This is the sequel to Byers’ DEVON, though it can be read as a “stand alone.” Set in England and the Caribbean in the time of the Revolutionary War, this is the story of Roarke O’Connor, the Irish privateer captain of the Black Angel, who rescues Brianna McClure when her ship goes down after a storm.
Brianna fled England after stabbing her stepfather when he tried to rape her. Hiding her deep secret by taking a different last name, she hopes for a new life in the West Indies. Since Roarke is headed to Eustatia Island, she decides that will do.
When the Black Angel docks, Roarke’s first mate thinks to seduce Brianna by taking her to a certain tavern where aphrodisiac herbs come with the rum, which he does, but Roarke intervenes to save her, but alas, not from himself. Brianna, who is already half in love with Roarke, then becomes the object of jealousy from Roarke’s mistress and Roarke must save Brianna once again.
It’s a fast-moving, well-written tale of adventure and peril as Brianna tries to make her own way in a hostile world. And when the English lord she stabbed recovers and wants vengeance, Brianna gains one more enemy. There’s lots of action and shipboard scenes to please the lover of high seas romance. I recommend it.
It’s on my Irish, Pirate/Privateer and Patriotic Best lists.
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