Swept to Sea
Ladies of the Caribbean #1
by Heather Manning
256 pages // published in 2013 // Christian historical fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Lady Eden Trenton never wanted to leave her privileged existence in London—until her father invites a dangerous suitor into her life. Left with few options, Eden devises the best reprieve she can: escape. Chasing freedom, she stows away aboard a pirate ship, praying she will gain her independence in the colonies before she is discovered by the nefarious crew.
Captain Caspian Archer has spent the last five years hardening his heart and searching to exact revenge for the event that tore his life to shreds. When he catches word that his enemy is residing in Jamaica, Caspian steers his ship toward the colonies in all haste. His plans soon change, however, when he discovers the young beauty hiding in his ship’s hold.
Cut from the only lives they have known, Caspian and Eden are pulled together as each pursues a fresh hope upon the sea.
Lady Eden Trenton never wanted to leave her privileged existence in London—until her father invites a dangerous suitor into her life. Left with few options, Eden devises the best reprieve she can: escape. Chasing freedom, she stows away aboard a pirate ship, praying she will gain her independence in the colonies before she is discovered by the nefarious crew.
Captain Caspian Archer has spent the last five years hardening his heart and searching to exact revenge for the event that tore his life to shreds. When he catches word that his enemy is residing in Jamaica, Caspian steers his ship toward the colonies in all haste. His plans soon change, however, when he discovers the young beauty hiding in his ship’s hold.
Cut from the only lives they have known, Caspian and Eden are pulled together as each pursues a fresh hope upon the sea.
Eighteen-year-old Lady Eden Trenton is between a rock and a hard place. Her father intends for her to marry a specially-chosen suitor -- but this man beats her when no one else is around. How could she desire to marry him? She can't, and she won't.
So she chooses a different (yet dangerous) option -- leaving her British life behind, she sneaks on board a ship that could get her across the sea to her brother in the Caribbean. Maybe climbing aboard a pirate ship isn't the safest way to get there...
The dual perspective allows the reader to also experience the story from the point of view of Captain Archer too. He is single-handedly parenting his young son as a widower, while keeping his crew in line where they should be, and he expertly knows how to battle it out with other ships, when required.
The plot has the ups-and-downs of a Disney movie (for adults); there's a brave girl who is standing up for herself, a bit of crushing sadness in the backstory, an epic adventure on the high seas, a villainous villain, and, of course, a hero with a gleaming sword who will rescue the damsel in distress, on occasion. However, every chapter has numerous references to physical abuse and some vague allusions to more mature content. This is not quite a sweet, innocent romance, as it deals with some heavy topics. There are some elements of faith intertwined into the story, which I am glad of, showing that Eden trusts God to lead her.
Language level: Mostly clean, but one word is used which (by itself) I would classify as a 3 out of 5 for foul language. Nothing else noted.
Minimum age to read: 16 and up.
Overall? I enjoyed this tale greatly. It has some very exciting moments, and the plot took a couple of twists that pleasantly surprised me too.
Book #9 completed
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