The Seabird of Sanematsu: Can love be strong enough to save them [Paperback]

Kei Swanson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 7, 2006

Aderyn Aquilla is stranded in Japan at the mercy of Lord Sanematsu Yoshihide. Spending her time with the young daimyo she forges a bond even death cannot break. Sanematsu, arising to power under the tutelage of others, has never governed his domain as he wished. Only with the strength and courage of Aderyn is he able to dream of becoming Shogun.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kei Swanson was born in Dallas, Texas, on a hot July day. From there she grew to adulthood in Arlington, Texas. Obtaining a degree in nursing, she began a career in obstetrical nursing, married and gave birth to her only child. She managed to see the world on the tails of her USAF husband and they are now retired in North Texas indulging a soon to be very spoiled granddaughter.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The karou bowed and left.

Sanematsu could not allow Tori to see his weakness. With her lack of guile, she would give away the mortality of his condition and cause his army to lose confidence. He needed time and strength, neither of which he had. He must attend this afternoon’s ritual to show himself to his samurai to maintain their loyalty and support. A large number were already allied with Matsumoto.

He wearied of people questioning him about Tori. How could they understand his love for her? Solid barriers were in place against their being together as husband and wife, though not in the manner of man and woman. He would never get the chance to be with her in any manner, if he read the omens correctly. With every breath, his life ebbed from him, drained further with every drop of blood seeping into the dressing on his side. In his desperation to hang on, his hand bunched into a fist around a wad of his bedding.

The doctors arrived, and after their examination, they told him his side was satisfactory, at best. Sanematsu’s senses told him otherwise. He was dying. Only one man could save him.

Product Details

• Paperback: 344 pages
• Publisher: Zumaya Publications, LLC (March 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1554102561
• ISBN-13: 978-1554102563
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,119,706 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm a wife, the mother of one, the grandmother of one, a nurse, teacher, writer and Christian. Born at the Florence Nightingale Hospital in Dallas, I grew up in Arlington, Texas and now we have retired to North Texas. I've lived several states and countries as the military wife of an Air Force Master Sergant and know the agony of sending him off to war. My husband, always my hero, and I are remodeling at 1920 Craftsman Bungalow, bringing it back to its period. I teach nursing at a local community college.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mesmerizing - A Fabulous Page Turning Romance, May 26, 2006

By 

M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Seabird of Sanematsu: Can love be strong enough to save them (Paperback)

From the very first page you will be hooked by this lively action packed historical read. The author, Kei Swanson has found a unique niche that I've found to be immensely interesting. Kei, after having written two other contemporary novels featuring oriental heroes sets her newest dramatic historical adventure back in time to 1480 feudal Nihon -- otherwise known as Japan.

The young Daimyo (a feudal lord) Sanematsu Yoshihide boards a ship that Matsumoto his war general and troops had taken over. They had killed all on board except a young girl who was found lying beneath the bodies of her slain family. Discovered, Aderyn bravely and defiantly faces them even as she herself is about to be cut down. Sick of the senseless killing and admiring her courage, Sanematsu stops his once childhood friend and nemesis Matsumoto from slaying her. Instead, Sanematus orders she be sent to his castle where he intends to discover what she knows of the land beyond the Nihon borders. Later when she is brought to him, Sanematsu finds her forthright manner provoking and also discovered that she `cleaned up' rather nicely!

Expecting at any time that she would be killed, or worse, fifteen year old Aderyn thought it wise to hide the fact that she understood some of the Nihon language. The youngest daughter of her slaughtered family Aderyn had always thirsted for knowledge and now, here was a disturbingly handsome great feudal Lord who wanted something from her -- information. As the days turned into weeks and months, Aderyn who was re-named Tori after the seabird, had become more of an honored `guest' in Sanematsu's household than captive. The more time Sanematsu and Tori spent together many began to notice that the young `barbarian' and the lord of the castle seemed to be more than just friends. Young Aderyn who was just now awakening to her own sensuality was confused by her feelings for her captor. More confused was the Daimyo Sanematsu who was discovering that he actually was beginning to care about Tori, in fact, astonished that he respected her as a person in a way that went against everything he'd ever been taught. Could this unheard of feeling for a female `barbarian' be what was referred to as love? Against all odds the love that blossomed between these two was something that one person in particular whose hatred for Sanematsu and his `barbarian' would be determined to never see flourish.

Fascinating, absolutely fascinating! Not only has Swanson done meticulous research in providing the most incredible background for feudal Nihon, but she breathes the very life and soul into her characters as she opens up the fascinating world of the Samurai warrior in a time fraught with war and violence. When being a Samurai was almost `god-like' in their ability to determine life or death by the swing of their sword one man would discover his destiny. In this beautiful romantic epic there is an undeniable focus on the Samurai doctrine, their way of life, which I found completely fascinating and this author does a remarkable job of bringing all this detail vividly to life.

The depictions of the main characters are deeply fashioned with emotion and motivation. Great care is taken in describing the rituals, the gardens, and the secondary characters from the lowly servants to the high and mighty. The love story revolves slowly and builds upon a feeling of trust and respect that I found to be immensely refreshing. If there is anything that is detrimental to this fabulous story is that it leaves you with three little words at the end that after such a fantastic story almost broke my heart. I am going to be ANXIOUSLY waiting to get the sequel to this most fabulous adventure of a love story!

Marilyn Rondeau, RIO - Reviewers International Organization

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rewarding to read, November 14, 2009

By 

Elizabeth Beeton - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Seabird of Sanematsu (Paperback)

Recommended read. Rich, historical, with Asian hero and white heroine. It's very sweet. Heavy on medieval Japanese politics. It's the beginning of a series, so I'll tell you right now it ends in a cliffhanger. The heroine is appropriately immature (she's, you know, 15 or something), yet sometimes inappropriately mature, but I let it pass because of the time period and the assumption that you had to be a lot more mature a lot faster.

4.0 out of 5 stars Seabird of Sanematzu, December 8, 2011

By 

Maria Torres "Maria" (Mukilteo Washington USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Seabird of Sanematsu (The Sanematsu Saga) (Kindle Edition)

I enjoyed this book a great deal. I purchased it for a lite read, and found I could not put it down. The characters flowed well and kept you guessing. If you have any understanding of the Japanese culture at all, it will only add to your enjoyment. If you do not have any history of Japan, this book will teach you alot without you even knowing it. The only thing I did not like was..SPOILER ALERT!!! that the story ended with a "to be continued." I have read alot of sagas that have ended each book with some sort of gentle ending that can leave you satisfied without ruining the possibility of a future novel. I feel like the paper ran out and the author stopped the only way she could. To make it worse, there is no clue..even a general one, as to when the next book will be available. Does anyone know anything about that?? I have to find out how the story ends!! Great book other than that and I highly suggest it for a good read.