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.

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.

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.

Guns and Horses

From the Arctic tundra to the forested hills of the Klondike Plateau, this collection of Northern Short Stories hurls the reader into a maelstrom of wilderness adventure and survival. From a brutal fight to the death with the wolves and bears to the streets and saloons of scattered frontier towns slinging guns with outlaws and falling in love with beautiful women.

From the early explorers to modern times, driving dog teams of half wild huskies across the windblown wastelands and riding in the saddle with a Winchester under one leg, Simon Tourigny’s raw, rough characters roam the northern wilderness, hunting, hiding, fighting, and surviving in a land of rugged mountains, swift glacial rivers, and trackless forests.

Guns and Horses will take you to the razor edge of death and back again in time for tea and bannock. A blend of Jack London and Louis L’Amour with a dash of Tarantino and his own unique flair, this collection of stories will inspire you to keep going to the final, bitter end.

After all, what is life without love? While there is love there is hope, and while there is hope there is a chance...

God's Plan Is Better Than Mine

Sam, who is a Mennonite, raised by her aunt and uncle in the heart of Pennsylvania, decides she wants to become a Veterinary Technician. Not only does she want to do something that’s untraditional within her family, but she wants to move miles away from her home. What makes her want to move so far from her family, and will she be successful? Once moving, she will go on many adventures that will take her further than she ever expected. She will find that God has bigger plans for her than she even had for herself.

Down the Rabbit Hole

This book picks up where Two’fer ended. Kaleb’s twin sisters have been lured into the world of high-end trafficking, their innocence shattered. Although they are identical twins, they cope with the horrors in completely different ways. Determined to rescue them, their brother Kaleb enlists professional mercenaries for the mission.

Despite the traumatic situations they face, the sisters manage to maintain their faith, which ultimately sustains them through their ordeal. This story takes readers on a wild, unpredictable race to save these young girls, providing a glimpse into the ever-growing, horrific trade of human trafficking. Down the Rabbit Hole not only offers surprises and hope, but also critically examines the complicity of the wealthy in this hideous illicit industry.

Do No Harm

Doctor Gideon Teague is ready to call it quits as he nears the end of his medical training. Years of continuous hard work and the specter of tragedy following him from his time as a Marine have taken a heavy toll and his physical and emotional reserves are spent. In the nick of time, an opportunity for a mission trip to Honduras seems like just the ticket to rekindle a long dead spark of passion and adventure; and to escape the day-to-day drudgery of his life as a resident physician.  While there, he and a pragmatic service missionary named Eliza are violently sucked into the vast criminal underworld infecting the region. To save themselves from being trafficked, Gideon will have to embrace the military experience he’d forsaken and confront the ghosts that drove him away. Will it be enough, or will he lose what little of his self-identity remains?

Detective Ray Shields and the Mountain of Trial

Ray Shields isn’t your average private eye. He’s a little more like your traditional gumshoe than most, and in his line of work, being dedicated to the job is a good thing. Laura is his secretary and, as far as Ray is concerned, she is the best one he’s ever had. She’s never late to work, she keeps his affairs in order, and most importantly, she always has the coffee brewing. Then there’s Eddie, Ray’s partner. He’s a dedicated alcoholic with a troubled past, but he doesn’t let that affect his work. Together, the trio make up the Ray Shields Detective Agency, and the only thing separating the R.S.D.A. from the competition is a rusty chain-link fence.

But everything is about to change…

One day, after receiving a mysterious envelope in the mail, Ray, Laura, and Eddie find themselves thrust into the heart of an ancient prophecy that places them all in danger and unravels a secret about Laura that’s long been hidden.

Together, the R.S.D.A., with the help of a few made friends along the way, will face a myriad of mythical monsters, hunt for a magical relic powerful enough to stop a maddened cultist, and traverse the arid Atacama Desert to fight an ancient evil. Saving the world is all in a day’s work for the Ray Shields Detective Agency.

Dancing with a Stranger

David Fury, a talented football player with dreams of joining the National Football League, faces a series of tragedies that derail his aspirations. Following the death of his father, David’s mother falls for a man whose charming exterior masks a deceptive nature. As this stranger ingratiates himself into their lives, David notices large sums of money vanishing from his mother’s bank account. Suspecting the man is a con artist exploiting his mother’s affections, David’s concerns escalate when he uncovers the stranger’s affiliation with a racist group planning to disrupt a May Day celebration in Boston, leading to a dramatic confrontation.