough seas at first, but there truly be treasure at the end of this tale. I give it four stars.
July 17, 2014
Full review up http://mybookfilledlife.blogspot.com/...
This book initially took me a while to get into, as there were a couple of things that were written, but never really alluded to: like why James' parents were so concerned that he might never get married; we're never told what led them to that thought process. Or when Eileen time traveled, she was really on the ship for an 11-year period before the Captain tried to make a move?
The story focuses on James Benedict, CEO of a freight services company and descendant of a pirate captain, and Eileen Davis, a young, timid woman, and their chance meeting aboard the same cruise. While their initial meeting left much to be desired, circumstances present themselves and eventually James and Eileen end up together. But it's not all love and rainbows in their not-so-happily ever after.
Overall though, an enjoyable story that could use a bit of polishing, there were a few grammatical errors, but not so much that it was a distraction. This would be a good story for kids ages 10 and up.
This book initially took me a while to get into, as there were a couple of things that were written, but never really alluded to: like why James' parents were so concerned that he might never get married; we're never told what led them to that thought process. Or when Eileen time traveled, she was really on the ship for an 11-year period before the Captain tried to make a move?
The story focuses on James Benedict, CEO of a freight services company and descendant of a pirate captain, and Eileen Davis, a young, timid woman, and their chance meeting aboard the same cruise. While their initial meeting left much to be desired, circumstances present themselves and eventually James and Eileen end up together. But it's not all love and rainbows in their not-so-happily ever after.
Overall though, an enjoyable story that could use a bit of polishing, there were a few grammatical errors, but not so much that it was a distraction. This would be a good story for kids ages 10 and up.
August 12, 2014
2.5/5.0
Without a blurb about this book one wouldn’t know it was a spin on Peter Pan until the middle of the book.
Read full review in the 2014 August issue of InD’tale Magazine.
Without a blurb about this book one wouldn’t know it was a spin on Peter Pan until the middle of the book.
Read full review in the 2014 August issue of InD’tale Magazine.
February 24, 2013
At the risk of displaying my ignorance, I found the title flat, not exciting. Throughout the read, I puzzled over it, wondering how it related to the story. Is the title a direction? Are we to take the second road or room on the right? Or is the title about choices? Or does it refer to the second person on the right? Only after I finished reading and slept for the night, did the revelation hit me. The title is a riddle, I think. It is packed with meaning. We see a reference to time, which suggests hands, which suggests a hook on the right hand. The title really is a riddle, isn't it? Or am I missing something? Question is, what good is a riddle—however clever—if it doesn't hook the reader’s attention enough to pick up the book in the first place? The story deserves a grabbier title.
The tale is both complex and entertaining. By disobeying the sea goddess Daria, two 15th century pirates bring down a curse upon their descendants, James Benedict and Eileen Davis. Daria reaches into the 21st century to exact vengeance. James and Eileen are unaware that an outside force is pushing them together and forcing them into actions they would not normally take. At first their lives seem a blessing, despite odd occurrences. We are treated to a nice love story with discreetly mentioned romance. The story doesn't really explode until midway through the book. In a way, it’s a different tale. It takes off, with surprising and exciting twists, as we find ourselves caught up in the adventures of Peter Pan and Captain Hook. This is not a cute Disney tale, but dark, dark. James and Eileen are vaulted back and forth from the 15th to the 21st century, facing death as they fight to overcome the curse.
Here is an example of a novel that was published too soon. Much of the first half of the book could be cut, as it adds little to the second half where the main thrust of the story resides. The writing is uneven, at times strong and at times frail. It displays vividness and vagueness, conciseness and wordiness, boldness and shyness, correctness and incorrectness. The story manages to rise above its weaknesses to provide good entertainment. There is enough fine writing to show me that Los can do better. A thorough critique and edit can bring this novel up to the professional level it deserves.
The tale is both complex and entertaining. By disobeying the sea goddess Daria, two 15th century pirates bring down a curse upon their descendants, James Benedict and Eileen Davis. Daria reaches into the 21st century to exact vengeance. James and Eileen are unaware that an outside force is pushing them together and forcing them into actions they would not normally take. At first their lives seem a blessing, despite odd occurrences. We are treated to a nice love story with discreetly mentioned romance. The story doesn't really explode until midway through the book. In a way, it’s a different tale. It takes off, with surprising and exciting twists, as we find ourselves caught up in the adventures of Peter Pan and Captain Hook. This is not a cute Disney tale, but dark, dark. James and Eileen are vaulted back and forth from the 15th to the 21st century, facing death as they fight to overcome the curse.
Here is an example of a novel that was published too soon. Much of the first half of the book could be cut, as it adds little to the second half where the main thrust of the story resides. The writing is uneven, at times strong and at times frail. It displays vividness and vagueness, conciseness and wordiness, boldness and shyness, correctness and incorrectness. The story manages to rise above its weaknesses to provide good entertainment. There is enough fine writing to show me that Los can do better. A thorough critique and edit can bring this novel up to the professional level it deserves.
January 4, 2013
Although I would recommend this book for younger teens (ages 12+), it still was a very clever and unique story of what really happened in Neverland. The slight clues here and there slowly reveal which character is which in relation to the story of Peter Pan, and it was told in modern day.
The point of view is in third person, and while it does give a less biased view of what is occurring, it does pull the reader further away from the characters, and because of that, I had a hard time connecting with them.
All of the main characters were likable in their own way, and there wasn't anything about them that drove me up the wall, which provided a nice change in comparison to how some protagonists usually are.
Overall, good book- I would recommend this book to those who like fantasy and who are interested in finding out where Peter's story came from.
The point of view is in third person, and while it does give a less biased view of what is occurring, it does pull the reader further away from the characters, and because of that, I had a hard time connecting with them.
All of the main characters were likable in their own way, and there wasn't anything about them that drove me up the wall, which provided a nice change in comparison to how some protagonists usually are.
Overall, good book- I would recommend this book to those who like fantasy and who are interested in finding out where Peter's story came from.
May 26, 2014
Very few authors have the talent to take something legendary and classic and put a creative spin on it, but Elizabeth Los is one of the privileged few. All the great things about storytelling are present--compelling main characters, a sprawling world to go frolic in, gripping sexual tension, and a twisty-turny-timey-whimey ball of peril as the cherry on top. The language is lovely and the descriptions are more than easy to picture. I especially found myself wrapped up in the setting, which is so easy to feel as you read. It also smacks of the more traditional methods of writing, which can be a double-edged sword.
One is reminded slightly of the Harlequin novels, but more like a faint memory than an intentional homage. The pacing is also a bit slow, but the payoff is more than worth it.
One is reminded slightly of the Harlequin novels, but more like a faint memory than an intentional homage. The pacing is also a bit slow, but the payoff is more than worth it.
February 19, 2015
I need to say one thing before I get to my review:
The Captain Hook in this book was definitely less like this...
And more like this...
THANKFULLY!!!!!!!
Now for the review:
You can read this review and more on my blog:
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This book had me all over the place with my emotions! I was happy, I was sad, I was creeped out, I was grossed out, and most importantly, I was entertained. Although this story was romantic, I cannot really classify this as a romance, and that is a good thing. The romance was there, but it didn’t overpower the actual story-line, it enhanced it. Eileen’s’ relationship with the two very different captains was simply one aspect of a very immersive and multidimensional fairy tale. Along with the romance, there was mystery, action, magic, a sprinkling of horror, and plenty of drama, and that, my dear fellow readers, is the formula for a great book!
The story built up slowly over a long period of time. Not only do the three main characters travel back and forth between present day and the past, but they spend years in each time period growing and changing. I always appreciate it when a story takes it’s time, but all of that build up needs to be leading somewhere or else the entire journey will feel like a let down. Although there was not a really grand climactic scene near the end of this book, things did pick up about 60% into the story, and they never slowed down. Everything prior to that final 40% was entertaining and necessary, but there were fewer exciting scenes. Let me be clear, THIS BOOK WAS NEVER BORING, but it focused on the personal growth of its characters.
In fact, a lot of the excitement in this story came from drama not action. Eileen is a very intelligent but timid young woman who is thrust into a nautical adventure because of a mistake her ancestor made long before she was ever born. But just before she begins this adventure, she meets a man named James Benedict; and throughout the course of the book, we find out that they have a lot more in common than just their initial attraction for each other. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on who you ask, James and Eileen don’t get to spend more than a few awkward moments together before she is magically thrown back in time and into the sometimes rough, sometimes gentle, but always open arms of Captain Robert Benedict.
After I started reading it seemed like I might be dealing with a love triangle so, I did something that I haven’t done in a while. I read a few the reviews of this book hoping I would stumble upon a clue about just how conflicted Eileen would be while choosing between these two men. One thing that I noticed is that although I found some very well written and enthusiastic reviews, no one gave me any clues or major spoilers! And now I know why. The most enjoyable aspect of reading Second on the Right, was dealing with the unknown. Will Eileen fall in love with both James and Robert? Is Robert a complicated but good man or a pirate through and through? How on earth will a sensitive, charming, and somewhat coddled man like James end up being Captain Hook? And why oh why is Peter Pan so creepy?! Heck, there are even a few questions that I asked myself while reading that I cannot share with you. This is just one of those books that is best experienced spoiler free. However, I can assure you that most if not all of your questions will be answered.
My only issue with the story was the abruptness of the ending. For a different book, it would not have been an abrupt ending, but this book really messed with my head and kept me guessing. All the ending did was make me smile. (Yes, you read that last statement correctly.) The ending had me grinning from ear to ear, and I even got that warm tingly feeling that I always get at the end of a good fairy tale, but this book took the traditional fairy tale and gave it a pretty awesome makeover. I guess I just expected the ending to screw with the fairy tale formula the way the rest of the story did. The complaint is minor, but I wanted a little bit more out of the ending.
Even though the book is more about adventure and story telling, the romance is there, and I want to spend some time on it.
Both Robert and James are in love with Eileen, and in a way, she loves both of them. It never read like a traditional “love triangle”, it was made very clear who she loved, but her feelings were complicated.
When Eileen is transported back in time and onto “The Mistral Thief”, Robert treats her with as much tenderness as he can manage even though it doesn’t come naturally to him. Both of these relationships have their adorable moments.
I especially enjoyed reading about Robert’s feelings for Eileen. It’s as though the fact that he can care for, respect, and be attracted to a woman all at the same time is more than his brain can comprehend. It isn’t love at first sight, but his feelings for her run deep and only get stronger over time. I have a theory that James would not have loved Eileen as much as he did had it not been for the time she spent with Robert. Working on The Mistral Thief, and winning the friendship, loyalty, and respect of a man like him, gave Eileen so much confidence, that she was a much different woman when she and James actually got to know one another.
James falls for Eileen the moment he meets her on a cruise, but it took her a little bit longer to warm up to him. As the story progressed, I always felt like his feelings for her were stronger, and that’s not a bad thing. He loved her in that intense, never-ending, all-encompassing way. He definitely “got hit by the thunder bolt” when he met her. I’m sure some people complain when they read about an unrealistic love like that, in fact I’ve complained when I’ve read about love like that, but I liked the way it was written in this story. It just fit. James should have loved her more because loving Eileen is what inspired him to make it through a lot of horrible things, and fighting for her was what he did best. Plus, sometimes it’s nice to read about a guy going the extra mile for the woman he loves.
If you are like me and dislike love triangles, this book will not be difficult for you to read. I was very upset more than once when I felt the man Eileen did not belong with was overstepping his bounds, but the story progresses in such a way that she is with the man she belongs with when she is supposed to be with him. Everything happens at the right time.
Lastly,I don’t know if this is a spoiler or not, but I have been trying so hard to give a thoughtful and detailed review without spoiling, that I think I’m owed a small spoiler…
Peter Pan is such a great villain! I hated him so much, and LOVED hating him so much! I have never wished so hard for the death of a beloved Disney character in my life, and I had a blast reading about all of his naughtiness. He had a sick sense of humor and childishness that accompanied his pure evil, and it was definitely a winning combination.
There is so much that I have not touched on that I enjoyed about this story, but like I said, it would spoil things for you so you’re just going to have to trust me on this one. If you like adventures with a little romance and magical mysteries. Second on the Right will not disappoint.
Because of violence and very mild sexual content, I would recommend this book for ages 14 and up.
June 24, 2014
I was given a copy of "Second On The Right" by author Elizabeth Los in exchange for an honest review. Also, I'm participating in the virtual book tour hosted by www.myaddictionisreading.com.
*****
In "Second On The Right," we are introduced to James Robert Benedict. He's reluctantly getting ready to board a cruise ship. His family has been after him to meet someone and settle down. After many failed attempts of blind dates, the felt that he might meet his future wife on a cruise.
Eileen Davis is also getting ready to take a vacation of a lifetime. She's won a cruise in a drawing and she is now ready to get away from everything that has been bringing her down. She has let so many people walk over her, take advantage of her generosity and her relationship just ended. This is going to be a perfect opportunity to find herself and start a new life focusing on her wants and desires.
James is standing all of sudden sets his sights on the crowd of people boarding the ship when he spies this beautiful woman approaching. As she is rushing past him, she suddenly stops. It's at this moment that James decides to step up and seize this moment. He speaks to her. Only problem is that his words aren't coming out correctly. Everything he says is not what he wants. It's like he has lost control over his mouth.
Eileen is taken aback by the fact that he is even speaking to her. She finds him attractive, but it's unbelievable that a man a good-looking as him would even speak to her. However, she feels herself drawn to him for some reason or other...hmmm?
It's when the two get an opportunity to meet after the safety instructions that James decides that it's now or never with this woman. Trying to carry on a conversation, he can't get his words to come out right again! Only thing that he knows is that he wants to meet this woman and get to know her.
When Eileen seeks refuge in her cabin, a chain of events begin to cause her question her sanity. As she is sleeping, a storm blows in. The engines on the ship stop working. Eileen has forgotten to lock her sliding glass door on her balcony and has now been thrust into the ocean to perish. It's when she awakens in the ocean, she realizes she isn't wearing her bed-clothes. Wearing 1600 clothing, a jacket, pants and shirt, she can't figure out what in the world is going on. It's when a wooden ancient looking ship approaches that she starts to question what is going on. Once on the ship, Captain Robert James Benedict starts to interrogate her and how she ended up floating out in the middle of the water.
While on Mistral Thief, she learns that she has went back in time to 1641. Captain Benedict has been told by a witch that he will find a woman who lead him to many hidden treasures. Taking this information into account, he begins to realize that Eileen is said woman. Once he has her in his quarters, he tries to figure out what she knows and how to extract the hidden treasure information. Only problem is, she doesn't know.
It's only through time on the Mistral Thief that Eileen starts to forge a friendship with all her shipmates. She has been tasked with many chores. She has to earn her keep in order to stay on the ship. Days turn into months and she realizes that she isn't going to be going back to her own time. The only thing that she knows to do is start creating a new Eileen that will become a stronger and more powerful woman.
In the meantime in 2001, James has his own issues. Someone has vandalized his business and has started creating havoc. A black circle has been painted on walls. Things have been destroyed. He has to try to figure out what is going on with his business as well as how to deal with Eileen Davis.
Back in 1641, Eileen is learning what it takes to be a pirate. She has learned all about plundering, life on a ship, now she is learning all about the men that have become her friends and mentors. It's Benedict that she starts to develop a strong friendship with. Only problem is, Eileen doesn't have the same romantic feelings for him.
Captain Benedict soon discovers that what he has been seeking from Eileen isn't actual treasure, but love. Only problem is that she doesn't feel the same way. It's when she tells him how she has traveled back in time he realizes that she needs to go to her time.
When Eileen wakes up from what she thinks is a dream, time hasn't elapsed at all. Where she has spent months at sea, it's only been hours in 2001. Knowing that she has a date with James, she sees that the evening part has been changed from 80's themed to Pirate themed. Taking this in stride, she goes on her date with her Pirate James Benedict.
Eileen and James develop a relationship through this cruise and soon they are inseparable, with the exception of work. With him in England and she in America, they travel frequently to spend time with each other. James convinces Eileen that she needs to go back to medical school and finish her degree and become a doctor.
With such a successful life ahead of them, things take a drastic turn when a stranger is found on the streets dead. When he finally comes too in the hospital, Eileen and the stranger discover that it's Captain Robert James Benedict. He has somehow traveled forward in time and has come to seek her out and bring her back with him.
It's the love that she has for James that destroys all hope for the Captain. James discovers that what Eileen had been telling him about her dreams of being a pirate in 1641 was actually true. Not only has the love of his life actually time traveled, he know is looking eye to eye with a distant relative of his.
It's this chain of events that starts to bring tragedy to Eileen and James. The attacks on his company have now started to become more aggressive. Someone is now attacking Eileen as well. It's only when they have a child that things really go wrong.
Trying to escape the mysterious person who is trying to kidnap their son Robert, do they find out that this person is actually a child. He has the ability to fly, he possess a magical ability to move like no other, plus he has this evil to him that he will kill whoever is in his way. His name is Peter Pan!
It's now up to James and Captain Benedict to help save Eileen and his son. Only problem is, how is James and the Captain going to get to the island of Neverland? Plus are the ever going to figure out a way to destroy Pan before he destroys their family?
*****
I was a lover of the story "Peter Pan" when I was a child. For some reason, I always loved Captain Hook. Granted he was the bad guy in the story, I was drawn to him. I never did trust Peter Pan and Tinkerbell. I always felt that there was something wrong with how Pan always whisked kids away to Neverland and kept them in his hideout.
Now with "Second To The Right" I get to see Pan for who he actually is, an evil person that feeds off the soul and emotions of the boys he kidnaps. I loved how Captain Hook is not made out to be the actual villain. This story brought joy to the kid in me to find that someone else felt the same about Pan as I did.
This isn't a story for younger audiences, there is just too much violence involved. However, the adults that once loved the fairy tale will fall in love with this twisted version. It was a breath of fresh air to read an excellent re-write to a classic tale.
*****
In "Second On The Right," we are introduced to James Robert Benedict. He's reluctantly getting ready to board a cruise ship. His family has been after him to meet someone and settle down. After many failed attempts of blind dates, the felt that he might meet his future wife on a cruise.
Eileen Davis is also getting ready to take a vacation of a lifetime. She's won a cruise in a drawing and she is now ready to get away from everything that has been bringing her down. She has let so many people walk over her, take advantage of her generosity and her relationship just ended. This is going to be a perfect opportunity to find herself and start a new life focusing on her wants and desires.
James is standing all of sudden sets his sights on the crowd of people boarding the ship when he spies this beautiful woman approaching. As she is rushing past him, she suddenly stops. It's at this moment that James decides to step up and seize this moment. He speaks to her. Only problem is that his words aren't coming out correctly. Everything he says is not what he wants. It's like he has lost control over his mouth.
Eileen is taken aback by the fact that he is even speaking to her. She finds him attractive, but it's unbelievable that a man a good-looking as him would even speak to her. However, she feels herself drawn to him for some reason or other...hmmm?
It's when the two get an opportunity to meet after the safety instructions that James decides that it's now or never with this woman. Trying to carry on a conversation, he can't get his words to come out right again! Only thing that he knows is that he wants to meet this woman and get to know her.
When Eileen seeks refuge in her cabin, a chain of events begin to cause her question her sanity. As she is sleeping, a storm blows in. The engines on the ship stop working. Eileen has forgotten to lock her sliding glass door on her balcony and has now been thrust into the ocean to perish. It's when she awakens in the ocean, she realizes she isn't wearing her bed-clothes. Wearing 1600 clothing, a jacket, pants and shirt, she can't figure out what in the world is going on. It's when a wooden ancient looking ship approaches that she starts to question what is going on. Once on the ship, Captain Robert James Benedict starts to interrogate her and how she ended up floating out in the middle of the water.
While on Mistral Thief, she learns that she has went back in time to 1641. Captain Benedict has been told by a witch that he will find a woman who lead him to many hidden treasures. Taking this information into account, he begins to realize that Eileen is said woman. Once he has her in his quarters, he tries to figure out what she knows and how to extract the hidden treasure information. Only problem is, she doesn't know.
It's only through time on the Mistral Thief that Eileen starts to forge a friendship with all her shipmates. She has been tasked with many chores. She has to earn her keep in order to stay on the ship. Days turn into months and she realizes that she isn't going to be going back to her own time. The only thing that she knows to do is start creating a new Eileen that will become a stronger and more powerful woman.
In the meantime in 2001, James has his own issues. Someone has vandalized his business and has started creating havoc. A black circle has been painted on walls. Things have been destroyed. He has to try to figure out what is going on with his business as well as how to deal with Eileen Davis.
Back in 1641, Eileen is learning what it takes to be a pirate. She has learned all about plundering, life on a ship, now she is learning all about the men that have become her friends and mentors. It's Benedict that she starts to develop a strong friendship with. Only problem is, Eileen doesn't have the same romantic feelings for him.
Captain Benedict soon discovers that what he has been seeking from Eileen isn't actual treasure, but love. Only problem is that she doesn't feel the same way. It's when she tells him how she has traveled back in time he realizes that she needs to go to her time.
When Eileen wakes up from what she thinks is a dream, time hasn't elapsed at all. Where she has spent months at sea, it's only been hours in 2001. Knowing that she has a date with James, she sees that the evening part has been changed from 80's themed to Pirate themed. Taking this in stride, she goes on her date with her Pirate James Benedict.
Eileen and James develop a relationship through this cruise and soon they are inseparable, with the exception of work. With him in England and she in America, they travel frequently to spend time with each other. James convinces Eileen that she needs to go back to medical school and finish her degree and become a doctor.
With such a successful life ahead of them, things take a drastic turn when a stranger is found on the streets dead. When he finally comes too in the hospital, Eileen and the stranger discover that it's Captain Robert James Benedict. He has somehow traveled forward in time and has come to seek her out and bring her back with him.
It's the love that she has for James that destroys all hope for the Captain. James discovers that what Eileen had been telling him about her dreams of being a pirate in 1641 was actually true. Not only has the love of his life actually time traveled, he know is looking eye to eye with a distant relative of his.
It's this chain of events that starts to bring tragedy to Eileen and James. The attacks on his company have now started to become more aggressive. Someone is now attacking Eileen as well. It's only when they have a child that things really go wrong.
Trying to escape the mysterious person who is trying to kidnap their son Robert, do they find out that this person is actually a child. He has the ability to fly, he possess a magical ability to move like no other, plus he has this evil to him that he will kill whoever is in his way. His name is Peter Pan!
It's now up to James and Captain Benedict to help save Eileen and his son. Only problem is, how is James and the Captain going to get to the island of Neverland? Plus are the ever going to figure out a way to destroy Pan before he destroys their family?
*****
I was a lover of the story "Peter Pan" when I was a child. For some reason, I always loved Captain Hook. Granted he was the bad guy in the story, I was drawn to him. I never did trust Peter Pan and Tinkerbell. I always felt that there was something wrong with how Pan always whisked kids away to Neverland and kept them in his hideout.
Now with "Second To The Right" I get to see Pan for who he actually is, an evil person that feeds off the soul and emotions of the boys he kidnaps. I loved how Captain Hook is not made out to be the actual villain. This story brought joy to the kid in me to find that someone else felt the same about Pan as I did.
This isn't a story for younger audiences, there is just too much violence involved. However, the adults that once loved the fairy tale will fall in love with this twisted version. It was a breath of fresh air to read an excellent re-write to a classic tale.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2014
Second on the Right by Elizabeth Los is a reimagining of the Peter Pan story and is told from multiple perspectives, but essentially the story is about the infamous Captain Hook and how he becomes the Hook of legend. The story begins with a story about Captain Niles Davis and his cabin boy Robert Benedict. They've witnessed a battle between the air god Pan and the sea goddess Daria. Daria won, trapping Pan's soul in the hilt of a knife. It's Captain Davis's responsibility to destroy the knife by fire so Pan will never escape, but the cabin boy steals it and Pan is released by a beggar boy Peter before the knife can be destroyed. Flash forward four hundred years to the present, Eileen Davis a descendant of the Captain is enjoying her first cruise when she meets the handsome entrepreneur James Benedict (have you guessed it?) a descendant of the cabin boy. And from there the story takes off!
I was fascinated with the intricacy of this story. Multiple characters with multiple POVs kept me wide awake and trying to figure out just where this story was going. Eileen Davis is introduced as having won her ticket for a cruise. She's insecure, hesitant, and unsure of herself to the point that when she meets James Benedict, another on the cruise, she won't even meet his eyes, thinking he couldn't possibly be interested in her. Then after a strange dream that involved her learning to be a pirate aboard the Mistral Theif (this dream took about the first 40% of the book) under the direction of the now Captain Robert Benedict she gains the confidence she lacked and meets James's advances head on with her own. James Benedict is the CEO and founder of Just a Second shipping company and is on the cruise to speak as a part of a business conference. When he meets Eileen, he thinks it's love at first sight. But James also suffers from insecurities especially where relationships are concerned. However he loves Eileen and does not plan to let her go. Other POVs came from Captain Benedict, Daria, and Pan, however I cannot reveal much without spoiling the story for you!
The plot of this story was intricate and revolved around returning Pan to the hilt of the knife/soul-globe and destroying it which in the process would destroy him. I'll be honest the story jumps from present to 1640s to present and back to the 1640s a lot! Honestly it did this so much that I was lost and unsure how the story would come together. There were so many plot points: the main one which I already mentioned, Captain Benedict falling in love with Eileen during what she believed was a dream, James's company being targeted by what he believed to be terrorists, and then the ever-present and meddling Daria. At 60% into the book, I was still clueless as to how these plot points would come together, especially considering the synopsis hinted at this being the story of Captain Hook and he was absent still. However at about 70-75% Captain Hook shows up (no spoilers!!!) and the plot points not only merge but crash together and the rest of the story flowed smoothly.
Lots of action, lots of pirates, lots of suspense, and a little romance make this book a real page turner. In fact once the ending came, I felt it was well worth the read as at around 50% I wanted to give up because I just wasn't invested in the characters, but the author did a fantastic job of bringing the story together and drawing me in. It was an interesting take on the Peter Pan story and also took a lot of guts on the author's part to pull off this reimagining. Personally I'm looking forward to what this author has in store next. If you enjoy fantasy, pirates, action and suspense then I highly recommend this book.
I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I was fascinated with the intricacy of this story. Multiple characters with multiple POVs kept me wide awake and trying to figure out just where this story was going. Eileen Davis is introduced as having won her ticket for a cruise. She's insecure, hesitant, and unsure of herself to the point that when she meets James Benedict, another on the cruise, she won't even meet his eyes, thinking he couldn't possibly be interested in her. Then after a strange dream that involved her learning to be a pirate aboard the Mistral Theif (this dream took about the first 40% of the book) under the direction of the now Captain Robert Benedict she gains the confidence she lacked and meets James's advances head on with her own. James Benedict is the CEO and founder of Just a Second shipping company and is on the cruise to speak as a part of a business conference. When he meets Eileen, he thinks it's love at first sight. But James also suffers from insecurities especially where relationships are concerned. However he loves Eileen and does not plan to let her go. Other POVs came from Captain Benedict, Daria, and Pan, however I cannot reveal much without spoiling the story for you!
The plot of this story was intricate and revolved around returning Pan to the hilt of the knife/soul-globe and destroying it which in the process would destroy him. I'll be honest the story jumps from present to 1640s to present and back to the 1640s a lot! Honestly it did this so much that I was lost and unsure how the story would come together. There were so many plot points: the main one which I already mentioned, Captain Benedict falling in love with Eileen during what she believed was a dream, James's company being targeted by what he believed to be terrorists, and then the ever-present and meddling Daria. At 60% into the book, I was still clueless as to how these plot points would come together, especially considering the synopsis hinted at this being the story of Captain Hook and he was absent still. However at about 70-75% Captain Hook shows up (no spoilers!!!) and the plot points not only merge but crash together and the rest of the story flowed smoothly.
Lots of action, lots of pirates, lots of suspense, and a little romance make this book a real page turner. In fact once the ending came, I felt it was well worth the read as at around 50% I wanted to give up because I just wasn't invested in the characters, but the author did a fantastic job of bringing the story together and drawing me in. It was an interesting take on the Peter Pan story and also took a lot of guts on the author's part to pull off this reimagining. Personally I'm looking forward to what this author has in store next. If you enjoy fantasy, pirates, action and suspense then I highly recommend this book.
I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
June 7, 2014
TONS OF PRIZES TO BE WON!
Click on Banner to Enter
Maybe Captain Hook wasn’t such a bad guy after all. Could it be that there was a dark side to Peter Pan? Were more mythical legends involved wreaking havoc in the background? Second on the Right by Elizabeth Los takes a brave new look at a childhood fairytale while she adds her own magical brew to the mix slowly building up to what proves to be a fantastic read!
Eileen is the mild-mannered descendant of a swashbuckling pirate captain. Fate hurls her back in time to another reality aboard the pirate ship the Mistral Thief and into the life of Captain Robert Benedict. Intrigued and smitten with this timid woman, he teaches her the ways of the sea and uncovers her strengths which will serve her well when she is returned to her own time where she falls in love with one of Benedict’s descendants, James. An ancient curse on their families follow them, haunting them. They are soul mates, but can their love ever be or must they both ride the waves of time back to the Mistral Thief to end this evil?
What was Elizabeth Los thinking when she tackled the legend of Peter Pan and created a time travel fantasy of love and where the faces of heroes and villains have changed? Did she realize she was creating a brilliant work that showed great imagination with a touch of darkness? Ms. Los weaves a tale of love, destiny and what ifs with strong world building and well-thought out characters one can feel for and may just forget they are “make believe.” The use of sometimes rapidly changing POVs and time drives this story and adds that riveting and magnetic pull that keeps the reader glued to each page as fantasy and reality collide and spark the imagination of the reader! Great reading, with a strong sense of a unique style from Elizabeth Los. I read because I enjoy the escape, the fantasy and a great finish after a sometimes chaotic and twisted ride, Second on the Right has it all!
I received this copy as part of Bit’n Book Tour’s Elizabeth Los’ Second on the Right Virtual Tour, stopping at Tome Tender June 1, 2014.
Publication Date: March 15, 2014 - 2nd Edition
Publisher: Elizabeth Los
ISBN-10: 1492340480
ISBN-13: 978-1492340485
Genre: Adult Romantic Fantasy
Print Length: 506 pages
Available from: Amazon
Click on Banner to Enter
Maybe Captain Hook wasn’t such a bad guy after all. Could it be that there was a dark side to Peter Pan? Were more mythical legends involved wreaking havoc in the background? Second on the Right by Elizabeth Los takes a brave new look at a childhood fairytale while she adds her own magical brew to the mix slowly building up to what proves to be a fantastic read!
Eileen is the mild-mannered descendant of a swashbuckling pirate captain. Fate hurls her back in time to another reality aboard the pirate ship the Mistral Thief and into the life of Captain Robert Benedict. Intrigued and smitten with this timid woman, he teaches her the ways of the sea and uncovers her strengths which will serve her well when she is returned to her own time where she falls in love with one of Benedict’s descendants, James. An ancient curse on their families follow them, haunting them. They are soul mates, but can their love ever be or must they both ride the waves of time back to the Mistral Thief to end this evil?
What was Elizabeth Los thinking when she tackled the legend of Peter Pan and created a time travel fantasy of love and where the faces of heroes and villains have changed? Did she realize she was creating a brilliant work that showed great imagination with a touch of darkness? Ms. Los weaves a tale of love, destiny and what ifs with strong world building and well-thought out characters one can feel for and may just forget they are “make believe.” The use of sometimes rapidly changing POVs and time drives this story and adds that riveting and magnetic pull that keeps the reader glued to each page as fantasy and reality collide and spark the imagination of the reader! Great reading, with a strong sense of a unique style from Elizabeth Los. I read because I enjoy the escape, the fantasy and a great finish after a sometimes chaotic and twisted ride, Second on the Right has it all!
I received this copy as part of Bit’n Book Tour’s Elizabeth Los’ Second on the Right Virtual Tour, stopping at Tome Tender June 1, 2014.
Publication Date: March 15, 2014 - 2nd Edition
Publisher: Elizabeth Los
ISBN-10: 1492340480
ISBN-13: 978-1492340485
Genre: Adult Romantic Fantasy
Print Length: 506 pages
Available from: Amazon
July 3, 2014
3.9 out of 5 stars
Initial Review: Wow.
Final Review:
Second to the Right is an amazing retelling of Peter Pan from a whole new perspective. I will admit that at the beginning, I was a tad bit confused with what was going on. The author was setting up this elaborate twist on the fairy tale most kids dream about that at some points, everything just sort of collided into a big jumble of confusion. I will admit, that for me was a big turn off. I loved the premise of the story, I just didn't love the execution of the events.
Anyway, moving on to some brighter moments, this book was absolutely stunning! It completely changed my perspective on Peter Pan and I know see him for the conniving monster that he is. That's a bit harsh, but seriously, this book will throw everything you knew about an innocent boy from Neverland out the window and you're met with a harsher truth. The scary thing is, it actually makes sense. Does Disney ever talk about why Hook has this hatred to see Peter die? NO. With this book, everything is revealed, and oh my goodness, I cannot even comprehend what I'm saying right now. All I know is that this book completely blows you mind into pieces.
Now, the characters. I have to admit that I didn't exactly connect with the three main characters as much, but I definitely sympathized big time with Captain Hook. Captain Benedict was a very confusing character and while I have much to owe him for all that he has done for James and Eileen, I'm not entirely sure I've got him figured out. Eileen on the other hand is also pretty confusing. She's described as the perfect woman by both James and Benedict and both love her very much. I was a bit worried that we were going to have a complicated time travel love triangle on our hands, but thankfully, Eileen loved one man and she was going to stay with that man. While I didn't connect with them, I still enjoyed their companies a lot and they definitely made me smile.
I need to talk about Captain Hook because after hating him so much for all these years, I feel so guilty that my hatred was directed in the wrong place. What I loved about this book was how 3D it made Hook. Instead of making him a weirdo who wanted to kill a little boy, he had a reason, he had a goal, he had a story. He became a real life person and you felt for this guy, your heart ached for everything that he had been through and guess what? None of it was his fault in the first place. Captain Hook is now at the top of my favorite Disney villains of all time. Just, I love him so much after reading this book.
Highly highly recommend this story. The beginning is confusing and there's a lot to take in, but everything weaves together at some time in the story and it will all be revealed. This was an absolute fantastic twist on the Peter Pan tale and has definitely made the list of my favorite fairy-tale re-tellings. :)
Read my reviews at:
https://extreemeobsessed.blogspot.com
Initial Review: Wow.
Final Review:
Second to the Right is an amazing retelling of Peter Pan from a whole new perspective. I will admit that at the beginning, I was a tad bit confused with what was going on. The author was setting up this elaborate twist on the fairy tale most kids dream about that at some points, everything just sort of collided into a big jumble of confusion. I will admit, that for me was a big turn off. I loved the premise of the story, I just didn't love the execution of the events.
Anyway, moving on to some brighter moments, this book was absolutely stunning! It completely changed my perspective on Peter Pan and I know see him for the conniving monster that he is. That's a bit harsh, but seriously, this book will throw everything you knew about an innocent boy from Neverland out the window and you're met with a harsher truth. The scary thing is, it actually makes sense. Does Disney ever talk about why Hook has this hatred to see Peter die? NO. With this book, everything is revealed, and oh my goodness, I cannot even comprehend what I'm saying right now. All I know is that this book completely blows you mind into pieces.
Now, the characters. I have to admit that I didn't exactly connect with the three main characters as much, but I definitely sympathized big time with Captain Hook. Captain Benedict was a very confusing character and while I have much to owe him for all that he has done for James and Eileen, I'm not entirely sure I've got him figured out. Eileen on the other hand is also pretty confusing. She's described as the perfect woman by both James and Benedict and both love her very much. I was a bit worried that we were going to have a complicated time travel love triangle on our hands, but thankfully, Eileen loved one man and she was going to stay with that man. While I didn't connect with them, I still enjoyed their companies a lot and they definitely made me smile.
I need to talk about Captain Hook because after hating him so much for all these years, I feel so guilty that my hatred was directed in the wrong place. What I loved about this book was how 3D it made Hook. Instead of making him a weirdo who wanted to kill a little boy, he had a reason, he had a goal, he had a story. He became a real life person and you felt for this guy, your heart ached for everything that he had been through and guess what? None of it was his fault in the first place. Captain Hook is now at the top of my favorite Disney villains of all time. Just, I love him so much after reading this book.
Highly highly recommend this story. The beginning is confusing and there's a lot to take in, but everything weaves together at some time in the story and it will all be revealed. This was an absolute fantastic twist on the Peter Pan tale and has definitely made the list of my favorite fairy-tale re-tellings. :)
Read my reviews at:
https://extreemeobsessed.blogspot.com
May 15, 2014
Peter Pan has never been a particularly well-behaved character. Enchanting to be sure, particularly in his Disney form that most people are familiar with, but also selfish, petulant, and boastful. Being a perpetual motherless child, he never loses the egocentricity present in all children when they’re young. The world revolves around Peter, much as every toddler is convinced the world revolves around him (as the mothers of toddlers are well aware).
Covering 400 years of time travel, star-crossed love, honor, betrayal, and piracy on the high seas, “Second on the Right” is a dark yet fun time-traveling reimagining of the classic tale of Peter Pan. Captain Hook is the sympathetic character in the story (and much less of a sniveling scaredy-cat than in the versions you’re probably familiar with), while this version of Peter Pan is much more sinister, going well beyond childish boastfulness. Ever wonder where Peter Pan got his name from? Elizabeth Los explains it in a way that I’d never thought of before (but which makes sense in hindsight).
The book could have used one more editorial pass to clean up some minor grammatical errors and formatting issues. The pace falters in a few places, especially early in the story, and several awkward transitions. There were also some loose ends left at the conclusion of the book, and I wish I knew the final outcomes of some of the characters. (In a way that’s somewhat a compliment, as the author told the story so well that I wanted to know more about what happened). Overall, however, the storyline is intriguing and well thought out, and the final resolution is clever and amusing.
If you’re a fan of pirate tales or reimaginings of classic stories (especially those in which the hero/villain roles are reversed), or if you’ve ever felt that maybe Peter Pan wasn’t quite as charming as he’s been made out to be, then this book is definitely worth checking out.
Covering 400 years of time travel, star-crossed love, honor, betrayal, and piracy on the high seas, “Second on the Right” is a dark yet fun time-traveling reimagining of the classic tale of Peter Pan. Captain Hook is the sympathetic character in the story (and much less of a sniveling scaredy-cat than in the versions you’re probably familiar with), while this version of Peter Pan is much more sinister, going well beyond childish boastfulness. Ever wonder where Peter Pan got his name from? Elizabeth Los explains it in a way that I’d never thought of before (but which makes sense in hindsight).
The book could have used one more editorial pass to clean up some minor grammatical errors and formatting issues. The pace falters in a few places, especially early in the story, and several awkward transitions. There were also some loose ends left at the conclusion of the book, and I wish I knew the final outcomes of some of the characters. (In a way that’s somewhat a compliment, as the author told the story so well that I wanted to know more about what happened). Overall, however, the storyline is intriguing and well thought out, and the final resolution is clever and amusing.
If you’re a fan of pirate tales or reimaginings of classic stories (especially those in which the hero/villain roles are reversed), or if you’ve ever felt that maybe Peter Pan wasn’t quite as charming as he’s been made out to be, then this book is definitely worth checking out.
September 15, 2014
Second on the Right is a retelling of Peter Pan that is decidedly NOT reminiscent of the old animated Disney feature. It is darker and more violent with Captain Hook as the hero and Peter as the villain. I had no problem being in Hook's corner, as violent as he is. The character is well-written, being both sympathetic and horrifying for understandable reasons. Also, I've always thought Peter Pan was a little creepy.
What really made this book work for me was the central relationship, a love triangle between Eileen, Benedict, and James. It's messy and complicated, but a believable representation of three independent-minded people dealing with/being in love with each other and getting... let's call them "mixed results". I believed in these characters. This allowed me to go along with the fantastical elements of the story, which were glossed over a bit too smoothly for my taste.
The pace is fast and even, ideal for a vacation read. This book shifts gears A LOT, but it's worth it when you make it to the end.
What really made this book work for me was the central relationship, a love triangle between Eileen, Benedict, and James. It's messy and complicated, but a believable representation of three independent-minded people dealing with/being in love with each other and getting... let's call them "mixed results". I believed in these characters. This allowed me to go along with the fantastical elements of the story, which were glossed over a bit too smoothly for my taste.
The pace is fast and even, ideal for a vacation read. This book shifts gears A LOT, but it's worth it when you make it to the end.
June 29, 2014
I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
When I was first asked to review Second on the Right I was immediately intrigued by the story and it only took a moment to decide that it was a keeper. Captain James Hook has always been an interest for me since I first saw Dustin Hoffman take on the role in the movie Hook. Elizabeth Los' version of Captain Hook is more or less the story of a man that fights hard for the people he loves and will go to any lengths to keep his family together.
This story follows the lives of Eileen, James and Captain Benedict, who happens to be James' ancestor. Yup, that means there is a little time traveling involved. Always a great way to perk up a story as far as I'm concerned. I loved all of the characters and I especially had a soft spot for Captain Benedict, I think because I felt his character to be authentic and I loved hearing his pirate dialect in my head. I was happy to learn for the author interview that Geoffrey Rush was a big inspiration for his character because that is exactly who I was hearing in my head, so bravo Elizabeth.
A new twist on an old tale, Second on the Right is a fast paced and entertaining read. This reader never found a boring moment and was constantly wrapped up in the mystery that was sensationally weaved into the entire story.
I give this a 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.
June 13, 2014
My star rating: 3 1/2 stars (as always, rounded up on Amazon and Goodreads)
This one was a little baffling. Honestly, you could split it down the middle and seem to have two entirely different books! The first half was a chore to get through. The pacing was slow, the writing was clumsy, and the characters were bland. My biggest peeve was that there was so much showing vs telling. But then... WHAM! All of a sudden, I couldn't put the book down. The storyline took off like a shot. James and Benedict grew leaps and bounds internally, and even though the head-hopping continued and the tense seemed to change mid-paragraph still, I didn't care because I was so engrossed in the story. The motivations were realistic, and even the solutions to the conflicts were incredibly well thought out, making the reader think, "Yeah, I could see that happening!"
This was a great take on Peter Pan as the bad guy (I'm seeing this as a new trend as of late), and I loved that Elizabeth poked fun at the twist at the end. Very funny! My favorite thing about this book, though, is Elaine's transformation.
This one was a little baffling. Honestly, you could split it down the middle and seem to have two entirely different books! The first half was a chore to get through. The pacing was slow, the writing was clumsy, and the characters were bland. My biggest peeve was that there was so much showing vs telling. But then... WHAM! All of a sudden, I couldn't put the book down. The storyline took off like a shot. James and Benedict grew leaps and bounds internally, and even though the head-hopping continued and the tense seemed to change mid-paragraph still, I didn't care because I was so engrossed in the story. The motivations were realistic, and even the solutions to the conflicts were incredibly well thought out, making the reader think, "Yeah, I could see that happening!"
This was a great take on Peter Pan as the bad guy (I'm seeing this as a new trend as of late), and I loved that Elizabeth poked fun at the twist at the end. Very funny! My favorite thing about this book, though, is Elaine's transformation.
July 23, 2016
This book is a scurvy tale of pirates, destiny and a story everyone knows. But this is a slightly twisted version where the hero is the villain and the villain is actually the good guy.
If you remember the tale of Peter Pan and the lost boys..... it would be best to forget it. Although the names are the same, the story is a whole new adventure. With more pirates, and a destiny set up because of circumstances long, long ago you will be dragged out to sea to experience this newly told tale.
I was absolutely pulled in as I started to realize just where the story was going. Now, it didnt start that way. It took me a few chapters before I could really wrap my head around what was going on. There is time travel in this book and I think that's what threw me off at first, but once I got more of an explanation of what was going on I enjoyed it.
I think if you love to get sucked into a pirates life or you want a twisted version of Peter Pan, you will love this story. Also, it is appropriate for teens as well.
If you remember the tale of Peter Pan and the lost boys..... it would be best to forget it. Although the names are the same, the story is a whole new adventure. With more pirates, and a destiny set up because of circumstances long, long ago you will be dragged out to sea to experience this newly told tale.
I was absolutely pulled in as I started to realize just where the story was going. Now, it didnt start that way. It took me a few chapters before I could really wrap my head around what was going on. There is time travel in this book and I think that's what threw me off at first, but once I got more of an explanation of what was going on I enjoyed it.
I think if you love to get sucked into a pirates life or you want a twisted version of Peter Pan, you will love this story. Also, it is appropriate for teens as well.
May 17, 2014
**I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my fair and honest review.**
“Second on the Right” by Elizabeth Los is an intriguing time travel tale that takes place on the high seas. Eileen Davis works on a cruise ship, where she begins to fall for James Benedict. During this particular tour, she falls into the ocean and through time, where she lands on a pirate ship captained by none other than James’s descendant, Captain Robert Benedict.
This is an interesting time travel tale in that the fantasy includes pirates. I really enjoyed Eileen’s character and her adventures. There is plenty of reference to Peter Pan and Captain Hook, which gives it a nice wistfulness in remembering that childhood tale.
There are just a few technical issues with point of view head-hopping within scenes and slipping into past perfect tense while in past tense, but overall the storytelling really takes control of the book and makes it an enjoyable read.
“Second on the Right” by Elizabeth Los is an intriguing time travel tale that takes place on the high seas. Eileen Davis works on a cruise ship, where she begins to fall for James Benedict. During this particular tour, she falls into the ocean and through time, where she lands on a pirate ship captained by none other than James’s descendant, Captain Robert Benedict.
This is an interesting time travel tale in that the fantasy includes pirates. I really enjoyed Eileen’s character and her adventures. There is plenty of reference to Peter Pan and Captain Hook, which gives it a nice wistfulness in remembering that childhood tale.
There are just a few technical issues with point of view head-hopping within scenes and slipping into past perfect tense while in past tense, but overall the storytelling really takes control of the book and makes it an enjoyable read.
May 19, 2014
Second on the Right is an unusual take on the Neverland saga, and is told with imagination, and vivid attention to detail. As the tale unfolds we can clearly identify which role, Eluzabeth Los, has assigned to her characters from the original novel. I thought that the themes of time travel, and the vagaries of dreams were interesting. This author has skill when it comes to story telling and the concept of a 'Soul Trap', was clever and an intriguing twist. I was drawn to the pirate aspect, and felt both captains were well drawn characters. All-in-all an enjoyable read. The only thing I didn't like was the character of Peter Pan, the idea of a protagonist from the fantasies of my childhood, reinvented as a debaunched rapist and child molester, kinda spoilt the story for me a bit.
I received a free book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
This review first appeared on Extaordinaryreads.com
I received a free book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
This review first appeared on Extaordinaryreads.com
May 25, 2014
First of all, I'd like to commend the author for taking on such an iconic and well known story. It takes a lot of guts and frankly balls, to take a risk. Overall, this was a great read. It had a lot of action and adventure and even the romance was sweet. I also liked how she incorporates time travel into the whole mix of things. The character development was on point and I could easily figure out which character is which. I also think that the detail incorporated into the story was phenomenal. It made the whole scenery literally seal into my mind as I imagined, I was actually there. Everything was displayed so vividly but with just a hint of mystery to allow the reader to explore their own imaginations. I also liked the twist she did with Peter Pan's character. It's completely different than what I grew up with. I really enjoyed the story and will recommend to others.
July 23, 2014
This story starts back in the 1600 with a battle between gods. Then a young pirate steals the sword and during a fight with thieves, he release the God again. Back to 2001 Eileen and James are both on a cruise. Suddenly a storm hit and somehow sends Eileen back to 1640 onto the ship the Mistral Thief. She learns a lot from the captain before she is sent back the her own time. Eileen and James fall for each other and work together to stave off a dark evil.
Well the story starts off very slow. It jumps back and forth between who is speaking. I had a hard time keeping my self interested in what was going on. But I am very glad I did. About half way through the story becomes so much better. It moves along quicker and keeps your attention until the end.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review
Well the story starts off very slow. It jumps back and forth between who is speaking. I had a hard time keeping my self interested in what was going on. But I am very glad I did. About half way through the story becomes so much better. It moves along quicker and keeps your attention until the end.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review
March 1, 2013
Love, pirates, goddesses, twists - this was a unique, fantasy story that is a more sophisticated take of a fairy tale.
I, for one, am not a fan of different time periods in one story, but this story does an okay job with it. James and Eileen are likable characters, and you want to root for them. However, Daria was my favorite character, and her quest for revenge moves the story. Sometimes the pacing of the story is low, especially in the beginning, but there are plenty of juicy parts along the way. I thoroughly enjoy the second half of the book. This story is a different take on the classic Peter Pan. The love story is sweet, and believable. As far as fantasy novel goes, this is above average, but not great.
I, for one, am not a fan of different time periods in one story, but this story does an okay job with it. James and Eileen are likable characters, and you want to root for them. However, Daria was my favorite character, and her quest for revenge moves the story. Sometimes the pacing of the story is low, especially in the beginning, but there are plenty of juicy parts along the way. I thoroughly enjoy the second half of the book. This story is a different take on the classic Peter Pan. The love story is sweet, and believable. As far as fantasy novel goes, this is above average, but not great.
May 2, 2014
‘Second on the Right’ by Elizabeth Los, is a well written tale of the origin of Captain Hook and Peter Pan. The characters are full of personality. The tale takes a genealogical turn, where the main characters discover their ancestor’s were pirates.
Elizabeth Los’ tale takes her main characters back and forth in time, where we meet Captain Hook, Peter Pan, and the Lost Boys in Neverland.
‘Second on the Right’ is an unique tale. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and highly recommend it to those, of all ages, who enjoy reading a good fantasy.
I received a pdf of this book to read and give an honest review.
http://mauldinfamily1.wordpress.com/2...
Elizabeth Los’ tale takes her main characters back and forth in time, where we meet Captain Hook, Peter Pan, and the Lost Boys in Neverland.
‘Second on the Right’ is an unique tale. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and highly recommend it to those, of all ages, who enjoy reading a good fantasy.
I received a pdf of this book to read and give an honest review.
http://mauldinfamily1.wordpress.com/2...
June 1, 2014
this book is such an amazing book. it is a great adaptation about Captain Hook, from the original story of Peter Pan. throughout the whole book, my heart was literally breaking. you can feel the emotions, the agony and misery that the characters were going through, especially Captain Hook himself. and this is a really really long book. just when you thought happyeverafters are close, it was actually still miles away. the way the author writes this story, every emotions counted and those reading this book will have to prepare for the emotional turmoil that they will be in. all in all, i have no regrets about reading this book, because it is simply exquisite.
July 22, 2014
First, I would like to thank the author Elizabeth Los for giving me this book for an honest review. I enjoyed reading this book, the author took on Peter Pan and does a good job with this rewrite of a classic story. The characters are well developed and written. The story-line is good. The world building is great. I look forward to reading more from this author.
August 13, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed the story and found it hard to put down. It was a fantasy love story and I kept wanting to see what would happen next! I recommend this book for enjoyably reading.
July 18, 2014
You can see my full review under The Bookie Monster or at the blog http://bookie-monster.com/2014/05/sec...
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