No Life Like It: Book Two

John Tripp returns with another vibrant narrative steeped in the fabric of naval life in No Life Like It: Book Two. We rejoin Jack and the sailors from the HMCS Gatineau as they carry on dealing with various ‘brushfires’ after returning from the festive wedding of Catharine and Dave Atkinson in Ireland. The navy decides to provide the crew with an MTB to assist on their adventures at sea.

With the new vessel and some downtime over Christmas, the sailors get up to all manner of lighthearted mischief and camaraderie. The tale captures the essence of friendship and humor that sees these men through unpredictable trials and twists of fate. Yet when adventure calls, the crew must come together to face each challenge.

This story offers readers a window into the shaping experiences of military life, from the competitive revelry during holidays to the unbreakable bonds forged in the heat of action. Along the way, the narrative travels from the snowy landscapes of Ireland to the bustling Canadian docks of Halifax, and out onto the high seas.

No Life Like It: Book One

Jack Leywood joins the Canadian Navy and quickly makes a name for himself as a crack student being the first in his class. His luck changes when he discovers the joys of racing sail with one of his ship’s officers. His temper flares when he and his pal discover a young girl dead of an overdose and the germ of an idea forms: he would take on the drug lords of the Union Corse sending heroin ashore in New Brunswick. Then using his racing ketch as a base, his friends join him to begin taking down the yachts dropping off the white death and finally attracts the attention of Charles DeGaulle who decorates him for bravery and the dragons are born.

My Hometown

A look back in time of a family of eight children growing up in a small hometown that they have never forgotten. A hometown that will always be a part of who they are and what they have become. It’s a memory that they will always cherish and be proud of. It’s a time they have left behind. A memory that will always be a part of who they are. Anyone without a hometown is welcomed to share in being part of mine. I want you to feel the sense of familiarity, competency, and comfort that a large family will share their most inner feelings with you and make you feel part of them. You will become part of the story that will take you on a journey. An account of real events that shares with you birth, sadness, death of a brother, happiness, and togetherness. A compelling story that at times will anger you, surprise you, and make you laugh. But it’s a story that each one of us eight children lived, and always look back on. The ending will be difficult to predict, surprise you, and comfort your thoughts. Life does not know what your journey will be. Accept each day and honor its beginning and end.

Magellan Point

Magellan Point is a novel about the lives of people living in the Western Pacific and their efforts to create political institutions that encompass many islands—efforts that resulted in states in Micronesia and the territory of the Northern Marianas Islands.

Let the Music Play On

Are you someone who revels in the resonance of melodies, whose heart beats to the rhythm of tunes? Embark on a young man’s odyssey through love, tragedy, and the enlivening world of music, underscoring the eternal bond between human emotions and musical notes. This narrative underscores the quintessence of music—it’s not just an art, but a heartbeat that continues to echo through the chambers of our lives, forever.

Discover the profound connection a musician shares with his instrument, akin to a confidant, a companion in joy, and solace in sorrow. As a teenager, our protagonist finds his heartstrings attuned to the chords of a violin accompanist, who not only complements his music but also completes his world. However, fate orchestrates a melancholy melody as he loses her, plunging him into a realm of despondence, detaching him from the music that once defined his existence.

Now adrift in a ‘free-floating’ reality, devoid of the musical notes that colored his world, he confronts the silence that ensues. The narrative strikes a chord, illustrating his journey back to the world, back to the essence of music that once cradled his soul. His path is arduous, but will the crescendo of life play a tune of hope, or will it fade into an adagio of despair? The finale holds an unexpected cadence, leaving you earnestly rooting for the young maestro to rekindle his love for music and share the eloquence of his violin with the world once more.

Stephen’s favourite saying was “When music is played, we all dance together; when music is played, we all listen as one.”

Law Dogs

In the aftermath of Missouri’s brutal Civil War, shattered bonds and loyalties hung heavy in the hearts of its people. Karl, hailing from a staunchly pro-Union German family orphaned by the conflict, faced harrowing decisions. His dearest friend, a Wilson, hailed from a pro-slavery family fiercely loyal to the Confederacy. It was a friendship tested by the fires of war, and Karl’s journey was only beginning.

Armed with a six-gun and driven by circumstance, Karl first rode with Quantrill’s Raiders before joining the ranks of the Texas Rangers. But life had more twists in store. As a bounty hunter, he relentlessly pursued the ruthless Ivory Thompson gang, tracking their bloody trail to a lawless mining town, Silverton, just north of Durango, Colorado. There, a shadowy outlaw named Red was gathering a crew of the most hardened criminals for a grand heist.

To collect the bounties and secure his retirement, Karl knew he had to be faster, smarter, and more ruthless than Ivory Thompson and his two henchmen. A new identity was his ticket to the big rewards, but fate intervened when he stumbled upon the lifeless body of Thorn T. Hagerman, a former Pinkerton Agent who had been chasing the same outlaws. Thorn’s name was now his to wield.

As the newly christened Thorn T. Hagerman, our protagonist found camaraderie with a group of young lawmen and a charming waitress in a local hotel. But just when the rewards seemed within grasp, chaos erupted in Durango, threatening to unravel everything Thorn had fought for.

In the Shadow of the Bridge

El closed her eyes and drew into the corner against the rock-clay bank and the rough boards. She could hear water dripping inside the mine shaft, could smell the dankness, feel the cold air being drawn through the cracks between the boards; she could picture Hollie as she had seen her running up the road in her yellow dress, breaking free, running, the yellow dress pressed against her thighs, starlight sliding along her arms and legs, flowing over her long gold hair, white-faced, doe-eyed, and frightened. She opened her eyes and gasped, alarmed by the sounds of a struggle close at hand. They had reached the railroad tracks, and Emmett was blocking the way. There was nowhere for Hollie to run except out onto the bridge.

Huxley Perdu

It can be hard to be grateful for what we have, even if we think those things should make us happy. Hux is disappointed with how his life has turned out. He wishes that he could erase things that should make him happy. He feels lost in a world he thinks is constantly against him. He continuously makes decisions that will only make his life worse. The time will come when he becomes truly lost. He will be forced to reform his view on life, and the decisions that form it. In order to survive he will need to choose to change far beyond what he thought was possible. Hux will come to understand that he will never need more than what he has left behind. Through confronting disaster, including himself, he will find what he feared he had lost forever.

Hurricane Rescue

After meeting in school and dating, Andy Thompson, and Milly Richards, grew apart and began their adult lives separately, though they still held strong feelings for each other. While Milly sought a career in Design, Andy joined the Navy and began training as a SEAL, but after an auto accident led to his leg being amputated, he was discharged and with his dreams all but destroyed, chose to live on the sea, piloting a boat and doing his best to make a living.

While working for a hotel chain, Milly was tasked with working on a new property in the Caribbean, but even though she was worried about a future hurricane, her boss ignored the threat until it was too late and the two were now trapped in the path of a Category Five Hurricane. Using her contacts, Milly managed to call home to warn her family about her predicament and her father contacted Andy’s family. When Andy learned that Milly was trapped, it brought back all those memories of her and realizing she meant more to him than anything else, he contacted his old Navy buddies and using a borrowed boat, they were able to barely reach the island alive just after the storm passed.

Arriving safely was one thing, finding the love of his life was something even more difficult in the destruction and chaos now engulfing the island. Reaching her last known location, Andy was upset to find she was gone and frantically searched the surrounding area until he was able to decide where she had gone and had a difficult time reaching her before they were able to plan how to safely leave the island.

Hold Back the Dawn

In the early stages of Northwestern United States’ development, life presented formidable challenges on physical, emotional, and social fronts. With minimal laws in place, maintaining law and order was uncertain, while prejudice against Native Americans prevailed. Yet, as we all understand, persistence and unwavering dedication to one’s goals can yield remarkable rewards.

However, for our main character, achieving his initial objectives revealed a disappointing reality. Through this realization, he undergoes a transformative journey, maturing along the way and setting his sights on a revised ambition. Amidst the stressful situations they confront, the characters demonstrate unwavering courage, displaying loyalty and a sense of responsibility towards their friends and family. Their close-knit bond may leave readers yearning to be a part of their extraordinary group or inspire them to emulate such values in their own lives.

Although most of us may not face circumstances as depicted in this book, the underlying principles that foster a civilized society remain applicable and teachable on a daily basis. Discover the timeless lessons embedded within the pages, guiding readers to embrace courage, loyalty, and responsibility in their personal interactions. Join the characters on their extraordinary journey as they navigate a challenging era and uncover how their experiences can inspire readers to live their lives with integrity and compassion.

In this captivating tale of triumph and growth, explore the virtues that form the bedrock of a civilized society, and let the story’s echoes resonate within, encouraging us all to strive for a better tomorrow.

He Atoned for Me

He Atoned for Me is a compilation of soul-searching poetry. This work expounds on the impact that Jesus Christ's Gospel had in the author's life. While they are written due to specific moments in his life, we encourage you to apply what you can to yours. Though it is Christian in nature, the works found within are non-denominational and available to anyone seeking comfort.

Hazel G

It was the dirty thirties when Hazel was dropped off at the door of an orphanage.  She learned right then and there at the tender age of nine how to make lemonade from lemons.

After suffering a serious burn at her workhouse as a teenager, she receives plastic surgery from one of Toronto’s first plastic surgeons at East General Hospital. She goes on to discover her birth certificate that had been hidden away, and she accepts her First Nations status up at Manitoulin Island.

Hazel G was a war-time bride with stars in her eyes. She moved into her first real home at Eldon Avenue, just off Danforth Avenue in 1946. The reader finds her a few years later, a widow with four hungry stomachs to feed.

After burying two husbands, she reconnects with a Canadian Armed Forces colonel who brings an entirely new viewpoint into her life.