Patricia Hickman - The Pirate Queen

The Pirate Queen

Patricia Hickman

Waterbrook, Aug 10 2010, $13.99

ISBN: 9781400072002

For the sake of their three children Saphora Warren stayed married to her womanizing spouse plastic surgeon Bender. However, with the nest empty, she has had enough of his cheating so decides to leave him and their affluent lifestyle. Her plan is to let Bender remain on the affluent estate overlooking Lake Norman where they just did a shoot for Southern Living magazine; she will move to their dilapidated bungalow Oriental on the Outer Banks.

As Saphora begins her exit speech, Bender interrupts with two words: "I'm Dying." She agrees to remain with him at Oriental though she also feels like a fool for her sympathy towards the father of her children. Paradise Lost becomes more crowded than Noah's Ark when a horde of family members arrive and townsfolk keep dropping in on them. As Saphora seeks herself she finds inadequate time to do so; instead she asks God for a sign of divine guidance to help her find Paradise Regained.

This is a deep character study that focuses predominantly on Saphora who is a nurturing person though some readers might conclude she is a codependent for not just leaving her philandering cancer stricken husband. The cast makes the story line work as readers observe how Saphora deals with trauma vs. another family living on the Neuse River. Fans will relish this strong poignant drama.

Harriet Klausner