"This is an enduring novel of great depth. Beautifully written, it explores how far the human spirit will journey for freedom and love. This story was a real pleasure to read. Highly recommended. Historical Novel Reviews" I totally agree.

It is 1811, and Adalia Winston finds herself escaping her unjust and cruel slave status of 7 years to end up in the city of Charleston. Adalia has a well kept secret: her light skin keeps people from knowing that she is part black, and a runaway slave. She will find employment with a local doctor and also enjoys helping the downtrodden slaves in and around the city. She is grateful for her freedom but still fearful that her owner will find her.

Then there is Morgan Rutledge, son of one of Charleston’s prominent families. He meets Adalia and finds her distaste of him and his arrogant ways very perplexing. She also thinks his slave owning to be repulsive, and doesn't mind telling him so. Morgan is persistent, though, and slowly shows Adalia the world of high society. This draws her away from who she really is and for her love for God. As Adalia and Morgan grow closer and their love for each other takes flight, others will do whatever they can to break up this unlikely couple. As one review states: "And when her secret is revealed, will that love be enough, or will the truth ruin Morgan and send Adalia back into slavery?"

This was a very well written story with many complex characters throughout. You grow to understand the times in which these folks lived and the sad take on what some people thought of slaves. I appreciated how the love of the Lord kept Adalia grounded and able to endure, knowing who she was in Christ - a princess. ( )

Veil of Pearls was my first read by Marylu Tyndall, and sadly I couldn’t really get on with it for the most part. Yes, it had a sound and challenging Christian theme about slavery, both spiritual and physical, but I found that in many ways the story was lacking. It seemed very clichĂ©d (and at times a little predictable), and I think I for one could never really warm to Adalia’s character.

Even though her whole life in Charleston was based on essentially a lie, she just came across as very self-righteous and sanctimonious, especially in her treatment of Morgan when she believed him to be dishonest, or the way she seemed to respond to every difficult situation they faced with platitudes.

Whilst her condemnation of racial prejudice and slavery might have been commendable, she was incredibly prejudiced herself towards the upper classes in society, which seemed like rank hypocrisy. Admittedly her prejudice could be seen as arising from her circumstances and background, I did not think it was ever really challenged or questioned.

Quite the contrary, the almost universal depiction of the upper classes as arrogant, lazy, pampered fops, and the men as lechers, alongside that claim that such behaviour was ‘expected’ of their class seemed to me to be a reflection perhaps of the opinion and viewpoint of the author, and not just of the characters.
Perhaps it is a view common to Americans, I don’t know, but I for one find it difficult to believe that there would not have been any ‘bad eggs’ amongst the lower classes in any society, or any good Christians amongst the upper classes and gentry.
Also, I didn’t think that Morgan’s father expecting him to learn how to run his family’s plantation, and his demanding this as conditional to accepting Morgan’s request to marry Adalia was unreasonable.
Why shouldn’t he expect his son to learn how to run the estate? Just because Morgan found it boring or taxing because he wanted to be a sailor did not make it bad or evil. Really he could be seen as the selfish and immature one in that scenario.

On a historical level I also had a number of problems with this work-I only spotted one major inaccuracy, the reference to a ‘Victorian’ item of furniture in 1811, before Victoria came to the throne, but there may have been others as some have mentioned. I don’t know much about slavery, or the legal technicalities of this period, but I don’t think I found it entirely plausible that a woman who was three-quarters white could be kept as a slave, or even that Sir Walter could have had a legal title to her, as she was freeborn, and he essentially kidnapped her rather than buying her legally.

Finally, there was the historical setting itself- shortly before the war of 1812, and the blame for causing it was laid squarely on the shoulders of the wicked British. Perhaps this is to be expected in a novel written by an American, but I have an issue with this, and the way that no mention was made of the actions of the American government, nor their role in starting the war- such as the ambition to invade Canada.
As far as I know, Impressment seems to have essentially just an excuse and the war was not all the fault of the British. Nor am I convinced that the blaming of the British is simply representing the view of people at the time as I don’t think everyone in America would have been ignorant of the actions of their leaders.

Overall, Veil of Pearls was not a book I enjoyed, or would particularly recommend. I understand where the author might have been coming from with the theme, but perhaps there was too much clichéd romantic mush, typecasting, prejudice and nationalistic Brit-bashing for my liking.

Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to have a free copy for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
( )

A well written, jaw dropping, enlightening, frustrating, on the edge of your seat read. I'll have to ponder on this review. It must be worthy of this read. I LOVED it! ( )

Kidnapped into slavery on the death of her parents, Adalia Winston escapes of Charleston, a city full of slaves supporting the Southern lifestyle. Fair skinned Adalia fears discovery, not just from her slave master, but also the fact that she is one quarter black. Morgan Rutledge is the son of a prominent family who becomes enamored with Adalia on sight. Adelia finally agrees to attend a party with Morgan, and slowly Adalia is accepted into society. She begins to believe that she can live in this fairy tale world. Now, she has to hide her heritage, along with the love of the Lord. When Morgan’s old girlfriend decides to discredit Adalia, anything can happen.

This is a romance, but the themes running through it make it so much more. I thoroughly enjoyed Adalia’s dilemma, and the depth of the characters enriched the story. If you like historical Christian romances, definitely pick this one up.

Received Galley from NetGalley.com ( )

Author: MaryLu Tyndall
Published by: Barbour Books
Age Recommend: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Raven Rating: 5
Blog Review For: GMTA
Review:
"Veil of Pearls" by MaryLu Tyndall was a good read. I was a little hesitate with the title dealing with slavery in the 1800's but I am glad to did continued reading ..because in the end I felt the novel was a excellent and well written novel. Be ready for a lots twist and turns all the way till the end. Truly Ms. Tyndall was able to really help the reader understand what this young woman named Althea had gone through. Leaving Barbados from a sugar slavery plantation and the cruel... Sir Walter Miles to Charleston, South Carolina...to where Athea is able to reinvent herself by changing her name to Adalia...working in an local orphanage as a herb healer ....then to becoming a assist to Doctor Willaby. Now Adalia was able to take care of local 'Negros' that needed help especially the slaves on the plantations. Athea was so thankful to God to now have her freedom.

How was Adalia able to do all of this? Well, ...... Adalia was very light-skinned and no one was able to detect that she was negro or a runaway slave....Can you believe that Adalia catches the eye of one young man who was from one of the most wealthy families in Charleston. Now, how these two people were to come together turns out to be a very interesting story. There relationship was able to grew into a true love and in the end both Adalia and Morgan would be able to give these worries to God. Now I will stop at this point because I don't want to give any more away...just pick up "Veil of Pearls" and see how Adalia and Morgan are brought through all of this....Will Morgan start believing in God? What is going on with Emerald and Dr. Willsby? What is so special about Adalia's pearls?

The characters were really very interesting....Althea (Adalia), Sir Walter Miles, Captain Faraday, Dr. Willaby, Mrs, Charlotte, The Rutledges.... Franklin, mom, Morgan, Hadley.... and Lizzie .... Emerald, Caroline, Captain Kane Bristow, Aniston Mulberry, Joseph Drayton, Lord Demmings, Rabian Saville, Joy, Mayor Calla and some I have left for you to find out who they are.

"Veil of Pearls" was a real historical love story that you will get caught up in ... not being able to put the novel down until you are finished.... the ending was wonderful and I would recommend this novel as a good read. ( )