Customer Reviews

West Across the Board

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Lazaro was a young boy, who lived in Cuba with his parents. His mother
died, and his father lost his job. Lazaro's father raised Lazaro during
a time when poverty reached its peak, forcing Lazaro and his father to
move to Key West. Lazaro's father worked in Florida, where Lazaro became
a mariner. While his father worked, Lazaro was fascinated with the ocean,
learning about the mysteries of the sea and navigation. Dominic is a
talented Chicago engioneer whose work introduced him to Key west. Lazaro
and Dominic met in Sloppy Joes, a bar where the two men bonded while playing
a chess game for the first time, which connected them to a lifetime of
friendship. Over the course of many years, the two men played one-
thousand games, carved on the back of this beaufiful, laminated board.
First-time novelist, Andrew Jalbert, takes the reader on a historical
journey through the lives of Lazaro and Dominic. History comes to life
from the 1930s, as well as the characters in this heartfelt story. The
bond between Lazaro and Dominic draws them close like brothers, while
sharing their life history over each game played with a chessboard, until
Lazaro is eighty-six years old. Dominic suffers a terminal disease to
cancer, and their last game is shared days before Dominic dies. The story
is not only amazing, but is touching to the soul. An emotional story,
packed with happiness, drama, sadness and tragedy.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves a story based on history,
family ties, and friendship. The description of the mysterious sea, with
palm trees, and the ocean's salty smell makes the reader feel the gentle
breeze of Mother-Nature when she's calm. The author paints a beautiful,
peaceful scenery when the friendship grows through years of events that
take place in Key West. Lazaro learns that life is unpredictable, after
facing the death of his father and a good friend to a raging hurricane.
The storm changes his life, nearly destroying his friendship with
Dominic, while Lazaro isolates himself for many years, blaming himself
for his father's death. Reading West Across The Board is like watching
"Gone With The Wind." An incredible journey through history, love,
and tradegy.

Geraldine Ahearn IOM
Author of 6 books
Author Geri Ahearn's Book Reviews

I have to admit that when reading fiction, I tend toward thrillers, but something about the cover (chess pieces over a tropical background) of this book intrigued me so I picked it up. It's a short read and I found myself immediately drawn in by the characters and their lives and read the book in one sitting. My only complaint is that I found myself wanting to know more at the end...which I guess is a good thing for the author...I'm looking forward to more from him. I highly recommend this book to anyone. I picked it up because of the tropical scene and found myself transported to a very well described historical Key West which I only know in it's present day. I found it fascinating, but my personal experience with the book's setting aside, I think that anyone would enjoy the well developed characters and scenes in this novella and will close the cover wanting more stories from Mr. Jalbert.

Andrew Jalbert's novel, West Across the Board, chronicles one man's journey back to the Florida Keys to see his dying friend. For both men, it is a journey of lifetime reflection and liberation. In 1934, at a saloon in the Florida Keys, Lazaro, a passionate and brilliant fisherman, meets Dominic, a civil engineer graduate. The two young men instantly bond over a game of chess. The game would become more than recreation. It would become the cement that binds the two through a lifetime of love, loss, forgiveness, and redemption.

With such themes as the beauty and danger of nature entwining itself with the strength and frailties of human nature, a story of growth and survival unfolds. Drawing on Physicists research into the Chaos Theory, Dominic, a pragmatist, tries to find order from tragic events that affected the choices both he and Lazaro made. Lazaro, a man forever changed from the loss of his father during a storm at sea, reflects on his life in a more traditional sense. Dominic tries to find a logical pattern of events, while Lazaro buries his need to resolve issues that led to his choice to leave the Florida Keys for a life in Wisconsin. It is only when the two men come together that Lazaro is able to confront his past.

As historical fiction, the author delivers a carefully crafted and detailed account of life on the Florida Keys. The story is rich in the sights, sounds, and description of life in the 1930's. Drawing on real events from the past, the fictional story is well implemented within its historical context. The historical and nautical details illustrated within the story are well researched and accurately presented.

West Across the Board delivers a well crafted tale of two men's journey back together to find redemption and peace. The history and backdrop of the Florida Keys makes readers feel they are accompanying Lazaro on his journey. I highly recommend the book to readers who enjoy well written historical fiction that delves into the human condition.

Tracy Roberts, Write Field Services

The author takes us on a poignant journey of friendship and beautifully crafts the history and landscape of the Florida Keys in a way that one feels like we are actually there journeying with him. Even on a cold wintery day one feels the warmth emitting off the pages. The friendship of these two men Dominic and Lazaro is timeless and as they pass through their lives, the connection is unbroken through separation. May we all remember our own friendships in this same special way. As the historical and nautical facts are accurate and so well written this novel is a pure pleasure to learn from as we read. I highly recommend this novel.

Lazaro had fled from his past, but Dominic would make him face his fears some 60 years later. Lazaro had a love of the sea; relaxation and fishing were all he thought about in his youth, until that one day when the sea claimed his father. From then on the sea was his enemy, and his best friend Dominic had found a new love and gradually inched his way out of Lazaro's life. But they would reunite again and it would all be water under the bridge so to say.

Dominic was dying of cancer, and his friend and care giver Sarah made the call that both men needed. She knew Dominic's time was short and painful; he would always recount the memories of his youth to her so she made the decision to call Lazaro. And with his long absence away from the Keys and a broken promise to his son about not driving the Chevy in the garage, Lazaro was on his way to his long time friend.

Meeting for the first time over a game of chess, the two men kept score on the board and realization hit when the men were tied. Although Lazaro needed to see his friend, he didn't want this to be the last game of chess they had ever played. Many flashbacks and a long trip later, the two come face to face..can you imagine seeing your best friend for the first time in 60 years?

Andrew Jalbert's book West Across The Board is an amazing story that will have you in tears at the end, but you'll also smile that smile of relief. Truly heart felt and full of emotion Jalbert writes a historical novel that is impossible to sit down. Without a doubt West Across The Board would be a perfect novel for any one. I thought this was a guy's novel to be honest, but once reading it and getting into the story, I knew that women would love it..it is that tear jerker that we all look for.
4 Hearts

Contact Andrew Jalbert: [...]

ISBN - 978-0-595-42194-7

170 pages

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Excerpt from the back of the book:

What are the elements of friendship that last a lifetime - the mysterious connection that can outlast great distances and long periods of separation to bring friends back together? For Lazaro, a salty Cuban mariner, and Dominic, a sophisticated Chicago engineer, the answers can be found in the game of chess.

I have to admit that I wasn't sure what to expect when reading this book. First novels can be a bit choppy and poorly edited at times, showing that the author has some growing to do before the true quality of their work shines through. Such is not the case when it comes to Andrew Jalbert. I was delighted not only by the story, but by the way the characters were formed and the ability of the author to separate two different eras in the same book, while still allowing the story to flow smoothly - something that is not an easy task.

The friendship between Lazaro and Dominic is one that we all hope to have. When tragedy strikes Lazaro he flees the Keys and decides to start over, never looking back. His friend Dominic writes faithfully at first, but Lazaro just wants to close that part of his life so he packs the letters away with the infamous chess board. He does think of his friend often, but it is too painful to think of everything that has happened so he immerses himself in the lives of his wife and son. But when tragedy strikes again, he starts to rethink the separation and writes Dominic, keeping it very informal and just full of information about what has been going on in his life. Dominic writes back but also keeps in impersonal. This continues until Lazaro receives a phone call which beckons to his heart to go back to the Keys to see his long-time friend, something he should have done long ago.

This story is sure to tug at your heartstrings and make you realize that sometimes it is better to face your fears and keep living, without giving up the things that truly matter. Very well written and easy to read!

On a side note, I was THRILLED to have Manitowoc mentioned, as this is my hometown. And, my husband is from Two Rivers. During World War II, Manitowoc built 28 submarines, and we still have one on display. I have been through it a bunch of times, and it is truly amazing to think that people actually functioned on these vessels.

Thanks to everyone at Pump Up Your Book Promotion for the opportunity to read this!

Andrew Jalbert's "West Across the Board" gives you a look at life in the Keys and the beauty of the sea. More importantly, the central characters of Lazaro and Dominic share a life-long friendship and learn to live the lives they have chosen. I was afraid I would have to understand more about chess to get the book, but the game, though central to the story, is not hammered out in a play-by-play manner. It is a motif, not a "how to" manual. History, geography, but above all, human interaction make this a very invigorating book!

Do Lazaro and Sarah ever hook up?

A beautifully thought provoking Novel unlike any other I have read. The character development in the story is awesome! Andy truly reveals his writing ability and recognizable style throughout the book and I love the way he takes the ending of the story one step further in his Epilogue. Way to go Andy, you are wise beyond your years!

I really loved reading and re-reading this book. I have a request of the author and that is more please!!!!!

This is a beautiful story of the enduring love between two friends from very different backgrounds who become long separated by time, tragedy, life's circumstances, their attempts at coping and their long overdue reunion. The stories of their lives together and apart are beautifully chronicled and closely tied to their games of chess over the years. The backgrounds of these men and their lives are beautifully developed by the author.
This is a historical novel that brings us back to the Key West that most of us Florida Keys lovers can only wish to have known.
The author skilfully paints beautiful visuals with his written words. I found myself being able to "see" the Key West sunsets' "explosions of color" and feel the special warm feelings they create. I could "see" the awesome beauty and majestic power of nature that so deeply touches and heals the minds and spirits of those of us that love the sea. I could almost smell the smells of the tropics and the island style meals that Dominic and Lazaro enjoyed together. The author made me feel the sharp coldness and dreay darkness of the midwest winters in contrast to the warmth of the Keys. I experienced all of this because of the way the author crafted his descriptions of every scene.
This book contains many wonderful stories of life, love, friendship, nature, adventure, romance and the history of the Keys.

I am telling everyone I know about this book. This is a "must read", in my opinion.

Andrew Jalbert has experienced and understands the history, beauty and
dangers encountered in Key West. He, as well, fully understands and appreciates the struggles of life and the exquisite pain of death as it unfolds in a deep long relationship, friendship and hope between Lazaro and Dominic. There is steadfastness in their relationship that takes them through the challenges of life and chess games. Along with this is a very interesting side story of Sarah's enduring love, care and devotion to Dominic as he is dying a very painful death from Pancreatic Cancer. Both relationships unfold as you read through this well developed novel. Congratulations to Andrew Jalbert, a Historical Novel well done.