The Red Siren (Charles Towne Belles, #1)

Jan 17, 2009 Holly (2 Kids and Tired) rated it 3 of 5 stars

After her mother's death, and after her tyrant of a father marries off her eldest sister to a lecherous man who will ultimately inherit their estate, Faith Westcott turns to piracy in order to amass a fortune that will provide for her and her sisters. Early in her piracy career as the infamous Red Siren, she captures the ship belonging to Captain Dajon Waite.

Several years later, now living in colonial Carolina, Faith's father has arranged for her to marry Sir Wilhelm Carteret, a man she does not...more

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Jan 19, 2009 Carol rated it 2 of 5 stars

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Jan 20, 2009 Mrs. rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: from-giveaways

I must preface this by saying I do not read romance novels. I believe love is a wonderful gift, but these sappy books full of unreal characters and too-good-to-be-true endings (after the conflict, of course) just don't do it for me. But I did win this book through goodreads.com, so I read it.

I made four predictions, and three of them came true. The fourth, well, I would have to read the next book in the series to find that one out, but I imagine it will work out the way I imagined. The predictio...more I must preface this by saying I do not read romance novels. I believe love is a wonderful gift, but these sappy books full of unreal characters and too-good-to-be-true endings (after the conflict, of course) just don't do it for me. But I did win this book through goodreads.com, so I read it.

I made four predictions, and three of them came true. The fourth, well, I would have to read the next book in the series to find that one out, but I imagine it will work out the way I imagined. The predictions, without giving too much away, involve Faith's relationship with her father, Faith's true love (obvious, but nonetheless), Faith's lost faith in God, and Faith's aversion of marriage. It was the first prediction I have yet to see the conclusion of. So yes, the plot was incredibly obvious, which was really distracting.

My next problem had to do with the characters. These were some of the most cliche characters I have ever seen. The loving/knowing/sassy servant, the tough but sizzling man, the stubborn but vulnerable main character. And honestly, I couldn't really like anyone. Faith was annoying ... she was selfish, snobby, and foolish. I didn't like her at all. And honestly, she didn't really have a personality. She was always role-playing; either as a pirate woman or a woman playing dumb for the men in her life. She was supposedly sooooo unique that we should be proud, but instead, it's an insult. The romance was not real at all, and I didn't feel anything for this couple. The "evil" character is written just as one would imagine - a sinister laugh, a lecherous grin, a cold touch. I imagine him in a cape with red eyes and pointy teeth, as well. However, he only appeared on occasion, when the story needed to throw another wrench in the path of the lovers, so his evilness only existed for perhaps thirty of the three-hundred plus pages.

And I was just thinking about the annoying obvious name choices in this story: Faith has lost that very concept in her life (will she EVER believe in God again?!) And in the next books, if I were to guess, Hope has lost all Hope in her life and Grace will feel she is a curse? Chastity, the sister we haven't met who is married to an evil man, either has an ironic name or perhaps she is the most innocent of them all, trapped in a marriage to a man who raped her sister. I imagine that each of the following books will follow one sister and they will deal with their relationships with God and the men they love in a way that reflects their name. I am not ragging on the fact that this is a Christian Romantic Novel (if that is even a genre) but must it be so ... preachy?

My last complaint was the writing. Within fifty pages, I was noting annoying repetitive phrases such as "coy grin", "sinister grin", "sly wink", "sly look." I actually wrote these down, so yes, certain adjectives were being recycled. If I had the time, I would go back and count the word "grin" and "sigh" just to prove how annoying it was. This story was like a soap opera, with everyone sighing, gasping, grinning, blushing, every other line. People didn't say things, they shouted them. It was overly dramatic and that does NOT lead to the setting of a particular mood, etc.

I apologize to lovers of romance novels. They sell well, and there are thousands and thousands of different titles to choose from. However, I am sure that some of them are actually written decently and have plots worth caring about. I read the whole book because that was the point in winning it, but I have absolutely no intention of reading another one from this series.(less)

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Aug 09, 2010 Frank rated it 5 of 5 stars

M.L. Tyndall is home. The Christy Award finalist has returned to her beloved sea and pirate novels. As if to reflect her homecoming, the title of Tyndall’s newest novel returns to the name of a ship: The Red Siren.

The Lady Em is a merchant vessel returning from the Gold Coast with a load of Ivory, gold and pepper. After surviving the African pirate-infested waters of 1713 all the way to Portsmouth England, Captain Dajon Waite encounters a burning ship. This son of a successful merchant seeking D...more M.L. Tyndall is home. The Christy Award finalist has returned to her beloved sea and pirate novels. As if to reflect her homecoming, the title of Tyndall’s newest novel returns to the name of a ship: The Red Siren.

The Lady Em is a merchant vessel returning from the Gold Coast with a load of Ivory, gold and pepper. After surviving the African pirate-infested waters of 1713 all the way to Portsmouth England, Captain Dajon Waite encounters a burning ship. This son of a successful merchant seeking Dad’s approval ignores his father’s standing rule—stop for no reason—when he gives orders to assist the smoking vessel, and save a seemingly distressed red-headed beauty on deck. After all, no sane pirates would work the British navy’s home waters.

The red-head turns out to be a pirate captain, whose gimmick is feigning trouble with a smoking burn-barrel on deck, tricking merchants into pulling alongside for the raiding. Not only is Dajon’s cargo pillaged, the Lady Em is transformed into the pirate’s newest ship. While the action pacing of Tyndall’s fifth novel is more sedate than her rollercoaster Legacy of the King’s Pirates trilogy, all of the above takes place in Chapter one.

Disgraced but still called by the sea, Dajon Waite joins the navy. By 1718 he has become a Christian and is captain of the HMS Enforcer, assigned to protect New World waters off the Carolina coast. Hungry for promotion, Waite is also charged with a personal favor for Charles Towne resident Admiral Westcott: protect his three lovely daughters while Daddy’s ordered to sea. Faith Westcott, the eldest daughter and a red-head, captures Dajon’s eye.

Dajon fails to recognize Faith as the woman pirate who stole the Lady Em. Charles Towne rumors of The Red Siren and her red-headed woman-pirate captain plundering their waters fuel Captain Waite’s search, and our woman pirate hides her true identity as long as possible.

Tyndall, as usual, satisfies fans of character and plot driven fiction. Even though the New World setting is sixty years before the Revolutionary War, readers find themselves in scenes reminiscent of movies like The Patriot and Pirates of the Caribbean thanks to Tyndall’s vivid description.

Waite is driven mad by red-heads of the WEAKER sex. The reader is driven onward by secrets dredged up by the antagonist—a powerful local lord accustomed to getting what he wants. While Sir Wilhelm’s Machiavellian plans must be overcome, the real action in The Red Siren are the struggles that Tyndall’s heroes fight within themselves.

While Barbour Publishing insists on shelving Tyndall’s incredible fiction on the romance shelf, alternate history fans would love her literary art. Just like the Legacy of the King’s Pirates trilogy, if The Red Siren is romance, so is Robin Hood. Maid Marion wishes she was half the swordswoman Faith Westcott is. If this novel doesn’t land M.L. Tyndall a Christy Award, it will be a travesty of literature.
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Dec 23, 2011 Janelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

Not my favorite by Ms. Tyndall. I know this is so shallow, but I couldn't help but judge this book by it's cover. I did not like it at all, it was a bit of a turn-off. It's not how I would picture the main character in the book at all.

I found the whole she-pirate theme a bit unbelievable for my taste. It didn't mesh right. I did like the male heroine, but not her so much. I'm not sure if I'll continue on in this series because her sisters were no more appealing than she was from reading this bo...more

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Apr 10, 2012 Beth Cato rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, fiction, romance, in, 2009, early-reviewers

This is the first book I received through the LibraryThing Early Reviewer program. The publisher provided the book free for blog reviewing purposes.[return][return]The Red Siren is a Christian historical romance taking place mostly in the vicinity of now-Charleston, South Carolina in the early 1700s. It was refreshing to read about this time period and place; I lived near Charleston for several years and was familiar with many place names in the book, so that made it feel more personal for me.[r...more This is the first book I received through the LibraryThing Early Reviewer program. The publisher provided the book free for blog reviewing purposes.[return][return]The Red Siren is a Christian historical romance taking place mostly in the vicinity of now-Charleston, South Carolina in the early 1700s. It was refreshing to read about this time period and place; I lived near Charleston for several years and was familiar with many place names in the book, so that made it feel more personal for me.[return][return]Faith Wescott is an admiral's daughter and, secretly, a pirate. When one of her sisters is snared in a cruel marriage, Faith vows that the same thing will not happen to herself or her two remaining sisters. To that end, she takes up piracy and commands her own pirate ship, plundering loot for the sake of her sisters' future. Captain Waite of the British Royal Navy lost his ship to the dastardly female pirate, The Red Siren, years before; when he is forced to take wardship of the Wescott girls during their father's absence, he begins falling for Faith, even though he has the prickly fear that he has met her before. Add in a downright evil and chauvinistic man vying for Faith's hand, and there is a lot at stake - including Faith dangling at the end of a noose if she's caught pirating.[return][return]The most implausible element of the story is Faith, as an admiral's daughter, acting as a pirate for over five years without being caught or having her absence noted by a guardian. Her ship has mostly-reformed pirates, too, and they take care never to hurt anyone - just take their stuff. That... doesn't sound right, as you'd think at least a few captains would put up a solid fight or that a ship would get sunk. Otherwise, though, the research is solid and the plot is very interesting. As a romance, of course, it's obvious that Faith and Dajon Waite will end up together, but there is a great deal of suspense along the way. The chapters are short, and most are cliffhangers to make one keep reading. The Christian element isn't too overbearing - reassuring for those of faith, but can be glossed over by those who want a good historical read - and I was impressed that the book tackled some serious issues well within the context of the time, including rape.[return][return]Even with the gentled pirates, this was an enjoyable book. This is one of the better Christian historical romances that I have read, and I am actually curious about the next two books in the series.(less)

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Jan 04, 2010 Karen Powell added it

It's a familiar plot to romance readers, but with the added element of Christian evangelism. The heroine Faith is the lady pirate with a noble cause: to amass a fortune in order to save her sisters from a fate worse than death -- marriages to lecherous men. When her admiral father is called away to sea, guardianship of the sisters is placed in the hand of the handsome, godly Mr. Dajon Waite, a commander whose job, coincidently, is to catch pirates. Also coincidently, he once lost his father's me...more It's a familiar plot to romance readers, but with the added element of Christian evangelism. The heroine Faith is the lady pirate with a noble cause: to amass a fortune in order to save her sisters from a fate worse than death -- marriages to lecherous men. When her admiral father is called away to sea, guardianship of the sisters is placed in the hand of the handsome, godly Mr. Dajon Waite, a commander whose job, coincidently, is to catch pirates. Also coincidently, he once lost his father's merchant ship to the Faith, as her pirate altar ego the "Red Siren," which exiled him from his family and sent him down a dark path until he found God. Add in the foppish Sir Wilhelm, Faith's slimy, father-approved, wealthy suitor as the villain, and you have the complete recipe for a typical romance plot. For fans of the genre, the familiarity and predicitability of it all with either be an escapist comfort, or a bore. With the exception of the Christian themes, there is nothing in the story that I haven't read in every other historical romance.[return][return]The characters are stereotypes typical of the romance genre. Even Faith's sisters are wedged into prescribed roles, but the author almost frustratingly shows small signs of drawing them out of their stereotypes. Hope, the blonde, is the flirt with a tragic past. She seems doomed to play the shallow coquette until the author grants her moments where she wrestles with her abandonment issues. Grace, on the other hand, as the brunette is constricted to the role of the "good" sister, with her mind on morality and charity. She is granted blink-and-you'll-miss it moments of ill temper that broaden her character, but the author does not pay much attention to her and, as a consequence, neither can the readers. Hope is given a better chance to shine, and I suppose this is to gear up for the next book in the author's Charles Towne series.[return][return]So how does this book rate as a Christian romance? Well, the author's interpretation of Christianity seems to conflict with the spirit of the romance novel. If Faith had not gone through the struggle to know God, if she had not been a pirate and aquired qualities that made her stand out from other women Dajon had known, would the happy couple have ever joined together? The author's answer seems to be: If it's meant to happen, God will make it happen.[return][return]As a historical romance, the author takes care to submerge the reader into the setting. Her strength in creating ambience is through the background characters, who are all either bawdy, immoral scoundrels, or former victims of such people (ex-slaves Molly and Lucas). These people paint the times as less-than-innocent. While the lead characters are romanticized, the author makes no bones about the dangerous times of colonial Charles Towne. It is a wild place, complete with reminders of Indian raids, war, and murderous pirates. Because of the setting, it seems farfetched that Faith could have survived undetected and (save for a tiny scar) unharmed from pirating. That she was able to pull it off so many times stretches the imagination. Oh well, I think the author was going for a switch in roles because usually the rogue hero is the pirate, and the goodly, pure one is the damsel. It does make for an interesting concept; however, I wish the author kept the fires of her imagination stoked with a story beyond what the typical romance plot generator usually spits out.(less)

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Mar 01, 2009 Leah rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, goodreads-first-reads

I won this book as one of the Goodreads First Reads and was really excited to dig in, in spite of the incredibly tacky cover with some prudish girl in a southern belle dress leaning against a porch rail, on the cover. I am known for always finishing the books I read, whether they be horrible or not, but allow me to digress and say that I couldn't get 70 pages into this book before I was utterly annoyed, throwing the book across the room in a fit of rage. Well maybe not rage, but you get the idea...more

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Jan 26, 2009 Sheri Salatin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Wow, what a fantastic book. The first word that comes to mind is ACTION. Lots of action! Lots of adventure! I stayed up late to read it all in one sitting.

Faith Wescott, a fiery redhead, gives Dajon Waite a run for his money when her father leaves him as custodian over her and her two sisters. Faith is larger than life in this book. She is a lady by day and pirate by night! What a story! At times you want to grab her around the throat and throttle her and then other times you are cheering her on...more

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Oct 14, 2011 Jasmyn9 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: nook, fiction, historical-fiction, christian, romance, series, charles-towne-belle

What would you do if you were a girl in colonial America faced with a tough choice? The choice between allowing your father to give you away in marriage to horrible men, or find a way to support yourself. Today that choice would be easy, but in Faith Westcott's time, her options seemed limited. She had to find a way to save not only herself, but her two sisters from what she saw as the horrible fate of marriages that they had no say in. Her choice to try and raise money is an interesting one. Sh...more

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Apr 26, 2011 Tamara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-l-tyndall, favorites

M.L. Tyndall has done it again! What a fabulous story of adventure, trust, faith, and love.

Faith Westcott, has allowed the tragedies that have touched her family to shape the woman she has become. The daughter of a Navy Admiral, Faith has witnessed one of her sisters married off to a tyrannical, womanizing man merely because of his title and wealth. Refusing to let that happened to her or her remaining sisters, Faith does the unthinkable. A lady by day and a pirate by night, Faith sets out to am...more M.L. Tyndall has done it again! What a fabulous story of adventure, trust, faith, and love.

Faith Westcott, has allowed the tragedies that have touched her family to shape the woman she has become. The daughter of a Navy Admiral, Faith has witnessed one of her sisters married off to a tyrannical, womanizing man merely because of his title and wealth. Refusing to let that happened to her or her remaining sisters, Faith does the unthinkable. A lady by day and a pirate by night, Faith sets out to amass her own fortune so that she and her sisters are never forced into a loveless marriage. No longer a woman of true faith, she blames God for the death of her mother, and the atrocities her sisters have been forced to endure. Stubborn, headstrong, and unbending, Faith does what she must do, even though it could mean her very life if she is ever discovered to be The Red Siren, the notorious woman pirate that is vanquishing the Carolina coast.

Captain Dajon Waite is a Captain in the British Royal Navy. His responsibility to rid the seas of pirates stems not just from duty but from his own humiliation of having one of his father’s merchant ships seized by the infamous Red Siren. His upstanding behavior has garnered the attention of Admiral Westcott. So, when the Admiral is called back to sea, he asks Captain Waite to serve as guardian over his three daughters. When left with no choice, Dajon takes on the task, knowing his career hangs in the balance. When he comes face to face with Faith Westcott, something nudges his conscious. He feels he knows the hot-tempered, redhead, but brushes it off as a mild attraction for the belligerent but beautiful woman.

Faith recognizes Dajon immediately as the Captain of the ship she still sails. With his reputation of being a pirate hunter, and now as his position of guardian over her, Faith’s need to be cautious is of the upmost importance. But her hate of all men and her feeling that they are nothing more than monsters who take wives as possessions begins to weaken when she is met with the chivalrous acts and dashing ways of Captain Waite. Torn between her softening heart and her criminal behavior –knowing her sisters future as well as her own hang in the balance– Faith must decide if she can trust God with her future and the honorable Captain Dajon Waite with her heart.

THE RED SIREN was absolutely captivating. In true Tyndall fashion, the action jumped from the pages and the characters came to life. The minor characters seemed anything but that. Hope, Faith’s rebellious and flirtatious sister found her own helping of trouble. And Sir Wilhelm Carteret, a pompous and conniving wimp that vowed to take Faith as his wife, added to Faith’s need to prove herself as independent and un-needing of a man to secure her future and that of her sisters.

THE RED SIREN will totally captivating you and sweep you away to a time gone by. I can’t wait for THE BLUE TEMPTRESS to be released later this year. Touché Ms. Tyndall, touché!(less)

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Apr 10, 2011 Christy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love to read books about strong, confident women. Faith Westcott is definitely such a women, and strength, confidence, and determination are all necessary traits considering the fact that she's a pirate. Right at the beginning, she takes command of a ship, The Red Siren, and makes it her own, not realizing the disgrace that will soon befall the ship's former captain. All that she can see is that it is up to her to provide for her sisters so that they're aren't all married off to horrible, gree...more

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Aug 18, 2010 Angie Lippard rated it 5 of 5 stars

I tend to read books with Cowboys and Rustlers. I haven't read any Christian Historical Fiction about boats and Pirates. I just didn't think it would interest me. Boy, was I wrong!

This book had me totally involved from the beginning – a female pirate luring and capturing a man's boat, taking it from him and sending him on down the road. I was hooked! I couldn't stop reading this book.

I counted the hours that I could get back out on the high seas, I mean, couch and continue to read about Faith an...more I tend to read books with Cowboys and Rustlers. I haven't read any Christian Historical Fiction about boats and Pirates. I just didn't think it would interest me. Boy, was I wrong!

This book had me totally involved from the beginning – a female pirate luring and capturing a man's boat, taking it from him and sending him on down the road. I was hooked! I couldn't stop reading this book.

I counted the hours that I could get back out on the high seas, I mean, couch and continue to read about Faith and Dajon. Faith is a young woman who is going to be married off to a slimy aristocrat against her will with her sisters following similar paths. She has to save herself and her sisters from men in general. Faced with no other choice, she does what all desperate women do – she becomes a pirate!

Then there is Captain Dajon Waite. I love a noble, honorable man in uniform but Dajon just doesn't know what he's stepped in the middle of...He's never met anyone like Faith. (how many female pirates are there anyway?) He can't figure out where she gets her horse riding, knife and gun skills or her strength when faced with dangerous situations. He's also on a personal vendetta against a specific red-haired pirate and pirate hunting just happens to be his job.

Hotness Factor: 4 stars Oh.My.Word! The heat between these two couples just emanated from the pages. I was engrossed with each situation. It was hot when it was just Faith and Dajon interacting and it was hot when it was the Red Siren and Captain Waite. Loved it!

Series info: 5 stars I've read the first two books in this series and am working on the third. (See my reviews for Blue Enchantress.) I think you should read the series in order so that you will get the true sense of Hope and Grace's character and then watch them mature in the next books: Blue Enchantress and Raven Saint.

Overall Rating: 5 stars I really couldn't get enough of this book. There was so much action and adventure. I could smell the ocean and the boats. I could feel the rush of the pirating and the thrill of being a commander of your own ship with your men willing to be under your command and fight for you. I loved the leadership of both characters. I liked how Faith had to play two roles in her life, the demure female and the swashbuckling pirate. There were many times in the book I gasped, swooned and sat on the edge of my seat. I would love to see this as a movie! The other sisters are hard to like but that just sets them up for the other two books and subsequent reality check. You really can't wait for Hope to grow up and get over herself so if you don't like the sisters, it's okay, you're not supposed too. My main gripe was not knowing how to pronounce Dajon's name correctly and the cover art could have been so much better.

Christianity: 5 stars Loved the way Christianity is presented. Each sister has different levels of belief or disbelief in God. Faith is strong and can do it herself. No need to trust in others or God – no matter what! Faith is so self-centered and tainted why would God love her? And Grace is so pious nobody wants to be around her. Very good characters with different strengths and beliefs. Loved the spiritual warfare that was presented in the book! This is even stronger in Blue Enchantress.

Summary Plot: Faith Westcott is a lady by day and a pirate by night. Can she garner the riches she so desperately needs before her secret is revealed? Captain Dajon Waite is determined to catch the fiery redhead who has been pillaging the Carolina coast. When Faith invites his courtship, she hopes his infatuation will shield her true identity and keep other suitors at bay. Can the love of a godly captain win her heart, or will she be forced to marry Sir Wilhelm Carteret, a man obsessed with taking her to wife?(less)

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Feb 01, 2010 Debbie Lester rated it 4 of 5 stars

My Synopsis:

The Red Siren is the first book in the Charles Towne Belle Series by Marylu Tyndall

(E-book Galley provided by Barbour Publishing for review)

The Red Siren is a historical romance with a pirate twist. Captain Dajon Waite has been requested by Admiral Westcott to oversee the care of his three daughters while he is called away on a lengthy journey.

Little does he know that Faith Westcott, the eldest daughter is the infamous lady pirate, and captain of The Red Siren, a ship she stole from...more My Synopsis:

The Red Siren is the first book in the Charles Towne Belle Series by Marylu Tyndall

(E-book Galley provided by Barbour Publishing for review)

The Red Siren is a historical romance with a pirate twist. Captain Dajon Waite has been requested by Admiral Westcott to oversee the care of his three daughters while he is called away on a lengthy journey.

Little does he know that Faith Westcott, the eldest daughter is the infamous lady pirate, and captain of The Red Siren, a ship she stole from Dajon himself. The attraction that Dajon and Faith feel for each other begins to deepen right along with Dajon's suspicions about Faith.

Faith tries desperately to hide the fact that she is a pirate by night and must accumulate a certain amount of wealth if she is protect herself and her sisters from a life she will not allow. Her faith has been tested by the death of her mother and the cruelty her sisters have been subjected to.

Will she find peace? Will Dajon make the right choice when he is faced with choosing to follow the rules or follow his heart? Read and find out...

My Thoughts:

Tyndall's choice of a lady pirate for the heroine of this book was genius. I have read several novels with a pirate as the lead character but very few of them were women. She develops the character of Faith Westcott with finesse.

She is pirate, but not a bad pirate. She is only doing this to protect herself and her sisters from arranged marriages that lack love and often involve cruelty. It allows the reader to see her as a strong woman, but also one with a sense of honor, albeit one that is a little askew. Her struggle with her faith only deepens the idea that though she is flawed she can find redemption.

The character of Dajon Waite represents safety and security. He is a rule follower. The reader will identify with the fact that he is trying to right past wrongs by doing what he feels is right. It is interesting to see how his character comes to realize that following the rules may not always mean doing what others expect or think is correct.

I liked this book a lot. I loved the way that the writer developed all the characters including Molly and Lucas, servants in the Westcott home. Mr. Borland the jealous commander and Lord Falkland the errant suitor. The sisters, Hope and Faith also add a great deal to the story as Tyndall sets up the Charles Towne Belle series.(less)

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Aug 15, 2011 Judy rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Red Siren by M.L. Tyndall is the first in the Charles Towne Belles series. The second book is The Blue Enchantress and the third is The Raven Saint. The books are about three sisters: Faith, Hope & Grace Wescott. They have an older sister who is married and still in England, her name is Charity. Their father is an Admiral in the Royal Navy and spends more time at sea then with his family. Their mother died in childbirth. As she lay dying she asked Faith to take care of her sisters. A req...more The Red Siren by M.L. Tyndall is the first in the Charles Towne Belles series. The second book is The Blue Enchantress and the third is The Raven Saint. The books are about three sisters: Faith, Hope & Grace Wescott. They have an older sister who is married and still in England, her name is Charity. Their father is an Admiral in the Royal Navy and spends more time at sea then with his family. Their mother died in childbirth. As she lay dying she asked Faith to take care of her sisters. A request that Faith would do anything to accomplish.

Faith Wescott would not allow her sisters to be sold into marriages as their older sister, Charity, was. She was married to a despicable lecherous man who had his eyes set on her three sisters as well. Faith was sickened that they came to America without her older sister but was thankful to be away from her husband. Faith's father agreed if she could get enough wealth to support the three girls he would not force them into a marriage. She found that pirating was her way to do that.

Dajon Waite had one chance to prove to his father he was worthwhile. He had almost made it to his destination with his cargo with the Lady Em when they seen a lady in distress on another ship. His mistake was helping her, for she was no lady but a pirate. After the disgrace of losing his ship and his father disinheriting him life went downhill unto God lifted him out of the muck and gave him a new chance. Now he was a captain in the British Royal Navy and he was guarding the Carolina water from pirates. Admiral Wescott asked him to watch over his three daughters as he was called out to sea on duty. Dajon tried to refuse but received orders that the Admiral already left.

Sir Wilhelm Carteret had asked for Faith's hand from her father and was granted so. Faith begged to be given time to get her “soap” business going and make the money before the promise was sealed. Her father gave her until he returned, about six months. Faith is determined to find as much wealth to pirate as quickly as she can during that time. Wilhelm was not one to stand back and not get what he wanted so he plots and plans during the book. Mostly he needs to discredit Dajon.

Hope keeps throwing herself at the wrong men and Grace is determined to continue her work for the Lord helping the needy. To do so she has to go through areas where Indians are a danger to people. With Faith gone on the seas as well as Dajon trying to catch the pirate known as The Red Siren, the two sisters are continuing to sneak out of the house sending the steward, Edwin, into nervous fits.

There are many unique characters in her book. Many are imperfect making the need for redemption that much stronger. Lives are almost destroyed because of envy, greed and pride. The story is full of adventure and danger. You feel the salt water spray you on the deck of the ship and feel the gloominess of the Watch Tower dungeon.
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Jun 14, 2012 Stacey rated it 4 of 5 stars

I would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank you” to M.L. Tyndall and her publisher for sending me a copy of "The Red Siren" to review for them. I have always been grateful for this generosity, but haven’t been very consistent in taking the time to thank them in a public forum. I really appreciate your time, effort and expense in making a reviewer copy available to me.

"The Red Siren" does not disappoint! Although this novel begins a bit slower than M.L. Tyndall's other swashbuckling efforts, the pa...more

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Jun 06, 2012 Tracy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-historical-romance

First of all "The Red Siren" by MaryLu Tyndall is the very first book I received from the author herself. I became very interested when she told me a brief detailed about the book. A lady, Faith Westcott, who is a lady by day and a pirate by night, in trying to save herself and her sisters from forced marriages by their own father who apparently shows no love for them. When her father has to leave on another mission for work he has a British Royal Navy, Dajon Waite, come to watch over Faith and...more

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Aug 31, 2010 Katie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, christian-fiction

First of all, I must say that I'm glad I don't typically judge a book by it's cover. The girl on this cover looks nothing like I would expect a bright red-headed girl from the 1700s to look like. The title sounds racy, but it's actually the name of a ship.

The story, however, was very good! Faith's father marries her sister off to a jerk. She feels that in order to "save" her sisters from a similar fate, she must resort to moonlighting as a pirate. Renouncing her faith, she becomes a lady by day...more

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Sep 26, 2009 Beth G. rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, historical-fiction, lt-early-review, 2009

Having lost her mother and watched her sister forced into marriage, Faith is determined to find a way to provide for herself and her two younger sisters. The way she has chosen is piracy: by night, she leads a crew to plunder and pillage cargo ships just off the Carolina shore. But she's about to face a new challenge when Dajon Waite, whose ship she attacked several years ago, shows up as her new guardian. This is not just a historical romance; it is also Christian fiction, and both Faith and Da...more

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Jun 08, 2012 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Red Siren is the first book in The Charles Towne Belles series.
Faith has given up faith and taken up pirating the seas to support her sisters. Faith cannot stand the thought of any more of her sisters marrying evil men, men they do not love. Dajon has been humiliated and cast away by his family, and his goal is to be successful and capture the female pirate who stole his ship.
Faith and Dajon meet and he is put in charge of their protection. They start to fall in love. What happens when Dajon...more

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Feb 07, 2009 Brenda rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: people who like likehearted historical fiction

Recommended to Brenda by: goodreads giveaway

Shelves: first-reads-giveaway-wins

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 25, 2009 Carol rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was lucky enough to receive this book from GoodReads. I am more than impressed with the writer's ability to weave a good story, which I would classify as historial fiction, with Christian beliefs. The story centers around the Charles Towne port (the old name for Charleston, SC) and introduced characters with personal flaws/angst and their beliefs in conflict.

Tynall keeps you reading and hoping the good overcomes evil. It definitely was the best Christian novel I have read. Biblical points were...more

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May 05, 2011 Camille rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: group-reads, christian-fiction, historical-fiction, period-fiction, 2-stars

The Red Siren by M.L. Tyndall

The Red Siren is the first book in M.L. Tyndall's series, Charles Towne Belles.

It is also the first book I have ever read by M.L. Tyndall.

The Red Siren is historical fiction and has a fun twist because there are pirates intertwined in the story!

Faith Westcott is a lady by day, the daughter of a man determined to marry her off into money, whether or not the man is nice.

By night, Faith is a pirate, trying to get enough wealth from pirating to save herself and her siste...more

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Apr 12, 2012 Rina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 1700s, adventure, historical-fiction, romance

I think I saw the last two books in this series mentioned on some other blogs so I decided to get book one to see if I liked it. Well, I should have gotten books two and three at the same time. It’s a very unique story. A woman who is a pirate by night and a lady by day.

Faith Westcott is the second oldest daughter of Rear Admiral Westcott of the British Royal Navy. Yet she is also the elusive captain of the pirate ship Red Siren. Who never sheds any blood and goes after rich cargo.

Why does a la...more
I think I saw the last two books in this series mentioned on some other blogs so I decided to get book one to see if I liked it. Well, I should have gotten books two and three at the same time. It’s a very unique story. A woman who is a pirate by night and a lady by day.

Faith Westcott is the second oldest daughter of Rear Admiral Westcott of the British Royal Navy. Yet she is also the elusive captain of the pirate ship Red Siren. Who never sheds any blood and goes after rich cargo.

Why does a lady resort to piracy? Especially when the punishment for pirates is the hangman's noose. Simple, she loves the sea, its freedom and is desperate for the money.

Why is a lady whose father is an admiral so desperate for money? Because money equals independence for a woman and that she is determined to have. She does not want the same fate her older sister endures – a forced marriage to cad. Not for herself and not for her two younger sisters. Not if she can do anything about it.

Enter Dajon Waite (terrible name in my opinion, I can’t believe it’s authentic to the time). Captain Waite is a fairly new, but strong Christian who has sworn off women. Unfortunately he has been appointed guardian over the Westcott sisters while their father is away and he’s quite taken with Faith whose shallow faith has been abandoned. But as a captain in the Royal Navy his job it is to track down pirates, particularly the Red Siren.

The story is set in 1718 Charles Town, Carolina and I really enjoyed learning more about the city in that time. My pre-revolutionary war southern colonies history is a bit rusty. M.L. Tyndall does a great job describing the city, its people, and aspects of life back then.

The story started out a bit slow – I read a bit, put it down, and then picked it up before bedtime thinking I’d read a bit while eating a snack. Not a good idea; it got too exciting and too what’s-going-to-happen-next to put down.

There was a aspect (can’t tell you more) that seemed rather far-fetched but it is a great picture of the love God has for us – he forgives us of all our gross trespasses when we confess and repent.

If you like adventure, a strong female character, pirates, and colonial America then you’ll probably enjoy this tale.

Originally posted on my blog: http://rinasreading.blogspot.com/2012...(less)

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Feb 23, 2010 Casey rated it 4 of 5 stars

When you read the description of this book, it evokes the notion of “a lady pirate, how can that be a story line with a ring of truth?” But this story is not farfetched. Faith Westcott is struggling against God and man. Her father has no love to lavish and spends his time at sea, leaving his three daughters to their own devices, until a godly captain is asked to step in and be their guardian while their father is away for an extended time. The battles that ensue do not always include pistols and...more

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Feb 01, 2009 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tour-book, forpleasure, forreview, historicalfiction, favorite-2009

Great guns, this book was good! This may very well be my favorite Tyndall book yet. In fact, it was so stinking yummy I am still smacking my lips. I wish they'd release these books closer together because now I have to wait, and wait...sigh. At first I thought it seemed a bit far fetched that a woman heroine would be a pirate on the side. So I googled this info and whaddaya know, there were lady pirates in those days. So I went back to reading. And then I couldn't stop reading. Seriously.

I love...more

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Dec 04, 2011 Heather Manning rated it 5 of 5 stars

I think that this is a great book! This was my first MaryLu Tyndall book and I loved it!!! It was a wonderful start to the Charles Towne Bells series and left me wanting more of the exquisite characters. Faith is headstrong, determined, and brave, and a wonderful heroine. She loves her sisters so much that she resorts to piracy so they don't have to marry cruel men. Dajon was also a great main character that I liked a lot. I found many characters with a variety of different characters just as I...more

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Aug 27, 2010 Lisa (Bookworm Lisa) rated it 3 of 5 stars

I feel a bit hypocritical in writing this review. First, let me firmly state that I believe in a loving God. I believe that he is a God of miracles and that He loves all of his children. I believe in the power of prayer. This is the way I try to live my life and is the core of who I am.

On this book those beliefs didn't resonate with me. It felt a bit preachy to me and I felt a bit uncomfortable. ( I probably need to repent from something.)

I had a slight problem with the plot. I guess I have a ha...more

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May 14, 2011 Rachel Brand rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, historical, romance, christian, barbour, 2011, amish-group-reads, almost-favourites, marylu-tyndall

Having seen first-hand the devastation that her older sister's arranged marriage brought on her family, Faith Westcott is desperate not to let the same thing happen to her or her younger siblings. But her sea-faring father is convinced that the way to keep his daughters safe is to marry them off as soon as possible. Faith strikes a deal with him; if she can raise enough money through her "soap making" business to support her and her two sisters, they don't have to find husbands. Little does her...more Having seen first-hand the devastation that her older sister's arranged marriage brought on her family, Faith Westcott is desperate not to let the same thing happen to her or her younger siblings. But her sea-faring father is convinced that the way to keep his daughters safe is to marry them off as soon as possible. Faith strikes a deal with him; if she can raise enough money through her "soap making" business to support her and her two sisters, they don't have to find husbands. Little does her father know that Faith is secretly the infamous lady pirate, The Red Siren, and will soon have enough funds to keep her and her sisters safe for a long time. That is, until her father assigns pirate-hunter Dajon White to be their guardian while he's away at sea. Will Dajon discover her secret before she's able to raise enough money? Or will Faith change her mind about swearing off marriage forever?

Putting aside the awkward smile of the cover model, the absurdity of Faith being able to hide her pirating from her entire family, and the fact that the hero is called Dajon - which I swear, I read every single time as "Dijon", like the mustard - I actually ended up loving this book. When I read the blurb and looked at the cheesy cover, I thought that, at best, it would be a bit of fun escapism. But when I started reading, I was hooked and dreaded having to put it down. I'm a massive fan of romance novels, historicals in particular, and although the plot is a bit outlandish this book does have all the great components for a romance novel. And, to be honest, a lot of romances are a bit unbelievable, so why complain about female pirates?

Faith is your typical head-strong, stubborn heroine who thinks that she knows everything about the world and doesn't need a man to hold her back. She's feisty, and while I could never be as confident and brash as she is with her friends and family, I could admire her desire to protect her family and ended up really connecting with her. She's surrounded by a cast of wonderful secondary characters, from her strict father to her younger sisters - one rebellious, one pious - to the servants that try to keep an eye out for the Westcott girls. I'll admit that, after reading a few reviews of this book, I had to admit that the characters were a bit caricatured in places, but I really didn't notice this while I was reading the book, so it didn't spoil my enjoyment at all. I was particularly enraptured by the relationship that Faith had with her sisters, especially the rebellious Hope, who features in the next book in the series. This is a family you can really relate to and have an instant connection with, making you want to sit down and devour all three books in one sitting.

Despite his bizarre and rather distracting name, Dajon is a hero that all women will fall for. He has a troubled past, and is determined not to get involved with women in case he ends up hurting them. He's smarting from issues with a father he can never impress, and hopes that his career will eventually get him the attention he desires. But he also manages to reign Faith in and help her through the difficulties in her life, particularly her relationship with God. Faith and Dajon have great chemistry, the sizzling kind that isn't often found in Christian novels. Nothing inappropriate happens, obviously, but I do appreciate it when authors show the attraction between a couple.

My only real complaint - aside from the cover and Dajon's name - would be about the spiritual aspect of this book. While I enjoy hearing about a character's struggles in their Christian life alongside the regular plot of a novel, I like it to be more subtle and integrated. Here, sometimes it came across as really preachy, and I felt that in places it completely took away from the main plot. In a way, it almost felt like Grace had to get her relationship with God perfect before she was allowed to have a relationship with Dajon, which really isn't how it works in real life. We're all human, we're never perfect when it comes to spiritual matters, and God would never deny us happiness just because we struggle. I wouldn't say that this completely spoiled the book for me, as I loved the rest of it, but the heavy-handed approach to spiritual matters does make me drop a star from it's rating. However, I will say that I loved the section where some sort of spiritual presence protects Hope - very cool, not something you typically read about in romance novels!

While there were a few things that I disliked about this book, I did love reading it and can't wait to get on to the rest in the series. This novel has a wonderful blend of romance, historical detail, adventure and mystery, and is packed full of characters that you won't want to say goodbye to. M. L. Tyndall is definitely an author to look out for. 9/10(less)

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Jan 21, 2009 Mish rated it 3 of 5 stars

I entered to win this book on a whim. I am not a romance novel person but I wanted to try and keep an open mind. The book held my attention after I got the type casted opinion of romance novels out of my head. I enjoyed reading about the characters and following them thru the story. I gave it three stars based on my own opinion of the book because even though it held my attention the only part that I was really into reading were the conversations between the characters. I had a hard time reading...more

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The Red Siren (Charles Towne Belles #1)

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