Side Launch

by Brock Martin

1939, Canada unprepared but defiant, declares war on Germany and mass produces a mid-size warship, the Corvette. Thus starts the creation and journey of Canada's first Corvette, the HMCS Collingwood. Neither designed nor equipped for the North Atlantic, Collingwood is tasked to protect convoys and take on the predatory Sea Wolves lurking below the waves.

Heart breaking wartime romance as Ian and Kate struggle with love in difficult times. Our hero Ian, takes command of the Collingwood. He is ready to fight with any weapon he is given having witnessed Nazi atrocities and now driven by hatred. Kate is the daughter of the Collingwood shipyards owner, a brilliant woman with a strong desire to make something of herself. She is ready to fight for her country, but first she must fight for success in a male dominated world.

Action packed historical fiction based on true events of WWII and the Battle of the Atlantic. Murderous Wolf Packs, German Commandos, a nail-biting secret mission, spies and saboteurs. Side Launch takes the reader through a roller coaster of emotion.

If you are a fan of history and love to learn, this Canadian historical fiction is for you.

Genres: Historical Fiction

316 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 31, 2022

About the author

Brock Martin, a retired captain, served ten years as a Canadian Forces Search & Rescue pilot before his current role. The Canadian Forces gave him the opportunity to travel many areas of Canada and gain an immense appreciation of his country. He has been involved in operations across Canada, including the high arctic. He attributes his love of the outdoors and the desire to seek out adventure to his free-spirited upbringing in the wilds of Northern Ontario.
Brock is fascinated with historical fiction, the ability to learn of past thrilling epic adventure through the eyes of fictional characters. He was captivated when he learned the very ships that fought the dreaded U-boats were built in small communities like Collingwood.
He wrote Side Launch to bring Canadian heroism to light in a fast-paced, action-packed story.
The Battle of the Atlantic was a massive achievement of Canadian perseverance, dedication and sacrifice of its men and women.

Reviews

[Bonnie DeMoss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is exciting historical fiction about Canadian involvement in The Battle of the Atlantic during World War II. It tells the story of Canada's first Corvette, the HMCS Collingwood. We also get a look inside the Wrens, The Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service, and witness their contributions during WWII. The romance between Ian, Captain of The HMCS Collingwood, and Kate, daughter of the Collingwood Shipyard owner, hits some stumbling blocks, but their story is well told. The weaving together of fact and fiction is successful and believable. There is a lot of World War II historical fiction out there, but to see it from a Canadian viewpoint was fresh and unique.

My one criticism would be that the book needs a comprehensive edit. Commas are misused throughout, much of the dialogue is not punctuated correctly, and there are run-on sentences. However, that does not take away from the overall story. If you'd like to see World War II from a Canadian perspective, check this one out.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Goddess Fish Promotions. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.

[Beatrice Rivers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Declaring war on Germany is one thing, but fighting the wolfpacks was something entirely different. With the production of Canada’s warship, the Corvette, Canada was in with a chance to affect the outcome of the war. But the first Corvette, the HMCS Collingwood, was not equipped properly for its task. Under the command of Lieutenant Ian Thompson, the HMCS Collingwood must attempt to fulfil its purpose by protecting the convoys crossing the North Atlantic from the German U-boats hiding beneath the waves.

While Ian fights on the water, Kate has an entirely different battle to win. She may be a fully qualified electrical engineer, but that doesn’t mean she is taken seriously in her field. She has to fight for the men around her to respect her, especially when she is trying to contribute to the war effort by developing tactics and technologies to be used against the U-boats.

Between Ian and Kate, this book tells a very rounded account of Canada’s war effort, both in the North Atlantic, and on land. Ian has a very clear backstory of why he despises the Nazis so much, and he is ready for almost anything if it means taking them down. Ian runs a very tight ship, there is a lot of respect and friendship among the crew, but they know their drills inside out and upside-down, so when the time to implement them comes, they all know what they must do.

I really enjoyed Kate’s chapters of this book. She has a very difficult time trying to gain respect, simply due to the fact that she is a woman. She knows just as much, if not more, than the men she is working with, but while they get immediate respect, she has to work even harder just for recognition. These chapters really highlighted the differences between women in qualified roles in the 1940s compared to the modern day, and Kate’s determination was an inspiration to read about.

There are some very definite parts to this story, such as the romance between Ian and Kate, that almost seem separate to the main story, but are also tied in together at the same time. Their romance develops slowly, and they come across several problems together, but the story itself flows well. There are also definitely some moments of tension and suspense that keep you turning the pages, wanting to know what will happen next.

I did really enjoy reading about the Corvette, and Canada’s involvement in the Second World War. I was vastly unaware of Canada’s role during the war, I had never actually known that Canada was involved too much, especially with the North Atlantic crossing, and protecting the convoys attempting to provide Britain with the supplies that would keep them able to fight and stop the country from being cut off and starved to surrender. Since reading this book, I have looked up the Corvettes, and their use during the war. I certainly enjoy it when I find out things from books I never even knew existed, and can proceed to fully research it after finishing the book!

This book is very much laid out as a fact book, more than a fiction novel. There is a lot of information revealed about everything, and at times, the amount of information can be a little overwhelming. I can tell that all the facts were included to give the reader as many details as possible about the period, and what was happening at the time, but at times I almost wanted less information so I could simply immerse myself in the story without needing to learn so much about the time period to continue.

This is a book I found very interesting to read. Although I wasn’t expecting quite so much factual information within the book, this is a great story, and it did have me researching the Corvettes by the end of it. Plus, I really enjoyed the addition of Smokey the cat to the HMCS Collingwood, and loved every interaction Ian and the crew had with him! If you are interested in the Canadian war effort, and would like to learn more about the Corvettes, this is certainly the book for you, but I will advise that it is not a book that you can easily read without having at least basic knowledge of the events of the Second World War, and some of the tactics used by both the convoys crossing the North Atlantic and the U-boats.

[Cheryl Malandrinos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Immerse yourself in the history of the Canadian Navy's involvement in World War II and The Battle of the Atlantic with Side Launch by Brock Martin.

Lieutenant Ian Thompson is skeptical as the mass produced, mid-sized warship the Corvette is rolled out. But Canada is determined to help Great Britain against Germany in the conflict.

Kate, also known as the daughter of S.D. Andrews, is close with Ian, a friend of her brother, Robbie. And Ian's correspondence acknowledges their close friendship. As their friendship blossoms into something deeper, the wartime stakes increase, and for Kate, working in a field where her gender is seen as a disadvantage, the stakes could be even higher.

If you enjoy a well-researched historical, Side Launch is definitely that. It has a level of detail that one expects from a Tom Clancy novel. Leaning on personal experience and knowledge, Martin crafts a novel steeped in specific military and technical accuracy. The hint of romance softens some of those rougher sides of this type of novel. The characters are interesting and engaging, and I came away with a feeling of what the conflict looked like for someone outside of the United States.

Where I struggled as a reader was with the extensive narration and abundance of backstory. I'm a drop me into the middle of the action and sprinkle the backstory in as you go along kind of person. Side Launch simply isn't that kind of story. It's not categorized as a thriller, so the slow and steady pace isn't an issue. It's just that I felt distanced from the characters because of the paragraphs and paragraphs of narration and backstory. That doesn't mean it isn't a good story. It's just not told in a way that I came away breathless and eager for more.

If you enjoy Tom Clancy, then Side Launch should be right up your alley.

[Connie Hill]

Side Launch is written by Brock Martin. It is a historical fiction about Canadian involvement in The Battle of the Atlantic during World War II. It tells the story of Canada's first Corvette, the HMCS Collingwood. I love military history, but have never looked at World War II from Canada's point of view. The author has done a good job in creating a story that will draw you in within the first few pages of the story.



I learned a lot from this book. I love that we got a look at the WRENS (Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service). I love reading about women and their contributions to war. The author has written some great descriptions to where you feel like you are watching the story unfold through the pages.

Not only is this a historical fiction book, there is also a romance. I loved seeing the romance build between Ian, who is Captain of the HMCS Collingwood and Kate who is the daughter of the Collingwood Shipyard owner.



The book is well written. The storyline is engaging. The author has done careful research. Thank you to the author, publisher and Goddess Fish Promotions for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Side Launch is the first novel I have had the pleasure of reading by the talented author, Brock Martin. I thought it was a pretty good read. It was interesting to get the Canadian point of view of the WWII. I loved the characters of Ian and Kate. I admired their bravery and courage. The book is full of action and adventure that made want to keep reading to see how it would all end for the characters in the end and if they would survive.

I am giving Side Launch four and a half stars. Readers who enjoy World War II era historical fiction will not want to miss this one. I would be interested in reading more by Brock Martin in the future.

I received a digital copy of Side Launch from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

[Karen Siddall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting historical fiction featuring the entry of the Royal Canadian Navy into the action in the North Atlantic.

Side Launch by Brock Martin is a historical fiction novel about the entry of the Royal Canadian Navy into World War II and its operations in the North Atlantic to protect shipping routes for supplies going to England. The focus is on the fictional captain of the first corvette commissioned for service and family members of the ship’s builder in Collingwood, Ontario, Canada.

Lieutenant Ian Thompson is the captain of the HMCS Collingwood, and the story follows his service during WWII and his developing relationship with his best friend’s younger sister, Kate Andrews. While their relationship has a rocky beginning, they soon form a strong bond of friendship, exchanging letters and infrequent visits after the onset of the war. Both secretly want more from each other, but due to the circumstances, neither feels taking things to another level would be appropriate.

The Collingwood’s sea experiences are eye-opening. The author does an amazing job conveying just how vulnerable the Allied ships were to the attacks by the German U-boats, especially when the swift strike forces or wolfpacks of multiple U-boats were formed. The naval engagements are exciting and, often, frustrating when the U-boats seem to be unstoppable. The author subtly slips in a lot of factual history about Canada’s part in WWII, their naval capabilities at the time, events leading up to the war in Europe, and German naval operations as part of the narrative. These pieces of the big picture were fascinating, and I read about a lot of things I’d never known before.

Back home, Kate, a university-educated and fully qualified electrical engineer, is fighting her own battles. Few women were in her line of work, and in the 1940s, this occupation, like most, was completely a man’s dominion. She struggles for the opportunities to use her full potential in the service of the war effort. It was a gut punch when her own father failed to support her position.

The plot is well-paced and unfolds from multiple points of view, namely through Ian and Kate’s perspectives. Descriptions of the action and settings are vivid and often unsettling and eerie, such as when the Collingwood sails through impenetrable fog or plays a waiting game, wondering when the next U-boat attack will come. There are lighthearted moments courtesy of the ship’s crew and the antics of Smokey, the ship’s cat mascot, to break up the constantly growing tension of escorting the convoys.

With its engaging and sympathetic main characters and exciting plot, I recommend SIDE LAUNCH to readers of historical fiction, especially those interested in WWII naval actions and Canadian naval history.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting story about a critical part of Canada’s contribution to the WWII war effort, however an extensive edit to correct spelling, grammar and punctuation errors would provide the reader with a much better and smoother read. 3.5 stars.

[Christine Woinich · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was interesting, mixing history with romance in the middle of a war. Ian had command of the corvette ship and was determined to win and survive. Kate worried about him and others and did her part from her position. There was plenty of education about the ships, warfare, and more. Family, relationships and loss were portrayed well, an emotional roller coaster. A bit long for my tastes but a good historical fiction read.

I received a copy through Goddess Fish Promotions, and this is my unsolicited review.

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing and storytelling drew me into the world of the Side Launch and kept me mesmerized from the first page to the last. The descriptions were well done and kept the pages turning, making it so easy to see everything I was reading in my head as if I were a part of it.

I could see the ships and the men learning to fight the other ships. I had no problem seeing the ships as they were fired upon by the enemy. I could imagine seeing the ships being outfitted with the guns they would need to fight a war.

The Side Launch is the story about Canada’s involvement in The Battle of the Atlantic during World War II. It is about the men and women who were a part of the war. The Side Launch is told from different points of view. The Side Launch is told from the points of view of Ian and Kate.

I enjoyed learning about Canada’s involvement in the war. I also loved learning about their warships the Corvettes. Side Launch is a very interesting story.

I would recommend Side Launch to anyone who may be interested in learning more about World War II, The Battle of the Atlantic, and Canada’s warships. Grab a copy of Side Launch today!

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Step back in time with this fascinating story that brings WWII to life as you read. It's so easy to get caught up in the story. Although fiction, it was a nice look into Canada during WWII in a way. Growing up in the US, we didn't learn much about the Canadian involvement in the war. There are plenty of heart-racing moments that make it hard to set down once you begin to read, (so set aside some time before you start)! The characters feel real, like you could sit down and read real historical accounts written by them. Ian and Kate will steal your heart, and while their romance is an aside to the main plot, you can't help feel your heart break for the odds they're up against. Highly recommend!