Charles Moore relishes his dangerous life as the pirate Hatchet, since manning a clipper ship keeps his mind off the role he played in the brutal Civil War. But now an ancient curse has killed two of his loves, and he can’t ignore the whispers that New Orleans’s Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau herself, has hexed his family. Creole widow Hope Leblonc bristles under the city’s Black Codes that have stripped her of so many freedoms and forced her practice of voodoo underground. When Hatchet treats her like the respectable woman she is, she offers him a deal: she’ll lift the curse if he’ll steal back a family relic she needs to become a mambo in her religion. But they’re both holding secrets that endanger their lives. When ghosts from the past exact revenge for the skeletons in the Moore family closet, they reveal a connection between Hope and Hatchet that makes the curse more powerful than ever. Will they discover that love is worth the risk in time to survive the coming darkness?
This was a great book that I enjoyed. While there’s plenty of books that take place in the beautiful New Orleans, I’ve not read many with Voodoo being the basis. I loved both characters and their interactions with each other. While I didn’t read the other books in the series, I will be going back and trying them too. I highly recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

There was much to draw me in to this read. The vibe of New Orleans, voodoo, curses, and a pirate. Love had its own lure. My first read of this series and I did not feel as if I had to stop all progress to read the previous books of the series. There was much to be discovered while becoming immersed in this read.

Wealth, power, privilege, piracy, voodoo, magic, curses, love, loss, culture, all mixed with mystery, suspense, and romance. There was much for me to fall in love with. The loss of one love only to find a new love that was never in the cards. Hope’s life takes on many changes since becoming a widow. She has lost much more than just her husband. She has lost her standing in society, Creole society. Something called the ‘Black Code’ has New Orleans society in a turn. She then had to practice her voodoo in the shadows.

The world of voodoo and piracy had their own allure of mystery, suspense, and sensual seduction. There’s an element of emotional charge surrounding a few aspects of Charles and he curse place upon him and his family. The was an allure of this book that kept me reading from beginning all the way to the end. The emotional aspects was just an extra touch.

This may have been my first read in this trilogy but will not be my last. I intend to go back and read the other two and then re-read River Road.

Tortured Souls series:
Devil’s Cover – Tortured Souls, #1
Blackburn Castle – Tortured Souls, #2
River Road – Tortured Souls, #3

River Road by R.C. Matthews is book Three in the "Tortured Souls" series. This is the story of Charles Moore and Charles Moore and Hope LeBlonc. I have read the other books in this series but feel this can be a standalone book.
Charles feels his family is cursed and goes forward to find someone to help him. That someone is Hope. Hope strikes a deal with Charles that if he gets back a family treasure she will help him remove the curse.
I really enjoyed this different spin on a Historical Romance..

I started it but I didn't feel connected so I left it 😔

I can buy voodoo, but the happy reconciliation with sharecropping slaves is probably asking too much, even of a romance novel.

~~Reviewed by AnnMarie~~

River Road is the final book in a trilogy by R.C. Matthews. Although it’s a trilogy this book could easily be read as a standalone one.

Charles Moore is a pirate who believes his family has been cursed by Marie Laveau. He believes the curse has taken two of his loves, and that his family will all be in danger until he can get the curse lifted.

Hope LeBlonc is a widow, one who has gone from being high up in the echelons of creole society, to one that has lost many of her freedoms since the ‘Black Code’ was introduced. Now she has to practice her voodoo underground.

Charles approaches Hope and in exchange for helping her retrieve an important family relic, she promises to help him get the curse lifted from his family.

What follows is an amazing story filled with suspense and seduction. The voodoo is fascinating to read about, and what we find out about the curse and the reason for it being cast is very emotional, and not what I was expecting at all. It is such an unusual book, one like I haven’t read before, and I loved every minute of it. From the dark voodoo to the possible romance between Charles and Hope, this book kept me hooked from beginning to end. I definitely want to go back and read the other two books in the trilogy now!

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers’ copy of this book.

First time in reading this author I was lured in by the promise of what lie within. It did not matter either that this was already third one into this series which could mean trouble. The era and the place will weave it's own spell taking you in right away. Charles whom also is a pirate (one of my favorites which to read when I can) is but a buffer. When the widow Hope approaches him you can feel right away what is starting to simmer. Voodoo being interesting a subject itself is prominent throughout this story adding intrigue and magic. Also throw in ghosts and this author has you hostage. The author will play with you like a spider does the fly but you will love every moment with the pleasure of the reading. When you reach the end then you are let go.

What's great about this book is that even though it's the 3rd and final book in the series, you can read it as a standalone and not be lost.
A pirate and a voodoo mambo what would they have in common? More than you think! Their world collides in more ways than one!
Charles who goes by Hatchet was taken by Hope the very first time he saw her.
Hope who wasn't really looking for love but maybe companionship is very leery of Hatchet, after all he is a pirate.
He comes from a rich background but doesn't really show it, Hope she comes from a line of voodoo priestess and her dad was rich. The time frame of when the book was written it wasn't common for mixed race relationships, or should I say for them to be public.
There was a lot of mystery, suspense,and don't forget the romance.
I need to go and read the other books. Great read