Oh, the way these books end! Argh LOL! It's like a season finale cliff hanger of your favorite TV show... Just when the main plot of the book gets resolved (thank you, Ms. Dacus!), a major plot point for the next book takes off while you turn the last page. Hungry for the next book? Yes, please! ( )

Maybe it is because Charlotte is my daughter's name. Maybe it's because Charlotte Doyle is the first character is a book that made me love reading and become a book-a-holic from age twelve. Maybe it is because Charlotte Ransome also known as Charles Lott is just an incredible character. Whatever the reason, I thoroughly enjoyed my adventure through this second journey in the life of the Ransome family and cannot wait for the third book in the series, Ransome's Quest coming July 2011.

I was about twelve years old when I discovered The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi. I was swept away on an adventure in the life of a teenage Charlotte to be working as a boy on a ship across the ocean. Now true that was not exactly the plot, but that is what I remember. Yet in this story, we truly get a Charlotte who purposefully pretended to be a male Charles Lott to get herself across the ocean to Jamaica. Different destination, but oh such a delightful story. (So much better than my childhood favorite).

Through out the entire tale, I could not turn the pages fast enough. I struggled with what I would do in the situations that were faced by both Charlotte and Julia. I became nervous during the storms at sea and held out hope for romance. Each chapter was a delight and entertaining. What an adventure and beauty on the page. I love just about everything I have read from Kaye Dacus and I'm always eager for more!!

*Thanks to Harvest House Publishers for providing a copy for review through FIRST Wild Card Tours and also to Jeane Wynn of Wynn Wynn Media.* ( )

"Ransome's Crossing" is the second book of the Ransome Trilogy. Without reading the first book, I wasn't sure how lost I'd be. I was delighted to find that this could be read as a stand alone, but there were references made back to what happened in the previous book that made me wish I had read it - not so much because I needed to, but because it sounded like I really missed a good book!

This was an exciting and delightful story. Charlotte Ransome is a young woman who is determined to sail from England to Jamaica to marry a man she was forbidden to see. She disguises herself as a teenage boy and ends up becoming a midshipman in a fleet of ships that her brother commands.

Charlotte is a strong woman who holds her own with a crew of tough men. She is smart, exciting, and very determined. She finds herself growing and maturing with each challenge she faces. I loved her character and her attitude!!

Kaye Dacus has a masterful way with spinning a tale. She touched on problems and challenges that I would never have considered a midshipman would deal with. She pulls you into the story, and holds you there until the very last page. My only complaint is that I NEED to get the next book to see what happens next, and the first book ("Ransome's Honor") to see what started this all.

I highly recommend this book!! ( )