“Beautiful, soul-shattering, and utterly delicious.” ~ Ilsa Madden-Mills, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and USA Today bestselling author 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 … 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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Billions Of Blue Blistering Barnacles!! When my Utmost fave author writes my Utmost fave trope, my hearts just bellows- “Weigh anchor! All hands prepare to make sail!”
This is a new trope for Godwin but as usual she shines and advances by knots and fathoms, this is her Most potent work yet. Best job with narration, plotting, characterization and slick advancement. Arousing and electrifying, it will transport you to the rolling decks and creaking planks aboard a Pirate ship and your feet may never wanna touch land again.
Welcome to the High seas and a pirate lore like no other. An adrenaline pumping adventure awaits you with Galleons chasing Pirate ships, guns booming, sexy dashing pirates, lofty pirate hunters and lots of treasure. There’s something sinfully romantic about Ships and pirates. It’s heroic and villainous, thrilling and barbaric, soaring high in clear blue skies and sinking deep in the inky black oceans.
What be this here kinky fuckery Pam-O-Ninetails ??!!
I met Priest Farrell, notoriously known as Feral Priest of smoldering, silver glinting eyes and luscious beaded locks. Master of Skillful tongue and deft thieving fingers, my heart just purred for this Cheating Philander, the Adulter Knave..*lesigh*
“Priest Farrell took, plundered, and raided for his own enjoyment. He was a cold-blooded pirate who acted without moral restraint or conscience, especially when it came to his primitive desires.”
Then Pam introduces Lord Ashley Cutler, Commodore of HMS Blitz, pirate Hunter on a mission.
Elegantly masculine, strikingly confidant and Gorgeously Male…. *Lesigh*
But he’s a gorgeous, filthy pervert with his superior breeding capable of unseemly manners
He legit rocked my “ship” Aft to Starboard, beam over beam, stem to stern, forward & backward, unfurled my sails and held me in his sway
They share a sordid, burning tale of love in every surface and some unexpected places. I’d drown myself for him to give me his air. *lesigh*
I’m secretly jealous of and in love with all of Pam’s heroines. They are kick Ass warriors, svelte and sensuous. They’re survivors in all pain and pleasure situations.
Bennett Leighton is a force of nature. Fierce and hell-raising Pirate Captain of Jade, indomitable Rebel of the Sea, fighting against the conformities of men and society
“For the past seven years, I’d lived among men, fighting tirelessly for every inch of respect in a man’s world. I never let their prejudices weaken me. I never swooned, cowered, or submitted in the shadow of masculine strength. I never allowed anyone to see me as anything but a hardened, ruthless pirate captain.”
Her endurance held me in awe, her mettle strong as Bonze Beastly guns and her personality explosive like 32 pounders. her beauty rivaling her ruthless spirit, became a dangerous combination. She was a lure, like a priceless treasure which had the two men hunting to capture her.
“Love had hunted me, captured me, bred madness, and yes, it left a sea of ruin in its wake.”
Thrumming with heart pounding action, lust burning passion and a cavernous sea of love. It has all the masala of a Hollywood movie. Drama, action, sex, horror, love, comedy and emotional twists and turns, complete with a quintessential compass with secret scrolls!!
Games, deceit, seduction and yielding and all tied in the most surprising climax ever!!!!
Pick this up or the by God’s Teeth I’ll send Captain MadWolf McNally upon ye!!
#TeamTrace!! …………I mean #TeamAshley
10 Citrus stars for Ruse With Arabella
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 through 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
This is the best thing I’ve read in a long time! Absolutely stunning!
Sea of Ruin is a masterpiece. From the flawless, evocative prose, to the characters who live and breathe on the page, to the richly drawn world of the high seas, Pam Godwin has created no less than a work of art. A top read of 2020 and beyond.
Pam Godwin consumed my heart and soul through the brutal beauty of Sea of Ruin. I was enthralled, not only by the authentic vocabulary and historic references, but by the sheer wonder of this unique tale and the characters like no other. Sea of Ruin is an epic novel that goes far beyond five stars. I give all the gold doubloons to this story, one that will forever remain in my dreams and nightmares.
I loved this book so much I wrote a freaking GoodReads blog post about it, lol. The title was “The Pirate Book I Waited 39 Years to Read,” so that pretty much says how much I adored it. Erotic, romantic, incredible twist I didn’t see coming, harsh and tragic in the right ways (meaning it made the HEA SO well-earned and very moving). This is my 3rd book by Pam Godwin, and every one of them has been phenomenally written, unique and edgy, with unforgettable characters and great romance/eroticism.
I devoured this book in two days. It was long and I needed every word of it too. This story will whisk you away to another time of adventure, betrail, love, and amazing storytelling!
I love it when a book completely takes you away and this one is that, an adventure. A book that I didn’t want to end. A book that told such an amazing story that I didn’t see any of the WOW moments coming. It was intense, gut-wrenching, and beautiful. At times I was livid at some point, laughing, and even crying and I needed all that was handed to me while reading.
I can’t wait for the next installment of this series. If you love a good suspense, with pirates and want to experience an amazing adventure, grab this book NOW!
Pam Godwin Sea of Ruin
Pam Godwin thrills us with this utterly devastating, heart stoppingly compelling, mile a minute masterpiece.
Sea of Ruin is unlike anything I’ve read before. I devoured ‘King of the Libertines’, which was written as part of the ‘Australia Anthology’. You don’t have to have read this delightful novella to devour Sea of Ruin but it is definitely also worth a read.
Sea of Ruin is so entirely tragic at times that I couldn’t take breath and so profoundly beautiful at other times that my heart sighed.
Bennet, Priest and Ashley were so perfectly written that I lived their adventures and horrors, laughed through their victories and felt the passion all consumingly.
The history between Bennet and Priest is full of half truths, dishonestly and hurt. When her future is called into uncertainty, Commodore Cutler, ensures that Bennet questions everything she thought she knew about herself. She’s fierce, beautiful and I love that she needs no body to be her hero as she fearlessly fights to follow her destiny.
I truly loved this incredible piece of fiction!
Wow, I am speechless. Utterly speechless. Pam specialized in dark, dark romance, cue to Dark notes, Trails of sin, Deliver series. When Pam announced that she is writing a dark historical pirate romance, I had some doubts. I read a lot of historical romance when I was younger, which was long long time ago! Anyways, Holy molly, I was crying like a baby at the beginning of it. The story just took grip of all my attention, sucked me right in and didn’t let go until the very last word, which was, exactly 5am. I really appreciate the extensive research the author did, the accuracy of language used and the pirate lingos. The story of Bennet, Priest and Ashley is brave, beautiful and STEAMY. Two possessive, handsome pirates who would do anything for you, who will die for you. SWWWWWOOOONNNNEEDD. Thank you Pam for this beautifully written story.
This story consumed me from beginning to end. With beautiful language and vivid descriptions, it transported me to a world of ships, pirates, and seas. A stunning tale of ruin and love.
This would be my second read by Pam Godwin, and I currently have a 100% love streak for her work. Bennett was FIERCE while Priest and Ashley were perfectly flawed heroes. So hot! So good! Sea of Ruin was the adventure I craved!
Whenever Pam Godwin has a new book coming,i am eager to see it appear in my library.
Because her stories? They grab you. From the first page. Until the last sentence.
And they don’t let go inbetween,at all!
That being said,you have to like your stories DARK,REALLY DARK.
This one is no exception,it has some very explicit scenes.
So,be warned…
It’s the story of Bennett Sharp,daughter of a notorious pirate and a countess.
They both died when she was still a young girl,leaving her in the care of her father’s men.
She followed in her father’s footsteps when she was old enough,and became a pirate as well.
With a reputation that matches his.
Her love life doesn’t fare that well.
Priest’s betrayal broke her heart and she’s weary of ever trusting his smooth words again.
If only she could shake the damn man off….
He keeps following her,and doesn’t seem ready to let her go.
When he steals a precious possession from her and talks his way back onto her ship,she has a hard time not giving into his proposal.
But then disaster strikes,and she sacrifices herself to give her men a chance to escape.
Taken captive by commodore Ashley Cutler,she can only hope Priest and her men can find a way to free her before it’s too late.
Lord Ashley Cutler however,is a man that affects her in ways she didn’t expect.
If that was all there was to this story,it would’ve been easy sailing…..
But there is só much more to this story!
So many twists and turns.
So many secrets to unfold.
And choices to make….
I loved how strong Bennett was,how she never gave up on life.
And i loved how Priest didn’t give up either….on her.
How Ashley slowly started to show his human side to Bennett,and opened up to her.
Both men had their qualities,and both did their best to be deserving of her affection.
This was one hell of a story,and i loved it!
Pam Godwin!!! You phenomenal woman!
You had me crying 9% into the book,
Had me laughing 15 minutes later,
Turned on throughout, more crying, more laughing.
For the first time, I finally get what a “book hangover” is. I don’t even know what to do with myself. I’m so upset that Its the end of the book. I almost wanna restart the whole thing five minutes after I was done.
First off… what a STRONG female lead we had in this book.
“I was a pirate captain, a rebel queen of the sea, fighting against the conformities of society and the oppressive laws of man.”
…..and a Queen Bennett was. Fearless.
Hilarious. Witty. Her mouth had me
Roaring in laughter.
I have so many quotes I saved from this book. So many emotions hitting me throughout.. y’all… I’m MAD I can only give 5 stars. I’d give more.
I really would.
“Love isn’t a decision. It arrives unannounced, breeds madness, and leaves a sea of ruin in its wake.”
My heart. It swoons at the other characters.
“He captured my eyes. “It doesn’t matter how far we fall, how much pain we inflict, or how dark it becomes in the ruin. I’m going to be with you, waiting for you, loving you, forgiving you. I’m never letting go, Bennett. Never.”
I mean…
“We’re going to take care of each other, Bennett. You and me, from now on. No matter what happens. We’ll get out of here. I promise.”
So here’s the thing. I read a lot. I want to say a book a day… sometimes two. But I have never ever picked up a historical romance book. I don’t like history and historical romances is just seemed extremely cheesy.
The only reason is took a chance on this one was because Pam Godwin wrote it.. and I had credits to get the ebook for $1.
Best book buy decision I made all year.
I’m dead serious. The emotions this book took me on.. I have new book-boyfriends for life. These characters will stay with me for a long time. I’m off to buy the paperback.
Congratulations Pam Godwin on this release. Bravo!
As an author I appreciate Pam following her muse; then having the guts to take the time to get it right xxx Pam I want to be you when I grow up. Ha! As always impeccable writing, great pacing, wonderful characters… pulls you right in, grips you… makes you want more. Can’t wait for your next book! You inspire me to aim higher!
Oh where to start….Well this is my first pirate book, never really thought I would read one but when Pam Godwin invites you to read one of her books .. well you do it of course. She knocked it out of the park well sea with this one. This book had everything, one bada$$ heroine, gosh she was so dang strong, several different hero’s in their own way, torture, hate, betrayal, loss, fighting, but above all else there was love. Love that was so strong it withheld everything that you can think of thrown at it. This book does contain some triggers but like most of Pam’s books she writes them really well. Thank you so much for letting me read this wonderful sometimes terrifying journey!! I loved it all!!!
I enjoyed this book, as it’s truly a “Pam Godwin” book.
What does that mean?
Well, for starters, it’s dark. There is a lot of unpleasantness that happens. However, you can always count on Pam to write strong heroines who are able to come out the other side and Bennett Sharp does exactly that. It’s also so steamy and sexy that your kindle may possibly catch fire. I guarantee you’ll squirm while reading.
I never imagined a book about a female pirate captain could be so entertaining, but it really was. If you are worried about the historical aspect, don’t be. In my opinion it’s pretty light on the historical elements compared to other books I have read. The time period and dress, etc is historical, but it doesn’t get heavy into historical events or characters.
I liked Bennett, she reminded me a little of Liv from the Deliver series only much softer. I think I would have preferred her to be a little harder as I did feel like she led more with her heart than a pirate probably should, especially considering her history. She was able to be hard when she needed to be and it worked for the story. As much as I liked Bennett, I enjoyed the men in her life even more. Priest and Ashley were the true gems of the story, in my humble opinion, and I felt like the reader was robbed a little because Priest wasn’t in the book as much as I would have liked him to be.
My only big complaint was the ending/resolution to the conflict and story. It seemed too easy and a little convenient. Maybe after all that the characters had been through this was their reward, but it felt a little rushed and like I said, just easy, I was surprised it wasn’t more complicated.
Overall, I enjoyed it and would recommend to those wanting a dark erotic read with a different feel to it…that feel being pirates!
Pam is one of the most masterful writers I have ever read. Skillfully executed, penned to perfection … Sea of Ruin will leave you breathless. Bennett, Priest, and Ashley are my new obsession, and this is sitting at the top of my 2020 favorite list! READ. THIS. BOOK!
This book sent me on a crazy journey where I was laughing, I was crying, I was nervous, I was anxious, I was excited! It made me feel everything. This is not normally my type of romance but I’m so glad that I ventured outside of my comfort zone to read this historical/pirate romance book.
The narrator was perfection. It’s just one narrator but I always knew whose voice she was doing. She was able to give the male characters such distinct voices that you always knew who it was.
I’m feeling torn writing this review of Sea of Ruin. On the one hand I absolutely loved the book. BUT, on the other, I would have preferred the story to have not been quite so lengthy and I’m unsure of the reason why I feel this way because the story always progressed, and there were some incredible scenes and lots of excitement which had me hooked.
I can’t recall ever previously reading a pirate romance story and I’m gutted that I waited so long to read this one! I thought Pam Godwin penned a fantastic narrative with lots of twists and turns that had me desperate to see how the story would unfold. I was always surprised at how every subplot progressed and concluded – which I loved.
I cannot deny that the characters are incredible. I adore Bennett and Priest especially, but each and every one of them played an integral role in this fabulous story. The attention to detail throughout the book is second to none! I didn’t have to stretch my imagination to get a sense of what was occurring which I loved; However, this probably made those brutal and graphic scenes a little bit harder to read. I experienced lots of different emotions which always gets a huge tick from me. There is so much to this story, and I enjoyed the romance and passion just as much as I did the battles and angst.
I shy away from reading historical romance but this trope is one that I would certainly read again. I desperately want to award Sea of Ruin 5 stars and it is certainly worthy of more than 4. However, due to those niggles regarding its length, I am going to give this action-packed story 4.5 stars. I wish I could explain to you why I’m struggling to submit a 5-star rating I just can’t quite put my finger on the reasons that are stopping me from doing this. Sea of Ruin is a book that I would recommend to you to read, but please take note of the trigger warnings.
My 3rd book by Pam Godwin and she has become one of my favorite dark romance writers.
I just love her writing style. And this story enthralled me. The way raw emotion seeps from the page, the brutallity of the pirate life, the authentic language, amazing characters and great plot twists.
I read this book as a mix of audio and ebook and it was a good decision because the audio is amazing. The narrator does a fantastic job as bringing Bennett to life. This female character is one my favorite up to date. Her strength, resilience, tenacity, ferocity, sensuality, all won me over.
There are a lot of trigger warnings in this book so proceed with caution. I had no issues with them and I actually enjoyed that the story remained authentic to the brutal lifestyle. I was a bit dissapointed by the twist in the romance. Seeing Ashley and Bennett together, I would have loved a more traditional romance so that would be my main critique. But overall, this is a story that will not soon forget.