Coming of age stories don’t have to be all teenage angst, they can be fun-filled adventures that become more serious with age. With humor, we follow a young man’s coming of age in the late 1950s. Starting in the summer before his freshman year it follows him through high school and beyond. He finds wealth as an inventor and fame in Hollywood as he searches for a girlfriend. Wealth and fame prove far easier than girls. The Thirteenth Book has Rick running into serious problems as he nears full adulthood. Danger, fame, and adventure come his way as he stays close to the Chinese Imperial Family. His actions have caused a change in history as we know it. Not all actions result in good outcomes as he learns. While trying to protect the Imperial family his company continues to grow. The new research division makes a breakthrough in placing transistors on silicon chips. Then his new space division takes off. This tongue-in-cheek saga is all true, give or take a lie or two.
I tend to get excited when I see another Richard Jackson novel coming out. I read this one on Bookapy first, then again on Kindle.
Just like usual.
This book centers around China, the Empress and her children. Shortly after the start Rick takes a SEAL team into the Burmese jungle to take out a drug lord. Of course, Rick has to get more involved than he thought by flying the SEAL's return flight home on a WWII era DC3.
Besides China, we see Rick developing into a business leader. He's not there yet, but he's getting there. He decides to take a chance on himself and start up FreightEx, which his Board of Directors shot down.
He also gets a big head start on the space program he's always wanted to develop. He hires a dozen female astronauts after NASA dismissed them. I have no idea if that actually happened, but wouldn't be surprised if it did.
I did note that with everything going on there, Rick didn't spend much time with his new Bank of Guangzhou, or nearly all the embassy buildings he purchased.
As was true in previous books, there is a bit of alternative history going on here, and I have a feeling Rick will keep President Kennedy from being shot. He's already taken down Russia and deals a heavy blow to another country, so it's all in a days work.
In his personal life, it's not coming up roses. He has a fling with the Danish princess, only to find out that they stole from a pension fund and are on the run. He tries dating other women, but it never quite works out. Although getting hot chocolate delivered before bed and joining the mile high club aren't too bad.
On top of that, May-Ling, the Chinese princess seems determined to marry a Chinese national, not that Rick really cares.
I will mention that this is the best edited Rick Jackson book yet. It's not perfect, but it's an easier read. The note about assassinating Haoran probably should have been put in a footnote rather than keeping it in the story.
I also think the mix of action, business, personal and family was just about perfect. We get to see the family, and we equally get to see Jim Williamson. We also get to see his drinking friends in Oxford. It's a nice blend. All I'm waiting for now is for Rick to buy the land in Australia that he keeps talking about.
At the very end Rick picks up a new car. I hope he drives this one more than the Ferrari.
This book had some serious issues overall wonderful continuation of the story as a whole, but there were some significant plot issues almost like chapters were missing. Also, this whole suspense with his love life is honestly just getting old. I wish he’d just figure it out so we could move on with the story.
This was a very nice tie in two the end of the last book. As soon as I discovered it was out I had to purchase it and read in the same day. As always looking forward to the next one.
Lovely - Lively retelling of history that never happened. Well worth the price of kindle unlimited. 👍 I could almost feel sorry for the richest man on earth missing out on romance.
This alternate dimension story of a young man who stops the Cold War is fantastic. I can’t even imagine what the life would be like without the hippies and the great music lost to that world be like.
I think the author has forgotten that the Castros fled Cuba several books ago , it is good to see the Kennedys being portrayed as the carpetbaggers they were.
Thanks again author thanks for your books 📚📚📚📚📚📚 📚📚📚📚📚📚eeeeeeeebbbbbbbnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn graphic novel about whether it would make people just to cruel
This series continues to entertain. I hope the next book is in the works. The story is so entertaining that it is hard to wait for the next installment.
Light alternative history series that has kept this old mans attention. I highly recommend the whole series. Think teenaged James Bond with American roots.
Rick becomes a soldier. I didn't look up regicide, but guess at it. there were several evil people in this installment. What could have happened did here.