SURRENDER THE HEART by MaryLu Tyndall

MaryLu Tyndall has done it again! She has created another great story on the open seas. It takes place as we begin the War of 1812. Marianne Denton is being made to marry a man she has known since childhood, and has disliked the whole time, so that she can get her inheritance to save her mother's life. Noah Brenin is being forced into this marraige by his family for the money, even though he also has despised Marianne all these years. At their engagement party Noah must leave to sail his cargo to England before war breaks out. Marianne chases him to his ship in anger and outrage at his leaving "their" party. What happens that finds Marianne sailing to England with Noah and how she finds ways of getting him to turn the ship around was amusing to me. But when one of her "tricks" gets them taken as prisoners of the British navy it turns ugly and dangerous for all involved.
I appreciated the struggles Marianne and Noah were both going through throughout this story. Letting go of the past, forgiveness, seeing God for who He really is; all these were important themes throughout this story. I felt the boy they both encounter named Daniel; he had the answers they were searching for. He taught them about ones destiny. It is easier for people to think of God as "aloof and distant" than that He has a plan, a destiny for each of us, if we would just accept the good with the bad and trust Him for the way He will work all things out for our good.
This was a great story, and I am anxious to read the next book in this series. I would like to thank Barbour Publishing and MaryLu Tyndall for sending me a copy for review! Keep up the good work!