Welcome to my stop on Celebrate Lit’s book tour for Marisol, Spanish Rose by author Elva Cobb Martin. I love that the author has included pictures for us. She is giving away a vintage nautical writing journal and a $20 Amazon gift card so be sure and enter the giveaway.
My Thoughts
From the first page I was hooked. This is a Christian Historical Romance and has everything needed to be a page turner. I could not put the book down.
The author is an excellent storyteller. Her tale would twist and turn. Most characters were endearing. The villains were as detestable as they should be. The main characters Marisol and Ethan were complex and made the story intriguing.
Author Martin has a nice writing style. Her book was well thought and written with twists and surprises that made it an adventure to read. Scripture and faith was not hidden in this novel which I appreciated.
This book deals with timeless issues in a gracious way. It tackles forgiveness, grief, loss, faith, abuse, death, family, and love. This is a poignant story in parts and joyful in other. It is a beautiful tale of new beginnings.
I highly recommend this excellent book. It gets 5 out of 5 stars from this reader. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my honest thoughts.
About the Book
Book: Marisol Spanish Rose
Author: Elva Cobb Martin
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: November 8, 2019
Escaping to the New World is her only option…Rescuing her will wrap the chains of the Inquisition around his neck.
Marisol Valentin flees Spain after murdering the nobleman who molested her. She ends up for sale on the indentured servants’ block at Charles Town harbor—dirty, angry, and with child. Her hopes are shattered, but she must find a refuge for herself and the child she carries. Can this new land offer her the grace, love, and security she craves? Or must she escape again to her only living relative in Cartagena?
Captain Ethan Becket, once a Charles Town minister, now sails the seas as a privateer, grieving his deceased wife. But when he takes captive a ship full of indentured servants, he’s intrigued by the woman whose manners seem much more refined than the average Spanish serving girl. Perfect to become governess for his young son. But when he sets out on a quest to find his captured sister, said to be in Cartagena, little does he expect his new Spanish governess to stow away on his ship with her six-month-old son. Yet her offer of help to free his sister is too tempting to pass up. And her beauty, both inside and out, is too attractive for his heart to protect itself against—until he learns she is a wanted murderess.
As their paths intertwine on a journey filled with danger, intrigue, and romance, only love and the grace of God can overcome the past and ignite a new beginning for Marisol and Ethan.
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Elva Cobb Martin is a wife, mother, and grandmother who lives in South Carolina with her husband and a mini-dachshund. A life-long student of history, her favorite city, Charleston, inspires her stories of romance and adventure. Her love of writing grew out of a desire to share exciting stories of courageous characters and communicate truths of the Christian faith to bring hope and encouragement. Connect with her on her web site at http://www.elvamartin.com.
More from Elva
A couple of things inspired me to write Marisol ~ Spanish Rose, in addition to my love of historical romance fiction set in the colonial/pirate era of Charles Town and the Spanish Main.
I ran across a teaching of how people often let the one terrible moment of their lives define them and their future. Know anyone like this?
I envisioned a heroine in the 1700’s who let her “terrible moment”—being molested and accidentally killing the Spanish nobleman who attacks her—define her and her future destiny.
My premise for this idea and novel is: Love, forgiveness, and determination can overcome the most horrifying experiences and poor choices when we invite God into the equation.
Loving horses, particularly the white Lipizzaners, I named my heroine Marisol and set the attack on her father’s Andalusian Stud Farm in Cadiz, Spain in 1740. Andalusians are the Spanish horses in the ancestry of the Lipizzaners. And they can be trained to do dancing steps with a dancing maiden called the Flamenco, which my heroine can do well. Click here for a video of a flamenco dancer. https://youtu.be/lSQWQl0u_Ow
Marisol’s exciting Flamenco plays a pivotal part in the novel.
All this story idea needed now was an exciting, handsome Charles Town privateer—sometimes pirate—who will cross paths with my heroine when she flees Spain after killing the Spanish nobleman who molested her.
Captain Ethan Becket, backslidden former Charles Town minister, has returned to the sea, grieving the loss of his wife and child.
By the time these two get together at the indentured block in Charles Town, Marisol has discovered she is with child.
Thanks for stopping by! May you have an exciting, romantic adventure on the high seas with Captain Ethan and Marisol.
Blog Stops
Bigreadersite , November 15
Emily Yager, November 15
Connect in Fiction, November 16
Rebecca Tews , November 16
Moments, November 17
For Him and My Family, November 17
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, November 18
Genesis 5020, November 18
For the Love of Literature, November 19
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 19
Betti Mace, November 20
mpbooks, November 20
Back Porch Reads, November 21
Maureen’s Musings, November 21
Locks, Hooks and Books, November 22
Pause for Tales , November 23
Batya’s Bits, November 23
Reflections From My Bookshelves, November 24
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, November 24
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 25
Godly Book Reviews, November 25
Inklings and notions , November 26
janicesbookreviews, November 26
Texas Book-aholic, November 27
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 27
A Reader’s Brain, November 28
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Elva is giving away a vintage nautical writing journal and a $20 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/ed79/marisol-spanish-rose-celebration-tour-giveaway
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