Wednesday, 20 March 2013

BOOK OF THE DAY: Dry Tortugas by AFN Clarke



by AFN Clarke 




BOOK DESCRIPTION
A young woman's search for her estranged father, raises unwanted demons from the past and more adventure than either of them could have imagined. Especially dedicated by this best selling author to his daughters, this unforgettable, dramatic and moving novel will stay with you long after the last page is turned.

Nikki Kimble was brought up by her mother in the lap of luxury, with every conceivable material thing she could ever want, except for the presence and love of her father Jake, a former bestselling author who disappeared from her life when she was three years old. All she has are fleeting memories and a romantic notion of him gleaned from the central character in his novels.

On the death of her mother, Nikki decides to search for her father, and when she finds him, drunk on board a battered yacht in the Florida Keys her shattered illusions turn to anger. Demons from the past threaten to overtake them both as they embark on an intensely personal journey of self-discovery.

As father and daughter face-off in an emotionally charged atmosphere, adrift on a leaking yacht in the middle of a massive storm, their fury, sadness and sense of loss is countered by that mysterious and precious bond that exists between a father and a daughter, and a deep seated human need for love, belonging and new beginnings. Their only hope for the future is by healing the past. But the burning question remains. Will the truth really set them free, or will it create so much pain that it shatters them into tiny pieces, never to be whole again?

This dramatic and inspirational novel explores universal themes of family relationships, love, hate, betrayal, self-realisation and the power and strength of the Human Spirit to overcome seemingly impossible obstacles that Life places in our way.

"...AFN Clarke captures a father and daughter reconciliation in a poignant, gripping and heartfelt way. It's a story which mirrors the journey many of us take in life ... As a reader I felt both challenged and uplifted by this book... I highly recommend it." 5 Stars, Roma Gaster.

AFN Clarke is the bestselling author of CONTACT (nonfiction) and 5 works of fiction (with more on the way).


AUTHOR BIO



AFN Clarke is the bestselling author of CONTACT and numerous works of fiction.  He has lived all over the world, served in the British army, had a near death experience, lost half his insides and recovered from the physical and emotional traumas of war.  He a proud father of four daughters, writer, pilot, race car driver, screen writer, loves to sail, listen to opera, cook gourmet meals, drink wine, read good books, have heated discussions and travel off the beaten path. 

His books are rich with his own past and present experiences, giving them a greater immediacy, depth and realism, even in his flights of fantasy.  Writing mainly fiction these days, he tends to favor politically charged thrillers, suspense and intrigue, humorous satire and books about the challenges of human relationships. Despite setbacks, he's an optimist at heart and still believes in the overwhelming power of love and of the human spirit.

REVIEWS
5.0 out of 5 stars Very moving, uplifting father-daughter story. January 10, 2013
Format:Kindle Edition
A highly engaging read with many twists and turns. I loved it and can still remember where I was when I read the last chapter.

On the surface it is a mariner's tale with a stereotypical drunken sailor/author and mixed race girlfriend. Below the surface (excuse the pun!) lies ghosts of the past each one brought up to deal with, or deny, as AFN Clarke captures a father and daughter reconciliation in a poignant, gripping, and heartfelt way. It's a story which mirrors the journey many of us take in life in order to come to grips with our relationships with our parents, family members, spouses, lovers, children, friends, and for some, our addictions.

Nikki is a vibrant capable young woman who, with the loss of one parent, suddenly finds herself yearning to connect with the other, a father she barely knows but takes the risk to seek out. But her picture of Jake is shattered when she finds him. While she struggles to reconcile her conflicting emotions, Jake's life is also turned upside down. Dealing with his darker side, by drowning the past in alcohol, becomes no longer possible when he's faced with that past standing before him in the form of his beautiful young daughter.
Following their journey as they pull at each other's heart strings, push each other's buttons and try to understand that mysterious bond between father and daughter is a reflective experience. As a reader I felt both challenged and uplifted by this book through the heroine and hero's journey it depicts. AFN's style has a way of evoking each of the senses. I could feel the heat of the Keys, see the colours, hear the nuances in sounds and the exchange of words, taste and smell the sea breezes, and sense the rocking of the boat - in both calm waters and during a relentless storm. This ability to immerse readers and provide them with a full sensory experience is probably why I found myself with tears streaming down my face as I finished reading it. A book which I can still recall almost a year later (having read the paperback edition). I highly recommend it.

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