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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
yo ho ho and a bottle of fun!, May 6, 2004
This review is from: The Pirate Hunter (Mass Market Paperback)
Jennifer Ashley is an amazing writer. This is her third romance, but she is also doing rather well writing Regency Era Detective Mysteries under the penname of Ashley Gardner. Her tales are always charming, very strong historically, and this her third pirate tale, demonstrates her love for yo yo ho and a bottle of rum. She does it with panache! So check out all three pirate tales, but don't hesitate to buy her Regency Mysteries as well. She is a very talented writer no matter which genre. When James Ardmore washes up, barely alive, on a beach after the ship he was on goes down, he never expected HER to be staring at him, when he opened his eyes. HER - being Lady Diana. After all, he had kidnapped her and held her as a pawn in his plans for vengeance once before, so he does not expect a welcome, despite that passionate kiss they shared before. James is on a mission to destroy the buccaneer Black Jack Mallory and will stop at nothing, use anyone to achieve that aim. He will risk his own life to see the deed done for Mallory killed James' family. James abducted Diana, even though he knows it will ruin her socially, because her father has a connection to Black Jack. Only, a sexy Pirate Hunter does not cower Diana. She lives with a cold husband, a husband who abhors his only child, because she is deaf. So James does not rattle this gutsy lady. Despite making handling his captive more difficult, James admires Diana's strengths and her determination to escape, and Diana does everything to make James regret he kidnapped her. Only, Diana begins to see traits in the man, that he cares - which is a lot more than the cold fish she has for a husband does - so she begins to fall in love with the Pirate Hunter, even knowing the romance is doomed, especially since James cannot let go of the need for vengeance. Now, James has washed up on the beach of her isolated home, giving Diana another chance at teaching the man she loves to open his heart once more. Jennifer is a strong writer, with a deft voice. She is a wizard in creating interesting characters that make you care about them. In this one, the child with her hearing problem and how Diana helps her over come that, is so wonderfully done, with such heart. Here's to hoping Jennifer Ashley/Ashley Gardner, keeps giving us such rich Regency tales. Her love for writing is in every word.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Intense story of revenge and second chances at love, May 19, 2004
This review is from: The Pirate Hunter (Mass Market Paperback)
My first book by this author was prior book THE PIRATE NEXT DOOR (which I very much enjoyed) where we first met brooding pirate hunter James Ardmore. James is a driven pirate hunter who has also angered the British Royal Navy by attacking their ships and setting free pressed American sailors. He is considered an outlaw in England and a hero in his native America (Charleston, SC to be specific) but he will not rest until he has killed pirate Black Jack Mallory, the man who killed James' brother and his family. While extricating an American spy from an English house party the previous year, he stumbled onto Lady Diana Worthing whose father knows Black Jack. James abducts her thinking she may know something of value about where Jack is but during their stormy two-day encounter he determines that 1.) She knows nothing about Black Jack, 2.) She's a spitfire who is not easily cowed and 3.) He's extremely attracted to her and senses the feeling is mutual (they share one steamy kiss!). After asking her to come away with him (she refuses) he lets her return to her husband and her life. Unfortunately, Diana's life is miserable, trapped in a marriage to a man who detests her, thinks she cheats on him and who is ashamed of his own daughter who is deaf. She is also carrying guilt for her daughter Isabeau's hearing loss as a result of a childhood illness. If not for Isabeau, Diana may well have run away with James, but she could not leave her daughter behind to the mercy of an indifferent father. Now, a year later, she is a widow and living with her father on a private island off the English coast when she and Isabeau discover James Ardmore washed up on the beach! James and Diana quickly discover that they are no less attracted to one another than they were last year, but neither is particularly happy about it. James is determined to have his revenge on Black Jack - even if it means Diana and her father are caught in the cross-fire - and Diana is just as determined to keep her father's secrets and her daughter safe. Their relationship is stormy and tumultuous with sparks both verbal and sexual igniting regularly. Diana is a woman who loved once when she was young and stupid who is now smarter and a little embittered at what life as thrown her way. James is emotionally dead inside since the death of his brother and his estrangement from his sister, Honoria. The only thing keeping him going is revenge. But when these two begin to fall for one another, it changes everything. Will James decide that love is sweeter than revenge? Will Diana find that the right man can restore her faith in love? I must say that this is one intense couple! No lighthearted romance for these two. But I enjoyed James' character very much - intense, introspective, self-contained but with a sardonic sense of humour - though he was a touch too proud and uncommunicative sometimes. Though I admired Diana's backbone and dedication to Isabeau, at times I found her a touch waspish, though given her experiences with her husband, I suppose allowances should be made. If you read THE PIRATE NEXT DOOR, do not expect the same tone here. Whereas Grayson (from TPND) was easy-going and witty and the tone of that story relatively light, I found this story more serious and brooding (not exactly "yo ho ho" as another review states), reflecting both James and Diana's characters (though it's not without some humour). I enjoyed both stories and look forward to Honoria's coming in early 2005.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
sensual and intriguing pirate tale...., February 22, 2006
This review is from: The Pirate Hunter (Mass Market Paperback)
this is my first Jennifer Ashley. I'm usually disappointed with most pirate romances-most being heavy on sex scenes but not much story. I'm happy to say this book was HIGHLY sensual but had a great storyline as well.
Those who like their romances with adventuresome women, alpha males, and a hero/heroine who are older (no blushing school room miss here) then I highly recommend this book . It's on par with Amanda Quick, Johanna Lindsey or Lisa Kleypas style and scope.
Great book despite the "old school" clutch shot cover too-LOL!
5 stars:)
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