What do you think?
Rate this book
Bluestocking Brides #3.5
Christmas Wedding Belles
The Pirate's Kiss by Nicola Cornick
Famous and feared pirate Daniel de Lancey is master and commander of the Defiance. Only one woman makes him want to swap danger for desire, sea for seduction... And with one Christmas kiss, he will make Lucinda his bride!
A Smuggler's Tale by Margaret McPhee
Masquerading as a smuggler, society's handsome bad boy, Lord Jack Holberton, finds himself protecting young Miss Linden's honor, despite his reputation. But will this rake keep his twelfth-night promise and return to claim her as his own?
The Sailor's Bride by Miranda Jarrett
War-ravaged Lieutenant Lord James Richardson is about to put in to Naples after a victorious sea battle that has made him a hero but has left its mark on his soul. Young and innocent, Abigail Layton is just the woman to heal his hardened heart...
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 2007
5 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
Margaret McPhee
87 books51 followersThere is more than one author with this name
Margaret McPhee lives on the West Coast of Scotland with her husband and her pet rabbit called Gwinnie who, at eight years of age, is a grand old lady of the rabbit world. Margaret trained as a scientist, but was always a romantic at heart. She met her husband quite literally between science labs, on a staircase, which was an advantageous first meeting place given their difference in heights—Margaret is small—her husband, tall. It was love at first sight, despite the voluminous white coats, and they're still together fifteen years later.
As a child Margaret spent much of her time in an imaginary world. Her family always said she would grow out of it; she's still waiting. Romance entered the equation when she chanced upon one of her gran's Mills & Boon Historicals, and she never looked back. She's still reading them, but at least she now buys her own! Fortunately for Margaret her school library held a shelfful of old donated Georgette Heyer books. Be still her beating teenage heart. Her view on romance was skewed forever—dashing rakes in buckskin pantaloons and riding boots figure in it somewhere!
Margaret wrote two manuscripts and suffered numerous rejections from publishers and agents before joining the Romantic Novelists Association. A further two manuscripts later and with help from the Romantic Novelists Association's new writers' scheme, the regency romance The Captain's Lady was born.
Margaret enjoys cycling, tea and cakes (although not necessarily in that order), and loves exploring the beautiful scenery and wildlife of the islands of Scotland with her husband. She is ever hopeful that one day she will be lucky enough to see a basking shark in the Firth of Clyde, and a sea eagle in Skye.
Margaret McPhee lives on the West Coast of Scotland with her husband and her pet rabbit called Gwinnie who, at eight years of age, is a grand old lady of the rabbit world. Margaret trained as a scientist, but was always a romantic at heart. She met her husband quite literally between science labs, on a staircase, which was an advantageous first meeting place given their difference in heights—Margaret is small—her husband, tall. It was love at first sight, despite the voluminous white coats, and they're still together fifteen years later.
As a child Margaret spent much of her time in an imaginary world. Her family always said she would grow out of it; she's still waiting. Romance entered the equation when she chanced upon one of her gran's Mills & Boon Historicals, and she never looked back. She's still reading them, but at least she now buys her own! Fortunately for Margaret her school library held a shelfful of old donated Georgette Heyer books. Be still her beating teenage heart. Her view on romance was skewed forever—dashing rakes in buckskin pantaloons and riding boots figure in it somewhere!
Margaret wrote two manuscripts and suffered numerous rejections from publishers and agents before joining the Romantic Novelists Association. A further two manuscripts later and with help from the Romantic Novelists Association's new writers' scheme, the regency romance The Captain's Lady was born.
Margaret enjoys cycling, tea and cakes (although not necessarily in that order), and loves exploring the beautiful scenery and wildlife of the islands of Scotland with her husband. She is ever hopeful that one day she will be lucky enough to see a basking shark in the Firth of Clyde, and a sea eagle in Skye.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 9, 2011
Pretty good. Nothing special. The last story by Miranda Jarrett was a bit tedious. The best part of it was the backstory of the beginning of Admiral Lord Nelson and Lady Emma Hamilton's affair. I liked Cornick and McPhee's stories the best.
March 24, 2012
The Pirate's Kiss by Nicola Cornick (I enjoyed this particular story line because Daniel de Lancey was a well developed character.)
Famous and feared pirate Daniel de Lancey is master and commander of the Defiance. Only one woman makes him want to swap danger for desire, sea for seduction... And with one Christmas kiss, he will make Lucinda his bride!
A Smuggler's Tale by Margaret McPhee (This story was "HOT"!!!)
Masquerading as a smuggler, society's handsome bad boy, Lord Jack Holberton, finds himself protecting young Miss Linden's honor, despite his reputation. But will this rake keep his twelfth-night promise and return to claim her as his own?
The Sailor's Bride by Miranda Jarrett (This story weakens the collection, making the reader wish to give the collection a 3 instead of a 4.)
War-ravaged Lieutenant Lord James Richardson is about to put in to Naples after a victorious sea battle that has made him a hero but has left its mark on his soul. Young and innocent, Abigail Layton is just the woman to heal his hardened heart...
Famous and feared pirate Daniel de Lancey is master and commander of the Defiance. Only one woman makes him want to swap danger for desire, sea for seduction... And with one Christmas kiss, he will make Lucinda his bride!
A Smuggler's Tale by Margaret McPhee (This story was "HOT"!!!)
Masquerading as a smuggler, society's handsome bad boy, Lord Jack Holberton, finds himself protecting young Miss Linden's honor, despite his reputation. But will this rake keep his twelfth-night promise and return to claim her as his own?
The Sailor's Bride by Miranda Jarrett (This story weakens the collection, making the reader wish to give the collection a 3 instead of a 4.)
War-ravaged Lieutenant Lord James Richardson is about to put in to Naples after a victorious sea battle that has made him a hero but has left its mark on his soul. Young and innocent, Abigail Layton is just the woman to heal his hardened heart...
November 2, 2010
The Pirate's Kiss, my first story by this author. Enjoyed most of it till something really stupid happened and it was just beyond me to suspend belief. Up till then was enjoying it.
A Smuggler's Tale, a new author to me, thought the start of the story was silly and beyond belief but it ended up being a sweet tale.
The Sailor's Bride, a new author to me, just couldn't get interested in the story and put it down about a third way through. Moved too slow with nothing happening.
A Smuggler's Tale, a new author to me, thought the start of the story was silly and beyond belief but it ended up being a sweet tale.
The Sailor's Bride, a new author to me, just couldn't get interested in the story and put it down about a third way through. Moved too slow with nothing happening.
March 11, 2024
Tepid overall.
The Pirate's Kiss: 1.5. It is so bad that it's not even good.
Хоча пореготати можна. Вона чекала, він пішов у пірати і шпигуни, бо Наполеон, а телеграма і вайфай в той час ще не було. Потім повернувся перед Різдвом, і спочатку був у них секс під кошмою, а далі у кучугурі снігу. Так і хотілося сказати: все важливе повідмерзає, включно з мізками (якщо є).
Справжній пірат один був, але вибили з сюжету за сторінку.
A Smuggler's Tale: 2.5. Як шустра героїня побігла захищати братика від якоїсь капості, а там пірати! контрабанда! і син місцевого лорда якраз перевиховатися збирається. Так і поженились. Не дуже оригінальне, але сюжет купи тримається, вже добре.
The Sailor's Bride: Неаполь, лорд Нельсон, леді Гамільтон і головна героїня, яка розбирається в античних старожитностях, поки Наполеон десь бігає. Звичайно, їй на голову падає симпатичний офіцер, з яким можна і на балі потанцювати, і від бандитів відбитися, і навіть романтично одружитися на кораблі. Нічого жахливого, але якось не запам'ятовується."
The Pirate's Kiss: 1.5. It is so bad that it's not even good.
Хоча пореготати можна. Вона чекала, він пішов у пірати і шпигуни, бо Наполеон, а телеграма і вайфай в той час ще не було. Потім повернувся перед Різдвом, і спочатку був у них секс під кошмою, а далі у кучугурі снігу. Так і хотілося сказати: все важливе повідмерзає, включно з мізками (якщо є).
Справжній пірат один був, але вибили з сюжету за сторінку.
A Smuggler's Tale: 2.5. Як шустра героїня побігла захищати братика від якоїсь капості, а там пірати! контрабанда! і син місцевого лорда якраз перевиховатися збирається. Так і поженились. Не дуже оригінальне, але сюжет купи тримається, вже добре.
The Sailor's Bride: Неаполь, лорд Нельсон, леді Гамільтон і головна героїня, яка розбирається в античних старожитностях, поки Наполеон десь бігає. Звичайно, їй на голову падає симпатичний офіцер, з яким можна і на балі потанцювати, і від бандитів відбитися, і навіть романтично одружитися на кораблі. Нічого жахливого, але якось не запам'ятовується."
December 17, 2015
Not impressed with the whole of the book. Another Christmas anthology of 3 stories in one book.
"The Pirate's Kiss"--1 star--I had problems with some of the scenes in this story. They were just plain ridiculous. Come on, how many people would actually even FANTASIZE having sex in a snowstorm, let alone actually do it? The other scene I had difficulty digesting earlier on was when Daniel went to the trouble of kidnapping Lucinda and brought her on board his ship. They sail out to sea, and soon after he went to the trouble of sailing all the way back to port to deposit her. Why didn't he just keep her on board, in the first place? It didn't make a whole lot of sense to me.
Daniel is definitely a "bad boy." He claims to have feelings for her from their childhood, but he continually treats her like crap. She's also a total martyr because after she gives up on being heartbroken by him for four years she gets married to some other guy who treats her like crap. Lucinda is a woman seems to enjoy being trampled by men.
And how is it that Lucinda is invited to balls and dances and parties after she's been demoted to the role of "governess"? I thought that the "in" crowd of the Regency period didn't like governesses in their presence.
This girl is an idiot. She goes out into the snow without wearing any shoes and then tries to swim out after a ship in December in her nightgown!
Oh, and to add to the stupidity of this story, Lucinda claims that she is "pregnant" within only a week of having sex with Daniel. That is impossible! They didn't even have pregnancy tests during the Regency period, and most women have to wait a month's cycle before they find out whether or not they are pregnant.
"Twelfth Night Proposal"--3 stars--Much better than the first story. Francesca finds herself on board a ship with a bunch of pirates--and her brother! She finds herself getting close to one of the supposed pirates and at the end of that adventure, she and her brother returned safely home. The scene of Francesca shopping with her family members for Christmas was very nice and reminded me of Dickens "A Christmas Carol."
But there are two aspects about this story that keep me from giving it a higher rating. 1. If you blink, you'll miss the scene where Francesca loses her virginity. 2. There isn't enough emotional connection written from Francesca's point of view. I do get a strong sense of how much Jack is attracted to her, but not as much from her viewpoint. It's a subtle thing, but some authors know how to grab a reader's heartstrings and some don't quite get there.
"The Sailor's Bride"--1 star--Boring! No suspense, no emotional turmoil. The love making scene was absolutely tepid by lacking all details--was less than half a page long. I had to try to keep myself awake during this story. The author is more focused on the historical perspective and the scenery of Naples than in writing an intriguing relationship plot.
"The Pirate's Kiss"--1 star--I had problems with some of the scenes in this story. They were just plain ridiculous. Come on, how many people would actually even FANTASIZE having sex in a snowstorm, let alone actually do it? The other scene I had difficulty digesting earlier on was when Daniel went to the trouble of kidnapping Lucinda and brought her on board his ship. They sail out to sea, and soon after he went to the trouble of sailing all the way back to port to deposit her. Why didn't he just keep her on board, in the first place? It didn't make a whole lot of sense to me.
Daniel is definitely a "bad boy." He claims to have feelings for her from their childhood, but he continually treats her like crap. She's also a total martyr because after she gives up on being heartbroken by him for four years she gets married to some other guy who treats her like crap. Lucinda is a woman seems to enjoy being trampled by men.
And how is it that Lucinda is invited to balls and dances and parties after she's been demoted to the role of "governess"? I thought that the "in" crowd of the Regency period didn't like governesses in their presence.
This girl is an idiot. She goes out into the snow without wearing any shoes and then tries to swim out after a ship in December in her nightgown!
Oh, and to add to the stupidity of this story, Lucinda claims that she is "pregnant" within only a week of having sex with Daniel. That is impossible! They didn't even have pregnancy tests during the Regency period, and most women have to wait a month's cycle before they find out whether or not they are pregnant.
"Twelfth Night Proposal"--3 stars--Much better than the first story. Francesca finds herself on board a ship with a bunch of pirates--and her brother! She finds herself getting close to one of the supposed pirates and at the end of that adventure, she and her brother returned safely home. The scene of Francesca shopping with her family members for Christmas was very nice and reminded me of Dickens "A Christmas Carol."
But there are two aspects about this story that keep me from giving it a higher rating. 1. If you blink, you'll miss the scene where Francesca loses her virginity. 2. There isn't enough emotional connection written from Francesca's point of view. I do get a strong sense of how much Jack is attracted to her, but not as much from her viewpoint. It's a subtle thing, but some authors know how to grab a reader's heartstrings and some don't quite get there.
"The Sailor's Bride"--1 star--Boring! No suspense, no emotional turmoil. The love making scene was absolutely tepid by lacking all details--was less than half a page long. I had to try to keep myself awake during this story. The author is more focused on the historical perspective and the scenery of Naples than in writing an intriguing relationship plot.
July 10, 2013
The Pirate's Kiss
Regência.
Senhor dos Mares.
Nicola Cornick.
H. Históricos 80.1.
2011.
Para um romance histórico até que foi muito bom. Tenho certo receio de textos históricos, normalmente são enfadonhos, com descrições intermináveis e personagens coadjuvantes fúteis e patéticos. Mas para minha alegria e paz de espírito o enredo e o ritmo deste foram excelentes.
Devo dizer que o mocinho pirata, gato e misterioso, não é o que demonstrar ser, tá enganando a todos descaradamente. A mocinha não fica muito atrás, viúva e governanta, vive se controlando para que seu lado aventureiro não venha átona e transpareça aos olhos de seus empregadores. Pois, não cairia muito bem uma governanta desmiolada.
O que mais posso dizer sem revelear a estória toda, vamos ver: depois de muitas reviravoltas há um final feliz. Ótimo, não é?
Recomendo!!!
Regência.
Senhor dos Mares.
Nicola Cornick.
H. Históricos 80.1.
2011.
Para um romance histórico até que foi muito bom. Tenho certo receio de textos históricos, normalmente são enfadonhos, com descrições intermináveis e personagens coadjuvantes fúteis e patéticos. Mas para minha alegria e paz de espírito o enredo e o ritmo deste foram excelentes.
Devo dizer que o mocinho pirata, gato e misterioso, não é o que demonstrar ser, tá enganando a todos descaradamente. A mocinha não fica muito atrás, viúva e governanta, vive se controlando para que seu lado aventureiro não venha átona e transpareça aos olhos de seus empregadores. Pois, não cairia muito bem uma governanta desmiolada.
O que mais posso dizer sem revelear a estória toda, vamos ver: depois de muitas reviravoltas há um final feliz. Ótimo, não é?
Recomendo!!!
January 3, 2010
Sweet holiday escape reads.
Want to Read
April 25, 2016OVERALL:
The Pirate's Kiss by Nicola Cornick
A Smuggler's Tale by Margaret McPhee
The Sailor's Bride by Miranda Jarrett
The Pirate's Kiss by Nicola Cornick
A Smuggler's Tale by Margaret McPhee
The Sailor's Bride by Miranda Jarrett
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews