The Call of the Sea ~ Review

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Call of the Sea by Sian Ann Bessey, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

The Call of the Sea
By Sian Ann Bessey

Rhiannon ferch Iorwerth has always been drawn to the sea but what once gave her comfort is the source of her great sorrow when Vikings take the life of her father during a raid upon her home. 

Lief loved his time on the sea, but when his raiding party took the life of a young woman's father, unrest became his constant companion. Soon questions about his family's past had him seeking answers to questions that were impossible to discover where he was.

The Call of the Sea is a historically based piece of fiction that has a depth to it that brings the story to life. The story is set in twelfth-century Ireland and Wales. I always love when historical fiction provides me with something I didn't previously know, and in the case of this book, I wasn't aware of Ireland's close ties with Vikings. 

This book has a little bit of everything - romance, mystery, betrayal, and forgiveness. There are moments when your heart will break as loss comes, and then you'll be silently cheering on as the moment of truth arrives. I've read a couple of books in the past that have had Vikings as pivotal characters within the story, but this is by far the best that I have had the chance to read. And Sian Ann Bessey's writing is excellent - strong storyline, compelling characters, and good pacing. I highly recommend it.  This book would be an excellent book club suggestion, in my opinion.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion ~ All thoughts expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: The Call of the Sea 

Author: Sian Ann Bessey 

Publisher: Covenant Communications 

Release Date: November 1, 2022 

Genre: Inspirational Historical/Viking Romance

On the eve of her betrothal to a nobleman she’s never met, Rhiannon seeks comfort on the shores of the sea she loves so well. But instead of offering peace to her uneasy heart, the ocean heralds doom with the arrival of dreaded Viking ships. A vicious raid leads to the death of her beloved father and leaves Rhiannon’s life in tatters. Heartbroken, she travels to Ynys Môn, where she takes up residence at the royal court of Owain Gwynedd.

Leif loves voyaging on the open water. As the son of a Viking chief, he’s accustomed to his people’s practice of plundering and looting. But when one of his companions ruthlessly kills an old man in front of the man’s beautiful daughter, Leif is haunted by the memory. Desperate to find forgiveness for the atrocity he allowed to occur, he’s offered a chance at redemption through the kindly teachings of an Irish priest and the unexpected arrival of a royal fugitive. Suddenly thrust into the midst of the Cymry’s political turmoil, Leif is reunited with the dead man’s daughter—Rhiannon. Forced to work side by side to uncover the truth behind the turmoil, they come to discover that love can grow from even the most tragic of beginnings. But with such incompatible backgrounds, surely a future together can never be theirs.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

---

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sian Ann Bessey was born in Cambridge, England, but grew up on the island of Anglesey off the coast of North Wales. She left her homeland to attend university in the U.S. and earned a bachelor's degree in communications with a minor in English.

She began her writing career as a student, publishing several magazine articles while still in college. Since then she has published historical romance and romantic suspense novels, along with a variety of children's books. She is a USA Today best selling author, a Foreward Reviews Book of the Year finalist, and a Whitney Award finalist.

Although Sian doesn't have the opportunity to speak Welsh very often anymore, she can still wrap her tongue around, "Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch." She loves to travel and experience other cultures, but when she's home, her favorite activities are spending time with her family, cooking, and reading.

Connect with Sian by visiting sianannbessey.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

---

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of The Call of the Sea, 
a $25 Amazon Gift Card, a swag bundle 

(including stickers, bookmark, button, and cross necklace), 

a virtual book club kit, 

and an ebook of The Heart of the Rebellion.

The full tour schedule is linked below. 
The giveaway begins at midnight on October 31, 2022, and 

will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 7, 2022. 

The winner will be notified within 2 weeks of the close of the giveaway 

and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of the prize. 

US only. 

Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

The giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

---

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!