This Sea Within, Book One
of The Sea Within Trilogy
She came to find herself. She stayed to fight a revolution. Some waves you can’t outrun.
Available on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, and Bookshop.
While American students protest the Vietnam war, rebellion brews below the border where a U.S.-backed dictator rules.
Lena Landon, an avid surfer and anti-war activist, wants to do something meaningful when she graduates with a degree in journalism. Feeling the sea’s restless energy pushing her toward some unknown destiny, she travels to San Balanque, her estranged mother’s homeland, to learn more about her Maya heritage.
There Lena teams up with fellow journalist Daniel Weatherly to interview the Aguileros fighting to overthrow Viktor Ortiz’s corrupt regime. Then she sees Raoul—the rebels’ charismatic leader—rising from a jungle pool. Everything changes. That dark wave sweeps her into a life she never imagined.
Lena’s transformation from pacifist to freedom fighter comes at a brutal cost as she witnesses the harsh realities of guerrilla warfare: executions, kidnapping, torture. All the while she guards a dangerous secret: her mother, the esteemed artist Dolores Machado, is married to the enemy—Ortiz’s Vice President and closest confidant.
As the revolution intensifies, Lena must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice for love, justice, and a cause worth dying for.
FIND BELOW
- The Sea Within Trilogy
- Reader reviews of This Sea Within
- An excerpt from the novel
- A podcast interview with the author
Welcome to The Sea Within Trilogy!
An epic struggle for justice. A love forged in the fires of rebellion.
Set against the tense, sun-drenched backdrop of 1970s Latin America, this sweeping political romance saga follows one couple’s epic, multi-book journey through love, war, and transformation as an idealistic pacifist becomes a fierce freedom fighter. Tied together by a love that feels older than time itself, their souls are bound to a revolution—and to each other.
Perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale and Chanel Cleeton’s Next Year in Havana, featuring the lyrical storytelling and vibrant Latin American heritage of Isabel Allende.
This series blends high-stakes historical intrigue, deep family secrets, a subtle touch of fated destiny, and a passionate, open-door romance where love, eternity, and revolution are completely inseparable.
This Sea Within is the gripping first installment of a character-driven trilogy, featuring a complete, satisfying conclusion with no cliffhangers. Dive into the trilogy today. Escape into a world of passion, betrayal, and a cause worth dying for.
The Sea Within Trilogy Reading Order:
Book 1: This Sea Within — Available Now!
Book 2: Turning Tides — Coming Soon: In the glamorous heart of a ruthless dictatorship, a woman risks her life and her heart to spy for the resistance, only to find that the price of freedom is the ultimate betrayal.
The war for freedom has moved from the trenches to the grand ballrooms. In Turning Tides, Lena infiltrates the very regime she swore to destroy—using her estranged mother’s high-society status to secure high-target hostages. Backed by her lover Raoul, the commander of the rebel forces, Lena plays a deadly game of cat and mouse behind enemy lines. But as she uncovers eerie past-life secrets hidden within her mother’s paintings, the crushing weight of guilt and a final, explosive exposure force a desperate, secret vow and a race for survival.
Book 3: Rising Seas — The Final Chapter The tides have turned, the sea rises and sweeps Lena and Raoul and the revolution they have fought for to its ultimate conclusion.
Praise for This Sea Within
“Set in the early 1970s, This Sea Within is less historical fiction and more a story about all the ways history tends to repeat itself. Lena’s fight is against an oppressive regime in a fictional country, but the fight for justice never changes. The struggles with corruption, unfair practices, and brutality were present then and now, almost indistinguishably. From the novel’s earliest moments, Lena is an incredibly relatable main character. Besides meticulous character work, the worldbuilding is a reward in itself. A bold story about passionate people fighting for what they believe in, This Sea Within is an intimate coming of age novel perfect for readers who appreciate artful, poetic fiction with the highest stakes. Nicky Flowers, Indies Today ★★★★★
“This Sea Within is a sweeping and emotionally charged novel that immerses readers in a world of revolution, forbidden love, and personal awakening, capturing the fierce courage it takes to fight for identity, justice, and the life you were meant to claim.” –NewInBooks
“This Sea Within slowly pulls you into its world and makes you feel emotionally connected to the characters and their journeys. What stood out to me most was how beautifully the story balanced emotion, romance, history, and self-discovery. The writing has a cinematic quality to it, and the atmosphere stays with you even after you finish reading.” ARC review from The Reading Lane
“This Sea Within is the story of Lena Landon, an aspiring photojournalist who is drawn into a revolutionary movement that seems to reflect everything she has ever dreamed about and wanted to do. She trains as a soldier and undergoes dangerous undercover work by infiltrating the government. This story of political reckoning is most suitable for those looking for well-written, epic protest literature that delivers a mesmerizing climax. The author writes brilliantly about romantic obsession . . . and captivated me with the seductive allure of an idealism of a powerful revolution and how it connects with nuanced morality. This Sea Within features complex and revolutionary characters, exciting prose, and streams of consciousness that lay bare the psyche of the key characters. Fans of The Red Sparrow trilogy by Jason Matthews and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini will enjoy how this book explores the way personal passion becomes inseparable from the cataclysm of history.” Divine Zape, Readers’ Favorite ★★★★★
“A captivating love story about freedom, rebellion, and willingness to die for one’s principles. It kept me turning pages late into the night.” D. W. Peach, award-winning fantasy writer
“A passionate affair, thrilling dangers, masterful writing, magical locales–what else could a reader want? This is a book you will feel and long remember.” Harvey Ardman, author of The Final Voyage.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Sea Within, a powerful novel that explores identity, family, and moral conflict through Lena’s compelling journey. She’s passionate and compassionate, and her emotional uncertainty makes her feel human. Rather than treating romance as the main narrative, it simultaneously juggles romance, revolutionary politics, displacement, political conscience, and cultural belonging. Deborah Brasket crafts a story that is both intimate and politically charged, leaving readers with questions that linger long after the final page.” Aimee Bittourna, Rockin’ Riverview Book Club reader
“A stirring reminder that love lies at the heart of every revolution, This Sea Within by Deborah J. Brasket is a coming-of-age drama set against the civil unrest and rebellious spirit of the Yucatan Peninsula in the early 1970s. Encapsulating the “constant warfare and clash of civilizations” in the divided loyalties of one young woman, the novel probes the granular moments of building character – the dissecting, undoing, and remaking that defines our destiny. The prose is marked by lyrical imagery and visceral depictions of exotic landscapes, along with an unflinching dive into taboo ideas, making this an impressively timely and radical read, no matter the historical setting.” Self-Publishing Review, ★★★★½
“This Sea Within is an epic, page-turning tale filled with passion and beauty, political intrigue and revolution, about a young woman’s journey to connect to her past and find her future.” Mark Paxson, author of The Jump and The Dime
“This Sea Within is a richly layered and emotionally compelling novel that masterfully combines historical fiction, political intrigue, romance, and personal transformation into a captivating reading experience. Through vivid storytelling and meticulous attention to historical context, Brasket brings the fictional nation of San Balanque to life with extraordinary realism. The tension between oppression and resistance, power and freedom, creates a compelling backdrop that drives the narrative forward while highlighting the complex realities faced by those living through political upheaval. Rather than presenting simplistic answers, the novel thoughtfully examines the difficult choices individuals must make when confronted with injustice and violence.
The author’s prose is elegant, evocative, and immersive. From the coastal landscapes that mirror Lena’s restless spirit to the dangerous jungles and politically charged environments of San Balanque, every setting is rendered with vivid detail and atmosphere. The narrative flows effortlessly, maintaining suspense while allowing readers to fully absorb the emotional and thematic richness of the story.This Sea Within is a powerful, immersive, and unforgettable novel that will resonate with readers who appreciate character driven stories, political drama, and narratives that explore the complexities of the human spirit. Highly recommended” – Rob Morrow, Goodreads Review ★★★★★
“Deborah J. Brasket’s novel is the kind of work that ignites revolutions, and I would rank it alongside classic novels like Noli Me Tangere by Jose Rizal. The author forces readers to rethink the cost of freedom and what patriots went through to liberate their countries. The historical setting is rendered with fascinating details and . . . the writing is lyrical and filled with symbolism. This Sea Within is a page-turner that melds history with echoes of mythology in delivering an entertaining read that will appeal to romance fans and anyone looking for a resonant story.” Ruffina Oserio, Readers’ Favorite ★★★★★
“This Sea Within is a political thriller about Lena, a young woman on the brink of discovering who she truly wants to be. When she meets Raoul, the leader of the rebel group known as the Aguileros, her world changes forever. This is an intense novel that doesn’t hold back. You’ll find yourself struggling along with Lena as she tries to reconcile her pacifist leanings to the freedom fighter mentality needed to overthrow the government. This is a must-read!” Teri M. Brown, author of Peg, Unhinged and Podcast Host
“This Sea Within is an engaging and fast paced book about a young woman on a journey. Lena travels to San Balanque in search of her roots, and finds much more: passion, rebellion, and purpose. Deborah’s book is a stormy mix of romance, adventure, and shifting feelings as Lena explores what it means to love completely. Read it to find out how much Lena is willing to sacrifice for love and country.” Brad Volz, poet, photographer, and blogger at Writing to Freedom
“The Sea Within tugged at my heartstrings with an American journalist, Lena’s, riveting love story with Raoul, the leader of a Central American country’s revolution, keeping my attention to the very end and wishing for more. I can’t wait for the sequel.” Carole Wagener, Author of The Hardest Year: A Love Story in Letters During the Vietnam War
An Excerpt From Chapter 1: THE OPENING
“Lena feels him before she sees him—the slow roll of the wave’s hip rising behind her, towering over her, propelling her forward. Heart pounding, she paddles furiously to keep him within her grasp, then pops-up in a low crouch on her surfboard, arms wide as she pulls in and out of the wave.
He’s everywhere, everything at once now—beneath her, above her, around her. Wave, body, board—all one slow motion as his arms wrap around her. She slips into the shimmering blue grotto of his body, thrilling at the sight, her fingers trailing his trembling flesh. He melts at her touch. She shivers with delight while dancing in and out of his reach and dissolving into one liquid moment of bliss. When the ride ends and wave, body, board, separate into their several selves, Lena kicks her board around and paddles out to start over.
Some see the ocean as a feminine presence, but Lena never has. How could she? All that power and restless energy, the sheer weight and bulk of it. Something in the sea’s dark, hypnotic presence, its great heaving muscles and ceaseless motion, calls to her. Calls to a restless yearning, a heated passion, stirring just below the surface of her skin.
Stars were still shivering in the cold, moist air when Lonny, her surfing buddy and best friend, picked her up in his van, eager to test the huge waves thundering up the coast from a hurricane blowing off Baja. He gave up after two wipe-outs, but Lena wasn’t ready to come in. When he beckons her to come ashore now, she holds up two fingers. Two more dances with the sea’s wanton waves, then she’ll come.
Her dad taught her to surf when she was six years old, one year after her mother left. One year after she almost lost him to the grief and sickness that followed. Surfing was the way they grew stronger together and closer without her. The way they learned they didn’t need her after all. They had each other.
At first, they surfed tandem, her lying prone in front as he paddled out on his longboard. By the time Lena turned ten she had her own board, lighter and shorter. She learned to brace herself against the biting cold of the breakers’ fiercely grinning teeth, to be as stubborn and fierce as the waves themselves. And once she was past them, she learned how to patiently await the perfect wave to ride, how to recognize the heft and weight of it rising behind her. She learned how strong and powerful she could become by surrendering to it as it surrendered to her. How to become one.”
Online for Authors: Interview about This Sea Within
This Sea Within is available in ebook, paperback, and hardback.
Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and Bookshop.
