Lost Treasures of the Heart: Past and Present Collide in a Haunting Tale of Passion and Adventure

by Charlie Most, Charlene Keel, Jesse Sanchez (Illustrations)

Architect Jonathan West is on a big project when he learns his wife, Patrice, has been unfaithful. On a fishing trip in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, he’s wondering what to do about his marriage when he sees a ghost ship. On it is a spectral woman, gazing at him with a plea in her eyes. Jonathan buys a house on the beach near the sighting and finds an old sea chest washed up there. Its contents, which include a miniature portrait, reveal it belonged to Kate Russell, captain of the Royal Thomas, which sank in 1721.It’s the same woman Jonathan saw on the ghost ship, and her journal describes a life of piracy. As past and present collide, he starts seeing her everywhere, waking and sleeping. With a haunting desperation, he senses she wants something from him. If he can figure out what it is and find a way to help her, he believes her spirit will finally rest.

310 pages, Paperback

Published November 17, 2016

Reviews

[Teresa]

What a great book. It is actually the story of 2 people 300 years apart.
Johnathon is a architect in the present. His marriage has crumbled due to his wife having an affair with his friend and employee. He goes on fishing trip with a group of friends to North Carolina. One night during a storm him and 2 friends spot a ghost ship. Only Johnathon sees the beautiful red headed captain though. She immediately starts haunting not only his dreams but his waking hours as well.
Kate Russel was raised in the lap of luxury along with her orphaned cousin. Kate falls for a rogue pirate and fancy's herself in love. When he comes back to port one day she finds out not only was he using her but her cousin was as well to gain her father's fortune. During an argument where he starts to go after her cousin she picks up a knife and stabs him to save her cousin. She ended up killing him. Now she is on the run from Blackbeard. She tells her father who immediately signs over his ship to her and sets in motion her get away. She was supposed to sail to England and start her own legal shipping business but along the way she ends up going rogue and becomes a pirate.
Johnathon is so obsessed with Kate and the Ghost Ship he buys a house in Kill Devil Hills, leaves his family behind, leaves his right hand man in charge of the business, and locks himself away so he can watch for the ship again. He starts seeing Kate everywhere though and knows she is asking him for help. He just cannot figure out what kind of help. A small chest washes up on shore during a hurricane holding Kate's most precious possessions. Now he must figure out what all of this means.
This was a great story I really enjoyed every minute of the book. The 2 stories flowed very nicely together. The characters were all very well laid out too. Can't wait for book 2.

[Geneva Handleman]

Such a fascinating mixture of spirits from the past and modern day life. Action and suspense on every page! The characters are well developed and the story keeps you interested from the very beginning. Twists and turns in the plot line kept me wondering what was going to happen next!

As an independent reviewer for Romance Authors that Rock, I gave this one a full five beating hearts as mine was pounding from the suspenseful ride!