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Privateer Tales #4
Big Pete
The fourth in the Privateer Tales series, this short story (47 pages) steps back in time to the Great Amazonian War. .
Shot down behind enemy lines, all Marine Sergeant Pete Hoffen can think of is getting the remainder of his beleaguered platoon back to the extraction zone. But when a cocky, PITA lieutenant orders him to leave behind one of his own, he'll have nothing to do with it.
Big Pete fights to locate his men and get the wounded out of the city, rescue his missing pilot, and avoid ripping the entire city down around him. His capture brings an entirely new problem. Who will rescue the rescuer?
There's a reason Liam Hoffen goes up against great odds in order to do the right thing. He learned from his father that sacrifice and honor go hand in hand.
Shot down behind enemy lines, all Marine Sergeant Pete Hoffen can think of is getting the remainder of his beleaguered platoon back to the extraction zone. But when a cocky, PITA lieutenant orders him to leave behind one of his own, he'll have nothing to do with it.
Big Pete fights to locate his men and get the wounded out of the city, rescue his missing pilot, and avoid ripping the entire city down around him. His capture brings an entirely new problem. Who will rescue the rescuer?
There's a reason Liam Hoffen goes up against great odds in order to do the right thing. He learned from his father that sacrifice and honor go hand in hand.
47 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 17, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
November 13, 2015
Short quick read that really could have and should have been added or included to the end of the third book "Parley" instead of being a book of its own. However the story is nice and fun and helps make the Privater Tales series more rounded. Have the back story of Big Pete adds just a little bit more to the story. However it can be skipped with out loosing anything in the overall series.
July 23, 2020
Not bad, a short story.
April 10, 2021
This is another short novella between the main books in the series. It covers a battle that Liam's dad was in during his time in the marines. It's short, and one can only assume it will have important information for the next main book in the series.
Generally speaking I'm not a fan of novellas or short stories, and this really isn't any different. I'd be much happier if they weren't required to understand everything in the main series, but they do seem to be tied together. Book two which was a novella was important to the plot of book three, and I assume this will be the same for book five. I still don't like shorter stories, especially when they are flashbacks which this one is. Overall it feels like homework to get through so I can enjoy the rest of the books, and that isn't what I'm looking for in a series.
If I researched the series more and knew every other book was going to be a novella I may not have picked up the series. I'm already invested though so the only thing to do is to jump through the novellas and get to the main plot.
Generally speaking I'm not a fan of novellas or short stories, and this really isn't any different. I'd be much happier if they weren't required to understand everything in the main series, but they do seem to be tied together. Book two which was a novella was important to the plot of book three, and I assume this will be the same for book five. I still don't like shorter stories, especially when they are flashbacks which this one is. Overall it feels like homework to get through so I can enjoy the rest of the books, and that isn't what I'm looking for in a series.
If I researched the series more and knew every other book was going to be a novella I may not have picked up the series. I'm already invested though so the only thing to do is to jump through the novellas and get to the main plot.
July 4, 2020
7/10: Good solid read, something to get your teeth into.
The mind of a Marine is a flexible thing and we don’t get overly hung up on details.
I've not been reading the novellas in this series, because most of them have been side characters I wasn't interested in.
But Big Pete deserved a chance, so I finally (out of reading order) gave him one.
He didn't disappoint me.
Did I mention that a Marine in full armor is a terrifying beast? I should have.
This short story was set when Big Pete Hoffen met Silver, his future wife. Big Pete is a favourite of mine, and it showed in his irrepressible narrative.
I’m an armored Marine and the idea of stealth is a little fuzzy to me.
Short butbittersweet, this was worth breaking my no-novella rule for.
The mind of a Marine is a flexible thing and we don’t get overly hung up on details.
I've not been reading the novellas in this series, because most of them have been side characters I wasn't interested in.
But Big Pete deserved a chance, so I finally (out of reading order) gave him one.
He didn't disappoint me.
Did I mention that a Marine in full armor is a terrifying beast? I should have.
This short story was set when Big Pete Hoffen met Silver, his future wife. Big Pete is a favourite of mine, and it showed in his irrepressible narrative.
I’m an armored Marine and the idea of stealth is a little fuzzy to me.
Short but
June 2, 2023
Brief, but wild!y entertaining with pretty good action.
Boy meets girl, blows up some buildings to rescue girl, girl rescues boy . . . well, that's another story! LOL Only a few characters with speaking parts, but the character leads brought the action! And there was plenty of action. We're talking Marines, Baby! No super weapon, but good use of current weaponry. Sure there was a blaster on stun or two, but it is a sci-fi military action novel! Great characters, good action, and a storyline with a great interior shift of roles and great storytelling by a skilled storyteller. Great all round! This is a fantastic read!
Boy meets girl, blows up some buildings to rescue girl, girl rescues boy . . . well, that's another story! LOL Only a few characters with speaking parts, but the character leads brought the action! And there was plenty of action. We're talking Marines, Baby! No super weapon, but good use of current weaponry. Sure there was a blaster on stun or two, but it is a sci-fi military action novel! Great characters, good action, and a storyline with a great interior shift of roles and great storytelling by a skilled storyteller. Great all round! This is a fantastic read!
June 14, 2020
A story that has all the typical no man left behind chracteristics of most military scifi stories, only this one has a sense of humor threaded throughout the narrative, especially near the end. The story is a lighthearted relatively quick read, and while I certainly hope we see bit Pete in later installments, it's interesting to see new characters make appearances in established worlds from time to time. A solid 3.5 stars.
November 29, 2017
I just didn't appreciate abandoning the primary characters to fill in a backstory of the main characters parents. The story wasn't bad at all but changing gear again away from the main story line and characters took something away. I'm sure if this was the first book read in the series for someone they would enjoy it more than I had.
December 30, 2017
Disappointed
Big Pete (Privateer Tales, Book 4) by Jamie McFarlane is a bit disappointing. My first issue is that this is primarily back story. That's not a bad thing if the back story is fleshed out. However, I felt like Big Pete was given short shrift, and I was expecting much more. To bad. The possibilities would have made for a great story.
Big Pete (Privateer Tales, Book 4) by Jamie McFarlane is a bit disappointing. My first issue is that this is primarily back story. That's not a bad thing if the back story is fleshed out. However, I felt like Big Pete was given short shrift, and I was expecting much more. To bad. The possibilities would have made for a great story.
December 31, 2019
Not sure how that counts as a book...
Story was fine but It was so short it was the length of a chapter... It is part of the amazon prime library and the rest of the collection is available, but authors releasing “books” that are only a few pages are frustrating with their gimmicks.
Story was fine but It was so short it was the length of a chapter... It is part of the amazon prime library and the rest of the collection is available, but authors releasing “books” that are only a few pages are frustrating with their gimmicks.
November 24, 2024
I REALLY like this series. Most of the books in this series are 300 pages plus. This one was a small vignette story that sets up the events for the next book nicely. It could be a decent military sci-fi one off short story by itself in the vein of Starship Troopers or Hammers Slammers. Very well done.
August 12, 2017
The story starts in the middle of a battle, there is no context to the fight so really is just about how Liam’s Dad and Mum got together. It’s a nice short story and worth the read but doesn’t really add anything to the Privateer series.
May 10, 2020
You wanted to know...
Fun, how did those two meet story, that happens to also have expected marine honor and chivalry with all the action packed military scifi you'd want. Well anyway, I sure wanted to know...
Fun, how did those two meet story, that happens to also have expected marine honor and chivalry with all the action packed military scifi you'd want. Well anyway, I sure wanted to know...
February 6, 2021
Drat, and other Curse Words!
It's such a potentially good story turned into a novella. So, you're just getting into it and it's over. It's times like this i miss the out of 10 system! 80% is too high, 60% is too low. I'd want much more of this!
It's such a potentially good story turned into a novella. So, you're just getting into it and it's over. It's times like this i miss the out of 10 system! 80% is too high, 60% is too low. I'd want much more of this!
April 30, 2021
Entertained completely
The fast pace, the simple humanity of each depicted scene - all in a very advanced world that could be only decades - maybe only years away - were all a most brilliant syncronicity. Well considered, well done.
The fast pace, the simple humanity of each depicted scene - all in a very advanced world that could be only decades - maybe only years away - were all a most brilliant syncronicity. Well considered, well done.
September 8, 2024
My favorite book of the series so far
I love the way Big Pete is written. His very voice comes out of my Kindle. The dialog is all Marine (I did not serve but it feels authentic)
The action is fast furious and deadly.
Gold plated stuff here in just a few pages!
I love the way Big Pete is written. His very voice comes out of my Kindle. The dialog is all Marine (I did not serve but it feels authentic)
The action is fast furious and deadly.
Gold plated stuff here in just a few pages!
August 25, 2017
Another background side story. Better than the last side story. Frankly I think the author would do better to incorporate this stuff into the main works.
August 26, 2017
not bad per-se just boring'
October 27, 2017
OK story, but seems away from the main series, future books will tell.
November 30, 2017
A short but good story
The tale of how Liam's father met his mother. Both Big Pete and Silver were in the Marines and meet in the line of duty.
The tale of how Liam's father met his mother. Both Big Pete and Silver were in the Marines and meet in the line of duty.
April 3, 2018
Adventure!
A nice compact story with action at most every turn. This little short does not disappoint, and it has romance too!
A nice compact story with action at most every turn. This little short does not disappoint, and it has romance too!
June 30, 2018
Too short
Way too short, this could have been a novel, well written, lots of fighting, neat backstory to the series, get them all, they are addictive!
Way too short, this could have been a novel, well written, lots of fighting, neat backstory to the series, get them all, they are addictive!
September 25, 2018
Incomplete
Good start but woefully incomplete. Let's us know how Liam's parents met but not enough about them or how they ended up where they were in the first book.
Good start but woefully incomplete. Let's us know how Liam's parents met but not enough about them or how they ended up where they were in the first book.
October 1, 2018
Short and to the point
Background info for Liam. How his parents met and hooked up during a battle. Off to look for book 5.
Background info for Liam. How his parents met and hooked up during a battle. Off to look for book 5.
May 20, 2019
Aww sweet.
Pete said it was okay to fantasize as long as you don't cross the line. When ordered to leave a Marine behind his is pushed past his limits.
Pete said it was okay to fantasize as long as you don't cross the line. When ordered to leave a Marine behind his is pushed past his limits.
August 6, 2019
Good short story :)
December 2, 2019
A Romp through the stars
March 13, 2020
Great writer!!!!
I have read 6 of Jamie's books & I would give every one a five star rating !! Can't wait to start the next one .
I have read 6 of Jamie's books & I would give every one a five star rating !! Can't wait to start the next one .
April 8, 2020
Okay
Nice to get the back story on Big Pete and Silver. Short and sweet with plenty of action. Already downloaded the next ebook.
Nice to get the back story on Big Pete and Silver. Short and sweet with plenty of action. Already downloaded the next ebook.
July 13, 2020
The Man’s got Style
Jamie breaks my heart and leaves me gasping for more.
I thought Big Pete would grab Silver and head for his asteroid and start a new series...
Jamie breaks my heart and leaves me gasping for more.
I thought Big Pete would grab Silver and head for his asteroid and start a new series...
September 27, 2020
Good book
Good book I can't wait to read the next book in the series I would recommend this author to anyone
Good book I can't wait to read the next book in the series I would recommend this author to anyone
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews