Customer Reviews

To Catch A Pirate

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

After the death of her mother, sixteen-year-old Annalisa Townsend leave England and sets sail for the Caribbean in 1720, where her father is to be the governor of a small island named Mourning. Shortly before they reach their destination, however, the ship is attacked by pirates. Annalisa is discovered hiding in the hold by James Sterling, a young pirate. When he tries to steal her necklace, all that is left of her mother, she begs him not to. He agrees in exchange for a kiss, and she expects never to see the disturbingly handsome young pirate again. But after arriving at their destination, Annalisa's father is accused of allowing the pirates to steal the gold that was to be used to build a port on Mourning, and sent to jail.

One year later, Annalisa has acquired a ship and a crew and set out in search of James Sterling. James has run into trouble of his own, having been marooned by his former captain, Crimson Kelly, for having let Annalisa escape during the pirate attack. Annalisa is determined to find James so that he can lead her to where Crimson Kelly hid the treasure her father was responsible for, so she can reclaim it and free him from jail. What Annalisa doesn't expect is for her unsettling feelings for the young pirate to resurface, and soon she finds herself in danger of falling in love with him.

This book was nothing spectacular, but it was good for what it was - a fun historical romance about pirates. If you like this kind of story, it's the perfect summer read - it's not a very long book, but it's enjoyable while it lasts. It has a cute love story, and teenage girls who love pirate stories are sure to enjoy it.

It's the year 1720, and Annalisa Townsend and her father are on their way to the Caribbean island of Mourning to set up a governorship when they are attacked by pirates. Hiding in the hold, Anna is discovered by the young James Sterling, who, surprisingly, says nothing of her whereabouts to the rest of the pirate crew. When he goes to take her necklace, however, which is all she has left of her mother, she begs him not to and he agrees, but only in exchange for a kiss. He then disappears with the rest of the pirates, and so does the treasure that the ship was carrying.

One year later, Anna has found a ship and crew of her own, and sets out to find James Sterling, determined to get her father's treasure back. She finds James and takes him prisoner easily enough, but getting him to cooperate is another matter entirely. As she spends more and more time with him, she slowly begins to forget that he is a pirate and starts to fall for him. James seems to feel the same about her, but has he really given up his pirating ways, and can she ever really trust him?

TO CATCH A PIRATE is a fun summer read full of swashbuckling adventure and romance on the high seas. Jade Parker, who also writes as Rachel Hawthorne and Lorraine Heath, has created a fantastic world with likeable characters that are sure to win over readers.

Reviewed by: Andie Z.

Don't be fooled by the 320-page listing. The story ends on page 226! I was quite stunned to discover that both Amazon and Borders lists the book at 320 pages and dismayed at the bookstore when I was handed a book with only about 240 pages at most (and about ten of those include front and back matter). The book, while entertaining, breezes by as quickly as one of the Pirates of the Caribbean moves. But don't look for characters as colorful as Jack Sparrow or those as rich as the ones in the Horatio Hornblower or Jack Aubrey novels. But perhaps you're not looking for that. While Annalisa is an interesting heroine (plucky is the word usually used for such heroines) and James Sterling is dashing and appropriately dangerous and gorgeous, you'll not be in doubt at the outcome of this story. Still, you might find it difficult to suspend disbelief, like I did, that Annalisa is so quickly able to get a ship, an action that takes place between the prologue and chapter 1. But if romance is what you're looking for, well then you'll find it here. Three stars for the romance, but 2.50 for plot.

I just want to start off by saying that this book is extremely under-rated. After reading the plot summary, I thought it sounded interesting. To my surprise, I saw mostly negative reviews. So, I decided to buy it anyway and decide for myself. And I'm very glad I did!

One complaint reviewers had was that the book was "too short." Yes, it only had about 230 pages, but there was a good, solid story that occurred in those "few pages." Also, I'd like to point out that not everybody has the time to read a thick, 400 page novel. This was a cute, quick read that isn't very forgettable...at least, to me it isn't.

I think there was another complaint that the characters had a lack of attraction. Lack of attraction?? Did we read the same book? Just because they didn't start off with a wild affair didn't mean they lacked attraction; they were still getting to know each other!

All in all, I did like this book, though it seems that, sadly, I'm one of the few. Admittedly, there WERE a few loose ties at the end, but it was nothing of major importance that pertained to the two main characters, Annalisa (the "innocent") and James Sterling (the pirate). This was entertaining, as their fights could sometimes be ridiculous. So I think that if somebody liked it and was put off by a review shouldn't listen to them and read it for themselves. You might just be surprised.

What I really love about this book is that it goes right to the point of the story. It doesn't lag behind and explain pointless info. as most books tend to do. There is just something about an interesting book that doesn't make you feel like your forced to turn every page in order to eventually get to something good. The plot is very simple in the beginning and eventually gets more and more layers to it. It is impossible to put down, I finnished it the first day I bought it. You won't be dissapointed. It's really hard to find books that begin interesting and stay that way through out, but this one is. Though to be completely honest, I really hope there's a sequal. The ending of the book seems like a brand new beginning(it's a good idea to read the prologue of the book to understand it all the more-don't worry it's not boring-).

This book was simple, pretty good. I think author could've developed the father a little more, so we could understand the determination of Anna to release him a little better, but it is a classic pirate-romance novel. Short and sweet, I'd say.

This book is about Annalisa, a 17 year old who is on the hunt for pirates. Two pirates in particular whom she believes can prove her father innocent. (These pirates raided her ship a year before. When the treasure was stolen, her father was blamed and accused of working with Crimson, the pirate captain,so he is imprisoned.) But Anna finds James Sterling, a pirate she knows from the raid and has a personal grudge agianst, and captures him. She finds her self falling for his charm. But can she trust him to help capture Crimson and get back the treasure he stole? He certainly seems to like her as well, but it has always been his own life before others, and he has his own interests in mind...So does it work out or not? Well, you'd have to read it. This book doesn't stick in your mind for long, but it's good for a trip or rainy day.

I read this book in one sitting. There was no waiting around for the action to begin. The opening of the book starts with a breathtaking encounter between the pirate and Anna. I was entranced throughout the book. I love books that don't wait until the very end to entice the readers and feel fulfilled. This book was written in a way that fulfilled but also left me wanting more. I loved it! I'm ashamed of those who would rate this book any less.

After the death of her mother, Annalisa Townsend was looking forward to the adventure of traveling to the Caribbean, where her father was to be the governor of Mourning. But then the notorious pirate Crimson Kelly and his crew attacked the ship and the handsome, rakish pirate James Sterling found Annalisa hiding in the hold. Impressed by Annalisa's assertion that she'd rather lose her tongue than her mother's necklace, James agrees to let her keep her necklace in exchange for her ring--and a kiss. Although Annalisa and her father survive the pirate attack, the pirates manage to take the king's gold hidden aboard the ship. For the loss of this treasure, Annalisa's father is branded a suspected pirate collaborator and throne in prison. Now Annalisa has to prove her father's innocence by getting back the gold--and that means tracking down Crimson Kelly and finding where he buries his ill-gotten gains. With a forged letter of marque and her own ship, Annalisa sets out to capture James Sterling, who she is sure can help lead her to Crimson Kelly. However, finding James turns out to be the easy part. Gaining his trust and enlisting his help to find the treasure is a little more difficult. Sold by his mother into piracy as a child and abandoned by Crimson Kelly--the only father James has ever really known--life has not taught James to trust easily. But the hardest thing of all for Annalisa turns out to be not losing her heart to a certain charming pirate.

In To Catch a Pirate, Parker has created a very enjoyable, very quick read. All the ingredients for a good summer book are here: adventure, romance, strong heroine and charming hero, all woven together with breezy writing and snappy verbal sparring between the two leads. Although comparisons to Pirates of the Caribbean are not altogether that accurate, Annalisa is as smart and headstrong as Elizabeth Swan (and quite as willing to take up the sword) and James Sterling is another example that--at least in fiction--being a pirate doesn't mean being a bad guy. Although this definitely falls into the category of "fluff" reading, what matters in the end is that I read this book in a few hours and enjoyed every minute of it.

Annalisa is sailing the seas with her father, heading to an island called Mourning where her father is to be governor. But along the way, things run amuck when a crew of pirates ransacks their ship and steals her father's treasure. Now Annalisa is sailing the seas alone, determined to get the treasure back from James Sterling, and save her father. Unfortunately for Annalisa, James is just as charming as he is devilish, and the more time they spend together, the more she falls for him. But can a pirate be trusted?

To Catch a Pirate was a very short book, but very enjoyable nonetheless. Jade Parker, which is a pseudonym for Rachel Hawthorne, was able to create an entertaining and immersing historical romance that drew me in from the beginning. I was lucky enough to have this novel in my bag one especially boring day when my dad was renovating the new house that we would soon move into, and none of my things were there. So I picked it up and started reading, and by the time the paint had dried, I was done.

Characters like Annalisa, who was very brave and headstrong, and James, the roguishly handsome pirate, added life to this novel. In the short confines of the 226 pages of this book, I was able to be pulled into the characters' thoughts and emotions, and actually care.

This novel is a fun, light read for fans of historical romance, but also for anyone else interested in a good book. Since it's quite short, it'll take no time at all to read.

Annalisa Townsend and her father are glad to be departing England for the Caribbean. They need to move on from the recent death of Annalisa's mother, and what better place to do it than the little known Caribbean island of Mourning, which King George has assigned governorship of to Annalisa's father. But on the voyage over, their ship is set upon be pirates, and Annalisa is discovered in her hiding place in the hold. However, in exchange for letting Annalisa keep her necklace, a reminder of her dead mother, pirate James Sterling steals her ring and a kiss. A year later, Annalisa has a forged letter of marque to help her hunt down James Sterling. She wants to take back her father's treasure and restore his good name. But Annalisa is not entirely prepared for what James might steal from her this time--her heart.

I found To Catch a Pirate to be an adorable pirate romance story. The plot was a bit reminiscent of Pirates of the Caribbean, but I mean that in the best possible way. The love and danger on stormy seas, hidden treasure, and sword fighting really drew me in. I also liked how these fictional characters had encounters with a real pirate, Black Bart Roberts. The main characters were rather well developed, especially Annalisa. She is a strong minded and somewhat stubborn young woman who knows what she wants and will do almost anything to get it. Sterling battles with his whole good pirate/bad pirate persona, which is interesting; however, sometimes when it seems he's entirely on one side, he'll do something completely surprising. Some of the pirate encounters may seem unrealistic, especially because of the lack of loss of life, but it serves its purpose of simulating the dangers and excitement associated with piracy.

If you're looking for a unique romance story, To Catch a Pirate should be high on your life. Besides, who can resist a pirate story?