Kirkus Reviews calls Pirates: The Ring of Hope ... A] spirited swashbuckling tale of mystery and magic." "Cobb's 14th book comes complete with pirates, mysterious messages and a magic ring. . . . The characters are rich and beautifully rendered, and the story is sprinkled with humor. . . . Much of the dialogue especially between Peter and Monk and Antonio and Marcus is delightfully silly. . . . A] spirited swashbuckling tale of mystery and magic." Go to kirkusreviews.com for the complete review Kirkus is a leader in professional book reviews Pirates: The Ring of Hope is a story that will be enjoyed by boys and girls of all ages (10 & up), but this is also the type of book that 'PARENTS' will enjoy reading as well. If you like mystery, suspense and you love humor-- then you need to read Pirates. Pirates: The Ring of Hope (Mystery-Suspense, for ages 10 and up, Chapter Book 284 pages) is amusing, touching and filled with twists and turns to keep you guessing from beginning to end. It is a pirate mystery that captures the minds of KIDS and ADULTS alike. A mysterious bottle with a deadly message is at the center of this pirate story that finds the crew of the Rising Sea unknowingly in grave danger. The evil Captain Darfous Warner has his sights set on The Ring of Hope and he will stop at nothing until he gets what he wants. Twelve year old Peter Nichols steps out of the modern world and right into the middle of this pirate mystery that has him struggling with right and wrong, good and evil and the meaning of friendship and family. After a week filled with strange dreams, missing friends and menacing pirates, Peter's struggle to do the right thing comes to a head as he puts not only himself but his best friend in danger of becoming casualties of Captain Warner's deadly plot. "The Ring of Hope" is a suspenseful story that weaves the legend about a mystical gold ring into a story about the good guys versus the bad guys."