Blog Tour: By Love or By Sea -- Rachel Rager

Today I am reviewing "By Love or By Sea", the newest romance novel by Rachel Rager.

From the back cover of the book:

Alice Lind Frank never forgot the boy she loved when she was just six years old, even after he was lost at sea. Now a young woman, Alice has found happiness in living and working with her grandparents, and in the affections of Clarence Hielott, the wealthy shipyard owner who intends to make Alice his bride.

When a ragged sailor appears in town, Alice is reminded of the young boy who once held her heart. Upon learning that the sailor is in fact her childhood love, Caleb, she finds herself falling for him again.

But Clarence refuses to let this ghost from the past destroy his plans for the future. He exposes the secrets of Caleb's past, and Alice realizes that the boy she once knew is a man with a dark history. Soon Caleb and Clarence are locked in a fierce competition for Alice's heart.

A critical eye:

"By Love or By Sea" is a fun, light read. It's the kind of book I enjoy reading when I want an evening to myself to escape reality. The plot was well-paced, flowed smoothly, and had a gratifying ending.

As a writer myself, I always read things from a writers perspective. Because I am always learning more about the writing craft, I tend to notice things in books that I am working on myself.

Rachel Rager is a very talented author. Her characterization is unique, and her descriptions very vivid. Early in the book I felt as if I knew the main characters and it was easy to place myself in the setting of the story.

However, I felt the book was somewhat hard to get into, but after a few chapters, it definitely held my attention. At first, I was unsure how old the main characters were or what time period the story took place.

Overall, "By Love or By Sea" was an entertaining read and I would recommend it to anyone interested in clean, sweet romances. I look forward to future books by Rachel. If you'd like to know more about Rachel, visit her blog or website. I'll also be posting an interview with her in the next couple of days. Her book can be purchased from Cedar Fort, or online from Amazon.

For more reviews, see other blogs participating in this tour:

September 28 - Jaimey Grant
September 29 - Kaylee Baldwin
September 30 - Cindy Beck
October 2 - Alison Palmer
October 3 - Joann Arnold
October 5 - Rebecca Talley
October 6 - Anna Arnett
October 7 - Heather Justensen
October 8 - Rachelle Christensen
October 9 - Joyce DiPastena


Title: By Love or By Sea
Author: Rachel Rager
Website: http://www.rachelrager.com/
Blog: http://rachelrager.blogspot.com/
Genre: Fiction/Romance/Historical
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc
ISBN: 978-1-59955-221-7
Format: Trade Paperback, 206 pages