Blackwell’s Paradise
In the early 19th century, Royal Navy captain James Blackwell is assigned to survey and protect the trade routes in the Great South Sea of the Pacific Ocean, with the leave to take along his wife, Mercedes. During a storm, Captain Blackwell falls overboard, and unfortunately his ship remains on course. Rescued by natives of a nearby Hawaiian island, he must develop the means to survive while living with headhunters and cannibals. Meanwhile, his ship returns to the area where he may have fallen overboard. Unable to find Blackwell, they assume he is dead and decide to follow orders and continue their voyage. Mercedes does not believe Blackwell is dead, however, and is placed on the main Hawaiian island to await his return.
The author is able to tie together the romance between Captain Blackwell and his wife, constantly putting them in harm’s way, while showing the conflicts that existed between the peoples that lived on the Hawaiian Islands in the 19th century. Ulett compliments the drama with likeable characters that make you want to read on and quickly turn the pages. The steady unraveling of the plot – the rescue of Captain Blackwell – is genuinely exciting. This second book in her series also works as a standalone. It’s a real pleasure to read, and I look forward to her next novel.
