The Book Beehive: Book Review and Giveaway for Sea of Ruin by Pam Godwin

SEA OF RUIN

by PAM GODWIN

Bennett Sharp is on the run.

Wanted for piracy, she fears neither God nor death nor man.

Except Priest Farrell.

The unfaithful, stormy-eyed libertine hunts her with terrifying possessiveness. Nothing will stop him from coming for her. Not his unforgivable betrayal. Not when she’s captured by the ice-cold pirate hunter, Lord Ashley Cutler.

She must escape Ashley’s prison and Priest’s deceit. But can she walk away from their twisted desires?

Two gorgeous captains stand on opposite sides of the law. When they collide in a battle to protect her, the lines blur between enemies and lovers.

Passion heats, secrets unravel, and hearts entangle until they break.

Can love prevail in the sea of ruin?

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REVIEW: 4.5 STARS
"He wanted to entangle our future. I wanted to undo our past."

It’s a brutal world! A pirates life is not for me, but this entire story had me consumed. Sea of Ruin was going to be a huge leap into unchartered territory for me with not only it being dark, but it also being historical and pirate. That combination alone gave me pause, but I also remember what reading Pam Godwin's Trails of Sin series did for me. That was my introduction to her voice and I enjoyed that series, so I knew that she could make something so cold and so dark into a read that I could recommend - so naturally, I needed to read more of her. So when I saw this new standalone coming out, I knew I needed to jump on board and trust her and not shy away from what she could bring to my kindle. I am SO glad I decided to read this one.

This synopsis was a huge win for me. The minute I read it, I knew I needed to check it out. That cover, it was so different and what a story it gave me but while reading the book, it made so much sense. This was so so good. Imagine being this strong and independent thinking woman back when that was most certainly not allowed, and then having two men with their own ideas about how they fit in your life. Gosh, it was SO good. I loved her tenacity and her grit - and the fact that she was confident and knew who she was. Watching her move through her world was amazing. She was really cool!! I think I gleaned more from her character in regards to the story direction than anything. She wasn't a damsel in distress and she stood for everything she believed in, so watching her make her way through this story with these men and their strength next to hers? The dynamic alone made me turn the pages.

My initial thought was to read the King of Libertines first - seeing that it was the prequel, but then I figured I'd try it without to see how much sense it made because I know not everyone purchased the limited time anthology it was in. This should stand alone since it was billed that way - and now I can assure you that the novella wasn't necessary to read before jumping into this book. It provides some background, but I felt like I got to discover more while reading this story instead of having a background to work off of. So for ME, I'm personally glad I didn't read King of Libertines before I read this one.

"He tasted like the ocean, deep and turbulent, liberating and comforting, familiar and sacred."

I struggle with the labeling of "dark" reads in general because I have run into enough "shock and awe" just for the sake of drama that it has turned me off from many books under this genre, but this one was told with a cold, dark truth that seeped deep within the words. It affected me on so many different levels and I could appreciate how this story was delivered. I feel like Godwin is very unapologetic in her delivery of a dark story, but not at all frivolous when it comes to those scenes. She tells it, and she sells it, because while she may have made me gasp and recoil, she didn't take the easy way out and I could truly appreciate that. She brought me deep into the core of this story by selling the reality behind actions with her depictions and how she interpreted the scenes with her words. It made for a chilling read, but one I couldn't walk away from because the paradoxical aspect was the love story that was so thoroughly entrenched within the pages. I fell in love with the characters, the locations, the imagery of the travels. It all worked so well for me.

A few spots made me cringe and seriously feel....ill. This is, in the truest sense, DARK and given the fact that it's historical and pirate, she stayed true to the sense of that world and genre. I will admit that some of it had me struggling because of the brutality of it, but since the life of a pirate wasn't exactly easy, it all fit and worked within the storyline. But make NO mistake that it is dark. You HAVE to keep that in mind because of the content. It was intense. At one point, my heart was broken repeatedly, page after page after page. It was a sad reminder of how women were treated back in the day, especially when they weren’t valued. My heart hurt for a long while after reading this, but I felt that it was a stimulating read as well. So, it was hard, but well worth it in the end.

The language alone was a trip. It was fun to read of a lost language/dialect that isn't commonly used anymore. I will admit, I had to look up a TON of words and phrases because I had no clue what they were or meant. I found it actually added to the story for me because I was completely intoxicated by everything happening and it was just a little extra fun. Usually looking up so many new phrases or words is pretty tiring for me because I hate to feel like I am reading a thesaurus of words - but these phrases were fitting for the style of book I was reading. It added to the appeal. The atmosphere. SO GOOD.

Talk about toeing the line between love and hate, desperation and strength. I don’t understand how one love could seemingly betray her, but he would do anything and everything for her and to her. He loved her within an inch of his life, and he proved it time and time again that he loved her ever so desperately. Add to it, another love that defies manners and station, but with a certain proper element to it. This book also explored a sexual proclivity I’m not at all comfortable with....but it was done with a strength and knowledge that gave me a sort of comfort as I read it. I honestly loved seeing the powerful use of emotions and mental stimulation that went along with the story because it gave a deeper insight into "him." Godwin nailed these characters and gave them all something individual to add to the story, and I didn't feel like I was reading the same two alphas.

"To hold me at arm's length and deny me your love...it's the worst torture."

I was pretty shocked (and excited) that I was able to figure out the twist so early on but it only pushed me to keep reading to find out if I was correct in my assumption. That was honestly half the fun!! I loved the lead up, the build up, and the "end" up. It all fit together and I couldn't have been happier. It's usually quite frustrating if I figure things out ahead of time, but this one made me giddy the entire time I was reading it to see if I was spot on. I am just so glad I gave this one a chance - I'm still smiling about it. It's important to me to try new authors, new genres, and new tropes. I want to hear/read different things because I like to not only challenge myself with something new, but I also want to have a better understanding of the many possibilities in reading.

There was this underlying current of sexual energy that was flowing throughout the entire story, and the thing was I couldn’t pick between two different people. I liked that there was this this off page chemistry that yes, while I read it, I was actually able to feel it growing to combustion. This was an all encompassing, time stealing, reality altering read. I absolutely loved this one and I want more!! Bravo!

"His touch transformed me into a willing victim."
~BEE

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~MEET PAM GODWIN~

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, Pam Godwin, lives in the Midwest with her husband, their two children, and a foulmouthed parrot. When she ran away, she traveled fourteen countries across five continents, attended three universities, and married the vocalist of her favorite rock band.

Java, tobacco, and dark romance novels are her favorite indulgences, and might be considered more unhealthy than her aversion to sleeping, eating meat, and dolls with blinking eyes.

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