I recommend the historical maritime fiction of James L. Nelson, who has a couple series of page-turners: The Brethren of the Coast series, dealing with pirates along the coast of N. America in the 1600's (first book is titled "The Guardship"); The Revolution at Sea series, which looks at the American navy, circa 1776 (first one is "By Force of Arms"); and a new one on the Confederate Navy in the Civil War ("Glory in the Name"). All have great plots with twists, lots of historical veracity, plenty of action, and good, taut writing.

Get well soon.