Review: I fell in love with El Rey, a historic, charming story...
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 6, 2013
When I received this book in turn for an honest review, I wasn't sure it was going to captivate me, since I was unfamiliar with the European histories of this era.  Having already read The Welsh Healer by this author and thoroughly enjoying that initial ride, though, one day I gave El Rey a shot and I'm so happy I did.After finishing El Rey, I felt emotionally richer for reading it, because captivate me it did!  Though I posessed no historical background regarding Iberia or Portugal, I found myself looking forward to learning more of the histories woven throughout this terrific family saga peppered with hope, strife, and life or death situations throughout befalling her beloved characters.  In short, I fell completely in love with El Rey.I also loved how Ms. Myrick gave background history for each of her characters when it was appropriate to do so.  This technique is crucial to having a well-informed reader who isn't left second guessing the who, what , where, or whens.  It also paves the way for a well rounded story, so a reader isn't left wondering how the characters got to where they are in the present.El Rey is also a love story between two souls lasting for decades.  One is a young girl, not yet 12 years old, who happens to fall in love with the dashing sea captain known as El Rey.  Their souls intermingle as well as their hearts, but since I never read and tell, nor do I do spoiler alerts, I will simply leave you with this:  Enjoy El Rey on its own merit, because it's a fabulous saga that's extremely well crafted and meticulously researched.  Kudos, Ms. Merick, you've done it again!