Blue Falcon reviews Waves of Passion by Casey Stuart, another subpar early-era Zebra historical. But at least it has a pretty cover!
Waves of Passion by Casey Stuart
Rating: 
Published: 1984
Illustrator: TBD
Imprint or Line: Zebra Historical Romance
Published by: Kensington
Genres: Historical Romance, Pirate Romance, Regency Era Romance
Pages: 449
Format: Paperback
Buy on: Amazon, AbeBooks
Reviewed by: Blue Falcon
TOTAL SPOILER ALERT ⚠
The Book
This review is of Waves of Passion by Casey Stuart. It’s an early Zebra historical romance from 1980.
The Plot
Book #1 Predestination
Waves of Passion begins in Northampton, England, circa 1810. Alaina Deering, the heroine, is facing trial for murdering her father, John, a shipping and boating magnate.
Alaina is innocent. One of her father’s former employees is the real culprit. Not only had he embezzled from the firm, but he also tried to pursue Alaina. It is Alaina, however, who is convicted of his crimes. She is sentenced to die via hanging. In the nick of time, with the help of a family friend, she is able to escape from prison. Then she and her younger brother Russell set out to find their father’s killer–Edward Tate.can
Alaina’s first stop is the West Indies. There she meets Justin Chandler, our dashing hero. Justin is a privateer. He is captain of The Avenger and works out of the Carolinas. Because Justin is attracted to Alaina, he offers to help the siblings find Tate. Alaina, too, is attracted to Justin but fights it. She is emotionally scarred from the trauma she experienced and observed in prison.
As they sail to America, Alaina and Justin get closer and finally become lovers. They land in the Carolinas, where we learn about Justin’s life. Despite Justin’s profession, he comes from a well-to-do family. H—reasons for becoming a privateer are revealed.
Book#2 Happenings
We also learn about his relationship with his sister-in-law, Jessica York, who lusts after Justin and wants him in her arms again. Jessica is a conniver, quite willing to go to any length to get Alaina out of the picture.
Jessica’s not the only non-Alaina female lusting after Justin. So is teenager Maggie Todd, who also tries to destroy Alaina by accusing her of killing Jessica. After she comes close to being killed, Alaina is distraught when Justin betrays her.
So Alaina makes her way to Charleston, South Carolina. Here that she meets Edward again, and not on good terms. Edward kidnaps Alaina and Russell and forces her to marry him by threatening Russell’s life.
The scene then changes to New Orleans, where we learn more about Edward’s cruelty. Justin arrives and tries to earn Alaina’s forgiveness, which she doesn’t give easily.
By the end of Waves of Passion, Justin explains his actions, and Edward gets his comeuppance. Alaina and Justin marry and have their Happily Ever After.
Sex
The love scenes are so short that I question Justin’s stamina, if you know what I mean. And I think you do! They are also nothing close to erotic or interesting.
If you’re looking for heavy “Waves of Passion,” there aren’t any here. This is not a passionate ocean but a kiddie pool that’s been laid out in the summer sun.
The Upside
Not much. Alaina has her good points, but…
The Downside
Alaina is an example of someone who can be smart in one area yet naive at best and dumb at worst in others.
During the book, Alaina:
- She goes to a dangerous dockside to investigate her father’s death. The result: someone beats and nearly rapes her.
- Alaina goes to the docks a second time with a man because “he seemed sincere” about knowing of Tate’s whereabouts. Once again, Alaina is beaten badly.
- Runs off after she argues with Justin, and she rides a horse which throws her off. A nearby rattlesnake almost bites her, but Justin is able to kill the snake.
All of these are examples of Alaina getting into trouble because of her own poor judgment.
Alaina and Justin are both underdeveloped characters with shallow personalities. The same holds true for the other characters in Waves of Passion.
Violence
In addition to the many acts of violence against Alaina, Justin hits Alaina during an argument. A murder occurs, and some come close to death. Alaina almost dies after getting shot during Justin and Edward’s fatal last fight.
Bottom Line on Waves of Passion
From the first two books I’ve read by Casey Stuart, I know they are only good for a cure for insomnia and kindling for a fire. Save Waves of Passion for a cold winter day and use it to warm up the house.
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| Overall: | 1.4 |
Synopsis
SEA OF ECSTASY
Accused of killing her father, alluring Alaina’s only escape was to slip aboard a ship bound for America. Somehow she would find the real murderer and make him pay! Instead she found herself in the powerful arms of Captain Justin Chandler. She hated his arrogance but longed for his ardent kisses. She loathed his protectivenes more but sought the warmth of his embrace. She had no intention of falling in love with a pirate…never dreamed that her body would betray her heart…TIDE OF DESIRE
Waves of Passion by Casey Stuart
Mesmerized by the brown-eyed beauty, unaware of her innocence, Justin caressed her luscious curves until there was no turning back from desire. He had been burnt once before by a woman’s rapture and was sure no one would ever possess him again, but he had no idea that fate would bring him a woman as tantalizing as Alaina. And once he stroked her golden curls and touched her creamy flesh, he was swept into the rolling surf of love — swept into the endless Waves of Passion.
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