Bravely and Faithfully

A new captain. A covert mission. And a choice that could start a war.

Lieutenant Haley Reardon hasn’t even found her sea legs on her first patrol command when the USCGC Kauai is handed a high‑risk covert assignment. Under cover of routine operations, Haley and her crew must insert a Defense Intelligence Agency team onto a small Caribbean island controlled by a front company of the Chinese government and guarded by a superior military force.

On paper, the mission is clear: get the team in, then get them out with a transnational crime boss in custody. In practice, nothing goes as planned.

When the operation unravels and the extraction falls apart, Haley faces an impossible dilemma. Leaving the DIA team to their fate may be the only way to keep her ship and crew alive. Turning back for them could destroy the Kauai—and spark a conflict far beyond the Caribbean.

Bravely and Faithfully, book three in the Cutter Kauai Sea Adventures, brings a new skipper to the helm while preserving the humor, camaraderie, and realism that define the series, as the crew faces the toughest mission they’ve ever seen.

An immersive close third‑person look at a new captain’s first command under fire.
Tense insertion and extraction operations on a Chinese‑backed Caribbean island.
The tactical and moral dilemmas of balancing mission success against crew survival.
Shipboard humor, friction, and loyalty as the Kauai’s crew adjusts to new leadership.
A blend of military thriller stakes and character‑driven drama on the modern high seas.

Artist's concept of Haley Reardon — "Haley looked at her desk. How can this be a choice? I obey orders, save my ship and crew, or disobey orders, and maybe get them both shot to hell. No brainer. But is it? Those four men and two women—can I really leave them to die, or worse, in the women’s case? These are the choices you have to make, Captain. She looked from her desk and slowly glanced around the bare walls of her cabin. Cold and sterile, like the mathematics of life and death. Her gaze stopped on the ship’s plaque mounted above her bunk. It was a smaller version of the one that hung on the messdeck, and she had to admit that, unlike the crests she had seen on other ships, she liked the design. It featured the escutcheon of the Kingdom of Hawaii, with a silver-colored fouled anchor in the background and the ship’s motto on a golden scroll below: Fortiter et Fideliter, “Bravely and Faithfully” in Latin. As the weight lifted from her shoulders, a sad smile crept over her face. Of all the things, a plaque, for God’s sake! She stood, reached over to give the plaque a quick pat, then headed for the Bridge. “Carry on, please,” Haley said as she emerged onto the Bridge to the usual call to attention. “Chief, start your approach. Secure MDEs at four nautical miles.” “Aye, aye, Captain,” Hopkins replied. Haley turned to Ben. “God help us all, XO.” “Indeed, ma’am. One helluva break-in patrol!”

Two F-16s streak at wavetop level toward the Chinese gunboat attacking USCG Cutter Kauai. — "Shells were bursting on the rear of the superstructure and in the water around Kauai. The bridge crew huddled behind what cover they could find as the windows in the rear doors shattered and debris scattered around them. As they kneeled together between the command chair and the FC3 console, Haley looked into Ben’s face and, seeing the same fear she had, reached out and gripped his hand. The bombardment ended abruptly with an ear-shattering double boom that shook the deck beneath them. Haley’s first thought was, Shit! Now they’re using rockets! Then a second double boom shook the ship, and, after a brief delay, another pair of double booms. “It’s the F-16s! They’re thumping the gunboat!” Ben cried."

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

BUY Bravely and Faithfully

E-Books

BUY Bravely and Faithfully

Paperbacks

Now Available as an Audiobook - BUY Bravely and Faithfully at Google Play!

BUY Bravely and Faithfully

Reviews

The Independent Review of Books:

A third high-seas thriller from the creative mind of Edward Hochsmann, Bravely and Faithfully adds stormy new flavor to his Cutter Kauai Sea Adventures series.

The fearless crew is tackling another covert mission near the Bahamas, in the aftermath of a violent storm, fresh off another heroic rescue. This time around, there is a new CO at the helm, and Captain Reardon’s introduction is a character shift that shakes up the bonds between crew members to keep the interpersonal dynamic fresh. Whether they are protecting the integrity of NASA rocket launches, intercepting high-payload drug drops, or acting as getaway drivers for secret government missions at sea, the crew is perpetually putting their lives on the line, and doing so with style.

The scenarios of this series have the potential to become formulaic, despite their blockbuster-sized stakes, but Lt. Haley is a fresh force who dramatically changes the vibe and narrative focus. The immersive writing about boating operations and maritime policies is continually fascinating, as the technical exposition is woven into the narrative quite smoothly, which is perfect for boat lovers and amateur adventure readers alike.

Peppered with bursts of romantic tension and a sharp-witted crew whose lively banter is snappy throughout, Bravely and Faithfully is an especially strong installment in this unpredictable and entertaining series.

Self-Publishing Review:

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.

★★★★½

Reedsy Discovery Review:

Must read ★★★★★

Take a deep breath before you start because Bravely and Faithfully goes from 0 to 60 right from the start!

The danger and excitement of the rescue during a hurricane literally had me holding my breath. Afterward, there is little respite for the Kauai (or the reader) as they are drawn right back into the thick of things before you can catch your breath.

The plot of this third adventure delves into exciting areas. Really, Hochmann’s stories always seem to probe unexplored territory. They are never dull or run-of-the-mill, and this one was no different. I enjoyed the political shenanigans which severely handicapped the captain’s and the crew’s abilities to accomplish their assigned mission in a way they felt was right. Orders and circumstances left the new CO with tougher than usual decisions to make on “a helluva break-in patrol.”

This small crew of men and women has just so much heart. When Sam was promoted with the subsequent change in command, I was worried about bringing in such a critical unknown to the series, and frankly, it took me some time to warm up to Haley. She seemed so cold and, unnecessarily, by the book at first. But I liked how she eventually works out the transition and preserves what is so good about this crew, especially with Ben and Hoppy. Speaking of Ben, he’s come back from his pretty catastrophic injury in the previous book, ready to get on with life. Ben just has what it takes. I liked what the author has done with Ben’s always delightful relationship with Victoria.

I really like this author’s writing style. He puts you on the scene and in the moment. Each scene is presented in such a way that you are there with the characters. Dialogue is well written, even when technical language is needed. I never felt confused by jargon, and I felt even more caught up in the action with the use. The unfolding scenes felt realistic and genuine.

From witty banter to a marriage proposal that doesn’t quite go as planned, there are some good laughs to level out the danger and tragedy. There are many emotionally-charged moments in this adventure; along with the excitement and joy, there is great sadness and shock. There are also some tough topics and situations described. I laughed and cried with the characters, and I so look forward to their continued future. They’ve almost become friends and family.

I recommend Bravely and Faithfully and the entire USCG Cutter Kauai Sea Adventure series to readers who enjoy character-driven military action-adventure stories. Although, Bravely and Faithfully is the third book in the series and could be read as a standalone, for the best reading experience, start at the beginning. You won’t be sorry.

Excerpt – Man Overboard!

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kauai, Turks Island Passage, eight nautical miles west of Cockburn Town, Turks and Caicos
13:07 EST, 16 November

Haley

On her second return to the foredeck, Haley noticed Ben was no longer herding the remaining women in line. In fact, he was nowhere to be seen, and she wondered if he had returned on board while she was shuttling survivors to the mess deck. After her third run, she remained on the foredeck and watched as the last survivor came aboard. Drake and Bondurant then cast off Kauai’s mooring lines before jumping across. As the two vessels drifted apart, Haley went directly to Drake and asked, “Chief, where’s the XO?”

“He’s up looking for evidence, ma’am,” Drake replied, puzzledly.

“He’s what?”

“He told us to cast off and return on board after the last survivor crossed over. He’s taking the RHIB back.” He and Bondurant shared a worried look.

“How much longer will that ship last?”

“Ma’am, I’m surprised she’s still upright.”

Haley hated stepping in, but things seemed to be getting out of hand. “Chief, call the RHIB!”

“Kauai-One, COB, is the XO with you?”

“Negative,” Lee’s voice replied.

Drake lifted his radio again, but before he could speak, a series of loud bangs erupted from the Miho Dujam, and she quickly rolled to the left. He keyed the radio and shouted, “Kauai, COB, XO is still on board!”

The ship continued to roll with a cacophony of bangs and crashes and, within twenty seconds, had completely capsized with only her hull bottom visible. Haley, Drake, and Bondurant were transfixed in shock until the 1MC jolted them into motion.

“Man Overboard Port Side, repeat Man Overboard Port Side! This is no drill!”