"BLACKHEARTS," by Nicole Castroman, Simon Pulse, $17.99, 384 pages (f) (ages 14 and up)
In "Blackhearts," Anne Barrett is the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy merchant and his slave mistress. Anne is used to a life of ease, but after the death of her father, she’s thrown out of the house by her half-brother. Forced into a life of drudgery, she ekes out a living as cook and maid. Despite her fellow servants’ prejudices, Anne is bent on escaping to something better. But when her master’s son returns home from a long voyage, despite her best attempts, Anne finds herself drawn to a fiery personality that matches her own.
It doesn’t take long for Edward Drummond to realize he’s changed after his sea adventures. He no longer desires the same things he did a year ago. His experiences have helped him view others with new eyes, and when he sees Anne, he doesn’t just see the darker hue of her skin. Instead, he recognizes a beautiful and captivating woman. But before he can pursue his love for Anne, Edward first needs to deal with his father’s insistence that he marry a woman he does not care for.
Nicole Castroman’s fictionalized account of Blackbeard’s early years is full of suspense and romance. The characters in “Blackhearts” are wonderfully portrayed, and this book is highly believable. This novel can be difficult to put down and blends the perfect amount of pep and action in a romantic novel. While “Blackhearts” is about Blackbeard’s formative days, it takes place in England, not on the ocean, and focuses more on what drove Drummond to leave his home and eventually become the notoriously feared pirate of the seas.
“Blackhearts” has no profanity. While there is some violence, those short scenes rely more on describing the emotions involved rather than gore. A few characters are sexually intimate, but their actions are only known about and not described. The only romance discussed in detail never goes beyond kissing.
Castroman received her bachelor’s degree from BYU. She lives in Georgia with her family.
If you go …
What: Nicole Castroman book signing
When: Saturday, Feb. 13, 1 p.m.
Where: The King's English Bookshop, 1511 S. 1500 East, Salt Lake City
Web: kingsenglish.com, nicolecastroman.com
Note: Places in the signing line are reserved for those who purchase a copy of the featured book from The King's English.
Elizabeth Reid has bachelor's degrees in economics and history. She has worked in retail, medical billing, catering, education and business fields. Her favorite occupation is that of wife and mother. She blogs at agoodreid.blogspot.com.