Date published: December 2008
ISBN: 978-042522493-9
Historical Romance
Paperback
Reviewed by Gina
Obtained by gift
A pirate attack on her family sends seventeen year old Samantha Fine along with several of her father’s crew, over the side of their boat and into the sea. They find their way to an island and what appears to be help. However, they end up slaves and one night, the man they thought saved them, rapes Samantha. Before Mr. Grant can attack her a second time she clubs him over the head, grabs her friends and a few other slaves and together they escape. They not only escape, they commandeer one of Grant’s boats and take to the seas, pirates themselves. Under the guise of Sam Steele, Samantha prowls the seas, taking only what she and her crew needs while she plans her revenge on one Dervish, the man who started it all. Some five years later her plan is firmly made but she is missing one thing—someone who actually knows what Dervish looks like.
Rather than hang, Luke Bradley accepts Sam’s assistance to escape his fate and her terms to help her take her revenge on Dervish. A pirate himself, he takes what he wishes and leaves the rest behind. Yet there is something about Sam that calls to a part of him he’d long thought dead. Together they embark on Sam’s quest for Dervish and to right the long ago wrongs he set in motion.
WHAT A PIRATE DESIRES by Michelle Beattie was an easy weekend read. The warmth of the Caribbean was definitely appealing on a chilly fall day, even if it was only in a book. The thought of a tropical drink wasn’t far from my mind.
The book, however, was almost formulaic. I didn’t feel any connection between the characters or with them myself. I could take or leave Luke and Samantha was a disappointment. Ms. Beattie starts off with a great concept of using one villain’s ship to take her revenge on another. It was one of those multi-layered paybacks you can find in one of Alexander Dumas’ marvelous tales. But unlike Dumas’ heroes, at the very end, Sam backs down. Her rational makes sense; it was just a letdown for me. As to my feeling of a formula, a mere few days after meeting Luke, Sam knows she is in love with him We know this because she tells us, not because there is any great passion or warmth between the two. It came across as if they were in love because it’s a romance and they’re supposed to be. When Luke’s own secrets come out Sam is either angry or broken-hearted. Again, we know this because she has told us, not because the characters evoke any emotion.
If you are looking for a quick and easy read without having to think much, just to read for the sheer enjoyment of reading, WHAT A PIRATE DESIRES is a good choice.
This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.
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