Tag: pirates

Posted in audio books, Book Review

Destiny’s Captive

Posted on by Sherri

by Beverly Jenkins, Narrated by Thomas Penny (Audiobook)

Nightmares still haunt the handsome captain, Noah Yates, years after his enforced servitude as a sailor onboard a ship. Two good things came out of that time, his friendship with his partner who was Shanghied that same night and his love of the sea. 

While his brothers and now, his mother are basking in new-found love and matrimony, Noah knows he’ll never find a woman he’d be able to marry. He could never trust a woman with the darkness that haunts his soul. He’s never told anyone about those first weeks after being captured. He couldn’t stand to see their pity or worse, let them see the monster he was capable of becoming.

But Noah never expected to meet the granddaughter of a pirate and be challenged by her in every way. Pilar steals not only his ship, but his heart.

Beverly Jenkins brings to life characters who make you swoon. Not only are the men heroic but so are the women. This is one of the best stories of enemies to lovers, and feminism in romance. If you like your romances with adventure and the spirit of adventurous characters, then this is a perfect story for you.

The richness of Thomas Penny’s voice is a delicious addition to this story. It’s like chocolate ganache on a dark chocolate cake. It’s textured and smooth, a great asset to an already wonderful story. As an audiobook listener, the narrator is an important part of the experience. Thomas Penny is a narrator I will look for in the future.    

Posted in audio books, Book Review

Some of my favorite things: Audiobooks, Pirates and Surprising Heroes!

Posted on by Sherri

The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo by Kerrigan Byrne narrated by Derek Perkins

Lorelai has lived her life with just the sweet memory of a kiss from the man who no memory of his own. A rescuer of all broken creatures it was no surprise when fourteen-year-old Lorelai demanded her father and brother allow her to save the man who dragged himself out of a mass grave.

Even without his memory, The Rook was a leader of men. When he returns for Lorelai, he is even more broken than before, but she still has the power to piece him back together again.

This had a little bit of a rough transition for me, but I am so glad I kept listening because it really is an awesome story. A story of redemption, second chances and life and love. A story of strength and friendship, and the power of love. A fabulous story.

Derek Perkins is a fantastic narrator. If you like your romances with a little odd twist, less than perfect characters and truly wonderful relationships (not just the romance), this is a must read. If you are like me and love audiobooks, anything with Derek Perkins narrating will be awesome but for a fantastic story of pirates and heroes, I’ll be looking for more Kerrigan Byrne.

Posted in Book Review

Another Mallory Novel by Joanna Lindsey

Posted on by Sherri

Beautiful Tempest by Joanna Lindsey

While at my local library looking for research books, I saw Joanna Lindsey’s latest Mallory Novel on display. A long time Lindsey fan, I couldn’t resist seeing what the Mallory family was up to in the next generation.

Having read Judy’s romance, I was eager to read Jack’s.

If you are like me you know you should not find getting kidnapped by a pirate, even a gentleman pirate, sexy, but hey, we’re talking Joanna Lindsey here and her pirates really are sexy from Nicholas Eden and Captain Hawke to the handsome Bastard, Damon Reeves.

Jacqueline Mallory is ahead of her era. She wants to be a rake and a pirate just like her father. At eighteen, she knows how to be a lady, she just prefers those times when she does not have to be. Angry with her cousin Judy for getting married during their debut season, Jack is determined not to marry for at least a year. She has a dozen beaus to keep her entertained, but none can wipe out the memory of The Bastard.

Kidnapped from her debutante party in Connecticut, in Stormy Persuasions, Jack is determined to get her revenge on the pirate who abducted her. Even though she managed to escape and return home unscathed, her inability to use all the things her father taught her to fight back has left her feeling unsettled.

At a Masked Ball, Jack meets a man who sparks her interest, but she soon believes he is working for The Bastard, the gentleman pirate who kidnapped her the previous year.

With her father away, Jack turns to her brother Jeremy and his friend, getting the three of them embroiled in a conspiracy that could see their father imprisoned. When she and her brother make a truce with Captain Reeves, Jack is free to explore the feelings she’s had for him.

Pirates, lies, battles, a funeral and finally the truth is revealed. Is it too late for Damon and Jack to find their happily ever? It is if her father, James Mallory has anything to do with it.

Jack is a little more headstrong, a little more reckless and a lot more worldly than perhaps an eighteen year old debutant should be, but she’s James Mallory’s daughter and I liked her story. It was fun.  

Posted in Book Review

Stormy Persuasion by Johanna Lindsey

Posted on by Sherri

A Mallory Novel, I grew up reading Johanna Lindsey. Falling in love with the Mallory family, when I saw this book at my local library I had to check it out. I’m so glad I did. Johanna Lindsey hasn’t lost the ability to make me fall in love. The new generation of the Mallory clan are just as fun and interesting as their parents. Judy and Jack are cousins embarking on womanhood as they come of age during this sexy, action packed story. As the two young ladies plan their dual coming out events in America and in London, they’d never believe they would find themselves embroiled with ghosts, smugglers, thieves and pirates. Can they possibly find romance with all of this going on? You bet, though they agreed to wait until their second season to fall in love and chose a husband, fate has other plans. Judy the daughter of the notorious rake Anthony Mallory and Jack the daughter of the former pirate Hawke aka James Mallory, how can a girl find love with fathers so famous and feared. If a man can survive the Mallory family then and only then will they be worthy of these spirited daughters. After reading Story Persuasion and Judy’s love story, I am now ready to find out what happens with Jack. Johanna Lindsey did it again, making me feel like I’m part of the family. If you haven’t picked up one of her books in a while, check this one out, it is true Lindsey but with a few new twists. Johanna Lindsey is still amazing.

Posted in Thoughts

Living History

Posted on by Sherri

This weekend I took my granddaughter and niece to the Historic Bath site first annual Pirate Invasion. I have attended other reenactments, Civil War and Pirate but due to its smaller size I had the chance to really talk to some of the actors. Most are armchair historians, they spend a lot of time learning about their time period and developing their character and costume. Some even compete with other reenactors for points; they are scored by how accurate their portrayal of the time period: costume, speech, tools and back story.

As a writer this intrigued me. What a wonderful way to see a time period come to life. I was able to ask questions about undergarments, class and cooking and see (all but the undergarments) in action. I could see how difficult it was to lift a cast iron pot, how time consuming it was to cook over an open fire. I learned about buttons and shoes, and the difference between pirates and pirate hunters.

Anyone writing a historical whether non-fiction or genre, what a great way to do research, join a reenacting troupe or just interview one. The people I met at the Pirate Invasion were happy to share their knowledge.

Thanks to the Crewe of the Archangel, Privateers and Pirate Hunters
web site: http://jcsterlingptarchang.wix.com/creweofthearchangel
blog: http://creweofthearchangel.wordpress.com/

and the Devilmen of the Cape Fear Captain William Hall pyraten666@yahoo.comJuly in Aurora 2014 031

Posted in News

Be a Tourist in Your Own Backyard

Posted on by Sherri

Bath 2014 020
We often take for granted that which is close to home. With the high price of gas going up and our economy straining a vacation may be out of the question. Why not take a trip on the Pamlico Ferry to North Carolina’s First Town, Bath.

From June 13th to July 26th the Queen Anne’s Revenge Traveling Exhibit will be at the Historic Bath Site Visitor Center and the Bath Public Library. The exhibit consists of artifacts recovered from the famed pirate Blackbeard’s legendary ship—Queen Anne’s Revenge and other compiled pirate memorabilia.
Pirate Past Times Day Camp at Historic Bath Site Visitor Center 207 Carteret Street. Every Thursday June 19th through July 24th 10am to 2pm children ages 4-15 are able to learn about, and experience, the life of a pirate through activities, games and demonstrations. Pre-registration required, $10 per child. Call 252-923-3971.

Pirates in Port Saturday, July 12th 10am – 4pm. Come join the Devilmen of Cape Fear at the Historic Bath Site Visitor Center as they re-enact, demonstrate and camp in the style of the 18th century pirate! Author Kevin Duffus, and Dr. Charles Ewen from East Carolina University will give lectures.
Kevin P. Duffus is the author of The Last Days of Blackbeard the Pirate, a detailed account of the last six months of the famed pirate’s life on the shores of North Carolina. This historical account identifies and explains the fate of Blackbeard’s most trusted crew members, it is a controversial contradiction of traditional accounts of Blackbeard’s origins, migration, pirating and death.
Duffus is an award winning film-maker, researcher, author and journalist of historical events. The Lost Light—A Civil War Mystery, Shipwrecks of the Outer Banks and War Zone are all books Duffus wrote on the North Carolina coast’s rich history.
Professor of Anthropology at East Carolina University, Dr. Charles Ewen, Ph.D. specializes in historical archeology with a focus on the colonial Southeast United States, the Caribbean and coastal North Carolina studies. Dr. Ewen is the co-editor of “X Marks the Spot: The Archeology of Piracy” discussing the recovery of artifacts from Queen Anne‘s Revenge.

Daily walking tours (unguided) or guided tours of Bonner House and Palmer-Marsh are available Tuesday through Saturday for a nominal fee. A free museum at Van Der Veer house on South Harding Street boasts a colonial garden complete with Heirloom plants. Visit St. Thomas Episcopal Church on Craven Street founded in 1734 is the oldest existing church building in the state’s oldest incorporated town. Sunday services are still held at St. Thomas Parish for more information you can go to StThomasParishNC.org.

Whether you are interested in North Carolina history, Pirates, Indians or Colonists, you will find something of interest at Historic Bath Site. Check them out on-line or on your phone #historicbathsite, http://www.bath.nchistoricsites.org.