Customer Reviews

Beloved Castaway: Fairweather Keys Series #1 (Truly Yours Romance Club #16)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Now this is my kind of historical fiction book! The romance in Beloved Castaway totally rocked! And the kisses were to die for--very well written. There is nothing more exciting than a forbidden love story, and this book has it all. Even some edgy stuff. The heroine's mother was quadroon and from New Orleans and thus she was born a slave. The hero was the captain of the ship she sailed on. The way the hero treated her initially (not knowing about her heritage) made me cringe, but then things turned around. This story truly inspired me like Christian fiction should.

I won't give away the storyline, but this was also a deeply spiritual book. It shows the power of living the way Christ commands us to, and the effect this way of right-living has on non-believers. And the ending has the absolute coolest twist I've ever read. But don't read the last chapter first, or you will ruin the book. You don't want to miss this treat, so don't cheat yourself out of a great experience.

My last thought... The cover is pretty but also kind of dark, so it isn't one I would normally pick up in a store to read. But the story within it's pages will brighten your day, so take a chance on this one. Trust me, if you love romantic tension and some awesome Christian fiction with sizzle, this novel will definitely float your boat.

Secrets abound in this story of two lonely hearts on a voyage to freedom.

Josiah Carter is willing to risk everything for his brother's sake. After spiriting the boy away from their father, whom he sees as a tyrant and a fool, he sets out as captain of the Jude.

But to make it out of port with the barely-seaworthy vessel, Josiah must take on a paying passenger he knows nothing about. When the woman's promise of gold seems to be false, he struggles with the decision to help her or to save his own hide.

Isabelle Gayarre couldn't change the life that she was born into, but she is determined to change her future, no matter the cost. Her half-sister, Emilie talks her into seeking refuge from those who would do her harm, and Isabelle takes passage on Captain Carter's boat. But Isabelle never dreamed she would start to have feelings for the handsome Josiah.

Can Isabelle keep her past a secret, or does God intend her to reveal the one thing that could change both her life and Josiah's forever? Will Josiah confront his true feelings about God, or keep running from the Father who wants to draw him near?


I had never read anything by Y'Barbo before, and now I wish I'd found this author sooner!

The hero and heroine in this novel practically step off the page and into your life - they are so real. Excellent characterization and well-written dialogue, plus good use of internal dialogue that doesn't hop around between characters keeps the reader right in the action.

Good pacing, adventure and a great ending are also reasons to love this book. Highly recommended!

I had high hopes for this book. I found it choppy and confusing at the beginning. The writing did not seem to flow to me. I gave it a three because I put it down to read something else and haven't finished it yet. I will try to pick it back up but just am not sure that it will ever get finished.

Beloved Castaway by Kathleen Y'Barbo is the first book in the Fairweather Keys series. Isabelle Gayarre has booked passage on Josiah Carter's ship out of New Orleans hoping to start a new life in England. Born into slavery and sold to an older man, she's fleeing for a better life on her faith in God. Josiah is shocked to discover that his passenger I. Gayarre is a female, and the news only gets worse when her half-sister and another society woman show up and they all insist on traveling with Isabelle. Josiah is running from his past as well: debts and an angry father. Isabelle and Josiah face fire and shipwreck together before landing on Fairweather Key in Florida. Josiah and Isabelle are both likable characters, and their romance is a foregone conclusion, but Y'Barbo places several intriguing obstacles in their path. Isabelle's faith carries her through the worst of times, and her reliance on it affects those around her becoming a powerful witness to the power of God. The denizens of Fairweather Keys are varied and quirky and will make for more enjoyable books in this series.

In her recently released novel Beloved Castaway, author Kathleen Y'Barbo offers readers a timeless story of love, intrigue, action and new-found faith on the high seas. I found myself caught up in the lives of the characters and swept away by the romantic elements. More than anything, I loved the fast-paced plot, which kept me riveted. (By the way, I read this novel in the tub and found myself wrinkled and pruned beyond recognition upon its completion.) Five stars for this great new story from one of my favorite authors!

Afraid she is to be sold into servitude to an older man, Isabelle Gayerre throws caution to the wind and deceives the reprobate Captain Josiah Carter into taking her aboard his ship, the Jude, bound for London.

Josiah Carter has despised authority and proper behaviour for years after failing to meet his father's approval in any of his endeavours. Determined to protect his younger brother from such a oppressive upbringing he steals him away and soon finds himself being hunted for both his "illegal" stowaways.

When Isabelle discovers there is a depth and compassion in Josiah she could never imagined she is drawn to him but shuns Josiah at every turn as the circumstances of her birth could never allow her to marry.

Beloved Castaway was a little confusing initially but by a few chapters in I was intrigued by both Isabelle and Josiah and the path their relationship would take. With action aplenty, the Jude attempts to outmaneuver its pursuers while Isabelle and Josiah flirt around the edges of their attraction. This novel will appeal to all those who love romance and the angst of a love that cannot be. Kathleen Y'Barbo does well setting up the minor characters who I imagine will become the subject of subsequent books in this series. Beloved Castaway kicks off the series well and I look forward to reading more from Kathleen in the future.

I am so happy that I was able to read and review this book. I loved it like I expected I would. The twists and turns in this book kept me reading from beginning to end. The love story was not gaudy or over done. It was a love that could only be brought about and shaped by the hands of God. We have Josiah Carter on the run from his father. Why? His father, the Reverend Carter is a hard man and Josiah has taken his young brother and runaway with him. He has no use for God after what he has seen in his father.

Isabelle Gayarre was born into slavery and was sold to Reverend Carter. At the same time her half sister Emilie refuses to let her leave alone so she accompanies her. Escaping with these three women is Violet Dumont who is promised to Andre Gayarre a very cruel and violent man. Once they have escaped they are hunted by Andre. Their ship catches fire before they leave New Orleans, then springs a leak and they manage to make it to Fairweather Key. Here is where things take their biggest twist and the reason I recommend this book be read. I look forward to reading Beloved Captive and Beloved Counterfeit the Sequels to this book. This is an author I will most definitely keep my eye on.

I'd say this book was just OK. It wasn't horrible -- I've just read better.

Pros: The basic concept of the story is fun, combining elements of pirate adventure, mystery, and romance. There were even a couple of twists I wasn't expecting.
For parents looking for that "role model" main character, and for a book they won't have to pre-read and discuss all the character flaws with their kids afterwards, this book would be alright in that sense.

Cons: The characters aren't the easiest to relate to, the "Christian-ese" writing seems forced and unnatural at times, and the flow of the story sometimes wasn't paced in a reader-friendly way. If I got tired and accidentally missed a sentence or two, I found I'd missed an absolutely crucial part of the story. I'd had no warning, no build-up telling me to pay attention. Also, I wasn't keen on the grammatical writing style itself. Usually, midway through a historical fiction novel at most, I'll find myself catching up to speed with the language structures and new idioms that the author uses to get me all wrapped up in that time period. That didn't happen with this book, and to be honest, I'm not sure why.

Overall, I'd say this isn't necessarily a book to refuse if your friend lets you borrow it, but it's not something for which you want to pay full price.

This was my first time reading a book by Kathleen Y'barbo and I thought it was pretty good! The beginning was a bit confusing at first and it think it just needed a bit more background story although some things are explained at the very end.

Isabelle is a slave and she is trying to run away from a life she has known her whole life. She finds Josiah, a man also running away although he is running away from his father. As Captain of the ship the Jude, he decides to take Isabelle, her sister Emilie, and Viola a young woman running away from her intended a man-intent on hurting her to England. Before they can even embark on their journey to England, the ship catches on fire and the entire ship and its passengers have some decisions to make. As the ship finally sets upon its course, Isabelle tries to fight her growing attraction for Josiah knowing that she is a slave and cannot ever be with him. As the ship starts to sink from damage from the fire, Josiah tried his best to land the boat into the Florida Keys. After landing all passengers must decide what they will do with their lives. Will they stay in the Keys or will they move on? Will Isabelle ever be free to marry Josiah?

I enjoyed reading this story and was a bit surprised by what Isabelle finds out in the end. I also enjoyed seeing such strong Christian faith in Isabelle and the other characters.

Beloved Castaway
By Kathleen Miller Y'Barbo
Review by Roseanna White



In 1800s New Orleans, there is an underworld that polite society doesn't talk about--one where female slaves are raised for the purpose of pleasing their protectors and sold to the highest bidder. Isabelle Gayerre has known most of her life that she's destined to be another one of these women. But still, the deep seated faith in her heart rebels, and she seizes the chance to run away from that life at any cost, even if it means appealing to the son of the man who's purchasing her.

Josiah Carter is trying to outpace the demon of his past--his father. He has bought an old slaving ship and intends to redeem it by using it to set free his brother, who he is determined will not be ruined by Reverend Carter as he was. Getting the lad to England would probably have been easier, though, had he not taken on unwanted passengers in the form of Isabelle Gayerre, her half-sister, and said sister's friend. Their passage fare will be the final payment for the Jude, though, so he welcomes them aboard. But when a fire on the docks of New Orleans forces them out of port before the payment can be made and Josiah nearly looses his life in the escape, he has to wonder what trouble the beautiful sea siren has brought with her.

Beloved Castaway is a thrilling period novel that'll toss you straight into the heart of a shadowed world intriguing in its many secrets. Trouble after trouble is heaped upon Josiah and Isabelle in their respective searches for freedom, keeping the action moving and the suspense high.

My main complaint about this novel is that I felt it promised something in the beginning that wasn't delivered as I expected. I'm not sure exactly what, except that the man I wanted to hate as a villain didn't seem believable as a villain when we were reading his point of view, and so some of the impact was lost for me later. The action does also slow down when the crew reaches Fairweather Key, understandably. But the rich settings themselves are enough to interest me in reading further novels in this series, and the writing was fantastic.

Overall, Beloved Castaway is an enjoyable read that'll suck you straight into a world-gone-by. Fans of Kathleen Y'Barbo won't want to miss her newest series.

Publisher: Barbour