Prophecies and Promises by Alana Lorens

 When the ‘good’ man is bad, and the ‘bad’ man is good, how’s a young woman to choose?

 About the Book: Tamsyn McKiernan thinks her dreams have come true. She’s engaged to a dashing Key West bachelor and finally in her widowed father’s good graces. But in her heart, she knows something’s wrong. She loves the ocean and the quiet pleasures of nature—so what does the aristocratic life she’ll lead truly hold for her? 

Mercenary captain Drake Ashton is neck deep in preparations for the Spanish-American War, running guns and other supplies to Cuban natives who want out from under their Spanish masters. He and his brother Freddie risk their lives daily, focused on saving his friends on the island. Nothing else matters but his mission.

A chance encounter with a spiny sea urchin brings the two together, and neither of their lives will ever be the same again.

 Our Review: One of the strengths of this historical romance—and there are many—is the author’s talent for describing the setting. From page one the reader is thrust into Key West at the turn of the century, basking in the lush tropics, period dress, and delicious foodstuffs. An additional treat, for those on the lookout for learning something new about history is a well-grounded sense of the social and political strife leading to the Spanish American War. Well done, Ms. Lorens. Very well done.

 On a scale of 1-5, Prophecies and Promises deserves a 7.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews