Wild Rover No More: Being the Last Recorded Account of the Life & Times of Jacky Faber by L.A. Meyer (Bloody Jack #12)

Just when it looks like Jacky Faber and her beloved Jaimy will finally find their romance, Jacky is accused of treason and must flee Boston while her friends attempt to clear her name. Of course that means wild adventures for our fun-loving heroine, who manages to secure a job as a governess…and run away with the circus. The highly anticipated grand finale of the Bloody Jack Adventures

The saddest thing is that this is only the last book because L.A. Meyer died last year. It's a small blessing to those who loved this series that he wrote the conclusion for Jacky. It also makes the ending sadder than you'd think.

Jacky is almost reunited with Jaimy when she is set up for charges of treason by an old enemy. So instead she is on the run first as a governess and then to the circus. Jacky, of course, is excellent at both as she always seems to be. I did enjoy the part where she was the governess and had to deal with a very spoiled little boy. 

I like the ending that Jacky got. It seemed right though I would have liked to see more of her and Jaimy together but then I think this series was about Jacky, growing and seeing the world. It had less to do with Jaimy, really in the end than I think Jacky would think. I do hope she continues to see the world and have many (tamer) adventures.

Boston Jacky: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, Taking Care of Business by L.A. Meyer (Bloody Jack #11)

Jacky Faber has a habit of making waves--even when docked in her adopted city of Boston, where she is attending to the business of Faber Shipping Worldwide. With big dreams and perhaps a bit too much exuberance for the very Puritan populace, she purchases the Pig and Whistle Inn, determined to revive her old stomping grounds and establish a musical theater.
But Jacky quickly finds herself at odds with the Women's Temperance Union and a town roiling with tension over the arrival of hundreds of Irish laborers--brought in by her very own Lorelei Lee. As things heat up, both literally and figuratively, she's soon back in Judge Thwackham's courtroom facing the dozen lashes promised the last time she stood before the judge. Thwarted at every turn by her enemies, Jacky is finally forced to confront her shortcomings--and possibly lose her beloved Jaimy Fletcher in the process.

It doesn't seem right to not finish out my reviews on the Jacky Faber series. The penultimate book finds Jacky in Boston supposedly just trying to live her life right and carry out her business while waiting for Jaimy to arrive back from Rangoon. Of course Jacky being Jacky, she manages to make new enemies in a local temperance group and, through an unfortunate event, also loses Jaimy in a manner of speaking. 

I enjoy Jacky and love her adventures and as usual her past has a way of making her careless and she is careless because she doesn't seem to learn from her past. I think she has definitely grown though as a person since the first book, but she is so impetuous that it makes it difficult for her to stay out of trouble. It's funny because though I don't want anything awful to happen to her, I also like the moments when her clever schemes did not work to her advantage for a chance. I think it's a good learning opportunity for her.

I was significantly less fond of Jaimy Fletcher though. I wish he would quit being an idiot. Like a lot of conflict in books, much of the drama could have been avoided if he had just asked Jacky instead of assuming and I was disappointed with him in the end.

All in all, I am looking forward to the last book though I am sad that it is the last.

Viva Jacquelina! Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, Over the Hills and Far Away by L.A. Meyer (Bloody Jack #10 ) (audio)

This time Jacky has landed herself in Spain once again a spy for the crown. When things once again don't go to plan, she finds herself working as a model for a famous painter gaining access to the royal family that way. But things never run smoothly for Jacky Faber and she finds herself in band of gypsies.

As always Jacky is a treat. I really enjoy her character and the situations that she finds herself in are always ridiculous and interesting and you know that somehow she will always come out ahead. So in that respect the books never change. Just the location and the boy who has caught her eye. She doesn't seem to mind her lads though Jamie is always first in her mind. And it's probably good for them to enjoy the company of others because I am sure they will ultimately end up together and sowing the wild seeds now is a good idea for Jacky. She's a lusty sort of girl and I love it. This adventure lands her in Spain around 1793 when Napoleon's brother is put on the throne. She falls in with a famous artist and does some entail for the British. After being a betrayed by a member of that household, she falls in with a band of gypsies. So this book explores Spain at that time period and some of its traditions, like the running of the bulls and its different culture.


9 hours, 29 minutes.


Bloody Jack
1.     Bloody Jack
2.     The Curse of the Blue Tattoo
3.     Under the Jolly Roger
4.     In the Belly of the Bloodhound
5.     Mississippi Jack
6.     My Bonny Light Horseman
7.     Rapture of the Deep
8.     The Wake of the Lorelei Lee
9.     The Mark of the Golden Dragon (not reviewed)

The Wake of the Lorelei Lee: Being an Account of the Adventures of Jacky Faber, on her Way to Botany Bay by L.A. Meyer

Jacky is bound for the penal colony of New South Wales as punishment for her crimes against the crown.  To add insult to injury, the government confiscates her newly bound Lorelei Lee and puts her and the other female convicts aboard for the trip.  But Jacky's friends come through for her as Higgins finds a way on broad along with some old faces.

Well, this was full of adventure!  Jacky is sentence to life in New South Wales, finds herself on her own ship, is threatened by the first mate multiple times, marries Higgins, finds and loses Jamie, ends with as the "pet" of a Chinese female pirate, finds Jamie again and reclaims her ship.  Phew.  That's a lot for one 16 year old girl.  And as much as I enjoy Jacky's adventure, they are beginning to lose their what little credibility they had in the first place.  Oh well.  They are fun books and explore their historical nature to the fullest which is a fun way to learn about these things.  I really liked Jamie's chapters.  The boy is coming along nicely but I do feel sorry for him.  All of these terrible things happen to him and he does some questionable things in return and all because of his relationship with Jacky.  I hope that works out in their favor.  And I hope Jamie can hold on to his sanity in the meanwhile.

Katharine Kellgren does a wonderful job yet again.  I love her singing voice and I love her voice for the Shanty Man.  She is so versatile!  And she does a great job with the dialects and the languages which must be hard to do.  

Bloody Jack
Whisper in My Ear

Rapture of the Deep: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, Soldier, Sailor, Mermaid, Spy by L.A, Meyer

Mere hours from marrying her beloved Jaimy,  Jacky is taken by British Intelligence and given a mission to dive for sunken treasure off of the Florida Keys. 

Jacky is sent a mission looking for sunken Spanish gold and she runs into a whole lot of trouble along the way (of course).  Between a serious a** of a Spanish lieutenant and an old pirate friend, Jacky has her work cut out for her.  I really hated Lieutenant Cisnero.  He was so horrible to Jacky and with very little provocation.  I was glad to see a good-looking guy who was hateful remain that way though.  Very often with Jacky, she makes all these guys fall in love with her and do her bidding.  So it was nice to see her charms next work quite right.  Though what is up with every guy she meets wanting to have sex with her?  Seriously.  I mean, she is suppose to be pretty but I can't really believe that.  And why is she almost raped in almost every book?  Maybe it is suppose to be a reflection of the time period and the situations she is in.  I'm not sure, but it's getting a little old.  As is the fact that she has become the "everything but girl" and is still holding out to give her virginity to Jaimy.  I mean good for her but they need to get in on at some point or another.  I know that sounds terrible, but she is always making out and doing other stuff with other guys and poor Jaimy is held to different moral code or something.  

12 hours, 19 minutes

At the end of this book there was a discussion between author L.A. Meyer and narrator Katharine Kellgren that was very interesting.. It was cool to hear about both the writing process and how Kellgren prepares for a Bloody Jack book.  I also like hearing how the audio books effected the writing process.  And also Meyer mentions that the last book has been written so it was a relief to know that there was going to be an ending at some point.  Not that I want it to end soon, but it was nice to hear.

Bloody Jack
Whisper in my Ear

My Bonny Light Horseman : Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, in Love and War by L.A. Meyer

Jacky has finally been caught by the British government and is set to France as a spy.

You know what? I'm glad that Jacky was finally caught.  It felt like the chase had gone on long enough and another book of Jacky escaping would have been too much.  This book added some forward motion to the overall plot and I was glad of it.  I knew that Jack would make an excellent spy.  She is so clever and wily and she proved me right.  It was interesting to see a battle of Napoleon's (who makes an appearance) and how Jacky handled being in "enemy" territory.  And, of course, being Jacky she manages to find romance in the midst of her spying.  I'm beginning to feel sorry for Jaimy.  I think Jacky might love the idea of him, more than actually him.  Because how well do they really know each other at this point?  Each has done things the other doesn't know about, things they are not proud of.  And Jacky's affections wander so much in each book.  I guess time (and more books) will tell.

12 hours

As always, Katharine Kellgren does a great job.   I did notice, however, that her screaming rendition of Jacky's distressed moments, especially at the battle, are a bit grating.  While I know that her reading of those parts is accurate for the text, I found myself wanting to fast forward.  

Bloody Jack
Whisper in my Ear

Mississippi Jack : Being an Account of the Further Waterborne Adventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman, Fine Lady, and the Lily of the West by L.A. Meyer

Jack is on the run from the British authorities and ends up in the wilds of America on the river.  After obtaining a keel boat and turning her into a showboat (Jacky cannot resist becoming an entertainer), they obtain a crew and set on down the Mississippi River.  But trouble, as ever always, finds Jacky Faber in the form of some British agents.  Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Jacky,  Jaimy is trying to follow Jacky downriver and running into trouble of his own.

I was excited that Jacky was exploring America more and headed down the Mississippi River to New Orleans.  I loved her adventure down the river, taken in typical Jacky style.  She can't just go down river.  No, she has to have a showboat and a scam.  She is so awesome.  Leave it to Jacky to get a hold of a boat so she can be captain once again.  I liked Jaimy's storyline and liked hearing about his adventures.  I think he is becoming more a man and certainly his trials in American have toughened him up and he is becoming more of Jacky's equal.  That was nice to see.  I worry about him trying to settle her down.  I don't think that is going to happen the way he wants.  Jacky is just too much to contain.

17 hours

Katherine Kellgren is once again the narrator and once again does an awesome job, especially with the character of Mike Fink, not my favorite character.  I found his voice grating but that just shows Kellgren's talents.  Mike is a hard character and she does a great job capturing his character with her voice.

Bloody Jack
Whisper in my Ear

In the Belly of the Bloodhound : Being an Account of a Particularly Peculiar Adventure in the Life of Jacky Faber by L.A. Meyer

Returning to the Lawson Peabody School for Young Girls in order to avoid piracy charges, Jacky Faber finds herself in another problematic situation.  Most of the girls from the school including Jacky herself are kidnapped by slavers and are trapped in the belly of the slaver's ship.  Jacky must use her cunning to get the girls out of their terrible situation.  

Another adventure for Jacky "Mary" Faber!  This one was sadder since it explored what slaves endured on their passages from Africa to the New World.  It was heartbreaking listening to it.  The girls are in a similar situation though they aren't chained up and seem to have more freedom than the black slaves that are usually in the hold.  I guess because they are "well born" and are going to be sold to harems and not as field hands.  I kind of thought that kidnapping well to do young ladies for a social slight on the parent of one of their parents was a shaky reason to kidnap and enslave anyone, but it made for a good story and showed that Jacky is capable of handling any situation.

I think that Jaimey underestimates Jacky too much.  He refers to her often as a silly girl and doesn't seem to realize how clever she really is.  Higgins has more faith in her and isn't surprised in the least when she manages to rescue all the girls while Jaimey really is surprised.  I don't think he is good enough for Jacky and doubt he could keep her tied down. 

15 hours

As always, Katherine Kellgren is the narrator of this book and does a fine job.  She is a good voice actress and I enjoy listening to her.

Hogwarts: Charms
Bloody Jack
Whisper in my Ear

Under the Jolly Roger: Being an Account of the Further Nautical Adventures of Jacky Faber by L.A. Meyer

From Goodreads:
After leaving the Lawson Peabody School for Young Girls in Boston--under dire circumstances, of course--Jacky Faber boards a whaling ship bound for London, where she hopes to find her beloved Jaimy. But things don't go as planned, and soon Jacky is off on a wild misadventure at sea. She thwarts the lecherous advances of a crazy captain, rallies sailors to her side, and ultimately gains command of a ship in His Majesty's Royal Navy. But Jacky's adventures don't end there. . . 

It's funny that this book feels like two separate adventures because it all comes full circle in the end.  Jacky winds up on the Wolverine, pressed into service after being mistaken for a boy.  Once on ship she reveals herself as a girl but the lecherous captain has ideas about her and keeps her aboard.  Since she is Jacky Faber, she makes herself useful begins training the men.  Later she escapes after a particular incident with the captain and commanders the Emerald for herself, beginning a life of profiteering until her letter of mark is revoked, marking her as a pirate instead.  But Jacky shows herself true and always manages to come out of this situations alright.  


I wonder if her relationship with Jamey is going to succeed.  I don't think he has it in him to hold her for long and I cannot see Jacky settling down and being the good wife.  Jamey seems to be alright and he cares for her but I feel like she might outgrow him 

15 hours

I'm not sure what more I can say about Katherine Kellgren the narrator of these books.  She is awesome and certainly the voice of Jacky and the rest of her friends.  I love her singing voice and how much emotion she puts into her readings.

Hogwarts: Fight or Flight
Bloody Jack
Whisper in my Ear

The Curse of the Blue Tattoo: Being an Account of the Misadventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady by L.A. Meyer

Jacky has been sent to a girls' finishing school in Boston after being discovered aboard the HMS Dolphin posing as a ship's boy.  There she learns that girls are much more vicious and much more subtle about the ways that they fight and Jacky resolves to become a lady and to learn to fight like one too.  But finishing school cannot keep Jacky down for long as she makes her way in Boston.

Oh Jacky!  Always making crazy and rash decisions, getting in trouble and still managing to come out ahead.  Amazing.

Once again Jacky just flies by the seat of her pants and does whatever she wants without thinking the whole thing through.  But she is very clever and she has a knack for making the right kinds of friends so she always gets out alright in the end.  The first book was all about her dealing with boys and men and pretending to be a boy.  This book is all about her dealing with girls and trying to become a lady which is a bit against her nature.  She is much to wild to reign herself in and she refuses to let society do it as well.  I liked the ups and downs of her times in Boston and how she got away with the kinds of things she gets away with.  I'm totally ready for her next adventure.

14 hours

As usual,  Katherine Kellgren does an excellent job with the narrator.  She really adds a lot of feeling to the story, bringing the story to life.  Jacky can be a frustrating character since she does a lot of unthinking things and Kellgren captures Jacky highs and lows.  She also does a great job with the other characters, varying them each to add differences to their voices.  And I love her singing parts.  My only complaint, and this is because I am from Louisiana, was her New Orleans accent.  It was much too east coast Southern and not quite French enough.  New Orleanians have a harder, almost New York sounding accent.  It is a hard accent to grasp if you are not around here (kinda of like a Cajun accent but that is a separate topic).

Hogwarts: Charms

Bloody Jack
Whisper in my Ear

Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy (audio) by L.A. Meyer,

Description from Goodreads:
Life as a ship's boy aboard HMS Dolphin is a dream come true for Jacky Faber. Gone are the days of scavenging for food and fighting for survival on the streets of eighteenth-century London. Instead, Jacky is becoming a skilled and respected sailor as the crew pursues pirates on the high seas.

There's only one problem: Jacky is a girl. And she will have to use every bit of her spirit, wit, and courage to keep the crew from discovering her secret. This could be the adventure of her life -- if only she doesn't get caught....

I really sorry I didn't start this series sooner.  It is pretty awesome and Jacky is a great character and one of my new favorites.  While the book certainly doesn't shy away from the bad things that can happen to children, it doesn't get too carried away in that department.  Jacky is in some pretty deep trouble during parts of the book and she doesn't come away scot-free.  But it makes her character realer somehow and I liked that about this book.  It was nice to see a diverse cast of characters and how the characters have individual personalities.  Jacky is a showboater, so to speak, and with that comes a lot of trouble.  It was funny to see how she handled the onset of puberty and how she furthered The Deception.  She is a crafty and ingenious character, that's for sure. 

8 hours

I am really enjoying Katherine Kellgren as a narrator.  This is the third book I've listened to with her as the reader.  I was not a fan of her in The Red Pyramid, but I really enjoyed her The Mysterious Howling and I loved her in as Mary "Jacky" Faber. It just goes to show that sometimes it is just the source material and not the narrator.  I love her voice as Jacky and I think she does a great job with the accents and distinguish the characters.  Jacky is a great character and Kellgren brings her to life in a wonderful way.

Hogwarts: Charms
Whisper
Bloody Jack

2011 Bloody Jack Challenge - COMPLETE

I've meaning to read the Bloody Jack series by L.A. Meyer and was just thinking about listening to the audio when I saw that Kristen at Bookworming in the 21st Century has this challenge up so it worked out perfectly.  The challenge runs January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011.  I'm joining at the Dead men tell no tales - Read the whole series.

1. Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary Jacky Faber, Ship's Boy

2. The Curse of the Blue Tattoo: Being an Account of the Misadventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady

3. Under the Jolly Roger: Being an Account of the Further Nautical Adventures of Jacky Faber

4. In the Belly of the Bloodhound : Being an Account of a Particularly Peculiar Adventure in the Life of Jacky Faber

5. Mississippi Jack : Being an Account of the Further Waterborne Adventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman, Fine Lady, and the Lily of the West

6. My Bonny Light Horseman : Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, in Love and War

7. Rapture of the Deep: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, Soldier, Sailor, Mermaid, Spy

8. The Wake of the Lorelei Lee: Being an Account of the Adventures of Jacky Faber, on her Way to Botany Bay

I'm calling this complete 10/6/11