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Guardian of Paradise
Beware of strangers bearing gifts---Guardian of Paradise---The captivating story of a young woman determined to preserve the vast riches of her adopted island home---and the worldly young doctor who would awaken fantastic inner desires she never knew any woman could possess.
Orphaned at the age of twelve, Kira Wall had obtained a limited yet intensely skeptical view of the world outside this exotic tropical paradise. Her resolve to defend this land would be tested when a majestic tall ship arrived led by the ruthless Captain Darcy Coleman and his crew of cunning merchant marines. But, the ship also carries one interloper, the handsome and charismatic British physician, Dr. Trevor Marshall who is determined on wooing the beautiful island girl.
At first, Kira is suspicious and uncertain, but Trevor’s flamboyant side gives way to tenderly reveal erotic pleasures they will soon share. As they explore magnificent and mysterious parts of the island never seen before as well as each other. Kira finds herself falling in love. But would fate and the evil intentions of the coldhearted invaders set on stealing the island’s considerable treasures tear them apart---and take away the love that came to mean more to her than she ever dreamed.
Orphaned at the age of twelve, Kira Wall had obtained a limited yet intensely skeptical view of the world outside this exotic tropical paradise. Her resolve to defend this land would be tested when a majestic tall ship arrived led by the ruthless Captain Darcy Coleman and his crew of cunning merchant marines. But, the ship also carries one interloper, the handsome and charismatic British physician, Dr. Trevor Marshall who is determined on wooing the beautiful island girl.
At first, Kira is suspicious and uncertain, but Trevor’s flamboyant side gives way to tenderly reveal erotic pleasures they will soon share. As they explore magnificent and mysterious parts of the island never seen before as well as each other. Kira finds herself falling in love. But would fate and the evil intentions of the coldhearted invaders set on stealing the island’s considerable treasures tear them apart---and take away the love that came to mean more to her than she ever dreamed.
388 pages, Paperback
First published October 3, 2014
1 person is currently reading
312 people want to read
About the author
W.E. Lawrence
2 books62 followersW. E. Lawrence graduated in 1978 from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill with a BS in business administration. Despite wishing he had taken more courses in journalism and communications, he has run a successful home health care supplies distributorship for the past twenty-three years.
Passionate about God, writing, reading, family, sports, politics, and America, Lawrence currently lives in Davidson, North Carolina, with his lovely wife and their two wonderful children.
Passionate about God, writing, reading, family, sports, politics, and America, Lawrence currently lives in Davidson, North Carolina, with his lovely wife and their two wonderful children.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 44 reviews
May 25, 2017
4.5 Jungle Lady Stars
*Mild Spoilers*
This book was so good! It had a very sweet romance, but it also had a great, adventurous plot that pulled me in, and had me dying to find out what would happen next. I read the whole book in one day. I didn't even put it down to eat .(I just held the book with one hand and shoveled my food with the other.) Now I just hope there will be a follow up book, because I want more of Kira and Trevor!
What this book is about
Kira Wall is the daughter of missionaries that came to the island of Alofa when she was a small child. She falls in love with the Island and the natives, who are like family to her. So when her parents die, She stays, feeling this is where God wants her. It's her home, and her calling to help the people of Alofa. The Island has had visiting merchant ships come that were not trustworthy, Failed to take good care of the land, and were unfair to the natives. So when a merchant ship with Captain Coleman showed up, she was leery. When he was overly friendly, offering a extravagant amount of gifts and goods to be able to harvest the fields , she knows her suspicions are right. Now she just has to prove it to the overly trusting locals. As if she didn't have enough to deal with, there is this handsome Doctor that makes her feel all kinds of new things. Not knowing if she can trust Dr. Marshall ,and fighting her growing feelings, will she be able to protect the Island and the natives from being taken advantage of or worse?
Trevor Marshall is very serious about his work, and not so much about the ladies he dates. A bit of a playboy, no woman has been able to grab and hold his interest, until Kira. Trevor has a very cute, playful personality. I loved the part in the book where he was playing ball with the local kids and had this Charlie Brown like ball fumble and landed on his backside. He was a very well rounded and likable character.
Kira Wall made the book for me. She was strong, brave, and sassy! She is protective of those she loves, and does what she thinks is right, no matter what it may cost her. Wise in many ways , she was naive when it came to love and men. She had a very sweet innocence about her, and vulnerability when it came to Trevor. I loved the way she comes out of her shell and becomes a sexually confident woman.
I loved Malana, and Archie Cooper. The parts of the book when you get to see their deep respect and friendship with the main Characters is touching. Trevor and Kira are captivating ,and charming together. The tender, passionate moments in this book are very romantic. I truly enjoyed this book. The only reason I didn't give it a full 5 stars is because I would have liked more at the end. I liked their HEA, but I would have liked to have had a epilogue. Just a small glimpse into their future together. Other than that this was a great read and I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Historical Romances!
http://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessio...
*Mild Spoilers*
This book was so good! It had a very sweet romance, but it also had a great, adventurous plot that pulled me in, and had me dying to find out what would happen next. I read the whole book in one day. I didn't even put it down to eat .(I just held the book with one hand and shoveled my food with the other.) Now I just hope there will be a follow up book, because I want more of Kira and Trevor!
What this book is about
Kira Wall is the daughter of missionaries that came to the island of Alofa when she was a small child. She falls in love with the Island and the natives, who are like family to her. So when her parents die, She stays, feeling this is where God wants her. It's her home, and her calling to help the people of Alofa. The Island has had visiting merchant ships come that were not trustworthy, Failed to take good care of the land, and were unfair to the natives. So when a merchant ship with Captain Coleman showed up, she was leery. When he was overly friendly, offering a extravagant amount of gifts and goods to be able to harvest the fields , she knows her suspicions are right. Now she just has to prove it to the overly trusting locals. As if she didn't have enough to deal with, there is this handsome Doctor that makes her feel all kinds of new things. Not knowing if she can trust Dr. Marshall ,and fighting her growing feelings, will she be able to protect the Island and the natives from being taken advantage of or worse?
Trevor Marshall is very serious about his work, and not so much about the ladies he dates. A bit of a playboy, no woman has been able to grab and hold his interest, until Kira. Trevor has a very cute, playful personality. I loved the part in the book where he was playing ball with the local kids and had this Charlie Brown like ball fumble and landed on his backside. He was a very well rounded and likable character.
Kira Wall made the book for me. She was strong, brave, and sassy! She is protective of those she loves, and does what she thinks is right, no matter what it may cost her. Wise in many ways , she was naive when it came to love and men. She had a very sweet innocence about her, and vulnerability when it came to Trevor. I loved the way she comes out of her shell and becomes a sexually confident woman.
I loved Malana, and Archie Cooper. The parts of the book when you get to see their deep respect and friendship with the main Characters is touching. Trevor and Kira are captivating ,and charming together. The tender, passionate moments in this book are very romantic. I truly enjoyed this book. The only reason I didn't give it a full 5 stars is because I would have liked more at the end. I liked their HEA, but I would have liked to have had a epilogue. Just a small glimpse into their future together. Other than that this was a great read and I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Historical Romances!
http://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessio...
June 6, 2015
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to author W.E. Lawrence.)
“We are happy to greet anyone who comes to our island in peace.”
This was an adult historical romance, set on an island.
Kira was a woman who seemed to care for everybody on the island where she lived, and she was a bit wary of strangers. She seemed to like Trevor though, and they seemed to get along pretty well.
“I think we know each other well enough for you to call me Trevor from now on.”
The storyline in this was about a boat full of men approaching the island where Kira lived, and asking if they could harvest some of the food grown on the island. I did find the pace in this quite slow though, and to be honest I kept wanting to put this down and not pick it up again.
“This is the richest soil I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
There were a few other storylines going on, but there was also a romance between Kira and Trevor. I can’t say I really enjoyed the romance in this though. I’m not sure why, maybe it’s because I didn’t really warm to Trevor, but there was just something lacking for me, and I didn’t enjoy the sex scenes either unfortunately. I just didn’t feel like they fitted in with the rest of the book, and Trevor was a little rough with Kira considering that she was a virgin.
The ending to this was okay, but to be honest I was glad to finish the story. Maybe this was just a case of wrong person, wrong book, but I didn’t really enjoy this one much. It does look like I'm very much the odd one out with reards to this book though.
A generous - 6 out of 10 - just because I think that other people will like this one.
“We are happy to greet anyone who comes to our island in peace.”
This was an adult historical romance, set on an island.
Kira was a woman who seemed to care for everybody on the island where she lived, and she was a bit wary of strangers. She seemed to like Trevor though, and they seemed to get along pretty well.
“I think we know each other well enough for you to call me Trevor from now on.”
The storyline in this was about a boat full of men approaching the island where Kira lived, and asking if they could harvest some of the food grown on the island. I did find the pace in this quite slow though, and to be honest I kept wanting to put this down and not pick it up again.
“This is the richest soil I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
There were a few other storylines going on, but there was also a romance between Kira and Trevor. I can’t say I really enjoyed the romance in this though. I’m not sure why, maybe it’s because I didn’t really warm to Trevor, but there was just something lacking for me, and I didn’t enjoy the sex scenes either unfortunately. I just didn’t feel like they fitted in with the rest of the book, and Trevor was a little rough with Kira considering that she was a virgin.
The ending to this was okay, but to be honest I was glad to finish the story. Maybe this was just a case of wrong person, wrong book, but I didn’t really enjoy this one much. It does look like I'm very much the odd one out with reards to this book though.
A generous - 6 out of 10 - just because I think that other people will like this one.
May 22, 2016
2.75 Stars
I enjoyed this historical fiction island story. I am not the biggest Historical fiction fan, but the story appealed to me, probably because of the romance. I'm a bit of a sucker for a good romance. Unfortunately there are a few things that fell short for me, but overall it was an enjoyable read.
Kira lives on a pacific island, isolated from the rest of the word. She has been there since she was a young girl. Her parents were taken by a tidal wave years earlier and she has been living alone with the natives ever since. A merchant Australian ship arrives and Kira is apprehensive. What do they want from the small island and the trusting natives? And can she trust the handsome doctor working on the ship?
The story starts out well. The scene of this beautiful island is set and Kira is introduced, along with her friendships with some of the locals. After the ship arrives and she is attracted to the handsome doctor Trevor, the romance progresses along quite well. There are some lovely moments and a few hot scenes... However there is a lot going on with Kira attempting to discover what the nasty captain and his crew are really doing on the island. And then eventually the story starts to dwindle and become quite long winded. Even the romance and romantic scenes were getting too much by the end of it. They started to become unbelievable and a bit corny. I feel the entire book could have been a bit shorter.
Although I wasn't the biggest fan of Kira's character, I enjoyed the strong female lead and the unique predicament she was in being the only non native living on the island. She knew what the merchants and other settlers were like, even if she had only experienced them in Australia as a child. I didn't mind Trevor, I did enjoy some of the banter between them. I didn't enjoy reading the slang that a lot of the locals used, and the written Australian accent attempt. I found them both inconsistent at times.
I wasn't the biggest fan of the ending. Religion or belief in a higher power had not really been explored much throughout the book and so when they started talking about what God wanted for them, I was thinking "Where is this coming from?". It felt out of place, kind of like the author just wanted to throw it in there at the end.
Would I recommend it?
Despite my criticisms, I still enjoyed it. There were a few good funny moments and the author did create a beautiful island atmosphere. The romance had some touching moments and the central storyline was entertaining. I would recommend it to historical romance fans. And only for readers aged 18+ as it was very raunchy at times.
Many thanks to Book Publicity Services for a copy of Guardian of Paradise in exchange for my honest review.
For more reviews check out my blog
www.booksbabiesbeing.com
Twitter
www.twitter.com/BBB_Mel
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/booksbabiesbeing
I enjoyed this historical fiction island story. I am not the biggest Historical fiction fan, but the story appealed to me, probably because of the romance. I'm a bit of a sucker for a good romance. Unfortunately there are a few things that fell short for me, but overall it was an enjoyable read.
Kira lives on a pacific island, isolated from the rest of the word. She has been there since she was a young girl. Her parents were taken by a tidal wave years earlier and she has been living alone with the natives ever since. A merchant Australian ship arrives and Kira is apprehensive. What do they want from the small island and the trusting natives? And can she trust the handsome doctor working on the ship?
The story starts out well. The scene of this beautiful island is set and Kira is introduced, along with her friendships with some of the locals. After the ship arrives and she is attracted to the handsome doctor Trevor, the romance progresses along quite well. There are some lovely moments and a few hot scenes... However there is a lot going on with Kira attempting to discover what the nasty captain and his crew are really doing on the island. And then eventually the story starts to dwindle and become quite long winded. Even the romance and romantic scenes were getting too much by the end of it. They started to become unbelievable and a bit corny. I feel the entire book could have been a bit shorter.
Although I wasn't the biggest fan of Kira's character, I enjoyed the strong female lead and the unique predicament she was in being the only non native living on the island. She knew what the merchants and other settlers were like, even if she had only experienced them in Australia as a child. I didn't mind Trevor, I did enjoy some of the banter between them. I didn't enjoy reading the slang that a lot of the locals used, and the written Australian accent attempt. I found them both inconsistent at times.
I wasn't the biggest fan of the ending. Religion or belief in a higher power had not really been explored much throughout the book and so when they started talking about what God wanted for them, I was thinking "Where is this coming from?". It felt out of place, kind of like the author just wanted to throw it in there at the end.
Would I recommend it?
Despite my criticisms, I still enjoyed it. There were a few good funny moments and the author did create a beautiful island atmosphere. The romance had some touching moments and the central storyline was entertaining. I would recommend it to historical romance fans. And only for readers aged 18+ as it was very raunchy at times.
Many thanks to Book Publicity Services for a copy of Guardian of Paradise in exchange for my honest review.
For more reviews check out my blog
www.booksbabiesbeing.com
www.twitter.com/BBB_Mel
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/booksbabiesbeing
June 16, 2017
**** 3.5 Stars ****
Kira is a strong independent woman living with a tribe on and island. The people accepted her as their own when her missionary parents died, and she worked hard to help her new family.
When visitors came to the island to trade, Kira knew there something wrong. She especially didn't trust Captain Coleman. The doctor on the ship asked Kira if she could help him around the island to discover new plants for his research. She agreed to guide him because she thought it would be a good way to find out why these men really came to the island.
Kira and Doctor Trevor had a strong attraction for each other. She was a virgin. He was an experienced man. The story overall was good, but I didn't feel connected with the characters. It was also very repetitive. Whenever a friend got involved, the entire story got told over and over again. I found it frustrating and tiring, and it ultimately took a toll on my enjoyment.
Kira is a strong independent woman living with a tribe on and island. The people accepted her as their own when her missionary parents died, and she worked hard to help her new family.
When visitors came to the island to trade, Kira knew there something wrong. She especially didn't trust Captain Coleman. The doctor on the ship asked Kira if she could help him around the island to discover new plants for his research. She agreed to guide him because she thought it would be a good way to find out why these men really came to the island.
Kira and Doctor Trevor had a strong attraction for each other. She was a virgin. He was an experienced man. The story overall was good, but I didn't feel connected with the characters. It was also very repetitive. Whenever a friend got involved, the entire story got told over and over again. I found it frustrating and tiring, and it ultimately took a toll on my enjoyment.
March 22, 2016
I've always loved the adventure-style romances and I looked forward to one set on a jungle island full of natives with a feisty heroine and solid hero. This one had a nice blend of adventure and romance. I found the naive, yet stubbornly strong heroine who grew up on the island with the islanders intriguing and I really liked the hero who could see past the surface and appreciate her.
The story opens in 1888 when Kira Wall and the natives of the South Seas' island, Alofa, spot an Australian Merchant Navy ship coming into the cove. Kira is a missionaries' daughter who stayed on the island after her parents died. These are her people and she mistrusts the traders who come with big smiles and big gifts from the start. Unfortunately, the chief doesn't see the danger of kindly welcoming trade and letting the captain and his men loose on the island. Kira's verbal attacks toward the Captain and her temper lose her the chief's ear even as the smug captain goes about his secretive doings. Kira and a friend watch and impatiently wait to see what the captain is really up to.
Dr. Trevor Marshall accompanies the ship as their doctor and as botanist in order to pursue his studies to find new plants that might lead to new medicines. He has been a non-committing type when it comes to women, but he is intrigued from the moment he encounters the fiery Kira. Kira is suspicious because he is there with odious Captain Darcy Coleman. Trevor doesn't like him, but so far the man hasn't done anything wrong. Kira takes Trevor around the island and he is amazed at the lush growth, the health of the natives, and more than amazed by a new plant that Kira uses on a hurt islander to show it has strong healing properties. It could be exactly what he is looking for as a medical break through. In the meantime, his overtures to start something up with Kira are rebuffed because she may be attracted, but she wants something long-term and he's not planning on staying. That said, he doesn't stop trying when it comes to the beautiful, talented woman.
The pair are at cross purposes, but it is the revelation of Captain Coleman's plotting that heats things up for Kira, Trevor, and the dormant volcano. Things are about to blow and it's a race whether it will be the angry islanders, the conniving Captain, or the attraction between Kira and Trevor.
Alright, so this set up to be an exciting jungle island adventure romance. It was a familiar situation when modern greed discovers untapped natural resources. I liked how the islanders are portrayed. They are honorable, hardworking, open, but not stupid. And not every member of the crew is out to fleece them though those in control definitely are.
The story is more action plot, but it's pacing is right and doesn't lag.
The description of the island and the people makes me wish I could go there. From lush fruits, colorful tropical flora, the gorgeous scenery including the waterfall lagoon. Sounds fantastic.
The characters are all engaging, too. A few of the islanders are distinguished and they are fun and solid people. And the bad guys with Captain Coleman in the lead are less described, but they do their job creating conflict.
The main character and narrator is Kira. I had mixed feelings about her. Kira loves the people and understands them for the most part, but she is not really one of them having lived in Australia the first ten years of her life so she straddles both worlds. She feels it is her calling to protect the islanders who are innocent to the world away from the island and keep the island's abundant natural resources from being stripped. Kira, herself, has skills and intelligence, a huge heart, but she knows just enough to be dangerous. I had to constantly remind myself just how isolated and innocent she was even if she had an inflated opinion of her own power. She meant well, but thought somehow she was fine to go up against several ruthless men who were armed all because her dad taught her self defense and she knew the island better than the Captain and his group. It wouldn't have been so frustrating, but she was stubborn about it and grudgingly grateful when she had to have help from Trevor or her best friend.
Trevor is the second main character and had a portion of the narration. He was a good sort, but he wasn't as strong-willed as Kira and this made for an interesting dynamic. He had plans and dreams. He liked Kira and respected her, but he knew that his time with her wasn't permanent. He tried to help, but Kira kept things back so he had to operate in the dark at times and act as sidekick. He didn't seem to mind this other than her stubborn-stupid moments that almost got her and others killed.
The romance was sweet and I liked these two together. Not to say things didn't heat up, but it took its time because of all the other stuff going on and because this was Kira's first time experiencing attraction and dealing with the possibility of a romantic relationship. Kira was innocent and a virgin, but the fire in her lit up when Trevor was around. Because of her naivete, I was a smidge uncomfortable with their first time together. I wasn't entirely sure she understood what was happening before they were in the middle of things. But she was a strong willed person and could have said no so that's what relieved me somewhat. At the end, I wasn't surprised about the solution to the issue of their conflict of interest. However, I did find it problematic for the long term because one had to give in on dreams and it didn't set well with me.
The final big scenes were exciting and I loved not knowing how Kira and the others would get out of the dire trouble they found themselves in after the captain's plotting was revealed.
All in all, it was exciting, passionate, and the setting was perfect. Those who enjoy the exotic jungle island adventure romance type stories should consider this one.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
The story opens in 1888 when Kira Wall and the natives of the South Seas' island, Alofa, spot an Australian Merchant Navy ship coming into the cove. Kira is a missionaries' daughter who stayed on the island after her parents died. These are her people and she mistrusts the traders who come with big smiles and big gifts from the start. Unfortunately, the chief doesn't see the danger of kindly welcoming trade and letting the captain and his men loose on the island. Kira's verbal attacks toward the Captain and her temper lose her the chief's ear even as the smug captain goes about his secretive doings. Kira and a friend watch and impatiently wait to see what the captain is really up to.
Dr. Trevor Marshall accompanies the ship as their doctor and as botanist in order to pursue his studies to find new plants that might lead to new medicines. He has been a non-committing type when it comes to women, but he is intrigued from the moment he encounters the fiery Kira. Kira is suspicious because he is there with odious Captain Darcy Coleman. Trevor doesn't like him, but so far the man hasn't done anything wrong. Kira takes Trevor around the island and he is amazed at the lush growth, the health of the natives, and more than amazed by a new plant that Kira uses on a hurt islander to show it has strong healing properties. It could be exactly what he is looking for as a medical break through. In the meantime, his overtures to start something up with Kira are rebuffed because she may be attracted, but she wants something long-term and he's not planning on staying. That said, he doesn't stop trying when it comes to the beautiful, talented woman.
The pair are at cross purposes, but it is the revelation of Captain Coleman's plotting that heats things up for Kira, Trevor, and the dormant volcano. Things are about to blow and it's a race whether it will be the angry islanders, the conniving Captain, or the attraction between Kira and Trevor.
Alright, so this set up to be an exciting jungle island adventure romance. It was a familiar situation when modern greed discovers untapped natural resources. I liked how the islanders are portrayed. They are honorable, hardworking, open, but not stupid. And not every member of the crew is out to fleece them though those in control definitely are.
The story is more action plot, but it's pacing is right and doesn't lag.
The description of the island and the people makes me wish I could go there. From lush fruits, colorful tropical flora, the gorgeous scenery including the waterfall lagoon. Sounds fantastic.
The characters are all engaging, too. A few of the islanders are distinguished and they are fun and solid people. And the bad guys with Captain Coleman in the lead are less described, but they do their job creating conflict.
The main character and narrator is Kira. I had mixed feelings about her. Kira loves the people and understands them for the most part, but she is not really one of them having lived in Australia the first ten years of her life so she straddles both worlds. She feels it is her calling to protect the islanders who are innocent to the world away from the island and keep the island's abundant natural resources from being stripped. Kira, herself, has skills and intelligence, a huge heart, but she knows just enough to be dangerous. I had to constantly remind myself just how isolated and innocent she was even if she had an inflated opinion of her own power. She meant well, but thought somehow she was fine to go up against several ruthless men who were armed all because her dad taught her self defense and she knew the island better than the Captain and his group. It wouldn't have been so frustrating, but she was stubborn about it and grudgingly grateful when she had to have help from Trevor or her best friend.
Trevor is the second main character and had a portion of the narration. He was a good sort, but he wasn't as strong-willed as Kira and this made for an interesting dynamic. He had plans and dreams. He liked Kira and respected her, but he knew that his time with her wasn't permanent. He tried to help, but Kira kept things back so he had to operate in the dark at times and act as sidekick. He didn't seem to mind this other than her stubborn-stupid moments that almost got her and others killed.
The romance was sweet and I liked these two together. Not to say things didn't heat up, but it took its time because of all the other stuff going on and because this was Kira's first time experiencing attraction and dealing with the possibility of a romantic relationship. Kira was innocent and a virgin, but the fire in her lit up when Trevor was around. Because of her naivete, I was a smidge uncomfortable with their first time together. I wasn't entirely sure she understood what was happening before they were in the middle of things. But she was a strong willed person and could have said no so that's what relieved me somewhat. At the end, I wasn't surprised about the solution to the issue of their conflict of interest. However, I did find it problematic for the long term because one had to give in on dreams and it didn't set well with me.
The final big scenes were exciting and I loved not knowing how Kira and the others would get out of the dire trouble they found themselves in after the captain's plotting was revealed.
All in all, it was exciting, passionate, and the setting was perfect. Those who enjoy the exotic jungle island adventure romance type stories should consider this one.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
March 24, 2015
Get ready to set sail into the past to a beautiful tropical island, unmarred by outsiders, where the natives live in love, peace and harmony. Will the merchant ship in their cove bring them more goods for trade or are their exorbitant gifts a smoke screen for more nefarious plans?
Kira came to the island of Alofa as the child of missionaries and stayed on long after her parents’ deaths. Beautiful, brilliant and mistrustful of these sailors, she realizes questions as to their intent, but the trusting tribe chief believes in the goodness of all hearts. Accompanying the evil captain, who has the charm of a snake, is a young doctor intent on searching for rare plants to be used medicinally. As his guide, Kira finds Trevor handsome, charming and he is getting under her skin with his good intentions, so at odds with the captain.
Under the guise of helping the natives, the captain’s crew is searching for buried treasure, not gold doubloons, but a rare and exotically beautiful stone, worth more than its weight in gold. But will they destroy the beauty of the island and the trusting nature of the islanders in the process? Is the budding romance between Kira and Trevor a ruse to keep her out of the way? When push comes to shove, both Kira nd Trevor must make a stand, but will they stand alone against rape of the island or will the islanders and an active volcano come to their aid?
Two worlds, one scarred by greed, one filled with the beauty of contentment and trust clash in W.E. Lawrence’s Guardian of Paradise. From the wonderfully described island scenes to the smell of the ocean, one can almost hear the swish of swaying palm fronds. W.E. Lawrence has created a world of paradise on Earth on this tiny island, including the touch of a breeze as his world comes to life with each page. And the evil? Enter the heavy pounding of organ music, the sneering lies of the captain behind his jovial façade. Let’s not forget the romance, wonderful, warm and very tentative in its beginnings, all well done by W.E. Lawrence.
I received this copy from W. E. Lawrence in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: October 15, 2014
Publisher: W. E. Lawrence
ISBN-13: 9781500602970
Genre: Historical Romantic Suspense
Print Length: 297 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Kira came to the island of Alofa as the child of missionaries and stayed on long after her parents’ deaths. Beautiful, brilliant and mistrustful of these sailors, she realizes questions as to their intent, but the trusting tribe chief believes in the goodness of all hearts. Accompanying the evil captain, who has the charm of a snake, is a young doctor intent on searching for rare plants to be used medicinally. As his guide, Kira finds Trevor handsome, charming and he is getting under her skin with his good intentions, so at odds with the captain.
Under the guise of helping the natives, the captain’s crew is searching for buried treasure, not gold doubloons, but a rare and exotically beautiful stone, worth more than its weight in gold. But will they destroy the beauty of the island and the trusting nature of the islanders in the process? Is the budding romance between Kira and Trevor a ruse to keep her out of the way? When push comes to shove, both Kira nd Trevor must make a stand, but will they stand alone against rape of the island or will the islanders and an active volcano come to their aid?
Two worlds, one scarred by greed, one filled with the beauty of contentment and trust clash in W.E. Lawrence’s Guardian of Paradise. From the wonderfully described island scenes to the smell of the ocean, one can almost hear the swish of swaying palm fronds. W.E. Lawrence has created a world of paradise on Earth on this tiny island, including the touch of a breeze as his world comes to life with each page. And the evil? Enter the heavy pounding of organ music, the sneering lies of the captain behind his jovial façade. Let’s not forget the romance, wonderful, warm and very tentative in its beginnings, all well done by W.E. Lawrence.
I received this copy from W. E. Lawrence in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: October 15, 2014
Publisher: W. E. Lawrence
ISBN-13: 9781500602970
Genre: Historical Romantic Suspense
Print Length: 297 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
October 18, 2016
Note: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Guardian Of Paradise by W.E. Lawrence is a action-packed historical read.
I really enjoyed reading this book especially because of the beautiful setting of this story. The fitting descriptions made the island's beauty come to life and I was left cravin gfor more.
I'm not a Historical Fiction fan, but there are a few authors who really write this genre well, and W.E. Lawrence is definitely one of them. I liked the romance bit too. It was the main theme, but thankfully the author did not overburden the story with mindless romance.
The adventourous undertones and the well written plot were really engaging. The writing was really simple and easy to follow, making this book a really breezy read. I was hooked right from the begining to the very end. And the characterization was also good. I didn't feel a very strong connection with the leads, but considering that it's not one of my favourite genres, I cared enough about the charaters to want to know what happenes next - and it was good enough for me.
Despite a few minor flaws (lacking justification of some of the actions of the islanders and a few odd loose ends) I liked reading this book and I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to read a moderate-paced and light-hearted Historical novel.
You can also read this review at The Reading Bud.
Guardian Of Paradise by W.E. Lawrence is a action-packed historical read.
I really enjoyed reading this book especially because of the beautiful setting of this story. The fitting descriptions made the island's beauty come to life and I was left cravin gfor more.
I'm not a Historical Fiction fan, but there are a few authors who really write this genre well, and W.E. Lawrence is definitely one of them. I liked the romance bit too. It was the main theme, but thankfully the author did not overburden the story with mindless romance.
The adventourous undertones and the well written plot were really engaging. The writing was really simple and easy to follow, making this book a really breezy read. I was hooked right from the begining to the very end. And the characterization was also good. I didn't feel a very strong connection with the leads, but considering that it's not one of my favourite genres, I cared enough about the charaters to want to know what happenes next - and it was good enough for me.
Despite a few minor flaws (lacking justification of some of the actions of the islanders and a few odd loose ends) I liked reading this book and I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to read a moderate-paced and light-hearted Historical novel.
You can also read this review at The Reading Bud.
August 10, 2016
3 and ½ Stars - A fun romp on a Pacific island.
Set in the Pacific on imaginary island of Alofa northeast of Australia in 1888, this is the story of Kira Wall, the surviving daughter of missionaries killed in a tsunami. Though she could have gone to Australia, Kira decided to stay with the natives where she made friends.
One day, an Australian merchant ship arrives at the island. Kira immediately mistrusts Captain Coleman who she sees as evil (apparently she is the only one on the island who thinks so). With the captain is Dr. Trevor Marshall, a medical doctor and a botanist, who is looking for plants for new cures and medicines. The island intrigues him as the natives are very healthy and strong.
Based on her hunch about the captain, Kira warns Chief Ariki not to trust him, but the chief refuses to listen. To see what the visitors are doing, she takes the job of guide for Trevor, but that leaves the two of them alone in the woods. Then an explosion occurs and, again, Kira is the only one who suspects Captain Coleman.
The premise of the story is a good one, but there were a few distractions. At the very start, I found the natives’ accent made reading the story difficult whenever they were speaking. I also thought the story had a modern feel, in part due to some words and phrases. Others seemed odd for the character. (I just couldn’t see a London-educated doctor in the Victorian era saying “Blimey” and “Crikey”, but maybe it’s just me. It sounded more like the language of a dockworker.)
The story is fairly simple: bad guys want what the good islanders have and the only white girl on the island saves them while being attracted to the good English doctor. A fun romp on a Pacific island with a few surprises along the way.
Set in the Pacific on imaginary island of Alofa northeast of Australia in 1888, this is the story of Kira Wall, the surviving daughter of missionaries killed in a tsunami. Though she could have gone to Australia, Kira decided to stay with the natives where she made friends.
One day, an Australian merchant ship arrives at the island. Kira immediately mistrusts Captain Coleman who she sees as evil (apparently she is the only one on the island who thinks so). With the captain is Dr. Trevor Marshall, a medical doctor and a botanist, who is looking for plants for new cures and medicines. The island intrigues him as the natives are very healthy and strong.
Based on her hunch about the captain, Kira warns Chief Ariki not to trust him, but the chief refuses to listen. To see what the visitors are doing, she takes the job of guide for Trevor, but that leaves the two of them alone in the woods. Then an explosion occurs and, again, Kira is the only one who suspects Captain Coleman.
The premise of the story is a good one, but there were a few distractions. At the very start, I found the natives’ accent made reading the story difficult whenever they were speaking. I also thought the story had a modern feel, in part due to some words and phrases. Others seemed odd for the character. (I just couldn’t see a London-educated doctor in the Victorian era saying “Blimey” and “Crikey”, but maybe it’s just me. It sounded more like the language of a dockworker.)
The story is fairly simple: bad guys want what the good islanders have and the only white girl on the island saves them while being attracted to the good English doctor. A fun romp on a Pacific island with a few surprises along the way.
August 10, 2016
I've always liked stories of strong, intelligent, kick-ass women, but at the same time being a bit naïve and vulnerable about romantic relationships.
From "Kirkus Reviews":
A fiendish merchant-ship captain is more invested in taking precious material from a South Pacific island than trading with locals in Lawrence’s debut adventure novel.
In the late 19th century, an Australian merchant navy ship lands at the island of Alofa. Islander Kira Wall is wary because previous traders who’d visited were greedy men who carelessly trampled through fields of plants and fruits. She doesn’t trust Capt. Coleman in the slightest. He seems too eager to offer bountiful goods, as if he were trying to distract the natives. Sure enough, Coleman is secretly scouring Alofa for diamonds that a pirate said he’d discovered on the island. The normally standoffish Kira struggles with her newfound affection for the handsome Dr. Trevor Marshall, the ship’s civilian physician and botanist, and they both look for a way to avoid a conflict between the crew and islanders. Meanwhile, Coleman tries to force Kira into revealing the diamonds’ location by kidnapping her best friend. Despite the tropical-paradise setting, this romance doesn’t dawdle. Instead, it follows two people falling in love while immersed in suspenseful scenes and the occasional action sequence. Kira is a laudable but bewildering protagonist. Her distrust of outsiders, for example, is odd as she herself is the daughter of missionaries who came to Alofa. But she more than holds her own, boasting a thorough knowledge of the island’s interior and proving a formidable adversary in scuffles with men. Lawrence conveys the developing relationship between Kira and Trevor primarily via sex scenes, but the duo still has emotional resonance. As a villain, the captain is a worthy opponent (he even uses dynamite) with an ever-present arrogance, while the few loyal crew members who stand by him are really just extensions of his corruption. The final act, in which Coleman targets Kira’s loved ones and inevitably faces off against her, could be trimmed, but it maintains momentum and delivers a satisfying finale.
Lawrence blends romance, action and beautiful scenery into an alluring concoction. – "Kirkus Reviews"
From "Kirkus Reviews":
A fiendish merchant-ship captain is more invested in taking precious material from a South Pacific island than trading with locals in Lawrence’s debut adventure novel.
In the late 19th century, an Australian merchant navy ship lands at the island of Alofa. Islander Kira Wall is wary because previous traders who’d visited were greedy men who carelessly trampled through fields of plants and fruits. She doesn’t trust Capt. Coleman in the slightest. He seems too eager to offer bountiful goods, as if he were trying to distract the natives. Sure enough, Coleman is secretly scouring Alofa for diamonds that a pirate said he’d discovered on the island. The normally standoffish Kira struggles with her newfound affection for the handsome Dr. Trevor Marshall, the ship’s civilian physician and botanist, and they both look for a way to avoid a conflict between the crew and islanders. Meanwhile, Coleman tries to force Kira into revealing the diamonds’ location by kidnapping her best friend. Despite the tropical-paradise setting, this romance doesn’t dawdle. Instead, it follows two people falling in love while immersed in suspenseful scenes and the occasional action sequence. Kira is a laudable but bewildering protagonist. Her distrust of outsiders, for example, is odd as she herself is the daughter of missionaries who came to Alofa. But she more than holds her own, boasting a thorough knowledge of the island’s interior and proving a formidable adversary in scuffles with men. Lawrence conveys the developing relationship between Kira and Trevor primarily via sex scenes, but the duo still has emotional resonance. As a villain, the captain is a worthy opponent (he even uses dynamite) with an ever-present arrogance, while the few loyal crew members who stand by him are really just extensions of his corruption. The final act, in which Coleman targets Kira’s loved ones and inevitably faces off against her, could be trimmed, but it maintains momentum and delivers a satisfying finale.
Lawrence blends romance, action and beautiful scenery into an alluring concoction. – "Kirkus Reviews"
January 31, 2015
This is a marvelous debut historical romance from a new author I will be sure and stalk from now on. I'm calling it historical romance, because that's what it was to me, but it is genre-bending. It is unique in that the setting is not typical of a historical romance, more of an adventure. And adventure certainly abounds in this story. Mr. Lawrence does an exceptional job of setting up conflict and tension as well as arcing the story so that it is easy to get wrapped up in.
There were a few issues I had with the telling of the story, but nothing so dire as to give it a poor review, but I will mention them. There is a lot of repetition that makes the pacing lag a bit, especially toward the end when I just wanted to find out how they caught the bad guy. The author's spelling out of different dialect also made it difficult to read at times. These were the only things that really took me out of the story.
The writing itself is stale in some areas, where it could use more showing emotions through action and inference, instead of telling me what every character is feeling. Like I said though, this didn't take too much away from the story itself, and I really enjoyed it.
There were a few issues I had with the telling of the story, but nothing so dire as to give it a poor review, but I will mention them. There is a lot of repetition that makes the pacing lag a bit, especially toward the end when I just wanted to find out how they caught the bad guy. The author's spelling out of different dialect also made it difficult to read at times. These were the only things that really took me out of the story.
The writing itself is stale in some areas, where it could use more showing emotions through action and inference, instead of telling me what every character is feeling. Like I said though, this didn't take too much away from the story itself, and I really enjoyed it.
June 14, 2016
One look at this cover and I was very intrigued. Then, I saw that it was a historical romance and I could not wait to read the story inside.
Ever since her parents died in a tsunami as missionaries on an island, Kira Wall has made a life for herself among the natives of the island. But when a ship of "merchants" shows up, Kira is wary about their motives for helping the natives. The chief of the island refuses to believe Kira's warnings about the men and welcomes them to their island. Kira needs to uncover what the men really want, but that's kind of hard with the tall and handsome Dr. Trevor Marshal who is on the island to study the plants for medicinal purposes. Showing Trevor around the island stirs up feelings that Kira never thought she could feel for a man, but can she really trust Trevor?
The premise of this book was so promising. I mean, it's 1888 and there is a hunky doctor and a mystery to solve before Kira's island succumbs to the danger. Unfortunately, I couldn't really connect with Kira and got tired of her inexperienced background when it came to the opposite sex. Literally every time she became even close to being intimate with Trevor, she would bring up how she's never felt that way before, how she can't feel that way, and how scared she was of feeling that way. I got it the first three times and it just got old after awhile.
Not only was the romance lacking, but I found myself skimming through the last bits of the book because I was just over the whole mystery of what the men were actually doing on the island. The story seemed to draw out much more than it needed to and we learned what the men were really after about halfway through the book, which meant that I lost interest in the whole plot line a little bit after that.
Overall, this book just didn't do it for me. While it did have romance and started out pretty interesting, it lacked a relatable character and relied too heavily on the inexperienced virgin trope. Also, the mystery/danger of the story didn't entice me and went on for far too long. If you want a thrilling, passionate historical romance, you won't find it with this one.
Ever since her parents died in a tsunami as missionaries on an island, Kira Wall has made a life for herself among the natives of the island. But when a ship of "merchants" shows up, Kira is wary about their motives for helping the natives. The chief of the island refuses to believe Kira's warnings about the men and welcomes them to their island. Kira needs to uncover what the men really want, but that's kind of hard with the tall and handsome Dr. Trevor Marshal who is on the island to study the plants for medicinal purposes. Showing Trevor around the island stirs up feelings that Kira never thought she could feel for a man, but can she really trust Trevor?
The premise of this book was so promising. I mean, it's 1888 and there is a hunky doctor and a mystery to solve before Kira's island succumbs to the danger. Unfortunately, I couldn't really connect with Kira and got tired of her inexperienced background when it came to the opposite sex. Literally every time she became even close to being intimate with Trevor, she would bring up how she's never felt that way before, how she can't feel that way, and how scared she was of feeling that way. I got it the first three times and it just got old after awhile.
Not only was the romance lacking, but I found myself skimming through the last bits of the book because I was just over the whole mystery of what the men were actually doing on the island. The story seemed to draw out much more than it needed to and we learned what the men were really after about halfway through the book, which meant that I lost interest in the whole plot line a little bit after that.
Overall, this book just didn't do it for me. While it did have romance and started out pretty interesting, it lacked a relatable character and relied too heavily on the inexperienced virgin trope. Also, the mystery/danger of the story didn't entice me and went on for far too long. If you want a thrilling, passionate historical romance, you won't find it with this one.
March 19, 2017
I have to admit, when I first agreed to read and review, Guardian of Paradise, I was afraid I wasn't going to enjoy it. The synopsis tells a tale of a doctor/botanist from England who has come to an isolated island in search of plants and roots for use in medicine. He's traveling with a captain of questionable intent but gains the trust of the island inhabitants, regardless. My first thought was that it didn't sound terribly exciting. Boy, was I wrong!
I made myself begin reading one evening and literally had to force myself to stop to go to bed. Once you begin this journey, it's very difficult to take a break. It's not a very complex story, in fact, it's a pretty simple tale, but the way W.E. Lawrence tells it, it's like watching a movie in your mind. The setting unfurls in living color with people you could actually know, in the form of island natives. Island natives who've adopted the young daughter of missionaries, as one of their own. They welcome outsiders with anticipation, and eagerly embrace modern technologies and gadgets. They accept these goods, in exchange for natural island produce, which they grow and harvest. Their everyday life is as normal and complex as any human community, including a variety of personalities, ages, and opinions. Except for the questionable captain, everything seems honky-dory, until the missionaries' daughter shows up.
Naturally inquisitive and distrustful, she is skeptical from the beginning. When no one agrees with her mistrust, she takes matters into her own hands to find out what the captain and, by association, the doctor, are really there for. There's mystery, intrigue, danger, romance; everything you could want in a story. This is definitely a book, and author, that deserves more attention.
I made myself begin reading one evening and literally had to force myself to stop to go to bed. Once you begin this journey, it's very difficult to take a break. It's not a very complex story, in fact, it's a pretty simple tale, but the way W.E. Lawrence tells it, it's like watching a movie in your mind. The setting unfurls in living color with people you could actually know, in the form of island natives. Island natives who've adopted the young daughter of missionaries, as one of their own. They welcome outsiders with anticipation, and eagerly embrace modern technologies and gadgets. They accept these goods, in exchange for natural island produce, which they grow and harvest. Their everyday life is as normal and complex as any human community, including a variety of personalities, ages, and opinions. Except for the questionable captain, everything seems honky-dory, until the missionaries' daughter shows up.
Naturally inquisitive and distrustful, she is skeptical from the beginning. When no one agrees with her mistrust, she takes matters into her own hands to find out what the captain and, by association, the doctor, are really there for. There's mystery, intrigue, danger, romance; everything you could want in a story. This is definitely a book, and author, that deserves more attention.
June 29, 2016
Kira, our heroine, is a strong female character who is beautiful and loyal to a fault. She is naive as child in a lot of ways even though she is actually in her twenties, but she is skilled in life lessons learning from her parents before they passed and from the islanders. She loves the islanders as her family and will do anything to protect them and their beautiful home.
Trevor Marshall is a handsome and wholesome young man who is on the adventure of his life getting to explore the island for plants for treatments of disease. He sees the world as good and is a bit clueless as to the bad people in the world. He is passionate about his profession. The local children fall in love with him and he with them.
Their romance is sweet and a little steamy. It is definitely an adventure with mystery and deception all in a beautiful setting. This was a fun adventurous read.
For the most part the story flowed nicely and kept me turning pages. I became frustrated with Kira and her juvenile thought processes at times but understood the environment she was raised in and how it effected her maturity level in certain areas. There are several supporting characters that add humor and substance to the story which I enjoyed.
I was provided a copy for an honest review.
Reviewed by Becky for Jo&IsaLoveBooks
http://joandisalovebooks.com/
http://joandisalovebooks.blogspot.co.uk/
Trevor Marshall is a handsome and wholesome young man who is on the adventure of his life getting to explore the island for plants for treatments of disease. He sees the world as good and is a bit clueless as to the bad people in the world. He is passionate about his profession. The local children fall in love with him and he with them.
Their romance is sweet and a little steamy. It is definitely an adventure with mystery and deception all in a beautiful setting. This was a fun adventurous read.
For the most part the story flowed nicely and kept me turning pages. I became frustrated with Kira and her juvenile thought processes at times but understood the environment she was raised in and how it effected her maturity level in certain areas. There are several supporting characters that add humor and substance to the story which I enjoyed.
I was provided a copy for an honest review.
Reviewed by Becky for Jo&IsaLoveBooks
http://joandisalovebooks.com/
http://joandisalovebooks.blogspot.co.uk/
July 9, 2016
Kira Wall is living my dream! She lives on a beautiful island, eating fresh fruit every day, and has a pet bird that talks to her! I instantly loved her character; she’s strong, independent and takes no sh*t from anyone.
The writing is excellent; the characters are well developed, the traditions on the island are explained perfectly and in just the right place, the native English is used in a way to allow readers to understand the dialog, and the imagery described the island beautifully, I want to live there! The story is suspenseful, dramatic, funny and romantic all at the same time.
Guardian of Paradise is a wonderfully fun read; I absolutely loved it and rate it with 5 Boundless Stars! I look forward to more books from Lawrence....Beth
http://www.boundlessbookreviews.com
https://www.facebook.com/BBReviews
The writing is excellent; the characters are well developed, the traditions on the island are explained perfectly and in just the right place, the native English is used in a way to allow readers to understand the dialog, and the imagery described the island beautifully, I want to live there! The story is suspenseful, dramatic, funny and romantic all at the same time.
Guardian of Paradise is a wonderfully fun read; I absolutely loved it and rate it with 5 Boundless Stars! I look forward to more books from Lawrence....Beth
http://www.boundlessbookreviews.com
https://www.facebook.com/BBReviews
July 12, 2016
I thought this book was really great! It was filled with adventure, love, and steamy romance. Trevor and Kira had great chemistry together. Their love story was one that wasn't supposed to work out. She was a 'jungle woman' who lived on an island with natives and he was an outsider who was only visiting the island for a few weeks. She didn't trust the outsiders who came to harvest the island and she was right not to. Trevor wasn't like the captain though. The captain was up to no good, but the natives fell under his spell. Kira was a strong heroine that I couldn't help but like. She stood up for what she believed in and who she loved. I was happy with the ending and definitely recommend this book to fellow romance readers!
September 9, 2017
Guardian of Paradise by W.E. Lawrence was the first book I was asked to review by this author but it ended up becoming the second book I read from him. It was so good and I am glad that I was asked to review it.
We first come up on it when the male love interest, Dr. Trevor Marshall, is asking the captain of the ship for a job. Then we zoom right off to Kira Wells, the main character of the book, and her island. The thing that had me a bit worried about reading this book is that I don’t really read that many books that are historical fiction and that’s what this book is and in the past when I read historical fiction I stop reading it when I have to stop and figure out what word they would have said in my time. Except in this book it wasn’t like that. Sure some of the words were a bit weird but then my brain immediately knew what word they meant to say since the islanders can speak English since they are learning but some of the words come out a bit weird. Along with one other person on the boat with Trevor.
This book had me guessing on what made it like an adult version of Treasure Island as I kept on wondering what would the Captain be after on the island that he couldn’t find anywhere else. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time reading this book even though I know that I’ve been reading this book for a while but I couldn’t stop thinking about it the entire time I was away from it wondering what was happening in these people’s lives.
Kira Wells is basically a young woman trying to keep the people of this island that she’s been on since she was a young girl helping her parents with teaching the islanders how to talk in English and trying to keep them safe from outsiders like the Captain destroying their fields. Not only that but she chooses to stay instead of going back to Australia where she is from. I find that all very fascinating and I loved the way that she just right away disliked the Captain and knew that he was there for more than just trading like he said he was.
Doctor Trevor Marshall is basically a young man only being on the ship because he needs to look at plants and things that could help his research on finding cures for different ailments and thinks going on a quest to some different places will do that. He also serves as two different purposes for the Captain which made the Captain hire him instead of having to hire two different people. The two things he can do is one, of course, being a doctor, and two being a botanist. The second one is very helpful for when they get to the island on making sure that fields aren’t messed up by them not taking the proper care of them like the islanders would do and like the other traders have done from before.
This story is not only an adventure one for the whole thing of looking for treasure but also one that is filled with action and romance. The romance one is like any one that involves the girl trying not to accept that she is falling for a handsome stranger but ends up realizing that she does and then having a whirlwind romance that makes them both sad on the day when the other has to leave. Except do they have to end things? You can easily find out by reading the book.
This book is so good that I’m giving it five stars and I loved it a lot. I am glad that I had the opportunity to read this book as it didn’t disappoint me at all.
Anyways until next time please enjoy this review,
Baroness Book Trove.
I was asked to review this book by the publisher for an honest review.
We first come up on it when the male love interest, Dr. Trevor Marshall, is asking the captain of the ship for a job. Then we zoom right off to Kira Wells, the main character of the book, and her island. The thing that had me a bit worried about reading this book is that I don’t really read that many books that are historical fiction and that’s what this book is and in the past when I read historical fiction I stop reading it when I have to stop and figure out what word they would have said in my time. Except in this book it wasn’t like that. Sure some of the words were a bit weird but then my brain immediately knew what word they meant to say since the islanders can speak English since they are learning but some of the words come out a bit weird. Along with one other person on the boat with Trevor.
This book had me guessing on what made it like an adult version of Treasure Island as I kept on wondering what would the Captain be after on the island that he couldn’t find anywhere else. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time reading this book even though I know that I’ve been reading this book for a while but I couldn’t stop thinking about it the entire time I was away from it wondering what was happening in these people’s lives.
Kira Wells is basically a young woman trying to keep the people of this island that she’s been on since she was a young girl helping her parents with teaching the islanders how to talk in English and trying to keep them safe from outsiders like the Captain destroying their fields. Not only that but she chooses to stay instead of going back to Australia where she is from. I find that all very fascinating and I loved the way that she just right away disliked the Captain and knew that he was there for more than just trading like he said he was.
Doctor Trevor Marshall is basically a young man only being on the ship because he needs to look at plants and things that could help his research on finding cures for different ailments and thinks going on a quest to some different places will do that. He also serves as two different purposes for the Captain which made the Captain hire him instead of having to hire two different people. The two things he can do is one, of course, being a doctor, and two being a botanist. The second one is very helpful for when they get to the island on making sure that fields aren’t messed up by them not taking the proper care of them like the islanders would do and like the other traders have done from before.
This story is not only an adventure one for the whole thing of looking for treasure but also one that is filled with action and romance. The romance one is like any one that involves the girl trying not to accept that she is falling for a handsome stranger but ends up realizing that she does and then having a whirlwind romance that makes them both sad on the day when the other has to leave. Except do they have to end things? You can easily find out by reading the book.
This book is so good that I’m giving it five stars and I loved it a lot. I am glad that I had the opportunity to read this book as it didn’t disappoint me at all.
Anyways until next time please enjoy this review,
Baroness Book Trove.
I was asked to review this book by the publisher for an honest review.
July 27, 2016
This story is full of action and romance in a beautiful, exotic setting. My rating 4.0.
Kira grew up to become part of her island tribe after her missionary parents died. She has more caution about the merchant ship sailors who come to the island than the simple island people. This particular ship’s captain is a smooth talker and has brought modern fabrics and equipment to trade in exchange for harvesting some of the bountiful crops on the island. Chief Ariki is willing to trade with Captain Coleman and pushes aside Kira’s warnings.
One of the men from the ship is handsome doctor and botanist, Trevor Marshall. He is awed by the health of the people and the rich quality of the crops. He is also fascinated by the beautiful young woman, Kira. They become friends while she shows him special plants on the island.
Kira discovers Captain Coleman and his officers digging up river and she is more convinced they are up to no good. An unfamiliar blast could be a natural earthquake caused by their volcano but Kira suspects it is man-made. The shake has caused injury to the chief's son who is also husband of Kira's best friend, Malana. Kira’s angry accusations, with no proof, get her banished from the village until the visitors are gone.
Matters turn more dangerous when Kira and Malana discover the real goal of the Captain. Kira is a strong, clever woman who is willing to face the dangers. But how can one woman ward off the evil men before they destroy her island and injure her naïve people?
I liked Kira’s strong character although she is repeatedly impulsive. This of course creates opening for the action and conflict. Trevor is known as a lady’s man so Kira was clearly out of her depth with him. Other than that trait, Trevor is cheerful, likable and honorable. He has a true heart to help people fight disease and he is willing to help Kira if she will let him.
This is the second book I have read by W.E. Lawrence. They are stand-alone stories but have similarities. The young, innocent women get caught up in a very sensual situation with the men who ultimately help ‘save the day’ from danger. I emphasis help, as the women have a strong part in the action against the evil forces. I find the sensuality just close to too strong for my preference although the scenes are really more tastefully intense than graphic.
I enjoyed the historical setting and the nuggets about the primitive, simple life-style. Initially I didn’t understand how Malana could be away from her children so much without her absence being notice but later it is noted that the children are in their teens. The action keeps the story moving at a good pace and makes it an enjoyable adventure romance. I recommend it to readers looking for a quick moving romance with adventure.
I received this title for an honest review.
Kira grew up to become part of her island tribe after her missionary parents died. She has more caution about the merchant ship sailors who come to the island than the simple island people. This particular ship’s captain is a smooth talker and has brought modern fabrics and equipment to trade in exchange for harvesting some of the bountiful crops on the island. Chief Ariki is willing to trade with Captain Coleman and pushes aside Kira’s warnings.
One of the men from the ship is handsome doctor and botanist, Trevor Marshall. He is awed by the health of the people and the rich quality of the crops. He is also fascinated by the beautiful young woman, Kira. They become friends while she shows him special plants on the island.
Kira discovers Captain Coleman and his officers digging up river and she is more convinced they are up to no good. An unfamiliar blast could be a natural earthquake caused by their volcano but Kira suspects it is man-made. The shake has caused injury to the chief's son who is also husband of Kira's best friend, Malana. Kira’s angry accusations, with no proof, get her banished from the village until the visitors are gone.
Matters turn more dangerous when Kira and Malana discover the real goal of the Captain. Kira is a strong, clever woman who is willing to face the dangers. But how can one woman ward off the evil men before they destroy her island and injure her naïve people?
I liked Kira’s strong character although she is repeatedly impulsive. This of course creates opening for the action and conflict. Trevor is known as a lady’s man so Kira was clearly out of her depth with him. Other than that trait, Trevor is cheerful, likable and honorable. He has a true heart to help people fight disease and he is willing to help Kira if she will let him.
This is the second book I have read by W.E. Lawrence. They are stand-alone stories but have similarities. The young, innocent women get caught up in a very sensual situation with the men who ultimately help ‘save the day’ from danger. I emphasis help, as the women have a strong part in the action against the evil forces. I find the sensuality just close to too strong for my preference although the scenes are really more tastefully intense than graphic.
I enjoyed the historical setting and the nuggets about the primitive, simple life-style. Initially I didn’t understand how Malana could be away from her children so much without her absence being notice but later it is noted that the children are in their teens. The action keeps the story moving at a good pace and makes it an enjoyable adventure romance. I recommend it to readers looking for a quick moving romance with adventure.
I received this title for an honest review.
March 25, 2015
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review…
Generally a story categorized as historical fiction or more specifically having a historical setting is not my usual genre, but the book’s description peaked my interest so I accepted the advance copy. After reading it, I would actually classify this book as more of a historical romance, rather than historical fiction. It takes place in the late eighteen hundreds and a focus is placed on a romantic relationship. However, do not be fooled by the romance label because there is much more to the plot than a budding love interest.
The author weaves a fascinating tale incorporating many elements…action, adventure, mystery and yes, of course, romance. The love interest comes into play between Kira and the good doctor, Trevor. I do not usually like to summarize the plot since the reader of a review has more than likely already read the book’s description…but in a nutshell, Kira and Trevor meet on the island of Alofa. Kira lives on the island and has an invested relationship with the natives…she cares deeply for them. Trevor is a doctor who has taken a job on the merchant ship of Captain Evil, I mean Captain Coleman, in hopes of discovering indigenous plants for use in medicines that may lead to a cure for disease.
The merchant ship sets its sights on Alofa. Kira is smart and she knows the islanders are overly trusting and the captain is a possible threat…she is astute to the risk of outsiders and feels the underlying danger from the captain and his crew. However, she is not sure what to think of the handsome botanist/doctor. Trevor is taken with the beautiful and strong Kira from the very beginning. Kira does not know what to think when it comes to the charismatic Trevor and whether she should place her confidence in him and believe that he really has her interests at heart. Will she take the risk and follow her heart and if she does, will her trust be misplaced? You, like me, will have to read it to find out!
For the most part, the story was engaging…in the beginning, there were some technical issues with downloading the author’s provided copy, which made the reading of the book a slower start than usual, but once I got into a reading rhythm, I realized it had nothing to do with the actual writing style or content of the story. The pacing, in general was good…my interest only faltered a few times. Although I enjoyed the descriptive writing, sometimes I wanted to move on with it to the ‘action’ of the story. But I think the descriptiveness was necessary to give the reader a solid visual of the setting and understanding of the characters. It was a solid debut novel. Happy reading!
Generally a story categorized as historical fiction or more specifically having a historical setting is not my usual genre, but the book’s description peaked my interest so I accepted the advance copy. After reading it, I would actually classify this book as more of a historical romance, rather than historical fiction. It takes place in the late eighteen hundreds and a focus is placed on a romantic relationship. However, do not be fooled by the romance label because there is much more to the plot than a budding love interest.
The author weaves a fascinating tale incorporating many elements…action, adventure, mystery and yes, of course, romance. The love interest comes into play between Kira and the good doctor, Trevor. I do not usually like to summarize the plot since the reader of a review has more than likely already read the book’s description…but in a nutshell, Kira and Trevor meet on the island of Alofa. Kira lives on the island and has an invested relationship with the natives…she cares deeply for them. Trevor is a doctor who has taken a job on the merchant ship of Captain Evil, I mean Captain Coleman, in hopes of discovering indigenous plants for use in medicines that may lead to a cure for disease.
The merchant ship sets its sights on Alofa. Kira is smart and she knows the islanders are overly trusting and the captain is a possible threat…she is astute to the risk of outsiders and feels the underlying danger from the captain and his crew. However, she is not sure what to think of the handsome botanist/doctor. Trevor is taken with the beautiful and strong Kira from the very beginning. Kira does not know what to think when it comes to the charismatic Trevor and whether she should place her confidence in him and believe that he really has her interests at heart. Will she take the risk and follow her heart and if she does, will her trust be misplaced? You, like me, will have to read it to find out!
For the most part, the story was engaging…in the beginning, there were some technical issues with downloading the author’s provided copy, which made the reading of the book a slower start than usual, but once I got into a reading rhythm, I realized it had nothing to do with the actual writing style or content of the story. The pacing, in general was good…my interest only faltered a few times. Although I enjoyed the descriptive writing, sometimes I wanted to move on with it to the ‘action’ of the story. But I think the descriptiveness was necessary to give the reader a solid visual of the setting and understanding of the characters. It was a solid debut novel. Happy reading!
November 30, 2016
**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for honest review.**
What a great island adventure with romance on the side!
Kira isn't a native of the island on which she resides, but she still feels a responsibility to protect the land and people who she has grown to love as her own family. When foreign visitors are spotted approaching, she will do anything to make sure that the islanders are not taken advantage of and the crops remain fruitful. The one thing she doesn't realize she may need to protect is her own heart.
Trevor's purpose for hitching a ride on a merchant ship is in order to visit faraway lands. As a doctor who specializes in medicines, he wishes to study unknown plants and research their properties in order to advance current medicine. The island is full of new and exciting discoveries but Trevor's biggest find may not be a 'what', but a 'who'...
With hopes of keeping her keen eye on the visitors, Kira agrees to escort Trevor around the island so he can collect samples for his studies. Along the way, the two begin to enjoy each other's company just as much as the exotic scenery surrounding them. Soon, a love affair begins that heats up the digital pages.
Unfortunately, trouble is brewing on the island. Kira's suspicions about the ship's captain having an ulterior motive for being there just may be correct. She must find a way to prove that the captain is up to no good and fight to keep harm from coming to the people she loves. Dynamite, volcanoes, and malicious sailors are a few of the obstacles standing in Kira's way.
This book was about two-thirds adventure and one-third romance. However, this didn't diminish the story for me, at all. The romantic element was certainly entertaining and the love scenes were nicely done. The adventure kept me guessing and turning the digital pages. There were surprises, a few gut-wrenching moments, and a sweet ending. It was a great read!
In closing...
If you like adventure books with a dash of spicy romance, this might be the one for you. Four suns!
Full review on blog: http://uptildawnbookblog.blogspot.com/2016/11/review-guardian-of-paradise-by-we.html
September 29, 2020
I received this book for review by the author. All opinions are my own.
I really loved the idea that this book presented, which is why I agreed to read it in exchange for a review. However, as I got into the book, I had trouble connecting with the main character, Kira. She is supposed to be this strong female character type, or at least that is how she was portrayed in the first few pages. But as the story progressed, she seemed to be contradicting her character, which rubbed me the wrong way. I love characters that go through change and develop into different people than they were in the beginning, but to revert and completely change one's ideals to contradict oneself so much just didn't appeal to me much.
As Trevor entered the story, you could tell he was the typical 'ladies man.' I had a feeling Kira might be the one who changes that for him. The typical bad boy changed by one girl, in this case Kira. It was an idea that was nice to include, but I just didn't see her as doing that after seeing how her character unfolded as the story went on. Even as an antagonist, Trevor's character was really shady, and there was just something about him that I couldn't stand.
Because of the lack of connection with Kira, and just disliking Trevor as a person, when they became a couple, which is no spoiler since the readers get a feeling about it from the get go, I just disliked the two of them even more. I felt like Kira abandoned her instincts and common sense for Trevor,and somehow missed the fact that the crew was up to no good, which is what she felt at the very beginning.
I'm giving this book 3 stars because of the overall idea and premise of the book. I really think this book has the potential to be better, especially within characterization. And I did enjoy the main concept, the deliver just fell short for me, and because of that it took me forever and a day to get through this novel.
I really loved the idea that this book presented, which is why I agreed to read it in exchange for a review. However, as I got into the book, I had trouble connecting with the main character, Kira. She is supposed to be this strong female character type, or at least that is how she was portrayed in the first few pages. But as the story progressed, she seemed to be contradicting her character, which rubbed me the wrong way. I love characters that go through change and develop into different people than they were in the beginning, but to revert and completely change one's ideals to contradict oneself so much just didn't appeal to me much.
As Trevor entered the story, you could tell he was the typical 'ladies man.' I had a feeling Kira might be the one who changes that for him. The typical bad boy changed by one girl, in this case Kira. It was an idea that was nice to include, but I just didn't see her as doing that after seeing how her character unfolded as the story went on. Even as an antagonist, Trevor's character was really shady, and there was just something about him that I couldn't stand.
Because of the lack of connection with Kira, and just disliking Trevor as a person, when they became a couple, which is no spoiler since the readers get a feeling about it from the get go, I just disliked the two of them even more. I felt like Kira abandoned her instincts and common sense for Trevor,and somehow missed the fact that the crew was up to no good, which is what she felt at the very beginning.
I'm giving this book 3 stars because of the overall idea and premise of the book. I really think this book has the potential to be better, especially within characterization. And I did enjoy the main concept, the deliver just fell short for me, and because of that it took me forever and a day to get through this novel.
May 11, 2016
Guardian of Paradise by W.E. Lawerence is an exotic tale that sweeps readers away into its plot. Action, intrigue, mystery and even romance are all portrayed inside this exciting story. Nature or human…a disaster truly caused by nature has led a woman to live with an island’s native people. All is well until new arrivers come and stir everything up…trust that was once given is now up in the air and those whom should not be trusted are…to find the truth readers will be led, in a race, for evidence, to prove what is most feared by one woman, Kira Wall. Kira finds a great distraction in the human form of a hot sexy and smart man. Trevor Marshall is a scientist. He is looking for cures until he finds Kira and then his only thoughts are of her. Can these two and Kira’s one remaining island friend, Malana, find the answers they need before everything they know and love is destroyed.
W.E. Lawerence is a talented writer whose words leads readers deep into a jungle of secrets, danger, and surprises. Three people out risking their lives to find what they need to prove that the new arrivers are behind destroying their only home and lives. But it’s hard when the new arrivers are good at convincing the chief of the native people to trust them over the three friends. So many times has Kira Wall looked like a fool, now, determined more than before, she will prove that she’s right about the newcomers. I loved following the misunderstandings, the sparks, and the fear of the characters. They made the scenes vivid and real. Guardian of Paradise is definitely one novel readers don’t want to miss. There is everything inside this read, to lure, readers to its pages and keep them lured on the last page. Overall, I highly recommend this adventure novel to readers everywhere.
W.E. Lawerence is a talented writer whose words leads readers deep into a jungle of secrets, danger, and surprises. Three people out risking their lives to find what they need to prove that the new arrivers are behind destroying their only home and lives. But it’s hard when the new arrivers are good at convincing the chief of the native people to trust them over the three friends. So many times has Kira Wall looked like a fool, now, determined more than before, she will prove that she’s right about the newcomers. I loved following the misunderstandings, the sparks, and the fear of the characters. They made the scenes vivid and real. Guardian of Paradise is definitely one novel readers don’t want to miss. There is everything inside this read, to lure, readers to its pages and keep them lured on the last page. Overall, I highly recommend this adventure novel to readers everywhere.
February 16, 2017
Romance is a tricky genre to write. You can't let the two lovers get together too soon or it comes off cliche. All I knew about this book was that it was a historical romantic fiction set on fictitious island and the main character was a child of a missionary.
Turns out, I was not prepared for all this book has to offer, and I'm not just talking about your greatest fantasy island getaway (aqua clear water; lush green landscape; wild animals hidden in the depths).
As you read (if your female), you automatically identify with beautiful, strong-willed twenty six year old main character Kira Wall, who's parents died during her youth when they first came to the island as missionaries from Australia. Her strong-will is immediately seen in the faith she was raised in, knowing that God has a great plan for all that have faith in him and his desire to be good to those that diligently seek him, and heaven is the ultimate reward and all it offers for such faith.
As you read (if your male), you automatically identify with handsome, lady's man Doctor Trevor Marshall, a botanist who hopes to find a natural ingredient on the island that will help humans live longer and stronger while on Earth.
Neither male nor female reader will be able to stop reading the instant Kira and Trevor appear on the same page, and lock eyes for the first time.
Turns out, I was not prepared for all this book has to offer, and I'm not just talking about your greatest fantasy island getaway (aqua clear water; lush green landscape; wild animals hidden in the depths).
As you read (if your female), you automatically identify with beautiful, strong-willed twenty six year old main character Kira Wall, who's parents died during her youth when they first came to the island as missionaries from Australia. Her strong-will is immediately seen in the faith she was raised in, knowing that God has a great plan for all that have faith in him and his desire to be good to those that diligently seek him, and heaven is the ultimate reward and all it offers for such faith.
As you read (if your male), you automatically identify with handsome, lady's man Doctor Trevor Marshall, a botanist who hopes to find a natural ingredient on the island that will help humans live longer and stronger while on Earth.
Neither male nor female reader will be able to stop reading the instant Kira and Trevor appear on the same page, and lock eyes for the first time.
April 7, 2016
I received this book from the author for a review.
The book was slow going at first. To me, it was like Kira was the 'boy who cried wolf' constantly looking for something that even she couldn't find. As soon as the ship was in sight she was seeing duplicity and hadn't even talked to the crew yet. Trevor came off as really smarmy in the beginning but that could be because he had been such a ladies' man before he landed. Every time he would get Kira to do something he wanted, he would be described as getting a self-satisfied look that if he were in front of me in real life, I would find it hard not to slap him.
Somehow with all of this happening Kira and Trevor become a couple. The crew is really up to no good but if Kira wouldn't have been running around [another cautionary tale coming up] like Chicken Little saying 'the sky is falling', the book and the story might have flowed a little better to me.
Overall, it was a pretty good book with a few complaints on my part.
The book was slow going at first. To me, it was like Kira was the 'boy who cried wolf' constantly looking for something that even she couldn't find. As soon as the ship was in sight she was seeing duplicity and hadn't even talked to the crew yet. Trevor came off as really smarmy in the beginning but that could be because he had been such a ladies' man before he landed. Every time he would get Kira to do something he wanted, he would be described as getting a self-satisfied look that if he were in front of me in real life, I would find it hard not to slap him.
Somehow with all of this happening Kira and Trevor become a couple. The crew is really up to no good but if Kira wouldn't have been running around [another cautionary tale coming up] like Chicken Little saying 'the sky is falling', the book and the story might have flowed a little better to me.
Overall, it was a pretty good book with a few complaints on my part.
February 2, 2015
When the large merchant vessel anchored in the bay of the beautiful South Seas Island I could tell that there was going to be trouble. There was the beautiful girl and the sailor who would fall in love with her and together they would save her world. It has been done before except Guardian of Paradise has enough differences to make it an interesting read. Healing lotions, talking birds, animal impressions and rare gems, the action got heavy and then very steamy at times. Overall Guardian of Paradise was an enjoyable book to read.
March 20, 2016
The Guardian of Paradise is set on the island of Alofa in the South Pacific, and the author does an incredible job of describing the scenery. It’s important to me to be able to visualize the backdrop of a story early on, and from the very first chapter, I felt like I had a good idea of what the island must have been like, as well as the culture of the natives.
The writing style is easy to follow, and the story unfolds at just the right pace. Guardian of Paradise comes with a collection of interesting characters and is an excellent read for anyone who enjoys a historical romance.
The writing style is easy to follow, and the story unfolds at just the right pace. Guardian of Paradise comes with a collection of interesting characters and is an excellent read for anyone who enjoys a historical romance.
April 21, 2016
I enjoyed reading Guardian of Paradise by W.E. Lawrence because the plot felt fresh and the characters felt real during the course of the book. Kira is a strong willed and smart woman who fights for what she believes in, even if those closest to her do not agree, while Trevor is charismatic and caring. I would recommend this book to fans of adventure and romance.
For my full review, please go to: http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/view...
For my full review, please go to: http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/view...
March 12, 2017
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. Guardian of Paradise is set in 1888, Kira Wall is the orphaned child of missionaries brought up by local people on an isolated island in the South Pacific. The arrival of an Australian merchant ship is the catalyst to the story, as Kira’s world unfolds against a backdrop of drama, romance, and discovery. More than happy to recommend this well-crafted and enjoyable read.
April 9, 2015
A mysterious island draws the attention of some dubious characters. I thought the concept was interesting and it drew me in immediately. The writing is good but rough in the beginning. I liked that Kira was outspoken and spunky. The beginning was shaky but the story got better. Some of the book was very erotic and other parts had some exciting adventure. 4 stars.
June 8, 2021
Enjoyed this story. Would like to read another one by this author.
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