Desire in the Sun

This book is worth reading not only for the entertaining story itself, but for what it teaches you about the foolishness of social bigotry, much worse in the time of the story (late 18thc) than today, but still existing.

The story starts in Virginia, where southern belle Delilah (Lila) Remy is visiting her great-aunt and uncle, and taking part in then usual social entertainments, that offer little in the way of variety or excitement, and that includes her many suitors. This all changes one evening, when Josslyn (Joss) St. Pietro, a handsome, charming, captain/businessman pays a visit in the midst of a party, to speak with Lila's great-uncle. He and Lila meet under amusing circumstances (won't give that away) and it's soon apparent show more they're more than a little attracted to each other. Could this be the man of her dreams?

Her dream's shattered when Joss reveals that he's her great-uncle's grandson, and he has letters to prove it. This angers the older man and enrages his wife, as she's embittered by her husband's past infidelity, made worse by the woman being part black, or octaroon, as they said back then, who was one of her slaves. In a belated act of vengeance, she has Joss arrested and then claimed as her property, later to be sold at auction. To make matters worse, Joss was completely blindsided, not knowing of his grandmother's mixed racial heritage. According to the laws at that time, Joss is now considered to be black (or high yellow), as well as enslaved, and has his rights taken away. Next thing you know, he's being auctioned off, and is purchased by Lila, of all people, much to the disapproval of Kevin Talbot, her father's overseer on their Barbados plantation, who is also the man her family expects her to marry!

And if that isn't enough of a complication: on the way home to Barbados, they endure a cholera epidemic, a shipwreck, and a stay on a deserted island, which becomes a romantic paradise for Lila and Joss, at least until pirates show up. More adventure ensues, as they have to go along on the pirate ship (Lila disguised as Remy, Joss's mentally traumatized nephew), unwillingly participate in an attack on a British ship, endure a horrible explosion, and have to face the wrath of Lila's father when he finds out about their relationship.

I won't give away the rest of how this plays out, but I want to emphasize the way the theme of racial injustice is handled, in a way that makes you think about what people had to go through, and how undeserved it was. As Joss stated at one point, he was 31 parts white, yet according to the law back then, the 1% made him black, and he had to suffer all the injustices black people did at the time.

There was also the way Lila felt, at least at first, a product of her upbringing. as soon as she learned the truth, she started feeling differently toward Joss, could no longer consider him as someone she could have a future with, even if he got his freedom, as the racial stigma would still be there. The idea that she didn't consider him good enough for her naturally had an effect on their relationship, despite their intense physical desires. It took her some time to overcome a lifetime of bias.

I would have given the book another star, except that there was something in the story that bothered me, though I see why it was necessary, as it was what gave Lila the motivation for a final break with her family. When she discovers she's pregnant, her father refuses to accept a grandchild with even the least amount of non white blood, so he talks his weak wife (Lila's stepmother) into fixing Lila tea laced with abortifacient herbs, and she loses the baby. That was horrible, and really made me feel sick, so I took away one star. (Ridiculous as it sounds, that baby would have been 1/64th non white and still be considered black.) Other than that horrible racism, this is a book that will leave you both entertained, informed (you learn quite a bit about ships, pirates, and Barbados) and with a deeper understanding of prejudice and how destructive it is. show less

Starts with a humorous encounter that leads to an instant connection. No sooner than barely meeting Joss becomes a slave due to the times and a crazy woman. Lilah and Joss have to overcome some pretty gigantic obstacles but it made a great story. They need to get through slavery, cholera, shipwrecks, pirates, and more plus terrible circumstances in general in order to be together. I loved every word. Another great Karen Robards book that has me wanting more!

How could Lilah Renny force herself to forget Joss San Pietro? How could she deny the anguish that filled her days - or the feverish longing that tormented her nights?

He was gone, torn from her arms forever by the cruel code of her proud plantation society...and by the dark secret that ran in his blood. Soon they would marry her to another man...unless Joss returned, fulfilling his vow to possess the woman whose beauty haunted him...and whose urgent whispers had enslaved his body and his soul.

One of my all-time favorites! Joss {sigh}...

From BackCover:
LOVE WILD, LOVE FREE

How could Lilah Remy force herself to forget Joss San Pietro? How could she deny the anguish that filled her days --- or the feverish longing that tormented her nights?

He was gone, torn from her arms forever by the cruel code of her proud plantation society . . . and by the dark secret that ran in his blood.

Soon they would marry her to another . . . unless Joss returned, fulfilling his vow to possess the woman whose beauty haunted him and whose urgent whispers had enslaved his body and his soul.

Lilah Remy no había podido evitar quedar cautivada por Joss San Pietro, un joven hombre de negocios. Pero pronto tendría lugar una dramática revelación: la abuela de Joss era mestiza y esclava, lo cual lo convierte a él mismo en esclavo, propiedad de la tía abuela de Lilah, una mujer de frio corazón. Lilah, que mientras tanto ha aceptado casarse con otro hombre, compra a Joss para salvarlo del maltrato a que lo somete su tía abuela. Lilah deja la casa colonial para regresar a Barbados con su novio. Con ellos viajara Joss, ahora esclavo de Lilah y su familia. Y entonces ocurrirá lo imprevisible…