Source: Joyfully Reviewed
Date: Oct 2008

http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/reviews/Oct08/beyondtheveil.SW.html

When the ship he's sailing to Africa on is overtaken by pirates, David Jordan is taken captive along with the rest of the passengers and crew. To his horror, he's selected for a special sale of sex slaves and separated from his friends. Then rescue comes in a most unexpected way.

Fifteen years ago, Robert Charteris lost the man he loved to pirates. He's spent the time since looking for his lost love, as well as trying to save others from slavery however he can. When he sees David, he feels a strange connection to the man. Despite the expense and difficulty involved, he saves David. Will he be able to let go of the ghosts of his past?

Despite the rather dark subject matter (slavery), I really enjoyed Beyond the Veil. David's terror as he realizes what will happen to him is both believable and wrenching. I also felt for Robert, whose guilt over the past drives him to save as many as he can. Both men are strong, intelligent, stubborn, and preyed upon by guilt. I really liked reading the slow evolution of their relationship. Due to the nature of Robert's life, there's a lot of conflict and some action as Robert works to help David locate and free his friends from the ship. A secondary storyline involving two of David's fellow passengers who are forced to remain on the ship was less engaging in my opinion, but it explained a lot and provided some additional interest. While the dark subject matter and elements of violence are not for everyone, if you like historicals and stories of people finding redemption and love, you're sure to enjoy Beyond the Veil as I did.

Source: Romance Junkies
Date: October 2008

David knew that sailing to Egypt could be dangerous, even fatal but he was so excited to finally be embarking on his grand adventure, an adventure he had dreamed about his entire life that he ignored the very real possibility of disaster. When his ship is attacked by pirates of the Barbary Coast and David and his fellow passengers are captured he figures he only has himself to blame.

Although British, Robert Charteris was raised in Tripoli, as a result he learned to hate the slave trade at an early age. However, after his lover Malik was taken by pirates, Robert turned his hatred and guilt into a life long crusade to save as many people as he can from the Ottoman Empire’s terrible and inhumane slave trade.

When Robert sees a beautiful young man among a new group of captives he feels an instant connection to him. He is dismayed to learn that David is being sold as a sex slave. He knows a man as handsome as David will fetch a very high price but he is determined to save him no matter what the cost.

David knows there is no way he can of escape from his captors. However, when he sees a man looking at him with compassion he can not help but have hope.

This novel is full of historical details and captivating descriptions. The reader really gets a feel for the Barbary Coast in the late 18th century. The author deals with the difficult subjects of slavery and human trafficking with sensitivity. I really like and admire Robert for his determination and strength. David exasperated me on occasion but the author does a good job of helping the reader understand where David is coming from and I grew to like him very much. BEYOND THE VEIL by Stevie Woods is an intriguing historical romance filled with adventure and interesting characters.

http://romancejunkiesreviews.com/artman/publish/historical/Beyond_The_Veil.shtml

Source: Rainbow Reviews
Date: August 2008

This is a story about David who was on a ship that was captured by pirates in 1760. The captain of the ship, Malik, was a very mean guy. I wanted to hate him for what he had done to David. Enter Robert. He saw all the slaves come into port and took a liking to David at once. He had to find some way to buy him as a slave as much as it was against everything he stood for.

David's character I thought was actually kind of whiny. If he didn't get his way, he would pout and get all upset. After reading the book for a while, I fell in love with David. He was a kind generous person to a fault. It took some time for him to fall in love with Robert. He'd had never been with another man before and Robert was his first.

Stevie's description of the love scenes between the two was phenomenal, though some of the language that was used I felt was more suited to modern day than back in the 1760's. Some of the phrases were those which are common now, such as "got to have you now" or "need you now," things such as that. I'm not sure they would have used those phrases back then.

To me the real hero of the story was Malik, the man I wanted to hate from the beginning. The way he treated David before he was sold was horrible. When it was later learned how Malik got to be the way he was, everything fell into place. As the story unfolded, you learned that under his rough exterior, Malik had a heart of gold.

Robert's character was very well written. I could feel what he felt and could almost hear him when he spoke. I liked the fact that he did not push David into anything he wasn't ready for. His compassion was beyond reproach.

I think the story of Malik could be told on its own, from the time he met up with Robert to the time he became a pirate and so on. That would make a very interesting story. Kudos to Stevie Woods

http://rainbow-reviews.com/?p=520

Source: Literary Nymph Reviews
Date: August 2008

David Jordan is a teacher of languages and archeology. He has saved for a once in a lifetime trip to Egypt, but he now faces the worse type of slavery imaginable for a man. David is frightened of what the future holds, but a pair of brown eyes seems to share gentleness and the hope of escape. Robert Charteris is the owner of said eyes and will become David’s savior. He has made it a personal mission to assist those forced into slavery, but David is different. David is the man who will help Robert’s heart beat once more with freely flowing love.

Stevie Woods has written a captivating historical novel in Beyond the Veil. The characters draw you not only into the tale itself, but also into the time. I enjoy how Stevie doesn’t just give you a story, but touches on history and delivers a bit of your past intertwined with interesting characters and plots. All of the characters seemed to have some internal struggle they had to overcome. We are able to watch them draw on not only inner strength but also strength from their loved ones to overcome their conflict. David and Robert’s love grew in leaps and bound, and their relationship had a gradual precession. If you enjoy battles on the high seas, traveling to exotic locations and men who love men, then you truly should not miss an opportunity to read Stevie Woods' Beyond the Veil.

http://literarynymphsreviewsonly.blogspot.com/2008/08/beyond-veil.html

Source: Fallen Angel Reviews
Date: September 2008

David Jordan is a passenger on a ship traveling off the Barbary Coast near North Africa when pirates attack and take control of the ship. David fought them the best he could, but he was no match against them. Soon the passengers will be ransomed back to their families who can afford to pay. The ones who are not so lucky will be sold into slavery in Tripoli. Since David has no family to pay for his release, he fears that he will be a slave to those Turks who wouldn’t mind buying a handsome young man like himself.

Robert Charteris lives in Tripoli but abhors the slavery trade. He works for the Brothers of the Saviour, gathering information to help as many as he can who are being sold as slaves. But when he sees David up for sale, he can’t help feeling certain urges for a fine male specimen like David. He wants David badly, even though he still mourns the lover he lost and could never find, because he too was sold into slavery. He will buy David to save him, hoping David will aid him in his plight.

David is very confused about Robert because of the new found feelings he has for Robert. And when he catches Robert with men in passionate embraces and certain acts that David knows should only be performed between a man and a woman, he is even more confused because he wants to be with Robert that way. Robert would like nothing more than to make David his lover, but in order for that to happen he must gain David’s trust. David knows what Robert wants from his is forbidden, but his kisses and touch feels so right.

Beyond the Veil is a very interesting type of historical romance, mainly because it is a love story between two men in a very different type of setting. Stevie Woods takes many topics, such as slavery and sexual taboos, and has written a tale that really opens your mind. The relationship between Robert and David is a very mature one where both men communicate their feelings for one another. Robert is truly a wonderful character because he gives David enough time to come to grips about his feelings and the new world he in which he resides.

There are also some secondary characters that add to the story, such as the pirate captain Malik who falls for one of the female passengers he kidnaps and keeps with him. His own story, about how he came to be a pirate, is a very moving one and his relationship with Suzanna and even her brother Tom is just as appealing as Robert and David’s story. Beyond the Veil is one action packed historical you will not want pass up.

http://www.fallenangelreviews.com/2008/September/Katie-BeyondTheVeil.htm