Friday, October 19, 2012

Bonus Review: Seduced by a Pirate



Seduced by a Pirate
By Eloisa James
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: October 30, 2012

Sir Griffin Barry is on his way home after spending almost half his lifetime at sea. Married at seventeen shortly before he jumped out a window and out of his new wife’s life, he was a pirate by eighteen. Four years later, he was captain of the feared Flying Poppy, named for the wife he left somewhere near Bath. Fourteen years later, he’s returning with a limp, a blue poppy tattoo on one cheekbone, a pardon from the king who has declared him a privateer rather than a pirate, and a case of nerves almost the equal of those that rendered him impotent on his wedding night. Going home seems to be his only option, but he has serious qualms about the reception he’s likely to receive. 

Phoebe Eleanor Barry, a merchant’s daughter with no desire to live in the style of the class into which she married, is content with her life at Arbor House. She has her friends, her three children, and a comfortable income of her own. Her serenity is shaken when she reads that Griffin has returned to England, but surely a pirate won’t be interested in life in Somerset, she reasons. Pirates go to prison. Perhaps that’s where he is. But Phoebe has scarcely ceased comforting herself with these reminders when two scarred and tattooed strangers arrive at Arbor House and she reluctantly prepares to greet these men who must be friends of her husband.

Griffin and his lady are quite a pair. For fourteen years, he’s thought his wife’s name was Poppy; for fourteen years, she’s thought her husband was short, slight, and unprepossessing. They discover they are both wrong. Lady Barry doesn’t use her title, and she dislikes the name Poppy, infinitely preferring her own name. Griffin at thirty-one is nothing like the boy who left. He’s big and bronzed and dangerously male. He’s also determined that he is going to be a husband to Phoebe. Can he convince his lady that he can stay on the right side of the law and out of other women’s beds? Can she resist the seductive ways of this pirate?

Seduced by a Pirate is the perfect title for this novella. I’m not a fan of pirate romances, and I could count on one hand with fingers to spare the books in that category that have been keepers for me. But I was easily seduced by Griffin Barry. I thought he was a terrific character in The Ugly Duchess and hoped to learn more of him and his Poppy. I cheered when James announced she had written the novella, and it was even better than I expected. I smiled from the first page to the final scene, only stopping when a grin or a giggle replace the smile.

Griffin is a wonderful hero, an experienced adult who knows himself and has come to value honesty and compassion. He has a healthy disregard for nonessentials and a killer sense of humor. Add to that his understanding of children and a sexiness quotient off the scale, and you have a dream of a hero. Phoebe is intelligent, sensible, loving, and as self-knowledgeable as Griffin. Watching them discover one another and fall in love was sheer delight. 

The secondary characters are also richly drawn. I found Griffin’s relationship with his father funny and moving in turn. Shark, a member of Griffin’s pirate crew turned general factotum, and Nanny McGillycuddy are warm-hearted and amusing, and the three children are distinct personalities, all appealing--although I confess Margaret, who is clearly destined for great things, was my favorite. In fact, there was nothing about this novella that I didn’t love.

It will be available in eleven days, and I promise you won’t find more reading joy for a penny less than a buck anywhere. Because this was my #1 fun read of the year, I’m giving away two Kindle copies to two randomly selected commenters (U. S. only). And remember, if you don’t have a Kindle, you can download the app and read it on your computer. As for me, I’m all set to let Griffin seduce me again.


What’s the last book you read that you loved so much you wanted to share it?



90 comments:

irisheyes said...

That's an easy question! The last book I read that I recommend to anyone that will listen is Tempting the Bride by Sherry Thomas. I loved that book.

hope said...

I thought it would be easy but its not...I was thinking Ugly Duchess because I really really liked the depth and that it was so different...then I thought I loved Grace Burrowes Lady Louisa Christmas Knight....the dialogue and story were so sigh worthy...
Then, ....well you get what I mean. SO many wonderful books out there this past few weeks. And thanks Iris, I am downloading Sherry Thomas' book right now

Linda said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
girlygirlhoosier52 said...

I just finished "The Ugly Duchess" and it was just so much fun to read!!

Lynlou2 said...

Sarah Gristwood's "Girl in the mirror" - not so much in the vein of Eloisa's writing, but one that had me hooked.
Jeanne, a young French exile orphaned by the wars of religion on the continent, is brought to London as a young girl disguised as a boy. Growing up, the disguise has not been shed and she finds a living as a clerk, ending up in the household of Robert Cecil. As she witnesses the intrigues and plots swirling round the court of Elizabeth I in the last days of Gloriana's reign, she finds herself sucked into the orbit of the dashing and ambitious young favourite, the Earl of Essex. The queen draws near to the end of her life, with no heir to follow, and the stakes are high. As Essex hurtles towards self-destruction, Jeanne finds her loyalties, her disguise and her emotions under threat -- in a political climate where the least mistake can attract dire penalties

Unknown said...

Any of Grace Burrowes' books. Her first book, The Heir, was hands down the best debut novel ever and I have devoured everything she has written since.

cmgren said...

Princess Elizabeth's Spy by Susan Elia Macneal

Theresa Friel Newbury said...

Christie Craig's Blame It On Texas. A modern romance that had me muffling giggles. Had to share it with a few co-workers.

Eloisa James is on my Keeper shelf and I would love to add this to my kindle!

Unknown said...

The last book I read that I highly suggested was a young adult book - a retelling of Robin Hood called Scarlett - I'm a HUGE fan of Robin Hood, which explains my love for the book. It seems like an "off" response to a Romance post, so just to even things out. The Brethren Guardian's series by Charlotte Featherstone had me enchanted from the 2nd book (the first one I read). :)

Shore Gige said...

Charmed by his Love - Janet Chapman

It was a very good read...

Shore Gige said...

Charmed by his Love - Janet Chapman

It was a very good read...

Unknown said...

I loved The Ugly Duchess by Eloisa James. For SciFi lovers I highly recommend Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. It even has some romance in it.

Katrina said...

I am anxiously awaiting this. I loved Griffin in "The Ugly Duchess" - wondering what would cause a man to jump out the window on his wedding night and flee to the sea! I love Ms. James' depth and humor she brings to her characters - she is definately a favorite author.

Unknown said...

My most recent read was Anna Campbell's "Seven Night's in a Rouge's Bed." The reason I enjoyed it so much was because I fell in love with her rouge...Jona's. It was a marvellous beauty and the beast tale and I utterly recommend it.

Oh and one of my many favourite lines is, "Just preparing the ground." The hero says this to the heroine and you can only imagine what ground he is preparing. Wink, wink!

Smiles,
Efthalia

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

I can't wait to read this Seduced by a Pirate because I loved The Ugly Duchess and was hoping there would be a separate book about Griffin. The last book I read was "Defending Jacob."

Dottiel48 said...

The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani was the best book I've read ths year. I think I've commented on every reading related Facebook page! She is a fantastic storyteller!

Hai-Yen said...

It's a bummer that this contest is open only to US residents! Still, "Seduced by a Pirate" sounds wonderful so I will definitely add it to my TBR list. The most recent book I've read that literally knocked me off my feet is "The Marriage Bargain" by Jennifer Probst.

Lee said...

The last book I read was A Kiss At Midnight. I love ebooks.

Unknown said...

I would love to read this book. I recently read "Eon" by Allison Goodman. Even tho it is a YA book, it was really good.

Unknown said...

I would love to read this book. I recently read "Eon" by Allison Goodman. Even tho it is a YA book, it was really good.

Unknown said...

I would definitely recommend The Chosen Ones series by Christina Dodd. It was such a unique story with lots of steamy love scenes in each of the books! I can't wait to start the Darkness Chosen series by her as well.

My3LittleE's said...

This is lame but I am naming a tv show. I have never watched anything that left me wanting more in the same way as a closed book until I watched Downton Abbey. Every time an episode is over I wait to watch the next episode the same way I wait to read the next chapter of a good book I truly feel like I am reading when I watch that show. Right now I am waiting for season 3 in the same way I anticipate a sequel to a beloved book.

Pam B said...

I hate to admit it but the last book that I recommended was The Hunger Games. I read a lot of young adult along with my romance and know a lot of young readers so I usually am trying to get them reading so that's what I'm telling people to read. I can't wait to read this one so I can see what happens with these two.

joepall said...

This is such a difficult decision The Ugly Duchess is the first book I read by EJ and felt compelled to read it again but I would highly recommend Lord and Lady Spy by Shana Galen as I read that three times now. For YA The Unearthly Trilogy by Cynthia Hand actually had me tearing up it, breaking my heart over the characters trials and their relationships.

Unknown said...

I am not living inside USA, so I can’t join in the competition :( Anyway I am having a question about this book, has Eloisa James written also an other novel with this same kind of theme where newly married husband escapes from window? That sound so familiar to me, but I am not able to connect that memory with the books I have read.

regencygirl01 said...

I find that I read a book and wow, then I want to share then I read another book and want to share it so just going on last(literally) book I read would be Krisan Higgins The Next Best Thing, if you want historical would be Pleasure for Pleasure which I just reread:-)

Ora said...

I recently finished Maya Bank's Never Seduced A Scot. I absolutely love both of her highlander series. Defintely worth reading again.

Ora said...

I recently finished Maya Bank's Never Seduced A Scot. I absolutely love both of her highlander series. Defintely worth reading again.

Unknown said...

Hi Eloisa!
You're one of my favorite authors!

I have been reading some Young Adult books because my oldest child is approaching the age where these books will interest her. I just read Ally Condie's Matched and Crossed. I loved them! I will totally recommend them to anyone who wants to read really good books or have children who are old enough to read these books. The third book in the trilogy, Reached, will be released November 13, 2012!

Thanks ~Julie K (kornhsl@yahoo.com)

RMueller0481 said...

No! I won't, I won't, I won't read romance novels! The tacky cover, the horrible plots, the blatant sex scenes....wait. Did you say pirates? Well, maybe just a peek....or two....or, where can I get the book again?

May said...

I like The Duke is Mine. It is funny and sweet at the same time!

Unknown said...

It's so hard to choose coz I love reading and there are so many wonderful authors out there. The best way to choose is the most recent book that I've read which I absolutely loved. It is Robyn Carr's My Kind of Christmas. I absolutely adore Robyn Carr's Virgin River series. I love the idea about the whole town and the people in it. Each story, loosely connected has a life of its own and they are just simply amazing.

dstoutholcomb said...

everybook I read

Betty said...

Heart Secret by Robin Owens. I absolutely love her Heart series and was not too happy with my local B&N because they didn't have it in their store when the book came out (I was spoiled by Borders). One of the stores about 40 minutes away had it but I didn't want to deal with ATL traffic so had to order the book online and wait a few days before getting my "fix."

Your "Pirate" sounds like a great read! Can't wait!

Amy Alvis said...

I've read so many good books that it's hard to pick just one. I'm currently reading The Bride wore Pearls by Liz Carlyle. I'm loving it!

Cathy P said...

I love Eloisa James' books and am waiting patiently for SEDUCED BY A PIRATE. The two most recent books I have read that I would love to share is AN HEIR OF DECEPTION by Beverley Kendall and HOW TO DANCE WITH A DUKE by Manda Collins. I am keeping both of them to reread.

Cathy P said...

I love Eloisa James' books and am waiting patiently for SEDUCED BY A PIRATE. The two most recent books I have read that I would love to share is AN HEIR OF DECEPTION by Beverley Kendall and HOW TO DANCE WITH A DUKE by Manda Collins. I am keeping both of them to reread.

Mary D said...

Hi Marja, the first book is "The Ugly Duchess" and this second one is of one of the characters from the first book. They both left their wife right after they married them. I have way to many books to choose from. There are different reasons for each book, so I won't pick. I can't wait to read this book.

Mary D said...

Hi Marja, the first book is "The Ugly Duchess" and this second one is of one of the characters from the first book. They both left their wife right after they married them. I have way to many books to choose from. There are different reasons for each book, so I won't pick. I can't wait to read this book.

Diana said...

Christmas in Fools Gold by Susan Mallery and An Affair Before Christmas by Elosia James. My Mom and my BFF like the same genre of books I do, so we share a lot!

Donna said...

Just read Jennifer Crusie's Maybe this time. Loved it. Can't wait for Seduced by a pirate. Love Eloisa James and the Ugly Dutchess!

Jen S said...

I just finished and shared Goodnight Tweetheart by Theresa Mederios. It made me laugh and cry and fall in love along with the characters. I loved every minute of it!

twinglemami in Autismland said...

I just finished reading Lord & Lady Spy by Shana Galen. Good read!

twinglemami in Autismland said...

Ooh and I read Bertrice Small's The Duchess, its an oldie but I hadnt read it. I loved that one, the detailed descriptions of wardrobe, loved it. It's a historical one.

Dawn said...

Poison Princess by Kresley Cole followed by Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter...both are YA...and I love them both. Poison Princess was wow though...it started out kind of slow but picked up fast and went out with a bang. I highly recommend both if you like paranormal, zombies, and post apocolyptic books

Anonymous said...

Just finished "The Lady Risks All" by Stephanie Laurens and was as thoroughly enchanted by the characters and writing style as all her other novels. The woman knows who to immediately engage a reader and hold them to the very end. FABULOUS!!

Danielle J said...

The last book I read and recommended to someone was Hunger Games.

krazymama_98 said...

Beach Lake by Lisa Kleypas or A Perfect Storm by Lori Foster. Terrific series, wonderful writers, great story telling....
lisakhutson @ (cox) .

D's books said...

I always try to get friends hooked on some of the wonderful books supposedly for children. I think the last were Rick Riordan's. There are tons of great "children's" books that should be read, but few adults look that way. What a shame!

Kelly B said...

Of course Paris with Love by Eloisa and the Boonsboro Inn trilogy by Nora Roberts.

sheila said...

Just finishing Maya Banks' "Never Love a Scot", before that "The Ugly Duchess". I've gotta have this one. BUT if he bolted on their wedding night how does she have 3 children???

The Consummate Reader said...

this is a great review!

SharonA said...

I loved The Others series by Christina Dodd and have been recommending it to friends. I also just finished reading "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" - a lovely story.

Maribeth said...

I just finished Fifty Shades Darker- Fifty Shades of Grey wasn't available at the library so took the 2nd in the series. I really enjoyed it- the evolution of the two characters was fascinating and hopeful. Looking forward to reading the other two in the series.
However, anything by Eloisa takes top priority and I'd drop everything to read Seduced by a Pirate!!!

Unknown said...

Nothing like reading about a devilishly handsome pirate...not to mention being ravaged by one! Can't wait to read this one, I bet it is just as good, if not better than all of Eloisa's books.

Winnie P said...

Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks
winnie968 at yahoo dot com

AquarianDancer said...

The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie by Jennifer Ashley. I loved it!

AquarianDancer at gmail dot com

fsbuchler said...

Hi Janga, What a wonderful review! I so enjoyed Eloisa's "The Ugly Duchess" that I've already read it twice, now I can't wait to read "Seduced by a Pirate." I can't wait to see what happens with Griffin and Poppy. One of the books I always re-read and recommend to friends is Jennifer Crusie's "Bet Me." I think it is her best novels!

fsbuchler said...

PS. Janga, the novella is also available for Nook. I have my cpoy already preordered!

ralawinger said...

Last amazing book i read... Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks and it is one of the best romance novels I have ever read. The heroin is amazing, beyond words, and stronger than any character I've fallen in love with as she was stronger in spirit than just in actual strength. This is one of the few novels that i felt rage as the husband felt it (or the brothers/dad), relief, animosity, curiosity, amusement, joy, love, literally was laughing out loud for most of the book, cried with the character and her family, and felt extreme peace and happiness at the end. I can honestly say that i have never be so emotionally enthralled with a book since when Dumbledore died in the HP series... but this speaks more to my spirit as it's a romance novel lol and i am a romantic and believe love is worth more than anything as shown in this book. IT's worth more than revenge, hatred, and so much more... I thoroughly loved this book.

Unknown said...

I just finished reading Losing It by Cora Carmack. very good vook. I laughed so much

Jennifer M Day said...

I loved the "Ugly Duchess" and finished it about a week ago. I'm happy that Eloisa James continued the storyline with Griffin as he was a wonderful, likeable character in the "Ugly Duchess" book. Today I finished "Deep Blue" by Kat Martin, another of my favorite authors.

chey said...

The last books I recommended to others was The Hunger Games series.

Sjhkitten said...

The last books I read that I wanted to recommend to anyone were the first two books of Nalini Singh's Psy-Changling series. I absolutely loved the first one.

Sjhkitten said...

The last books I wanted to recommend to someone were Nalini Singh's first two books in her Psy-Changeling series, Slave to Sensation and Visions of Heat.

Unknown said...

Thank you Mary D! I have not read The Ugly Duchess yet so it must be one of the earliest books, as you mentioned. Maybe one of the duchess quartet. I have planned to read all the books from Eloisa James, because I simply love her storytelling :) so far I have read The Duchess quartet, The desperate duchesses, The pleasures trilogy and When the beauty tamed the beast. It is quite hard to find James's novels from local bookstores because no one have translated those in Finnish and there are only few books sold in English language so the selections where to choose from is narrow :( I am lucky that I have learned to read English language novels it has open a new world to me ;)

Rosie1313 said...

That's a tough question. I love E.J.s books (just downloaded the Ugly Duchess). I think Kristian Higgins' books always make me feel happy.

Unknown said...

What’s the last book you read that you loved so much you wanted to share it?

I share all of my books with my boyfriend and tell him about them every time I finish, but I have one die hard book that it doesn't matter how many times I have read it I want to share. Whenever someone asks for a good book I pass on the word. It is Julie Garwood's "Saving Grace".

MyVikingBoyfriend said...

Oh, so happy to see more of the characters from The Ugly Duchess!

True confession: I haven't been reading much the last few months because I've been writing instead, so nothing comes to mind.

Kellie Kamryn said...

Twice in a Lifetime by Jennifer Jakes was a really enjoyable pirate story with a contemporary twist.
This new novella by Eloisa James sounds wonderful and as a fan of hers, I can't wait to read it.

Kelly said...

"Let's Pretend This Never Happened" by Jenny Lawson, aka The Bloggess

Unknown said...

Hmm well I've read about 5 books in the past 2 weeks, but if I had to choose one, it would be Bullet by Laurell K Hamilton. I LOVE her Anita Blake series.

Annwitch said...

I just finished Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter, not really a historical novel, but I like diversity. The book I read before that was The Ugly Duchess. I can't wait to read Griffin's story.

Unknown said...

13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher. It's about a H.S. student that committs suicide and send out recorded messages as to why she did it. It makes you think about what you say to people and how it effects them.
That one bit of kindness may be what gives someone the reason to live.

jennger said...

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. An older one is Beauty by Robin McKinley.

Ashley said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ashley said...

The last book I shared was Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Unknown said...

The Ugly Duchess is one of the best and this one must be great how i loved griffin's character on the first book... ohhhhh pls can I have a copy "Seduced by a Pirate".

jaydb said...

Hmm... the last book of this genre that I loved so much and wanted to share to other romance lovers is Charlotte Featherstone's Sinful. It's written beautifully, I think her writing style's absolutely amazing! The book's utterly heart-wrenching, it took me days to get over it!

Karen said...

I loved "Stygian's Honor" by Lora Leigh.

kbriscoek36 said...

Creed by Kristen Ashley!! I would recommend any of her books they are all great reads!!

Maris said...

I read different sub-genres in romance. So, I would say...

Historical - Monica McCarty's The Rannger

Contemporary - Gabriel's Inferno, Gabriel's Rapture by Sylvain Reynard

Paranormal - Raphael by DB Reynolds

Thanks for offering the giveaway.

Lisa said...

Triangle: The First that Changed America (also the first non-fiction I've read in months.)

Danelle said...

I want to share LOTS of books, but most recently, it would have to be "The Ugly Duchess" by Eloisa James....I loved it!

skyla11377 said...

That book would have to be Blaze (Phoenix Rising Series Book #2) By Joan Swan. I just finished it the other day and I jusy can't stop telling my friends about it. Joan is an amazing new author that has me hooked for life.

skyla11377(At)AOL(Dot)Com

skyla11377 said...

That book would have to be Blaze (Phoenix Rising Series Book #2) By Joan Swan. I just finished it the other day and I jusy can't stop telling my friends about it. Joan is an amazing new author that has me hooked for life.

skyla11377(At)AOL(Dot)Com

Janga said...

Wow! Look at all these comments. Thanks to all of you for dropping by and to Eloisa for the mention on her FB page.

It's great to see so much enthusiasm for The Ugly Duchess, which is one of my favorites by Eloisa.

Many of you mentioned other writers on my autobuy list--Sherry Thomas, Christina Dodd, Anna Campbell. Grace Burrowes, Kristan Higgins, and others. One of the reasons I think romance readers are the most fortunate readers around is that we have such an abundance of great writers and sub-genres to choose from.

I'll post the winners just as soon as I consult the Randomizer.

KHoch said...

One of my favorite authors. I recently finished "The Ugly Duchess" and I am looking forward to the release of "Seduced by a Pirate".

KHoch said...

One of my favorite authors. I recently finished "The Ugly Duchess" and I am looking forward to the release of "Seduced by a Pirate".