Book Review: Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman

Blackhearts

Author: Nicole Castroman
Publication Date: February 9, 2016
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages:
Source: Edelweiss
Format: e-ARC
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Historical, Retelling

           

Blackbeard the pirate was known for striking fear in the hearts of the bravest of sailors. But once he was just a young man who dreamed of leaving his rigid life behind to chase adventure in faraway lands. Nothing could stop him—until he met the one girl who would change everything.

Edward "Teach" Drummond, son of one of Bristol's richest merchants, has just returned from a year-long journey on the high seas to find his life in shambles. Betrothed to a girl he doesn’t love and sick of the high society he was born into, Teach dreams only of returning to the vast ocean he’d begun to call home. There's just one problem: convincing his father to let him leave and never come back.

Following her parents' deaths, Anne Barrett is left penniless and soon to be homeless. Though she’s barely worked a day in her life, Anne is forced to take a job as a maid in the home of Master Drummond. Lonely days stretch into weeks, and Anne longs for escape. How will she ever realize her dream of sailing to Curaçao—where her mother was born—when she's stuck in England? 

From the moment Teach and Anne meet, they set the world ablaze. Drawn to each other, they’re trapped by society and their own circumstances. Faced with an impossible choice, they must decide to chase their dreams and go, or follow their hearts and stay.

I went into reading Blackhearts knowing only that it was about the infamous pirate named Blackbeard. Honestly, I never knew his real story, only that he was a pirate and that he wasn't very nice. LOL Well, after reading Blackhearts, even though it's all fictional, I have fallen madly in love with a man named Edward Teach aka Blackbeard.   

 

I am not a fan of historical books, and Blackhearts is a sort of out of my comfort zone.  But I practically devoured every single word, paragraph, page and chapter of this gem.  Nicole Castroman's writing just flowed beautifully.  I just have no words to describe the feels I had while reading it.  I felt like I was part of the story.  Like I was actually there with them.  I felt every stolen kiss and caress. Oh, it was just so magical. 

Edward Drummond, son of a Merchant from Bristol has just arrived from a year away at sea.  The poor guy hasn't even settled in before his father starts with the whole arranged marriage to Patience. Let me tell you, I despised that girl from the moment I met her, I mean read to her. LOL You see, I told you I felt like I was really there! Anywho, Edward, aka Teach, just wants to go back out to see and sail to far away lands. Ahhhhhhhh he's just so dreamy... *le sigh*  FOCUS, ANA! Ok, so lets talk about Anne. After her parents passed away, Anne had no where to go and since she had no family to claim her, mind you, she is only 16 years old, has no other option but to work as a maid. And which house does she live and work at? You guessed it, Teaches house! Their first encounter was pretty funny and sealed the deal with my love and respect for Anne.  She's so smart and fierce!  

The wolrd setting is perfect.  I can tell that Nicole researched that time period extensively.  From the way they spoke to the way they dressed, everything just felt so real. Can you tell I am madly in love with this book and every aspect of it? LOL 

I finished reading Blackhearts 3 days ago and I haven't stopped thinking about Teach and that ending! I was NOT expecting it to end the way it did.  My heart is shattered and I just can't deal. Please Simon Pulse, plleeeeeeeease make this happen!  I know Nicole is more than willing to give us more. That ending is brutal and I NEEEEED MORE!

After I finished Blackhearts, I went online and started researching Blackbeard and it broke my heart even more.  The name of one of his ships...