Book Review: The Pirate Queen by Patricia Hickman

Treasure is found in the most unlikely places.
The envy of all her friends, wife and mother Saphora Warren is the model of southern gentility and accomplishment. She lives in a beautiful Lake Norman home, and has raised three capable adult children. Her husband is a successful plastic surgeon--and a philanderer. It is for that reason that, after hosting a garden party for Southern Living magazine, Saphora packs her bags to escape the trappings of the picturesque-but-vacant life.

Saphora’s departure is interrupted by her husband Bender’s early arrival home, and his words that change her life forever: I’m dying.
 
Against her desires, Saphora agrees to take care of Bender as he fights his illness. They relocate, at his insistance, to their coastal home in Oriental—the same house she had chosen for her private getaway. When her idyllic retreat is overrun by her grown children, grandchildren, townspeople, relatives, and a precocious neighbor child, Saphora’s escape to paradise is anything but the life she had imagined. As she gropes for evidence of God's presence amid the turmoil, can she discover that the richest treasures come in surprising packages?

Initially, I had a hard time getting into this novel.  At first, I couldn't get past the names of "Saphora" and "Bender."  Really.  Their uptight names mirrored their uptight personalities.  Bender, a successful plastic surgeon was arrogant, flashy with his money and not obliged in keeping his marriage vows.  Saphora, the dutiful wife, kept a smile on her face while keeping up with a wealthy lifestyle.  We meet her during a photo shoot for Southern Living Magazine at her home.  Saphora seemed to trade her dignity for the life of ease.  There comes a time when enough is enough.  After being confronted with smiles and kindness from one of Bender's mistresses, Saphora packed her bags and planned to leave her husband, escaping to their vacation home in coastal North Carolina.  But Bender's uncharacteristic early arrival home thwarts Saphora's escape.  And what he tells her turns her life upside down--he has cancer.

The beginning of the story seemed cold and clinical.  Yet as I kept reading, I started to see warmth emerge.  I'm not sure if it was the author's writing style or that I became so engrossed with the characters that as their hearts softened, I began to warm up to them.

The couple decided to spend time together at their vacation home amongst the comings and goings of their children, their grandchildren and a special neighbor boy.  Through this time of Bender's treatment, and removal from their pretentious life, the couple explores their relationship, and as death becomes a reality, regrets are expressed.  We see Saphora become more independent and sure of herself, a long way from the silent, dutiful wife we first met.

This is a Christian fiction novel where the couple is not Christian.  It is not until the reality of death closes around does Bender consider the possibility of an afterlife.  Hickman uses flawed characters expressing that anyone can come to Christ, no matter their past.  This novel is non-preachy and the main focus is not of Christianity, but the characters.  It is a nice step away from formalistic Christian novels and a pleasure to see.  Unless you're completely turned off by anything Christian, I think anyone who enjoys women's fiction will enjoy this one.

Title: The Pirate Queen
Author: Patricia Hickman
Publication Year: 2010
Publisher: WaterBrook Multnomah
Source: Blogging for Books
ISBN: 9781400072002
Rating: 3.75/5
Recommend? Yes

It Has Been Awhile

I took an unplanned break from blogging.  The month of December has been hectic in so many ways, none of them to do with the busyness of the season.  So reading and blogging was put aside, and honestly, it was a nice break.

December started out typical, but soon some unexpected extended family drama erupted.  Unfortunately, the dynamics of my in-law's family are, in my opinion, unusual and push me to my limits.  Issues that arise in a typical family setting that would not factor in my life, seems to in this one.  Family drama that results, as all drama, from selfishness and those who continually pull the wool over their eyes.  This is pushing for me to move back home sooner rather than later.  And we'll be working on it.

Then, we were able to get my mom a last minute ticket to come up for Christmas.  This always makes me happy, and was a bit unexpected as we've been looking for tickets for a little while and the prices were crazy.  I finally found a date combination that worked and I was able to spend two weeks with my mom.  And usually when she's up, I find myself lazy instead of productive.  I suspect it's because I have an extra set of hands to love on the kids that I take the time to just relax.  I did manage to get my oven cleaned.  Having her here also makes me realize how much I really miss home.

This break has made me really wonder where I want to go with this blog, how much energy I want to put into to it and how much of the little time I have I want to put towards it.  I'm beginning my first university class in two years tomorrow so my free time will be dwindled.  Yet, I don't want to give up on blogging.  At this point, I've decided to continue with my blog, but scale down.  I can see how people can become so involved in their blog and the blogging world.  My time down made me realize that I really enjoyed the time away from the computer, my blog and the unexpected "pressure" of getting something read and reviewed.

So at this moment, I'm not gone, but I may not be completely here, either.  All books that I have for review will be reviewed and posted, along with my general reads.  But at this time, I will not accept any requests for further review.  I plan on participating in my book challenges, but not pushing myself to complete them.  Because the world isn't going to end if I don't . . .

Happy New Year, everyone!  I hope this is the year we all focus on things that really matter!