Captain and First Mate

A Pirate's Life for Me #1

by Tricia Owens

Can Lucas resist the sexiest men in the Caribbean? After breaking up with his girlfriend, Lucas is eager to get away from reminders of their failed relationship so he answers an ad to join a pirate show in the Caribbean. What he doesn't learn until he gets there is that there are two one gay and one straight, and he's been hired for the gay show. Determined to stay, Lucas vows to 'play gay', but he hasn't counted on becoming the target of the show's pirate captain, Adam, and his first mate and lover, Tyler. Adam will only let Lucas stay in the show if he plays by Adam's rules. But Adam wants more than a good performance from Lucas, he wants Lucas to surrender to an attraction he's about to learn he can't resist. Don't miss any of the stories in the Pirate's Life for Me series: Book 1: Captain & First Mate Book 2: Island Paradise Book 3: Pirate Triumvirate Standalones A Pirate's Life for Me Mr. Anteros Shorts A Pirate's Life Christmas A Pirate's Life for Ridden Like a Pony A Pirate's Life Halloween Join the mailing list for the latest m/m romances and promotions!

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, M M M, Erotica, Romance, Menage, Audiobook

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 24, 2012

About the author

I write urban fantasy, paranormal romance, m/m fiction and menage fiction, with probably more genres to come! Please visit my website and sign up for my newsletter so you'll be kept apprised of my frequent new releases:

Website: http://www.triciaowensbooks.com/

Reviews

[Erth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding one self in what looks like a perfect job then finding out who you really are.
A well written story about learning that those years of not understanding your own feelings. How one can grow and learn, not only the good but the bitchy side of gay life.

[Trio]

oh my god, this story seriously makes me uncomfortable... I dnf'd it twice already and even Nick J. Russo can soften the pain for me. I'm going to finish it this time because I need it for a challenge, but it is actually causing me PAIN.

Like some creepy fraternity/hazing bullshit, intimidating the lead character and bullying him to come out. And the 'captain' and the 'first mate' are the worst of the bunch. I can read the darkest of the dark in MM literature, but it takes a bunch of tan, buff sex show b-rate pirate actors to turn my stomach *ugh* avoid, avoid, avoid at all costs!

[Ula'ndi Hart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall book rating: A would be 4 but due to Miss PRiss it's a 2.5
Audio Book: Nick J. Russo - 4
Book Cover: 3

Let me start with the “Negatives”

I INTENSELY DISLIKE TYLER! INTENSELY x 30!!



I can’t really remember the last time a main character – whom I’m supposed to get to like in the future I suppose – gave me heartburn from cropped up frustration!!

Oh he has good qualities all right. One being he seems to have really great eyes. The other, he cooks really well.

The problem with the COOKING – in my personal opinion you can’t actually EAT any of it even if it’s really good because the healthy dose of “Bitch and Venom” he uses so liberally will give you FOOD POISINING!

I swear I’ll rather eat burned toast the rest of my natural living life than have anything out of HIS kitchen cross my lips!



What the hell is he? An undercover Drag Queen? No I think he will even out-bitch a few of those gals.

Crap! I’m so annoyed! I am most definitely deducting at least 2 stars for his crappy personality. He’s like a f*34ng hormonal teenager for crying out load.
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Now, on to the people I DID ACUTALLY LIKE:

Lucas, Adam, Kip, Ben, Nicole and the rest of the merry crew.



I really enjoyed the overall idea of the story. Who wouldn’t love a ship full of sexy “pirates”??? Hmmmm

I liked Lucas. Even if he’s struggling with who and what he is and who he wants to be, I think without Miss Priss aka Tyler, we could have actually concentrated on all his emotional ups and downs in a more mature manner than we were forced to. Lucas has way about him that’s really laid back and I think he can be a great friend to the guys and to Nicole if given a chance.

Adam – I think he is a strong character and I really think he could have a lot of potential if he loses his “ass-whipped” status. Ty makes him seem like a “I’m-not-smart-but-I-can-lift-heavy-things” type. I don’t get what Adam sees in Ty – he must be under a voodoo spell. I really like Alpha males, and Adam seems perfect for the job up to the extent of him being led around by the short-and-curlies.

Is he in charge now, or is Ty? I’m really confused here because any Dom worth his weight would have put this little princess in his place a long time ago. I’m not seeing any of that here.

Can you see I’m still annoyed here???

I really love Kip. He is the sweetest thing. And Ben, although I didn’t really get to know him the way I would like too yet. The crew is great. Brothers in arms. (Don’t let me start with the snake in their midst again here...deep breathing...deep deep.)

I love the idea of them bonding like they do and being there for each other. I absolutely love the Island setting and the lifestyle.

This coulf have been SO great without the obvious fly in the wine

[justanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this story! Considering how far fetched the premise I thought this would just be mindless fun but as I continued to read I began to fall in love with these guys! I love the sexual tension, the humor and the glimmer of pain caused by past betrayal and disappointment that all the characters at varying parts of the story (and books) convey kept me so absorbed that I immediately purchased the other two companion books eager to learn the ending. The entire story unfolds over three lengthy novels but it well worth the read! The sex is hot, the guys are hotter and yeah, a couple of times I wished I had a prostate lol. You're STILL reading my review?! Whatsthe matter with you! Read the books. My review doesn't do them justice.

[Crystal Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grabbed this book because it was free. To be honest, I didn’t even read the blurb. I just saw it was M/M, that it was a decent length and thought, why not? Let me just say, I’m glad I got it.

Lucas has issues. After a bad breakup with his girlfriend, he’s aimless and has no idea what to do – until seeing an ad in a paper for an acting gig in the Caribbean. He leaps at the opportunity. What nobody tells him until he’s on the island and moved into the cottage with three other guys is that he is part of a gay pirate sex show.

You would think that would be difficult enough, wouldn’t you? No, in addition, he loves the place so much he doesn’t want to leave. However, before he has even blinked, he has an enemy in the boyfriend of the pirate captain and has to prove himself if he wants to stay. Also, he’s confused because of the way he feels around Adam – the pirate captain.

Turning a straight guy gay stories are usually either great or awful in my opinion. This story was so well written that even though I hated Tyler and cringed for Lucas, as soon as the story was done, I bought the second book to read along. Because – be warned. The story doesn’t end. It gives you a cliffhangar and you need to move on to the next book.

Aces to the secondary characters, especially Kip, Ben, and Orinth. They were so well-written and the kind that really stick with you. You will notice if you look up the book on several different eRetail sites, that the cover changes. A lot. That confused me, but believe me. The story is worth it. Don’t expect any full-on anal sex, but there’s a lot of teasing, and one hot 3-way scene as well. This book I think sets up the main storyline for the series, so there’s less sex and a lot of teasing.

Now, I must get back to the island. I would love to be the towel girl on that pirate ship. I’m tellin’ ya~!

Reviewed by a-nony-mouse for Crystal’s Many Reviewers
*Copy BOUGHT for review*

[Shile (Hazard's Version) on-hiatus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was frustrated while reading this with the MC Lucas he hooks up with almost every guy, checks out guys and keeps saying he is straight...

I was like



but for some weird reason i kept reading and i liked Tyler with all his insecurities and bitching he felt like the only real character in this book. Adam i didn't understand him at all.
Overall it was an erotic read with an unbelievable plot.

[Meep]

Kindle-Sort-ReRead

Must have picked this up as a freebie as even the blurb doesn't appeal.
Had a quick skim read and it's seriously not my kinda story.
Not fair to rate as it's clearly from my 'grab all the freebies' days and not a book I'd choose.

[Chappy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars...just didn't do it for me.

One of my pet peeves is a guy who spends the whole book saying he's not gay. This is Lucas.

The whole premise bothered me. The whole idea of getting hired to be on an adult pirate show and then finding out that it's a gay pirate show. The dynamic between Adam (captain) and Tyler (first mate) is troubling. Tyler is such a bitch.

The ending also left me disappointed. We don't find out anything and are just left hanging.

[GreenFairy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lucas isn't gay...or so he says. Over and over again. You know what they say about those who protest too much right? Not only does he discover he is gay...or at least bi...but he hooks up with Adam and Tyler. Seriously? I was bored...yet again. And so many enjoyed it. It should have been a hot read. Gay pirate show? Sign me up. Too late. Oh well.

[Letti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not think I was going to like this book.... Boy was I wrong, It was comical yes they plot may be a little odd and off and out there... But it was still good

[Cait · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn’t love Peter...
on the same page he could go from being straight, to being curious, to being for sure bi, to being waaaaaaay against being gay.
It got a little annoying to hear him contradict himself over and over.
I’m gonna give the second book a try, to see if it gets better.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure how I'd go with this storyline, but I couldn't stop reading, I really got into it, sometimes getting really pissed at Tyler and then Adams dominating behaviour but it all just works! I think it helps incredibly with the men I envision as Adam, Lucas & Tyler!![image error]"/>

[Amber J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick and easy read about a guy coming to terms with his sexuality while trying to fit in with a group of gay men. I struggled with how much he fought against being gay like he would be less of a man. He was in the perfect environment with a group of accepting guys that he could explore this with, yet he kept whining and struggling with the fact that he was bisexual.

I liked the sexual tension between Lucas, Adam and Tyler and wish that would have been explored more, but I liked the premise of the adult sex show and am intrigued by what might come next.

[Lillian Francis]

Despite its length this is only part of a story. It really doesn't end on any sort resolution. It's almost as though the author thought 'that's enough for the first book, I'll stop here.' Ploys of this kind make me feel as though I've been manipulated. I don't like it.
Shame, because I was interested enough (for all the ridiculousness of parts of the plot) to want to continue reading.

[joani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need more of Adam and Lucas

And Lucas needs to stop being so annoying and just man up and admit what he wants is Adam. He is starting to piss me off with all his denials and wining. But so far he is really hot when the scenes revolve around him and Adam.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting story line, but the delivery was just a bit drawn out. I wasn't a fan of taking the entire book to decide if he was bi or not. Then the whole hot tub scene just seemed very juvenile.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sizzling hot sex with humiliation at it's core. Whew!

[Don Bradshaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun look at Lucas, a supposedly straight man, who mistakenly joins the crew of a gay pirate show. Definitely not great literature but an entretaining story.

[Makhda]

M/M/M. It's just not my cup of tea.
If it's yours, grab here : https://www.smashwords.com/books/view....
It's FREE!!

[Brenda Cothern · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly, the story just ended abruptly :(

[Ianthe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt second hand embarrassment throughout all the book: I loved it.

Total Rating: 4 Stars out of 5

Rating Review Rollout:
(1) Attention Keeper: 4
(2) Characters Development: 4
(3) Relatability factor: 5
(4) Backstories: 2
(5) Love connection and chemistry: 3
(6) Side Characters: 4 (I genuinely liked all the characters excluded Tyler)
(7) Book Plot and Construction: 3 (I find it hard to believe that so many important details where omitted when Lucas was hired)
(8) World Building: 3
(9) The Wrap Up: -
(10) Juicy Smut: 4 (I loved the humiliation and power exchange)
(11) Writing Style (Prose, Dialogues, Grammar): 4
(12) Give me more please factor: 5!!!

Tags: pirates, actors, sun-kissed chests, bi-curious, first experiences, tropical island.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable, albeit far-fetched, first installment in the ‘A Pirate’s Life for Me’ series. It sets up the main characters and possible future romantic interests for Lucas. Who will he fall for? His room mate? The strict, Dom-like Captain or his First Mate? One of the other sexy pirate ‘actors’? Possibly some or all of them? Lucas struggles with his sexuality for most of this story. He will need to accept his bisexuality first and have fun while he ‘works’ and plays in the Caribbean.

I always enjoy Tricia’s writing style and story-telling. As always, Nick J Russo brings the story and characters to life.

[Bob Jackson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Insulting to gay men everywhere

I can’t believe Tricia Owens wrote this hateful book. I love her work and this is not representative of her novels. As an out and proud gay man I have many LGBT friends. My sisters and brothers fall into every category of the very broad spectrum of what it means to be part of this wonderful family. This book is an insult to my gay brothers and misrepresents us to the non-LGBT communities. It presents us as being shallow, spiteful, sex-addicted, and confused. I read a lot of LGBT books and periodically read books by authors who really can not write. Ms. Owens is a gifted author which is why I’m so shocked and disappointed in her.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know it is a good sign when you don't even realize you're at the end of the book because you are so absorbed. But also on the same hand, you don't get that completion you are looking for. All in all I enjoyed joining Lucas on his journey of self discovery (even if we have not completed said journey yet) even if he is fighting it with everything he has. We have the hot dominant, the quirky roommate and the one we all can't seem but to dislike. This is a great set of characters and a good set up for the next chapter (definitely not a stand alone story).

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is 224 pages of SA. I get kink and reading problematic fiction for kicks, but if you are going to do it it should at least be logical and well written. I fully admit I fished this one and started the second. I was hoping to see what everyone else was. But the SA becomes really problematic with no redeeming attributes.

[Enid · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good. Not a fan of endings that are not really endings...

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was hot and extra dirty. The story was kind of out there but I enjoyed it for what it was...which is definitely erotica.

[Molli B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down to 3.

I guess the important thing is that despite a laundry list of things I did not like about this book, I not only finished it quickly, but promptly bought and started the second book (and then the third).

The second book isn't so much a sequel as a continuation (one larger book was obviously broken into three parts), so there was never any wrap up between books 1 and 2 that might have afforded me a moment to say, "Do I want to read more about these guys?" It was either get book 2 and continue, or have wasted my time reading book one, learning about the characters but never getting any closure for them. But still, no one forced me to keep reading, but I did, regardless of my issues with the book(s).

I think mostly what kept me going was the dynamic between Lucas (the MC) and Tyler (one of the "pirates" on the island). It's definitely the most interesting of all the potential relationships. Maybe just because I kinda like when guys yell at each other and are rude to each other, though I like that to end on a positive note, ultimately--so I kept reading and will likely keep reading until I've read all three books, just to see how that relationship unfolds/grows/happens.

In addition to the Tyler/Lucas relationship, I generally enjoy Adam's dialogue. It tends to be sharp and insightful, which makes me think that the goofier characters and narration are intentionally goofy, but... there's far more goofiness than insight, so it's hard to judge accurately.

Also, the general story line is good, and that drives my interest. I wouldn't call this a "gay for you" story, but more a story of a guy's growth and discovery of himself and a life outside the one in which he's lived his whole life.

Since I can't outright recommend the books because they do have so many issues, I'll list some of those so people can make informed decisions when deciding to read, just in case any else shares my pet peeves.

* You can tell the author is a female. I don't have an issue with a woman writing from a man's POV, but I don't like to be able to tell, and I could tell (or felt like I could) because of the narrator's vocabulary, descriptions, etc (particularly when talking about women and sex). I considered that maybe I was dealing with a more effeminate narrator and maybe it was intentional, and maybe that is the case, but my gut feeling is that it's not. Either way, I prefer my male narrators to sound like men.

* The editing isn't very good, particularly with regard to punctuation and nonrestrictive/restrictive clauses.

* The character Kip calls the MC, Lucas, "bro" roughly every other sentence of dialogue. It quickly becomes excruciating.

* I greatly prefer reading first person to reading third, but generally I don't mind reading third if it's written well and not noticeable. In this case, the author employs a lot of the description method of referring to characters, I guess so she doesn't have to use their names so much. "The larger man sat beside Lucas." "Lucas spoke to the other blond." "They went down to the water, the skinnier man driving." That sort of thing. Just use their names, please.

* "Lots of dialogue tag abuse," the reviewer ground out.

* There are some elements of the sex and the sex dynamics that I don't care for. I don't find humiliation erotic. There is good sex in the book, but there's also a lot of stuff that the MC finds erotic that I really do not. Power games and stuff like that. I also don't particularly care for labeling bottoms "submissive" just because they're bottoms.

If any of that bothers you to distraction, this might not be the best book for you, but if you can sort of glaze over the flaws and just enjoy the story for what it is, it's a pretty decent read.

[Mary Devereaux · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, here we go... Three stars for the following:
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1) I loved the plot and the characters. I found myself laughing loudly a few times, which got my husband very curious about what I was reading. He's unaware of my M/M story obsession, so I blew it off a bit. But seriously, I do enjoy the characters.
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2) Points taken off for poor editing. It got worse as the story went along. A flubbed word here, an inconsistency there. The MC was drinking beer, bottles were everywhere, but then they were popping open cans. Or the fact that the MC head butted another character, but later it was said he elbowed him. These are the types of inconsistencies that make me cringe, because even a small prereading team should pick up on them, notify the author, and allow her to make needed corrections.
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3) Cliffie, REALLY!? I hate a cliff hanger ending. It's a cheep shot by the author to squirrel the money out of you to read more. I especially hate them when it's a book under 150 pages and with just a little effort the author could've had a longer book with more story to it. Okay, I don't HATE sequel books, but the cliff hanger in this one was just so not right. It could've happened after another story development with the MC.
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I like the characters enough I MAY look into getting the next book. But I'll have to look at reviews and consider it hard.. I mean, I'd probably forgive the ending if I felt the author worked to keep her work cleaned up.
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And BTW. Can someone please inform the MC he's gay. Cause I'm about sick of his protests.

[Gail Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came upon this book randomly whilst I was trolling through things on Amazon. It looked like an okay read and was reasonably priced so I decided to give it a go. I was not expecting to to be as good as it was. It is kind of addicting. I could not put it down and I will be going on to read the next book for sure.
I love the characters in this book and the way they all interact with each other. Tyler is a little bitchy and high maintenance for my liking, but hey, it takes all sorts right? There is so much humour and sexual tension in that cottage.
I was expecting Lucas to end up happy to mess around with guys, to fine another side of himself. However, I like that this is not straight forward for him, and causes a lot of soul searching. He is honest with himself and others as much as he is able, and generally a good sport. I also like that this is a drawn out process and not insta bonding.
There are some seriously hot scenes in this book, even though there is very little actual full on sex. What there is, is so much better. The hot tub scene is a favourite of mine. What a way to shut up Tyler! The photo shoot also shows off Adam's dominant side well.
There are also some scenes of genuine friendship and caring between this group of men such as how Kip looks after Lucas at Empire, Ben and Lucas on their lunch date, and even the bonding ceremony.
This book is well worth a read, and better than I anticipated. I already bought book two!