Books by Jack Phillips Lowe

There is a firebug out there. This firebug is trying to kill those loved by Shannon Flannery in a mean, sadistic way. Shannon feels like the world is closing in on her and she doesn't know if she is next on this killers list or not. Shannon love animals. She boards horses and trains dogs for search and rescue operations wherever needed. When Shannon awakes to the smell of smoke, looks out, and sees her barns and stables with fire and smoke pouring out of them, she runs to do all she can to save her horses and dogs.

Travis Settler has a young daughter he and his now deceased wife had adopted. Travis wants to find the true birth mother of this daughter. Clues lead him to Shannon's area. Travis is "stalking" Shannon's house when the fire breaks out. Even though he did not want to let Shannon know who he was and what he was doing near her house, he ran to assist in rescuing the animals, beginning a good friendship and giving him the opening to obtain information about Dani, his daughter.

Dani, had gone online to try to find out for herself who her real mother was, alerting Shannon that her daughter was active in this search. Many members of Shannon's family had disappeared or been supposedly killed over the past several years so she was getting frantic to end this killing and find the firebug that was getting too close to her. Shannon had been suspected of killing her former husband but there was not enough proof to arrest her and prosecute her.

Shannon's brothers are very secretive in keeping information from her and she becomes more suspicious as she wonders what they were up to. She wants to build a new farm for her and her animals so she could increase the dogs she could train. Her relationship with her brothers gets very uncomfortable. Eventually she meets Travis but she has no knowledge what he is in the area for and he would not discuss much with her.

I found "Fatal Burn" to be excellent in writing style and in keeping the readers interest solidly into the story. The suspense keeps you on edge and the book has many of the usual twists and turns. It is a page-turner you will enjoy if you like mysteries. I have an interest in most any fire or arson stories I can find. "Fatal Burn" is better than most I have read but it just is not about the fire aspect that makes it so terrific.

Anne Bonney: My Pirate Story


by Jeffery S. Williams with Katherine Williams


iUniverse (2006)


ISBN 9780595373048


Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (12/06)

Anne Bonney was born out of wedlock in 1700 to Peg Brannan, a maid, and her employer William McCormac. She lived with her mother and her Uncle Edward. He was kind to her and she loved him. When the schoolmaster thrashed her for beating up the school bully, she learned the hard way that "silence in violence and violence in silence. It left my enemies adrift with uncertainty." Her unswerving defiance unnerved the schoolmaster. Anne had learned a life lesson, "most people do not have the stomach for direct confrontation."

At ten years of age Anne and her mother and father left Ireland for the Carolinas. She cherished the sea. She'd found her destiny, on a ship.

Anne came to despise her father. She saw him as a brutal master to the slaves and yet spineless. Her father picked suitors for her but she would have none of them. When James Bonney asked her to marry him she agreed despite her father's objections. Her father knew that Bonney was a penniless indentured servant out to get the family's money. Her father disowned her.

James was working for the government accusing men of being pirates. Anne had respect for most of the pirates and despised her husband for betraying them. When Anne set eyes on Calico Jack Rackham he lingered in her mind. She felt he was a man she could respect.

Anne took to wearing James' clothing and secretly visited the taverns which the pirates frequented. When the opportunity arose Anne joined Rackham on his ship. By day she dressed as a male pirate and by night she lay in his bed. When a shipmate attacked her she killed him. She now had the respect of the crew but they still believed she was male. But their respect didn't stop her from being arrested for piracy.

Jeffery S. Williams is a talented writer; his perspective on Anne Bonney's story is fascinating. He captures the feminine viewpoint perfectly. The plot flows smoothly, yet has twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. I eagerly turned the pages reading this book in one setting. I had to see what adventure Anne would face next. The cover is beautifully done. The ship with the beautiful sunset sets the tone of the story. This story contains fiction and nonfiction, action, adventure and romance. I love the ending. I highly recommend "Anne Bonney: My Pirate Story" to those who enjoy historical fiction and nonfiction.