Pirates and Privateers
The History of Maritime Piracy

Cindy Vallar, Editor & Reviewer
P.O. Box 425, Keller, TX  76244-0425

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Amanda Stephenson sails for Charleston, South Carolina to start life anew after the death of her husband. She plans to follow in the footsteps of her ancestor, a mistress of King Charles II, who learned the secret to manufacturing soap that was gentle to the skin and aromatic to the nose. Plans go awry, however, when the ship founders on a reef and pirates come to the rescue. Locked in her cabin with a loaded pistol, she awaits her fate.

Morgan Roberts, aka Captain Sinister, is a privateer. He and his crew are on their way home so his trusted friend, Gabriel Lopez, can marry his sweetheart. When Gabriel spies the Penelope, they decide to take one more ship – this time as wreckers. They board the ship, take the cargo, and release the crew in a longboat to find their way to shore. Extricating Amanda from her cabin, however, proves trickier than he expects, and in the ensuing struggle, she strikes her head and falls unconscious. Captivated by the spunky lass, he whisks her aboard his privateer where he attempts to woo her while she mends.

Falling in love with a rogue is the last thing Amanda expects to do, but fate has a way of intervening in the best laid plans. She finds herself marooned on a Florida key with Morgan and Cesar, Morgan’s cabin boy. Pirates, with a reputation for leaving behind no witnesses, come ashore, and the three must devise a clever way to save themselves. When help arrives, Amanda learns the truth of the marooning, and wants nothing to do with Morgan. He, however, offers her something she can’t resist – a chance to fulfill her dreams – but she’s reluctant to accept. At the same time, the navy is looking for Morgan, for someone from the Penelope has accused him of piracy. To clear his name, he agrees to help Commodore Porter in his bid to rid the Caribbean of pirates once and for all.

Pirates and love stories are a favorite of romance writers and readers, but few of these tales are set during the 1820s, long after the heyday of sea rovers. Fewer still examine America’s struggle to end piracy under the leadership of Commodore David Porter and the Mosquito Fleet of the U.S. Navy. Captain Sinister’s Lady is an exquisite love story that’s perfect for a rainy day or a lazy day on the beach, but it is not recommended for young adults or adults who dislike explicit love scenes. Darlene Marshall captures the reader’s attention from the first page, and never allows you to escape until the end. She deftly combines historical fact with fiction, and brings alive Savannah and Saint Augustine of old. The romance of Morgan and Amanda delights and thrills, recapturing the essence of old-time romances, while adding a few twists and turns that provide just the right spice.

Meet Darlene Marshall
Read an Excerpt from Captain Sinister's Lady

Book Review Copyright ©2006 Cindy Vallar

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