Blessed Isle in Riptide Publishing

Dec 30, 2012 Jody rated it really liked it

You know what you're in for when you pick up an Alex Beecroft book. Visually stimulating depictions of scenery, a strong sense of the time period that sucks readers in, and a beautiful writing style that feels almost lyrical. You almost don't care what's going on as her poetic dialogue fully immerses you in the events of the time and her characters.

Blessed Isle is a dangerous journey on the seas as well as one man's journey into self-acceptance after meeting a man who completely changes his life You know what you're in for when you pick up an Alex Beecroft book. Visually stimulating depictions of scenery, a strong sense of the time period that sucks readers in, and a beautiful writing style that feels almost lyrical. You almost don't care what's going on as her poetic dialogue fully immerses you in the events of the time and her characters.

Blessed Isle is a dangerous journey on the seas as well as one man's journey into self-acceptance after meeting a man who completely changes his life and future. Captain Harry is a very staid, quiet man, yet honorable and desperately wanting to prove his place in the Navy. He's a fair captain trying to do what's right in his professional as well as his personal life. This has led him to keep his sexual orientation hidden for fear of not only being drummed out of the Navy but fear for his very life. Meeting the flamboyant and outgoing Lieutenant Garnet changes his life forever as he constantly fights his attraction to him. Garnet is pretty open about his sexuality and keeps encouraging Harry to live life on his terms and not others. Their relationship progresses very slowly with furtive longing glances and fleeting touches on the hand. It's not until close to the conclusion that they connect further in a scene not at all graphic, but rather romantic and sweet.

Most of the story revolves around life on a ship. History buffs will applaud the depictions of the ship's inner-workings and the events of the time that impact the character's lives. These scenes are done in graphic detail and show Ms. Beecroft's vast research into Naval ships. Disease, mutiny, and deadly storms have your heart pounding as men start dying in bloody detail. I was on the edge of my seat praying for Harry and Garnet's safety. Time and again fate was kind and a true HEA is their reward.

Alex Beecroft has rewarded us with a richly beautiful story written in lovely and lyrical prose. Written mostly from Harry's perspective with journal-like entries we get a strong sense of these men's lives. We get to see back and forth banter, with Garnet's journal entry intrusions, that shows off their playful sides and gives us a deeper understanding of Harry, whereas Garnet's still a bit of a mystery. Those who like their sexual encounters hot will be a bit disappointed as the action here is more lukewarm. That's doesn't diminish the love between these two men or our desire to see their satisfying HEA. Ms. Beecroft has once again given us a memorable story written in an unforgettable way. ...more

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Dec 07, 2012 Dee Wy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-m, favorites, m-m-historical

For an historical story to gain my respect, it must be firmly rooted in not only the language of the period, but details of the time and place. The language was woven with such care that each time I read a phrase that transported me back in time, I sighed with happiness. The author also made me feel the swell of the waves and the tang of the salt air, the utter courage of facing extreme perils on the sea as well as the societal perils of a man loving a man, which carried the penalty of death by ...more

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Feb 07, 2013 Evaine rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance, historical-fiction, m-m, military-fiction

What a beautifully written novella! I was not expecting the story that I got. :) Told by the two main characters, alternating POVs, it's the tale of two officers of the British Navy in the time of Mutiny on the Bounty. Do not look for hot, detailed sex scenes or pages of bantering back and forth dialogue, for this novella doesn't have them (although there is one scene on the deck of a ship, while brief and hardly explicit is SO hot and needy...). What it does have is the story of how two men, Ha ...more

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Dec 07, 2012 Laylah Hunter rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-slash-m, favorites, language-kink, history-stuff

Oh my god, what a beautiful book. Emotionally engaging and powerful, delivered with elegantly crafted prose and a wealth of rich detail. I loved every word of it. The narrative device of having the two men collaboratively write their history works wonderfully in the hands of a writer this skilled; Harry and Garnet have distinct voices and consistently different takes on what matters, and the moments where they react to the other's summations of an event are so charming. The disasters that befall ...more

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