Hispaniola Gold: Blood, Steel, and Empire, Book 3

by James L. Nelson

Pushed out of Hispaniola, driven from the island of Tortuga, Jean-Baptiste LeBoeuf and the buccaneers under his command find a new home on the north coast of Cuba. There, LeBoeuf and his men turn to the work they do best, the work that most satisfies their need for plundering the Spanish. But with his wealth and his fame increasing, the massive, enigmatic buccaneer is a threat that cannot be ignored by those who hope to maintain Spain’s grip on the New World.

And no one has more reason to hate and fear LeBoeuf than Don Alonso Menéndez. Having nearly been killed by LeBoeuf, Alonso now finds both his livelihood and his marriage under threat. Desperate for a solution to his mounting problems, he turns to Hendrick van Lauwersoog, LeBoeuf’s former shipmate, a man as eager as Alonso to see LeBoeuf dead. Catching LeBoeuf and his men at their most vulnerable, Van Lauwersoog’s bold attack sets off a desperate race between death and a fortune in Hispaniola gold.

481 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 4, 2026

About the author

James L. Nelson (1962-) is an American historical nautical novelist. He was born in Lewiston, Maine. In 1980, Nelson graduated from Lewiston High School. Nelson attended the University of Massachusetts, Amherst for two years, and then transferred to UCLA, with the ambition of becoming a film director. Nelson, his wife, Lisa, and their daughter Betsy lived for two years in Steubenville, Ohio, while Lisa attended Franciscan University. They also have two boys, Nate and Jack. They now live in Harpswell, Maine, where Nelson continues to write full time.

Reviews

[Andrew Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Other Dog, Book I

This third of James L. Nelson's Hispaniola Gold trilogy is the best of them. Set around 1629, when the Spanish colonies of the world were in decline, the book follows LeBouf, a Frenchman leading a band of assorted outlaws, cut-throats and thieves who range between the islands of Hispaniola and Cuba.

Nelson's plot crafting is first rate. Both protagonists and antagonists are interesting and three-dimensional. The arises portions of the book are excellent. Including a mostly-successful try at reading the minds of both opposing ships' captains in a pitched battle.

Labouf's dog, "Other Dog" is a splendid character. She is vicious, intimidating and hilarious. She deserves a book of her own.

While a good read, the book could benefit from more-careful proofreading. The most common errors seem to be choosing the wrong word from a pair of homophones. I don't mind dramatic irony in a book, but it feels heavy a handed when the author writes an aside direct to the reader, such as "And that is what he did." In a book written mostly in omniscient third-person, the jump to a second-person aside feels like an intrusion.

The book closes with one mystery resolved, but others still open. This suggests a coming fourth volume, to which I look forward.

Highly recommended.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fine Nelson book

The author clearly has a "drop of Nelson's blood". His descriptions and tales of sailing and fighting are as if he was there with Admiral Horatio Nelson centuries ago. This book, as like all of the author's bouccaneer tales, is a fine example of the true pirates of the Caribbean and their exploits. Looking forward to the next book already

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

No one does sailing adventure better than James L Nelson

I really enjoyed this book series for putting the reader on the deck of a ship at sea in 1630. Like all of his books, the characters are well developed and you love the heroes and despise the rogues. Great action, everything you love about a swashbuckling adventure!

[Sierra Serinese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rollicking good adventure

Very enjoyable Caribbean novel containing everything one wants in a novel. Author does exceptionally great job at educating in sailing terms and process. Its a must for sailors and much fun for us landlubbers. Cant wait for next iteration