New Review: Cordia Byers’ LOVESTORM – A Bond Servant in the Colonies Falls for her Master—an Exciting Read!

Set in 1750, beginning in England but quickly moving to the American colony of South Carolina, this is the story of Storm Kingsley, confined to Newgate Prison because she was taken with her mother, a prostitute falsely accused of murder. Storm was transported to the colonies to be sold as a bond slave. She was labeled as a prostitute though she was innocent. Storm blames it all on her father, Lyle Ashfort, the son of an earl who married her mother and then sailed away to America, never knowing the wife he left destitute carried his child.

The ship that carries Storm to America is captained by Thor Wakefield who owns a plantation in South Carolina as well as several ships. A self-made man who was spurned by his mother when she left his father, Thor has no desire to marry though he knows he will one day need an heir for the fortune he has worked hard to accumulate. On the voyage, Thor uses his possession of Storm’s mother’s Bible to lure her to his cabin where he seduces the innocent girl. Then, rather than turning her over to be sold as an indentured servant, he decides to keep her papers. He makes her his housekeeper by day and his whore by night (apparently unconcerned she will get pregnant).

Storm both loves and hates Thor but resigns herself to her fate when she discovers the man on whom she wants vengeance for her mother, Lyle Ashfort, owns the plantation next door.

This is a well-written page-turner, and while not a bodice ripper in my mind, there is a lot of seduction. Storm doesn’t seem to be able to reject Thor’s attentions once he touches her. But the rest of the time, she has nothing but disdain for the man. Thor continues to think the worst of her no matter what she does or how good she is; and she seems unable to organize an escape. She blames herself for all of Thor’s problems. Heck, she blames herself for everyone’s problems. Add to that so truly despicable villains who plot everyone’s demise and, well, you can see where you end up. Byers does a good job of keeping up the tension while serving up an intriguing tale.