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Patriot's Point

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1790: At the Battle of Waxhaw, NC, the British Legion massacres the unresisting soldiers of of the Virginia Regiment instead of accepting their surrender. In the aftermath, colonists-ordinary men and women, farmers, shopkeepers, and back woodsmen-come together in secret at an abandoned Spanish mission, renaming it Patriot's Point. There they organize themselves into a fighting force, vowing to contain the British advance at all cost until the Continental Army can retaliate. Fewer than two hundred men stand in defiance of over five thousand British soldiers: two hundred patriots, who understand that freedom is not free.

294 pages, Paperback

First published May 28, 2014

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Douglas Boren

4 books27 followers

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5 stars
9 (60%)
4 stars
2 (13%)
3 stars
3 (20%)
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1 (6%)
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Profile Image for Heather Bridson.
430 reviews8 followers
January 20, 2015
At first I was kind of bored with this story. But, I curled up with it a second night and was really drawn into it. I'm not a big American History fan, hated it in school. But this would be a much better way to get people to learn about the history of America. Yes, it is fiction, but the battle scenes were realistic and bloody. The characters were relateable, and the story was very well done. This type of book would be wonderful in a high school history class, because it brings the reader into the feelings and sights of battles and those who fought for our freedom. So much better than learning dates and names, this book brings the reader into the lives of those fighting for our freedom. Ok, again yes, it is a work of fiction, but with using people, places and battles that did happen, it gives a wonderful look back in time. I really enjoyed it, after the first part was finished.

I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I was not paid for my review in any way, and all opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Y. Correa.
Author 32 books67 followers
July 2, 2014
I've been a fan of Mr. Boren's books for a little over a year now. I've read most of them and none of them have ranked lower than a 4 on the 'Reading Richter Scale' for me. Mr. Boren is a fantastic Historical Fiction writer, and Patriot's Point showcases his talent at an amazing level.
What I love so much about Mr. Boren's writing is that he meticulously weaves fiction with fact in such a way that by the end of his stories you find yourself thinking, “There is no way that this didn't actually happen.”

Let's get to the premise of Patriot's Point.

Patriot's Point is the story of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. More specifically, it's about the men that fought that war. Even more in depth, it's about Trey Alexander, the son of Rafe Alexander from A Pirate's Revenge, and his involvement in said occurrences.
Added to the above plot are both fictional characters like Trey's best friend Jody, his wife and family and many more. Among those you'll find nonfictional characters such as General Cornwallis, President George Washington, and a few more.
Just like with most of Mr. Boren's works, this book is not for the faint of heart. You'll find blood and gore, and even some sex. Please do not dive into this book if you are not willing to take part in that type of action. If said things do not bother you, than by all means, pick it up!
I will not get to wrapped up into the plot of the story as I'm trying to steer away from spoilers, so now I'll just get into the bulk of my review.

Following are the Pro's and Con's.

I'll start with the Con's, as they are so very few. Two at best.
Side Note: Please understand that theses BY NO MEANS DETERRED from my enjoyment of the story.

1. This is more of a technical con. There are some formatting mistakes inside of the paper back. There is few blank pages in between chapters, as well as some lines that went askew a bit.
2. As it pertains to the sex sense, I felt as though they were a little dry and unemotional. They were not altogether believable.

That's it for that.


On to the Pro's. There are much more of these. :)

1. The story is well written, intelligible and believable. This is exactly how a historical fiction should be written.
2. The characters are well developed and interesting.
3. Each scene was executed well and made you feel like you were there and part of the action.
4. The research that went into this book is evident in the description of persons, places and things. Every description was accurate and properly explained.
5. The story transports you to another time and place and captures your imagination in such a way that you feel like you were there during the war and lived each happenstance.
6. The syntax was almost flawless. There were maybe a few instances, at best, where a punctuation was missing was used incorrectly. However, this can only be seen by the trained eye.
7. My personal favorite was how each chapter started with a quote or verse from an actual historical figure. Moreover, I loved that each quote fit the chapter perfectly.
8. Scene separations were implemented and helped A LOT in keeping track of what was happening with who and where.
9. I absolutely LOVED to see the return of Rafe Alexander, albeit briefly.

Overall, Patriot's Point is an excellent read and I highly recommend it to lovers of historical fiction. As always, Mr. Boren did not let me down. Kudos!
Profile Image for Dawn Whidden.
Author 5 books110 followers
October 14, 2015
I received this book as a gift, not necessarily to review, but to enjoy! And I did.
Douglas Boren has done it again! In Patriot's Point he mixes reality and fiction with such finesse and artistry that the reader becomes a lover of history without even realizes they are being educated. Although the book is fiction is does cover the spirit of an historical event. The bloody fight for freedom from the tyranny of the British rule is so well done that I felt like joining the cause!

This author needs to be writing screenplays because I definitely can see both books ..PIRATES REVENGE & and this stand alone sequel as a blockbuster movie on the same scale as BRAVEHEART AND THE PATRIOT. WELL DONE BOREN!
Profile Image for Sue  Pilski.
83 reviews24 followers
May 27, 2015
I received PATRIOT'S POINT from the author in exchange for my review. Douglas Boren has done it again with another well-written, perfectly researched novel! This story demonstrates Boren's abilities not only as a very good historical fiction writer, but his dedication to the research that went into this book. So prepared to be transported to back to the American Revolution with vivid details of people, places and events. Highly recommend with 5 stars!!! :)
Profile Image for Michael Hartnett.
Author 5 books24 followers
March 26, 2018
A Powerful Work of Historical American Fiction
The soldiers in Douglas Boren’s inspiring novel Patriot’s Point are given the duty of defending the largest artillery and munitions depot in the Carolinas against British forces about fifty times greater in number. Centered on the plight and fate of Colonel Trey Alexander, the story takes the reader from the 1780 massacre at the battle of Waxhaw to the arguably even more perilous situation at Patriot’s Point.
Sprinkled in with the tension of the against-all-odds defense of the point are evocative stories about key moments in many of the characters’ lives. As the soldiers steel themselves for what seems to be a certain death, they ruminate on tender, intimate turning points of their pasts as they contemplate the sacrifices of the future. Against these individual tales, the novel embodies historical breadth, including a nuanced recounting of the grievances that led to the rebellion.
With compelling characters (including two strong, yet feminine heroines in Melanie and Lilly), Boren makes the novel tremendously engaging by constantly shifting perspectives. The depictions of General Cornwallis and Robert Snow develop the British/loyalist perspective, and the reckless cruelty of Colonel Tarleton and the feckless leadership of Colonel Wainwright serve as fine foils for the earthy, practical courage of Trey and his two old Charleston buddies Jody and Sands. As they wait for reinforcements that appear less and less likely to arrive, the temper and commitment of Trey and the other soldiers who try to hold Patriot’s Point elevate from dedication to nobility.
The sharp-shooting mountain men – Pearson, Boaz, and especially Goforth – give another layer to the narrative as those of the frontier spirit will (for this cause) turn away from their western exploration to fight to free the colonials to the east from British control. Indeed, Boren presents a novel that is instructive, fleshing out perspectives to delve into the roles of freed slaves in the fight and the pirating days of commerce that preceded the revolution.
Patriot’s Point is an engaging read that serves a tremendous reminder of the commitment and sacrifices the revolutionary generation so willingly embraced. I recommend you pick up this fine historical fiction about a monumental time in America’s founding.
Profile Image for Kristina.
47 reviews2 followers
August 30, 2015
To preface: I won this book through Goodreads Giveaways.

I was excited to read this book because I very much enjoy historical fictions, and was hoping to find a new good one (especially since this one is part of a series). Overall, the storyline was not bad, and the author did a good job depicting the feelings, hopes/fears, and difficulties of people who lived (and fought) during the American Revolution.

Given the writing style, I think this book would have been a great option for YA fiction had not the author felt it necessary to add some soft-core sex scenes, which just seemed incongruous with the rest of the story. The descriptions of love and ardor were pretty laughable (read: phrases such as "impaling his wife" or "sexy beauty", and a self-declared lifelong bachelor and a prostitute falling madly and truly in love with each other after having only met and spending one night together). I don't have any problems with romance and/or sex in books in the least, but in this case, the scenes didn't really add much to the story and, I felt, ultimately harmed the book's enjoyability and ability to be considered YA.

Additionally, while it would work for a YA book that was intended to teach readers about the reasons the American Revolution was fought, the fact that the author felt it necessary to have the characters - in several instances - spout large volumes of dialogue that included quotes from actual historical leaders, as well as long, drawn out explanations of why Americans were fighting for their freedom, made it feel as if I was reading scripts for actors in an educational reenactment rather than peeking into the lives of actual individuals at war.

All in all, I would still probably read more of his stories, but they'd be in my "pool side" pile, rather than anything I'd be jumping to read asap.
Profile Image for Becky.
60 reviews23 followers
April 28, 2015
Trey Alexander is trapped. A new colonel in the fledgling American militia, he and a scant two hundred others are tasked with holding a derelict Spanish mission. Their enemy? Over five thousand seasoned British troops. The fate of the American Revolution hangs in the balance. Is Trey's dedication to liberty strong enough to defend Patriot's Point?

Author Douglas Boren is passionate about the American Revolution. This passion shines through every word in Patriot's Point. His historical knowledge of the setting brings to life a siege that, while never actually taking place, captures the spirit of many Revolutionary War battles. His plot is riveting. It forced me to plow through to the final pages.

Unfortunately, "forcing" was necessary. The writing of Patriot's Point is smothered by Boren's enthusiasm for the topic and desire to educate. Clunky dialogue often sounds as though torn from a fiery 4th of July speech. The American characters are ultra-patriotic supermen who would fit better in Seal Team Six than a 1700s battlefield. Combine this with a tendency to linger overlong on the horrors of war and the escapades of the bedroom, and you have a cringe worthy novel.

I wanted to like Patriot's Point. Educating Americans on the heroes and heroines of our Revolution is an admirable goal. I can only hope Boren's future novels balance that passion with increased writing skill.


Profile Image for Lori Tatar.
660 reviews76 followers
April 17, 2015
I received Patriot's Point by Douglas Boren from Goodreads. I found the the book to be written in a style most suitable for younger, middle-school aged readers, except that it had several very steamy scenes that would be suitable only for adult readers. There was quite a bit of editing that remained undone and should have been pretty easy to catch. On the plus side, it captures the American Revolution fairly well and with a good amount of accuracy for historical fiction. I found it a creative way to tell a genealogical tale that would appeal to people who are not necessarily direct descendants in addition to those of the specific lineage. It was easy to visualize this as a play being performed by young actors and has a framework with good historical reference, but overall, fell flat for me. I give it a generous three out of five stars because it isn't quite bad enough to warrant only two.
Profile Image for Douglas Boren.
Author 4 books27 followers
July 30, 2024
A heart gripping historical novel that will make you re-examine your sense of patriotism.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews

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