Review: A Salt Splashed Cradle by Chris Longmier
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 27, 2012
A Salt Splashed Cradle by Chris LongmierI received a copy of this novel from the author for review.Belle is a woman with a mission. She needs to leave the not-so-loving care of her pastor uncle and find safety, security and happiness. She believes she has found it with Jimmie, a fisherman from a small village clinging to the cliffs above the northern seas. But all is not well in her new marriage. Her mother-in-law does not care for her, the villagers see her as an outsider and the vicar views her with distaste. With only Jimmie for support, Belle finds herself in the role of village "incomer" never really belonging and never trusted by the other women.Jimmie loves his wife Belle with all his heart. Enough to defy his parents with the marriage, to fly in the face of tradition repeatedly and side with Belle in disputes.  As Belle and Jimmie move further away from traditional village life they will find their very existence threatened by those who cling to the old ways.An historical novel set in a fishing village in Scotland, the novel explores the times, morals and lives of the ordinary people who lived and worked hard to eke out a meager living in the 1830's.Beautifully written with deeply enchanting and well drawn protagonists, A Salt Splashed Cradle goes beyond the norms of the historical romance to bring us a story of hardship, love, wanderlust and coming of age.  This was a story I did not want to end and I hope the author plans to bring another installment of Belle's life and loves to us soon.Karen Bryant Doering,Parents' Little Black Book