Title: Ocean of Secrets
Author: Jerry Sacher
Genre: Historical
Length: Novel (200 pages)
ISBN: 978-1-63476-822-1
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (18 April 2016)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Reviewer: Prime
Blurb: Andrew Elliot, the son of a Scottish nobleman, is being sent to America, accompanied by his fiancée and her brother. But Andrew’s engagement is not a love match. His family insists that he marries to “cure” him of his feelings for the son of the caretaker on his father’s estate.
Matthew Ahearn leaves Ireland to pursue his dream of becoming a Texas cowboy. In London, a brush with the law almost derails his plans, but Matthew perseveres and lands a job as a third-class steward on a ship bound for America.
Andrew’s and Matthew’s worlds collide as they—and their secrets—are brought together in the magic of an ocean voyage, one that will never be forgotten.
The year is 1912, and they are about to board RMS Titanic….
Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=7641
Review: Ocean of Secrets is a historical MM romance by Jerry Sacher. It is a thoroughly enjoyable ride and will appeal to anyone that is into stories in the early twentieth century. Also, this will appeal to anyone who has been looking for the MM version of the movie Titanic.
Honestly, that description fits.
The story follows Scots nobleman Andrew Elliot, who has been caught in a rather compromising position with one of the local land manager’s sons, pretty standard stuff – the nobleman being caught with the help type of deal. Now his father has found Andrew a bride and is sending him off to America with his fiancé and the fiancé’s brother for company. And before you think it, no, there is no romance when it comes to the fiancé’s brother. Andrew’s father has sent him off to London so that he can board the Titanic to New York.
Then there is Matthew. He’s a poor Irish lad. His parents have died and his only brother is a shipyard worker and cannot support his younger sibling. So Matthew decides to make his own fortunes. He decides the best way to do that is find a way to America – Titanic happens to be perfect – where he could move to Texas or somewhere out West to become a cowboy.
Obviously, we all know what happens to the Titanic. And I’m going to admit that I was at first reluctant to read this one, so checked the ending to see if it was a HEA before investing myself in this book. I’m shallow like that. The adventure is what happens to bring the two men together. Then their brief romance on the ocean before the Titanic sinks to the ocean floor – then of course there is also the fall out of this event.
The only criticism I have to make is I don’t think quite enough drama was placed on the plot line surrounding Andrew’s fiancé and brother. It probably would have injected a lot more feeling into the relationship between Andrew and Matthew if there was more drama other than dropping hints of the rather obvious way in which to dispose the characters (and I’m not talking about the iceberg either).
Title: Begging to Serve
Title: Hartley’s Solace
Title: All the Arts of Hurting
Title: The Fear of Surrender
Title: Rival Poet
Title: Speakeasy
Title: In Balance with This Life
Title: Yesterday
Title: The Innocent Auction
