Review: "Veil of Pearls" by MaryLu Tyndall

Reviewed by Katie McCurdy for Legacy of a Writer

THE BOOKS:

About Veil of Pearls

Be swept away to Charleston of 1811, a city bustling with immigrants like Adalia, who is a runaway slave so light-skinned that no one guesses her past. Terrified her secret will be discovered, she settles into a quiet life making herbal remedies for a local doctor.

But when Morgan, the handsome son of a prominent family, sweeps her into his glamorous world—a world in which the truth about Adalia’s heritage would ruin them both—suspicions and petty jealousies are aroused. What will Morgan do when he discovers that the woman he has fallen in love with is a runaway slave?

What I Loved

At first, I was a tad hesitant. Maybe even a little bit squeamish. Knowing from the book description that Adalia was a runaway slave made me wonder how Tyndall was going to handle the racial prejudices of the period.

I worried for nothing. =)

The sweeping grandeur of the world to which Morgan introduces Adalia was breathtaking and beautiful. No wonder she was tempted to hide who she was in order for a chance at it all. Still I liked that she remained nervous around her new acquaintances and never felt completely at home. As an introvert who likes to people-watch, Adalia's feeling out-of-place instead of becoming this socially competent debutante made me like her a lot more.

And Morgan! I really enjoyed how he handled himself with decorum at all the social events, only because he had never known different. His growth throughout the book was compelling. Watching him go from looking down on other people to experiencing compassion and seeing them as people was very interesting to me.

What I Didn't Like As Much

Okay, I didn't really like how Adalia held onto her deceit until the last possible moment. I mean, I knew there had a be a grand reveal because that would be the most interesting, but it still bothered me a bit that she never told the truth willingly. I think I might have been a little more forgiving of her dishonesty, however, if Morgan hadn't reacted as he did. I thought he was farther along than that! For the sake of trying not to spoil the book for anyone, I won't go into any more detail. Yet I must say that the way Adalia and Morgan recovered from that great "fall" scene was well-done.

Why I Recommend This Book

Tyndall's traditional history-rich drama ascends to new heights in Veil of Pearls. Not only are there characters who have life-or-death decisions to make, there are duels and chains to break in this book!

About the Author

Acclaimed author, M.L. (MaryLu) Tyndall dreamt of pirates and sea-faring adventures during her childhood days on Florida's Coast. After obtaining a degree in Math and working as software engineer for 15 years, she decided to test the waters as a writer. With now more than ten books published, she makes no excuses for the deeply spiritual themes embedded within her romantic adventures.

As a follower of Christ, her stories often reflect her own journey and walk with God. Her hope is that readers will not only be entertained but will be brought closer to the Creator who loves them beyond measure. In a culture that accepts the occult, wizards, zombies, and vampires without batting an eye, MaryLu hopes to show the awesome present and powerful acts of God in a dying world. A Christy award nominee, MaryLu makes her home with her husband, six children, and four cats on the California coast, where her imagination still surges with the sea.