The Kings Coat - Alan Lewrie - 1780- we are introduced to the spoiled but angry rich "literal bastard. We have our first gliminic of his father too and see where some of our main charaters traits come from. A young man who grabs life and lives it in a way that not everyone in our politically correct world will find appealing. A flawed character who struggles with being good... who struggles with being angry at what life has given him... but a determined young man... a bright young man ... a libertine ... who maybe discovers something worthwhile to devote his energy too. Maybe a little too real for some people... a little too bad... maybe a little too close to home for some people... Any way a welcome addtion to the "age of sail books" ( )

Lambdin introduces a young "cad- in- the- making" in the first novel of the Alan Lewrie series of Age of Sail novels. Caught in a compromising situation with his "half- sister", our hero is forced to become a midshipman in the Royal Navy and suddenly discovers that his life has taken a direction that he had not been prepared for.

Lambdin's main character allows the reader to become involved with the story and to invest concern for the path that young Lewrie will follow. This book compares very favorably with other Age of Sail, late 17th/ early 18th century, tales. It is less technical than some novels and more "earthy" than most . The reader is definitely ready to start up with the second book of the series, "The French Admiral" as soon as "The King's Coat" is completed. ( )

Alan Lewrie is a bit of a rascal, but is a breath of fresh air is this genre. Anyone who likes Forster. O'brian or Kent should enjoy these. ( )