Seaswept Abandon

McClellan Brothers #2

by Jo Goodman

Courier to the Colonies Becomes Hot Lover and Cold Killer in Seaswept Abandon, by Jo Goodman

1781 London, England and the Colonies of Virginia and New York

When the alluring green-eyed Rae McClellan agreed to be a courier for the Colonies, she never dreamed that on her very first mission she'd coldly kill one man—hotly love another—and land on the private schooner of a British sympathizer.

Jericho Smith never lacks for a willing woman, but when his gaze locks with Rae's, he knows no other will satisfy him this night. He's also mistaken his contact for a wench, igniting a mutual passion that's about to prove costly for them both.

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: For fans of Jo Goodman we bring you one of her earliest books freshly edited by Jo Goodman herself for today's readers. Enjoy!

AWARDS:
Best Romance 2011 – Library Journal
Best Romance, All About Romance 2008 Annual Reader Poll
Romantic Times Career Achievement Award
#5 in the Top 100 Romances of All Time, Dear Author.


REVIEWS:
“A perfect treat for readers who enjoy smart, sensual love stories à la Amanda Quick.” – Book List
“A tender, engaging romance and a dash of risk in a totally compelling read.” – Library Journal


THE MCCLELLANS, in series order
Crystal Passion
Seaswept Abandon
Tempting Torment

THE HAMILTON FAMILY, in series order
More Than You Know
More Than You Wished

THE COMPASS CLUB, in series order
Let Me Be The One
Everything I Ever Wanted
All I Ever Needed
Beyond A Wicked Kiss

THE DENNEHY SISTERS, in series order:
Only My Love
My Heart's Desire
Forever in My Heart
Always in My Dreams
Only in My Arms

THE MARSHALL BROTHERS, in series order:
Her Defiant Heart
His Heart's Revenge

THE THORNE BROTHERS TRILOGY, in series order:
My Steadfast Heart
My Reckless Heart
With All My Heart

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, American Revolutionary War, Historical Fiction, American, Espionage

468 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

To find characters to illustrate my first family saga, I cut out models from the Sears catalogue. I was in fourth grade, but it was a start. In seventh grade I wrote a melodrama about two orphan sisters, one of whom was pregnant. There was also a story about a runaway girl with the unlikely name of Strawberry and one about mistaken identities and an evil blind date. My supportive, but vaguely concerned parents, sighed with relief when I announced I was going to write children's books. They bought me an electric typewriter and crossed their fingers, but somehow PASSION'S BRIDE came out. No one was really surprised.
I graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry and some notion that I would do marine research. Years of competitive swimming didn't help me anticipate seasickness. A career change seemed in order. I began working with adolescents and families, first as a childcare worker and later, after graduating from West Virginia University with a master's degree in counseling, as a therapist. I am currently the executive director of a child caring/mental health agency and find my work and my writing often compliment each other. One grounds me in reality and the other offers a break from it.

Reviews

[Cecilyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at about 1/3rd in. It had a big ick from me when the MMC smacked the FMC. Also, the way others treated the FMC was so demeaning (they treated her as if she was a brainless twat). There isn't much redeeming here.

[vaneeta naik · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Jo Goodman's, Crystal Passion d 1st book in dis series i wanted to read "Seaswept Abandon" as i so much loved d character of Smith dat i wanted to read his story ... Jo didnt disappoint she scripted d storyline superbly...
Jerico smith is a spy for d colonies though he has his roots hidden in English soils ... he is a scared to emotionally get invovled with anyone as he has suffered too much in his past.... Rahab (Rae) McClellan is d sister of Salem & wants to get involved in the American Revolution but is not allowed to help by her family ...
Thus d story begins how she gets involve with d help of her S-I-L Ashley , meets Jericho who saves her life . Both of dem go through mistrust, hate ,insecurity ,hardships but in d aftermath love conquers all.
It was a bit predictable but Jo goodman did a excellent job her penmanship is excellent ... the plot is well developed ,well written ...it is fast paced not boring at all ... there is intrigue, suspense, adventure , action, Romance , Sex all d ingredients dat make a good book worth reading...I loved d character of Jericho ...he is a cool , collected, sensible ,honourable whereas Rahab's character comes out as a spoilt, headstrong at times, immature , arrogant & stubborn ...still Jo has balanced there dissimilarities very nicely . Only thing is d book is unneccesesarily lengthy , descriptions & thoughts could be cut short & avoided...overall was a good read...

"I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review."

[Regan Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slightly Improbable but At Times Exciting Story set in the time of the Revolutionary War

The story begins in New York sometime during the Revolutionary War (no date is given but it was before Yorktown so I’d estimate 1781-82). Rahab McClellan (Rahab, as in the name of the prostitute in the city of Jericho in the Bible story) is living with her brother, Salem, and his wife Ashley. Knowing Rahab wants to be involved in the war, Ashley sends her sister-in-law to a tavern to carry a message to a man working for the rebels. Rahab is delighted, no matter the danger. Which is characteristic of this heroine… she is reckless.

The only women in the tavern are whores servicing the Redcoats, which seems an unlikely place for a lady to be delivering messages. When Rahab takes on the role of a serving wench (not a part of the plan) and the bartender suggests she make her appearance more alluring for the customers, she complies. While serving customers, she knifes one who tries to grab her, killing him. When the men in the tavern threaten her, she is saved by a man named Jericho (yep, same city) Smith. Jericho is actually the guy who was waiting for the courier who he thought would be Ashley.

Jericho takes Rahab to General Washington’s schooner, which is oddly devoid of any crew. There she suddenly comes down with a case of amnesia and can’t remember who she is. She and Jericho fight like cats and dogs. Jericho tells her she is a whore and she accepts it. (Are you still with me?) Of course they are attracted to each other. And, not surprisingly, given all this, Jericho thinks he’ll have a quick tumble with her. After all, she is a whore, right? She certainly sheds her clothes like one.

About a third of the way through the story we begin to get a sense that there’s a war going and the characters get briefly involved in it. And then the story moves to England and the war is forgotten. There, we discover that Jericho is actually Goeffrey Hunter-Smythe, the Earl of Stanhope and he intends to recover his title.

Readers might note this reads like a Regency with terms of that period (pelisse, set down, missish, sirrah, etc.). Once the story moves to England, it seems to fit.

The author writes well and the story, while a bit improbable, has many twists and turns. The heroine is at times the gentle lady and at times the curse-spewing shrew. Hard to know the real woman. I did not read the first book in this series. Since this story refers to other characters and the first book, I would suggest reading the series in order:

Crystal Passion
Seaswept Abandon
Tempting Torment

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read Crystal Passion, I was looking forward to reading this book, expecting more high adventure and events around the Revolution. The book started off well and the attraction between Rae and Jericho was well portrayed. Certainly Rae was Jericho's equal in every way. However, it seemed that the author tried to pack too many plots into one story and at the end of it, one isn't sure whether the book focused on the War of Independence, Rae and Jericho's abduction or Jericho fighting for his rights. Their meeting with Ashley's nemesis brings further twists to the tale. Being of a squeamish disposition, I found the events in the book, and in particular the brutality against Rae, difficult to handle although other readers may have tougher nerves. The book is well written with a good flow of language, despite my aversion to the darkness it portrayed. It forms part of a series, but is nevertheless a standalone and comes to a satisfactory, albeit melancholy conclusion. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

OM Goodness! What a novel. From the start we were off and running. I loved this one over the 1st book Crystal Passion and it was great also. In Seaswept Abandon, the main characters are Rahab McClellan (Salem's sister from book 1) and Jericho Smith (friend, comrade in arms, to Salem and his brothers). They clash most of the time in this story because they are so much alike but come to love one another. Not much is known about Jericho Smith from the first book but you find out his whole story in this one. Also, Nigel, the evil duke, in book 1 plays a part in this story as well. I don't want to give anything away so you will have to read for yourself. I don't think you will be disappointed.
Note: I do want to add that I felt this novel as being two books in one.... one half in America, the second half in England.

[Trudy Monk · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is kind of like pride and prejudice
Set in Victorian times where they have a lot of detail in the way of their physicality with a manner of speaking that is quite proper
On each page, the font size is about six so that should tell you how much is written in this bulky 439+ page book

I don’t really enjoy these , but I can tell a lot of care went into this, it was probably published around 25 years ago or reprinted, and made a 1986.

Find diagram around the first pages before the book starts. There is a family tree of who was adopted or who is together and in which location.

This is a romance book genre

17-

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a most entertaining read, one that will keep you reading until the end. There was plenty of adventurous moments on both sides of the Atlantic. The two main characters, Rahab and Jericho have a number of encounters, not all are pleasant. By reading book 1 in this trilogy, the background to the characters will be clearer. I look forward to reading the next in the series. I received a copy from eBooks Discovery and have voluntarily and honestly reviewed it.

[Gia Monet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in a trilogy and to understand the motivations of the characters, it is important to start with the first book. A riveting tale of love during the Revolutionary War set in both the colonies and England. Couldn't put it down. I received this book for free from dBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was better paced than the first book in the series but although I liked Smith the level of violence he displays towards Rae was unacceptable. Other books by Jo Goodman are better. Nigel is a very well drawn.

[merilie Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seaswept Abandon

I have this book a 5 🌟 review because it has an interesting plot that draws you in and makes you want to continue reading until the end. I loved Smith, he was flawed but his back story was definitely sad.

[Sharon Sparkes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok

Good story but I found for one of the first times ever I did not really like the one of the main characters. I found Rae very difficult to like for most of the book. It was only at the end when she finally listened to Jericho that things went well.

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great love story

I enjoyed this book because I love history. That has always been my favorite in books too. As I said before my late husband was a sailor with US Navy and I like to read those too.

[Carol Whittenbarger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book.

Very well written it kept me guessing what was next. I will have a ready bought the first book of this series a will have to read it next.

[Ron Van Diest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written book

A very well written book. It was a pleasure to follow the adventures of Jericho and Red. I will definitely read more books by this author.L

[Valerie Stout · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting historical background of the American Revolution era.

[Virginia Tican · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Good read from one of the genre's more solid and dedicated writers. This is more than a Romance for it also deals with the thrills and drama, the crimes of the petty garden variety villains to the insidious malevolence of the more noble ones of the ton (yet no less depraved and dastardly than the common greedy kidnapper and murderer for gain). In other words, it is a roller coaster ride to the depths and heights of adventure. This also deals with some dark moments for our main characters that lend credibility to a violent act, not to condone, but to show that these things happen... and forgiveness is the condescension of the victim.

P.S. "I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review."

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

These two characters and in the thick of things from the moment they run into one another. Rae lost her memory early on which created all the situations for these two to get to know one another that would not have happened if either knew who she really was. Much later, Rae told a stranger that she was her sister-in-law and was kidnapped for it. Fortunately, Jericho was also taken as labor for the ship to sail back to England. Then there is a whole new round of adventures in England.

[Maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A long and involved read here. Rae wants to be of some help to the Americans in the fight against the British and feeling somewhat downtrodden and in a rut because she can't. She's staying with Salem and Ashley (who are very much involved) and is excited to get the chance to prove her mettle when Ashley asks her to deliver a message. Things don't go as planned and she ends up on a ship with Jericho Smith with no memory of who she is. And he thinks she's a whore at first and then later a spy. Fast forward quite a bit and they're sort of in love but estranged and they're mistakenly kidnapped and taken to England to the Duke of Linfield under the mistaken belief that she's Ashley and he's Salem. Both are looking at it as an opportunity to finally end his pursuit of Ashley, but Jericho wants to protect Rae and more than anything, Rae wants to prove that she's independent and capable.

It started out well enough I think I liked Jericho, even though he was sort of an ass at the start. He really did treat Rae like crap and if she hadn't had amnesia, Rae would never have gone for his attitude. Rae I had a bit more trouble liking. As much as she wanted to have the freedom of a man, she was subject to the emotional whims of her double X-chromosomes. Who else would cry when Jericho stopped having sex with her when he found that she was a virgin? She actually got pissed that he was trying to be kind and was angry that he'd stopped! And the lashing out she gives her family while trying to recover her memory. And the TSTL way she tries to give her life more importance by sticking around the Duke's home in the capacity of a maid despite many warnings as to the danger she is in. It's not that I hate heroines that want to be independent and useful, but I can't respect a heroine who is completely blind to the amount of danger she's putting herself in or that she honestly believes she can defend herself against those dangers.

And so the strangest of things happens... Jericho, in anger, hurt and a desire to make her see how defenseless she really is, rapes Rae. I don't condone his actions at all. Really. But for some strange reason, I found myself with very little anger towards him. And he grovelled quite well, but I'm still surprised she forgave him as quickly as she did. Also strangely enough, though I don't believe she deserved what he did, I wanted his warnings to be proven correct. I wanted her to find herself in danger and realize that she should have listened. It seems she just rubbed me the wrong way. And maybe equally as frustrating is that after all that posturing, she didn't really get a chance to prove that she could take care of herself, because Jericho once again saves the day. Oh, and I really hate that she wouldn't turn away from her purpose for the sake of the man she loved, but as soon as she finds out she's pregnant she's planning her escape. Argh.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rae McClellan wants more than anything to help the Colonies and seizes on the chance to become a courier. She never expected to meet the alluring Jericho Smith, a Continental spy, and get caught up in his arms.

I really liked Rae a lot, she had a fiery personality and strong will of what was right and wrong. She fought for those she loved and what she believed in without any reservations about the consequences to herself. Jericho was an okay character, I personally did not like him one way or another, I did not think that they meshed well.

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colonial

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

the 'sweet valley high' reading girl grew up, hehehe.

[Dana_h]

Seaswept Abandon (Zebra Historical Romance) by Jo Goodman (2000)

[Gladys · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best historical romance I've ever read. :)