cherryblossommj
Written on Oct 28, 2010
Upon starting this novel, I was not completely enthralled with the character of Faith. She is independent, and feminist, and arrogant. After learning her background and coming to understand her plight I was able to allow her into my heart more. My first adventure with MaryLu Tyndall's The Falcon and the Sparrow was able to show me that MaryLu was a fabulous story teller. This book was able to show me that I want more and more and that the story is not long enough. I have not yet read her original pirate series, but now I must, as well as I cannot wait for the next in the Charles Towne Belle Series to come out.
This book brings us three sisters with very different lives, a naval officer with a past but a present and future guided by God, as well as two ex-slaves that are learning more about love and family than they knew in their years before. The author truly brings to life realistic characters that make you smile and make you cringe. From the First Mate who does not know what he wants to the heir or the city who is a pompous fool. There is hope and a light for all people, it just depends on if you are strong enough to look for it.
It took a couple chapters, but once I was sucked in, and curious for more, I could not stop turning the pages until I found out what would happen next. At each turn of events and situation I had no clue as to how anything could possibly work out and I was pleasantly surprised through out the entire journey to be thoroughly entertained and educated in the pirate and naval world of early Charles Towne, Carolina.
I highly recommend this story as well as anything else by MaryLu (M.L.) Tyndall and other related authors as well such as Kathleen Y'Barbo. Go read it. You will not be disappointed!
The Blue Enchantress
As the pages turn I can hear the metal clanging of sword and the roar of a wave and smell the sea spray. I can hear gulls cry and picture the fish swimming beneath the aquamarine glass of water. Imagery is fabulously portrayed in this second book of the Charles Towne Belles trilogy following a second sister Hope. In the first book, readers were introduced to Faith, a proper lady of Charles Towne, who also happens to be a red haired pirate known as the Red Siren and her two sisters Hope and Grace. Grace is the pious, yet seemly zealous sister who appears to know all when it comes to God and I look forward to her story in the third novel.
Hope is one of those characters who grates on your nerves. She happens to do the most ignorant things and get into the most compromising situations and you just want to wash your hands of her. This story of the "Blue Enchantress" is the telling of Hope and how she can have a future if she reaches for it. This is one of those stories where a reader can really relate to Hope and her situation. Who among us has not done something in their past that they felt was unforgivable and that they were too terrible for God to really love. Through out the pages of this pirate adventure, many characters are brought together and show the various elements of realistic people. The missionary, the average Christian male, the pompous jerk with an authority position, and the broken woman and more.
It is a reminder and a vivid picture of how each person we come in contact with changes us, as we do to them as well. Some for the good, some for the bad. This is part of a trilogy, but could easily be read as a stand alone novel and enjoyed. Just as the epilogue in the first novel left you thirsting for this one, this epilogue makes you impatient for the third.
Highly recommended. One that makes you smile secretly to yourself as well as almost throw it down with angry emotion - this book is a page turner of adventure.
The Raven Saint
MaryLu is an author that I always enjoy. During my move this book disappeared and I did not get to finish it. It was very frustrating, but then while I was reading my latest sea-bound adventure Ransome's Crossing I found the hiding book. So I jumped from one adventurous romance ship-set journey to another in a different part of the ocean.
Each of the Charles Towne Belles novels has given an inside view to a different sister with extremely unique personality. I wish there was a fourth ...more MaryLu is an author that I always enjoy. During my move this book disappeared and I did not get to finish it. It was very frustrating, but then while I was reading my latest sea-bound adventure Ransome's Crossing I found the hiding book. So I jumped from one adventurous romance ship-set journey to another in a different part of the ocean.
Each of the Charles Towne Belles novels has given an inside view to a different sister with extremely unique personality. I wish there was a fourth book about the last sister, yet I will take what I can get. Grace Westcott is the pious sister, and in the past books I did not really like her. Yet as I was able to know her personality and think about her perilous situation of being kidnapped and taken aboard a ship to be sold into slavery to a Spanish Don I was able to grow with her and learned to love her.
How many of us are like the Rich Man or the Pharisee that think we have everything figured out. Learning each day that it is not about us, but about the bigger picture and about Christ is quite the experience. Rafe Dubois is a fabulous character and brought me many smiles to see his inner personality wander the page. Each chapter was exciting and thrilling as I anticipated and could not wait for what would happen next.
Every book with MaryLu is a delight and I cannot wait for more. Especially her new Surrender to Destiny series with it's beautiful covers!