Author: C.K. Brooke
Genre/Age: Historical Romance/Adult
Series: American Pirate Romance Series (Book One)
Publisher: Limitless Publishing LLC
Format: ebook via YABound
Rating: ✺✺✺✺
Links: Goodreads
Synopsis: In 1720, it’s a pirate’s life for Abigail Clear, daughter of a notorious colonial pirate captain…
But when a rival crew invades Abigail’s ship, she is taken prisoner. Now aboard the enemy vessel, she must contend with its formidable captain. But who is the real captive?
Locked away in the belly of The Indomitable is no place for a woman…
Captain James Morrow is more than displeased to discover his sole captive to be none other than an untamable young lass who will earn him no bounty. Yet if he can soften the little rogue, she just might switch her loyalties to him, and reveal the whereabouts of the infamous thief who sired her—and his stolen treasure. But two can play that game, as Abi is equally inclined to charm the dogged sailor off her father’s tail.
Might she and Captain Morrow run the risk of falling for their own charades?
They dance about their disguises as genuine developing emotions clash against deeper motives, and suspicion runs high. When the captain finally steals a first kiss, Abi decides it’s high time to make her escape—fleeing not only his vessel, but her fondness for the man who intends to see her father hang.
The high seas heat up as Captain Morrow’s quest to recapture Abi is halted by her pirate father, Captain Clear. Will James succeed in pursuit of his captive love, or will his desires conspire to make him a captive himself?
A current like lightning shot up her legs.
“Believe me, I’ve no qualms with lifting you over me shoulder this moment,” he warned, “stripping that unsightly bloke’s garb straight from yer flesh, and setting you in my personal washtub, where I’ll proceed to give you a thorough—and I mean thorough—wash-down, Miss Clear.”
Abi stood, stunned, as the gawking crew’s sniggers met her ears. The flash of desire in his eyes and the heated delivery of his words made it seem as though he savored the images he invoked, the very thought of performing such a task. Abi suddenly feared she would melt in the kiln of her own forbidden yearning.
But reality caught her in its stronghold again. Mortified, she fired back, “It’s your mouth that needs scrubbing, Captain.” She bent over, grabbing a sopping sponge from the nearest bucket. “Aren’t you supposed to be a fancy privateer? Your mind is fouler than any pirate I’ve met.”
She gasped as the captain seized a handful of her hip, just above her backside. Her body blazed at the touch. “Your words to me last night were just as brazen,” Morrow murmured, and she could hear a smile in his voice. He dared to smile?
Abi swiveled around in indignation, knocking his hand from her hip. “I was only reading what you told me to!”
He cackled, his tall shadow overtaking her. “I may have told you to read from the Song,” he smirked, “but I never told you to pin me with that fawning gaze, flames alight in those sea-green eyes.”
They were causing a spectacle as the crew’s grinning faces jerked back and forth between them. Abi raised the dripping sponge threateningly, heat creeping up her neck. “If you care for that fine, woven waistcoat of yours, Captain,” she said through gritted teeth, “and do not wish to have it soaked, then I suggest you leave me to my chore.”
Morrow granted the crew a pleasant flourish of his hand, as though having won his battle at last. “Men,” he chirped. “Carry on.” As he retreated to the helm, the sailors burst into hoots and guffaws behind him. Abi was certain the captain laughed too.
Someone whistled at her, and she shot the fellow a rude gesture. Shellig and a man called Hilaire chortled at her side, joining her as she knelt and began the tedious work of scrubbing the deck. “I daresay it, Miss Clear, but you’re the only one what’s had the gumption t’ speak to him that way.” Hilaire elbowed her.
This satisfied her somewhat, and she looked over at Hilaire. She couldn’t help but notice, as his angular arms were prominently exposed, that he sported a tattoo, similar to Mr. DuPont’s.
Covertly, Abi glanced around. Kneeling among the others, whose sleeves remained upturned, she saw that most of them had stamped their skin with some marking or another, and a few even wore gold earrings. That was a practice she’d seen only amongst pirates, who wore gold at their ears in case they should be killed, for the sum would afford their funerals. Why, was Morrow’s crew all made up of captured—or converted—pirates?
And would Abi be next?
She was moving too slowly. Working her arms to match her companions’ vigor, she set to her task, keeping her head down. She had questions. But they would have to wait.
C.K. Brooke is a 2015 Shelf Unbound Notable Indie author with a five-star rating by Readers' Favorite. She holds numerous fantasy and romance publications with 48fourteen, Limitless Publishing, and Elphame Press. Her lifelong passion is books - reading, writing, editing, publishing and blogging about them. When not blissing out in literary land, she enjoys info-tainment podcasts, singing, songwriting and playing the piano. She lives in Washington, Michigan with her husband and young son. There's tons to check out at the new CKBrooke.com, so come and see what she's up to!
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**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for honest review.**
As you probably know if you follow my blog, I have mad love for anything written by C.K. Brooke. This one was no different!
Abigail is the daughter of a pirate and she's spent most of her life on her father's ship, learning the ways of the fugitives who sail the high seas in search of their next plunder. She isn't a delicate damsel, that's for sure.
But when Abi's ship is boarded by another, she finds herself taken captive and at the mercy of a new captain, one that doesn't think a woman's place is at sea and surrounded by scoundrels. Captain James Morrow does see a benefit of holding the daughter of the pirate captain. He plans to woo her until she shares information on where her father is holding a large pile of treasure.
Abi isn't one to be fooled, however. She devises her own scheme to seduce the captain and gain her freedom. And so the two set off intending to charm the other in order to get what they want. Along the way, the game somehow changes when Abigail and James realize their pretend affection might just be real.
Soon, Abi is caught between her loyalty to her father and the new love for her pirate captain. Unfortunately, the two men despise each other which puts a kink in Abi's plans.
I really enjoyed this book and the banter between James and Abigail was fun to witness. So was the budding romance that stemmed from the hot-and-cold relationship. The pacing was quick and filled with adventure, something I've come to expect from Brooke's stories. Abi's character was feisty and witty, yet still vulnerable enough to believe in the possibility of her happy ending.
Abigail is the daughter of a pirate and she's spent most of her life on her father's ship, learning the ways of the fugitives who sail the high seas in search of their next plunder. She isn't a delicate damsel, that's for sure.
But when Abi's ship is boarded by another, she finds herself taken captive and at the mercy of a new captain, one that doesn't think a woman's place is at sea and surrounded by scoundrels. Captain James Morrow does see a benefit of holding the daughter of the pirate captain. He plans to woo her until she shares information on where her father is holding a large pile of treasure.
Abi isn't one to be fooled, however. She devises her own scheme to seduce the captain and gain her freedom. And so the two set off intending to charm the other in order to get what they want. Along the way, the game somehow changes when Abigail and James realize their pretend affection might just be real.
Soon, Abi is caught between her loyalty to her father and the new love for her pirate captain. Unfortunately, the two men despise each other which puts a kink in Abi's plans.
I really enjoyed this book and the banter between James and Abigail was fun to witness. So was the budding romance that stemmed from the hot-and-cold relationship. The pacing was quick and filled with adventure, something I've come to expect from Brooke's stories. Abi's character was feisty and witty, yet still vulnerable enough to believe in the possibility of her happy ending.
In closing...
I hope there are more pirate stories to come in this series! Four suns!
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