Sea of Temptation
Sea of Temptation by Christine Dorsey 1993 Zebra Books
[image error]This historical romance is set in 1862 and the wealthy socialite Felicity Wentworth proposes marriage to abolitionist preacher Jebediah Webster who reprimands her for not taking his sermons and slavery seriously. To prove her sincerity, she promises runaway Esther to bring her children back from Magnolia Plantation.
In Charleston blockade runner Devon Blackstone sees the red-headed Felicity in widow’s garb harassed by sailors and comes to her rescue only to be beaten while she continues on without realizing his sacrifice. With her cousin gone, she accepts the elderly Evaline Blackstone’s offer to stay at her home and attend a dance where she runs into Devon. Their attraction is mutual, but he knows she is lying about rescuing children and is likely a spy. He follows her to the plantation, which is occupied by Federal soldiers. They stay at his neighboring home, Royal Oak, which is in disrepair.
Federal soldiers come to Royal Oak and take her hidden gold coins to buy the children, who have been hiding at Royal Oak. Devon frees his slaves, and she confesses she is betrothed. Devon was engaged once but she married a rich man, and he still carries the scars. The sergeant returns at night and attempts to rape her. Devon arrives but it is Felicity who shoots the sergeant. They take the children by boat and escape.
Felicity’s lies catch up to her, but Devon tells her he loves her even though he doesn’t know what to do about it in the middle of the war. Felicity thinks Jebediah is still the man for her even though she can barely recall his face, and the passion between her and Devon repeats itself several times.
This has all the elements of “Gone With The Wind” with a daring blockade runner, a plantation in ruins, the war, and another man in the picture. Dorsey’s writing is fast paced and there is plenty of action to move the story along quickly. I did want a deeper dive into their past problems. Felicity never examines her father’s coldness or her need to impress him and Jebediah until the very end and then it is in action and not so much a reflection.
Writers need to balance action along with reflection. What did the character learn from the previous pages of conflict or challenge? How does that reflection influence their next decision and push the story forward? Don’t leave everything to the end for a single epiphany, but allow the characters to make mistakes and grow throughout the story with the life changing decision at the end.
More book reviews at http://www.authorfreeman.wordpress.com
