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The Kauai Sea Adventures - Collection of the Three Cutter Kauai Sea Adventures Novels, Plus a Bonus Short-Story Prequel

Obsolete Coast Guard patrol boat Kauai is upgraded with black budget funds by the Director of National Intelligence. Her new mission? Respond quickly and covertly for sensitive missions the Navy cannot handle in southern Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean. Follow young Lieutenant Ben Wyporek and his crew experiencing the excitement, fear, humor, joy, and sadness of an elite team of maritime professionals as they face extraordinary challenges in these riveting, character-driven sea adventure stories. Enjoy Books 1 – 3, plus a bonus short story prequel!

Book 1 – Dagger Quest: 

An obsolete patrol boat is all that stands between the world and nuclear annihilation. Kauai and her crew find a drug-laden sailboat smashed and adrift north of the Florida Keys and end up in a race against a vicious and powerful international crime syndicate to find and recover a lost Russian nuclear warhead before its discovery can trigger a nuclear war.

 
Dagger Quest cover
A mid-air collision between a Russian Backfire bomber and a U.S. F-16 triggers the accidental launch of a Kinzhal hypersonic missile
"Formation flying carries a much higher risk of collision, particularly among tired, scared men and women flying at night around foreign aircraft with different flight procedures and communications protocols. It was not a surprise that a U.S. F-16 interceptor and a Russian Backfire “bumped” in the Air Defense Identification Zone. What was a surprise was that the collision triggered the drop of the bomber’s Kh-47 Kinzhal hypersonic missile. As the crew of the bomber and the fighter’s pilot fought to regain control of their respective aircraft, the missile’s rocket engine ignited after it had dropped fifty meters, quickly accelerating it to its maximum speed of twelve times the speed of sound. The disabled F-16’s wingman promptly fell back, locked his fire control radar on the bomber, and called his controller. “Flash, Flash, Flash, Rondo Two, Bogie has launched, repeat strategic missile inbound!”
Kauai cruises at high speed through the sunshine in moderate seas
Kauai cruises at high speed through the sunshine in moderate seas
Kauai opens fire on the 252 Syndicate gunmen attacking Ben Wyporek and Peter Simmons
"The pain subsided, but the world moved in slow motion. Ben sensed time was passing, perhaps while the enemy waited for their chemical attack to take effect. Finally, he saw movement again near the vehicles. Ben’s hand closed on the grip of his pistol, and it felt like it weighed a hundred pounds as he raised it off the ground. He squeezed off first one and then several rounds in quick-fire. Simmons fired his Uzi in full automatic, and two of the approaching figures fell to the ground. Another burst of automatic fire from the SUVs threw up more sand, and Simmons grunted and crumpled with a hit. Suddenly, the SUV on the right lurched and leaned to the left, its tires flattened. The windows of the stricken vehicle shattered, and the fuel tank exploded, engulfing it in flames as a series of loud thump sounds arrived from offshore. The two dismounts still standing darted toward the remaining SUV. Holding his wounded left arm, Simmons grimaced. “What the hell?” Ben recognized the sound of a twenty-five-millimeter gun and croaked, “It’s Kauai!” He laboriously brought his pistol to bear on the other SUV. A black-clad gunman next to the SUV blind-fired a rocket-propelled grenade to seaward in the general direction of the incoming tracer fire. He then piled with the other survivors into the vehicle, its rear tires spinning and throwing up sand and dust. "
An exhausted Lieutenant Sam Powell is welcomed home by his wife Joana
"The relief and surprise of going from the edge of career death to being lauded and decorated had passed, and Sam was dead on his feet. If anything, the brief nap in Ben’s car had rendered him dizzier than he was before. Sam fumbled with his key briefly, then unlocked and opened the door and entered the quiet house. He wondered if he might be the only one up when Jo emerged from the kitchen barefoot in her red nightshirt. God, she’s so beautiful, was the single thought his fatigue-addled brain could form when Sam looked at her long raven hair and lovely dark eyes. “Jo, I…” He stopped when she put a finger to her lips. She stepped forward, cupped his face in her hands, gazing into his eyes for what seemed like minutes, and then tightly hugged him, all without a single word."
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Book 2 – Caribbean Counterstrike: 

It’s the deadliest nerve gas ever made, and it has fallen into the hands of a murderous Caribbean drug cult. A game-changing battlefield nerve gas in a secret lab hidden on an oil rig servicing ship has been seized by one of the most vicious drug cartels in existence and held for ransom. The best of the bad options is a covert raid by the newly-upgraded, stealth-equipped Cutter Kauai. But the stakes could not be higher and the price of failure would be horrific for the crew.

 
Caribbean Counterstrike cover
Kauai pursues smuggling boat
"Ben gazed out to seaward. Not long now. They would hear the incoming boat long before they saw it and act when Kauai’s searchlight activated. In the meantime, they were to hold station on the cutter. Ben’s thoughts returned to the worst case, the boat turning right. If they tried to ram and Lee wasn’t able to evade…. He glanced at Lee and noted her rapid visual scan and cool look in the soft light of the RHIB’s instrument panel. Ben smiled to himself and looked out to sea again. Yeah, as if! Across the boat, Bondurant stirred. “I hear them!” He brought the floodlight to the ready and unlocked the shutter. The light was already turned on, so it would be instantly available. Both men kneeled and braced themselves for a quick start. Ben could hear the roar of the target boat’s engines now, coming from left to right across RHIB’s bow. Almost simultaneously, Kauai’s engines roared to full power, and the cutter’s searchlight settled on the incoming boat. “Light him up!” Ben shouted. Bondurant dropped the shutter and trained the floodlight on the boat. The driver glanced their way momentarily, then swung the speeding boat into a hard left turn. Yes! “Go, Shelley!” Ben shouted. Lee slammed the throttle forward, and the RHIB seemed to leap ahead after the speeding target. Bondurant struggled to keep the floodlight on target as the RHIB thumped across the target boat’s wake. Lee pulled the RHIB into a parallel track about fifty yards away on the target’s port quarter as briefed. The RHIB had the speed to overtake the target, but Lee knew her job tonight was herding."
Passengers evacuating from ditched airliner
"She was almost waist-deep in the rapidly flooding cabin when she reached the rear and, after peaking in both lavatories, turned and hurried forward. She climbed out through one of the wing exits, walked to the nearest raft, and jumped in, to the cheers of the passengers. Taylor looked around and spotted Patel in another raft. “Report, Number One!” “All present and correct, Captain! No deaths, thirteen injuries, none serious!” “Good! Let’s cast off, but we need to tether the rafts together!” “Very good, Captain!” Progressive flooding claimed the Airbus five minutes later, which sank upright, her white tail painted with the PCA falcon logo finally disappearing into the blue Atlantic. “Alfa-Delta was a good ship, Captain,” Burgess said softly, referring to the aircraft’s tail number G-PCAD. “And a proper lady—never once showed her knickers.” “She was that,” Taylor replied, brushing away a tear. So much for my airline career. Still, thank God I didn’t kill a hundred-odd people in the process. She caught Patel’s eye in the adjacent raft and gave him a rueful smile. His face was grim, and he silently mouthed, “Check your six,” then nodded past her. Taylor turned and saw clouds building to the west, as ominous as those they had come through in the northeast. I spoke too soon. "
Combat scene from Caribbean Counterstrike
"Sam winced again as a second flare burst over the scene just as the first burned out. Dammit, that guy knows his job! The flare was far behind them but was almost overhead the Carlos Rojas, and the gunfire was shifting to follow. Almost immediately, two explosions in close succession sounded from the towed vessel, followed a couple of seconds later by a sound like a cannon shot, and Kauai lurched forward. “Conn, Towmaster, the towline has parted!” Lee reported. As Hopkins brought the thrust levers to Stop, Sam hung his head and unconsciously pounded his right fist on his thigh. “Towmaster, Captain, cut the line!” “Aye, aye, sir!” Williams’s jaw tightened as he tried to concentrate on laying down fire. They had to cut the hawser—it was useless now and, dragging over the stern, was an extreme risk to Kauai during maneuvering. Unfortunately, “cut the line” meant Lee had to take the sharpened ax and chop through ten inches of strengthened fiber out in the open air of the afterdeck in an environment alive with gunfire and rockets. Hopkins glanced down and saw Williams’s expression and reached down to give his shoulder a light squeeze. “Alpha-One, Orchid Actual, prepare to abandon ship. We’ll be dropping back to pick you up.” “Orchid, Alpha-One, roger, sir. We may have engines shortly, will advise.” After a minute, which seemed like an eternity to Sam, Lee came on the radio again. “Captain, Towmaster,” she panted. “Towline cut and clear!” Thank God! “Well done, Lee! Get inside now!” “Chef and I are already there, sir!” Williams let out his breath, and Hopkins released her hold on his shoulder with a soft pat."
Victoria hugs Ben
"It was that wonderful day again, back on the DC Mall. The weather was perfect, and she was walking close to Benjamin, feeling his warmth, feeling totally safe in his presence. They stopped outside the Metro station, and she looked up into those beautiful eyes, blue as the sky, while he pushed her hair back and stroked her temple. She loved the feeling as his fingers gently caressed her hair. Then the wonderful dream faded away. But not the gentle stroking of her temple. Victoria’s eyes flew open, and she bolted upright. Benjamin’s hand fell away as she sat up, so she reached out and grasped it with both of hers. He looked at her with those beautiful eyes and a slight smile on his stubble-covered face. I am not still dreaming, please; I am not still dreaming! “Benjamin!” He was trying to say something, but was too hoarse to speak. Finally, he mouthed, “Water, please.” Victoria put his hand down carefully and poured a cup of ice water. Her hands were shaking as she moved the cup to his lips until his hands closed over and gently steadied them. After a few sips, he nodded, and she placed the cup back on the table, then returned and took both his hands in hers. He smiled more broadly at her and squeezed her hands softly. “Hello, Victoria,” he said in a creaky voice. “How was your day?” She could not find the words to speak, could not even find the thoughts to think. She just leaned over, gripped Benjamin’s shoulders, buried her face in his chest, and quietly sobbed as he gently stroked her hair."
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Book 3 – Bravely and Faithfully: 

A New Captain’s First Patrol Turns into a Fight for Their Lives. Hard-charging Lieutenant Haley Reardon gets her dream job: command of a patrol boat in the red-hot operations area of South Florida and the Caribbean. But be careful what you wish for – within days of taking command Haley and her crew on Kauai are shoved into a deadly mission in which any mistake can lead to disaster and war. Opening with the rescue of a young family from a stricken sailboat in the middle of a major hurricane, culminating in the covert insertion and recovery of an assault team from a Caribbean island occupied by a superior Chinese military force. The crew and their new skipper must come together for the toughest missions they have ever faced.

Bravely and Faithfully cover
Kauai plows into the high seas of Hurricane Jacob
"Lopez nodded and then pulled Murray through the hatch. He could barely hold on as the roaring wind gripped him, immensely strong even in the partial lee of the cockpit. The scene on deck was surreal. In all directions, from what he could see in the limited visibility, was a gray sea and waves at least twelve feet high with spray blowing from the tops. A solid overcast of clouds whipped overhead at unbelievable speed. A white vessel with a Coast Guard red racing stripe gyrated a hundred yards off the starboard side, dipping and slamming into the on-coming waves each ten to twelve seconds."
USCG Cutter Kauai's crew rescue the human trafficking victims from the sinking freighter Miho Dujam.
"The litter with the catatonic woman came across first, with Drake and Bondurant on each side handing it carefully across to their counterparts on Kauai, followed by Bryant. The men carried it aside, laid it on the deck for Bryant to do his work, and returned to their place on the rail. Like the litter, Drake and Bondurant handed off each survivor to the crewmen waiting on the patrol boat while Ben was herding the others into a single file for the transfer. Haley beckoned over each new arrival to keep the path clear. The fear they showed of the male crewmembers and the contrasting expressions of gratitude on their faces when they saw Haley almost made her tear up. "
Kauai is shelled while fleeing the Chinese gunboat
Kauai Shelled by a Chinese Gunboat During Her Escape
Picture of Victoria hugging Ben on his return
A Haggard Ben is Welcomed Home by Victoria
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BONUS Short Story: “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Miami”: 

Young Coast Guard officer Ben Wyporek is reassigned from a large cutter in Virginia to the patrol boat Kauai in Miami. It is an emergency transfer, and he is rushing to get on board as soon as possible. However, a life-changing incident intervenes in this short-story prequel to the Cutter Kauai Sea Adventure series.

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Reviews

Dagger Quest:

 

“A highly entertaining cross between a seafaring adventure and a high-stakes military drama. At a time of wildly unstable geopolitics, this novel will hit home for contemporary readers. The authenticity of the prose and the detailed technical writing makes readers forget this isn’t a direct account of an international incident, while the dialogue is snappy and believable, and the narration keeps the suspense at a fever pitch to the very end.” Self-Publishing Review

Caribbean Counterstrike:

 

“Hochsmann’s meticulous prose hums with lived experience and authenticity, while the relationships onboard the Kauai only deepen in complexity. The author’s ability to craft a blockbuster story while weaving in critical themes of trust, honor, and independence is a testament to his nuanced perspective on the complex subject matter. This gripping maritime thriller delivers in every way.” Self-Publishing Review

Bravely and Faithfully:

A gripping high-stakes adventure on the sea, Bravely and Faithfully recounts the missions of the Cutter Kauai – a Coast Guard boat with a penchant for tackling unique operations with heroic teamwork. Lieutenant Haley Reardon assumes command of the tight-knit Kauai crew just in time for an incredibly dangerous assignment: apprehending a syndicate leader from a Chinese-controlled Haitian island. Hochsmann’s dynamic cast, energetic prose, and tense plot – showcasing everything from perilous hurricane rescues to the liberation of human trafficking victims – make this novel an enjoyable must-read for fans of character-driven military fiction.

★★★★1/2 – The Independent Review of Books

 

A riveting sea adventure with a top-rate protagonist, Bravely and Faithfully by Edward M. Hochsmann throws the reader into a series of missions carried out by the Cutter Kauai and her crew. When a young Coast Guard officer gets her first command, she thinks she is on top of the world until she finds herself supporting dangerous operations which require her to go far beyond her training. With strong characters that have ties to the other books in the series, this military thriller enthralls with fast-paced action and carefully-crafted detail, which brings to life the setting in every scene. Hochsmann manages to pack a huge story into a short read, making this a page-turner from beginning to end.

★★★★1/2 – Self-Publishing Review