Bookshelf Friday - Forsaken Dreams by MaryLu Tyndall

The first chapter of this book immediately drew me in. It began in a moment of action and had me flipping pages. But then I hit chapter two and for a bit this book moved backwards in time. I struggled to remain attached to the story. Though it was interesting to see how and why certain things happened, for me I wished the forward momentum of the storyline had continued.

However, I did like the wide cast of characters and the two main stars of this book--Blake and Eliza. The conflict between them was real, as was their chemistry. Here's a quick blurb on the book:

Colonel Blake Wallace has seen enough death to last a lifetime. Weary and disillusioned, he slumps beneath the weight of defeat and loss. With his entire family murdered by the North and his name appearing on a list of officers wanted for war crimes, Blake organizes a shipload of southerners who, like him, long to escape the horrors of war and start a new life in a verdant land called Brazil.

Eliza Crawford can barely remember the days of her youth spent in opulence and comfort at her Georgian home. She can’t help but wonder how different her life would be had she not met her late husband, Stanton Watts, a general in the Northern army. Now a war widow, Eliza is rejected by both North and South. Desperate to keep her marriage a secret and escape her past and pain, she hopes to start over again in Brazil.

But once the voyage begins, troubles abound. Dangers at sea and enemies from within threaten to keep Blake and Eliza from the new life—and love—they long for.

Once the book moved back into its forward momentum, I found myself sucked into the story. Again, I liked the characters and the conflict, and MaryLu definitely delivered on a happily ever after. I would have liked to see the story end one scene earlier as the final scene seemed tagged on and a bit disjointed. However, I enjoyed the way MaryLu wrapped history into this story, the rich characters, and the overall story line. If you've read her books before, this is another adventure on the high sea and I'm sure you'll enjoy it. 

Overall, I give Forsaken dreams 3.5 out of 5 stars. It's available for pre-order here and will be in bookstores on March 1st.

If you'd like to see a break-down of what my stars equal, check out my page My Ratings System to the right there. And a big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free ecopy of this book in exchange for my honest review.