Sometimes I Write

A scorned woman longing for wealth, position, and the return of her son…

An obsessed pirate craving the love of the lady he once ravished…

A twisted nobleman seeking to capture a spurned woman’s heart…

And the intricate plot of vengeance that weaves their lives together…

Sound like a good movie? How about a good book? I just finished reading The Restitution by M.L. Tyndall. It is the third book in her Legacy of the King’s Pirates series, and my first pirate romance novel. I was a little leery of joining this blog tour. Not because I don’t yet have the pleasure of knowing Mary Lu personally, but because I hadn’t read the first two novels. There’s also the little tidbit about my previous stance on the romance genre in general. After reading it, I was glad I booked passage on Mary Lu’s adventurous and tumultuous journey in the Caribbean.  I was quickly caught up in her world of pirates, society, and life on the high seas.  Before I present my case in convincing you to read this book, watch this short video about it:

Are you convinced yet? Yes? Fabulous! My work is done here. What’s that? You want to know more about the story and why I liked it? O.K. Since you stuck around I’ll share…

The story begins with Isabel struggling to understand a God she doesn’t really know and why he would allow tragedy to befall her. She’s used to titles and position, but currently she is living a life she didn’t ask for due to another’s actions. If only this theme were exclusively bound into the pages of a book, but you and I know all too well that happens to us in real life too, doesn’t it? She struggles with many of the same issues we’ve all struggled with. Who am I when you strip away family, prestige, promise of a prosperous life, and all of the other outward signs of success in the pursuit of happiness? Can God really uproot the bitterness in my heart? How can I forgive acts of violence against me? Where are you God when I am suffering?

Like a ship on the waves of the sea, the tale shifts and we meet Captain Kent Carlton. He sounds like your everyday hero, but he’s not. He’s been the bad guy since the tale began in Book 1.  What work is God doing underneath his fierce exterior? Can he overcome his father wounds to trust the one Father who sees him for who he could and should be ? Can he win the forgiveness and the heart of the woman he loves? He has many choices to make and the wrong ones could cost him his child and possibly his future as a pirate captain.  After a life of taking what he wants and proudly wearing the badge of a fierce reputation, Captain Carlton faces an agonizing voyage of self-discovery and renewed purpose while trying to stave off a mutiny aboard his ship.

The wonderful characters in this book deal with some hard issues: Rape, disfigurement caused while performing a heroic act of service, racism, loyalty, doubt, dishonesty, revenge, fear, and my favorite one…forgiveness. No matter what you read, you tend to find the things you’re looking for in a book. I found heart pounding adventure, a fierce love story both between a mother and her child, and the woman and the man she must forgive, and a chest full of golden spiritual truths.

God is in the business of changing people from the inside out and offering a freedom and peace that nothing else in the world can offer. I saw some of my own transformation and growth while I was reading this novel.  I ached with Isabel as she searched for her child.  I watched from the deck of the ship as a battle ensued and Captain Carlton destroyed a Spanish vessel to rescue several slaves from it’s berth.  I got caught up in the awkwardness of a few characters praying without “knowing how”.  I marveled at the greatness of God as he reveals his glory and magnificence when He answers a prayer in a visual way so big He couldn’t be denied.  I love it when He does that!

M.L. Tyndall is an excellent writer and her works are well worth your time.  You can read more about her and her novels on her website.  Go check her out and leave a comment or question for her there or here.  I’d love to share her work, so I’m holding a drawing for a free copy of The Restitution. If you’d like to put your name in the hat, please email me, or leave me a comment on this post. I’ll hold the drawing on Friday morning and announce the lucky winner.  You can also purchase the book by clicking here or checking out your local Christian bookstore.  We’ll be seeing ye next time then mateys!