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Caribbean Splendor

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Caribbean Splendor, 2004 New Concepts Publishing Genre: Historical Romance IBSN: 1-58608-439-9 Format: Ebook Taking the position in the wealthiest brothel, she doesn’t know that her past was suddenly going to catch up to her very quickly…  Read the Excerpt

 

Reviews

Tracy L. Ransom has done a wonderful job of allowing us into the life of women on the plantations. I highly recommend Carribean Splendor to all who love a good spicy romance with the heartfelt sigh at the end!
- The Best Reviews

With Caribbean Splendor, Ms. Ranson takes us on a journey that has many twists and turns. Caribbean Splendor is full of swashbuckling pirates, double lives, secrets, sexual awakening, spicy sex, emotional healing, moments of laugh out loud laughter, evil magistrates, a mother's love and most of all a man's love for his woman. This book is a real page turner which I read in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed.
- Fallen Angel Reviews

With her unique writing style, Tracy L. Ranson pulls you into her story. Very intriguing. I found myself wondering just what would happen next, and unable not to continue. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
- Myshelf Reviews

Caribbean Splendor is a complex tale of love, deception, piracy and betrayal. The careful interweaving of the fascinating characters along with the life of plantation owners on Martinique in the eighteenth century, make this story one that pulled me into its world. This is a great book, especially for those who love historicals.
- Joyfully Reviewed

Ms. Ranson has a wonderful grasp on exactly what every romance reader's heart is just waiting for, and she has created a perfect world for her readers to escape to. I'm hoping that another book in the Pirate Genre isn't far behind!
- Romance Reader at Heart

 

 

Excerpt

Darkness enveloped Martinique, wrapping it in a thin, mild blanket. The slave quarters were quiet except for the low singing that was mellow and calming, filling the air with tranquility. The sea at her left was inky and black with small whitecaps, rolling in to taste the sand on the beach. No clouds pervaded the sky, giving a perfect view of the stars twinkling overhead. Warm sand bubbled between her bare toes, soft and silky, reminding her of the days when she carried Beau. For days, she'd wander out to the beach and stand looking at the sea, thinking of Raven. Where was he now? What country was he in? Evil thoughts had crept in. Why hadn't he come to save her?

She kept walking, letting her mind churn with its maddening myriad of thoughts. Justin could be so two sided at times. One moment he was tender and caring while a paranoid monster then next. During these times, she wasn't sure who she was going to get.

Blaze turned to see where she was. The house was a fair distance away as were the slave quarters. She stepped behind the smokehouse and leaned against the wall, her hands crossing her bosom. What was she going to do about Justin?

Just as she stood up, a strong arm locked around her waist while a gloved hand slipped around her mouth to prevent her from screaming.

"Say nothing, ma cherie," whispered the French accented voice, his breath hot against her ear. Her heart hammered in her chest as terror sped along her veins. Who was this man and what did he want with her?

She struggled hard but he was too strong as he held her against him. "You do not know how long I've waited to see you again," he said huskily as he pressed his obvious bulge against her backside, parting her cheeks slightly. "Does this confirm it for you?"

Blaze froze for a moment as the familiar voice assailed her senses, the identity of the man behind her rising to the surface. Raven? Was it really Raven here?

"I will remove my hand if you promise not to scream, ma cherie," he said softly. She nodded and he removed his hand.

She spun around and stared at him, blinking hard. Was she dreaming? "Ra ... Raven, is that you?"

He said nothing as his lips plowed hers, his strong arms locking around her and pulling her back to his chest. She plundered his mouth, her tongue tasting every crevice and nook, the flames igniting her senses. He was here again!

His lips slipped from hers and burned a hot trail of molten kisses down her neck. Her nipples hardened and burned for his touch, heightened by the warmth radiating from his black silk shirt. "Raven, where have you been for the last five years? Why did you not come back?" She murmured as she drowned in the sensations he evoked, her body arching under his hands.

"I did," he whispered against her neck, his hand cradling the shelf of her jaw. "You weren't there like you had promised."

"I was there," she confessed as his hands cradled her breasts, his thumbs toying with her marble nubs. "Bu ... but Daniel found me and took me away," she confessed through parted lips, her breath coming faster and faster as his scorching kiss trailed down her breasts, his hands quickly freeing them from constraint.

He stopped and looked up at her, his eyes glittering black pools. "How did he find you?"

Blaze felt the hurt and shame rise like the tide at night, her anger burning at a low ember threatening to flame quickly. She pushed away from him, stepping from beyond his arms. "It doesn't matter," she sighed and turned away to face the sea, "Do you know how many nights I waited up for you, to come to Daniel and demand that I leave with you?"

Raven shook his head, the familiar black strands gleaming in the moonlight. "No, ma cherie. How many nights?"

"Enough nights to last me an eternity," she offered as a frustrated sigh escaped her lips, and she drew her shawl around her shoulders. "Do you know how angry I've been with you for the last five years?"

His hand circled her waist, drawing her close to him as he pulled her to the safety of the shadows behind the smokehouse. "You've every right to be. I should have come to get you but I thought you had betrayed me and gone with your husband."

Blaze let her hand trail over his smooth cheek, the familiar skin and its manly scent too much for her to resist. "I never wanted that man," she said, slightly sniffing as the tears of regret threatened to flow. "My father made me marry him because of his money. The only thing I wanted was you. I cared nothing for the money. I only wanted to be happy."

Raven's arms went around her, pulling her hard against him. "Oh, ma cherie, if I had only known--I would have come for you. I would have fought the hounds of hell to take you with me."

She looked up into his eyes underneath his mask, dark and unfathomable, trying to read the swirling eddy of emotion in them. "Sadly, it's too late now."

His gloved hand ran down her cheek, warm and soft. "You are a widow now, Blaze. Come with me and let us make a new life somewhere else."

"No, Raven. I'm not a widow. I married Lord Blackmore yesterday."

Hostility poured from him in waves. "Why did you do that?"

"I needed to keep a roof over my son's head as well as shoes on his feet and food in his belly. Justin provided that...." She stopped her words, speaking them before she should. Now, he was more than likely to hurl insults at her.

His hands captured her shoulders strongly and spun her around, his eye questioning her words. "You have a son?"

She stood silent for a moment, blinking hard and swallowing the lump in her throat. "So do you."


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