My review of A silent ocean away by DeVa Gantt

My review of A silent ocean away by DeVa Gantt
           (Part one in a trilogy, subtitled: Colette’s Dominion)

    I am part of the Fiction readers book club/group, and as such, I got to preview a book for free, with the stipulation, that I would read it and tell everyone what I thought of it. I was more than happy to do so, for I love romances, especially historical in nature, such as this book is. And, once I saw the package at my doorstep, I eagerly opened it and began to read the novel that very evening.
   
     Before I tell you what the story is about, let me give you the basics. This book is from a very new author, and her author name is derived from using her name as well as her sister’s, who co-authors the book. Or in other words, they are Debra and Valerie Gantt, whose toils came together to make a grand book. And, let me tell you that they did a rather wonderful job.
   
     This book is 373 pages long, and also has author’s notes as well as a first chapter excerpt of the second novel in the trilogy, and that is why I loved this book so much. As it delves into things I never once thought to notice when I first read the book, it makes you go back again, and read very carefully, trying to remember significant details, so you’ll understand the other two sequels, when you go to read them.
       
      Now, let me finally get to the review part. First, and foremost, I wanted to read this book because I was told it’s a romance novel. As far as romance goes, there’s a spark that is ignited at the very beginning of the novel between Charmaine Ryan and the very handsome Paul Duvoisin. And, their courtship is not that easy or very courtly at the beginning.
   
     Paul pretty much tells Charmaine what he wants from her at the very beginning, and she is very much appalled by what he suggests. So, he apologizes and asks that they be friends. And, so they go in circles, family, every day stresses, and numerous obstacles stand in their way.
 
      Basically, Charmaine comes to Paul’s household as the a governess to his father Fredrick and Colette Duvoisin’s children. She left home because of something horrible her father had done. I’m not going to say what that is, you just have to read and find out for yourself.    
     
     And, there are other family secrets beginning with the son, John who is the eldest and heir, who has been ousted from the family for reasons which still allude me, for the first novel never really revealed the why, you have to wait till the second novel to find out the true answer.
   
      As the book progressed, I was somewhat disappointed at how the romance seemed to fall a little flat. There were tense moments to be sure between Paul and Charmaine, but, they never truly came to fruition. In other words, they didn’t even share a kiss until toward the 200th page of the book. I was very frustrated by that, and felt that the lack of romantic moments, made the book more suspense than romance.
        
     And, for that fact alone, the romance not being there as much as I had hoped, I give that part of the novel a C. But, I’m not knocking the book, it does have its great points. The novel truly picked up when John finally came back home to the fold and that’s when, my interest truly peaked.
   
     John Duvoisin was the most fascinating character to me. He comes home bitter and annoyed with everyone and everything. And, he and Charmaine come to an immediate misunderstanding. And, when John makes up his mind about someone, there’s no changing it, as one other person in the novel points out, before he even came home to begin with, so there’s some foreshadowing there.
        
     Then, the book truly picks up after that, and Charmaine, and John’s encounters leave you wondering, if they may just have some feelings other than hatred for each other. By the end of the novel, you see Paul’s faults, as well as Charmaine‘s, and John’s.
        
     This book may not be heavy on the romance, but, it sure is very interesting. I found that once I started reading it, I could not put it down for any reason. It was not my usual taste in romances, but, it made me very anxious to find out what would happen next. And, I do look forward to the sequel, Decision and Destiny which comes out in April of 2009.
        
     If you love novels, and you love to read about some history, and you love tales about true family nuances, then this is the book for you. It will have you laughing one minute, crying in some parts, and all in all, you will cheer and root for these characters. If I were to give a rating on this novel, it would be a B+. And, that’s only because I had hoped for more romance and was slightly disappointed.
    But, hey, I’m very satisfied after reading the book and that’s what is most important. I would read it again, and gladly do so.
   
    I hope everyone liked my review, and if you love to have a copy, go look for it in your local store today. Thanks for reading along with me.