Review: The Pirate Bride by Kathleen Y'Barbo

I truly enjoy historical fiction reads, but they are even better when the characters are relying on God to help them through situations.  In The Pirate Bride, Book 2 of the The Daughters of the Mayflower Series, we meet Maribel Cordoba. She is the daughter of Spanish nobleman, Antonio Cordoba, and he has told her that her mother and grandfather have died and she has to go with him. Her father hasn't had much time for her during her short life, but one of her favorite books is The Notorious Seafaring Pyrates and Their Exploits, so she views this trip as an adventure. Her traveling companion, William Spencer, is with her and that makes the trip better.  As they start out on their venture they are approached and fired on by a ship that William deems the legendary Ghost Ship.  As they are attacked Maribel's last thoughts are to Pray Away the Fear before she succumbs to the darkness.  

Captain Jean Beaumont and his crew have overtaken the ship and to his surprise he comes face-to-face with Antonio Cordoba, the man that killed his family.  All Beaumont has dreamt of was avenging his family, but close friends on the ship try to dissuade him. They try to convince him that God doesn't want him to punish Cordoba for his sins.  That is something God will do. As Beaumont and Cordoba are fighting as well as Beaumont fighting his inner being Cordoba is thought to have died in the sea.  Now Captain Beaumont is left with Maribel and while she tries to persuade him to allow her to join his crew he knows that he cannot let that happen. Her companion, William Spencer, almost begs to join the crew and is quickly accepted. Maribel just doesn't understand why she isn't allowed to join and she tries explaining she knows everything about pyrating from her book reading.  

As time goes by things have settled on the ship and Maribel is even allowed in her favorite spot, the look out tower. She always has a book with her and insists that she can keep her eyes open all the while reading. One day as she's on duty a vessel approaches and they are fired upon. The look out tower is destroyed and Maribel is lost at sea. The captain and his crew search for her, but to no avail. While searching they are again attacked and this time the captain is injured. As the ship is boarded and the captain is to be taken hostage his good friend, the doctor, does some quick talking and is able to save his life. 

As time goes on the captain doesn't know that Maribel WAS rescued by his crew and taken to a safe place to be forever protected. As the years go by he often thinks of her and feels he let her down by not finding her. He doesn't know that she is alive and that she too thinks of him only to be told her memories are dreams. 

Will they ever meet again? Will the captain continue sailing and living a double life? I highly recommend you read The Pirate Bride to find the answers to these questions and much more! Throughout this story we see how God has guided these characters and how they have tried to turn to him in all situations.

** I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review."