Shirlee Busbee’s LADY VIXEN: A Classic Privateer Love Story Set in the War of 1812!

 

Set in England during the years 1808-1814, this is one of those rare and wonderful love stories that sweeps you away to another time and place where you are caught up in the lives of people whose actions will affect not only their own and others' lives but America and England during the War of 1812. Deception and treachery born years ago lead to revenge and then to heartache. Busbee uses real characters, such as the pirate Jean Lafitte, to bring realism to her story as she seamlessly weaves history into a compelling tale. It's what I call a "dense" historical: one where the writing is so complex and so tight you're getting double the story you'd expect in the 538 pages.

 

Young Nicole Ashford led an idyllic life in Surrey with her wealthy parents and her twin brother until a boating accident one summer took them from her. Made the ward of an uncaring and barely related aunt and uncle who only want her fortune, and learning of their plans to marry her off to their ne'er-do-well son, at 13 Nicole dons the disguise of a young boy and runs away to sea as the cabin boy for Captain Saber, an American privateer.

 

For 5 years, Nicole sails with him as a boy and Saber pays her little attention. When she is 18, Saber observes her swimming naked on a tropical beach and decides he wants her for his mistress. He bides his time and when Nicole and a seaman (who is really a British spy) decide to destroy English codebooks that Saber has captured, the two are caught.

 

Using the life of the English seaman as a bargaining chip, Saber forces Nicole to become his mistress, until the American, on a mission to spy for his new country, decides to sail home and resume his identity as Christopher Saxon, grandson of a baron.

 

And so begins a complex, worthy tale of adventure, rich in history (both England's and America's) and a love that could not be denied.

 

Jane Toombs’ BRIDE OF THE BAJA – A Bodice Ripper from Old California with an Irish Hero and a very well told tale!

 

First published in 1980 with the author listed on the cover as Jocelyn Wilde (which is the pen name for John Toombs), the cover of the new edition shows the author as Jane Toombs. While I cannot confirm it, this may have been a collaborative effort of husband and wife.

 

Based on the real characters and events and one date late in the book of 1813, it is set in the early 19^th century in Alta California, the waters off the coast and in Mexico. It begins as Alitha Bradford is traveling with her father on his ship from Boston to California with the intention of sailing on to the Sandwich Islands where she is to wed her betrothed, Thomas, who is a missionary. As they leave Valparaiso, she sees a handsome American captain standing on the deck of his ship. She will only learn later he is Jordan Quinn.

 

Off the coast of California, Alitha’s father’s ship, struck with cholera, goes down in a storm and Alitha ends up stranded on a coastal island with a young Indian boy who saves them both.

 

Meanwhile, Jordan Quinn, the Irish American captain of the Kerry Dancer out of Portsmouth, sails to Santa Barbara to wed the beautiful Margarita Mendoza. When the wedding is delayed, Jordan steals away with Margarita aboard his ship—only to be accosted by pirates, led by the Frenchman Bouchard.

 

Alitha, having been taken captive by a tribe of Indians, is rescued by Esteban Mendoza, Margarita’s brother, and taken to his hacienda where Jordan shows up in a trade of captives by the pirates. When Esteban and Alitha travel to Mexico, Jordan goes too, but with a hidden agenda. To round out the players, Alitha’s betrothed, Thomas will come to California, looking for her.

 

This is a well-told, absorbing saga of early California bringing in all the cultural elements: the Californios, the Padres, the Indians and the Americans (who have designs on the land0. And, lest I forget, there are pirates. The scenes on the ships are very well described, and the characters well developed.

 

I could not put this one down, wondering what next would happen next and if Alitha would wise up about her future with Mendoza and make a good choice. Still, it’s not for every reader of romance as there is violence aplenty, even rape, which for pirates would have been the norm. And the heroine, a spirited but in some ways naïve young woman, goes on a major detour with Mendoza who takes advantage of her innocence.

 

But I recommend it and would read more by this author.

Cordia Byers’ THE BLACK ANGEL –Irish Privateer and an English Lass in the Revolutionary War

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.

 

Michelle Beattie’s HER PIRATE TO LOVE – Ruthless Pirate, Gracious Pirate... The Heroine Experiences Both

Set in 1664 in the Caribbean, this is the story of pirate Sam Steele, a name assumed by Cale Hunter, to escape the tragedy that befell him when his wife and son disappeared leaving behind evidence of slaughter.

 

Grace Sullivan, an Irish lass, who defied her parents and took a ship to Ireland, or so she thought. Instead, she became the captive of the ruthless pirate, Roche Santiago who raped and tortured her, enjoying her pain. When Steele rescues her, she is reluctant to accept his help, fearing to trust no man, especially when she realizes she is pregnant with Roche’s child.

 

Amazon lists this as the first in the Sam Steele series, but it has the feel of a book in the middle of a series as some of Steele’s couple friends are characters (toward the end) and their stories are alluded to. It can be read as a stand alone, however.

 

There’s a lot of introspection in this book, some seemed repetitive, but if you don’t mind that (or you like it), you will enjoy the read. It’s well researched and there are some exciting fighting scenes, including one at the end when Roche Santiago shows up. It’s a pirate romance so some violence is to be expected. I enjoyed the fighting scenes but not Roche’s cruelty which is truly awful.

 

What surprised me: Grace is to give birth to the child of the ruthless, evil pirate who not only raped her, but also tried to kill her, yet she never worries about how she can raise a son that is his spitting image. I can see her having angst over that and then deciding to love the child anyway, but Grace never even has a thought about this. That seemed odd. But overall, it's a good story and pirate romance lovers will be happy.

Jennifer Blake’s PERFUME OF PARADISE –Exciting Adventure with a Privateer Hero to Love!

Well-written and well-researched, this is a story set in 1803 beginning on the island of Sanit-Dominque in the Caribbean (today modern Haiti) in the time of violent slave uprisings. Elene Larpent returns from school in France to find her papa has betrothed her to Durant Gambier, a man she thinks is harsh. Worried about whether he’ll be kind and gentle, her maid comes to her with a solution…a perfume that will enthrall any man and keep him her slave.

 

Before Elene can be wed, the island’s slaves attack and she and her maid flee into the sugar cane field where she is rescued by the privateer Ryan Bayard.

 

To escape the violence, a mulatto friend of Ryan’s hides them in a pit under his dining room…only 4’ x 7’…for 3 days—and of course, Elene’s perfume drives Ryan wild. You can guess the result. Since she has lost everything, when they escape the island, Ryan persuades her to come with him to New Orleans where much is happening in the change of countries ruling Louisiana. Ryan asks Elene to marry him, but she thinks it’s only due to the perfume and refuses—but is it?

 

Blake sets her story in a time of great upheaval in the island and in Louisiana and did the hard research to make the background and historic details authentic as indicated in her “Author’s Note” at the end. The descriptions are rich, the dialog clever and there are some wonderful characters. There is also a mystery as people keep dying of arsenic poisoning and Elene is determined to find the culprit.

 

I recommend it.

Laurie McBain’s CHANCE THE WINDS OF FORTUNE – A Shipboard Romance from the 18th Century: Pirates, Privateers and Sea Captains!

 

For those of you who read and loved McBain’s Moonstruck Madness, as I did, this is the next book in the Dominick trilogy. The first was set in England and this one begins there but soon takes off for America and the Caribbean. I recommend you read all three, as they comprise one story. This one begins the romance of Dante and Rhea, which concludes in book 3. The original story was a bodice ripper (I have the original). I don’t know if they changed the new edition.

 

Set in 1769, this is the story of Dante Leighton, captain of the Sea Dragon and Marquis of Jacqobi who is hoping a buried treasure will return him the wealth he needs for revenge against the man who took from him Merdraco, his family estate in England, and Rhea Dominick, the beautiful and sweet oldest child of Sabrina and Lucien, Duchess and Duke of Camareigh, who we met in the first book. Rhea is now seventeen and the object of revenge by the Duke’s cousin. Abducted and sent aboard a ship to the Colonies, Rhea escapes one man’s evil plans for another’s.

 

McBain weaves many threads together for an exciting tale of betrayal, revenge and love wrapped around a hunt for a sunken treasure ship. Actually it is a very long but very absorbing introduction to the third novel, Dark Before The Rising Sun. I could not put it down and so appreciated McBain’s command of the English language and her attention to vivid detail. It is superbly written.

 

You will soon be lost in the world of Dante’s ship the Sea Dragon and feel Rhea’s intense longing to return home to Camareigh even as her desire grows for the brooding ship’s captain. Rhea is a courageous, unselfish heroine with a fondness for God’s creatures and those in need of help. Dante is a self-absorbed aristocrat turned hardened American privateer and smuggler who is not beyond taking a duke’s daughter.

 

I promise you will love it but get the next one for the end of the story! 

 

 The Dominick trilogy:

·         Moonstruck Madness (1977) Sabrina and Lucien

·         Chance The Winds Of Fortune (1980) their daughter, Rhea and Dante

·         Dark Before The Rising Sun (1982) Rhea and Dante (cont’d.)

 

Brenda Joyce’s THE GAME – Abducted on the High Seas by the Notorious Golden-haired Pirate… A Keeper!

Brenda Joyce has delivered a sweeping historical saga replete with the characters of the day who influenced Queen Elizabeth, a central figure in the story. It is complex richly woven tapestry of historical forces, brilliant minds and passion between a man and woman leading to love though everything conspiring against them.

Set in in 1562 in Queen Elizabeth's reign, it tells the story of Katherine FitzGerald, a beautiful Irish noblewoman who has lived the last six years of her life in a Norman convent due to her Irish lord father's reversals. Finally able to persuade the abbess to let her leave with her friend, Juliet, who has been called home to Cornwall, the two young women are abducted on the high seas by the notorious golden-haired pirate, Liam O'Neill, bastard son of a barbaric Irish clan chieftain who raped his mother, an English noblewoman.

 

The first time Liam sees Katherine on the deck of his ship, he knows he has to have her. But Katherine resists his seduction and insists he take her to her father. He agrees and in London she learns her father is impoverished, his titles and lands stripped from him and he is under house arrest, deposed by his cousin FitzMaurice who is a thorn in the side of Queen Elizabeth.

 

With her fortune gone and her dream of a noble marriage lost, it seems Katherine will become the pirate's prize. But Liam's plans are interrupted when they are captured and brought before a furious Queen Elizabeth. Katherine throws herself on Elizabeth's mercy and Lord Leicester and William Cecil urge the queen to keep Katherine as a lady in waiting, which the Queen does, jealous of the pirate's affections for the beauty.

 

The Queen arranges a marriage for Katherine that will take her away from Liam and the court, but the pirate, determined to keep her, has in mind "the Game" wherein he plays for high stakes that will keep Katherine his and see her father restored to his former title and lands in Ireland.

Katherine is a brave and beautiful woman who does not wait for others to determine her fate but acts even if somewhat impetuously. Liam is a pirate, yes, but he is also a man of noble intentions, great loyalties and capable of a great love. He tries to break the hold of his past and the legacy of his brutal chieftain father who took him from his mother when he was only seven even as all in Elizabeth's court would remind him of his parentage. Without a country or a home, he becomes the Master of the Seas.

 

This is a page-turner and will hold your interest. A keeper! I highly recommend it.

 

 

Jennifer Bray-Weber’s DEAD MAN’S KISS – A Hardened Pirate Falls in Love

 

This story is set in 1728 in Cuba, Venezuela and the Caribbean. It tells of Valeryn Barone, captain of the Rissa and a pirate for hire. Arrested as a result of a drunken brawl, Valeyn is forced to escort the mayor’s niece, Catalina Montoya, across the Caribbean so she can gather plant specimens. (Her life’s goal is to be a naturalist.) But there is a condition: he’s to leave her untouched, or lose his ship, his crew and his life.

 

Catalina was sent to live with her uncle after an illicit affair and now wants only to become a naturalist. She knows Valeryn’s life and that of his crew depends on him delivering her “untouched”, but she intends to seduce him all the same. And how anyone was to know she had been “touched” when she wasn’t a virgin was unclear. But somehow they’d just know. One has to wonder what her uncle was thinking in sending her off with a pirate not known for his morals.

 

The story is full of authentic pirate dialog and the ship scenes are exciting with a battle that will keep you turning pages. Of course, Valeryn does not resist the cute Catalina long (was anyone surprised?). Catalina seems a selfish, spoiled girl but she is certain she wants the pirate captain. Valeryn has his hands full with all his problems, yet he manages to find time for Catalina. They do seem made for each other.

 

There are some references to earlier stories and some characters come in at the end that were not a part of the main tale so I assume this is part of a series. But it can be read as a stand alone. Pirate fans will love the action.

Sally Malcolm’s THE LEGEND OF THE GYPSY HAWK - Pirate Saga with a Compelling Hero and an Exotic Locale

Originally published in 2012 as BEYOND THE FAR HORIZON (the Historical Note at the end presumes that title), this is a tale of pirates trying to preserve their dying way of life.

 

The story begins in 1848 when a midshipman, hauls aboard a chest with a lock carved with a dolphin and a hawk and realizes it must be from the ghost ship the Gypsy Hawk, captained by Zachary Hazard who loved Amelia Dauphin in the prior century. So unfolds the story.

 

In 1716 off the coast of Africa, there is a pirate haven called Ile Sainte Anne, an island kingdom of pirates that has existed for some time. There the pirates see themselves as freedom-loving people and justify their robbing wealthy merchant ships with a sort of Robin Hood philosophy. Still, for all that, they are pirates.

 

Capt. Zach Hazard likes women, dice and rum. His father is one of the island’s leaders and protector of “the Articles”—the written pirate’s code. Years ago, Zach left the island after a fight with his father. Now he returns to warn the islanders, Amelia included, that the English, French and Dutch are coming to destroy their way of life.

 

Amelia is the captain of one of her father’s pirate ships (though we don’t really see her acting as such) and is smitten with the handsome Zach as he is with her. But Amelia sees him as a risky choice and to save her island, she agrees to marry a Frenchman named Luc who persuades the leaders that trade with their enemies is the way to go.

 

Noble Zach tries and fails to persuade the island to leave behind the past and run. He is betrayed by treacherous Luc, which Zach expected, and by naïve Amelia, which Zach did not expect. Malcolm portrayed the betrayal very well in an exciting, cliff-hanging scene at the end of “Part 1”. Years later, Amelia is to be hanged. Will Zach save her?

 

This is a well-written tale of adventure, betrayal, treachery and love with a little melancholy thrown in and a bit slow in the middle. Malcolm brings you into the 18th century in a fictional exotic setting with superb descriptions and well-nuanced emotional scenes. Zack is a splendid hero, hurt by his love for a woman who did not appreciate his character. And Amelia is a rather tainted heroine (the word adultery comes to mind).

 

If you love adventure stories set in exotic locales with a hero to die for and don’t mind a tainted heroine and the pirates’ morality, then you’ll like this one.

 

A few minor notes: There are no crow’s nests on ships of this period and no “ceilings” but the shipboard scenes are nevertheless very good.

 

Shirlee Busbee’s LADY VIXEN: A Classic Privateer Love Story!

 I could not put this one down and highly recommend it. It's on both my Best Pirate and Privateer Romances List and my Best American Patriotic Romances list. Oh yes, it’s also a bodice ripper and a keeper.

 

Set in England during the years 1808-1814, this is one of those rare and wonderful love stories that sweeps you away to another time and place where you are caught up in the lives of people whose actions will affect not only their own and others' lives but America and England during the War of 1812. Deception and treachery born years ago lead to revenge and then to heartache. Busbee uses real characters, such as the pirate Jean Lafitte, to bring realism to her story as she seamlessly weaves history into a compelling tale. It's what I call a "dense" historical: one where the writing is so complex and so tight you're getting double the story you'd expect in the 538 pages.

 

Young Nicole Ashford led an idyllic life in Surrey with her wealthy parents and her twin brother until a boating accident one summer took them from her. Made the ward of an uncaring and barely related aunt and uncle who only want her fortune, and learning of their plans to marry her off to their ne'er-do-well son, at 13 Nicole dons the disguise of a young boy and runs away to sea as the cabin boy for Captain Saber, an American privateer.

 

For 5 years, Nicole sails with him as a boy and Saber pays her little attention. When she is 18, Saber observes her swimming naked on a tropical beach and decides he wants her for his mistress. He bides his time and when Nicole and a seaman (who is really a British spy) decide to destroy English codebooks that Saber has captured, the two are caught.

 

Using the life of the English seaman as a bargaining chip, Saber forces Nicole to become his mistress, until the American, on a mission to spy for his new country, decides to sail home and resume his identity as Christopher Saxon, grandson of a baron.

 

And so begins a complex, worthy tale of adventure, rich in history (both England's and America's) and a love that could not be denied.

 

Should you want to read more, here is the whole Louisiana Series (stand alones but each with a connection to Louisiana and with some overlapping characters).

 

·               Gypsy Lady

·               Lady Vixen

·               While Passion Sleeps

·               Deceive Not My Heart

·               The Tiger Lily

·               Midnight Masquerade

·               Whisper to Me of Love

·               Each Time We Love

Karen Robards’ ISLAND FLAME – An Exciting Bodice Ripper with Pirates—very well done!

 

You cannot beat Robards for an exciting read. This one and its sequel Sea Fire are bodice rippers, too. Every now and then, an arrogant alpha male (in this case a sea captain) can be cathartic, reminding us that all historical romance heroes are not all nice guys. This one certainly wasn’t. The heroine starts out as a 17-year-old innocent brat, but she quickly grows up and actually develops a very mature outlook. She may take longer than some to get there, but eventually, she sees the light.

 

Set in 1842, this is the story of Lady Catherine Aldley, whose father sent her on a military ship to London from Lisbon where he was an ambassador, never knowing it is a silver transport ship and bate for an American pirate named Jonathan Hale, who thinks nothing of ruining an innocent wellborn lady half his age to have his pleasure. Cathy may be young and innocent but she is not tame. When Captain Hale captures her and sets out to tame her in a most brutal way, he has no idea that he will become her victim.

 

Say what you will about the old romances that don’t reflect 21^st century sensibilities, but I can tell you this: this story kept me reading hours past my bedtime and that, folks, is a well-told tale. The pacing is fast, the action never ceasing and the chemistry between the two is compelling. Great sexual tension.

 

Modern historical romance authors can learn much from Robards. She makes some masterful twists and turns, I must say. All believable, which counts for much in my book. However, there was definitely some Stockholm syndrome going on as Cathy came to see herself at fault (“she had brought her injuries on herself”), and the captain as heroic. Yes, he saved her from a band of nasty thieves and murderers in Cadiz, but she never would have been exposed to them in the first place if he hadn’t taken her captive.

 

I also thought Robards did a great job with the ship setting and the sailor/ship jargon, bringing to life the ship’s culture. You might take that for granted, but having done that work for my novel, Wind Raven, I know it required much work on her part. Her descriptions put you in the setting, trust me. If you love a good bodice ripper…this is a great one!

 

Jennifer Horsman’s WITH ONE LOOK – A Keeper of a Pirate Tale set in old New Orleans, and a Love Story with two Very Extraordinary People!

 Set in New Orleans in 1818 where voodoo, pirates, and various religions, races and cultures clash, it tells the story of Victor Nolte, a “pirate of pirates,” a successful shipbuilder and the handsome son of a respected priest, and Jade Terese Devon, a beautiful, well-educated girl who Victor meets one night at the opera. He was strongly attracted to her—until he discovered she is blind.

 

From the first time he sees her, Victor knows he will not be having only a brief liaison with beautiful Jade Terese. But he had no idea he would find the seemingly innocent girl in a bordello being sold to the highest bidder.

 

There’s something for everyone in this captivating love story from old New Orleans: a noble but flawed hero who can’t seem to get around the fact the woman he loves is blind; a young woman who sees only good when she looks at life despite the terrible things it’s handed her; a cast of wonderful secondary characters, including a seer who seems to aid Victor at critical times; and lots of action, mystery and some mystical elements, as well. All very well done. Of course, since this is by Horsman, you know there’s a dog to love—two actually, “Hamlet,” and “Wolf Dog” (who is really a wolf).

 

I thought Horsman’s treatment of how the mind and body react to horrors too horrible to remember was nothing short of brilliant. She weaves a complex tale with many threads that will hold you captive.

 

This is definitely one for the keeper shelf and I highly recommend it.

Danelle Harmon’s MASTER OF MY DREAMS – Unusual 18th Century Seafaring Romance with an Irish Heroine

 

This is part of Harmon’s Heroes of the Sea series (and the first if you’re reading them in chronological order). It begins in Ireland in 1757, but then moves to the British colonies in America (Boston) on the eve of the Revolutionary War in 1775.

 

It’s the story of Deirdre O’Devir, who as a young girl in Ireland, witnessed an English lieutenant (our hero, Christian Lord) press her brother into service in the British Navy. She vowed to her dying mother that she would kill the lieutenant and bring her brother back to Ireland. Thirteen years later, on her way to Boston to enlist the aid of her cousin who is in the British Navy, she ends up on a ship captained by the same Christian Lord she has vowed to kill.

 

All that seemed a pretty straight historical setting until I encountered Lord’s crew on the “Hell-Ship.” Captain Lord has been sent out to straighten out a crew right out of McHale’s Navy, who are committed to driving all their captains mad. Among others, there’s a Scot who wears a kilt and plays the bagpipes, and a young woman from Boston, who is hidden away by his men and aspires to be a French whore. She calls herself Delight Foley (as in delight-fully) and her one goal in life is to become the woman of the “Irish Pirate.” In the meantime, she is servicing all the crew. There’s also a marine guard who habitually sleeps at his post, and a spaniel who is having puppies in the captain’s cabin. Not your average British naval warship and not your classic historical romance. But rollicking good fun!

 

With all that, there is some great action with a battle at sea. Eventually the story settles into a very well written historical romance that gives us a glimpse of the early days of the Revolutionary War in America with the Battles of Lexington and Concord and the Minutemen. Throughout the story we experience the heroine’s love for her native Ireland. A multifaceted, worthy tale with a bit of fancy.

 

Heroes of the Sea series:

 

Captain of My Heart

Master of My Dreams

My Lady Pirate

Taken By Storm

Wicked at Heart

 

 

 

Dana Ransom’s THE PIRATE’S CAPTIVE – A Swoon-worthy Pirate Puts Revenge Above Love

 This book was first published in 1987 and it’s worth finding if you are a fan of pirate romance. While no date is given, it appears to be set in 18^th century when Williamsburg was the capital of the Virginia Colony.

 

It’s the story of Lady Merrit Ellison who, while sailing to the Virginia Colony to meet her betrothed, Lord Whitelaw, was taken hostage by the pirate known as the Spanish Angel (for his handsome face). He also stole her dowry of priceless pearls. But she gave him her innocence and then fell in love with the rogue.

Nicholas had vengeance on his mind when he took Lady Merrit while releasing the others on the ship his pirate crew plundered. He wants to ruin Lord Whitelaw and his family for the terrible wrongs they did to him and his mother. Even his love for Merrit will not interfere with his plans. He is a man of many faces with keen intelligence and a thirst for revenge. Lady Merrit is a survivor with spunk.

 

On their way to a happy ending, they experience many adventures. Marrit cannot resist her “Colley” even if his intentions are not always honorable.

 

The book will certainly hold your attention as there are many twists and turns and lots of worthy secondary characters. The author does engage in some head hopping, which took me a while to get used to, and some errors in forms of address, as well as some improbable moments. Still, it’s a page-turner and a classic. Pirate romance lovers will want to get a copy.

Johanna Lindsey’s A PIRATE’S LOVE – A Privateer and the Woman He Seized

Set in the 17^th century beginning in France in1667, this is the story of Tristan Matisse whose family was brutally slain by a Spaniard who plundered the coastal towns of France, and Bettina Verlaine, who was betrothed by her father to a wealthy count living in St. Martin. On her way to meet her betrothed, who she does not know, Bettina’s ship is seized by the privateer Tristan who sails for England plundering Spanish ships.

 

From the beginning, it is clear that Tristan intends to have Bettina in his bed. He considers her spoils, no matter she is an innocent. And high-spirited Bettina will have none of it, so he rapes her. Though he told her he was taking her to St. Martin for ransom by her wealthy betrothed, he decides instead to take her to his island hideout and keep her some months until he “tires of her.” What quickly becomes apparent is that he has no intention of letting her go. While he holds Bettina, he searches for the man who killed his family, Don Miguel Bastida.

 

Lindsey does a superb job of describing the emotions experienced by Bettina—she could not give in to the pleasure she might experience with Tristan because to do so would be to betray her betrothed. She was feisty and courageous and I loved her. While it was a bit difficult to understand Tristan’s comfort with his own actions given his childhood, somehow Lindsey made us believe it was possible. And I came to like Tristan in spite of his treatment of Bettina, for he genuinely cared for her. Eventually, his more noble side comes out, and even Bettina, who has suffered his “ruining her life,” comes to see it.

 

There are many well drawn characters along the way, including Jules, the man who watches Tristan’s back, and Bettina’s mother who confesses to Bettina the cold man she thought was her father actually is not. Lindsey makes this an exciting tale with subplots and twists and turns—and the visits to many ports in the Caribbean. She had me turning pages late into the night.

 

It’s on both my Best Bodice Rippers and my Best Pirate and Privateer Romances lists. A keeper!

 

Cordia Byers’s PIRATE ROYALE – Absorbing 17th Century Pirate Story…a Keeper!

February is Pirate, Privateer and Love on the High Seas month. I’m starting with one of my favorite authors, Cordia Byers. This is a classic tale of adventure and love set in the late 17th century. It features (as a character) the pirate and privateer Henry Morgan, who along with his buccaneers, successfully attacked the Spanish settlements of Puerto Principe in Cuba and Porto Bello in what is today Panama.

 

Royale Carrington was John Carrington’s daughter and, as such, commanded the respect of the seamen who served under her when she dressed as a man and wielded a sword with fierce expertise. As captain of her own ship, she was prepared to fight King Charles II’s wardship over her and his refusal to grant her a letter of marque. Instead, she took to the sea as a pirate, robbing the Spanish of their gold.

 

On the night before Royale is to set sail, she is kidnapped by the crew of the pirate El Diablo, thinking she’d make a fine offering for their mysterious captain. El Diablo asks for a kiss to release her, but then takes her innocence instead. Though he would keep her, she will have none of it.

 

One of the things I loved about this story was that Royale got away from the pirate who captured her. I just love it when the feisty heroine outsmarts the arrogant male who thinks he will have his way. El Diablo (who is really Sir Bran Langston on a mission for King Charles) soon realizes that the young virgin he has deflowered is the ward of the King, the woman he has been sent to protect.

 

This is a well-written tale with lots of action—a classic story of pirates and love in the Caribbean as the British fight the Spanish for control. Byers does a wonderful job of integrating the real history of Henry Morgan’s escapades and his personality. I loved the heroine who was strong and smart yet very feminine. And the hero, while certainly not perfect, was at least consistent in his pursuit of the elusive female pirate who takes her revenge by seizing ships in El Diablo’s name.

 

If you like pirate romance and tales in the Caribbean, I recommend this one.

 

Sharon & Tom Curtis (aka Laura London) - THE WINDFLOWER – Superb Pirate Romance set in the War of 1812!

One of my all-time favorite books and a classic, The Windflower was the product of the husband-wife writing team of Sharon and Tom Curtis and some believe it was their best. I can tell you this: this pirate romance set in in 1813 during the War of 1812 is one of the finest historical romances I have read. Originally published in 1984, it was reissued in 1995, and can be obtained on Amazon for Kindle. It’s a keeper among keepers.

 

It tells the story of innocent, sheltered Merry Wilding, an American living in Virginia with her maiden aunt. Merry has a talent for drawing faces from memory, a talent her brother, an American spy will use to his benefit, exposing her to pirates and worse. Then, on her way to England with her aunt who wants Merry to have a better future, she is kidnapped. Taken to a pirate ship, she meets the English pirate Devon, who remembers her from a night long ago where he encountered her in a tavern. He holds her captive, believing she is involved with his enemy who was also on the ship Merry was sailing on. Protecting her brother, she will not reveal who she is. Devon is intelligent, beguiling and smooth and innocent Merry is powerless to turn away his kisses. The whole crew of pirates comes to love Merry and to teach her many things as she blossoms from shy girl to strong woman.

 

The writing is superb, the characters courageous, heartwarming and very special; the descriptions of the environs vivid; the metaphors numerous and well done; and the story a wonder to read, and re-read. The plot is intriguing. You will be swept away on a pirate ship to experience many adventures, battles at sea, storms, death, outrageous humor and love. I thought the writing gifted.

 

Here’s a sample from one scene; I bet it moves you though not a word is spoken:

 

“His fingers whispered over her face, seeking and slowly stroking nerve points, knowing where, how long, how much to caress. Her skin gained color under his touch; her eyes became enormous; her throat tightened. By her nose his little finger encountered a forgotten tear. Gathering the sparkling drop, he smeared it slowly over the curve of her lips and blew it gently dry. One hand came lightly to rest on her neck; the other supported her cheek as he sought her with his kiss.”

 

Here’s another:

 

“Tragedy dwelt like a blue flame in her big eyes; the shallow pulsebeat in the golden hollow of her throat was luffing like a spanker on a vessel that was hauled too close to the wind. He had seen the look before on women about to be raped, and he found no charm in having it turned on him.”

 

If you love pirate romance—or even Regency period romance set mostly outside of England—this classic will not disappoint.