The Sapphire Sea by David Andrews:

Allan Shortland is a sailor at the top of his game, having spent years in the oil industry as an engineer and First Mate. We find him in the beginning of The Sapphire Sea coming home to Australia to work on a boat of the same name. The tension begins to build when we learn that his ex-wife, Sally, still lives in Australia, and is still in love with her ex-husband, regretting their earlier split. And Allan has changed from the man he once was, more willing to open up to Sally and anticipate her needs.

I did think this book was going to be more of a thriller, so I was pretty surprised to find many romantic elements. The character-driven story circles around the lives of Allan, Sally, and the other men from the Sapphire Sea, and we see many of them struggle with heavy drink and the loneliness that seems to accompany these prolonged leaves from home. We, the readers, are definitely rooting for Allan and Sally to get back together, and when they do, are excited about the prospect of their future together, as well as becoming very interested in the world of off-shore drilling.

David Andrews writes incredibly intelligently, showcasing his own background as an engineer and his ability to teach others about complex maritime concepts. The story-line moves fluidly between all of the characters, and we are drawn into their thoughts and emotions. Much of the story is interspersed with detailed descriptions of oil rigs and their attendant equipment, providing a fascinating look into both the Australian seaman’s culture and the world of big oil while still being accessible to the layman (like me!).

For anyone interested in the sea, this book is for you! Looking forward to more of Mr. Andrews’ novels. ( )

Lillian S
This review is from: The Sapphire Sea (Kindle Edition)
Allan Shortland is at the summit of his naval engineering career, and his romantic life couldn't get any better after he rekindles his relationship with the love of his life, his ex-wife Sally. His work brings him onboard the Sapphire Sea, an undersized and underpowered boat with a crew composed of drunks, old hands, and new, inexperienced workers. Little he knows that a rig shift will turn into a nightmare that could cost him his life.

`The Sapphire Sea' is the second `at sea' novel that I read from David's collection. I loved `Coasting', I absolutely adore this one. With just a very light sprinkle of romance, `The Sapphire Sea' is rich in maritime descriptions and terminology, taking the reader into a wonderful world of knowledge that will fascinate both the connoisseur and the novice, while creating an amazing sense of authenticity through its characters, their language, the torments that mar their lives, the naturalness of their daily schedules and the way they deal with challenges. I felt I was walking at their side all along, drawn into their world, feeling their emotions.

Once again, David Andrews wrote an outstanding book that kept me wanting to dig for more of his works. The writing is seamless, the dialogues are smart and entertaining, the descriptions are smooth and enticing. All in all, a great read that certainly appeals to both sexes, one that I would highly recommend. ( )