Pirates and Privateers

There is no frigate like a book to take us lands away. ~ Emily Dickinson

Avast there! The Bookaneer sails the High Seas in search of books of interest to pirates young and old. Feel free to browse the latest reviewed titles or click on the links below the latest reviews to access specific sections.

A special note to authors and publicists

More than two decades ago, I began reviewing books for Appraisal: Science Books for Young People, The Book Report, Library Media Connection, and School Library Journal. Later, I reviewed books online for Ivy Quill Reviews and Simply E-Books. Today, I review historical novels and history books for Historical Novels Review, Discovering Diamonds, and Goodreads.com, and piratical and maritime fiction and non-fiction for Pirates and Privateers. If you would like me to review your latest pirate or maritime book, please contact me. ~ Cindy Vallar

Captain Easterday's Bargain by Kathleen Buckley
An innocent request becomes something far more sinister when Captain Marcus Easterday assists Olivia Cantarell in running her own shipping business after the death of her father, especially after an assistant is pursued by a wayward uncle and a chance meeting at a social function brings an unexpected suitor.

Destiny's Tide by J. D. Davies
Jack Stannard hopes to return his town to the prominence it once had through his participant in King Henry VIII's wars, but local rivalries and Mother Nature have other plans. At the same time, Jack and his friends, including a warrior who renounced the sword to follow God, must come to grips with profound changes in their religious lives after the dissolution of the church and monasteries.

Crusoe, Castaways and Shipwrecks in the Perilous Age of Sail by Mike Rendell
In 1719 a new book appeared at booksellers entitled The Life and Strange Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe. It was the tale of a man who was shipwrecked, taken captive by Salé pirates, escaped, and was shipwrecked again. Only this time, he spent twenty-seven years on an island with only goats and a man named Friday before he was rescued. This author examines the history behind the novel, as well as discussing wooden ships that wrecked or suffered other tragic demises and people who found themselves stranded or marooned. -- Reviewed by Irwin Bryan

Additional Reviews

Books for Young Pirates

Books for Pirate Apprentices and Young Adults

Books for Adults - Fiction

Books for Adults - Non-fiction

A special note to readers

The United States Federal Trade Commission has issued new guidelines for online reviewers, which include disclosing to you that publishers, publicists, and authors send me review books and media for free. Sometimes I request these review copies, sometimes I don't. In either case, I am free to choose whether or not I publish a review of these items, although the sender hopes that I will do so. Sometimes I add these free review copies to my personal library collection. Other times I donate them to libraries or other worthy causes, or use them as prizes I award to contest winners. If anyone wishes to know what I did with a specific title reviewed here, I'll be happy to disclose that information.