Nautical
1770's
1770's
US Colonies - Rhode Island and Havana
This is the third book in a series that will surely be
continued. Patrick MacPherson is handed the captaincy of their ship when his
business partner marries. His first voyage as shipmaster is to Havana to sell
some completely legal cargo and return with things that may be subject to new
laws imposed by the British Government. Not quite smuggling, but a race against time.
There is, however, one slight complication: Patrick is,
in reality, Patricia .....The reasons for her disguise are quite understandable
– becoming outwardly a man has got her to the position she wants to be in and
instances of such deceptions were quite common in those days (although few were actually recorded). These are
explained in this story as I am sure they are in the previous volumes (which I
have not read). Also, I am sure, the one question I have has also been
addressed before, but not in this book. I think it should have been as I am other readers coming to the series through this book for the first time would be
asking it too: how did she 'go' when everybody on board believed her to be a
man?
But let us not dwell on such things. The story moves
along at a great pace and the seagoing passages are excellently and
convincingly written. We discover a possible future lover and a former one also
makes a significant appearance. Some back story is given, but I would
definitely recommend reading the previous volumes to be completely au fait with
her circumstances.
Recommended as a good read.
© Richard Tearle
(an ARC version was reviewed, where there were a few typos etc - to be expected in a pre-publication version, but should have been corrected for the final edition.)
(an ARC version was reviewed, where there were a few typos etc - to be expected in a pre-publication version, but should have been corrected for the final edition.)
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