Reviews
The Destiny of Jim Hawkins
“This is intense…what a scary scene!… It builds well…I feel like reading the last chapter now, but I won’t…Very sad that his post with the Navy will take him away from Livian…Oh my goodness! What an exciting turn of events!
Dates and bits of history keep the story factual and interesting….portions of the story establish the setting in an action-packed way….Clever details.. this part is exciting!”
- Mrs. Amy Finnegan. | AP English Teacher
“I found myself wanting to know more about the time after he left Livesey Acres. …I loved the development of his love for Livian and the subsequent work with the deaf….Your story telling of the stolen linens was captivating. It was a good read… you are a great writer and story teller.”
- MRS. MARY JO BATEMAN
“I think you have done a great job of telling an interesting and exciting story. No kidding. It could be made into a movie. I’d be glad to join Jim Hawkins as an extra….I learned a lot from The Destiny of Jim Hawkins about the other side in the pre-revolutionary war period and recognized the attitude that explains why they lost.”
- Larry Weindruch
“The Destiny of Jim Hawkins is not only a seafaring tale but a look into medical treatment of the 1700’s. It is a work of fiction set in historical fact. Good research has been done in the writing of this novel. It’s full of unforgettable characters that cross the path of young Jim Hawkins as he begins his adventurous life. It is a fast read that hopefully will have a sequel!”
- Dr. David Levine
“I thought it was great!”
- Jake H. - 12 years old
“I liked it better than
the original Treasure Island.”
- Mr. Bill Kreutz
For the Love of Livian
“I am halfway through “For the Love of Livian” and I can’t put it down. You have such a way with character development, that I feel I know the characters personally. What also impresses me is the study and research that you used in areas like 18th-century medicine, nautical history, and other areas of life. I look forward to continuing my reading and seeing where you take the characters.”
- Dr. Scott Paczkowski
“Just wanted to tell you that I read For the Love of Livian and was quite intrigued with the story. The characters are colorful and we love Jim Hawkins as a hero with his work as a researcher and his dedication to his wife Livian. I actually like this more than your first book, The Destiny of Jim Hawkins.”
- Mrs. Mary Jo Bateman
“Richard has continued the adventures of Jim Hawkins in a masterful way. The stories are not only intriguing but they are told with real-life happenings of the era in which the story is told. For the Love of Livian is a terrific read with the perception of being transported in time.”
- Dr. Paul Cavanaugh
“This book was an exciting read from start to finish. The manner in which Jim Hawkins met head-on the obstacles and moral dilemmas placed before him was quite inspiring.”
- Michael Boston
“Wow what a great book! I really enjoyed all the many characters especially the evil doctors.”
- Jake Hanson | Age 14
Raven's Revenge
“In Raven’s Revenge, author Richard Yach has created a villain who morphs from a white-collar crook to an evil, black-hearted, violent felon. The story flies from page to page as Raven wreaks his vengeance on anyone in the way of his mission. Jim Hawkins’ wife Livian proves once again to be a pillar of strength in life-threatening situations.”
- Larry Weindruch
“This is Richard’s best book to date. Raven is a great villain and I loved how the author was so accurate with the history of the times the book is set in. Raven’s Revenge was suspenseful and it held my interest.”
- Dr. Paul Cavanaugh
“Raven’s Revenge brought to life the struggles that can often take place in hospital where there are many ethical dilemmas. The Raven character was drawn so well and even though he is a villain, the author made each of his missions come alive.”
- Dr. Randy Rough
Angeline
“This book is very timely for me. Given the times we live in where the struggle for acceptance and equality is at the forefront of people’s minds, this book is a stark reminder of the need to learn from our history as opposed to repeating it continuously.”
- Michael Boston
“Angeline is a young woman ahead of her time, in the 1700s. Richard Yach chronicles an important episode in the life of the former Jamaican slave, now freed and running a small business with her mother in England. Angeline suffers a terrible loss but gains strength and encouragement from her small circle of trusted associates. She seeks justice in a world where the white government leaves enforcement of the law in the district where Jamaican and African former slaves live in the hands of a corrupt and murderous Jamaican voodoo priest. In her journey, Angeline stands up to male chauvinism, racism, and bullying from the worst elements of society. Once Angeline starts her quest for justice, you will not want to put this well-crafted historical novel down.”
- Larry Weindruch
Angeline is the latest novel in a series written by Richard Yach. The first three books take the readers along on the further adventures of Jim Hawkins from the Robert Louis Stevenson classic, Treasure Island.
The title character of this novel is an eighteen year old former slave from Jamaica, who is living in Portsmouth, England in the 1770’s. She was a relatively minor character in an earlier book in the series, but makes a very strong protagonist in this stand-alone novel. Readers will find it easy to root for her as she fights for justice for her mother and herself.
If you enjoy historical novels, you will especially like Angeline. It is very well researched, especially the parts dealing with voodoo and the medicine of the period.
I highly recommend this novel. It is a quick read and well written. Readers who enjoy it should also give the other three books in the series a chance.
…. I think school libraries would be a great target marketing audience.”