Set in the late 1700s/early 1800s in France
and England with stops in the Mediterranean and North Africa, this story is
rich in the history of the times and will sweep you away with an enthralling
story of love, hardship, inner strength, forgiveness, acceptance and the joy of
life. I think the heroine may be my favorite of all time: beautiful,
intelligent, creative—a rebel with a past. But the hero, Gabriel, is to die
for. You will love him, I promise. They are both on my Favorite Heroes &
Heroines list.
The story begins in Paris where a young boy, Gabriel, is left at a brothel,
raised to pleasure both men and women. We learn in backstory that he was sold
to a sick aristocrat, who educated the handsome boy and taught him music at
which he excels. But when Gabriel tried to escape he was
"disciplined" and returned to the brothel.
Years later, having become most attractive to both men and women, and one of the brothel's most prized possessions, Gabriel so hates himself he cuts his arms to remind himself he is alive. He has only one thing keeping him there...he saves another boy from ending up like him, protecting young Jamie against any who would rob the child of his innocence. As it turns out, Jamie is the young brother of an English nobleman who learns where the boy is and comes for him. With the nobleman comes his sister, Sarah, Lady Munroe, known as "the Gypsy Countess."
Sarah is a most unusual woman who thinks more like a man and often dresses like one. Thankful for Gabriel's protection of the boy, she and her brother contract with Gabriel to return with them to England for a year to help settle Jamie. During that time, the family comes to appreciate Gabriel's honorable nature, his intelligence and his character. Sarah, who can see into Gabriel's soul, longs to heal his many hurts. In the process, she and Gabriel share a love for the night sky, music and the ocean. And Sarah and Gabriel fall deeply in love.
Gabriel, who has trained as a seaman and a swordsman, decides to go with Sarah's cousin, Davey, a privateer captain, to the Mediterranean in order to earn enough money to one day support Sarah. And here a real adventure begins.
James is meticulous in detail and the historical setting is rich, accurate and
absorbing. She tells the tale through many perspectives and I found that
refreshing. I loved knowing what all the characters were thinking and she did
it very well. The characters are well developed and varied. You will love Davey
the pirate/privateer, Ross the older brother who is a pirate at heart...and so
many others along the way.
I highly recommend this one. It’s a keeper.
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