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10 July 2012

Review by Teresa Mathews of MaryLu Tyndall's Veil of Pearls



Veil of Pearls
By MaryLu Tyndall
(Barbour Publishing, 2012)
Review by Teresa Mathews
5 Stars*****

In this gripping tale MaryLu takes us on a journey that starts in Barbados, the Caribbean with the story of a young beautiful girl that was taken by an evil, vile man to be his slave. Althea Claymore has endured many horrors at the hand of Sir Walter Miles the owner of a large sugar plantation in Barbados. Althea being raised by Christian parents was taught to pray and the night she gets up the courage to sneak away, it seems that God has heard her prayers. Everything falls into place and before she knows it she is on a ship bound for the bustling town of Charleston, South Carolina. That is when Althea Claymore is left behind and Adalia Winston is born.

When Adalia reaches Charleston she looks everywhere for work as a physician’s assistant, thankfully her mother passed along her knowledge of herbs and Adalia was quick to learn. But no one seems to be interested in hiring her, so Adalia soon finds herself at the mercy of the Father that runs the town’s Negro orphanage, if it had not been for him she would not have had a place to go. With hardly any money she is grateful that she has a roof over her head and in exchange she is helping take care of the sick children.

On the day that Adalia was desperately praying for a miracle, one of the local doctors calls at the orphanage to ask if she would be interested in helping him with some of his patients. She would have a nice room in the doctor’s house along with a small salary. At the beginning she is seeing to the local slaves’ children because the Doctor Willaby doesn’t want to be bothered with them. During that time Adalia has a chance meeting with the son of one of the wealthiest plantation owners in Charleston. Though overwhelmingly handsome, Adalia has no interest in this spoiled son of a slave owner, so when approached she puts him in his place.

Morgan Rutledge is bored with the society life of Charleston; he knows he will never please his father in anything he does so he has given up trying. Besides his brother is the one who will inherit everything. The only thing that brings him true pleasure is when he is on the open seas. When Morgan encounters Adalia coming from attending to a sick slave child he is taken back by her beauty, and even though she is a mere servant he desperately wants to know her better. And finally after saving Aldalia from an attack after walking home late from the orphanage, Morgan succeeds in persuading Adalia to let him take her to a soiree.  

Adalia has never been to anything like the party she attends with Morgan, despite the stares and condescending remarks from the other ladies there, she loves it. And so begins the whirlwind of events she allows Morgan to introduce her to. Although she has good intentions Adalia soon begins to enjoy the partying too much, and to her sorrow she soon forgets her heavenly Father and the life He wants her to live.

What would happen if someone were to find out whom Adalia really is and that she has lived the life of a slave? And worse yet what would Morgan do if he were to realize the beauty he is parading around Charleston is one fourth Negro? Will Adalia’s dream of being a princess ever come true or will the nightmare of her past resurrect itself and drag her back to the pit of despair from where she came?

MaryLu has created a masterpiece that not only sweeps you away to the glamour of Charleston before the Civil War; she also takes your breath away with the descriptions of the horrors of slavery. She paints the true picture of how slavery destroys lives, be it a person enslaved in physical bonds or being enslaved to a life of riches that brings nothing but misery. She also shows God’s faithfulness to us even when we let the things in life pull us away from Him.

MaryLu once again has woven a story that will not be soon forgotten in my mind and for all you ladies like me that love pirates let me say MaryLu did not forget us, so be prepared to swoon!






Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest opinion.



GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of Marylu’s books, choice of format*. Void where prohibited by law. *International winners will only receive the book in ebook format not as a paperback.

52 comments:

  1. What an awesome review, TERESA! Love the pirate-swoon remark. :-) Everyone needs to order a copy from Amazon, CBD, or buy it at their local bookstore-it is one of the OTT's ladies favorites of 2012 (if not THE favorite), I would venture to say!

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  2. Why thank you DIANA. I really wanted to add at the end..."run as fast as you can to buy this, YOU WON'T BE SORRY!" LOL

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  3. TERESA!!! Another stellar review, darlin', and SOOOO dead on!! This is simply, hands-down, one of my favorite books I have read in the CBA to date, and that makes me SO HAPPY because the author happens to be one of my favorite people and friends in the biz!!!

    Go, MaryLu!!!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  4. Beautiful review, T!!! I am so grateful ML advocated for us to get the advance copies of this great book!

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  5. What an intriguing review! I love this story line. It makes me wonder, on some level or another, don't we all hide something? I haven't even read the book and it's got me thinking.

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  6. I have yet to read a book by this author so would like to win this giveaway.
    JWIsley(at)aol(dot)com

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  7. What a well woven story! It seems to have the perfect combination of elements to heighten compassion, suspense and the Christian message. Thanks for the wonderful review. Who would not want to read this book after reading that review?

    Blessings, Janice jsmithg(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  8. Thank you JULIE, MaryLu has been one of my favorite authors for a long time. And I think you might know another of my favorites!! :))

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  9. CARRIE..thank you. I was very excited when we got the ARCs..it made my day...week...month!! Can you tell I was EXCITED?!! lol!

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  10. JANICE, I'm so with you! TERESA did a jam up job on this review, but then a fantastic book like this was pretty easy for us all to review! And it doesn't hurt any that the setting is in SC...my and TERESA'S home state! And Charleston is just gorgeous and laden with history!

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  11. LESLIE...you are right, so many times human nature is to keep part of ourselves hidden away, even from our closest family members. But we can never hide our thoughts...our hurts...or our fears from God, He is always close by to help us in our time of need. MaryLu does a wonderful job showing that in Adalia's story.

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  12. I'm really looking forward to reading this book! I've read a lot about it and think I would enjoy it greatly.

    -Amanda

    legossi@gmail.com

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  13. JOYE...we have to remedy that, maybe you will win, I promise you will LOVE them. :)


    I came across some of MaryLu's books at my local library a few years ago, after reading the first one I was hooked! :))

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  14. Good morning ladies!! Teresa, you know I LOVE this review!! Wonderful job depicting the essence of Veil of Pearls! Thank you so much. :-)
    And a great point about keeping parts of ourselves hidden, thinking if anyone REALLY knew us, they'd hate us. What a relief and joy it is to know God knows all those things and loves us anyway!
    Thank you all for your interest in my book!! Waving at dear friends! And new friends.
    Blessings and hugs!

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  15. AMANDA I KNOW you will enjoy it. :) Good Luck!

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  16. MaryLu THANK YOU..for following the path that God had planned for you. Thank you for using the talent He gave you for His glory, and then letting it flow over to us with your beautiful writing. Thank you for introducing us to dear Althea/Adalia and the struggles she went through to find God's path for her life.

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  17. Enjoyed reading about your book...it is one I'm putting on my list of books to read. I love to read historicals.
    JFWisherd@aol.com

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  18. JACKIE maybe you will win it on here...good luck! :)

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  19. Wow Teresa! Awesome review!! You make me want to read this book again. :))

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  20. OH MARIAN Thank you!! It was such a gripping book...I didn't want to put it down, I am sure I am going to read it again so I can take my time and SAVOR EVERY MORSEL!! :))

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  21. Oh Ms MaryLu that pink blush is so becoming on yore purty face. :)) Are you shore you ain't a Southern Belle? Why I do believe being around Miss Adalia you might have lurned a few things about the South. Besides dah-ling you are a wonderful author and we do love you so!! Oops sorry that..my southern accent had to come out just a little. LOL!!

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  22. Oh Ms. Teresa, I do declare!! I used to live in the South.. Tennessee for 3 years. You should have heard me then!!

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  23. thanks so much the the chance to win MaryLu's book

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  24. Ms. MaryLu I just KNEW IT!You are a Southern Belle too! :)


    APPLE BLOSSOM...Good luck...I know you will love this book. :)

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  25. Awesome review, Teresa! I'm really looking forward to reading this one. Marylu is such a gifted author. :-)

    gwen(dot)gage(at)gmail(dot)com

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  26. Great review! This book sounds really amazing and I'll be buying it even if I don't win!

    ecriggs1990(at)aol(dot)com

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  27. Once a Southern Belle, always a Southern Belle!
    Thank you, ladies, for all your kind comments!!

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  28. GWENDOLYN,thank you,and I agree 100% that MaryLu is very gifted. :)

    LIZ R Thank you and YES it is amazing!

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  29. Great review. I'm looking forward to reading this. My aunt has been raving about how good it is.
    mlecompte@me.com

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  30. Thanks MARILYN it really is a must-read! :)

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  31. Can't wait to read this one!!

    marissamehresman(at)aol(dot)com

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  32. MARISSA...good luck in the drawing! :)

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  33. My daughter has this book so I will have to talk her into letting me read it! She shares, but not fast enough sometimes. Thanks for writing books tha a mom and daughter can read and talk about!

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  34. JOYCE...that is a wonderful thing that you share with you daughter. You never have to worry about MaryLu putting anything in her books you wouldn't want you child to know you read. Who knows you might win a copy here and your daughter won't have to share! :))

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  35. I am so looking forward to reading Veil of Pearls. I have had on my wish list since the first review I read and still entering giveaways with hopes I win one. lol
    Thanks for the opportunity to enter giveaway.

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

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  36. Had my eye on this new book...sounds amazing!
    Thanks for a great review.
    brendon8@bellsouth.net

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  37. Good morning from California, Ladies!! I'm about to head to the PO before I start writing.. but they say it's going to be over 100 here today!!! Yikes..

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  38. Thanks Brenda...You're right it is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! Maybe you win, good luck!

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  40. Hello MaryLu
    I'm running a little behind so it's afternoon here, I woke up with a migraine so I am moving very slow. I am sorry about the 100's over there, I think we might have sent it your way. It's been over 100 for the past two weeks here, today is a lot cooler it's 3:30 and it's only 88. Thanks to the lovely thunderstorm we had last night. :)

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  41. Great review, Teresa!! Loved your comments on this one, well done and nicely expressed :) This book sounds like a must have for EVERY booklover's shelf! *waving back at MaryLu*
    blessings Teresa (and Marian, Diana and Carrie)!
    Kara
    wman4jcATaolDOTcom

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  42. Awwweee thank you for your kind words KARA. Can you tell I REALLY loved this book??? We all know MaryLu is a beautifully talented writer that knows just the right words to sweep us away to another place in time. Another reason I liked it was because I LOVE CHARLESTON, I live about 100 miles from there and it's always a fun time when our family heads that way.

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  43. T, so sorry you had a migraine today! Praying for you. I love Charleston, too, having lived there and MET my husband and married there and had my daughter there!!! Need to get back this fall when it stays cooler. T, you and MB need to come meet me there at C of C!

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  44. CARRIE that would be fun...Charleston would never be the same after the Ladies of OTT-WGH left. :))

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  45. OCTOBER!!! Hubby is on phone with old friend about it right now!!!

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  46. Congrats, Liz, you are the 1st winner of ML's new release Veil of Pearls!!!

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  47. OCTOBER...My hubby's birthday month! WooHoo! :)

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  48. Oh LIZ you are going to LOVE this book! CONGRATS!!

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  49. Woo hoo Liz, BIG time Congrats on this win!!! enjoy, blessings :)

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