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Pacific Grit: A WWII Military Fiction Novel

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Victory is sweet… but in the melodious jungles of The Canal… it can turn sour in an instant… After repelling Kawaguchi’s bloody assault on Edson’s Ridge, the Marines of Henderson Field are putting the pieces back together. General Vandegrift and his officers are celebrating a victory, but they know that the war is far from over… and that when the Japanese regroup, it’s going to be with more men, more weapons and even greater ferocity. The arrival of the Seventh Marine Regiment and supplies is certainly welcome… but there’s a dark side to Admiral Turner’s generosity…Prolonged and bloody fighting… Meanwhile, Al Decker and his Raider squad must rescue New Zealand missionary Andrew Denton’s family and free the village of Talisi from a Japanese platoon. The clock is ticking as they have wounded men that need a doctor, Japanese prisoners bent on escape and innocent civilians’ lives hanging in the balance. They’ll be fighting all the way across the weather coast and back to Henderson to rejoin their fellow Marines. With the arrival of chesty Puller, Vandegrift wants to push across the Matanikau River in an attempt to secure Japanese-held territory. The only way to stem the tide of the tenacious enemy from pouring over the perimeter and overrunning the airfield… but as usual on Guadalcanal… nothing is easy.

In this explosive third installment, the jungles roar with artillery, automatic weapons fire and the screams of the wounded and dying! Decker, Edson and Puller must use whatever means necessary to smash through Japanese lines and secure the freedom and safety of themselves and the people of the Solomons!

234 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 9, 2023

401 people are currently reading
54 people want to read

About the author

Scott W. Cook

49 books45 followers
A full-time author who lives in Florida's sunshine, Scott W. Cook is and has always been a lover of good stories. When he's not hard at work composing new tales, Scott loves the Florida lifestyle - sailing, surfing, kayaking, fishing and if you can throw in a great waterside bar and grill and good tunes, you'll find a happy man!

As a voracious reader, Scott loves an engaging story… and as a voracious writer, his passion is capturing your interest and keeping a satisfied smile on your face!

Scott has a wide variety of writing passions and there’s something for everyone. His Florida private detective series is loaded action, suspense and will put a smile on your face, too. His multiple WWII series take you back to one of the most extraordinary times in history and brings it to life through vibrant scenes and entertaining characters.

And if you, like Scott, have a sweet tooth for horror… then you’ll love his short story collections, his Immortal Dracula series as well as other goodies to tantalize and raise the gooseflesh! And that’s just the beginning.

To learn more visit Scott at his website. Peruse his catalogue and grab a free sample when you join the crew:
www.scottwcook.com

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
Profile Image for John Kiss.
Author 11 books51 followers
December 28, 2023


Hey there, fellow bookworms! 📚 As a 38-year-old history buff from sunny Israel and an aspiring historical fiction writer 🖋️, let me spill the tea on "Pacific Grit" by Scott Cook. Spoiler alert: It's not just a book; it's a time-traveling, heart-pounding adventure that had me hooked at first skim! 🎉

So, imagine me, a guy from Israel, casually skimming through the pages of this gem, and bam! 🤯 I'm knee-deep in the Pacific theater of World War Two, battling the weather and hanging out with marines. Seriously, even my cat gave me side-eye because I was so engrossed. 😸

Cook has this magical way of making history come alive. The Raiders? Total badasses! 🕶️ Saving hostages, shooting up enemies – it's like an action movie, but better because you can imagine the explosions in your head. 💥 And yeah, the writing might feel a tad like it's aimed at teens, but who cares when you're having this much fun? 🤷‍♂️

Let's talk about Linda Hopper's advice – start with the first Bull Shark novel and ride the historical fiction wave straight to "Pacific Grit." 🏄‍♂️ It's like a literary rollercoaster, and you're gonna want to be there for every twist and turn.

Oh, and can we take a moment to appreciate Heidi Pearson's joy at finding so few typos? It's like stumbling upon a unicorn in a forest of regular horses. 🦄 Smooth reading all the way!

Now, let me get real with you. This book isn't just about battles and heroics; it's about the soul of the Pacific theater. It's about bravery, sacrifice, and the kind of camaraderie that gives you all the feels. 😢 Cook paints a vivid picture, and I can't wait to dive into more of his work. 🌊

In a nutshell, "Pacific Grit" is like a historical fiction buffet – it's got action, drama, and that extra sprinkle of magic that keeps you coming back for more. As an amateur historical fiction scribe, I'm soaking up the vibes and taking notes. 📝 Here's to Scott Cook for making history cool again! 🎉🌏
Profile Image for Todd.
Author 6 books1 follower
February 14, 2024
This is the third book in the Marine Raiders Series. Earlier I read the other two books and gave them strong reviews. Book 3 joins those volumes; I enjoyed the book! Sometimes a series that is based on a continuing story line does not always maintain the same level of engagement of the reader. This one kept me engaged.

Decker and his marines continue their Guadalcanal battles behind the lines with recon assignments and a rescue assignment of civilians imprisoned by the Japanese. The battles with the environment and the enemy are well drawn, taking me into the claustrophobic jungle and crocodile infested rivers and banks. The pace of the story was good, keeping the tempo just right. The combination of the strategy of the large units and the tactics of the small units meshed well together.

One change was the elevated presence of Lana. She emerged from the background within occassional breaks in the story from battles to provide a glimpse of the native population. Lana comes into her own in Book 3. It wasn't that she emerged as a true warrior, it is more that her determination, grit, and bravery was revealed. Her lethal ability challenged the strongly engrained and shared perceptions of females, especially in war. Decker and the other marines were confronted with the reality of a powerful woman who did not hesitate to do what must be done in those situations of do or die. As much as Decker resorted to his position of protect and shelter, he had to work to understand and accept this dimension of Lana – she would do what was necessary to protect her people.

I look forward to the next adventure, and the next.
Profile Image for Brian.
401 reviews
October 20, 2023
a most thrilling read !

Who else but Scott Cook could write this way !? The continuing saga of fighting a long hard battle on a little known island named Guadalcanal. The fight over Guadalcanal will become historic on many levels and the author pays his respect to those Americans who fought and died there as he writes one hell of a story. This was Book 3 and the first 2 books were just as incredible. I am waiting for book 4 which can’t get here fast enough ! (Hint hint Scott) lol.
Profile Image for Monroe Bryant.
418 reviews1 follower
October 18, 2023
Story line getting a little old, but it’s about the war so….

Ok, another gutty story about war in the Pacific and Decker’s boys. Some of the chatter is rather corny but probably accurate. My only criticism is that you don’t salute your commander in combat unless you want him shot.
809 reviews2 followers
September 15, 2024
Decker and his small group free some captives, kill a lot of Japanese and are rewarded with a new assignment. This series stays strong and interesting as the battle for Guadalcanal continues. The characters are evolving nicely and the storyline pursues the learning curve that the US Military needed for success in this long and demanding battle in the Pacific.
52 reviews
January 23, 2026
Engrossing

Mr. Cook doesn’t fail to deliver with Maj. Decker. A solid storyline within the larger effort to take the Solomon Islands. I wish there had been a map that references some of the locations. I’ve spent some time looking through various maps in order to get a sense of direction and distance in the various encounters. However, it doesn’t distract from the book.
Profile Image for Dennis E. Flynn.
137 reviews3 followers
September 20, 2023
Another great read

Again more insight as to how bad it was fighting on the islands in the South Pacific. If the enemy didn't get you the island will. What a horrible experience for all enemy and our guys both.
Profile Image for Gene Riley.
13 reviews
September 22, 2023
Just more of the same, and that. Is fantastic!

The author has brought us the same cast of characters plus some new ones. He weaves those into another tale of what life was like in the Pacific campaign of WW II. As usual he leaves the reader hoping for more.
Profile Image for Phillip Mclaughlin.
680 reviews7 followers
October 17, 2023
a great series, easy reading, and full of excitement

Marine Raiders as a spin off of Bull Shark is just a fine series. Guadalcanal is portrayed as a truly awful environment, and the Japanese make hell, even worse.
I now have a map that I keep nearby.
Well done Scott Cook.
361 reviews1 follower
October 28, 2023
good book

Scott Cook does a good job detailing the action, the fighting and the tactical aspect on Guadalcanal. Sometimes the dialogue is a little hokey but overall a good series. Recommend these!
85 reviews
December 8, 2023
Non stop action

Great reading, fast paced, brought a lot of information about Guadalcanal battle I'd not read about before. I
Would have liked to see conclusion of battle though. I know how it turned out but you are left hanging in middle of story.
47 reviews1 follower
April 7, 2024
Show the flag

The action is continuous from dusk to dawn. The Marines were tasked with missions that bely description. Everything in the jungle, human or animal, was against them. Mother Nature wasn't of much help. But still they prevailed. Hop rah!
1 review
August 15, 2023
Great Read

Very versatile storyteller who weaves fact and fiction together seamlessly. Anticipating the next book in this series, and till then....!!
Profile Image for Richard.
456 reviews3 followers
August 28, 2023
More fighting in the Canal

Continuing to follow Decker and his raiders. Missionary family to rescue from the Japs! Marine legend, Chesty Puller arrives on the scene!
Profile Image for Chaplain Stanley Chapin.
1,978 reviews21 followers
September 21, 2023
A decent read

If you enjoy World War Two action, and I do, this one is fairly good. The writing is a bit like it was written for teenagers but enjoyable.
45 reviews
September 23, 2023
Another good tale

The Raiders are at it again. A tough mission on Guadacanal.
Rescuing civilian hostages and shooting up enemy is their forte.
21 reviews
October 7, 2023
Awesome series

Great read. I can't wait for the next one in this series.
I am really enjoying this series and the Bull Shark series.
7 reviews
October 21, 2023
Good read that moves along

Ww2 Pacific was a totally different event than Europe and North Africa. Weather and marines are covered well in this book.
331 reviews3 followers
October 22, 2023
Great read!

I enjoyed this one, especially finding so few typos. A real page turner most of the book. Look forward to the next one.
3 reviews
November 22, 2023
Great read

Start with the first bull shark novel by cook, and follow it through to this one, all have been a great read. If you enjoy historical war fiction this series is for you
Profile Image for paulette dismang.
195 reviews3 followers
January 4, 2024
Major Decker

A tale of the first special forces unit in the marines on Guadalcanal during World war 2 Very exciting lot of action
Scott Cook is a great story teller
4 reviews3 followers
January 5, 2024
good way to spend a night

Great reads very intense and we learn much about our sailors, marines,, and army.
By the time you are done, you want more.
36 reviews
January 22, 2024
Saluting

Over liked the book. Did not like the saluting in a combat area. I do not believe this was done as it would identify the officers to enemy snipers. Other wise a good read.
Profile Image for Ken Derrenbacker.
8 reviews
February 3, 2024
Fun Series

If you like WWII fiction these are fun books to read. I prefere historical fiction but, these are close enough to the facts to make them quite enjoyable to read.
13 reviews
March 6, 2024
Good enough to read twice.

Scott Cook is great at spinning a tale that really tracks history in novel form. Enjoy this continuation of a wonderful epic time in history.


17 reviews
April 12, 2024
Interesting

Made me more aware of the geography of the island and the people. Looking forward to the next book in the series.


7 reviews
June 5, 2024
Very enjoyable read

A very good page turner. Enjoying the series! Scott puts you right in the middle of the war with many historical characters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews