This is a story of ships, bays, history and romance. It’s set during the late 18th century, so about the fourth and fifth books of the Poldark series if you read those. A deserter from a Dutch prize finds sanctuary in a secluded part of the Pembrokeshire coast, thanks in no small part to Nesta Meredith, the daughter of the local precentor, and Jerome Salt, a friend of the precentor’s. The three of them become entangled in secrecy and danger, particularly when the deserter, Martin Tyrrell, is found to be running from an arrest warrant. Can his name be cleared and his neck saved from the gallows?

This is precisely the kind of book to read while one is in lockdown; it’s an absorbing read, with just the right amount of details and changes in scenery to keep things interesting, and a pace at once cozy and page-turning. I am not terribly romantic but love these sorts of books where you know everyone’s going to get just what they deserve: there are some dashing heroes, resourceful friends and comeuppances for the bad guys. This one doesn’t seem to be as well known as Broster’s Jacobite trilogy, but I found this a very fine read. ( )

http://only2rs.wordpress.com/2006/06/05/shiver-me-timbers-ships-in-the-bay-dk-br... ( )