5.0 out of 5 based on 1 reviews. – Customer review on 24/08/2009

I had given up reading "Age of Sail" books because I was finding the plot lines and events in them becoming more and more unbelievable--espcially in the romance genre, but this author has tempted me back, and I am glad that I decided to give her books a try.

When reading this book by Ms Beecroft, you will find yourself transported from the mundane, every day world right into the world and lives of the two young men, Captain John Cavendish, and Lieutenant Alfie Donwell whose stories are told within these pages.

As to the characters, two more exasperating, bloody minded and stubborn individuals one could never hope to meet! I wanted to slap them both, several times, and towards the end of the book, was overcome with a dire need to knock their heads together! That's not to say that the book or the story was not enjoyable. I could not put it down, but at the same time was reading as slowly as possible, not wanting the end to come too quickly.

The reason these characters are exasperating is perfectly believable and true to men of their times, given that they lived in an era when to declare their love for one another openly attracted the death penalty.

I wanted them to talk to each other, but knew at the same time that it was not as simple as that.

I loved this book and closed the back cover with tears of regret on parting from friends.

It's a keeper and one I will return to again and again--just as soon as my daughters, who have been clamoring to borrow it since I got it, have finished reading it.

A definite highly recommended read--and I hear there's a follow up in the works! *happy sounds*