Title: The Battle of Port-en-Bessin
Author: Andrew Weston
Genre: Historical Action/Adventure
Book Blurb:
The early hours of 6 June, 1944, saw Sergeant Richard—Lion—Hart of 47 (Royal Marine) Commando, leading his men ashore at JIG Green Sector, on the beaches of Normandy.
Their objective: To establish a foothold on enemy territory, and then march west, across country, to the strategically placed and heavily fortified harbor town of Port-en-Bessin. A location that would serve the Allies as a temporary marshalling area for fuel, weapons and supplies until Cherbourg had fallen.
On paper, a straightforward—if hazardous—endeavor.
Yet war is seldom straightforward. The Germans had been preparing for this moment for four years. And, as history has shown us time and again; “the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry,”
An idiom that Sergeant Hart and members of 47 Commando subsequently learned to their cost.
My Review:
I have had the pleasure of reading many books by Andrew Weston. This is by far the best book he has ever written. That it is the first book of a new series fills me with excitement to see what is to come.
Brilliantly written to the point I personally find this book flawless. For context, I have an M.A. in Military History (WW2) and have been reading war books since I was about six years old. Two of my all-time favorite fictional war series are by Herman Wouk The Winds of War and War and Remembrance and W.E.B. Griffin's 9 novel series The Brotherhood of War. I read all nine of those back-to-back in the course of one week at one time.
The story of Sergeant Hart and the 47 Commando is so accurately presented, you would think you are reading a unit history. That this is fictional disappears within a couple of pages of reading. The story flows in a fashion that makes it hard to stop reading. The battle scenes are so realistic you can smell the cordite and feel the sweat in your eyes.
I read D-Day by Stephen E. Ambrose every year around the anniversary of June 6. This book takes the true tales of the 47 Commando and puts a human face to them that you don't often find in history books. This is small unit combat at its finest. These super troops are able to overcome vast obstacles through their own capabilities.
If I am raving about this book, it is because I love this book and cannot wait to read book two. There is a very, very good chance I will be purchasing the entire series in printed book form so I can place them on my Military History bookshelf alongside W.E.B. Griffin's series.
My Rating: 5++ stars
Buy it Now:
Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Battle-Port-En-Bessin-World-Commando-Adventure-ebook/dp/B0DSV6FSTX
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Battle-Port-En-Bessin-World-Commando-Adventure-ebook/dp/B0DSV6FSTX
Author Biography:
Andrew P. Weston is a bestselling author from the UK who lives with a large amount of rescue cats in a medium sized house on a small Greek island.
A former Royal Marine, he is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association, the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers, and the Western Writers of America. He also reviews articles for Amazing Stories and The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction in his spare time.
His latest pursuit – that of writing action-adventure thrillers – has only just begun, as is his quest to create a story that blends the very best elements of Tom Clancy with Robert Ludlum.
Social Media Links:
Website/blog: https://andrewpweston.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @WestonAndrew
Reviewed by: Mr. N