Customer Reviews

Into His Arms (Zebra Debut)

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

 

 

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.

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!

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.

I must say that "Into His Arms" is probably the best romance debut I've ever read. Four stars from me isn't what it is with many reviewers--with me four stars are about as good as it gets. I'm almost ashamed I only paid $3.99 for it when I pay two or three times as much for books from authors who don't come close to Paula Reed's quality.

Faith Cooper is the sheltered Puritan daughter of a loving home. When she unknowingly attracts the attention of the cold, hard-line, middle-aged minister in her Massachusetts town she finds herself in an unexpected quandary. When the minister tells her parents that she must marry him, they look for a way out, but believing the man is God's vessel on earth they feel they would be fighting God's will to go against him. Faith, ever obedient and seeking to be a good Christian woman, knows she cannot marry this man and so decides she must risk disownment and leave the family she loves. Her plan is to seek refuge with an aunt in Jamaica who was disowned for marrying a Catholic.

Geoff Hampton is leading the life he always wanted. A privateer and captain of his own ship, he seems merely amused when he finds the prim Puritan stowaway. He doesn't expect to be irresistibly drawn to the woman, and he doesn't expect her to slowly make him change his perspective on life.

The plot of "Into His Arms" isn't original. You're probably reading the description and thinking that you've seen this before. Trust me, you haven't. Paula Reed has given this story such depth that for the first few chapters I'm convinced it can't be a real romance novel. These characters are so well fleshed out that every action and motivation seems real and sincere. There's nothing brand new here, and to be honest there are many clichés, but here they're handled so gently by this master storyteller that I find myself deeply moved--this is proof that in the right hands, even the most tired plot becomes new again.

Faith's crisis and subsequent journey have not just caused an inconvenience, they've forced her to question her faith and take a hard look at the beliefs she's held dear all of her life. There's character development and an internal journey here that you just don't see in romance novels. Not that there isn't romance, because there is and it is so passionate but so sweet at the same time that I find myself completely swept away by it.

Geoff doesn't quite get the full character treatment that Faith does, but the book doesn't really suffer for it. He grows as his love for Faith grows and he eventually experiences his own sort of epiphany. The funny thing is that the plot would make you think that Geoff is the bloodthirsty, lusty pirate type, but he isn't. In a way, he's really a beta type hero. Not to say he isn't a thoroughly and deliciously confident male, but he isn't a jerk like you expect normal alpha heroes to be. I love him, he's not just a romance novel hero, he's a real life hero you could live with. I'd happily jump "Into His Arms".

There are a few minor problems with this book. I enjoy the way that the anti-villain, Diego, is portrayed and how he's fully fleshed out, but I think his character gets a little too much attention. But maybe that's just because I'm so accustomed to normal romance formula, or maybe it's because I begrudge him every paragraph that could have been dedicated to the love story. Regardless, I actually hope he gets his own book, and that might be the first time I've ever thought that about a secondary character.

Also, the story slows a bit toward the end; not terribly, and it's still very readable, but it ends more in the way you'd expect a real book to, rather than a romance novel. Again, this problem may be more from me expecting formula and not exactly getting it. My preference would be to tighten up the story just a bit, and maybe tighten up the romance a little. But in the end I don't really care about any of my minor issues with the book.

"Into His Arms" is beautiful. I absolutely recommend it to anyone, and actually plan to hand it off to a couple of my friends who aren't romance fans. It's that good. And, it shows the potential this author has. I am almost afraid to say that I'm expecting great things from her, because I've read good debuts before and thought authors would get better but then they didn't. Then again, I've never read a debut this good, so I'm quietly crossing my fingers. Buy this book, you won't regret it.

Reed gives us portraits of the people inhabiting two worlds -- Puritan Massachusetts and decadent Jamaica. Faith, the heroine, turns from a (usually) docile Puritan to a woman who questions her faith and everything about her life. Reed avoids having a heroine who is either too shrill or too 21st century in her transformation. The aptly named Faith is true to her own nature through the book.

It's a relief to read about characters who aren't either stereotypes of their time or modern day types dressed up in a costume drama. To me Geoff isn't as vividly drawn as Faith (he has less onscreen time) but I like what I see of him. His own transformation is even more dramatic, but also believable because the author has taken the time to really get to know and care about her people. The way the two main characters grow and change because of each's influence on the other was lovely. Oh, and their physical interactions are pretty hot as well!

I enjoyed reading this book very much. I feel that it is well written, has a good story, and has very genuine characters.
I was also impressed with the descriptions of the times and the people and their lives in that time period. Paula did her "homework" and as you're reading you are transported to another era. It was a romantic,sexy,fun,Summer read!
She is truly a "fresh new voice in romance" as Jo Beverley said.
I will definitely be looking forward to the next book.

I am not a Romance Reader, but thoroughly enjoyed this book. I would recommend this read, especially during the winter months as this story takes place in the Carribbean. Since others have reviewed the plot, I'll just offer up my recommendation as a person who was happy she took the time to read Into His Arms.

Ms. Reed has penned a very good read for a debut effort. She has taken on religous issues, placed it in a very different setting (we are back to ship board romances...I like this idea very much as I've missed them) and added some very compelling characters to the mix. Then end result is a fun, fast-paced read that will keep the reader firmly engaged.

Faith Cooper is being forced to marry a man that she doesn't want. Going against her families wishes, teachings of her religion, she stows away on a ship bound for Jamaica and an aunt she didn't know she had. This decision will change her life in ways she never thought possible. Captain Geoffrey Hampton is going to steal into her heart but will she be able to keep his?

Geoff and Faith were wonderful characters! Their romance is truly wonderful and the reason many pick up the genre. This story delves into many touchy issues regarding religion. This book will touch the reader in many ways. This is one author I look forward to reading again in the future!

Official Reviewer for Romance Designs

I thoroughly enjoyed Paula Reed's debut novel, Into His Arms. The characters were fresh and unique, well developed, believable and consistent. The romance was palpable and the characters remained true to themselves even as they fell in love and learned invaluable lessons about acceptance and trust. Descriptions were vivid, and I felt myself transported back in time, enjoying the glimpse of 17th Century Massachussetts, the Caribbean, and Jamaica. Ms. Reed clearly did her research, and it shows! This was a can't-put-down read that stays with you long after you read the last page.

I highly recommend Into His Arms, and I look forward to Ms. Reed's future releases!

Paula Reed has written a romantic story that is also thought provoking and engaging.

The heroine, Faith, is written so that you can't help but like her. I found that I really cared about what happened to her. She's not just your ordinary pretty face in a romance novel!

I can't wait to read For Her Love! Thank you Paula Reed for an extraordinary and romantic read.