The Blue Enchantress

Title: The Blue Enchantress
Author: M.L. Tyndall
Publisher: Barbour
ISBN: 978-1-60260-157-4



From the back cover:

"Still grieving the loss of her mother-and private tragedies of her own -Hope Westcott plays the part of a dutiful admiral's daughter. But longing for the love and acceptance she never felt at home, Hope plunges into Charles Towne society... and an illicit affair with Lord Faulkland.

For Captain Nathaniel Mason, wealth means security, so he is determined to build his shipping business-ignoring God's call on his life to become an impoverished pastor. He also ignores his attraction to the frivolous, vain Hope Westcott.

Hope's adventure seeking lands her in the hands of an unscrupulous ship captain who wants to sell her to the highest bidder. When Nathaniel sees Hope on the auction block, will he listen to God and sacrifice his ship, cargo, and security to save her?

From the Carolina Coast to the Caribbean, through stormy seas and shipwreck, can Hope and Nathaniel put aside their painful pasts, listen to God's voice, and find true love and acceptance?"
~~~~~~~~~~
In The Blue Enchantress we meet Hope Westcott, a woman so shaped by tragedy in her past that she has let it define her attitudes towards herself, the men she meets, and God. Just as one major event changed the course of her life and another may have the chance to set it on an entirely new path… if she lets it. Captain Nathaniel Mason has always equated wealth with security. He is a decent, hard-working man who has literally built his shipping business with his own two hands. He is a leader with much to admire, but he is not following the voice of God because of his own fears and insecurities. The two meet when Hope has been put on the auction block by a dishonest Captain due to her own bad choices. Recognizing her as someone he knew from home, he can't stand by and see her sold off as a slave, but purchasing her costs him his ship and seems to be only the beginning of his bad luck. He's both drawn to her and yet repelled by her apparent lack of morals. She's grateful to him, and wants to be with him, and yet hates the condescending way he and the other people on the ship treat her. She always has relied on her charm and appearance to win over men and this seems only to drive him away and cause her more troubles on their journey. Unlike cookie cutter heroes and leading ladies, these two struggled with everything from outright jealousy, misunderstandings, not listening to God's leading, having their lives put in jeopardy, being betrayed by a friend… It was an exciting book and I never knew where the next chapter would lead. I wanted them to find happiness together, but I also had to pull for them to survive, to make peace with God, to outmaneuver the bad guys… The other characters were just as complex and wonderful as the two main characters.It was an adventurous, romantic tale that shouldn't be missed. I can't wait for the next installment.
~~~~~~~

This is one of the very first books I agreed to review. I had just read "The Red Siren" and was so thoroughly swept away by the adventure and romance that I approached the author myself when I heard her new book was coming out and she might be interested in people reviewing it. I was shocked when she agreed. I have to admit I lacked some patience while waiting for that package to arrive, but it didn't take me long to devour the book once it did.

If you'd like a chance to own it for yourself, there is a drawing on my website (listed in my profile) that will be held on the 15th of September.

I think sometimes inspirational fiction has stayed in the slow lane ~ making sure to avoid anything that might be... "unseemly." I don't want to write anything to cause anyone to stumble either, but I have to admit I love books like this - filled with action, passion, romance, integrity and truth. I don't think we need to settle for boring and bland in order to honor God. I think He's pleased by the creativity and spunk these authors (I could name quite a few lately) show too. When I grow up I hope to be like them.