Sweet Piracy

Rating:
Summary: Where are all of the pirates?!
Review: Caroline Pembroke is a well-bred English lady who has fallen on hard times. When her father died in a sudden accident, Caroline discovered that he had lost their fortune and she was forced to go to the US to live with her uncle. Caroline would have been happy enough, but it was obvious that her aunt did not want her in the house. Not wanting to cause conflict between her aunt and uncle, Caroline decided to become a governess for the charming Delacroix family in Louisiana. She comes to truly care for the children and Mr. Delacroix, but cannot warm up to Madame Delacroix. No matter, for Madame spends all of her time in her room, abed. Thus, when the Delacroix' eldest daughter is due to come home from her French convent, having decided against taking her vows, they send Caroline on the long ocean voyage to collect her. On the way back from France, their ship is boarded by a band of privateers and the captain himself forces his way into the ladies' room. While there he dares to steal a kiss and Caroline accidentally shoots him.

Caroline staunchly refuses to discuss the incident and has done all that she can to push it out of her mind. When Jean, Marquis of Roquefort buys the neighboring plantation, it is just the distraction she needs. Madame Delacroix immediately starts angling for the Marquis to marry one of her daughters, but, although he is charming, the Marquis does not seem interested. Then why is he spending so much time at the Delacroix plantation? And why did the Marquis insist that Caroline help him host his first ball? It is only as she spends more time with the dashing Marquis that she realizes she has met him somewhere before...

I was disappointed in this book because I felt that the description and the title were very misleading. There was a page of pirates in the whole book and the rest of it was set in Louisiana. Although the setting was quite charming there, it was not what I expected. Still, Jennifer Blake's characters are, as always, enchanting and well developed. She also has a very nice turn of phrase and wonderful, vivid descriptions. This is just a nice, simple romance with nothing suggestive or scandalous. Indeed, it is so clean that you could recommend it to your mother or grandmother.

Rating:
Summary: Where are all of the pirates?!
Review: Caroline Pembroke is a well-bred English lady who has fallen on hard times. When her father died in a sudden accident, Caroline discovered that he had lost their fortune and she was forced to go to the US to live with her uncle. Caroline would have been happy enough, but it was obvious that her aunt did not want her in the house. Not wanting to cause conflict between her aunt and uncle, Caroline decided to become a governess for the charming Delacroix family in Louisiana. She comes to truly care for the children and Mr. Delacroix, but cannot warm up to Madame Delacroix. No matter, for Madame spends all of her time in her room, abed. Thus, when the Delacroix' eldest daughter is due to come home from her French convent, having decided against taking her vows, they send Caroline on the long ocean voyage to collect her. On the way back from France, their ship is boarded by a band of privateers and the captain himself forces his way into the ladies' room. While there he dares to steal a kiss and Caroline accidentally shoots him.

Caroline staunchly refuses to discuss the incident and has done all that she can to push it out of her mind. When Jean, Marquis of Roquefort buys the neighboring plantation, it is just the distraction she needs. Madame Delacroix immediately starts angling for the Marquis to marry one of her daughters, but, although he is charming, the Marquis does not seem interested. Then why is he spending so much time at the Delacroix plantation? And why did the Marquis insist that Caroline help him host his first ball? It is only as she spends more time with the dashing Marquis that she realizes she has met him somewhere before...

I was disappointed in this book because I felt that the description and the title were very misleading. There was a page of pirates in the whole book and the rest of it was set in Louisiana. Although the setting was quite charming there, it was not what I expected. Still, Jennifer Blake's characters are, as always, enchanting and well developed. She also has a very nice turn of phrase and wonderful, vivid descriptions. This is just a nice, simple romance with nothing suggestive or scandalous. Indeed, it is so clean that you could recommend it to your mother or grandmother.

Rating:
Summary: Fun story
Review: I liked this book, but i felt that i had been cheated of the best part of the story. I think it would have been even better if Ms. Blake would have described how Caroline and the pirate met. Overall it was a fun read.

Rating:
Summary: Sweet and Well-done
Review: This is one of Ms. Blake's earlier and shorter historical romances. I like her early works better because the characters are more original, there are more twists and turns in the story, even though others may think them "outdated". The hero is an American Privateer AND a French nobleman, masculine, forceful, yet gentle. The typical Ms. Blake's man. The heroine is a English lady turned poor relation/governess, beautiful, well-bred, mature (compared with the childish girls in romances by numerous OTHER authors). He courted her gentlemanly, trying to win her love, despite his instinct to simply abduct her. ALL of the characters and their suroundings are vividly drawn. The dialog witty and interesting (another of Ms. Blake's early trade mark). I wish "Sweet Piracy" is a full length romance like "Embrace and Conquer" so I could "see and hear" the H/H even more.