Customer Reviews

Ransome's Crossing (The Ransome Trilogy)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
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Kaye Dacus has officially become one of my favorite authors with Ransome's Crossing, which combines romance on the high seas with spiritual lessons that kept me thinking for hours after I put the book down. Filled with engaging characters, fast paced action and sweet romance this book was a fabulous read that is impossible to put down! I highly recommend this book, and advise book lovers to get their hands on everything Kaye has written or will write!!

Ransome's Crossing is the first book I had read by Kaye Dacus. It is evident that this is not Ms. Dscus's first book. It was well written and her subject well researched as the book was great at 'showing' the scenes through the eyes of Midshipman Lott and the other characters aboard the ships.

Though I love history I don't read many historicals but this was one I thoroughly enjoyed and had a hard time putting down. The only disappointment is now I have to wait for the next book in the Ransome Trilogy! And as a book lover, no Kindle for me, I love the feel of the book and the beautifully done book cover.

I feel like I've been on an adventure across the seas. As one who has been to Jamaica, I really enjoyed the trip. I was was so caught up in Charlotte dressing as a midshipmen and hiring on to the crew to go across the sea to find her intended she thought. But the adventure itself will enthrall you.

You feel with Charlotte and all the unfair treatment she received at hands of crew members but they thought she was a boy. Yet she took it all in stride.

You learn about boats in the 1800s.

The balls Charlotte attended would have bored me same as they did Charlotte. I enjoyed an adventure more. I always loved a challenge.

Ne's struggles over issues of losing men at battle on a previous ship make it hard for him to accept command of a cargo ship when the Captain is killed at sea. But Charlotte's brother, William, knows he can handle it and needs it to get past his losses. He rose to the challenge. Also he recognized Charlotte but never gave her away until both he and she came down with yellow fever.

I loved the adventure the most and how people are drawn together and it isn't at all about sex but a relationship and finding each other.

Ransome's Crossing by Kaye Dacus is the second book in The Ransome Trilogy. I took it with me on my vacation to Colorado and loved it! I hadn't read the first book so I wondered if I would have a hard time jumping into it, but there was no problem. Kaye seemlessly wove in information from the previous book so that you knew what was going on.

What I loved about this book is the adventurous spirit of the heroine, Charlotte. She is one tough gal who is courageous enough to risk her reputation (this is the Regency era, you know) and even her life to work among sailors in the midst of war. While a bit misguided in her quest to reunite with her fiance, she does what she does with honor and determination. She is amazing in this book!

I love how Ned secretly longs for Charlotte and she slowly begins to long for him. It is a slow and beautiful dance Kaye orchestrates between the two and I was routing for them from the get-go.

There is a cliff hanger at the end, which makes me sit on the edge of my seat in anticipation for the next book! You will LOVE it!

RANSOME'S CROSSING is the second installment in the Ransome Trilogy. The book begins where Ransome's Honor leaves off. RANSOME'S CROSSING furthers the story of Julia and Commodore William Ransome but centers on Charlotte Ransome, Williams' precocious young sister who devises a plan to impersonate a midshipman on one of the ships in Williams' convoy so she can rendezvous with her secret fiancée in Jamaica. Once aboard the Audacious, midshipman Charles Lott (Charlotte) finds himself the target of the vindictive midshipman Kent. Trying to blend with her crewman until arriving in Jamaica, Kent's antics puts her front in center and under the watchful eye of Captain Parker.

When a surprise attack against the Audacious kills Captain Parker, First Lieutenant, Ned Cochrane is brought aboard as acting captain, a fate almost worse than death for Charlotte. Charlotte, though engaged to another, finds herself struggling with the growing feelings for the honorable Cochrane. Unbeknownst to her, Cochrane has pined for Charlotte, but never pursued her because of the unfairness his line of duty would bestow on a wife.

Cochrane keeps an eye of Midshipman Lott, knowing there is a familiarity there that he can't quite explain. When he finally realizes that Lott is Charlotte, he is beside himself, not knowing what to do. To expose her, the sister of a commodore, would surely ruin her reputation and her brothers, but to allow her to continue her masquerade puts her in inevitable danger.

RANSOME'S CROSSING was a book I looked forward to reading after enjoying Ransome's Honor. Though I enjoyed the antics of Charlotte's plight, I was mildly disappointed with the storyline between William and Julia. There standoffish attitude towards each other seemed out of place. We ended Ransome's Honor with William expounding on what it is to finally have the woman he has loved for over twenty years. Yet, his behavior throughout the book does not express that. I understand his pull and tug regarding his duties to his wife and his duties to his men, but it seemed over emphasized. And though I know this book was centered on Charlotte, I was hoping for so much more from Julia and William's storyline. I also felt the ending of RANSOME'S CROSSING was a bit unoriginal, and immediately made me think of M.L. Tyndall's The Blue Enchantress that ends much the same way. Overall, a good read and I look forward to finishing the series. I just hope the next book doesn't withhold what I feel readers want to see.

Book provided for review purposes.

I received a free copy of this book in order to review it, and I want to say thank you to the publisher and Kaye Dacus.

I'd already read the first book in this trilogy RANSOME'S HONOR, and I would recommend the first book be read before the second one--otherwise the reader might feel confused, plus you'd miss out on a great read if you skipped the first.

While the stories do seem to start out slowly to me, they do pick up and are well worth it!

I let someone read my copy, and once she was finished, her first words to me were, "Do you have the next one?!"

I don't....but I will when it's released ;-)

I had the pleasure of recently reading Ransome's Crossing by Kaye Dacus. I would like to extend my gratitude to both Ms. Dacus and her publisher for providing a copy for review.

When I read the first book in the Ransome Trilogy, Ransome's Honor, I found the meeting between William Ransome's sister, Charlotte and Ned Cochrane quite interesting. I loved both characters and especially liked Charlotte's determination. I find them to be a very well-matched couple. Thus far, their story is exciting.

I enjoyed Ms. Dacus' attention to detail. I admit I knew very little about the Royal Navy in the early 19th century, and I loved reading about life aboard ship. I find myself continued to be intrigued by William Ransome, and he is quickly becoming one of my favorite book heroes.

All I will say about the ending of Ransome's Crossing is it leaves the reader anxiously awaiting the third book, Ransome's Quest.

In 1814, her family is unaware that Charlotte Ransome has a secret fiancé Henry Winchester in Jamaica. Although she knows she is acting rash, Charlotte dresses up as midshipman Charles Lott to sneak on board one of the vessels of a fleet captained by her brother Commander William Ransome.

However, her plan threatens to fall apart when she becomes ill. First Lieutenant Ned Cochran knows who Charles is having met briefly Charlotte in England before setting off for the Caribbean. He is already halfway in love with her from that brief meeting in Portsmouth and decides to conceal her true identity from his superior officer her brother the Commander. On the journey across the sea to find her fiancé, Charlotte finds herself attracted to caring Ned; leaving her to ponder her fickleness as she falls in love with a second man.

The second Ransome historical romance (see Ramsome's Honor for the turbulent romance between William and Julia) is a terrific early nineteenth century tale as readers will feel they are at sea crossing the Atlantic. The lead couple is a fabulous pairing as she feels capricious while he risks his career for his beloved. Although women disguised as men has been used many times in books and movies, Kaye Dacus makes it feel sea-breezing fresh with a strong entry that also sets up the next novel in the saga with a wonderful final twisting cliffhanger.

Harriet Klausner

WOW. After the first few chapters where the author sets up the characters and the upcoming tension, this book REALLY took off. Of course, I love any story set upon the sea. Kaye Dacus has really done her homework. She has all the terms and activities and language of a 19th century British war ship down pat! I felt like I was on that British flag ship. (which is a good thing for me!) If you like nautical fiction with a splash of romance, you'll love this book! Who wouldn't love a story about a young girl who dresses like a guy and accepts a position as a midshipmen aboard a British man of war? Hey, and did I mention she's in love with the man who becomes captain? Yea. How's that for a setup? Highly entertaining and a great summer escape!

As I sat enjoying warm summer winds and a shady porch in middle America, I found myself transported to the drawing rooms of 1814 England. I followed cobblestoned streets to the docks and watched the controlled chaos of incoming and outgoing ships. I boarded the ship Audacious with Charlotte as she hid her identity beneath a layer of midshipmen's naval uniform and the name Charles Lott. I cringed at the hard life of a sea-going midshipman, felt the hot, muggy days, heard the ship creak as wind ballooned the sails, and smelled burnt powder and heard the crash of cannon fire as the ship battled pirates. I admired Charlotte's strength as she endured the ship's resident bully, and felt suspense as I wondered when her secret would be discovered...

I enjoyed this sequel to Ransome's Honor and the way the author further developed William and Julia's relationship while telling Ned and Charlotte's story. It was a well written, enjoyable read and the ending left me eagerly awaiting the third book in the Ransome Trilogy.

I recommend Ransome's Honor and Ransome's Crossing as great summer reads! Oh, and if you haven't read Kaye Dacus' other titles, check them out as well. Kaye Dacus' books are on my keep-to-re-read shelves!