Heart of the Condor

Rating:
Summary: I ABSOLUTELY ADORED THIS BOOK !
Review: As seems to always happen with me, I read the last of the trilogy first! I had never read any of Laura Renken's other books, but I will now! And it probably helps to read the first two books first (My Lord Pirate and Night Shadow) because there is a lot of history between the Drakes and the Espinosas (though it's not a necessity to follow the story).

I have never come across a couple that so belonged together and yet faced so many obstacles! I really wondered how these two wonderful people could possibly be together in the end. Don Gabriel Espinosa y Ramirez, hero of Spain and pirate hunter stumbles onto a kidnapping attempt of Lady Sarah Drake from the convent on Martinique where she has lived for the past 11 years. In the process he is injured and is taken into the convent and sheltered there from the French authorities. Given their family history, neither trusts the other but they are undeniably drawn to each other. When a second attempt is made to abduct Sarah, Fr Henri decides that Gabriel must wed Sarah and take her away for her own safety. Reluctantly they are wed. Gabriel plans to annul the marriage and return Sarah to her brothers as he has problems of his own. He is supposed to be on his way to Spain to face a military tribunal after being accused of sedition. But that will have to wait until Sarah's brothers can be found.

The more time Gabriel spends with Sarah, the more attracted he becomes and vice-versa. Somehow the annulment papers remain sitting in his desk drawer. His family and friends are appalled that he has married her (even temporarily) - an Inglesa and the sister of notorious English pirates. Gabriel flirts with the idea of staying married to Sarah, but knows that he does so at the risk of his career and the future of his young daughter.

What neither knows is that Sarah is the sole witness to a crime committed years ago that the perpetrator wants to ensure remains unsolved, but if solved could restore her family's fortune. See her brothers are only pirates due to the fact that their lands and titles were stripped from them unjustly and Sarah could be the key to their reversal of fortune.

But what matters here is the relationship between Sarah and Gabriel. It's sweet and bittersweet with both showing humor and courage and faith in each other despite what their respective families think. You'll laugh and you'll definitely cry so keep the kleenex close by.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. A DEFINITE KEEPER AND ONE TO RE-READ OVER AND OVER AGAIN!!

Rating:
Summary: Had me hooked.
Review: I have read all three book in the series and although this was not the best on in my opinion, it was still a good book. I didnt see as much of the growing relationship between the main characters, but it was still there. I thought it left more of an opening at the end of the book for more books in the series. Sience LR is not planning to do any more books in the series, there are too many things left undone at the end of the book. Loose ends that should have been tied up. But it was a good tale with lots of adventure and romance.

Rating:
Summary: A pirate hunter meets the sister of a pirate
Review: In 1692, Gabriel "El Condor" Cristobel de Espinosa y Ramirez takes a leave of absence from fighting for New Spain against the French and English to find his sister and her new husband though his sibling does not want to see him as he once incarcerated her husband. Though he has a price on his head among his enemies Condor does what he thinks is right anyway and sets sail for Martinique.

Instead of his sister, Condor rescues Englishwoman Lady Sarah Drake from outlaws trying to abduct her. Condor hates the English, but insists Sarah marry him for her own protection. She knows of his reputation, but urged on by the local priest, agrees. However, Gabriel vows to never give his heart to this daughter of his foes, but somehow Sarah makes him break his pledge with her love and caring. Still is that enough to form a trusting relationship with his personal history?

Laura Renken has rapidly gained a deserved reputation for her exciting historical romantic adventure novels. Her latest thriller, HEART OF THE CONDOR, is an exhilarating seventeenth century tale that employs rarely utilized locale to freshen up an often-used theme. The plot never slows down, but still enables the audience to understand the lead couple and hope for the best for them as individuals while praying for them as a couple because fans will care. Laura Renken purveys a wonderful tale that will enhance her esteem as readers will enjoy this book.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: A pirate hunter meets the sister of a pirate
Review: This book has it all and a wonderful relationship that made me laugh, cry and root for this couple all the way to the last page of the book. If you read any romance this year, this is your book.

Rating:
Summary: Seductive fun in the sun
Review: This book was a keeper for me. I have already read it three times and as I write this review, I'm trying to figure out exactly why I was drawn to this story and to these wonderful characters. I think it was because I've never met two people who belonged together as they did. The story had depth. Both Gabriel and Sarah had carried a lot of baggage, yet the book was filled with humor. And man o man the love scenes. But whatever you do don't read the ending first. There was a great twist at the ending. If you want a frivolus read, then don't read this book. If you want a book that you can fall in love with, that has more than a great love story, then this book is for you.

Rating:
Summary: A WILD GOOSE CHASE
Review: This is a haphazardly put together story. The writer gave the impression of having her thoughts running from one to another without first completing her first idea.

Gabriel Cristobel de Espinosa y Ramirez came to Martinique to find his sister but was sidetracked when he had to rescue Sarah Drake and they made off in a hurry pursued by foes. Upon arriving at his home in Hispaniola, his daughter was kidnapped. He set out to rescue his daughter and on his return, Sarah had been kidnapped. Again he went to Sarah's rescue and horror of horrors, they returned to find his daughter again missing. No prize for guessing what Gabriel did next.

The see-saw of now-you-are-here and next-you-are-not gets a little tiring and there seemed no point in all these running around. On top of that, the author managed to lose some characters along the way (forgotten). Sarah was accompanied by two friends when they left Martinique but only one was mentioned at the end of the book. What happened to the other? What happened to Gabriel's island home in Hispaniola when everybody go hieing off to Texas? What happened to the gift horse Gabriel purchased for Sarah?

The characters never stay put in any one place long enough for the story to develop and were it not for the another book "WICKED LIES" which I bought before reading "HEART OF THE CONDOR", I would have totally given up on this author.