“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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I have so many strings I never knew of. I had assumed I was a real girl. I should have known better. I should have questioned the ticks; the urge to go one way while my body went another. I should have understood I was never in control. I realized too late in this book that I was the marionette and Pam Godwin is most definitely the marionettist.
I only now while typing this (a second time because my first review was deleted midtyping/rant!) that I no longer wish to be real. I long for Pam Godwin to twirl her wrist and prance me exactly where she wants me because now I am bereft.
I will tell you a not so secret. I don’t mind historical romances. I don’t need them. I don’t LOVE them. I have probably only read maybe 1 a year of the more than 500 books I read annually. I unintentionally cringe when I hear (read) the words historical romance. I roll my eyes. I slide right on by…usually. Here’s the thing, I have great respect for this author. I am always clawing for her books. I HAD to read this- especially after King of Libertines (in the AUSTRALIA anthology). I needed more. I needed Bennett and Priest. I needed answers, after reading the blurb, I needed hope.
The EVERYTHING of this book!!!! I am trying to make sense. There is so much to swoon and discuss!
-The feels are intense. I went from madly in love (King of Libertines – swoon!) to bitter anger and raging jealousy. I was heartbroken and lost. I was angry, needy, and confused. Pam Godwin had me so twisted I thought I would lash out. (I may have concocted twisted revenge schemes in a daydream like haze!)
-The freaking storyline!!!!! I loved the story. I wasn’t just a reader. I was Bennett. I was the pirate captain. I was there. I felt the salty spray on my skin.
– The characters are GAHHHHHHH! How can I tell you!?! They are jaded, broken, and real. They long for love. They need. They are. REAL.
– The quotes! Oh my poor heart ached at some of the amazing words Pam Godwin tangled together.
One of my favorite…
““Love isn’t a decision. It arrives unannounced, breeds madness, and leaves a sea of ruin in its wake….””
I grasped onto so many words on these pages, clinging to their meaning and representations.
Before I get completely out of hand, I need you to know this book is incredible. It’s a new world at your finger tips. It is a pirate adventure you can only see brought to life here. I can say with absolute certainty Sea of Ruin will turn you into an addict. It’s a pirate life for me!
This book had my heart pounding from cover to cover. It was addictive and all-consuming.
This gripping and wildly delicious tale was utterly brilliant and completely unforgettable.
Where do I even begin?
There is magic in Pam’s words.
They can annihilate you.
They have the power to shred your heart.
And make you wish you didn’t have feelings.
Sea of Ruin wasn’t a story, it was a fucking adventure. Filled with non-stop action and jaw-dropping grittiness, yet exploding with so much passion and love and delicious goodness, I never wanted to stop reading.
In true Pam Godwin fashion, she reached in and grabbed ahold of my heart with her talented claws and did not let go. At one point I was bawling like a baby and needed to give my heart a break. I set my Kindle down and sent a message Pam to scold her and tell her what she was doing to me. And that was within the first 10%.
Bennett Sharp, captain of her pirate ship – Jade, daughter of notorious pirate – Edric Sharp, and one of the most badass heroines I’ve read. Strong enough to hang with her crew, powerful enough to keep them in line and demand respect, yet soft and feminine when she needs to be. The torture and pain and heartache she endured, only to persevere and survive, proves her strength. It’s no wonder men fall for her.
I can always count on Pam to create the growliest, most possessive, most alpha, and sexy AF heroes. And that’s exactly what Sea of Ruin gave me. Not one, but two of the most intoxicating, deliciously virile men. Be still my vagina.
Sexy man #1… I first fell in love with Priest Farrell when I read the short story, King of Libertines, in the Australia anthology. He is arrogant and sexy and confident and so smitten with Bennett. He is the perfect example of a strong, masculine, and handsome AF pirate. He takes what he wants and he loves hard.
Sexy man #2… Lord Ashley Cutler, aka pirate hunter. I swear I was going to despise him.
But lo and behold, within a short time, I was smitten. The naughty, dominant commodore loved to punish, and I would’ve gladly bent over and taken his spankings. There’s definitely more to him than his title. Lots more.
The passion Ms. Godwin brings to the pages amazes me every time. Words so vividly penned, all of my senses were put to use. I could close my eyes and smell the salty air, the leather, the gun powder, the oranges and onions. I could feel the splash of ocean spray coming over the edge of the ship and feel the warmth of the sun on my skin. I was easily transported to another place and time, and almost a week after finishing this book, I feel like I’m still there. I can’t stop thinking about this book.
This journey, this Sea of Ruin, put my heart through the wringer, but in the end, my heart was full of so much happiness and love and complete satisfaction.
Sea of Ruin starts out September 1714. I couldn’t wait to read this book. I started reading this book soon after it landed on my Kindle!
Sea of Ruin is different from anything that I have read by this author. And believe me I have read everything that she has written. Well, except for maybe an anthology or two. I might have rediscovered my love for historical romances!
Here is my dilemma, every time I start out to write a little synopsis I keep running up to a spoiler and I just can’t do that. So, what I want a reader to know is this. If you love pirates that love to pillage and plunder then this book is for you! Even if you don’t think you love historical romances you should read this book! You just might be pleasantly surprised how much you will love reading them, just like me!
Get ready for some twists and turns along the way of reading about Bennett Sharp, Priest Farrell (no he is NOT a “Priest”) & Lord Ashley Cutler.
Sea of Ruin was superbly written by an author that I adore her books and I am always ready to read more from her. 5+++ STARS
Sea of Ruin was not at all what I thought it would be about. Yes, there are pirates & steamy sex scenes but there is sooo much more to thus story! It was fantastic and beyond all expectations!
I absolutely loved everything about Sea of Ruin. Yes, this was my first historical, pirate, dark romance but Pam Godwin is the author and I had a feeling that this story would be one ride like no other. And it was. Sea of Ruin is the epic tale of pirate captain Bennett Sharp, along with Priest Ferrell and Ashley Cutler. This is not an easy happy pirate story but one that is real, raw, hard to read, and brutally intense from beginning to end. Reading about Bennett and her time at sea is so captivating and engaging that the pages will keep flipping until the story is over.
***5 Stars***
Hellloooo High Seas Adventure…with a good dose of dark and smexy and a cast of unique and entertaining characters that I wouldn’t mind going on more adventures with ~ well, minus some of the crazy dark stuff, but such is the life of a pirate.
Bennett, Priest and Ashley. These three took me on one hell of a ride and I gotta say I fell into all kinds of adoration with them. Bennett, well, it’s pretty obvious why ~ I mean a kick ass heroine ALWAYS does it for me. Priest…MINE, seriously MINE, he’s all kinds of pirate smexy goodness ~ even when I wanted to Gibbs smack him. Ashley, he was a tougher nut to crack, but once one did appear…the man is lethal. Their journey was…intense. Enjoyable, frustrating, heartbreaking and simply one hell of a ride. The sexual chemistry between all of them was kinds of insane, but it was the emotional bonds that truly made them work for me and I loved how everything worked out for them.
I’ve said this before, I don’t read much historical romance, but I’ve loved what this author’s other books and I recently got transported back to my teen years where all I read was historicals and one of my absolute favs was about a pirate, so I figured I’d give it a go and I really did enjoy getting lost on the high seas. I will admit that there were spots where things dragged a bit, but nothing major. As for the supporting cast of characters ~ there were more that I wanted to run through with a cutlass than hug, but there were two standouts from the crew of the Jade that I would love to spend more time with in the future, so toes crossed.
Note: This is a DARK read. Triggers abound, so reader beware.
~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~
“The great purpose of life is love.”
This story, it felt more like poetry than prose. The words, the images they invoked, the feelings that were emoted, it wrapped and wove around you in an almost lyrical way. The joy, the pain, brutality, and soothing, the lives of the characters were rich with all of it, and they made fought for it all, through it all. The imperfections were celebrated, the purpose of living was realized, and the strength of character was tested, and passed, again and again. This book, this story, these people, wow, just wow, I was enthralled and invested, and loved every second while reading their journey!
I am a HUGE fan of Pams, and when I found out she was diving into an historical–with pirates!!!!!–I was stoked and squeeing galore. See, the thing is, Pam has NEVER disappointed me with a single story, and Sea of Ruin just set her on a pedestal so damn high, she’ll never topple. Ever. At this point, she could put out shit (which she would NEVER do) and I’d still suck it down like a frothy, strawberry milkshake.
Seriously, though. Pam’s ability to weave a story cannot be matched. Sea of Ruin took me from tears, to YES! excitement, to wicked heat between the thighs, and that was only in the first half.
Writing a review without spoilers is near impossible, so I’ll just say this… The hints given got my noggin going and I figured out how the HEA would evolve. Thank FU** I was right, because it hit all the tingly parts inside of me, making this one of my all-time fav titles of Pam’s.
Almost as good as Deliver.
Almost.
Ha!
If you need something fresh, unique, full of turmoil, and emotional upheaval, then grab SoR. You won’t be sorry.
The Sea of Ruin is nothing short of amazing. The author’s style is very engaging and I was completely captured by this book from the beginning! Pam Godwin didn’t sugarcoat any scene and that’s what I like about her writing. She wrote the way she envisions them. Cringing and crying out in pain are all something this book makes you want to do while reading it. But, of course, there’s also light moments wherein witty banter exchanges between characters. Sea of Ruin is not your ordinary pirate story, it goes beyond just raiding ships and finding treasures. And the romantic entanglement of characters will keep you hot and heavy. Certainly, no great book is complete without conflict and villains. This book definitely has them and surprised me several times.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the genre. True to form of a dark historical pirate romance the author didn’t disappoint. This is a must-read!
Sea of Ruin immerses you in a world that transcends time, never letting go. It is a story born from the depths of the sea and the ruin of life. I have to admit, after reading King of Libertines in the Australia , I knew this book would gut me and I was scared to pick it up knowing I had to brace for what was to come. But Priest has haunted my dreams and was the driving force behind me picking up the book and diving right in. He is a man when not on the page, makes you wonder what must he be thinking, doing…. A man so far under my skin, impossible to replace. Ashley is man who is calculated and cunning, I felt like Bennett falling hard for his cruelty.
Bennett’s story is not for the weak of hearts, she’s lived through the darkest of times. But she prevailed with the strength, love and will of two Insanely, shamelessly, irrefutably. forces. An overruling destiny that was filled with passion, love and hate. It’s cannot be contained in a genre of historical’s or a pirate tale. Their story was so much bigger than the pages in the book, bringing light to the darkness and life to the sea of ruin.
The ruthless rogue that was her father, the cold-hearted, adulterous knave that was her husband, the chillingly calm, self possessed commodore that was her captor. Each and every one made her who she was, a pirate captain, rebel queen of the sea.
Hidden connections, secrets revealed, this story is everything I never saw coming. A dark and dubious adventure for the ages.
There is no story that this author cannot write, she is, and will continue to be, a blind one-click, no matter the title or genre.
5 + STARS
A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!!!!!!
Pam Godwin, You totally blew my mind with this one. You took me on a wonderful, exciting, sometimes cruel, and heartbreaking journey, with twists and turns on every step, and with so many brilliant jaw-dropping moments, that I forgot everyone and everything around me. It is a beautiful, passionate love story, which captivated me from the first chapter and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time, until the very end. There were moments, when I forgot to breathe, and moments when I thought I would combust because of all the hotness it radiated. I absolutely adore the characters. They are beautiful in every way, they are complex, intense, strong, and fearless, they love fiercely, with everything they’ve got, to the point of sacrificing their own lives to save the one they love. I could literally feel their inner turmoils though the words. The heroine, Bennett, is amazing. She is witty, smart, sassy, rebellious, brave. She is not afraid to get her hands dirty, and she fought, to earn the respect in world dominated by men. But, when it comes to the matter of the heart, deep inside, she is a fragile flower, has her own insecurities, she longs to be cared for and cherished. This book is perfection, a masterpiece and everything I said above, makes it a PEARL of the Historical Romance genre. It is one Precious Treasure, and nothing compares to it.
” It was the best torture. And the worst.”
Quotes, these are just a very small part of all the beautiful words.
“Call off your hell-born blowsabella before she hurts herself.”
“He was just as I remembered-built with dense power, carved from solid stone, and smoothed to godlike perfection.”
“My breath fled as I flattened my palms on his chest shuddering at the hard heat of him. His body was an effigy of chiseled art, an omnipotent sculpture to be coveted and revered.”
“The tension in my limbs loosened, the ice in my veins thawed, and shreds os my reason desintegrated…”
“He tasted like the ocean, deep and turbulent, liberating and comforting, familiar and sacred.”
“Commodore Pr*ck? Lord Sweet Lips? My favorite A**ehole?”
“I can’t 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’d been captured by an inhuman, unfeeling non-smiler.”
“I never imagined, – he murmured – that a view could pertain to the sense of touch. When I look at you, I don’t just see beauty. I feel it. ”
“…the affinity, you and me, is frighteningly, magnificently, hopelessly real.”
“Oh the floating fullness, the bursting stars, the ultimate state of bliss…I might have heard angels singing”
“The great purpose of life is love”
” To know with certainty that we exist, we must love and be loved, even through the pain. It’s the inexplicable fever inside us….”
“Love had haunted me, captured me, bred madness, and yes, it left a sea of ruins in it’s wake.”
” I was a pirate captain, a rebel queen of the sea, fighting against the conformities of society and the oppressive law of man.”
Benedicta is supposed to be looking to gain the attention of a man to make her his wife. She is 14, and doesn’t want any of it. She wants to be on the seas. At 14, she lost everything, but the Jade. She sets sail, and learns what she needs to know from Charles Vane.
If you didn’t read the anthology, it was the Bennett and Priest meet. The anthology is called Australia. Priest finding her again was EPIC!
When the Jade came under fire, Bennett’s plan was outrageous. She meets Ashley of the Royal Navy. My my my… this character. I hated that I love him. The things he says… The three of them have secrets that will blow your mind.
“You’re the glue, Bennett.” They were never the same. I loved this book!. “We’re an exquisite force of destruction.” I couldn’t agree more. Love prevailed, not in the windless calm of life, but in the ruin.
I needed this book! I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. I read a LOT. I love to read, and this book was such a breath of fresh air. I loved the angst between her men. It was different, and so good!
This book was amazing. Historical romance is not a genre I usually read, however Pam Godwin just made me a fan. Her attention to detail was so spot on, from the descriptions of the ships and their interiors, to the dialogue and language used. I kept my kindle dictionary well used looking up terms. Like all of her female leads, Bennett Sharp is a strong woman. She has to be as a pirate captain, but her crew respects her deeply. There are also two very alpha men, Ashley Cutler, a naval pirate hunter, and Priest Farrell, the pirate husband, who would do anything to find and free her from any harm. This story grabbed me from the magnificent cover until the very last page. There are so many twists, turns, secrets and debauchery that I couldn’t put it down. This is one not to be missed.
This book demonstrates that as readers we should step out of our comfort zone. I must admit pirates are not my thing or should I say, weren’t my thing until reading this. The first chapter I must be honest and say I struggled with,the change in some language etc but this was just to set the scene and PamGodwin works her magic yet again and pulls you in and takes you on an ocean bound journey that has you salivating, yearning for more and championing Bennett.
Totally believable character’s and the attraction between Bennett and Priest and Ashley grab you and hold you captive. Bennett’s one liners are epic.
There are some dark moments, some moments where you are shouting at the book wondering how the hell they could let that happen and the hope of rescue and revival.
Steam emanates from the pages .
Wow this has everything and more. A twist you do not expect but actually see how it can be . Genius.
I love it.
WHY! WHY AREN’T THERE MORE PIRATE STORIES OUT THERE! Either that or I just need to read/find more of them! Pam did her research for this novel and her first historical at that! It was so good, that with how the story flowed, it flew so fast despite it being a long book. It’s dark and gritty and I didn’t expect anything less from Pam. It kept me guessing and about 88% my jaw dropped! I didn’t see that coming at all! The dynamic of this couple is really powerful. My heart ached in a few places. Gah, I wish there was more coming in this world or something similar. It was different than anything I’ve read and Pam wasn’t afraid to test the limits. The cover is very pretty too!
I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
*May contain spoilers if you have not read the King of Libertines novella in the Australia charity book!*
I am simply blown away by the magnificence that is this incredible story. From The Carolinas to England, up and down the Caribbean, on seas that have seen it all, this story takes on an adventure so thrilling and dark, full of action and suspense that had my desperately flipping the pages way past my bed time. I am so in love with Priest and Bennett, their tragically short love affair that left rubble and devastation in its wake. I do not want to really get into much more of the story because I am scared to death of ruining in for anyone! I really do not need to say anything more than that it grabs you from the very beginning and this epic journey Bennett finds herself on for her father’s treasure and all that life throws at her, the good, the bad, the perfection and the devastation just speaks for itself. It’s by far some of Pam Godwins best work and I cannot wait to go on this adventure again one day, to sail the seas with the Magnificent Captain Bennett and her crew, her family above all else. I thank you Pam Godwin for the gift of your word and rhe untold joy they have brought me, I will treasure them always
When I heard the Pam was coming out with a romance book with pirates, I was very interested in what and how this was going to incorporate with each other. As expected Pam’s words float across the pages exactly how every boat should sail across the ocean…smoothly.
Bennett lived a life fighting for herself, brought into this world as a bastard child. A mother that never showed love and a father who loved unconditionally. Until she met Priest. He was everything she had hoped for, yet he wouldn’t let go of his past. Until one day Bennett was captured and fell into the hands of Ashley. All I can say is that you could feel the sexual tension between Bennett and Ashley as you read this story.
“The great purpose of life is love.”
One’s journey through life is usually sweeter after sufferance and pain. Bennett Sharp knew sufferance, she knew pain. Deep, emotional pain, physical pain, each infliction just as deep and scarring.
“Hypnotized, I lost myself in our connection, sinking fast and deep into the mystical alchemy that bound us together so intensely.”
Bennett’s life was emotionally-charged (though she would never admit it) and arduous. The sinful Priest Ferrell delighted in tormenting her with his own ways. Lord Cutler carved out a piece of my heart with his stoicalness and all that heat under the uniform.
“It’s the inexplicable fever inside us, which drives us to battle, to sacrifice, and to surrender.”
Pam Godwin takes us through Bennett’s tenuous journey with conviction and her own brand of sexiness. Sea of Ruin is dark and deliciously haunting.
Sea of Ruin was not what I was expecting!!! Lana~White Hot Reads
This book had me hooked from the first page. Bennett is a force to be wrecking with. She is strong, resilient and determined. Her relationship with Priest and Ashley is filled with lust, love and commitment. As with Pam’s writing, she leaves nothing out and you experience what the characters are going through at that time. The sexual tension between Bennett, Priest and Ashley is scorching hot!!!