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Dangerous Waters
Raised by her aunt and uncle after her parents' death, twenty-year-old Phoebe Dymond, a trained herbalist and midwife, boards the packet ship Providence bound for Jamaica and an arranged marriage. Incidents on board provoke clashes between Phoebe and the ship's surgeon, Jowan Crossley. But their professional antagonism turns to mutual respect and a deepening attraction. Following a skirmish with a French privateer, they eventually arrive in Kingston and find the town in the grip of a slave revolt. Terrifying events on the plantation of which she will be mistress force Phoebe to relinquish all hope of the happiness she had glimpsed. But fate has one more trick to play.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published February 28, 2006
4 people are currently reading
609 people want to read
About the author
Jane Jackson
55 books25 followersA professional writer for over 30 years, Jane Jackson has had 27 books published with world-wide sales topping ten million. Shortlisted twice for the Romantic Novel of the Year Award, she has also taught the craft of Novel Writing at every level from Writers’ summer schoolsand Ad Ed to the MA in Professional Writing at University College Falmouth.
Eight of her students are now (traditionally, not self-) published novelists.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 1, 2015
This story opens in Britain in 1812. Phoebe Dymond is 20 years old, and with her uncle, who is also her guardian, planning to remarry, she is no longer welcome to stay in his home. A marriage has been arranged for her, and she soon finds herself aboard a packet ship headed for Jamaica where she will be the bride of a wealthy plantation owner.
She is entrusted to the care of the ship's surgeon, Jowan Crossley. She is a skilled herbalist and a midwife, and when she offers to help Jowan with the sick and wounded crewmen on the ship, he is hesitant to allow it, but as they work together, they develop a gradual respect for each other and their professions. They begin to feel an attraction to each other, but knowing that she is promised to another, it cannot be, but when Jowan hears rumors about the reputation of the man she is betrothed to, he is torn as to whether it's his place to tell her or not.
I really enjoyed this story, it was hard to put down once I started reading it. Though there was some romance in it, it was very reserved, and almost secondary to the story. The author really did a great job with her research on this one, especially with what it was like to sail on a packet ship, medical practices that were used at that time, and what life was like in Jamaica and the dangers it entailed. Phoebe's relationships with the other passengers aboard the ship were an important part of the story too, and I especially enjoyed the friendship she developed with the elderly Mr. Downey. For those that enjoy adventure stories, this was a great adventure story also.
She is entrusted to the care of the ship's surgeon, Jowan Crossley. She is a skilled herbalist and a midwife, and when she offers to help Jowan with the sick and wounded crewmen on the ship, he is hesitant to allow it, but as they work together, they develop a gradual respect for each other and their professions. They begin to feel an attraction to each other, but knowing that she is promised to another, it cannot be, but when Jowan hears rumors about the reputation of the man she is betrothed to, he is torn as to whether it's his place to tell her or not.
I really enjoyed this story, it was hard to put down once I started reading it. Though there was some romance in it, it was very reserved, and almost secondary to the story. The author really did a great job with her research on this one, especially with what it was like to sail on a packet ship, medical practices that were used at that time, and what life was like in Jamaica and the dangers it entailed. Phoebe's relationships with the other passengers aboard the ship were an important part of the story too, and I especially enjoyed the friendship she developed with the elderly Mr. Downey. For those that enjoy adventure stories, this was a great adventure story also.
September 9, 2017
Generally an interesting read. I enjoyed the way this author writes - succinct but descriptive if that's possible.
The big downfall for me was that I had difficulty believing the romance and depth of feelings between Jowan and Phoebe. Their encounters were always fleeting and lacked a certain intensity. It became frustrating to get so far into the book and have very little connection actually formed, then the characters' monologues saying they loved each other deeply?! I wasn't convinced...
I was also frustrated by their lack of communication - their secrets from each other created a type of suspense left me annoyed many times.
The ending is too unbelievable for me.
The big downfall for me was that I had difficulty believing the romance and depth of feelings between Jowan and Phoebe. Their encounters were always fleeting and lacked a certain intensity. It became frustrating to get so far into the book and have very little connection actually formed, then the characters' monologues saying they loved each other deeply?! I wasn't convinced...
I was also frustrated by their lack of communication - their secrets from each other created a type of suspense left me annoyed many times.
The ending is too unbelievable for me.
December 3, 2020
Entertaining historical fiction. Our heroine is already intelligent, practical, polite and kind; so has little character growth. I do like the herbalist/midwife background though.
The ending comes on very fast, in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it denouement. Hardly have time to meet the villain before all is resolved.
The ending comes on very fast, in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it denouement. Hardly have time to meet the villain before all is resolved.
March 8, 2022
Different Mar 2022
Not your usual run of the mill romance, this had a great deal of depth and immense and interesting information, a bit scary too just wished it hadn't ended so abruptly.
Not your usual run of the mill romance, this had a great deal of depth and immense and interesting information, a bit scary too just wished it hadn't ended so abruptly.
July 28, 2013
"Dangerous Waters" is first of all an adventure and secondly a romance. In some ways I found this book quite similar to "Tide Of Fortune" (another book by Jane Jackson). In both books a young woman travels on a ship, butts heads with a male on the ship (and yet over the course of time falls in love with him) and then halfway through the book the ship lands on an island (previously Tangier and in this story Jamaica) where the stories take very different turns (both in plot and in setting) and here is where the stories really take off.
In this tale, the heroine travels to Jamaica to meet her fiance by arrangement; the son of a wealthy sugar plantation owner. Unbeknownst to her, he is vilely amoral and cruel. The island is a hotbed of upheaval and revolt and his plantation is no exception; the situation rapidly escalates to a terrifying climax.
The romance was slow and with a fair amount of tension. I wish the H/H could have come to an understanding sooner but the ending is not to be missed; it's PERFECT!
There is no sex in this book and minimal cussing. (moderate if your British and count "the 3 B's")
While the reader is not an onlooker to violence, violent events are mentioned. (Remember we're talking about cruelty resulting in slave revolt) so keep that in mind. Also the H/H are in the medical field so medical procedures (and some blood) are involved in the story (mainly amputations and childbirth). There is also mention of young girls bearing the children of their white "owners". In no way is this glorified and there are consequences for such acts but it's good to be aware of. I would rate this book PG13 for thematic elements.
On a side note there are a fair few editing mistakes in the ebook that need to be rectified as it causes some backreading to figure out. Some people get really annoyed with this. I don't pay it much mind if I'm enjoying the story (which I was) but I thought I'd mention it as the reading of the book would be much smoother with a just a bit more proofreading.
Jane Jackson's book "Eye Of The Wind" is still my favorite but this story is a solid 4 stars. I enjoyed it and I'm sure my 15 year old daughter will too.
In this tale, the heroine travels to Jamaica to meet her fiance by arrangement; the son of a wealthy sugar plantation owner. Unbeknownst to her, he is vilely amoral and cruel. The island is a hotbed of upheaval and revolt and his plantation is no exception; the situation rapidly escalates to a terrifying climax.
The romance was slow and with a fair amount of tension. I wish the H/H could have come to an understanding sooner but the ending is not to be missed; it's PERFECT!
There is no sex in this book and minimal cussing. (moderate if your British and count "the 3 B's")
While the reader is not an onlooker to violence, violent events are mentioned. (Remember we're talking about cruelty resulting in slave revolt) so keep that in mind. Also the H/H are in the medical field so medical procedures (and some blood) are involved in the story (mainly amputations and childbirth). There is also mention of young girls bearing the children of their white "owners". In no way is this glorified and there are consequences for such acts but it's good to be aware of. I would rate this book PG13 for thematic elements.
On a side note there are a fair few editing mistakes in the ebook that need to be rectified as it causes some backreading to figure out. Some people get really annoyed with this. I don't pay it much mind if I'm enjoying the story (which I was) but I thought I'd mention it as the reading of the book would be much smoother with a just a bit more proofreading.
Jane Jackson's book "Eye Of The Wind" is still my favorite but this story is a solid 4 stars. I enjoyed it and I'm sure my 15 year old daughter will too.
October 10, 2015
For the most part, I enjoyed this book. Phoebe is a very believable character and I found myself sympathetic to her situation in life. Dr. Jowan Crossly was a bit of a grumpy hero, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
The reason I couldn't give this five stars is because I wasn't convinced on the romance between Phoebe and Jowan. the only conversations they have are sharp arguments and by the end I wondered that they managed to fall in love at all.
Not a bad way to spend a fall morning with a cup of tea.
The reason I couldn't give this five stars is because I wasn't convinced on the romance between Phoebe and Jowan. the only conversations they have are sharp arguments and by the end I wondered that they managed to fall in love at all.
Not a bad way to spend a fall morning with a cup of tea.
September 25, 2012
A strong female helps makes for a great book.
June 6, 2016
Quite good
Dangerous Waters by Jane Jackson is quite good. It is richly detailed and not completely predictable. I recommend it to any historical romance fan.
Dangerous Waters by Jane Jackson is quite good. It is richly detailed and not completely predictable. I recommend it to any historical romance fan.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews