Just wow. I don't even know what to say. This was such a GOOD read. The cover is stunning. The writing was clean and beautiful. The story was exciting and I was intrigued from the prologue alone, though it was a quick read. I finished it in 6 hours give or take... I cannot WAIT to read the rest of the series. Tessa Monroe's father, Admiral Monroe has been reassigned to the West Indies and she's going along. Weeks into their trip, their ship is ravaged by a hurricane and Tessa and her father are forced overboard. Next thing she knows, she has woken up in a dark room aboard a ship that's not her own. Enter the kind, albeit secretive First Mate, Nicholas Holladay-- "Marks" to the crew. He feeds her, clothes her, promises to protect her and then throws her in the brig... yep. The brig. Anyway, I won't recap the whole story, because I don't want to spoil it but it is a MUST READ. It's got action, adventure, and a bit of romance. A quick read you won't have to think too hard about and you can just relax and enjoy. Oceanswept, the first in the Oceanswept trilogy, by Lara Hays follows 17-year-old Tessa, daughter of a newly appointed admiral in the British Navy. Because of this promotion, Tessa and her father must relocate. As they are traveling by sea, they run into a hurricane, destroying their ship. Tessa, the only survivor, finds herself aboard a suspicious ship that apparently rescued her. Communicating solely with a man named Nicholas, she eventually realizes that she is not in the company of a ship full of sailors. They’re pirates. She sees only misery and torture in her future, if not death, but Nicholas gives her hope. He may have a plan to keep her safe, but it comes at a risk.I can't even fully explain how much I loved this book. This was such an incredibly written, adventurous story with the perfect amount of romance. I could not put it down. I was completely immersed in this world and in Tessa’s life that I am so sad to see it end but so excited to continue reading the series. Not only was the plot exciting and unpredictable, but the characters really made the story for me. Tessa, a privileged young woman, may seem like your average damsel in distress, but she was surprisingly brave and independent. She was completely out of her element, but she held her own and turned out to be tougher than even she expected. And Nicholas, the handsome pirate with a conscience, was protective of Tessa from the beginning. He risked so much just to keep her safe, which surprised even him and will make readers like myself fall head over heels for him right along with Tessa. These characters came to life, thanks to the tremendous storytelling talent of author Lara Hays. There are so many layers to their relationship, which isn’t always seen in young adult novels. Tessa and Nicholas come from two very different worlds, yet they fall for each other despite their differences. While their feelings for each other may be evident, their insecurities about who they are and their pasts make them both a little hesitant, making this romance absolutely realistic. I cannot wait to read the next book. Thank you Lara Hays for writing Oceanswept, the beginning of a fantastic trilogy that will definitely become one of my favorites.Reviewed by ME for Readers' Favorite
What do You think about Oceanswept (2000)?
I probably would have given this more stars...but the ending REALLYleft something to be desired!
—shabdhsammy
3.5-4 stars. An ease adventure-romance read. Curious to see where they story goes.
—Vicky
Beautiful historical romance story. I can't wait for the sequel to come out!
—southkid23
