Customer Reviews

The Bride And The Buccaneer

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When the story starts, Sophia has been kidnapped by a highwayman who is after her guardian's money. This highwayman doesn't intend to harm Sophia, and tells her she is free to go in the morning. Sophia, acting meek and innocent outwits him and the highway man finds himself naked, and tied up in a cave, with Sophia and all of his money gone.

Five years later, Sophia put that money to good use to get away from her sleazy guardian and opened a bookshop with a companion of hers. But Sophia longs for something more in life, and gets that opportunity when a friend of hers asks her to sail to America to deliver a letter to someone named John Burrell. Seizing the opportunity, Sophia sails off, only to be almost to Florida when her ship is overcome with pirates. And guess who the pirate is that seizes her ship? Not only the highwayman from five years earlier, but John Burrell, aka Captain Jack, himself. When Jack realizes who Sophia is, he kidnaps her again and takes her on his ship. After he reads the letter Sophia was to deliver to him, he realizes there is a great treasure to be found. Problem is, he only has half of the map - and guess who has the other half? Sophia wants in on the treasure and together - unwillingly, these two head into the wilderness of Florida to follow clues.

Every aspect of The Bride and The Buccaneer impressed me. The adventure is just fun to read and it makes me wonder why I don't seek out more of these types of books. These two dislike each other so much, but the promise of 50,000 pounds is just too irresistible to walk away from. They fight, they try to outwit the other, and in the end, they find they just have to suck it up and work together. Sophia is very curious and independent with a free flying soul. Captain's Jack crew takes an immediate liking to her, and they find themselves wanting to please Sophia, but knowing they still must take orders from Jack. Sophia is very subtle with revenge though - for instance, after being kidnapped, Jack gives her his clothes for mending, and she mends them, but she also sews daisies on the fly of all of his underwear - just to spite him.

It takes awhile for the romance to happen, but when it does, there are really sexy scenes in this book. What I found somewhat refreshing is that there is no scheming or plotting by one of the protagonists to romanticize the other. They truly don't care for each other. They appreciate the other's physical appearance, but that is where it ends. It really takes days of them forced together to slowly come together and even then Sophia is very hesitant. It is a very believable, and heartfelt romance.

The tension builds so much, at one point when they first come together, Jack realizes he is not going to last long and starts reciting the names of the states to try to calm his body down. When Sophia does something a little naughty to his nether regions, he shouts out, "Ohio!" It is the small moments and quotes like this which will have you smiling throughout the book. Like the first time Sophia sees Jack naked in the sunlight:

"I never realized how small my hands are."

He snorted a laugh. "No sweetheart, you're supposed to say, "'La, sir!' What a monstrous engine of delight!,

HA! I am so stealing that phrase!!

Jack is all man, and very much at home being a pirate, or a privateer as he calls himself. He definitely has protective instincts over Sophia after he kidnaps her, knowing a single lady amongst the other wilder men could go wrong. Yet for the beginning of the book, he has many times he wants to throw her over the side of the ship, rather than bed her.

"What if you were blinded and I had to take care of you for the rest of my days?"

"Sophia, I have no doubt if I were blinded you would direct me to the edge of the nearest cliff and then encourage me to take just a few steps forward, rather than care for me all your days."

Sophia didn't argue.

There is also also get a lot of history of Florida in the early 1800's. This issue of slavery is brought up and there is a very poignant moment between Jack, Sophia and a slave that touches you deeply. I can't say enough how wonderful this book is. The ending is just perfect - and will have you laughing and sighing, and not wanting this adventure to come to an end.

The Bride and The Buccaneer is a wonderful tale full of humor, adventure, and a lovely romance that will sweep you away.

I wish Darlene Marshall would write more books..faster!! Great story and had me laughing out loud a few times. There is no need to read the other books prior to this in order to enjoy this story but all of Darlene Marshall's books are highly entertaining.

Ahoy matey!! Prepare yourself for the dazzling tale that is The Bride and the Buccaneer by Darlene Marshall. Plenty of fun, plenty of adventure, this novel is sure to delight fans of historical romance.

Lucky Jack Burrell has been waiting years to enact his revenge on Sophia Deford. Years ago, she left him naked, tried to a post and broke as she walked off with his treasure. Now, living worlds away from one another fate is planning on reuniting them again. Jack and Sophia are unaware they share a mutual acquaintance. One whom leaves them a treasure map and insists they solve it together. As Sophia and Jack go on the hunt for Garvey's Gold they have to tolerate each others presence in order to reach the prize. Yet the more time they spend with one another, the more difficult it becomes to resist sharing stolen kisses. They began their journey hating each other, but with each kiss Jack and Sophia must decide what the real treasure is...a bag of gold or love?

Whew! If you like romance and you like dashing pirates then look no further than Lucky Jack Burrell. He was a complete joy to read about. Obviously after their past encounter, Jack is a somewhat uncertain about what complications Sophia will bring to his life and how much he can trust her. Yet, as you watch Jack fall hopelessly in love with her you see a touching and tender side to this fierce pirate. What made his character so perfect was the passionate side he kept in reserve not wanting his feelings to show yet also playing the perfect protector. It was the part of his character I loved the most.

Sophia...well, Sophia was the reason I gave this book a four star instead of a five. While on the one hand I loved her fiery spirit and independence on the other, it made her somewhat unlikeable at times. When you read this novel some of her intentions and reasoning are made clear at the end, but while your in the middle of reading it, it made me feel like she was somewhat cold and uncaring. Some readers will love the angst and agony you go through reading about Sophia's decisions, but for me it was a bit distracting. As the story progressed, I thought she was the perfect match for Jack, but there were some points that had me doubting her.

The development of the romance was beautiful. This couple was mean in the beginning, playful as the book went along and passionate towards the end. It was very fun and romantic journey to read about. The treasure hunt that these two go on insures that hilarity will ensue. They meet plenty of exciting characters and solve fun clues along the way that I thought was refreshing and interesting storyline. Marshall also includes a vibrant description of history with the area of early Florida and St. Augustine in 1817. It was fascinating and deliciously explained in this novel and added a lot to the adventures these characters face and to the romance.

The Bride and the Buccaneer also ended a bit abruptly for me. I wanted to know more about how they were going to start their life together, and what the future held in store for them, but it was still satisfying all the same. Historical romance fans looking for an exciting and adventurous novel need look no further than The Bride and the Buccaneer. Marshall pens a fantastic novel with all the right elements and everything a romance fan could ask for. A dazzling time period, lovely characters and adventure throughout, this is a novel you should not miss.

Overall Rating: 4/5
Heat Level: 4/5

Lisa @ Once Upon A Chapter

I enjoyed this and was thoroughly entertained. The heroine, Sophie is a very strong independent woman. She has had a hard knock life and has learned to take care of herself by any means necessary. She's been a gambler, a highway robber, and now, she is searching for long lost pirate's treasure.

"A woman who is financially dependent on others is at their mercy."

"I am especially enjoying traveling while not being at the beck and call of demanding male person who thinks he is in control of my life because he holds the purse strings."

Anyways.. to find this treasure, she must hook up with privateer Lucky Jack. They end up getting married... and though she plans to leave him after the treasure is found, she finds herself realizing that perhaps the treasure isn't really gold at all, but love... ?

From the ship to the overgrown vegatation of Florida, the story is action packed and fun and I got a kick out of the tumultous relationship between these two.

A favorite scene of mine is when Captain Jack pirates a slaver to steal its gold and notices that one of his "sailors" is not really a sailor.. "One of the sailors was very small, ver blonde, and wore a Florentine gold ring in one ear. She had a pistol clutched in her hand and was standing guard over some sailors seated morosely on the deck.."

Yep, that's Sophia.

I also like how this author wrote a steamy romance without making the heroine a virgin. Nice change!