Title: Broken WingAuthor: Judith James
Genre: Historical Romance
Year: 2008
Summary : Abandoned as a child and raised in a brothel, Gabriel St. Croix has never known tenderness, friendship or affection. Although fluent in sex, he knows nothing of love. Lost and alone inside a nightmare world, all he’s ever wanted was companionship and a place to belong. Hiding physical and emotional scars behind an icy façade, his only relationship is with a young boy he has spent the last five years protecting from the brutal reality of their environment. But all that is about to change. The boy’s family has found him, and they are coming to take him home.
Sarah Munroe blames herself for her brother’s disappearance. When he’s located, safe and unharmed despite where he as been living. Sarah vows to help the man who rescued and protected him in any way she can. With loving patience she helps Gabriel face his demons and teaches him to trust in friendship and love. But when the past catches up with him, Gabriel must face it on his own.
Becoming a mercenary, pirate and a professional gambler, Gabriel travels to London, France, and the Barbary Coast in a desperate attempt to find Sarah again and all he knows of love. On the way, however, he will discover the most dangerous journey, and the greatest gamble of all, is within the darkest reaches of his own heart.
Thoughts: This is not what would normally catch my eye. But since it came highly recommend and that it was such a great love story. I had to read it. This book was truly amazing. It tells of one of the greatest love stories I have read in a very long time. From the first page it captured me. The author has done such a degree of research about the time that the writing is nothing but stellar.
I really loved this book and like all my fellow bloggers I highly recommend reading it. The love that Gabriel and Sarah have is something I believe every person wants for themselves, or at least I would hope so. When the couple were parted and Sarah got that first letter... that's when I really could relate to them and their situation. At one time I was in a long distance relationship for five years. So, I know what its like to have that longing and the heartache. It's very hard to deal with.
I have a long list of favorite books. But is rare that a book really moves me like this one did. When the couple were finally reunited I cried like a baby. It really is a great love story.
Favorite Lines/Scenes:
"I am sorry, madam," he said with a courtly bow, impressive giving the pitching deck. " Might I remark that you seem a rather merry type of widow to me?" "Well," she said, "in truth i didn't care for Lord Munroe very much, and although I didn't wish him dead, I would be a hypocrite to say it causes me any undue sorrow." Leaning into the rail, she closed her eyes and raised her face to the spray.
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"I am very fluent when it comes to sex, my dear, believe me." Looking away he continued, "But kissing, well, it's something that lovers do, sweethearts, husbands and wives, not whores and their clients. It's far too intimate and personal...You are, in fact, mignonne, the only woman I have ever kissed. I trust it was memorable at least. My apologies, mademoiselle," he sketched a mocking bow, "for botching the job.
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"You breathe life into me. I got to sleep wanting to know what will happen tomorrow. I look at the sky and see mystery and magic. I feel the sword dance in my hand and I feel alive. It's all you Sarah. When I'm with you, I feel like I've been born into another life, where I have friends and a future, and a sweetheart who makes me drunk and wild with kisses she saves only for me. I feel healthy and happy and at peace. I never dared dream of such things. I know I act the fool at times and try your patience. It's just that, every time I look in your eyes, I can see the man that you see, and I can't believe he's really me. I'm so afraid of disappointing you."
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"Don't you understand by now that there could never be anyone else? I wanted there to be. It hurt so bad that I wanted to forget you, but I couldn't. You've ruined me for other men. I never believed you were dead, you know. I felt you. I knew you were alive. I knew you were hurting, and lonely, and lost, but I couldn't find you. It broke my heart."
Score: 5 Stars
Author Website: http://www.judithjamesauthor.com/
Awesomely wonderful review, Anna!
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking aobut you today, wondering if you'd finished Broken Wing yet.
Oh, I am so glad you feel the same. Those are some great excerpts also!
I, too, sobbed and cried when they finally reunited. How could you not?? LOL
Thanks Amy! Oh I know. There seperation was so heartbreaking and there reunion beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAnna: I am BEYOND thrilled that as other romance readers start reading this one, they see the same thing as I did from almost the first page!!
ReplyDeleteAs I may have mentioned, I've been reading romance for pretty close to fifteen years now almost exclusively and I've been a reader all my live before that (and we are talking half a century of reading here *g*). But rarely has a book, a story, moved me as much as this one has.
It's been a few weeks now since I read it and I still haven't been able to let go of Gabriel and Sarah.
I am all about the kissing these two share. A lovely romance overall :D
ReplyDeleteI think Gabriel and Sarah will say with me a long while. They are very rare.
ReplyDeleteI thought the kissing scenes were great. Almost precious really. Things that now a days can be taken for granted.
YOU LOVED IT, TOO! I'm so happy :)Loved the excerpts.
ReplyDeleteYep I did. I Loved it!! :)
ReplyDeleteAnna, thanks so much for your wonderful review, and for putting it on Amazon too! It's very much appreciated and I'm so glad you enjoyed Gabriel and Sarah's story. I loved your comment about long distance relationships. I was thinking something similar when I wrote that, and how hard it would have been without phones and computers, and how important letters used to be.
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Judith
Hi Judith, thanks for stopping by. :))
ReplyDeleteSarah is a pretty strong women in my eyes, especially with two years without word. That would been/an is devasting.
I don't think i would have survived with out the phone and internet. It would have been so much harder.
Well I think I'll check it out. The Black Dagger Brotherhood series makes me cry so I guess I'll keep some kleenix handy when I get around to reading this.
ReplyDeleteYep Kleenx, would be a good idea!
ReplyDelete