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Pirates or Patriots (The Bradford Chronicles Book 1) Kindle Edition

by L.D. Watson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 76 ratings
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“The only disappointing thing about the story is that I reached the last page.” - Rob Jones

In the spring of 1814 young Ephraim Bradford lands in America hoping to begin a new life, free from the horrors of the Napoleonic war. But his plans are altered when he when he is drawn into a new war along with the pirate, Jean Lafitte and Andrew Jackson, not to mention the girl who steals his heart. Pirates or Patriots tells the story of how a young Englishman from Shropshire falls in love with a Maryland farm girl only to risk his life and his love at the Battle of New Orleans.
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  1. Print length
    375 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    December 22, 2013
  5. Reading age
    16 - 18 years
  6. File size
    799 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Pirates or Patriots evolved from a conversation I had with an elderly uncle about how my family came to America. That discussion led me to begin reading as many accounts of the events leading up to the Battle of New Orleans as I could find. One version claimed that an English teenager introduced Lafitte and Jackson at the corner of Royal and Canal Streets. That account somewhat coincided with my uncle's. Now, I do not want to imply that some relation of mine had anything to do with Jean Lafitte, but I couldn't help but wonder how a British teenager could have found himself standing on a New Orleans street corner with Jean Lafitte and Andrew Jackson. Thus, Pirates or Patriots.

From the Back Cover

In the spring of 1814 seventeen year old Ephraim Bradford deserts from the British Army. When his ship to America is commandeered by privateers Ephraim becomes part of the pirate empire led by Captain Jean Lafitte. Soon Ephraim, a merchant by training, is managing the sale of Lafitte's stolen goods in New Orleans.

As Ephraim lands in America, a thousand miles away in the bustling city of Baltimore, Charlotte Fuller reluctantly marries a swindler twice her age. When her foolhardy husband is killed she is left starving and alone on the streets of the Crescent City. Desperate and near death, the only work she can find is in a Bourbon Street bordello.

Pirates or Patriots follows a young British merchant from the cold fields of Shropshire England to the warm waters of the Mississippi delta and a young farm girl from the sunny shores of the Chesapeake Bay to the gritty underbelly of the French Quarter. On a warm summer afternoon the two fall in love only to be torn apart by their secret lives and the looming Battle of New Orleans.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00GP3HXLA
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (December 22, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 22, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 799 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 375 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 76 ratings

About the author

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L. D. Watson

L. D. Watson

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L.D. is a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington where studied film and television. He has a long career in film and video with credits that include television shows, commercials, and motion pictures. Like a lot of people in that industry L.D. has written a number of screenplays including one that was a jury finalist at the Houston International Film Festival.

He’s a Christ Follower and a Texan to the core. He likes to say that he owns two types of shoes; flip-flops and cowboy boots. He loves to ride horses but he hates being called a cowboy. As he once said, “I don’t dip snuff, I’ve never owned a pair of Wranglers, and I hate country music, unless you count ZZ Top as country, of course.”

Most weekends he can be found driving across Texas with his camera taking pictures for his website His photographic philosophy is simply that, “There’s pictures everywhere, you just got to find a way to get them into your camera.”

He is writer or contributor on three different blogs and once published a weekly newsletter titled, “Mondays”. Currently he is focusing on his two blogs, LD talk and PixTalk. And, of course he’s hard at work on his third novel.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
76 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Jim Conrad
5.0 out of 5 stars RECOMMENDED historical novel is effortlessly enjoyable on a NUMBER of levels.
Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2014
Verified Purchase
STRONG first effort by L. D. Watson; hope he carries forward with this as a series. (Already missing the characters - tells me how much I'd grown attached to them.) Tip to those considering a copy of the book as a gift: this seems like an IDEAL choice for a young adult. Watson manages to judiciously & slyly work in subtexts pertinent to a number of subjects; there's a LOT at work in the subplots! Touches on topics such as, say, the unrestrained inventiveness of unregulated trade/commerce back in the day - & the fatal attraction it holds for crass politicians whose only tool to wield is the State's arbitrary use of force. Nothing "in-your-face," either, but seamlessly woven into the narrative. Also, the brutal lack of options for womenfolk in any society prior to the last century or so, & the impact of such circumstances upon the development of society. Impressive themes NICELY sublimated into the narrative of a RECOMMENDED first work; deftly visits the theme of the past's impact upon the present.
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David Morris
4.0 out of 5 stars The Buccaneer
Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2014
Verified Purchase
This book reminded me so much of the old movie The Buccaneer. I don't know if that was intentional or not, but as I was reading I could picture certain scenes as they were acted.

Though this book was mostly about the battle for New Orleans, it did give some background information about some of the characters, and how they may have acted in that time. It also tied together a modern family who may or may have not been related to some of the characters. The only problem I had was Uncle Louis was portrayed as having first hand knowledge of some of the older characters, which would have not been possible. And then there is Charlotte. The question is unanswered on how she ended up with Ephram when she married one of the other brothers.

But all in all this is a terrific book and I highly recommend it to others.
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Renee M Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars Brings to life true historical figures in a wonderful way!
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2020
Verified Purchase
I never read historical novels. However, after having read Brian Kilmeade's book, "Andrew Jackson and the Miracle of New Orleans", I found "Pirates or Patriots". The characters in this book really brought to life the history of the War of 1812 and the Battle of New Orleans, and gave it flesh and bone, along with mystery and romance. I could not put it down. I passed this on to another reader who loves historical fiction. She was every bit as impressed as I was.
Great Job, LD!
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Jerry Bundren
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! What a great read!
Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2014
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Just finished this first novel from L. D. Watson. Incredible story! Watson's writing is masterful! His work is both informative and inspirational, the perfect marriage of fact and fiction! The reader is afforded the opportunity to walk in the steps of some of the greatest American patriots as they prepare for the little known, yet extremely important, Battle of New Orleans. If you love a great story that includes just the right amount of mystery and intrigue, twists and turns, love and romance, history and fiction, you'll love Pirates or Patriots! I can't wait for the sequel - or the movie!
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Amazon Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Story alternates every page or two between the historical characters ...
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2016
Verified Purchase
Story alternates every page or two between the historical characters and a modern day descendant. I found the historical portion more interesting than the current connection and started skipping the latter portions. Story does leave you wondering where everyone went and the last current day portion implies a direction. Caught between 4 stars for the New Orleans portion and two stars for current times. I would buy a sequel of the 1800s story line but not a story of the present characters.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars I highly recommend this book.
Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2013
Verified Purchase
Pirates or Patriots is a very well written book that kept my attention from cover to cover. The story has everything; pirates, history, action, family, love... Some authors tend to dwell on or exaggerate one or more of these aspects, but Watson balanced them out to make an enjoyable read. And I found myself reading late into the night, I couldn't put it down: a real page turner that focused on a good, realistic story with characters whose lives I cared about.

I highly recommend this book and I cannot wait to start reading the next in the series.
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Barbara Sattora
4.0 out of 5 stars History comes alive
Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2014
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Colorful characters and a time and place in history were presented in an exciting format. This takes place around New Orleans--one of my favorite cities! The description of New Orleans then and of the Battle of New Orleans made the city come alive. I showed historical figures and events as real, not just words in a history book.
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terry ewing
5.0 out of 5 stars Battle Of New Orleans Comes alive
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2014
Verified Purchase
Mr. Watson takes us on an exploration of a very crucial event in American History .He brings a dramatization of a most important battle .. Some characters really existed in this tale, others created to help develop the story line. A very entertaining look at the battle . As a retired history teacher , I appreciated Mr. Watson's attempt to make history live . A job well done , well worth reading .
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