Review: Unexpectedly delightful tale
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 16, 2012
Goodger being unknown to me before coming across this 99 cent book, I didn't have high expectations. Every now and then one comes across gems amongst the freebies/near-freebies, but more often not. This one is a gem.To be honest, I'm not all that crazy about heroes who are ship captains; somehow, having to leave one's wife and family for years at a time while on long voyages just doesn't seem much like the HEA I'm looking for. But this story--even though it involves a long separation--portrays a reluctant captain at best. In any case, I was sucked in from the beginning, despite the typos, which, after awhile, I didn't even notice.Despite the five stars, it's not perfect. It bothered me a lot that Sara was sent home--ostensibly because of West's fears for her safety and the temptation she posed for him--when she was still suspected of murder and could have returned only to be tried, convicted, and executed for the crime, without anyone to help her. Neither West nor her brother--nor even Sara--seemed to be all that concerned, while I, only a reader, was screaming bloody murder at them inside my head. I also would like to have seen West take up another profession after his marriage, since it was obvious that whaling was something forced on him by his father, who is now deceased. While the HEA is there, it doesn't leave me with a feeling that I know what their life together will be like. If there are other books in this series, I will definitely be checking them out for more information.But the love story here is so deeply satisfying, I could not stop reading--literally devoured the book--and wiped away tears much of the way through it. West is such an honorable hero and Sara a strong, resilient heroine--they were meant for each other, and their love will prevail no matter what obstacles life throws at them.