AUTHOR: Stephanie Bearce
INFO: Paperback, 112 pages
PUBLISHED: Prufrock, 2015
SOURCE: LibraryThing Giveaway
FROM GOODREADS: Julius
Caesar was kidnapped by pirates and Sir Frances Drake was both a
swashbuckler and a knight, plundering ships in the name of the
British Crown, but you won't learn that in your history books!
Discover the truth about Anne Bonny, the Irish woman who was a true
Pirate of the Caribbean, the secrets of Calico Jack and Blackbeard,
and how kung fu monks were hired to try to fight off pirates. Then
learn how to talk like a pirate and make a buried treasure map for
your friends. It’s all part of the true stories from the Top Secret
Files: Pirates and Buried Treasure. Take a look if you dare, but be
careful! Some secrets are meant to stay hidden...
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stephanie Bearce is a writer, a teacher, and a history detective. She loves tracking down spies and uncovering secret missions from the comfort of her library in St. Charles, MO. When she isn't writing, Stephanie loves to travel the world and go on adventures with her husband, Darrell.
~~~~~ Disclaimer: All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own. I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links. I may receive books in order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one. Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.
TITLE: Quintspinner
AUTHOR/EDITOR: Dianne Greenlay
INFO: Paperback, Fiction, 324 pages
PUBLISHED: iUniverse, 2010
ISBN#: 978-1-4502-3397-2
HOW'D I GET IT: Received from Author for review
FROM GOODREADS: As the daughter of a London physician in 1717, sixteen-year-old Tess Willoughby has seen her share of horrors and been to some of the city's shadiest quarters. But a simple trip through the chaos of a London marketplace takes a bizarre twist. Tess witnesses the murder of a renowned elderly seer and unwittingly becomes the mistress of the woman's prophetic spinner ring. Even worse, Tess's panic-stricken trip home leads her to discover a secret family history that shocks Tess to her core. Unable to give up the bejeweled ring, Tess must embark on a treacherous voyage to the pirate-infested waters of the West Indies. Trapped on a merchant ship and unwillingly betrothed to the murderer who covets the power of her ring, Tess finds strength and comfort in the company of a handsome sailor, even though this growing temptation will most certainly jeopardize their lives. Even stranger, she soon realizes that even though her fiance is ruthless, he alone can secure her safety throughout their perilous journey. Thrust into a world she doesn't understand to fulfill a role she is only beginning to grasp, Tess questions everything she has believed up to now. Her only hope of saving those she loves is to accept her destiny. And yet, the strange influence of her spinner ring could change everything ... Full of high seas action, dangerous magic, and a dash of romance, Quintspinner is a swashbuckling adventure that twists and turns with the fury of a hurricane.
MY TAKE: I thought this was a fun and very entertaining book. It takes the reader from adventure to next, exciting adventure. The author created interesting characters that keep you interested in them and rooting for their success. We have the evil villain, the doctor, two headstrong young ladies, a farmer and his stubborn son, a wise old granny, and LOTS of Pirates! There are also several others including Gerta, whom I became especially fond of.
The plot was well thought out and I enjoyed the various locales we were taken to during the course of the story. It is obvious that Ms. Greenlay did a lot of research on the ships and the various terminology that goes along with them. This attention to detail adds to the charm of this story. Her medical background also shows in the writing of scenes between the doctor and the main character Tess while they are tending to various wounds and ailments.
Legend and mentions of the mysteries of the title "spinner rings" are weaved throughout this story. I wanted to learn more about them. While this book had a great ending, I think the author left room to continue with the storyline. I am really hoping there will be a second book as this has the beginnings of a really good series.
MY RATING: 3.75/5
WHERE TO BUY IT: Amazon
, The Book Depository
~~~~~ Disclaimer: All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own. I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews. I may receive books in order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one. Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.
