The Reliance: Legacy of the King's Pirates #2

M.L. Tyndall
Barbour Books (2007)
ISBN 1597893609
Reviewed by Stephanie Rollins for Reader Views (2/07)

M.L. Tyndall’s “Reliance” is the follow-up to “The Redemption.”  Though the reader will be able to read one without the other without missing a beat, I recommend reading both to fully grasp the depth of all characters. 

In the Reliance, Charlisse and Merrick are married.  He is a pirate and a former bad-boy.  She is a sweet girl-next-door type.  Throughout “The Reliance” both Charlisse and Merrick have to face trials.  These trials often test their faith in God only to make their faith stronger. 

“The Reliance” is packed with drama.  Some of the characters face unwanted pregnancies, difficult pregnancies, and miscarriages.  A few of the females have to prove their competency to the men.  Charlisse and Merrick must decide how to balance their need for authority in order to become a partnership.  A character is raped.  There are kidnappings and other horrible “blasted” situations. 

Charlisse witnesses to a fellow captive, trying to convince her that God is on their side.  In a few spots it borderlines preachy, but you must admire Charlisse’s determination and faith.

Charlisse has to find courage to command the ship, a job always for the manly-man types.  She silently questions her capability.  “Yes, who do you think you are?  You can’t command this ship.  You’re nothing but a scared little girl.” 

There are lines that just cracked me up.  “Yes, I do believe you shall live out your days warming the bed of a fat, old, flatulent man.”  The mental image is disgusting as well as hilarious.  What a horrible thing to wish upon someone. 

In a hostile situation, Charlisse tells a group of angry pirates, “I’ll have you know, sir, this is Captain Edmund Merrick, the most notorious pirate on the Caribbean.”  Merrick tries to quiet her, because “With more enemies among pirates than friends, he doubted that information would aid their cause.”  The humor is tightly spun amid the drama.

Charlisse demands that the pirates bathe daily and change clothes weekly.  This really upsets the pirates, because they fear that they may become gentlemen.  M.L. Tyndall describes their stench to the point that the reader can imagine it.  Tyndall describes the stench and behavior of a prostitute.  “The woman burped and snuggled against his chest.  Her brazen fingers inched inside his shirt.”  “…the scent of liquor and sweat rose from the woman…”

“The Reliance” is a Christian-based novel that is full of excitement and drama.  This is a great book for anyone needing an escape from reality.  I recommend both “The Redemption” and “The Reliance.”

Make comment on weblog