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Call of the Sea

by Rebecca Hart (Goodreads Author)

4.07 of 5 stars 4.07 · rating details · 84 ratings · 41 reviews

Elysandra Winters has always yearned for a life of adventure on the rolling seas and is willing to do whatever it takes to fulfill her dream. When her Privateer father continually refuses to allow his only daughter to sail, Ellie defies him, disguises herself as a boy, and goes in search of a captain who will give her a chance to prove her worth.

Thanks to the cursed selki...more

Paperback, 1st Edition, 323 pages

Published June 21st 2012 by Inkspell Publishing (first published June 20th 2012)

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Jun 08, 2012 Jill rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-debuts, fantasy-pnr-sci-fi-romance

3.5 stars

Daniel O’Roarke is a selkie, half-human half-seal. Kicked out of home by his father when he was ten, Daniel has spent the last three years in his selkie form. Tired and alone, and yearning to embrace his humanity again, Daniel applies for a job on board Captain Winters' ship the Siren's Call.

For Elysandra (Ellie), the ten year-old daughter of Captain Winters, her pull to the sea is so strong that she will defy her father to hide on board his ship. Swimming out to the ship at anchor, sh...more

11 likes · like · see review

Jun 14, 2012 Terri Rochenski rated it 5 of 5 stars

What a pleasure to read this without a week or so between chapters! Yes, I was blessed to be an early beta reader. I saw CotS in the rough. Not that it was really rough to begin with - unpolished if you will. ;)

Yummies: I thought I was caught up in the story before! The simplicity of Ms. Hart's writing makes for a super rich but easy read. No paragraph upon paragraph of exposition. Pure writing at its best - character, tension, & action. So, so good.
And what characters they are! Ellie is a s...more

9 likes · like · see review

Dec 10, 2012 Margaret rated it 5 of 5 stars

What a treasure to be found in this book with pirates, a selkie, adventure and a love story. I could feel the wind on my face and smell the salty sea right from the first page. Elysandra is a strong heroine that keeps you engaged and in anticipation of what she will do next. I really enjoyed this book and could not put it down.

4 likes · like · see review

Sep 25, 2012 Jenni Arndt rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc

You can read all of my reviews at Alluring Reads.

Actual rating is 3.5.

I have to be honest here, I went into this not expecting much, that cover was a total turn off for me. I'm still not a fan of the cover, and it's really too bad because I do think that it will be a turn off for potential readers (covers matter!) The story behind this cover was exceptionally good, I'll admit I had a hard time walking away from it to get stuff done around my house. Within these pages is a great paranormal romanc...more You can read all of my reviews at Alluring Reads.

Actual rating is 3.5.

I have to be honest here, I went into this not expecting much, that cover was a total turn off for me. I'm still not a fan of the cover, and it's really too bad because I do think that it will be a turn off for potential readers (covers matter!) The story behind this cover was exceptionally good, I'll admit I had a hard time walking away from it to get stuff done around my house. Within these pages is a great paranormal romance tale that will most definitely take you by surprise.

I am not one for historical books, as a matter of fact I tend to run from them like the plague but the idea of pirates and a kickass heroine sucked me in. To show how little I knew going into this novel I'll let you in on a secret; I thought "selkie" was another name for a pirate! Well, as you can deduce, when I realised that one of our MC's was a seal and he shifted into a human I was more than a little surprised.

As I mentioned the thing that drew me to this story was how strong I pictured Elysandra Winters to be and she was just that. Ellie had the strength to go after what she wanted even though she had an immense amount of obstacles in her way. In that time women were seen as bad luck on a ship and her dream was to work on a ship, despite this she went after her dream and became a well respected privateer. She was also very protective of her heart, she wasn't about to give it to just anyone and in my eyes Daniel was the right guy for that. Daniel was a sweet, caring character that I fell for almost immediately. Yes, he was half seal and that was kind of weird but his intense need to protect Ellie at all cost's was endearing. The romance between these two is quite sweet and it grows very strong, leading to a very 18+ scene, so this one is definitely not for the kiddos! One thing that I longed for in this character was more knowledge of his selkie side. Often Daniel thought about how, when in his seal form, he was paying his debt for the year, but this debt is never explained. I would have liked to have known more of the selkie lore so that I knew exactly what he was referring to.

The novel has great pacing and it keeps you sucked in but the ending felt quite abrupt and rushed. There was so much substance in the middle when they were back in Newquay and then their final mission is limited to very few pages. I would have liked to have seen more of a struggle to achieve their goal, after all that build up I felt a little robbed by the ending. Despite my few complaints I still recommend this one to anyone looking for something a little different. The premise was unique and the story was engrossing.

A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. (less)

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Aug 06, 2012 Kelsey rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: debut, paranormal-supernatural, mermaids-sirens-selkies, for-review-netgalley-arcs

I was so excited to read this book because it had two of my favorite things ever, Pirates and half-human half-sea creatures (in this case a selkie, but I love mermaids, selkies, sirens etc). I was very fortunate enough to receive an ARC ebook of Call of the Sea from Rebecca Hart(thank you)!
I really enjoyed this book, when it was over I was disappointed. It started of a little slow for me in the beginning but once I got into it I couldn't put it down.
The writing was excellent and I really enjoye...more

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Oct 01, 2012 Cecilia Robert rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal

I'm a fan of stories set at sea, so Call Of The Sea was an enjoyable read for me.

Elysandra is headstrong and impulsive and adventurous. Daniel is patient, adores Elysandra and works for her father. And he is a Selkie. I love Selkies, interesting creatures. It was great reading how they first met, see them fall inlove years later.
I felt that it took long to get to the story's main action, and the ending came too soon. It's a wonderful romantic and adventures story nonetheless.

I like Ms Hart's wr...more

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May 22, 2012 Jane rated it 4 of 5 stars

This not my usual type but that cover is gorgeous and I just HAD to read it. When there was a posting for ARC reviews I jumped at the chance and was lucky enough that Rebecca sent me a copy.

This book was everything I don't usually like, it was written in third person and it was set back in the 1600's.However I LOVED IT!! I fell in love with Elysandra, I can't imagine what it would be like to be a young woman who wanted to follow her dreams only to have your sex dictate what you can do. She was...more

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Jun 19, 2012 Megan (Book Brats) rated it 4 of 5 stars

CALL OF THE SEA came recommended by an email I received from the book’s publicist. I had not heard of this book before she reached out and let me know about it, and now I just have to send a big thanks to Kelly for telling me about this. CALL OF THE SEA is one of those low key books that rises up and becomes something more, something almost spectacular, but something about it just fell a little short to me. Nevertheless, I loved this story and can’t wait to read more by Rebecca Hart. I finished...more CALL OF THE SEA came recommended by an email I received from the book’s publicist. I had not heard of this book before she reached out and let me know about it, and now I just have to send a big thanks to Kelly for telling me about this. CALL OF THE SEA is one of those low key books that rises up and becomes something more, something almost spectacular, but something about it just fell a little short to me. Nevertheless, I loved this story and can’t wait to read more by Rebecca Hart. I finished it in about 90 minutes and came away with such a bright smile on my face, but let me just say that I wanted to know more! MORE MORE MORE!

Following young Ellie, the daughter of a captain who wants nothing more than to be a captain, and the cursed selkie Daniel, CALL OF THE SEA takes place in the time of pirates and privateers, wars between the Dutch and English, evil masterminds in Gibraltar and selkies. SELKIES. Side note, my ancestor was captured by the Dutch in this war. Last British admiral ever captured by the enemy. He wasn’t very good at his job.

The back stories for Daniel and Ellie were probably my favorite part, especially since it is intricately woven into the story – mostly because it was part of the story itself. We start off with their childhoods – Ellie at age 10, saved from drowning by a seal who becomes her friend, never knowing that this seal is actually a boy whom she loathes for taking her place in her father’s crew. And Ellie was a girl after my own heart. I felt for her and her troubles – her desperation to succeed, her adoration for her father, her anger at Daniel betraying her.

But this isn’t just a story about a 10 year old girl and her seal friend. The story evolves and we go through several periods in Ellie’s life – her parents sending her to finishing school to keep her safe, her decision to sneak away and become a cabin boy, her realization that her father still loves her. And Daniel! Can you say swoon? I loved Daniel. He was multilayered and complex, complete with his own problems and desires, his caring of Ellie and his desire to protect her family and the man who took him under his wing.

And there is fighting! Canons, swords, guns, bickering!

This is a story with emotion AND action. What more can a girl ask for? In this story that blends genres and age categories, from middle grade to new adult, there were a few LITTLE nitpicks I had. Like the romance…

Yes, I loved Daniel, and yes, I loved Ellie, but together? Maybe it just felt rushed to me, like they just suddenly decided they had to be together and VOILA! They were together and happy. And like the romance, at 278 pages this one feels a bit short and rushed. Maybe there could have been a bit more description – the story focused on the characters more than the setting, even if the setting was well done. I just wanted to know more about this world and curses! Just a little more fleshing out would have done the story wonders.

VERDICT: If you are looking for a quick, delightful summer read with action, romance, and a setting to die for, I think you will have a lot to love about CALL OF THE SEA. Give this one a shot. You might be surprised.(less)

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Sep 21, 2012 Annabelle Blume rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm completely new to the world of Selkies, but that made the entire premise fresh and new for me. Ellie is stubborn and determined to a fault, just the way I love my heroines. I'd rather read about a headstrong heroine who stops at nothing to go after what she wants *any day* over a simpering, spineless girl who crumbles as soon as the hot guy shows up.

Speaking of hot guys, Daniel is smokin'! I loved that he could come up against Ellie's fiery passion toe-to-toe and not back down. He's exactly...more

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Oct 30, 2012 Rebecca Espinoza marked it as put-on-hold

This seems to be well written from what I have read so far, but I keep getting distracted from it and not giving it the attention it deserves right now. I am putting it on hold for a bit and will come back to it shortly. :0)

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 25, 2012 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'll be honest. This is the first Adult book I've ever read. I'm a YA girl through and through.
So how did I like this particular break from YA?
I've got one thing to say.
I picked a pretty great book to introduce me to the Adult book scene!
I really enjoyed this read. This book was a whole new set of firsts for me.
My first peek at the adult book world. My first book about selkies. My first book about pirates.
LOVED IT ALL!
The story kept me thrilled. The romance was great. And the overall advent...more

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May 15, 2012 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Let me start by saying I love selkies, and pirates are pretty awesome too. So, when I had the opportunity to read a romance between a girl pirate and a male selkie, I could hardly wait. Call of the Sea, by Rebecca Hart, was the romantic adventure I hoped it to be.

Right from the start, the main character, Ellie, got my attention with her headstrong impulsiveness. In a time where women were raised to be chattel, she longed for her independence, and, most of all, to explore the open sea.

But it was...more

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May 18, 2012 Julie Reece rated it 5 of 5 stars

So what did I think? Awesome. This book made me smile. Ms. Hart expertly combines all the best ingredients for an engaging story with a satisfying end, (though I wanted more). First, the headstrong, independent heroine, Ellie, who knows who she is, wants she wants and doesn’t mince words about it. Next is Daniel, our hero. He’s handsome, intelligent and tough, but with a good dose of integrity and a hint of vulnerability to round him out perfectly.

The pair starts out as childhood friends, and w...more

5 likes · like · see review

Sep 23, 2012 Amaleen Ison rated it 4 of 5 stars

Call of the Sea is a swashbuckling fest of adventure and romance.

Ms Hart’s writing is breath-taking at times, sumptuous in description, and layered with enough authentic detail to fully immerse the reader in the seventeenth century. There’s a poetic style to the writing, a quality that makes the prose unique and exciting.

The female lead, Elysandra (Ellie), is one feisty female. We meet her as a stubborn, self-possessed child and watch her grow into an equally spirited adult who’s not afraid to m...more

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Jul 18, 2012 Stephanie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Original Post CALL OF THE SEA is Young at Heart and Unsophisticated at Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust7/18/2012

Call of the Sea
by Rebecca Hart
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Inkspell Publishing
June 21, 2012
Paperback: 336 pages
Kindle: 365 KB/224 pages
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Elysandra Winters has always yearned for a life of adventure on the rolling seas and is willing to do whatever it takes to fulfill her dream. When her Privateer father continually refuses to allow his only daugh

...more

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Jun 20, 2012 Rebecca rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

Call of The Sea

I requested and received an ARC copy of “Call of the Sea” through Goodreads.

This romance is a rollicking good time for the reader, and a quick, easy-to-read novel. You have your spunky heroine and chiseled hero. You have the initial antagonism between the two, which, of course, transforms during the course of the novel.

Those are givens. The meat and originality comes in the details. Spunky Ellie (her full name is Elysandra) is a child at the beginning, which I like. I like seeing...more

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May 16, 2012 Sandra "Jeanz" rated it 4 of 5 stars

BLURB from Goodreads
Elysandra Winters has always yearned for a life of adventure on the rolling seas and is willing to do whatever it takes to fulfill her dream. When her Privateer father continually refuses to allow his only daughter to sail, Ellie defies him, disguises herself as a boy, and goes in search of a captain who will give her a chance to prove her worth.

Thanks to the cursed selkie blood coursing through his veins, Daniel O'Rourke needs the sea to survive. After giving up on his human...more BLURB from Goodreads
Elysandra Winters has always yearned for a life of adventure on the rolling seas and is willing to do whatever it takes to fulfill her dream. When her Privateer father continually refuses to allow his only daughter to sail, Ellie defies him, disguises herself as a boy, and goes in search of a captain who will give her a chance to prove her worth.

Thanks to the cursed selkie blood coursing through his veins, Daniel O'Rourke needs the sea to survive. After giving up on his humanity and spending three years in seal form, he decides to give his human side another chance. Daniel goes in search of a job and a sense of normalcy, earning himself a position aboard Captain Winter’s ship, The Siren's Call. However, his new captain’s first assignment has nothing at all to do with sailing, and everything to do with his headstrong young daughter.

Years later, when the leader of a band of bloodthirsty pirates murders Captain Winters, Daniel and Elysandra’s lives come crashing back together with the force of a hurricane. Both experts in deception, they must find a way to trust each other if they are to have any hope of hunting down the captain’s killer.

MY REVIEW
Firstly I have to say I like the cover it really does fit the book. The female on the front cover is Elysandra dressed in her "going to sea" gear. Theres a ship in the background that could be either The Sirens Call or The Surf Runner.
Now the book....I loved it. to be totally honest I was unsure if I would really like it as it features pirates, but I loved it. The main character is Elysandra, a strong female lead character who takes no hassle form anyone including pirates! I thought the"love" plot was nicely done and not rushed, you felt the build up to relationship. I on't know how to explain it, other than to say you feel very included in this book as if you are there watching the story unfold before your own eyes. You feel Elysandra's desperation to go to see, but you also feel her parents worry! Elysandra is probably what some would call a tomboy, I prefer to say a woman with a mind of her own. When her father is killed Elysandra is determined to have her revenge with or without help from anyone else.
I also enjoyed the selkie part of the tale especially nearer the end when Daniel is in his "seql form" trying to rescue Elysandra. I won't say anymore you will know what I mean when you read the book.
**WARNING* The book does have a sexual scene within it so is not suitable for younger readers **
Having said the above warning don't let those of you old enough from reading this book as the scene is within the context of the plot and not overly erotic (I don't read erotica!)
The book kind of deals with the idea of prejudice, as in what people think about Selkies. Nelson and Captain winters and his wife know they exist and can interact with them, bit Daniels own father called him an abomination and threw him out of his home at the first opportunity after his mother died.
Will there be more books in this series? Well the loose ends are sort of tied up in a way it could be left, however I am sure Daniel and Elysandra could have lots more adventures at sea and on land.
So did I enjoy the book? Loved it. Would I read more by Rebecca Hart/ in a Call Of The Sea series? Yes & Yes! Do I recommend this book? Yes but due to sexual content to older teens and adults only.

Expected Publication 21st of June 2012, so put it on your to-buy lists now!(less)

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Jun 20, 2012 Pamela rated it 5 of 5 stars

Rating 4.5

At the age of ten, Daniel's father kicks him out after the death of his mother. After three years on his own, he spies Captain Winters' returning home from a stint at sea to celebrate his daughter Ellie's tenth birthday. That only saddens Daniel, wishing that he's had a loving father like Ellie's. So Daniel decides to shed his sealskin and ask Captain Winters for a job on his ship.

Ellie has always wanted to be a privateer like her father. And although Michael Winters knows how his daug...more Rating 4.5

At the age of ten, Daniel's father kicks him out after the death of his mother. After three years on his own, he spies Captain Winters' returning home from a stint at sea to celebrate his daughter Ellie's tenth birthday. That only saddens Daniel, wishing that he's had a loving father like Ellie's. So Daniel decides to shed his sealskin and ask Captain Winters for a job on his ship.

Ellie has always wanted to be a privateer like her father. And although Michael Winters knows how his daughter yearn to be at sea, she is just too young. When Daniel saves Ellie, Michael realizes that he's a selkie, and instead of taking him with him on his next trip, he gives Daniel the tasks of looking out for Ellie while he's gone. But after five years, Ellie's had enough and takes matters into her own hands.

This books has some awesome characters in it. I loved the interaction between Ellie and Daniel, Daniel and Captain Winters, Ellie and her mother Amelia, and Ellie and Nelson, a sailor on Captain Harris' ship whom she meets when she runs away. Nelson realizes that Ellie (going by the name of Ellis) is not a boy like she pretends to be, and he befriends her, keeps her secret, and protects her.

From the moment that Daniel saw Ellie that first day, he loved her, but he never told her. Not until ten years later after Captain Winters is killed. But he's afraid of telling Ellie his secret for fear she won't accept him if she knew. Not only is Daniel hiding things from Ellie, so was her father. And Daniel doesn't want to taint Ellie's memory of her father by having her find out.

One thing that I really would have liked to read more about was Daniel's selkie side, and there were a few errors, but nothing that was too distracting. Plus, I really, really would have liked to read more about Daniel and Ellie, so I'm hoping that there is a sequel in the works.

Call of the Sea is swashbuckling adventure on the high seas. There is action, mystery, betrayal, adventure and romance. Once I started reading, I didn't want to put it down. There were nail biting moments, funny moments, and sad moments that had me in tears. I definitely recommend it!

** I received an eARC copy of the book from InkSpell Publishing for review.** (less)

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Jun 11, 2012 Kristen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, fantasy, magical, myths, romance, shapeshifters

GENRE: Fantasy
THEME: Selkie
RECEIVED: Received for review for Tour
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/

REVIEW:
I haven’t read many or enough stories based on the legend of Selkies, but every time I do I always enjoy them. Rebecca Hart brings to life a story about two people who are very different but are brought together by their love of the sea.

Elysandra (Ellie) is the daughter of a Captain; her love of the sea at a young age has made her wish for a life like her fathers. But her parents have di...more GENRE: Fantasy
THEME: Selkie
RECEIVED: Received for review for Tour
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/

REVIEW:
I haven’t read many or enough stories based on the legend of Selkies, but every time I do I always enjoy them. Rebecca Hart brings to life a story about two people who are very different but are brought together by their love of the sea.

Elysandra (Ellie) is the daughter of a Captain; her love of the sea at a young age has made her wish for a life like her fathers. But her parents have different plans for her, thus causing Ellie to run away disguised as young boy on another ship. Then there is Daniel who lives with the curse of having Selkie blood and needs to be near the ocean to survive, he meets Ellies father who assigns him a task he couldn’t refused.

Call of the Sea follows both Ellie and Daniel as children all the way to their adult years. After Daniel saves Ellie from drowning, he applies for a job on her fathers ship called the Sirens Call. While Ellie is sent of to school after the incident, which later makes her run away. Years later the two meet up again and their adventure at sea begins.

Ellie at age ten is a strong and very much a tomboy. Just like her father she wants to be at the sea and as she grows older becomes frustrated with not being allowed to be like her father. Ellie disguises herself as a boy at age fifteen and continues on her journey until twenty without anyone knowing. I enjoyed Ellie as the lead character, no matter what she wouldn’t give up on her dream and wanted to prove she could be apart of the crew. The only part I was iffy on was that know one noticed she was a girl for five years.

Daniel is cursed with Selkie blood and he forms a bond with Ellie, little known to her, in his selkie form. As he gets older he becomes very devoted to helping Ellies father find his missing daughter. When they meet again in the future their connection is instant and I enjoyed every scene with them together. I found it interesting how Hart describe Daniels transformation, into his Selkie form, which was very detailed and gave an understanding to what Daniel is.

Overall this story was fun and full of action and lots of romance. My only issue was the ending didn’t feel finished. It definitely was left to show that there is more to come but was almost rushed. Nonetheless I want to know what is next for Daniel and Ellie because now they have a whole knew future ahead of them. I don’t want to give away too much more, but I recommend this as a great summer read.

RECOMMENDATION:
This is a mature young adult story with some sexual content meant for mature readers. Fans of mythological creatures of the sea will not want to miss out on Call of the Sea by Rebecca Hart.
(less)

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May 19, 2012 Summer Ross rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ms. Hart wrote a truly engaging tale of a girl named Ellie who is different from most other girls in her time. Ellie transforms into a courageous and independent woman through the course of the novel. The interaction between Ellie and her selkie love interest, Daniel, tangled with revenge and both main characters call of the sea. I truly enjoyed the double play on the idea of the call of the sea and how it can be different for everyone. Ellie’s call came from her desire to be like her father, it...more

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Feb 02, 2013 Regan Walker rated it 4 of 5 stars

4 and 1/2 Stars! Unusual 17th Century Historical Romance on the High Seas—Pirates, Privateers and a Selkie!

Set in the 17th century in England, Gibraltar and on the sea, this is the story of Elysandra (“Ellie”) Winters, the young daughter of a ship’s captain who has always wanted to join her father in his life at sea. Daniel O'Rourke, who lives part of his life in the sea as a selkie, upon seeing the love between the 10 year-old Ellie and her father, decides to take a job with Ellie’s father on h...more

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May 26, 2012 Erica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Oh my golly, I just loved Call of the Sea by Rebecca Hart! What a delightful little gem of a fantasy novel this one was! With her debut novel, Rebecca Hart takes a new look at the myth of the selkie, all wrapped up in a wonderful story of pirates and sailors.

Call of the Sea took a bit to get into. There was a lot of set up and world building going on in the first half of the book. Then the story just took off from there. The story was so intriguing. Call of the Sea is told in dual perspectives...more

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Jun 16, 2012 DJL rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, romance, action

Originally posted on my blog, DJ Librarian Dishes

All Elysandra Winters desires to do is to sail the seas aboard her father's ship, The Siren's Call. The sea is in her blood and even as a child, Ellie can hear it calling to her. However, her father has other plans for his fiery daughter when he hires young Daniel O'Rourke as the new cabin boy to serve on The Siren's Call. When Ellie doesn't take this news well, Captain Winters gives a new task to Daniel which in turn further entwines the paths of...more Originally posted on my blog, DJ Librarian Dishes

All Elysandra Winters desires to do is to sail the seas aboard her father's ship, The Siren's Call. The sea is in her blood and even as a child, Ellie can hear it calling to her. However, her father has other plans for his fiery daughter when he hires young Daniel O'Rourke as the new cabin boy to serve on The Siren's Call. When Ellie doesn't take this news well, Captain Winters gives a new task to Daniel which in turn further entwines the paths of his daughter and his new cabin boy over the next ten years.

Ellie is one of the most headstrong and stubborn heroines I have had the opportunity to find in a debut title. She knows what she wants and she's willing to do what it takes in order to get what she wants, even if it means disobeying her father. I admire Ellie for that trait, yet it's also a bit worrisome that it will make her blunder into danger. This is actually why she has someone like Daniel to help look after her, especially since he is nearly as stubborn as her. I was smitten with Daniel right from his introduction until the very last page from his loyalty to Captain Winters to his growing fondness of Ellie. So what if he has to change into a seal one month out of the year? These two were definitely made for each other even with Ellie's initial reservations while she was so focused on her own goals rather than looking at the overall picture.

I haven't read much in the way of selkie folklore, and I'm happy to say that Rebecca Hart's is the first novel I've read featuring selkies as the supernatural element. Hart's descriptions of Daniel's various transformations either from seal to human or from human to seal were rather detailed, and I found myself almost cringing with the cracking of bones. It added a sense of realism to the selkie's transformation that goes beyond just magically changing into another form. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more novels that feature selkies.

While the first part of the story is a bit slow, the pace picks up as soon as Ellie makes a break for the sea, soon sending her father and Daniel in search of her. Readers who enjoy a high-seas adventure story with supernatural and romantic elements won't be disappointed with Call of the Sea.

Obligatory statement: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and received no monetary compensation for my review.(less)

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Jun 24, 2012 Katie Tuccelli rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, blog-tour

I must admit, I was very surprised by Call of the Sea - in a good way. I was a bit turned off by the girl on the cover, but the synopsis is what intrigued me the most. A fiery female character is sure to provide loads of entertainment, and then you throw in pirates, selkies, romance, and murder? I'm in! I am glad to say that Rebecca Hart writes an intriguing story; one that draws you in, almost against your will, and keeps you hanging on to the very last word.

Elysandra "Ellie" Winters was a fabu...more I must admit, I was very surprised by Call of the Sea - in a good way. I was a bit turned off by the girl on the cover, but the synopsis is what intrigued me the most. A fiery female character is sure to provide loads of entertainment, and then you throw in pirates, selkies, romance, and murder? I'm in! I am glad to say that Rebecca Hart writes an intriguing story; one that draws you in, almost against your will, and keeps you hanging on to the very last word.

Elysandra "Ellie" Winters was a fabulous, but certainly flawed, character. I liked her from the very first few pages, when she decks a boy right in his nose for telling her that she could never be a privateer. I hope my own little girl is an independent firecracker like Ellie - minus the violence, of course. I could feel her frustration with being limited to a dreary life on land, while her father and other boys and men are allowed to gallavant across the high seas. While I admired Ellie's strong-headedness, much of the decisions she made throughout the story were purely selfish. She didn't really think about how her actions would affect others, nor did she stop to consider the situation when someone made her mad or disappointed her. However, this is pretty typical for a young girl, and I was glad to see that Ellie progressed in maturity by the end of the story.

Ellie's relationship with Daniel began sweetly and naturally, and progressed with a fiery passion that eventually culmunated in a very hot bedroom scene. Daniel was the type of male love interest I love to see in Young Adult and New Adult novels. He was intelligent, a hard-worker, loyal, loving, honest, and most of all, completely willing to be Ellie's partner and not her boss. It would take a very understanding yet stubborn man to be Ellie's match, and Daniel certainly fit the bill. I had a grin on my face a couple times during their arguing and bantering.

I enjoyed the brief moments where the book explored the selkie lore. One of my favorite movies growing up was The Secret of Roan Inish, which focuses on the fabled Irish selkies and their curse. So, it was nice to see the selkies get a bit of primetime in the book, but I will say that if you didn't already know what they are, you may be a little lost. I had a rather hilarious chat with my friend, Jenni at AlluringReads, as she read Call of the Sea and tried to figure out exactly what a selkie is.

As for the action and the setting, Call of the Sea does not disappoint. I thought that Rebecca Hart's research really shone in the descriptions of Newquay, England and of the ships themselves. I could practically smell the briny air and hear the bustle of the wharf as privateers and captains prepared to go to sea. There were a few action scenes, where the pirates overtake a boat, and where the pirates themselves are overtaken. These were rather brief, but will satisfy anyone who loves a little adventure in their stories.

I was a little bothered by the ending of Call of the Sea. After such a dramatic build-up throughout the story, I felt that the ending was very rushed and things worked out almost a little too conveniently. However, not everyone has a happy ending, so I think many will be perfectly pleased with how things turn out for Ellie and Daniel. There were some timing/continuity issues as well, but I was reading an ARC, so hopefully those will have been caught and taken care of in the final version.

Overall, Call of the Sea was an entertaining, engrossing read, perfect for a relaxing weekend on the beach or at the park. The story moves along rather quickly and smoothly, and you will find yourself caught up in the pages, having lost track of time. I look forward to seeing what other unique stories Rebecca Hart has in store for her readers!

*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via InkSlinger PR/InkSpell Publishing in exchange for an honest review.(less)

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Jun 19, 2012 Marla rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, arcs, books-read-in-2012, fantasy, historical-fiction, historical-romance, romance, selkies

This review appears on my blog, Starting the Next Chapter.

The seas often hold more than meets the eye. Elysandra Winters is about to learn this first-hand thanks to Daniel, a young man with a surprising secret: he's a selkie, and he has just signed on to work for Elysandra's father, Captain Winters. As the two come into and out of each other's lives thanks to Elysandra's determination to go out to sea, the foundation is laid for a surprising future. When Ellie disguises herself as a boy and take...more This review appears on my blog, Starting the Next Chapter.

The seas often hold more than meets the eye. Elysandra Winters is about to learn this first-hand thanks to Daniel, a young man with a surprising secret: he's a selkie, and he has just signed on to work for Elysandra's father, Captain Winters. As the two come into and out of each other's lives thanks to Elysandra's determination to go out to sea, the foundation is laid for a surprising future. When Ellie disguises herself as a boy and takes on a job as a cabin boy for a rival captain, it is up to Captain Winters and Daniel to find her. However, tragedy strikes, leaving Ellie and Daniel to come to an accord... one that Captain Winters may have wanted all along. In this romance set on the high seas, fantasy becomes reality in many ways as love takes sail and the mysteries of the sea wash up on the tide. Get ready, for you'll never look at the ocean the same way again.

Elysandra is a character with one driving force that influences everything. Her need to live a life of freedom on the sea is her biggest motivator and, as such, pushes her toward both some beneficial events and huge mistakes. She is a stubborn girl with a fiery temper who won't back down no matter what. Her indomitable spirit makes her an interesting character to follow, even in her most frustrating moments. Daniel, on the other hand, complements her very well. While he possesses a temper of his own, he also has a knack for being levelheaded that is a great boon to Elysandra when she is at her most temperamental. These characters just played off of each other very well and made for an engaging dialog that kept the story moving along at a great clip.

The premise for Call of the Sea is very appealing in both its setting and plot. The descriptions of the surroundings and the workings of the ships were so vivid and easily pictured and the storyline was engaging. However, I did find that the timing was a bit rushed at times, especially at the beginning of the book as the years of Elysandra's childhood fly by rapidly, and nearing the end of the story when the big conflict takes place and then is over in what seems like the blink of an eye. While it is great that the story isn't overly bogged down by unneeded details, a slower pacing and more set-up for major events would have gone a long way toward making the story feel less like I skimmed over integral parts.

It is always wonderful to come across a story of romance with such a novel perspective as Call of the Sea. Having only ever read two books that feature selkies, it's very refreshing to have had the chance to read a new offering. Call of the Sea is a fun, romantic, whimsical novel that made for a very enjoyable experience. Though it has been a long time since I read a romance novel, I'm glad to have read this one, as I found its premise to be very appealing. If you're interested in fantasy with nice helpings of romance and hints of mythology and folklore, Call of the Sea could be the book for you. It makes for a great summertime read thanks to its imaginative storyline and nautical adventures.

Obligatory legal statement: This advance review copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.(less)

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Jun 25, 2012 Hannah Courtney rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ellie Winters longs for the sea and would do almost anything to live her life on it, including running away from boarding school and starting a new life as Ellis. Call of the Sea by Rebecca Hart starts out with a sweet and gentle pace, but once Ellie and Daniel collide as adults the story gets rolling. Daniel happens to be a young selkie man with a tragic past who is in love with Ellie. Ellie is a stubborn young woman with a steadfast head on her shoulders that refuses to admit she loves Daniel....more

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Jun 23, 2012 Maureen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: romantic-adventure, romantic-novel, fiction

Congratulations Becca! What a great story! I thoroughly enjoyed the book from the beginning to the end! Couldn't put my Kindle down! Took me less than 2 days to devour the story! Didn't know how I'd feel about the pirating parts, but I even enjoyed those! I have enjoyed books and movies about selkies and Daniel being one piqued my interest even more! You sure had me wanting more at the end! Hopefully, you've already started the sequel :) I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good Ro...more

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Sep 01, 2012 Arlena rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-stars, a-good-book, fantasy, my-reviews

Author: Rebecca Hart
Published By: InkSpell Publishing
Age Recommended: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 4
Blog For: GMTA
Review:

"Call of the Sea" by Rebecca Hart was a very enjoyable fantasy, romance read. This author did a wonderful job with the mythological of the selkie...with pirates, sailors, romance and murder. This novel was of two different people who are brought together from childhood to adulthood by their love of the sea. The novel starts may start out a little slow however, it pick...more

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Jun 24, 2012 Penumbra rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 251-plus-pages, arr-making-connections, character-shifters, children-or-pregnancy, format-ebook, ending-dont-like-it, flaw-lacks-character-development, free-ebook, het, het-romance, ending-hea, historical-het-romance, erotic-het, erotica, main-character-i-wanna-smack, own, pov-adult-female, pov-adult-male, pov-multiple-viewpoints, pov-switches-viewpoint, pov-teenage-male, pov-teenage-female, pov-third-person, pov-young-female, pov-young-male, read-in-2012, reviewed, reviewers-requested, romance, shifters, shifters-aquatic, books-i-rate-low-that-others-love

I received this book through the Making Connections ARR Group for an honest review, thank you.

(view spoiler)...more

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Apr 19, 2012 Stephanie Lawton rated it 5 of 5 stars

Equal parts romance and adventure, CALL OF THE SEA is 100% kick-ass! As a reader who appreciates strong female characters, I instantly fell in love with Ellie's determination and tomboy stubbornness, as well as her vulnerabilities--especially her weak spot for her family.

CALL is well-plotted, perfectly paced and the voices are spot-on. All the historical details ring true, yet the story is completely accessible to a modern audience. And although the story centers on the pirating life, there's n...more

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About Rebecca Hart

Im a self made IT geek, single parent and reformed RPG/gaming junkie living in the rolling hills of upstate NY (you know-where you can smell cows and it takes a ten minute drive to buy a gallon of milk).

When I am not at work with my head buried in a PC, I am at home or camp with my nose buried in a laptop writing.

** I didn't write Full Circle Home or Soul's Road, but no matter how many times I ask...more

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