Marie of the Sea – Where passion defies tradition
In the twilight of the 19th century, on the rugged shores of Cap-des-Rosiers, Marie’s untamed spirit yearns for something more than her Catholic village can offer. When the magnetic Antoine arrives, he awakens a fire within her that neither the church’s stern warnings nor society’s judgment can extinguish.
But summer romances end, and Antoine’s departure leaves Marie with nothing but burning memories and whispered scandal. As the village turns its back on her, only Charles, her childhood friend, sees beyond her “fallen” reputation to the passionate woman beneath. Yet even as he offers her a chance at redemption through respectability, Marie can’t forget the taste of true passion.
Perched on her clifftop sanctuary, Marie must choose: surrender to convention, or fight for a love as wild and free as the sea itself. In a world where a woman’s reputation is everything, she dares to risk it all to be true to her heart.
This first volume of the bestselling trilogy (over 20,000 copies sold) weaves a sensual tale of desire, defiance, and destiny that will leave you breathless. Perfect for readers who love their historical romance with a fierce heroine, complex emotions, and the untamed beauty of the Canadian coast.
A love story that proves some passions are worth any price.
Targeted Age Group:: 21+
What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
My novel was born from a fascination with the lives of women in late 19th century Quebec, particularly in the isolated coastal regions like Gaspésie. I wanted to explore how these women navigated the strict moral and social codes of their time while harboring their own desires, dreams, and rebellions.
The character of Marie emerged as a voice for this struggle – a young woman who dares to defy the conventions of her small village. Through her story, I wanted to examine the tension between personal freedom and societal expectations, between passion and propriety. Her bond with the sea, which represents both her wildness and her longing for escape, mirrors the internal conflict many women of that era must have felt.
The setting itself – this rugged coastline where the land meets the vast expanse of the sea – serves as a metaphor for the boundary between civilization and nature, between what is permitted and what is forbidden. The harsh beauty of the Gaspésie landscape, with its cliffs and stormy waters, provides the perfect backdrop for a story about love, desire, and the courage to challenge social norms.
At its heart, this novel is an exploration of how women throughout history have found ways to assert their independence and follow their hearts, even in the face of severe social consequences. Marie's journey – from the scandal in the church to her forbidden affair with the married doctor – represents the universal struggle between individual desire and societal expectations, a theme that continues to resonate today.
How Did You Come up With Your Characters?
My characters emerged from my desire to explore the complexity of human relationships in a small, coastal Quebec village at the turn of the century. Each character embodies different aspects of this society, but with depths that challenge the simple roles they might initially seem to represent.
Marie, my protagonist, was born from my fascination with women who dared to defy social conventions. She's not just a rebel – she's a young woman deeply connected to her land and the sea, who finds herself caught between passion and propriety. Her fierce independence and connection to nature make her an outsider in her own community, yet she refuses to compromise her true nature to fit in.
The men in Marie's life represent different facets of love and desire. Antoine, the educated city lawyer who awakens her first passionate love, embodies the allure of a world beyond the village. Charles, the married doctor torn between duty and desire, represents the complexity of forbidden love. Both men challenge Marie in different ways, forcing her to confront what she truly wants from life and love.
Carol, Marie's adoptive father, was inspired by my interest in unconventional families. His devotion to both his deceased wife Madeleine and his adopted daughter shows how love can transcend traditional family boundaries. His character explores how loss can shape someone's life without breaking their capacity for love.
The villagers themselves – from the judgmental gossips to kind-hearted friends like Rosalie – form a Greek chorus that represents the social pressures and moral constraints of the era. Yet even these secondary characters have their own secrets and struggles, showing how everyone, no matter how conventional they appear, harbors their own private rebellions against social norms.
Through these characters, I wanted to explore how love, desire, and moral choices become even more complex in a small community where everyone knows each other's business – or thinks they do. Each character reveals different aspects of how we navigate between our public faces and private hearts.
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All information was provided by the author and not edited by us. This is so you get to know the author better.
