Into His Arms (Zebra Debut) [Paperback]

Paula Reed (Author)

Book Description

Series: Zebra Debut | Publication Date: June 1, 2004

Geoffrey Hampton has little faith in his fellow man. The English privateer follows his own fearless code, taking his fortune and his pleasures as he sees fit. And as for the possibility of finding true love, well, it's an illusion...as unlikely as a beautiful woman hiding in his cabin. But Faith Cooper is no illusion; she's a stowaway from Boston Harbor. She's also a delectable flesh-and-blood woman and seems immune to the captain's considerable charms. In fact, Faith is unlike any woman he has ever known--intelligent, unwavering in her beliefs, and truly innocent. Someone who challenges his heart at every turn. Now, as two unlikely lovers make passage to the warm, sultry winds of Jamaica, a deep abiding passion flares, giving Geoffrey a treasure he never dared to hope for...and a woman he cannot afford to lose...

Editorial Reviews

Review

...this debut features plenty of action and passion... -- Romantic Times Bookclub Magazine

For her debut, INTO HIS ARMS, Paula Reed delivers a satisfying romance, combining rich storytelling with diverse characters. -- Romance Reviews Today

Reed’s skill as an author rivals that of more seasoned romance writers. -- The Romance Reader

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Zebra (June 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821777238
• ISBN-13: 978-0821777237
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,180,943 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

PAULA REED teaches The Scarlet Letter to her high school English students every year, and each year finds something more to love about Hawthorne's novel. She lives in the suburbs of Denver, Colorado with her husband and two children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Debut novel promises more to come, June 18, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Into His Arms (Zebra Debut) (Paperback)

Paula Reed's debut novel does what all good novels should do: leave you wanting more. Fortunately, INTO HIS ARMS is the first of a trilogy set in the Caribbean. Its believable characters are ones that you want in your life for a very long time. Faith Cooper immediately earns your sympathy when she is in danger of being forced into marriage with an exceptionally strict Puritan minister who is clearly destined to be a cruel, religiously fanatical husband with no love in his heart for his wife. He firmly believes that lust is a sin, even within the bounds of marriage and that he must help Faith learn to be an obedient Puritan wife. Faith's parents approve of the marriage so she has no choice but to run away from all that she has ever known.

Geoffrey Hampton is the captain of the ship where Faith has stowed away. He is immediately attracted to the beauty. Since it is painfully clear that she is a "lady," Geoff's second in command and best friend extracts a promise that Geoff will not touch Faith unless she admits that she wants him, too.

The story is fast-paced while Faith learns to deal with the many aspects of Geoff's life on land and at sea as she journeys to the island where her mother's estranged sister lives. Her father ostracized Faith's aunt because she married a Catholic. Since Geoff is a privateer for the English crown, there are encounters with Spanish pirates and unscrupulous sailors on and off shore. Of course, there is also the ever-present attraction between the ethical pirate and his stow-away. Since Geoff is an atheist, her aunt is a Catholic and Faith remains true to her Puritan upbringing, there are also many very interesting discussions of religious issues and their influences on society's cultures and beliefs.

Ms. Reed writes as if she were an experienced author. Her romance scenes are passionate; the adventure scenes are exciting. Her character development makes you want to know more about the secondary characters, opening the door for the sequels. One expects a happy ending to all of the challenges faced by Faith and Geoff, but you can't put the book down because you can't foresee how their problems can be resolved in a satisfactory way. One can only keep reading.

Hopefully, the second of the trilogy will be published soon.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Honest Pleasure, August 19, 2004

By 

Flo Fitzpatrick (New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Into His Arms (Zebra Debut) (Paperback)

Paula Reed's Into His Arms may just be the book that gets me back to historical romances. Her writing is so well-crafted and her characters so well-drawn it's an honest pleasure to read. Faith is delightful, Geoffrey's a charmer and both face real obstacles in their quest for finding love- and values - in a rough century.
Ms. Reed's next book is already going on my "can't wait to get this one" list!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An awesome debut!, December 29, 2004

By 

Amy (Lakewood, CO, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Into His Arms (Zebra Debut) (Paperback)

Having not read much romance prior to this, I didn't really know what to expect. Now that I've read several more romance novels, I can see that this one is a true gem. Other romance books seem a bit like they were written on a whim, while this one was clearly well-researched and excellently written. The characters are believable, the morals and ideas practical (even though I may not agree with all of them). And unlike other romances, this book clearly has a plot. I loved Faith, the female protagonist. She's believable and yet lovable, and her reactions to all the surprises she encounters are nothing short of brilliant. I also love how Ms. Reed manages to include a bit of lightheartedness and even humor into her book.

Overall, this was an excellent book, and now I always recommend it to people who need something new to read.