What do you think?
Rate this book
Florida Coast Adventures #1
Hard Tide
When his father disappears in a freak boating accident, something smells fishy to former-marine Billy Ryder. Now, after two decades away, Billy has come back to Pleasantville, Florida, a town whose surf is only rivaled by its share of sun.Only Pleasantville isn't how he remembers it. A local gang has taken over the small fishing village and has scared the locals into submission, and worse, they just may have killed his dad for trying to stop them.Now, if Billy wants to bring them to justice, he'll have to do something he hasn't done since his mother died. Step back on a boat.That's okay though because after six tours in Iraq, Billy is really good at rooting out evil. And Pleasantville has a whole lot of evil. Book 2: Tidal Wave ( B072W8J7RL) is now available for only $2.99!(Author's you're looking for a lazy slice of life Florida book don't buy this. If you want guns, guts, and action in the vein of Clive Cussler that takes place along the Florida Coast, buy this book.)
202 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 17, 2017
About the author
Johnny Asa
4 books5 followersJohnny Asa is the author of the Florida Coast Adventure series. He enjoys scuba diving and sailing all over the globe, and is on a personal goal to do so in every sea in the world.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 21, 2017
Hard Tide: A Sea Adventure (Florida Coast Adventures) by Johnny Asa is an action, adventure thriller that keeps you on your toes from the first page. This book was not anything like I expected. It was fast, non-stop action from page on to the end. Just when you thought the hero would be able to catch his breath, no...of course not..more bad guys from somewhere else! I found myself so tense! The plot was awesome, the characters great and well developed. I loved the action and fights, thrilling scenes that were described so well. I also loved all the mystery involved in this great book. I was given this book to read and the review was voluntary.
June 3, 2017
Fast paced action
Likable characters and a bunch of action outweighed the flawed plot. I enjoyed it like I enjoy B movies. You just can't over think them.
Likable characters and a bunch of action outweighed the flawed plot. I enjoyed it like I enjoy B movies. You just can't over think them.
May 18, 2017
I am a huge fan of mysteries, and when I was asked to read a mystery book by a debut author, I wasn’t sure what to expect as there are all types of mysteries: cozy, adventure, paranormal, thrillers, etc. I like most of them, and I’m happy to say this was one I really liked! The main character reminded me, in a small way, of James Bond. No, the main character Billy wasn’t the love-‘em and leave ‘em, suave type. Nor was he the high-class spy that had a fancy gadget for everything and everything was neat, tidy, and bloodless. But, he was a quick-on-his-feet, wiping-the-floor-with-the-bad-guy type of character, even with the odds were completely stacked against him…just like James Bond. The action was fast and furious, the plot moved along really quickly, and, even better, the book was engrossing. The only fly in the ointment for me was that the book seemed to wrap up too quickly. However, it could be that I just didn’t want the book to end. If you are a fan of action/adventure mystery type books similar to Carl Hiaasen and Clive Cussler, look no further. This is a great book! Highly recommend! Thanks to the author for the e-book which I reviewed voluntarily. This exact review will be posted on both Amazon and Goodreads.
May 25, 2017
Serious Action Thriller!
The story starts out with an ex marine getting a call from his Dad in the middle of the night that is cut off with a gun shot. Billy, our reluctant hero is one series dude. Gun fights, stabbings, drugs, local law that is on the bad guys payroll. What a recipe for a good butt kicker! Will be glad when their further exploits are out in volume 2 in the series. Well done Mr. Asa
The story starts out with an ex marine getting a call from his Dad in the middle of the night that is cut off with a gun shot. Billy, our reluctant hero is one series dude. Gun fights, stabbings, drugs, local law that is on the bad guys payroll. What a recipe for a good butt kicker! Will be glad when their further exploits are out in volume 2 in the series. Well done Mr. Asa
May 19, 2017
What a great thriller with a mix of mystery, drug runner bad guys and gun battles all rolled into a well written story. The blurb sounded interesting and I just had to read it to see what happened to ex-marine Billy's dad. I was not disappointed. Loved the gun battles (Billy is an ex-marine after all) and the non-stop action and twists in the story. I was hooked from the beginning when Billy got a weird voice mail from his dad and it just got better as a kept reading. Also liked that it was relatively clean for a action packed thriller if you ignored the dead body count - OK liked that part too. Just a great action packed thriller. Cannot wait to see what happens in the next book.
August 1, 2017
Give me a break
I always thought you were supposed to like the main character. This guy is a total idiot. Oh, likening him to Cussler is downright obnoxious.
I always thought you were supposed to like the main character. This guy is a total idiot. Oh, likening him to Cussler is downright obnoxious.
October 10, 2017
( Format : audiobook )
"You really wouldn't like him when he's angry!"
Billy Rider left his hometown of Pleasantville in Florida two decades before and hasn't been back since. Until, that is, he receives a phone message from his dad asking him to come at once, and then the sound of thunder claps exploding behind his father's distressed voice. Unable to get a callback, Billy drives for two days solid to the home of his old man, Bob. to find it has been trashed. Readers, enjoy the peace of these opening pages: after this, there won't be time to breathe.
This book is really action packed with bodies strewn about like confetti. Determined to find his father, Billy becomes a one man tornado of criminal extinction, punching and shooting his way through, it seemed, almost the entire corrupt population of his old town. And gets the girl along the way. Wow. The real mystery is how did he survived the preceding twenty years without being locked up and the key conveniently lost? I must confess, I loved it.
Without the terrific reading by Joe Hempel, however, it could have had a far more unreal and sinister feel. Yes, disbelief needs suspending big time, but Mr.Hempel's characterisation has Billy, from whose point of view this story is told, as a slightly sardonic but remorseful figure, blaming himself for almost everything he can, but especially for having left behind his old girlfriend without a word when he left to join the military all those years before. His need to find his father dominates everything, however, other than the stubborn determination not to let other innocents be caught and harmed in what he perceives as his fight. Fully voicing all the characters individually as well as carrying the ongoing text with gusto and excitement, the narration is a superb performance.
More like a real life comic hero figure than is usually to be found in mystery thrillers, Billy Rider is a character to watch out for in future books. What will he do next, I wonder? Perhaps singlehandedly overcome Isis? My thanks to the rights holder of Hard Tide, who generously gifted me with a complimentary copy, via Audiobook Boom without any expectations of return. Not to be taken too seriously, this is an easy listen and for everyone enjoying fast action, fantastic, furious fun.
"You really wouldn't like him when he's angry!"
Billy Rider left his hometown of Pleasantville in Florida two decades before and hasn't been back since. Until, that is, he receives a phone message from his dad asking him to come at once, and then the sound of thunder claps exploding behind his father's distressed voice. Unable to get a callback, Billy drives for two days solid to the home of his old man, Bob. to find it has been trashed. Readers, enjoy the peace of these opening pages: after this, there won't be time to breathe.
This book is really action packed with bodies strewn about like confetti. Determined to find his father, Billy becomes a one man tornado of criminal extinction, punching and shooting his way through, it seemed, almost the entire corrupt population of his old town. And gets the girl along the way. Wow. The real mystery is how did he survived the preceding twenty years without being locked up and the key conveniently lost? I must confess, I loved it.
Without the terrific reading by Joe Hempel, however, it could have had a far more unreal and sinister feel. Yes, disbelief needs suspending big time, but Mr.Hempel's characterisation has Billy, from whose point of view this story is told, as a slightly sardonic but remorseful figure, blaming himself for almost everything he can, but especially for having left behind his old girlfriend without a word when he left to join the military all those years before. His need to find his father dominates everything, however, other than the stubborn determination not to let other innocents be caught and harmed in what he perceives as his fight. Fully voicing all the characters individually as well as carrying the ongoing text with gusto and excitement, the narration is a superb performance.
More like a real life comic hero figure than is usually to be found in mystery thrillers, Billy Rider is a character to watch out for in future books. What will he do next, I wonder? Perhaps singlehandedly overcome Isis? My thanks to the rights holder of Hard Tide, who generously gifted me with a complimentary copy, via Audiobook Boom without any expectations of return. Not to be taken too seriously, this is an easy listen and for everyone enjoying fast action, fantastic, furious fun.
November 19, 2017
Review originally published at: http://www.lomeraniel.com/audiobookre...
Billy Ryder gets a voicemail from his father, and he hears an argument and violence on the other side. Billy decides to travel back to Pleasantville, his home town, to check on his father, to discover that he is missing and he may be mixed in some shady deals.
This is an action packed thriller with some twists and turns, and a main character who will need to face his past and evolve to be able to save what he cares for. The characters feel real enough to be able to care for them, and the action didn’t stop, which kept my attention until the very end.
I felt the end a bit rushed, so much that I was not sure we were going to get closure in that short time, but we did. I guess I expected a bit more from the main goal Billy had.
The best part of this audiobook is the narration. I don’t think I would have enjoyed it so much otherwise. Joe Hempel’s narration is always top notch, keeping the listener interested and delivering great character performances. You just can’t go wrong with Hempel.
It was an okay book, entertaining and light but forgettable. The main highlight for me was the narration.
I received a copy of this book in audio format from the narrator in exchange for an honest review.
Billy Ryder gets a voicemail from his father, and he hears an argument and violence on the other side. Billy decides to travel back to Pleasantville, his home town, to check on his father, to discover that he is missing and he may be mixed in some shady deals.
This is an action packed thriller with some twists and turns, and a main character who will need to face his past and evolve to be able to save what he cares for. The characters feel real enough to be able to care for them, and the action didn’t stop, which kept my attention until the very end.
I felt the end a bit rushed, so much that I was not sure we were going to get closure in that short time, but we did. I guess I expected a bit more from the main goal Billy had.
The best part of this audiobook is the narration. I don’t think I would have enjoyed it so much otherwise. Joe Hempel’s narration is always top notch, keeping the listener interested and delivering great character performances. You just can’t go wrong with Hempel.
It was an okay book, entertaining and light but forgettable. The main highlight for me was the narration.
I received a copy of this book in audio format from the narrator in exchange for an honest review.
October 18, 2017
Our former Marine hero, Billy Ryder receives a strange phone call from his father; a call that signaled danger and the need for immediate action. Duffle packed Billy is on his way back to his home town of Pleasantville, Florida. Only when Billy gets home it’s not as he remembers. Gangs rule the streets and his father is somehow involved with them. As Billy has served six tours in Iraq he knows there is only one way to deal with the bad guys. He starts at the bottom and works his way up looking for his father. Billy has his work cut out for himself and only has his old girlfriend and a service buddy to rely on. This is a pretty good story with lots of action, but it seems a bit more suited for the young adult crowd rather than prime time. I liked the story, but I’m debating whether to continue with the series. This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.
February 20, 2018
I enjoyed this book. The action was fierce, the plot good, and the characters believable. The author is a very good and imaginative wordcrafter. I'll buy and read the upcoming books in this series.
This story needs some competent editing. Anything under foot, the author calls "the ground". The deck of a ship, the floor of a house, and the floor of a helicopter are all referred to as "the ground".
The author needs to think back to English 101, because when he refers to humans, he says "those that" , instead of saying "those who."
Also, many readers may find offensive his God cursing. I did.
I recommend this book and suggest that before you read the first page, get a card and keep track of the number of people he kills. Should prove interesting.
This story needs some competent editing. Anything under foot, the author calls "the ground". The deck of a ship, the floor of a house, and the floor of a helicopter are all referred to as "the ground".
The author needs to think back to English 101, because when he refers to humans, he says "those that" , instead of saying "those who."
Also, many readers may find offensive his God cursing. I did.
I recommend this book and suggest that before you read the first page, get a card and keep track of the number of people he kills. Should prove interesting.
May 26, 2017
I received Hard Tide as a free copy from the author. The gifting did not determine the review/rating, which reflects my honest opinion. If you're looking for an action-thriller with an old-fashioned Mickey Spillane feel, this may be the next book you need to read. The plot was excellent, with tense fight scenes and fast-paced action. I was given an un-proofed copy, and the errors I found are to be fixed in the final version, so readers may want to take advantage of the Amazon "Look inside" feature to make your own determination. Great plot, excellent main character development, and a fun ride.
August 8, 2017
Hard Tide : A Johnny Asa Florida coast adventures #1
Meet Billy and his friends and family. Billy's marine corps training comes in handy when he receives a call from his dad, a call filled with gunshots before the calls ends. Billy heads to Florida from California on a forty hour plus drive only to find his father still missing and a head on fight with the local gang, the Scorpions, and his old flame from twenty years ago. With the help of his old marine buddy, Billy's armed and the mission is on. You'll enjoy the action, the excitement, and the plot. Thanks for letting me get to know a new author.
Meet Billy and his friends and family. Billy's marine corps training comes in handy when he receives a call from his dad, a call filled with gunshots before the calls ends. Billy heads to Florida from California on a forty hour plus drive only to find his father still missing and a head on fight with the local gang, the Scorpions, and his old flame from twenty years ago. With the help of his old marine buddy, Billy's armed and the mission is on. You'll enjoy the action, the excitement, and the plot. Thanks for letting me get to know a new author.
July 24, 2017
A good tale
There seems to be a plethora of Florida, boating, x military, drug smuggling, treasure hunting, stories that have been written. That must mean that to have a good adventure you need to head to Florida and buy a boat and a locker full of guns and ammo.
The alternative is to pick up a good book like this and simply read.
There seems to be a plethora of Florida, boating, x military, drug smuggling, treasure hunting, stories that have been written. That must mean that to have a good adventure you need to head to Florida and buy a boat and a locker full of guns and ammo.
The alternative is to pick up a good book like this and simply read.
October 27, 2017
This audiobook is really well produced and has a story that will draw you in. I enjoyed the action and pacing of the book. I would recommend it.
I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left my honest review. The free copy did not influence my review in any way.
I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left my honest review. The free copy did not influence my review in any way.
July 17, 2017
Outstanding adventure
The book isn't long but it's packed with a lot of exciting action. Each chapter leads the reader further into the situation, wondering how it's going to end. Excellent read, I already purchased his next book to find out what happens next.
The book isn't long but it's packed with a lot of exciting action. Each chapter leads the reader further into the situation, wondering how it's going to end. Excellent read, I already purchased his next book to find out what happens next.
February 8, 2019
Good
Not to bad. This is a readable adventure story for those days when you just have nothing in your library that tickles your fancy. You won't be diso, lots of gunplay, action and more.
Not to bad. This is a readable adventure story for those days when you just have nothing in your library that tickles your fancy. You won't be diso, lots of gunplay, action and more.
November 10, 2022
First book by this author. I thought the start of the story could have been deeper and better explained. The military side of the main characters actions in the book were interesting, but the story lacked depth.
July 7, 2017
Too Short
Loved it so much, I did not want it to end! So much action, suspense and fun overall....Looking eagerly forward to the next!
Loved it so much, I did not want it to end! So much action, suspense and fun overall....Looking eagerly forward to the next!
October 19, 2017
A son goes to the East coast to help his father.
I liked this story from the very beginning. The excitement, the danger and a pretty woman. What's not to like.
I liked this story from the very beginning. The excitement, the danger and a pretty woman. What's not to like.
February 27, 2018
A very exciting book, looking forward to the next three.
March 7, 2018
Kicking as and taking names
Some version of 'die hard' with a younger hero, fighting, blood, murder and mayhem, stand up those paper tigers and tear them down.
Some version of 'die hard' with a younger hero, fighting, blood, murder and mayhem, stand up those paper tigers and tear them down.
April 1, 2018
I only made it to page 5. By then it was clear the author had exhibited the vocabulary and narrative sensibilities of an 8-year-old. "...a gazillion..", etc.? Really, Hemingway?
August 2, 2017
Read because it had things that interest me, action, boats, mystery, Florida Keys, etc.. Nothing clicked for me and I had to force myself to finish it, hoping it would get better. It didn't really develop for me, nothing about it really believable, including the characters. Not reading the sequel.
Read
November 21, 2017I am not sure about this one
I started it and then put it down. I got lost in the story it seems to be going no where and a lot fighting. When the author introduced new characters it got little more interesting and finally a line to follow to the end. I am going to try the next one
I started it and then put it down. I got lost in the story it seems to be going no where and a lot fighting. When the author introduced new characters it got little more interesting and finally a line to follow to the end. I am going to try the next one
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews