My Wicked Pirate
Rona Sharon
ISBN# 0821780573
Zebra Books, November 2006, 432 pp
Historical Romance – Pirate circa 1706
West Indies/Italy/France
$3.99 (US) $5.99(CDN)
Society Keeper
Reviewed by Laurel
April 2007
Lady Alanis, the only granddaughter to the Duke of Dellamore, is finally on route to Jamaica to be reunited with her betrothed Viscount Silverlake. But in reality she really wants to end this betrothal and sail the world, shunning marriage and defining her life as a woman. She is adventurous and carefree and tired of London Society and it’s rules and structures that it demands. When the reputable and dangerous Italian pirate Eros attacks her ship off the West Indie coast taking her hostage, fearing for her safety and that of her companion Betsy, she bravely faces this pirate known as the Viper. Held captive in his room she is drawn to his quiet intensity and sarcastic wit, within time they form an understanding of each other and a friendship. When she learns that her betrothed has his sister, she knows that her capture was anything but random and he will do anything to get her back.
Eros the pirate is a ruthless and dangerous man, he has sailed the open waters for close to two decades and even though he stopped his pirating ways he relishes going after King Louis and his ships. Betrayed by those closest to him long ago he seeks vengeance, for one day he will gain what is rightfully his, his birthright. He sees Alanis and is struck by her innocence and her beauty, her quiet determination and her loyalty. He senses that she could be his undoing as he develops a need to be with her and protect her. When he meets up with her fiancé a fight ensues which has Eros severely injured. Alanis begs with her fiancé to let her look after him where there was once a friendship has slowly turned into the beginnings of love. When Eros is on the mend, fate takes a unique turn as circumstances allow Eros and Alanis to sail the seas together facing incredible dangers from those who would seek to harm and discover a love that stands the test of time.
Every once and awhile I will come across a novel that reminds me of the grand sweeping epic type stories from the early 1990’s. Where even though the main characters know they love each other, obstacles, betrayals, horrible crimes, and enemies are put in place and choices are made before a HEA is obtained. In My Wicked Pirate by debut author Rona Sharon, not only did she take me back to those days, but also I discovered that this type of novel is what I’ve been missing in Historical Romance.
The novel had me riveted to my seat in the early beginnings when Eros and Silverlake were fighting as the action leapt from the pages and every character present in those pages was collectively holding their breath waiting to see who would be left standing. It was in that defining moment that I knew I was in for heck of an adventure on the high seas…one that I haven’t read in along time. The story and the execution of the story was well thought out and the detail to the islands, the ships, the battles was so rich and lush that the reader feels like they are a part of the book. It’s a story where political intrigue is rife and plenty has countries and nationalities fought for control of Ero’s true identity and destiny. He was a man that was a tortured hero but also a very proud and determined man. He swiftly executed his plans and threw in twists and outwitted his enemies every chance he got and you would swear he was giving the look of the chesire cat with the proverbial “gotcha” to his smile as he brought his enemies into his trap.
My Wicked Pirate is a novel that commanded my attention has I devoured it slowly for the detail in the writing is astounding as Rona wrote with daring action and captivating passion. It’s a story that will have any reader riveted until the adventure is long over. look forward to what Rona Sharon has to offer next, she is a writer that will prove to be exciting and innovative with her writing yet retaining everything a romance reader holds dear.