I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Guardian of Paradise
by W.E. Lawrence
Published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform on October 3rd 2014
Genres: Historical Adventure Romance
Pages: 384
Format: Paperback
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Get Your Copy at: Amazon
In 1888, Kira Wall, surviving daughter of missionaries swept away in a tsunami, lives a primitive, but enjoyable life with natives on an isolated island in the South Pacific.
But her serene world is turned upside down when an Australian merchant ship, commanded by the sinister Captain Darcy Coleman, arrives with an overabundance of modern and lavish goods. Kira suspects ill intent. Chief Ariki refuses to listen to Kira’s warning, forcing her to uncover the real plan of the captain on her own.
Unfortunately, she has a distraction. A six-foot tall, blond, and handsome distraction. Trevor Marshall, doctor and botanist, hopes to find exotic plants on the island to research new cures and medicines. He is dedicated to science, but when meeting the strong-willed, beautiful Kira Wall, he’d prefer to spend time researching her—all night.
The captain thwarts Kira’s attempts to call him out at every step, turning the village chief against her. With only Trevor and her best friend Malana by her side, she stalks the captain and his officers through the dense, predator infested jungle, toward the island’s inactive volcano.
Frustrated by her failure to reveal the captain’s true intentions, Kira begins to think maybe she’s wrong about everything. Then an explosion and earthquake bigger than anyone on the island has ever seen renews her resolve. Was the blast natural or man-made? She is determined to prove it was the captain’s doing.
Kira races against time and the island people’s naivety to stop the captain from destroying her home and killing everyone she loves.
Guardian of Paradise by W.E. Lawrence was the first book I was asked to review by this author, but it ended up becoming the second book I read from him. It is so good.
An Adult Version of Treasure Island
The story starts when the male love interest, Dr. Trevor Marshall, is asking the Captain of the ship for a job. Then we zoom right off to Kira Wells, the main character of the book, and her island. The thing that had me a bit worried about reading this book is that I don’t read that many books that are historical fiction, and that’s what this book is. In the past, when I read historical fiction, I would stop reading it when I had to look up definitions of the words used in that period. Except in this book, it wasn’t like that. Sure some of the terms were a bit weird, but then my brain immediately knew what word they meant to say since the islanders can speak English, well they are learning, but some of the words come out a bit weird.
This book had me guessing about what made it like an adult version of Treasure Island as I kept on wondering what the Captain was after and why couldn’t he find anywhere else. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time reading this book even though I know that I’ve been reading this book for a while, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it the whole time, I kept wondering what was happening in these people’s lives.
Kira Wells
Kira Wells is a young woman trying to keep the people of this island safe. She’s been on since she was a young girl, helping her parents teach the islanders how to speak English and trying to keep them safe from outsiders like the Captain destroying their fields. Not only that, but she chooses to stay instead of going back to Australia. I find that all very fascinating. I loved the way she just right away disliked the Captain and knew that he was there for more than just trading like he said he was.
Doctor Trevor Marshall
Doctor Trevor Marshall is a young man; he was on the ship to find plants and things that could help his research on finding cures for different ailments. He was positive that going on a quest to some unusual places will do that. Trevor also serves two purposes for the Captain. As he is a doctor and a botanist. The second one is beneficial, as he can make sure that fields are correct and that the proper care of the plants is taken just like the islanders would do. The Captain hired him instead of having to hire two different people, so the Captain likes Trevor.
The Romance
This story is an adventure. It is full of treasure hunting, and it has action and romance. The romance one is like anyone that involves the girl trying not to accept that she is falling for a handsome stranger but ends up realizing that she does and then having a whirlwind romance that makes them both sad on the day when the other has to leave. Except do they have to end things? You can easily find out by reading the book.
Five Stars
This book is so good that I’m giving it five stars and I loved it a lot. I am glad that I had the opportunity to read this book as it didn’t disappoint me at all.
Anyways until next time, please enjoy this review,
Baroness Book Trove.
About W.E. Lawrence
W. E. Lawrence graduated in 1978 from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill with a BS in business administration. He has run a successful home health care supplies distributorship for the past twenty-three years.
Passionate about God, writing, reading, family, sports, politics, and America, Lawrence currently lives in Davidson, North Carolina, with his lovely wife and their two wonderful children.
W. E. Lawrence enjoys writing historical romance novels filled with action, adventure, and suspense. He published his debut novel Guardian of Paradise in October 2014.
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