Capture the Colors

Queer Novellas #1

by Elena Berrino

Francisco Garcia sailed from Spain to the Caribbean looking for a place to set up as a doctor and live in peace away from his overbearing father, who disapproves of his career in medicine and pressures him to marry. Ending up in jail after a tavern brawl was not part of the plan. When Francisco is asked to tend to a badly beaten fellow prisoner, however, his life turns about onto an even more unexpected tack: James Thomas is a pirate captain. Francisco’s orders are to fix him up just so he can hang, an unbearable thought to a doctor who does everything he can to keep people alive. But what else can he do?

A daring rescue attempt leads Francisco to a crossroads: If he throws in his lot with a pirate, he may never find the peaceful life he sought. But aboard James’s ship he has a chance at a kind of freedom and love he never dared hope for.

Genres: Historical, Pirates, Romance, LGBT, Historical Fiction, Queer, M M Romance

121 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 25, 2023

Reviews

[Drache.... (Angelika) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars.
This novella was a lovely surprise!
A pirate and a physician fall in love in a handfull of days. I had so much fun watching them stumble from prison, on a ship, through a storm, toward their hea.

[Audi♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Nobody wanted to be blown to smithereens by cannon fire with their cock and balls hanging out"

I really liked this story. It packed a punch for how short it was.
Their prison break was stressful.
That storm had me on edge. I could NEVER be on a boat/ship during a storm. Idk how anyone slept.

James and Franciscos sexual tension was delcious. I couldn't wait for them to smooch. He was so patient with Fran (3 days 🤭 ) their lil dinner date was adorable.
The crew was fun. I loved Davy and his beard burns 😂 iykyk.
Jeans a lil badass.
The ending was cute. I wish we could have got a wee epilogue of them being pirates together.

[Amur Thera · Rating 5 out of 5]

The good
    + James's patience
    + Jean
    + The rest of the crew
    + Their mutual affection
    + Only one bed
    + Injury caretaking
    + How well-matched they were
    + Francisco's indignity at seeing the way James was treated before his trial
    + James's injuries remaining throughout the entire story. He didn't magically heal after sleeping it off
    + Francisco being himself around the crew
    + Dinner date!
    + Hair braiding train


The neutral
    o Those stupid men who beat up James never got any payback


The bad
    - There was no translation for the Spanish phrases. I understood most of them, but the Kobo app hates me and I have not yet found out how I can make it translate stuff for me when I don't understand. So I felt like I was missing things sometimes...


Quotes

    "We might be criminals - but we are civilised criminals!"

James was just dropping innuendos left and right, hoping Francisco would finally catch on, while Francisco was busy overthinking all those innuendos to try to find out if they meant what he thought they meant. James was so patient and precious. They were very well-matched. I would definitely recommend this book. I believe it's available for free, so there's no reason not to read it!

[flannelpetticoat]

This is a delight.

If you're interested in a historically accurate representation of piracy that details the unsavory bits, this isn't for you. If you want an adventurous, piratical romp with enough interrupted moments to make a three-day relationship feel almost slow burn, may I introduce you to Francisco and James?

Francisco leaves Valladolid in order to get distance from his wealthy family and fully realize his dream of being a doctor. In Jamaica, on his way to Cartagena, he intervenes in a pub fight in order to protect someone, and he lands himself in jail. Incarcerated, he's taken to tend to James, whom the authorities have beaten quite badly. They need James to live long enough to be hanged. Jean, a little boy, is in the cell with James, and Jean assists Francisco with bandaging James's wounds and setting his injured arm. Francisco is gentle with everyone, and his kindness is a staple. James's green eyes, long blond hair, and need for care draw Francisco in, but his affection for James's humor makes this somewhat insta-lust story seem more grounded to me. (The innuendos and smiles were 1000/10, no notes.)

What follows is a lot of adventure, some daring, and a bit of introspection, all of which make me want to be in this universe for more than its 100 pages.

It's fun and quick, and goodness did I fall for all the characters. It's queer-normative in some respects, but there is implied period-typical homophobia in the wider world outside the pirate ship. The relationships on the pirate ship are bigger than we see. The crew work well together and have a camaraderie that's, for me, not fully explored in this novella. That's a function of the point of view, which is fine. It just leaves me wanting more, not a bad thing at all.

Very OFMD vibes, much found family, such kindness at sea, wow.

[Mx. T *Chaotic Reader* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun short and kind of sweet novella. I initially decided to read it because ⚔️pirates⚔️ and because one of the MCs is Spanish, from Valladolid (which is two hours away from where I live, I'm sentimental like that, what can I say?).

I expected less and was utterly surprised by how well written and paced it was. The characters are well rounded for how short this was. I'm never underestimating this author again.

Queer pirates is a thing, you know? A very important thing.

[Jen (mrs-machino) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick and fun novella between a pirate and a doctor, it gave such Our Flag Means Death vibes. I adored it

[ancientreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's nothing wrong with this, I guess. I read it just a couple of weeks ago and can barely remember it. Anodyne? Kind of handwaves the realities of piracy? Though what did I expect, really.

Read date approximated from the date Amazon tells me I "purchased" it.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun quick read. I picked this one up on stuff your kindle day, and once I got into actually reading it I couldn’t put it down.

James and Francisco play off each other really well, and I loved the references to actual pirates as well. I’d love to read more about this crew and see their relationship develop more.

If you’re looking for something to tide you over while waiting on that next ofmd season, this may be it.

[Cari Resh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute and quick read! I kind of wish it would’ve been a full length story, more if a build up and development. But for what it is, it was great!

[Kay Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

The audiobook narration is very stiff, and I found it difficult to concentrate on it and zoned out a lot of times. That said, I still enjoyed this story, and would probably decide to read the ebook at some point.

I like pirate stories and I thought this one was quite novel in having the main character be a Spanish doctor who joins the crew after a prison escape he really didn't need to escape from. I also really liked the crew as well, and enjoyed the fact that Francisco got to interact with them as much as he did.

My only complain story-wise is that is ends VERY abruptly, and I wish it had had one more chapter or an epilogue of some sorts.

[Anne-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun trip to the sea and just what I needed. The characters are lively and full of personality, creating a charming sea family in surprisingly few pages. I am curious to see what comes next in this world!

[Don Bradshaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

The awful cover almost kept me from reading this short. It felt rushed as so many shorts do. I enjoyed the life on deck with the crew. The Spanish phrases thrown in for color? could have been left out.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (6/8/2023)! 🎁

[Jace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jak je možný, že něco tak kratkýho, je tak dobrý, jako bych četl celou ságu.

[Hannah Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

saw this on a list of books to read if you enjoyed our flag means death and this is exactly that — super fun n sexy! enjoyed v much x

[Isabeau Delaunay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up for free, probably because I was drawn to the historical pirate setting, and I liked that it was a Spanish guy and a white guy. And then - I don't know why - I read this novella in the strangest way: I started and stopped reading it over the course of a year or more.

I think I was able to do this because it's a fairly straightforward story: closeted doctor Francisco finds himself jailed for intervening in a fight when he shouldn't have, and then his cellmate is - come to find out - wanted pirate James. Soon his crew busts him out, they take Francisco with them, and then of course, James and Francisco start to notice each other...

The overwhelming vibe is of this novella is "sweet." The conflict is not very conflict-y. So I would recommend this to folks who want a low-conflict, low-heat romance with a bit of a found family energy (the crew is all queer-friendly).

So, I liked it, but I'm not super pressed to keep reading. I need a little bit more bite and drama in my romance, I think.

[els✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

- an MM novella! GAY PIRATES!!!!!! pirate adventures, pirate x doctor, forced proximity, instalove, found family!
- everyone is in prison lol
- oof i am not good with resetting bones, i feel quite ill
- oh their escape had me ANXIOUS!! but it was really cool
- ooo got a bit of sexual tension between these two…
- “Don’t bend over” “I often hear the opposite” I GASPED
- oh they’re so cute together i love it
- i love how easily he became friends with the crew
- Jean is the cutest kid omg
- ooo Francisco and James having a lil date
- i swear to god if they keep being interrupted!!!
- the storm had me on the edge of my seat
- Davy being like ‘the captain fancies you hehe’ 😂😂
- FINALLY THEY GOT TOGETHER
- honestly i was hoping it was going to be spicier
- it had a sweet ending but needed like a two page epilogue just to see them on a ship and more settled
- this was fun! i really liked the adventure side of it but wish there was more romance

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will admit that I absolutely judged this book by its cover!

Unfortunately, it was only okay and absolutely did not live up to its cover hype.

To be fair, I got this for free through Freebooksy and for a freebie novella it wasn't bad. There are some parts that felt more like the author was trying to flesh out the wordcount rather than the plot. The story takes place over the span of three days and all of it is sort of in peril in one way or another. It's hardly the time for smitten puppy lovey-dovey flirting but here we are. Also, the pirate was mangled the entire time. There's just a lot of multitasking going on I guess is what I'm trying to say.

I was pleasantly surprised at the end of this book when I got, not one, but TWO smutty scenes. I thought for sure the author was going to do us dirty and leave it on a cliffhanger or something but it wraps up nicely.

[Kaden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting much from a 121 page novella I got for free but was pleasantly surprised.
I love pirate fiction and queer pirate fiction is a treasure I'm always thrilled to discover.
Despite its short length it was well written, the characters are considerably likeable (Especially James, I'm very fond of James), the pacing works well for the length, and there's a nice balance of humour and drama throughout.
The intimate scenes could have been better written but this is not an erotica and the rest of the story makes up for the slightly awkward writing during those scenes.
Berrino clearly has a passion for her writing and I would enjoy a full novel with these characters. With the found family dynamic and the Our Flag Means Death style potential for comedy and tension I think there's potential for a full story to be level with one of TJ Klune's novels.

[Jo-Anne]

This book has a unique storyline and exceptional character development. It is historical fiction with a slow-burn romance.

The setting for the story was delightful yet unusual, as I have never read a book set on a pirate ship before.

Francisco, a doctor, provided medical attention to James, a pirate, while they were in prison and subsequently joined him on his ship to provide medical care to the crew. He enjoyed his time on the ship with these good-natured men and women and thus continued to sail with them. The chemistry between James and Francisco was palpable, and the characters were quite likable. I particularly enjoyed Jean, a proud six-year-old who held his position on the ship with pride and was a little badass. The ending was charming, although an epilogue would have been appreciated.

This story touched my heart, and I was delighted that they found their forever person.

[Ren || Reading What I Want · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴: MM, Pirates, Novella

What an absolutely delightful read! A bit thrilling, a bit dashing, and a bit sexy! Francisco the Spanish doctor and James the English pirate were fantastic characters! Set against a historical setting deep in the Caribbean, this was such a fun little romance.

So Francisco finds himself spending two nights in jail after a bar brawl. Because he’s a doctor, he’s asked to tend to James before the pirate’s hanging. James’ crew initiated a rescue and Francisco finds himself escaping with the pirate.

So much fun, y’all. I loved the pirate ship setting, the storms, and the build up. James’ crew seems like a family and this story was just…wholesome.

POV: 3rd, Francisco
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️
🅁🄰🅃🄸🄽🄶: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love pirate books and this one gets bonus points for being about ship full of gay pirates. I downloaded this book from Kindle based on the cover (WHICH I AM OBSESSED WITH) and I was not disappointed. Spanish doctor, Francisco, finds himself in jail after intervening in a bar fight and is forced to patch up a badly injured pirate captain, James, who needs to live long enough to stand trial for piracy. James's crew launches a rescue and Francisco tags along. On board the ship he finds a community of misfits that love each other. It's a delight. Perfect for anyone who loves Our Flag Means Death and is in desperate need for gay pirate content during the hiatus.

[Shawna (endemictoearth) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun romp, above the usual standard of what appears to be a perma-freebie. It has just enough tooth, but is mostly just a full blown action adventure pirate sequence, with hurt/comfort for dayyyys, and a queer crew who are all trying to buy Francisco a clue. (I did think some of the medical knowledge might have been prescient, but I was happy to handwave that and keep having a good time.) Will look for more by this author!

[K.C. Norton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cozy queer novella about found family, piratical adventures, mild hurt/comfort tropes without the angst, and emotional spice? Yes, please.

These characters were so specific. I love when a novella is exactly the right length. I mean, yes I WOULD have read more, but nothing felt rushed or oversimplified for the sake of pacing. Spicy and sweet. #2 is already acquired.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy a good pirate story, this one took a little while before it properly pirated but it was still enjoyable all the way through. The pirate and the physician meet in a less than perfect situation, the physician saves the pirates life but it's not long before the tables are turned and an adventure begins. A short but thoroughly enjoyable read.

[Gerda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting much from a random book I opened on Kindle but this book has everything. Gay pirates (that's 2 important things by the way), historical feels, stormy seas, steamy scenes, fun characters. I honestly didn't want this story to end, it was so great

[ASHLEY · Rating 4 out of 5]

This may be one of the most perfect novellas I've read. There was action, there was sweetness and there was spice but nothing with the romance felt too rushed or insta-love. I would have loved James's POV though

[Echo Wiggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!

I love Capture the Colors, but it is not long enough for my taste. I want to know more, so I will have to buy the next book quickly and hope their story continues with the next couple.

[Es Gee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. Definitely could have been longer. This feels more like the intro to a story, and it would make a good series about their adventures. But there just wasn't as much character development in here as I would have liked.

[Adélie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love my MM pirate romance so wanted to like this so bad but it just didn’t do it for me.
I love the premise but the pace was a little too slow. The writing style was too descriptive for me and there wasn’t much spark between the two MMCs.