Pleasuring the Pirate (Leisure Historical Romance) [Mass Market Paperback]

Emily Bryan (Author)

Book Description

Series: Leisure Historical Romance | Publication Date: August 2008

All it took was a flick of the wrist. A deft touch of his sword point and Drake the Dragon bared her bound breasts. Then with the heat of his hands along her skin, he bared her soul. All the wantonness Jacquelyn had denied herself as a famous courtesan's daughter, all the desire she'd held in her heart while running Lord Gabriel Drake's estate flooded through her at his touch. Not that she could let a bloody pirate know it.

Gabriel may have left his seafaring days behind, but his urge to plunder was stronger than ever. Especially if it involved full, ripe lips and a warm, soft body. Unfortunately, he needed Jacquelyn's help, not her maidenhead, to learn how to behave properly toward a lady so he could marry and produce an heir. Yet Mistress Jack was the only woman he wanted, no matter what her heritage. And everyone knows what a pirate wants, a pirate takes....

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 302 pages
• Publisher: Leisure Books (August 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0843961333
• ISBN-13: 978-0843961331
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #789,476 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Writers start as readers.

I discovered early that a book was a whole world. As a child, I sneaked books into bed. I nearly ruined my eyes reading by the thin strip of light shafting in the crack of my bedroom door. When I was in middle school, even though I didn't like our creepy basement, I volunteered to take the bedroom down there so I could keep my light on without my parents' knowledge. One summer, I stayed up till 2 or 3 every night reading the complete works of Mark Twain, Shakespeare's plays and every Ann of Green Gables book I could get my hands on. Stories of adventure, laughter, pain or triumph'I willingly traded a full night's sleep for time spent with my literary friends.

In 2001, I started writing my own stories. In May 2006, my debut novel, MAIDENSONG, was published by Leisure Books under my real name, Diana Groe. ERINSONG followed in November 2006 and SILK DREAMS in July 2007. These are epic, dramatic tales'full of passion and angst in exotic settings.

When I wrote DISTRACTING THE DUCHESS, its light-hearted and frankly sexier style was such a departure from the first three books, my editor suggested a different penname. Emily Bryan was born. Light or dark, serious or silly'we need equal portions of laughter and tears to stay balanced. I hope you make room on your bookshelves for both my incarnations.

Just don't be mad if I keep you up some night.

After all, don't you deserve happily ever after?

Happy Reading,

Emily

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what I was hoping for, July 29, 2008

By 

M. Weinbeck (West Plains, MO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pleasuring the Pirate (Leisure Historical Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

After "Distracting the Duchess", I was really looking forward to Emily Bryan's next book, and was in no way disappointed. This author has done something quite rare: she's written modern versions of the romance novels I grew up reading and loving. I don't mean to say she's rewritten the same stories or stolen characters, but she's taken the things I liked so much -- interesting characters who have depth and courage, fun stories in locales I'd love to visit, and endings I don't really want to come but which are satisfying. I'm thinking of authors like Mary Stewart and Daphne duMaurier (showing my age, aren't I?!). Some modern authors seem to miss the point of romance novels, which is the connection between the two main characters, not just physical, although that's fun too, but the connection of the spirit. Bryan's books, with her humor and sensuality, stories with twists to them, and always secondary characters that beg for their own books, are among the best of the current crop of romance writers.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Average piratical romance, July 29, 2008

By 

Helen Hancox "Auntie Helen" (Essex, England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pleasuring the Pirate (Leisure Historical Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

Jacquelyn Wren is the daughter of a courtesan and the Chatelaine of Dragon's Caern, a woman without a real role in society but who feels responsibility towards the five young girls, daughter of the now dead Baron of Dragon's Caern. When she's informed that a new man is coming to take over Dragon's Caern and to turn out all the people who currently live there she agrees, rather improbably, to kill him. However, when Jacquelyn meets Captain Gabriel Drake on the road she discovers he is the son of the former Baron, a man that people thought dead, and that he has been living as a pirate for many years. Gabriel has been pardoned by the Keeper of the King's Privy Seal and wants to return home.

Gabriel understands that he needs to marry a rich woman because Dragon's Caern is almost penniless. However as he is trained in polite behaviour by Jacquelyn his thoughts turn to her. Is there any way that he can avoid having to marry a fish-faced gentry woman and to have Jacquelyn? Can he keep himself from being hanged as a former pirate? And what about the rumoured treasure at Dragon's Caern?

The first half of this book was pretty poor with the plot weak, the characterisation unlikely in places and the 'romance' feeling very unromantic. However, about halfway through the book hit its stride and there were subplots and machinations, as well as the introduction of interesting new characters such as Jacquelyn's mother. Most of the characters in this story are horribly stereotyped - the pirate's first mate who's always drunk, the evil land-grabbing baron, the hellion young girls, etc etc, but it definitely was a better read once the halfway point was reached. There was little originality in this story and far too many improbabilities in the plot but by the end it felt more like a romance and was a reasonable read.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Cute Pirate Tale (B Grade), November 14, 2008

By 

Katie Babs "Katiebabs" (NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Pleasuring the Pirate (Leisure Historical Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

Former pirate captain, Gabriel Drake has been pardoned by the King of England. He has returned to his childhood home, Dragon Caern Castle. His father is now dead and his estate is in ruins. As long as Gabriel doesn't step foot in London, he will be fine. But when he finds a woman there who refuses to let him take over his property, he is shocked. She is dressed like a man and believes the worst in him. But Gabriel is able to take own this spunky miss a peg or two.

Jacquelyn Wren was just defending her home. She lives at the Dragon Caren Castle as a governess for the five little girls now left without a father, who happened to be Gabriel's younger brother, and the girls are his nieces. Jacquelyn's mother is a well off courtesan who made sure Jacquelyn had the best of everything from boarding schools to clothes, but never had the time for her daughter. Now as the chatelaine, Jacquelyn takes care of the household. But all this has changed with Gabriel residing. He must find a bride with a dowry since he has no money and only a run down property to his name. Jacquelyn will help him find a bride even though she wishes to marry him herself. But Jacquelyn is just a daughter of a woman with a bad reputation and not enough money to bring to the table.

Gabriel would like nothing better for Jacquelyn to share his bed and would marry her if he could. Perhaps she will welcome his tender touch in other way without the benefit of matrimony? As these two go through their dance of seduction, there are those who want to finish off Gabriel because of a supposed treasure hidden within the Dragon Caern. If only Gabriel can find that wealth, than all his problems will be solved. As Gabriel and his little nieces go on various treasure hunts, Jacquelyn can't help fall for this man, her pirate who wishes plunder both her heart and soul.

Emily Bryan has done it again with this engaging historical romance. Pleasuring the Pirate is a witty and sexy tale about hidden treasure, the pirate myth and of course a wonderful and lush romance with two people who bring alive the pages with their engaging conversations and luscious lovemaking.

Gabriel is such a wonderful hero and Jacquelyn brings his heart alive. You will be rooting for these two, hoping they will find away to be together. Emily Bryan is one of the bright stars of the romance world and Pleasuring the Pirate is one read that will not disappoint in anyway.

Katiebabs