"He came at her swinging his knife and with one kick Jacky sent the knife flying, caught it and closed it."
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Jacky by Edward Iversen Trafford Publishing
book review by Michael Radon
When 20-year old Arch strikes out for Phoenix on his motorcycle to see the country and do something different with his life, he gets involved with a cast of characters and a chain of events so diverse that it evolves into something nobody could have predicted. A trip back to Chicago filled with new friends and good deeds leads to a reunion with his friend from high school Eric. But now Arch has a reputation, and the people he helped along the way are looking to repay him. Teaming up with an English soldier, a take-no-prisoners commando bombshell, and the captain and crew of an extremely capable ship, Eric, Arch, and their friends embark on various adventures. From helping their friends with their business and enjoying some local Midwest cuisine to stopping a kidnapping and prostitution ring across the Atlantic Ocean, excitement seems to find these unlikely friends.
Combining the instant action and danger of a suspense novel with the culture and companionship of any good epic, this book is ideal for bringing on a vacation or escaping into an imaginary excursion. The memoir-like writing with the diverse cast and focus on good times and good people serves as a nice simmer for the quick pacing of the action scenes, which can come as unexpectedly for the reader as they can for the characters. The strong moral code of the characters to treat friends with respect and do anything necessary to protect the weak makes for genuinely likable characters. While some of the action can get violent, anyone who likes to see the good guys prevail will enjoy this title.