“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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Bennett is a wanted pirate not only for piracy, but because she is a beautiful pirate of the sea. She finds herself in all kinds of troubles on land as well as at sea. But will the sea ruin her or will her heart? After being captured by a pirate hunter Lord Ashley she can only think of ways to escape and get back to her husband Priest. But the longer she’s on his ship she’s not sure she can ignore how handsome he is.
This is for sure one of the most different books I have read. Reading about 1700’s, pirates, ships, tragedy, and many more transactions to list. But Pam did an awesome job of bringing it to life. Once I started this story I couldn’t put it down, there were so many twists and turns, I thought it would be the end and than there was a different way to not let the sea ruin you or the people you care about.
Gah! SEA OF RUIN … utter perfection by one of my absolute favorites, the talented Pam Godwin. Unique, magnificent and astonishing. Expect the unexpected on this wild journey that for sure ranks as one of my top reads this year.
I didn’t even read the blurb going in, just knowing it would include pirates – and was pulled in from the second I opened the book. This story is an experience in its own right and the reason this review will be totally spoiler-free.
Brilliant writing, intricate storyline and characters so multifaceted and vivid, you feel like you’ve met them in real life – though I would be utterly lost and scared s++tless in their world, truth be told! It’s gritty, dark and raw – simply otherworldly perfection. A masterpiece and probably Ms. Godwin’s best work so far.
This is the kind of story that needs to be savored rather than devoured, just to make it last that tiny bit longer. It’s that kind of book you’ll wish you could read again for the first time, I definitely wished I could.
Grab this one, even if it’s not your usual genre, you won’t regret it, promise! It’s a definite MUST READ of 2020!
I dont know where to start! This book was everything and more! From the very beginning you are pulled in this story of pirating and love. The constant trials that Bennett goes through as a pirate is told so well. The love she feels for both Priest and Ashley can be felt EVERYWHERE! Two men and a love that will ruin. I need more from this world because I’m not ready to give it up.
Holy Pirates what a superb book! Not enough stars to convey my love for this book! Pam Godwin has delivered a magnificent intriguing, dark, historical romance book with Sea of Ruin! I literally could not put this book down. Being the first of this type of genre for Godwin, certainly proved not to be an issue. The amount of obvious research spent on terminology alone goes to show the amount of dedication and hard this author put in to her writing.
The genre alone should NOT sway you on whether or not to read this book! This is book is intriguing, wonderfully dark, exciting, and overwhelmingly beautiful. The characters are brilliantly written to flow excellently with the spectacular story line.
My only advise for this outstanding book: GO.READ.IT!!!!!
The Sea of Ruin is easily one of my 2020 top reads. It was un-put-downable. I stayed up until nearly 3 am reading and woke up bleary-eyed with the most satisfying book hangover. The heroine was so fierce. From the moment she was fourteen, my heart broke for her and I cheered on her resilience. Seven years later she is running from her husband because he hurt her terribly.
“He wanted to entangle our future. I wanted to undo our past.”
I wanted her to forgive him. I felt their feelings. I felt their love. This is one of my favorite reactions an author can give me. I love when my feelings are right alongside the author’s and I was one hundred percent vested, feeling it all.
The struggles for Bennett are very real and very tragic. I had all the sniffles, all the edge of my seat, just one more page, feels. God, the things she went through. I didn’t expect this to go the way it went, but I loved it. Bennett, a woman who was far beyond her time in her independence, was so amazing. “I can’t seem to make sense of you.” “It’s easy, Commodore. Just think of the smartest man you know, remove all the hauteur and bigotry, and add a larger pair of testicles.”
I loved so very much about this dark, unique historical fiction book. Simply perfection on the Sea.
Dark pirates anybody? This is an sensual and epic tale of a swashbuckling lady pirate, two vicious alphas, and lots of yummy stomach-clenching darkness…on a pirate ship.
The above quote is literally my expression throughout this book. What sort of mad sorcery did Pam Godwin inflict upon me? This was a thrilling adventure, a sublime romance; a heart-breaking, heart-pounding giant of a historical tale. Not something I would normally pick up, the book was recommended by a great friend and I couldn’t be more pleased with her recommendation. There’s story telling magic in the pages of this book. When I say adventure I do not say it lightly, it’s truly an epic journey of discoveries, betrayals, love, friendship, and loyalty. It’s mysterious and confounding. It’s brilliantly structured and plotted. It’s erotic and dark and edgy as all hell. It’s trickery and manipulation that you leaves reeling. It’s pirate antics and beyond. It makes you feel alive while reading; unstoppable force that propels you forward with each turn of the page.
I truly felt as if I were sailing the seas right along with these magnetic, polarizing, vexing, wondrous characters. Godwin’s delicious, brilliant storytelling relentlessly pursued my reading heart, flexing and contracting it with her beautiful gift of words. This story is unlike anything I’ve ever read. It’s rich with sea-faring imagery and at the helm of this ship: a rebel, foul-mouthed, wonder of a heroine who’s embroiled in the biggest chance of her life. You undertake in this story with her. You hurt with her, grieve with her, love with her, and wish to run your mouth just as witty and cunning as her. The whole story just left me super satisfied and so very pleased to have read it. A true reading adventure awaits in Sea of Ruin. I very much, very highly recommend reading this book.
I absolutely love Pam Godwin books and this one was no exceptions. I don’t read pirate books but I definitely think I need some pirates in my life. Pam has this way of writing such strong h, it’s just incredible. This book was action pack, steamy hot and amazing dialogue. 5 stars.
~~ 5 SENSATIONAL SWASHBUCKLING STARS ~~
AN EPIC ROMANCE REVIEWS TOP PICK!
“We shall be blinded by our love for life and beyond the ends of the sea.”
Teeming with bloody battles and high stakes adventure, victories and defeats, passion and pathos, SEA OF RUIN by Pam Godwin is a DAZZLING TREASURE TROVE that left me breathless!
PREMISE:
Set in the West Indies in the early 1700s, this exhilarating romantic odyssey revolves around a bold and brave female pirate named Benedicta Sharp who is a true force to be reckoned with! She’s been a wanted woman since she was 14, always looking over her shoulder in the aftermath of a devastating family tragedy. Yet while Bennett’s evaded the noose thus far, now, at 21, her luck might have finally run out. For the beautiful buccaneer is being hunted with a vengeance by Priest Farrell. After surrendering her body and soul to the notorious king of libertines, she left him high and dry after he BETRAYED her in the worst possible way. But as hard as she tried to outrun him, and their wild, all consuming love, the rakishly handsome scoundrel emerges from the shadows, determined to take back what’s rightfully his…
And he has something precious that SHE desperately wants in return.
However, when danger abounds, and Bennett’s beloved ship is on the verge of being seized by the British Navy, the flaxen-haired spitfire makes the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the safety of her crew that leads to her capture by the barbaric Lord Ashley Cutler. But Priest is not about to let another man savagely claim his beautiful prize and the chase is on! But as each day passes, Bennett’s hopes for rescue dwindle for she is now a condemned prisoner, facing an uncertain future, at the complete mercy of a blue-eyed commodore who has a hot, burning desire to RAVISH and RUIN her. And hence, as danger and desire, treachery and subterfuge collide, this unlikely trio is swept up in a dark tempest that ultimately take them ALL by storm!
MY MUSINGS:
Ahoy! When I heard that Pam Godwin, one of my unicorn authors, was penning a dark pirate saga, I was literally VIBRATING with excitement. I love historical romances, and since this romance goddess extraordinaire spins pure gold with every single book she writes, I knew it was gonna be an EPIC read. And how right I was!
It’s been ages since I have been so transfixed by a novel that I could not stop obsessing over it, but gah this book RUINED me in the best possible way! While by this author’s own account this genre is a huge departure for her, rest assured that it’s still chock full of all the sumptuous writing, deliciously depraved plot twists, richly developed characterizations, steamy passion and breathtaking splendor we have come to expect from her. According to Ms. Godwin, she took her sweet time writing this book—a year to be precise–and her painstaking research into the genre truly shows because the rich, lavish world building was phenomenal! So much so that this brilliantly executed, lushly romantic, gloriously detailed prose and storm swept backdrop felt 100% authentic.
As with all of this author’s books, I was transported into this pulse-pounding story from the very first word, on pins and needles throughout and my heart was held in a vice grip till the jaw dropping end! This book has EVERYTHING you could possibly covet in a swashbuckling pirate tale. A bold and brazen, and beautifully broken, heroine. Not one but TWO magnetically sexy, dangerously commanding anti-heroes. Secrets and lies. Betrayal and brutality. Thrilling adventure. Spine chilling peril. And, at its epicenter, a heart-throbbing love story that will leave you ENTHRALLED from start to finish.
“I wanted this man to the point of madness. His body. His love. I craved him with a recklessness that would cost me everything.”
Since this is a DARK historical romance, the author stays true to the era that it’s set in and does not sugarcoat the gory violence, or the sin and debauchery. So, yeah, some harrowing content may trigger some readers, but in my opinion, it was all a necessary part of the terrifyingly beautiful journey that this author takes us on.
Let me count the way that I adored Bennett! This feisty, fiercely loyal, flamboyant and salty-mouthed female pirate, “the bastard daughter of noble blood,” endured unspeakable tumult and tragedy in her young life, but she proves to be shatterproof. And everything she’s suffered has only served to make her into the fearless lass she is today. Following in the footsteps of her buccaneer daddy, the notorious Captain Eric Sharp, this tiny ferocious woman, who commanded a crew of one-hundred-and-twenty unruly men, craved adventure and the high sea, not pomp and ceremony. And NEVER backed away from a fight.
Which is what put her life, and that of her crew, in a torturous tailspin when the scorned seafarer goes toe to toe with Priest only to become imprisoned by Lord Ashley Cutler, a magnetic and utterly menacing pirate hunter who wants her head on a platter. Or does he…?
While on the surface she appears as ruthless as Priest and Ashley, but as we are given glimpse into the inner recesses of this bewitching siren’s beautifully ravaged soul, we come to discover that she is a woman of true conviction, motivated by an undying love that knows no bounds! And holy moly does she suffer mightily along the way! But while the hot-blooded knave and the cold-hearted commodore prepare to go to battle for her, which of these two deliciously dominant, diabolical men will ultimately stake a claim on her heart? The PIRATE or the PIRATE HUNTER? Hmmmm….you gotta read to find out!
As for the beautifully woven love story that unfolds? It is intoxicating, utterly heart slaying and will leave you ENRAPTURED to the depths of your being! To say that the erotic encounters are hot and torrid is putting it mildly. Bennett and Priest’s chemistry was electrifying and their tempestuous past is steeped in such powerful, potent emotion it decimates. But eep the volatile sparks she ignites with the formidable Lord Ashley are oh so wondrously wickedly wanton as well. And as they make their fateful voyage aboard His Majesty Ship, the forbidden desire that tethers these two enemies together packs a mighty wallop that truly rivals what she shares with the dastardly Priest! For her commodore is “cruelty wrapped in a beautiful package,” Bennett’s Achilles heel, so is it any wonder that she may be powerless to resist him?
“We were meaningful together. Intricate. An unlikely bond formed in the dwelling place of souls.”
Not surprisingly, throughout this arduous journey, these characters hit some treacherous waters, so brace yourself for impact. And as is Ms. Godwin’s MO, expect the unexpected as the story reaches a shattering crescendo with a MIND-BLOWING twist that will leave you thunderstruck! All culminating in a denouement that was sheer perfection.
BOTTOM LINE:
SEA OF RUIN is an EXHILARATING ROMANTIC MASTERPIECE that’s not to be missed!
Bennett was born to a couple that appear to have nothing in common as one was a pirate and the other was English nobility. Life as she knew it came to a crashing end as a teenager and she now finds herself the Captain of a pirate ship which allows her to be near the sea that loves and fulfills her need for adventure.
She has drawn the attention of two very different men as Farrell is a pirate who thrives on living on the wrong side of the law and Ashley who considers it his duty to enforce the law but he has a dark side as well. She is drawn to each of them but in the end only she can decide who she can trust with her heart and her life.
This is a story unlike anything you ever seen. It will keep you captivated from the first page as we follow Bennett’s journey which is dark, suspenseful, steamy and filled with twists and compelling characters. Sit back, enjoy this epic adventure and prepare to be entertained.
I love dark and historical romance, so I knew I had to read this book when I saw that this book was a combination of the two. Pirates are villains or anti-heroes, the author did a great job in showing both types in this book. Bennett is the daughter of a pirate and dreamed of sailing her own boat ever since she can remember, she is pulled into this life when a a very traumatic incident occurs. I couldn’t contain my tears, it was just so heartbreaking. Fast forward seven years, and Bennett has her own crew and knows how to handle herself. I love how brave, strong, and independent she was. Her lover Priest Farrell has wronged her, but isn’t about to let her get away from him. He was just such a smooth-talker, I couldn’t blame Bennett for not being able to resist him. Like her I was having mixed feelings, did I want her to forgive Priest for his betrayal or not. Then she is captured and is in the hands of a pirate hunter Lord Ashley Cutler. Who is so cold and vicious and doesn’t hold back.
I am usually not a big fan of love triangles, but this one was done really well. Plus the sex scenes were extremely steamy and sensual. I loved that the book was long and that the author was able to keep me interested until the end. I connected to the characters and was invested in their lives. Bennett goes through so much hardships in this book, but she stayed strong and I was so proud of her. Towards the end there was a twist that I saw coming halfway through the book, but I was really happy with it nonetheless. It really brought the story fully together and made me happy with the outcome of everything. I was really sad when the book ended, because I wanted to go on more adventures with the characters. This book was dark, suspenseful, emotional, erotic, but also very romantic. I really hope Pam Godwin will write more Dark Historical Romance books featuring pirates because I want more. I hope this book will introduce and make contemporary romance readers fall in love with historical romance, because it needs more love.
Sea of Ruin is an adventure. A fabulous dark historical pirate romance. What a treat. What a journey. Bennett is truly the hero and shining star of this story. The ultimate heroine. She went through hell and came out the winner. The survivor. Sea of Ruin is a pirate romance and the author doesn’t hold back. It’s dark, it’s uncomfortable and it’s gritty. I felt I was with Bennett all the way. Experiencing her trials and especially her dealing with love. Sea of Ruin is a romance. A love triangle and boy did I feel Bennett’s predicament. Her two men Priest and Ashley are amazing and they each have something that makes them special. I had no idea where that love triangle would go and I was pretty surprised with the outcome.
Pam Godwin is a skilled author with a flawless prose and strong point of view. Sea of Ruin is her first dark historical romance and after this one I wouldn’t mind if she wrote more in this genre cause she nailed it. Aye matey!
4 Rebel Queen of the Sea Stars
Holy sizzling hot read!!! I ABSOLUTELY loved this book! I’m a huge fan of Pam’s books. I love every book of hers I read but wooowww did this book hook me! I couldn’t put it down & I didn’t want it to end.
I loved all the characters. Especially Priest & Ashley.
I loved Bennett’s strong & loving personality that she kept even though she’d been through so much. I just loved it all!!
I highly recommend reading Sea of Ruin!!
Sea of Ruin is without a doubt one of the most passionate love stories I have ever read. I love reading historical romance and add the pirate theme and I know it will be on my tbr. But when it’s written by Pam Godwin, well I can expect the writing to be exceptional, the details and descriptions to be exquisite, and the character development to be perfect. And I loved Bennett, Ashley, & Priest. Emotions were extreme in this story. There were difficult things to read, truly horrific & despicable acts of cruelty and violence, but also beautiful & special moments and amazing loving, intimacy. I was shocked, surprised, saddened, anxious, happy, laughed, cried, turned on, sobbed, sickened, cheered, and ultimately so at peace. An unforgettable, epic adventure and the most passionate love. Definitely make this your next 1 click!!!
Stunned! Overjoyed! These are just two of the emotions that I am experiencing after reading this incredible book. Pam Godwin is already established as one of my favourite authors for her intense, intelligent and challenging writing, but Sea of Ruin takes it it even further, rachets up my admiration for her even higher! Sea if Ruin takes the historical romance genre and knocks it out, pucks it up again and, after dusting it off, reshapes it into something richer and fascinating.
Bennett is one of the best heroines I have encountered in a very long time. Strong, brave, willful and just brilliant Bennett is the star of this book and a character I will never forget! Priest and Ashley make wonderful foils for her shining star. All three are written into vibrant life with style and verve. The build up of the relationship between Bennett and Ashley left me breathless and filled with admiration for P Godwin’s skill! Life in former times and different climes richly realised; emotions portrayed with depth and heart stopping detail; the sense of time and place firmly established in order to unleash our own imaginations…all this informing a book which has simply blown me away.
I could definitely wax on, pretty well indefinitely, about Sea of Ruin, but what I essentially need to say is rush and get this book. It will sit at the top of your best ever purchases. 5 stars are simply not enough!
No Spoilers –
this is one of those the less you know going in the more intense the overall experience
And it delivers
Trust me
“Today, Jobah said, slowly shaping his lips around each syllable, isn’t your day”
I need to collect my thoughts and avoid any spoilers
I’ll be back on the morrow with a full edict
How do I tell you how this story made me cry, made me laugh, made me almost revisit my lunch – Without spoiling it for you?
It was well written – the research showed
The characters – I couldn’t help but love them or in some cases extreme, and I do mean extreme, loathing occurred
The telling itself?
I was there I could feel the cold mist of the sea on my face
The sting of the salt on my lips
The tension right before the battle
The slight fear of what was yet to come
Every painful blow
How do I share all that with you?
“With every vile life that I took, I felt replete. I was a pirate captain, a rebel queen of the sea., fighting against the conformities of society.”
Captain Benet is our mighty heroine in this story. She has earned the respect of her men. She has earned her name on the seas. She can stand rounds and continue standing with the best of them.
She has secrets.
“Unbending. Deadlocked. He wanted to entangle our future. I wanted to undo our past.”
Priest – ‘Poseidon’s wrath’ hand me a fan than man had my heart a pounding.
The first mate Reynolds ever devoted to his Captain
And lest us not forget the King’s man Ashley – he is one that is sure to cause your knees a quaking
This had everything!!
Adventure around every corner
Battles at sea –
Heartbreak –
Vile atrocious evils (check the warnings here) –
Storms – and
TREASURE!
I don’t read historical romance very often but if Pam Godwin wrote more I would devour them! Sea of Ruin is devastatingly heartbreaking ,twisted and so emotionally intense, add a feisty strong willed heroine , her libertine husband and a gorgeous pirate hunter and you get a sizzling edge of your seat read that you won’t be able to put down!!
Oh. My. Goodness.
That was a ride and a half.
I’m going to start this review off a little differently, because it’s relevant to me to do so. Bear with me.
First of all, I’ve been an avid reader of anything Pam writes for a while now. I don’t need to read the blurb, I’ll just read it.
But when I saw dark pirates, I’ll admit that I wasn’t immediately sold. I think my issue was that I’m not generally one for historical books. Don’t ask me why.
So I opened up Australia again, and I flipped to King of Libertines, because I figured what better way to see if I was interested than a short story, right?
Five seconds in, I knew this was my kind of story, history or no. I devoured it, then I devoured Sea of Ruin, staying up way too late two nights because I couldn’t put it down.
Now, this part is going to twist off-course a bit.
A while ago, Pam herself was looking for book recommendations and she had such specific criteria, that she gave an example of the kind of book she was looking for: Kushiel’s Dart. I read her list of what that book contained, and I was intrigued. After speaking to her directly about it, I decided to give it a try. It was long, and it took me a minute to submerge myself because the language was so old, but I absolutely adored the world, the characters, and the adventure. I read all three books, and was completely taken.
Sea of Ruin is nothing like Kushiel’s Dart at its heart, and yet, for me personally, it was exactly the same.
That’s a confusing statement, so hear me out. It was historic – a genre that by my own admission doesn’t do it for me, and yet every book I’ve read (not many) I’ve actually really enjoyed.
It’s a book full of tragedy, romance, and archaic traditions. Based in a world that happily skirts the line between civility and anarchy. But this book is about adventure. That kind of months-long journey where so much can and does happen, nobody is ever completely trustworthy, everybody is hiding secrets and concealing agendas, and nothing gets done in a timely manner.
I think that’s probably what’s at the heart of my reticence to read historical romance: everything takes too damn long!!
There’s no phone to text SOS, and there’s no helicopter/plane, etc to fly the rescuers in immediately to save the day.
This couldn’t have been more glaring than in this book.
Here’s the thing – by about 20%, I was fairly convinced about one major plot point. But it’s 20%, right? So what the heck is going to happen before you find out?
So. Many. Things.
ALL THE THINGS. You may read this thinking you’ve got it all worked out, but I guarantee you that you don’t. This is a story of dark pirates for a reason. And pirates don’t get happy endings without a whole lot of hardship first.
So, if you’re like me; a little bit on the fence about historical stories, but you’ve loved and trusted Pam’s writing before, take the plunge. You will not be disappointed. But you may find yourself thinking in nautical terms for a spell after. Ye be warned.
Sea of my ruin.. Pam Godwin was a master of story telling. From the beginning, she had captured myself with the different shade of blues. The depth blue of stories from a young girl named Bennett Sharp.
Pirate Romance is a new genre that I am eager to dive into. ‘Sea of Ruin’ was filled with stories that I cant stop and taken my eyes off.
I am amazed with Bennett strength as young woman.. between her past.. sorrow and love. I read through fantasy of life because of her…she and Priest were the breaths of the sea. Breathtaking sexy.. Love story.. Emotional. Rich storyline among the darkness from the sea. Ahoyyyy pirate! This storybook will take you for a wild sail with unforgetable tales.
A dark historical romance with PIRATES. Need I say more?
Holy moly, I absolutely loved this book – it was addictive, gritty, intense, and unputdownable! I’ve been dying to read Sea of Ruin ever since I heard Pam Godwin was writing a dark historical romance. I’m a big fan of her dark romances and I couldn’t wait to see her twist on a historical setting. Sea of Ruin turned out to be yet another hit. I’m obsessed with this book! It had me unbelievably hooked onto the story, the romance, and its characters. I always say I want to read more pirate romances – and this is exactly the kind of pirate romance I want!
The best suggestion I have for you is to go into this book blind, or with no expectations. Yes, it’s a bit of a love triangle, but also not. This book is nothing you expect. Pam Godwin blew my expectations out of the water the more and more I read. Her writing is fantastic and reminded me just why I love her dark stories so much. She holds nothing back in Sea of Ruin – it is very much a dark romance so proceed with caution.
I LOVED our heroine, Bennett. She’s a freaking pirate captain, the only daughter of one of the most infamous pirates in the world, and she certainly lives up to her father’s name. She experiences such tragic loss at the beginning, I cried and felt for her. She goes through so much in the book and I rooted for her through it all. She’s fierce, kickass, knows how to use a sword, and can handle not just one alpha, possessive man, but two.
The romance was freaking brilliant. It kept me on the edge of my seat, and honestly? I loved Priest and Ashley. Don’t make me choose between them, because I won’t. Both are different – Priest is dark and sensual, Ashley is cold and forbidding – but they are SO perfect for Bennett.
If you’re a fan of dark elements in your romances, you need to read this book. I can’t recommend it enough! As soon as I started reading, I couldn’t put it down. It’s an unforgettable tale full of romance, angst, steam, action, and adventure. If Pam Godwin ever wrote more historical romances, I’d snap it up in a heartbeat!