Didn' enjoy this book as much as others by this author. Took me awhile to get through it. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy. #NetGalley #TheWitchfromtheSea

This is Jean Plaidy (Philippa Carr) at her best. The novel begins at the time of the defeat of the Spanish Armada and starts with the story of Linnet the daughter of Catherine and Captain Jack Pennylon who was one of the naval heroes of England and noted by Queen Elizabeth for his participation in the Armada's defeat. She is kidnapped and raped by Colum Casvellyn who in those politically incorrect times proposes marriage and they marry. Her first love Fenimore Landor, an idealistic man who wants to win wealth through trade instead of war is eventually forgotten and she learns to love Colum. The problem is Colum is wealthy through deliberately dousing the castle tower lights on the most dangerous part of the shoreline, the Devil's Teeth and deliberately making sure there are no survivors so there are no witnesses to his stealing their cargoes. One night Linnet finds a pregnant Spanish survivor who she nurses to health and makes sure her baby survives, Senara, who comes to be like a sister to her daughter Tamsyn. This turns out to be a big mistake as Colum and Maria begin a surreptitious affair immediately which eventually leads to the murder of Linnet by Maria and the subsequent marriage of Maria and Colum.. There is more to the story but I don't want to give the whole plot away. I really found this novel a page turner and am grateful to Net Galley and to Open Road Integrated Media for my honest opinion of this captivating novel.