What it’s about
1825, Polynesia. Amelia Yorke is a destitute teacher with a petunia in a flower pot outside her dingy cottage in Sydneytown. Guy Richmond is a botanist seeking orchids in the rainforest and heir to vast lands in New South Wales. They are from different worlds and should never have met, yet come together on the deck of a sailing ship overlooking a spectacular tropical lagoon.
As drums on the beach threaten, a man desperately paddles for freedom: he is overtaken and soon the aquamarine water of the lagoon is stained by blood.
The Southern Seas Series tells the stories of people who find themselves - for all sorts of reasons - on remote coral islands in the 1800's. They include men and women, daughters and sons, adventurers, seafarers, missionaries, traders, teachers, botanists, artists, beachcombers.
Kathleen’s Review
Story Rating ~ 4.5 Stars
Hero Rating ~ 5 Stars
Heroine~ 5 Stars
Romance Rating ~ 4 Stars
Heat Level ~ 2.5 Stars
Ending ~ 3.5 Stars
Overall Rating ~ 4.5 Stars
I have to say it and I’m saying
it LOUD, DRUMS was a FANTASTIC READ
that took me on a HUGE ADVENTURE!
Amelia Yorke is a 33 year old
spinster, who has no family left alive. She has agreed to travel on a ship to
Avatel, one of the Polynesian islands, to marry a man she’s never met. She is
taken there on a ship called The Morning Star. When they are close to the island
they spot a man in a raft that is in danger of crashing into the coral
reef. He manages with all the strength
he can muster to paddle through the waves and beyond the coral reef to make it
safely on board The Morning Star. Shortly afterwards they all see a tragic and
violent event take place that will change Amelia’s life course once again.
Guy Richmonde has been traveling
among the Polynesian islands for four years searching and researching rare orchids.
He’s been living on the Island of Avatele for a while and made friends with a
lot of the people living there. One night the chief of the local tribe was
taking a new bride. The drums were playing a joyous tune and everyone was
celebrating, dancing and drinking Kava. He leaves the celebration early to go
exploring for more orchids. After a time, he notices the drums are beating a
different tune and it’s not a joyous sound anymore. He decides he rather take
his chances on a raft he’s made from driftwood, instead of staying on Avatele
any longer. He spots a light off shore and figures it’s a ship, so he paddles
for his life across the treacherous waves and past the coral reef, barely
making it on board The Morning Star. This part of the story had me totally
engrossed and there was no way I could have put the book down.
With the drums still beating a
violent tune, the captain of The Morning Star decides it’s time to set sail and
leave. The captain then sets a new course and starts the voyage back home.
The Voyage back was AMAZING! They
had to make a few stops at small tropical Islands to restock supplies.
Gwendoline Ewins did an OUTSTANDING job of describing these settings. I could
TOTALLY envision the water color, the coral reefs and pools that are situated
in the lagoons. The sea creatures they encounter and the rare orchids they find
while exploring. This was my favorite part of this read and I felt that this
was where the Gwendoline’s writing talents REALLY shined through.
As the story moves along, we find
out about Guy’s past, and his back story really tugged on my heartstrings and
also explained why he was such a solitary man. As days pass, Amelia and Guy
really get to know each other. It was not an instant attraction and I really
LOVED reading about them getting to know one another.
“A Moment ago I lost a physical battle I should never have fought to keep you against you will,” he admitted. “I will never forgive myself if I bruised you because in reality the only battle I am interested in fighting is the battle for our life together. I love you, Amelia, Just as you are, with all your struggles to survive in a harsh world with little protection, with a heart that has come into bloom before my very eyes. I want you. I need you Miss Amelia Yorke of Sydneytown, with every breath in my body and every thought in my head. I know you need me – and can only pray you will come to want me too.”
There were also some wonderful secondary characters we
met along the voyage and also more when they finally made it home. The story
does continue on once they are home and lots more happens that made the read
even more interesting.
Although this story is sensual at
times, the heat level was a bit low. I enjoy a story that scorches the pages
and even though this story did not bring a high level of heat, I loved it all the
same. Coming from me this is a HUGE compliment.
Drums does end on a happy note, however I felt it ended a bit
abruptly. Also there was NO epilogue! I REALLY feel that an epilogue with a
glimpse into the future would have gone a long way in giving this book a more
conclusive ending.
There was one other thing that
kept me from giving this book a full 5 stars. At times I felt that some of the
thinking going on in Guy and Amelia’s minds was a bit repetitive. I found
myself skimming over a few of these spots.
Overall I’m SO DARN HAPPY I read Drums!
It’s a read that I KNOW will stick in my mind for many days and I HIGHLY
recommend Drums to ALL historical romance lovers out there.
*A copy of the book was provided by the author in exchange for an
honest review*
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