Pleasing the Pirate

Secrets & Seduction #3

by Sharon Cullen

From Sharon Cullen, author of the eBook sensation Loving the Earl, comes the tale of a ruthless pirate and the Scottish lass who fills him with desire for something greater than plunder.

With her clan’s crops burned and their property confiscated, Mairi McFadden is desperate to free her brother from imprisonment so that he can take his rightful place as chief. Her only hope is the fierce English pirate Phin Lockwood, but the buccaneer laughs at her meager funds. His roving eyes, however, tell Mairi there’s something else he’ll take in exchange for her brother’s rescue. Though she burns with hatred for the English, she’ll do anything to save her clan.

The crown has made it clear that Phin has two bring in a certain Scottish traitor or hang. And he’s not about to let a tiny, whiskey-eyed woman get in his way, even if she is pointing a gun at him. When Phin learns that Mairi’s brother is the very man he seeks, he’s more than willing to use the lass as bait. But as the moment of capture draws near, Phin is surprised by his feelings for the courageous beauty who has him considering risking his life—for someone besides himself.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Pirates, Historical, Scotland, Regency, Ebooks

258 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 25, 2014

About the author

After earning a degree in journalism from Ohio University, Sharon found the stories inside her head were more interesting than what was going on in the world around her. Yet, it wasn’t until years later that she decided to pursue her secret dream of writing a romance novel. Since then she’s been published in romantic suspense, paranormal romance and contemporary romance and historical romance.

Sharon’s other job descriptions include chauffer, laundress, cook and mediator to her three very busy kids, her husband and two dogs. She lives in southwest Ohio with her brood although her dream is to someday retire to St. Maarten and live on the beach.

If you’d like to find out more about Sharon and her books, you can visit her at her website. She’s addicted to social networking so you can find her on Facebook and Twitter. Friend her! Like her! Follow her! She’d love to hang out with you and talk about her passion—books.

Reviews

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read for 2021-Enjoyed just as much 2nd time!
4 1/2 Stars for this Pirate Wench

Setting: 18th Century England
Steam Factor: Mild-Hot

Phin Lockwood has earned his freedom only by swearing upon his life to bring a notorious traitor against the crown out of hiding.
So they only way he can do this, is to lure the traitor's sister on board his ship.
Phin is so certain that he can "win the day" and in doing so, he will set sail a free man..being himself.
But of course we know there just has to be a twist to this, and it must involve a female.
And from the moment Phin sets eyes on the lovely and fiercely loyal Mari McFadden, all of his carefully laid plans begin to crumble.
Mari is fully aware that finding her brother is her only hope of saving her people and securing her own freedom as well.
So entrusting herself to a loathsome English pirate, is a hard decision to have to make.
But it isn't long before she realizes that leaving Phin might just be more impossible than she thought.
This was a totally engaging romantic read.
Two very unlikely lovers, great historical details of the time period, from the politics of the age to the personal passions that drove each character.
The author did such a great job in balancing both, so the result is a fully realized world of high stakes intrigue and private connections.
We are also treated to a sizzling and smart relationship between two unlikely characters, which I immediately connected with!
Pleasing The Pirate, really evolved into a beautifully well done romance that will capture pirate romance fans hearts as well as their imaginations.
While there are 5 books in this series, it looked like they each work as a stand-alone.
So of course I picked book 3 due to it's pirate theme.
I look forward to reading the other books now in the series from this author.

[Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://badbirdreads.com/review-pleasi...

At A Glance

Good, but not very pirate-y.

The Good

This was a good historical romance. It had a fair amount of romance, intrigue, heart, and politics.

I loved Mairi’s tenacity. She confronted a pirate with a gun big enough to knock her ass down to save her brother, her land, and her people. Not the best idea, but it worked. She would do anything to help the few people left in her clan after the brutal war. Her brother Grant? Not so much. I felt horrible for Mairi. Her brother didn’t feel obligated to save his people, and Phin started out using her to capture Grant for treason. No one was on Mairi’s side. But she kept on truckin’ anyways! I so respected her for that.

Phin will hang for his pirate ways if he doesn’t capture Grant soon. Using Mairi to lure him out seemed like the perfect idea. However, Grant is smarter than he looks, and Phin’s feelings for Mairi were quite unexpected. I truly loved how Phin slowly fell in love with Mairi because of her determination and courage. I think he could have been more sympathetic with her side, but he did make sure to provide her with a better life no matter what happened to him. Now that is a gentlemen.

I loved the side story with Phin’s sister. Heartbreaking but interesting. The politics and chasing around were fun. I find this time in history quite interesting, though very sad. Poor Scots.

The Bad

I expected a pirate romance. This is not a pirate romance. Phin isn’t much of a pirate. He’s just a proper guy who goes on a ship occasionally. Disappointed in that area.

I hated the fact that Mairi had to choose between Phin and the English who slaughtered her countrymen and devastated her livelihood or her brother who wanted to fight against the English aggressors once again but was going about it the wrong way. I think Mairi made the wrong decision. I have to be honest, I would fight my oppressors until my death. Phin and his friends had no right to hate Scots who actually didn’t want to keep being screwed by them. Treason my ass! I mean, their soldiers are still murdering and raping Scots all over the country and nothing is being done. Scotland lost the war, how long should they suffer from something they didn’t start?

The Snuggly

The sex was okay, it could have been hotter. Honestly, I skipped over most of the sex. I know, I know, gasp-worthy. I just couldn’t get into it. Though I think it was more about my mood than anything.

Final Thoughts

I am 50-50 with this book. The pirate romance aspect could have been stronger, and the English can suck my ass! Seriously. They think too highly of themselves. It pissed me off. But I did like the story and the characters. So I would recommend it to historical lovers.


Quotes

He knocked on her door, his heart beating harshly. Strange, that. His reaction to her bothered him, but he could control himself.

At her soft, “Come in,” he opened the door and stopped cold.

She was bent over at the waist in front of the fire, her delectable derriere front and center. His mouth went dry.

She looked at him upside down, her hair hanging nearly to the ground.
She jerked upright with a softly exclaimed, “Oh.”

She’d wrapped a thin sheet around her and secured the end between two very plum, soft breasts. With her sudden movement the sheet had slipped and she slapped a hand to her chest to hold it in place.

Freckles.

She had freckles everywhere.

[Lover of Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phin is a pirate, and his life is in the hands of finding one man. The king of England will only spare his life, if he brings a rebel and traitor to him. Phin knows that with his life on the line, he doesn't have a choice. So he takes a ship, up to Scotland, where the sister of the traitor he is seeking, lands in his cabin, with a gun being pointed at him. Mairi has done everything she could for her clan and people, that are suffering every day. She knows they need their laird to return, her brother. However her brother left years ago, and she received a missive from him that he has been captured. So she steals aboard Phin's ship, to make him find her brother and return him to her. The pirate captain is far different from what she ever imagined. Young, virile, with eyes that see the very core of her, she agrees to the conditions he sets forth. Now they are on a mission together, to find her brother, even though Phin hasn't revealed his true reasons for wanting to find the location of her brother. When the truth comes out, will Phin and Mairi's love survive the test and find their happily ever after...

Pleasing the Pirate is the second book that I have had the pleasure of reading. Pleasing The Pirate is a ARC that was offered to me in return for a honest review. So I decided to try this one out. It has been a while since I had read this author. Frankly I have a weakness for sexy pirates, especially with the time period. It is set in the 1700's, where England was suppressing Scotland in a variety of ways. We see the struggle that Mairi has had to go through, that hundreds of women struggled with. You see a inner strength in Mairi that is very appealing to the reader. You see how she is willing to fight with every breath she has for the safety and well being of her people. Phin is faced with a difficult choice, and his characters seems so real and larger than life at times. Phin as the hero, who was mouthwatering sexy, who displayed the kind of man any woman would be proud to be by her side. He does have quite a few faults, but with those faults we see the human side to this story, that speaks to the reader in its truest form. This story was very rich in history and the complexity of issues involving the Scots and the English. There is a higher level of conflict than I anticipated, and I enjoyed seeing this author weave a beautiful woven romance around historical events that really happened.

Pleasing The Pirate is such a wonderfully written historical romance, that is full of historical events, enticing characters, and a story line to keep you on the edge and waiting in anticipated for the next scene to send thrills down your spine!!! PURELY SENSATIONAL!!

[Susan (susayq ~) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good story. Pirate, Phin Lockwood (don't you just love that name?), has a bounty on his head and he can clear it by bringing in a Scottish rebel. Phin does this by using the rebel's sister, Mairi, who wants needs her brother to come home to Scotland to help with the family. I won't go into detail about how the situation was solved, but know it made sense and I understand and my heart went out to Mairi :)

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley

[Regan Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unlikely Tale of Love Between a Scots Woman and an Englishman

The first thing I noticed about this story is that it must be part of a series as other couples are mentioned or have cameo appearances so that I was left wondering who they were and how they fit in. It was like walking in on the middle of a party. Hence, I don’t recommend reading this as a “stand alone.”

Second, to my way of thinking, this is neither a Scottish historical nor a pirate saga. We are told the hero was a pirate; we never see it. And the heroine, Mairi McFadden, a Scot, seemed more like the English who were her companions for the entire book. With the exception of a scene at the beginning and one at the end, the whole story takes place in London.

Set in the late 18th century, after the Scots’ defeat at Culloden, the heroine is searching for her brother Grant, a Scottish patriot on the run, as she needs him to help with their lands. She “hires” Phin Lockwood, an Englishman, to find him. She agrees to “pay” him by giving him her virtue—and she looks forward to it. (Really?) Meanwhile, and not so coincidentally, Phin is using her to get to her brother. If Phin can turn Grant over to the king, his past bad deeds will be forgiven.

From the beginning, Mairi seemed more concerned with her English lover than her Scots brother, willingly selling out her brother even though she knows it means his death. Given what the Scots experienced at the hands of the English during and following the Battle of Culloden, I found that hard to believe. And the heroine’s occasional statements that she didn’t like the English seemed frail protests.

For all that, I have to say the book was well written. It’s just that the story did not seem plausible to me and did not deliver on the promise of the title and the book’s cover.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC received via NetGalley

In general I don't read many historical romances because that genre of romance doesn't appeal to me very often. That being said though, I did in fact enjoy this one.

I read this book without reading the previous books in the series. Not reading the other books didn't effect my reading of this one.

[Zoe]

I could be wrong but this heroine sounds like another feiry woman fighting for her family honor and her enemy is her lover. I am tired just imaging it.

[WhiskeyintheJar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is set in 18th century, a little after the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion, England. Our heroine Mairi is Scottish and our hero Phin is English. Uh-oh. Phin, who was moonlighting as a pirate, is captured and told he will hang unless he brings the traitorous Scotsman Grant McFadden to King George. Did I mention Mairi's surname is McFadden? Phin and his buddies (I'm guessing these buddies have previous stories of their own, saw some reviews that state this is part of a series, but honestly, it must be a Fort Knox secret because I scoured the author's page and find no mention of a series) decide that the best way to get Grant to reveal himself is to kidnap the sister and bring her to London where Grant is thought to be hiding out. We are then thrust into a scene where Mairi is awaiting Phin in his cabin, pistol pointed at the door. Why? Well, things get a little murky but it seems one of Phin's buddies is/was a spy and has orchestrated the situation enough that Mairi thinks Phin is her only hope in finding her brother. Yep, she is looking for him too, he's their Laird and Mairi is fast running out of resources to keep her clan, mostly made up of women and children, fed and taken care of. Thus, follows a story of Mairi and Phin traveling to London, keeping secrets, revealing secrets, and ultimately falling in love.

I was a big fan of Mairi; she vastly overshadowed Phin. She is a bit naïve at times, she's never been outside her town or away from her clan, a straightalker, tough, and sick of men and their delusions of grandeur leaving the women and children behind to deal with the fallout of these delusions. The time period and Mairi's backstory really command this novel; the romance aspect was pushed to the background. You'll want to weep and get angry with Mairi as she deals with the realities of what happens when men go off to war and refuse to accept certainties. (If you're familiar with this time period and how the English treated the Scots, well, I'm sure you already have an ache in your heart and if not, imagine injustices that involve stripping a people of their culture) Phin? Well, we are told he was a pirate but never experience it. There is some backstory involving his sister that humanizes him more but for most of the story, he was just kind of there. When the two finally come together I'm not sure I felt the chemistry. Phin thinks she is petite and cleans up nicely in a ballgown, Mairi likes his wide shoulders and that he is there for her to lean on. I just didn't have enough to be drawn to them as a couple.

Even with those caveats, this is a fairly solid forthright read. If you haven't read the previous books in the series (I think there are other books in the series, hopefully the FBI doesn't knock on my door as it seems I might be revealing a national secret here) you're going to feel lost in the beginning but if you have, hey, enjoy catching up with some characters. The writing is strong, although, I did feel editing was needed as the story could feel disjointed and didn't flow the best at times. It is still a quick easy read and my problems could stem from not reading any previous books. Reading about Mairi's personal turmoil and the lingering effects of the Jacobite uprising are worth the price of admission.

Received a copy via Netgalley for an honest review.

[My Book Addiction and More MBA · Rating 4 out of 5]

PLEASING THE PIRATE by Sharon Cullan is a fast paced, adventure filled Regency Historical Romance. What happens when you cross a Scottish lass with a dangerous,ruthless pirate? Passion,danger and love of course!!

Meet, Scottish lass, Mairi McFadden,whose brother is a traitor to the Crown and English pirate Phin Lockwood, the pirate who either has to bring in the traitor or forfeit his life to the crown. Which means he will be hanged in the traitor's place. But Mairi, knows nothing of her brother's disgrace or traitorous behavior and is determined to get him back to her beloved Scotland to save her clan. Meantime, Phin, has to find, and deliver the traitor or hang himself.

Will Phin, chose his life over Mairi's love for her brother? Will Mairi chose her love for her brother over the powerful attraction she feels for the ruthless pirate, Phin? Love is a powerful thing along with passion. Powerful questions and decisions to be made!!

Together, the two embark on a journey of trust, love, romance, danger, passion and justice. Will Mairi give up her beloved brother for the love of her life, an English pirate, Phin? You see Mairi's brother is not what she remembers him to be as a young lass. He has forever changed. You must pick up "Pleasing the Pirate", for it is a fast paced, adventure filled romance filled with passion, engaging characters and a storyline that will capture the reader throughout. Well done, I loved it! Received for an honest review from the publisher and Net Galley.

RATING: 4.5

HEAT RATING: HOT

REVIEWED BY: AprilR, Courtsey of My Book Addiction and More

[Farrah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, thrilling, and full of secrets and betrayals, Pleasing the Pirate was a wonderful historical romance. I really liked this book. From the characters, to the surprises along the way, this book was lovely.

Mairi was a strong heroine. She was very loyal to her clan and would do anything to take care of them. Even bargain with a pirate so that she could find her brother and bring him back to care for his clan. I really liked her. I thought she was a lovely character.

Phin was wonderful. He was very protective over his loved ones and clever enough to be a formidable opponent. He was very sweet and I totally adored him.

The romance was lovely. Mairi and Phin were great together. They had met their match in each other and I thought it was sweet how they were both willing to sacrifice for each other. And the attraction between them was sizzling from the moment they met. I thought they were a perfect couple.

The plot was fast paced and I was hooked the entire way through. There were a few surprises and one shocker of a betrayal that had me on the edge of my seat. Not to mention the constant anxiety over Phin needing to either find Mairi's brother or forfeit his life. I really enjoyed the story and I thought the ending was perfect.

Pleasing the Pirate was a fantastic historical romance. I really liked this book. From the romance, to the secrets, this book was amazing. Romance lovers, this is a book worth reading.

*I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Sassy Moms Say Read Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to receive an ARC of this story and allow me to review it.

The things Mairi is willing to do to help her clan and bring her brother back put her on the a path she never expected. Phin plans on trying to use Mairi to help find her brother and save his own hide, little does he know thing don't go exactly as planned.

This is a sweet, somewhat intriguing, time piece story. I love the bit of history that it involves and old world adventure to it. It is also a great story that shows that life happens when we are busy planning our lives.

Mairi's dedication and will to do anything for her family is what makes her such a great and strong character. But even through all of her strength she still has this ability to learn, stretch and adapt to the environment she finds herself in. She is a character that starts off with a preconceived notion of a group of people but is quickly proven that not all are the same as the ones she's had the misfortune to encounter in the past.

Phin is such a complicated character. He is not at all as what he seems to be. He is complex with secrets and needs to protect his loved ones. He is willing to make sacrifices no matter what the consequences to him really are. All that changes though when he meets Mairi.

This is really a great story for those who like to be exposed to not only the past but new cultures as well.

Happy Reading... Adri

[Nessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

THIS WAS PRETTY AVERAGE AS STORIES LIKE THESE GO. IT CERTAINLY DIDN'T PLEASE ME AS IT DID THE PIRATE IN THIS STORY. IT WAS QUITE PREDICTABLE.

OUR HERO has to bring in the Scottish rebel/traitor in order to save his own neck from hanging. With the manipulations of those around him, they managed to get McFadden's sister to come to London or rather held him at gun point and demanded he helped her to find her brother. Of course, the hero's not a bad man but rather one who turned to piracy to save his family and also a man with a conscience - he feels bad for using the poor lass who obviously has no idea about what her brother has turned into or has done against the crown. As he falls in love with her, he realizes that he has some hard decisions to make, especially when she makes him happy and also becomes a good friend to his deaf sister and her child of a ghastly rape.

OUR HEROINE is desperate for her brother to return to Scotland and take over as Laird to help improve their people's lives. The women and children were starving and there's only so much she can do to help as clueless as she is about running the keep's more manlier pursuits. Taking the courage to find a man who is said to be able to help her, she goes to England and begins her rather precarious life in this hands of the "enemy" yet her brother is the one who is the one she is starting to feel afraid of.

OVERALL it was okay, nothing special or terribly adventurous. There was no swashbuckling going on and I guess I was more disappointed that the characters didn't have a unique perspective or depth in them that made them DIFFERENT or shine out.

[Eileen Dandashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Pleasing the Pirate A Loveswept Historical Romance
Author: Sharon Cullen
Genre: Historical Romance
Story Setting: London, 1700’s
Published by: Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept, (February 25, 2014)
ASIN: B00EX48V3C

Praise for the series:
The Notorious Lady Anne: "Sharon Cullen's The Notorious Lady Anne has everything I look for in a romance - swashbuckling adventure, a hero and heroine with sizzling chemistry, and non-stop, leap-off-the-page action. Cullen's debut is a sexy, fun and thrilling read." ~ Shana Galen, Bestselling Author of When You Give a Duke a Diamond.

Loving the Earl: “Loving the Earl is charming and fast-paced. It’s filled with passion, intrigue, a resourceful heroine you’ll love, and a delicious hero you’ll fall in love with. An absolute delight!”—New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jacquie D’Alessandro

About the Author: Author Sharon Cullen enjoys writing romance, whether romantic suspense, paranormal romance, historical romance or contemporary romance. This is the third book of her historical romance loveswept series. A list of her other books can be found on her website. http://sharoncullen.net/

About the Story:
Mairi McFadden, a Scottish lass, with lands that are plundered by the Englishmen, takes one last desperate attempt to locate her brother, Grant, who was imprisoned for treason by the English, but escaped. She has no choice. Her people need their laird and leader as chief. Without him, the men are leaving looking for work elsewhere, abandoning the women and children. Mairi tries to help, to take them into the keep, but there is hardly enough food to eat. Times are desperate. She is told that the man to help her find her brother is a fierce pirate, Phin Lockwood.

Phin Lockwood, has been commanded by the king to bring in the Scottish traitor, Grant McFadden or forfeit his own life for his pirating ways. Phin’s high-placed friends don’t want him to hang so they contrive to have Mairi McFadden seek him out to help her find her brother. Intuitively they believe Mairi McFadden is the key to capturing her brother.

When Phin finds a petite whiskey-eyed woman in his ship’s cabin, pointing a gun at him, he learns that she is the very woman he has been seeking. The gun is bigger than she is, and very easily taken from her. He hopes to quickly capture the Scottish traitor using Mairi as bait now that he met her. Mairi barters her meager coins and insignificant gems for his services. When she sees that it is not enough, she does the unthinkable—she barters herself. Will Phin have his cake and eat it, too?

Excerpt:
He knocked on her door, his heart beating harshly. Strange, that. His reaction to her bothered him, but he could control himself.

At her soft, “Come in,” he opened the door and stopped cold.

She was bent over at the waist in front of the fire, her delectable derriere front and center. His mouth went dry.

She looked at him upside down, her hair hanging nearly to the ground.
She jerked upright with a softly exclaimed, “Oh.”

She’d wrapped a thin sheet around her and secured the end between two very plum, soft breasts. With her sudden movement the sheet had slipped and she slapped a hand to her chest to hold it in place.

Freckles.

She had freckles everywhere, even the tops of her breasts.

Steam from the bath had warmed the room considerably, making it sultry, but Phin doubted his body was heated because of that. Her face was flushed peach. Damn but her entire body was flushed peach.

“I, uh…” He had no idea what he was going to say. His thoughts went south along with all of his blood. His cock was so hard he feared he’d split his skin.

The fire backlit her through the thin sheet, outlining the apex between her legs. Holy Moses, as Ezra would say.

He looked down at the garments in his hands and suddenly remember his mission. “I brought clothes,” he managed, not at all sure how he forced the words through a throat closing up with a lust he hadn’t felt in a very long time.

My Thoughts:
I was not disappointed with Ms. Cullen’s third book in the series. I read and reviewed in an earlier blog Loving the Earl. This book spoke to me on as deep level as her first one, probably more so. There are books that you read that leave you saying, that was a nice story and you don’t feel changed in any way. Ms. Cullen’s writing gives us more. It left me with a glow of happiness, but only after dealing with some very difficult human conflict. My inner-self was enriched by the story.

I loved how she used the conflict of nations pairing it with the conflict of men. This was a story about learning how to replace hate with love, misunderstanding with knowledge and with that appreciation that people are basically the same. It was a story about – when is doing the right thing right? Quoted from the story: “He’d hoped he would have done the right thing, but one person’s right is another’s wrong.”

Many of you may not remember John Denver’s song, Annie’s Song with the lyrics “you fill up my senses…” I was in my 20’s when that song was popular. It made your heart soar with the words and the melody. Ms. Cullen gave me that same thrill with this story, potent with heartache, fear, the harshness of man, tragedies we endure, and trying to do what is right even when it breaks your heart. When I finished the story, my senses were filled – no emotion spared. It wrung me dry then lifted me up with hope in the betterment of mankind and a happy ever after ending.

Sharon Cullen, keep writing the way you do. You create memorable, heart-rending and soul-satisfying stories.

[Macaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comes after Sebastian’s Lady Spy in the series Secrets & Seduction, since Phin mentions Sebastian’s marriage at the very beginning of the book. So number 4 in the series.

[Patty McKenna Van Hulle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tough Scottish lass banishes her pistol at the Pirate of sexiness to get him to help her find her brother, but he wins her body instead!

Phin Lockwood is the happiest at sea as a pirate, but he jumped the wrong ship on the way back to England. How he suppose to know the ship belong to an all powerful Duke's cousin! He was under arrest, put in a smelly cell & not fed for over a week, he thinks. Now he being dragged out for parts unknown & the next thing he knows he is face to face with King George & his spy buddies Sebastian & Sir Colin. Phin gets a "Hail Mary" from friends Sebastian & Sir Colin, but he must find the traitor, Gavin McFadden, & bring him to the King. If he does this than his neck will not have to swing at the end of the King's rope. Simple to do right, but Phin will have to use Gavin's sister to do it.

Mairi McFadden has held together her clan full of homeless women & children, but she needs her brother, Gavin, to come back from England & be the Clan Chef they need. All the other men are dead from the uprising of 1745 (like her da) or left to find paying work. The smelly neighbor, Edmond, wants her clan's land & her in his bed for heirs, but she makes 1 last ditch attempt to get Gavin back & that means bargaining with a dastardly pirate. So she hides in the crowd of prostitutes, boards his ship, hides out until morning & awaiting this pirate in his cabin with her trusty pistol.

When Phin & Mairi met face to pistol, she has to pick up her mouth because his is super yummy & Phin can't believe his luck at finding his wee prey so quickly. She offers him £50 & her family gems if he will help her find her brother, but he says that isn't enough money. What's a girl to do when she has nothing but herself? She bites the bullet & offers herself & he is no fool & agrees, but doesn't plan to collect. They begin their search by sailing to England (as Mairi puked everywhere, including his favorite pair of boots) & arriving in smelly, dirty, loud & no sun thru the black haze London. Phin takes her to a nasty Inn to get Gavin's attention, but when he brother does show up, he isn't the man she remembers, tells her to go home & flees out the window. Soon a lot of Phin's spy buddies, Sebastian, Gabrielle, Emmaline, Nicolas & Claire come involved to help parade her about London Society to draw Gavin out.

As Mairi gets to know his friends she starts to think that maybe not all English are cruel, but just like Scots, some are good & some are bad. Mairi craves Phin, but fights against the electricity building inside her. Phin wants to escape inside her body & never come up for air, but it will cost him his own neck. With all the lies, Phin's hard & sinful kisses hard up against wall, intrigue, a fancy opera, Gavin's baddies, changing beliefs on both sides, the loving help of Phin's spy friends, some sexy & hot pirate moves, unexpected Kingly help & many nights of tangles sheets, legs & arms to either begin these 2 together forever or watch Phin hang. Can Mairi sacrifice Gavin to save her pirate? Will Phin hang up his cutlass for his woman & her bootie? Will King George leave Phin's neck intact?

This is the 3rd Sharon Cullen book that I have read & again she took me out of my comfort book zone with a story in the 1700s. I was 100% invested after the 2nd page & I was shivering with poor Phin in that stinky & cold prison. I loved Phin since I read The Notorious Lady Anne & the deep friendship between him & Emmaline. As I read this tale, I fell in love with him more because what he thought were his weakness were actually what made him the hero. Mairi was a woman who was worn out to the bone from all the hate & war that destroyed her world. She desperately needed some help from her brother & I love had she had to put on her BIG GIRL PANTS on & go get that help herself. Ms. Cullen brought some other characters from the other romances, like Emmaline, Nicolas, Claire & Sebastian & they did have a great part in this storyline with all their spying talents & sailing the high sea again. I look on Ms. Cullen's website & saw that Sebastian & mysterious spy/wife Gabrielle have their own story coming out in 2015 & she totally made me crave their story, too. All romances need some heated sexiness & Ms. Cullen doesn't disappoint, but she builds up the heat slowly & then HELLO explosion! I enjoyed this romance read with all the hard choices that Phin & Mairi had to make & how they learned to lean on 1 another thru the good & bad times. I must give Ms. Cullen a score of 4 fingers up & 8 toes for this spicy spies galore read.

NetGalley ARC given for my honest review.

[Gaele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set after the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745 and during the reign of George II, this mid 18th century story combines pirates, family loyalty, prison breaks, possible commutations, duplicity and an undeniable attraction in a fast-paced and well-crafted story, redolent with historical references, details and clever characters.

Mairi McFadden is the sister of a wanted man, Grant, deemed a traitor for the Scots side after the massacre at Culloden. Her clan and lands are struggling without his presence, and she is desperate to locate him and bring him home to solve the issues.

Phineas Lockwood is a privateer – one of the many men who danced the fine line between piracy and legitimate shipping, an attack on the wrong vessel resulted in his condemnation to death. When the King presents an offer: find and return the traitorous Scot, Grant McFadden to the crown, Phin and his crew will be allowed to continue their exploits, and Phin shall keep his life. He accepts the bargain, and heads to find McFadden.

Mairi, understanding that Phin is seeking her brother, takes the chance to stowaway on the ship. When discovered, she convinces Phin that she will be helpful in the search, yet she doesn’t understand that her brother will not be returning to their lands. Throughout the story Cullen plays on the emotions and attraction between Phin and Mairi: there is a certain chivalrous streak that is deeply ingrained, yet the attraction to Mairi is undeniable. For her part, even though Mairi is no Sassenach, she has the ability common to many of the higher-born women of her day, to manipulate and adjust her reactions and deportment to be pleasing for the English she mistrusts.

There are quick appearances from couples in Cullen’s other stories, and the interplay between the blossoming couple of Mairi and Phin and more settled couples is interesting to see: although the secret that Phin holds about the reasons for his search is a huge one, and his reticence to share with Mairi kept me wondering just what would happen.

One of those stories that has more reasons the couple cannot make a happy ending together, and yet they are so well matched and paired: Mairi is smart, determined, stubborn and loyal, all qualities Phin both exhibits and admires. Early on, Phin is more flexible in his loyalties, which sounds cold, but his fear for his own head are paramount and his intention to use Mairi to gain his own desires is slowly depleting, as he starts to realize that he cannot deny his love for her any longer.

I really do enjoy Cullen’s writing and her manipulation of the characters as she drags them, or they drag her to a happy ending. What seemed an impossible situation and connection was given options and opportunities, all taken with best intention, which changed the perceived destiny of the character’s pairing. Keeping close to, but taking some license with, historical accurate details, the scenes and settings feel honest and are easy to visualize, while the conventions of the time and the curious sense of chivalry juxtaposed with the more conventional thoughts of pirates will have readers redefining their pirate heroes as they cheer for the connection and happy ending for this pair.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review available at All About Romance - http://likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookRev...

Oh, pirates - you are such a wonderful staple in historical romances. Alongside rakes and rogues, they form an important pillar of the genre. There are few things romance readers devour so much as the reformed bad boy hero. I love the moment where we get to see that there is more to them than their public facade - it’s the backstory that does me in every time. And it’s the same here.

The notorious Phin Lockwood has a problem. Normally, being arrested and thrown into Newgate would be enough of an issue for the pirate captain, but the King himself has gotten involved. The Scottish traitor, Grant McFadden, has managed to escape yet again, and rumor has it he is partnering with the French to bring war to British soil. When a British spy, and friend of Phin’s, suggests using the pirate to ferret him out, the King thinks it’s a grand idea. Provided Phin knows exactly what’s at stake - produce McFadden, or die in his place.

Enter one Mairi McFadden. Sister to Grant, she has come to England searching for him, desperately trying to save the remaining members of her former clan. Someone has given her Phin’s name, and together, they are working their way through London to find McFadden. But while Mairi knows only that she has traded her virginity away to the pirate for his assistance, Phin knows that he must betray the woman he has come to care for in order to save himself.

I spent a lot of time wondering if this was part of a series I didn’t know about. The author has written other works, but I couldn’t find mention of an official series. There are, however, several characters that I felt like the reader should already know somehow. Phin’s spy friend seems to have his own backstory, and this book looks like it is in some ways related to The Notorious Lady Anne, which came out last year. Also, on a historical sticking point, the publisher touts this book as a “Rogue Regency Romance” while the King in question is George II, who died about 50 years before the Regency era began.

Those thoughts aside, I absolutely adored Phin and Mairi (but especially Phin.) They both have full stories, with enough things in common they can get past their people’s hatred for one another. Phin steps up past the mantle of pirate and rogue, and shows that he can be a true gentleman, while Mairi works hard to overcome a lifetime of hatred and isolation to realize that you can’t paint everyone with the same brush. There is an amazing amount of embedded hatred and prejudice that she has to overcome, and her struggle against change, and then against what she was brought up with, makes it a fascinating read.

At risk of sounding like an English Lit major, I also have to say that Mairi draws some interesting conclusions about both Phin and Grant. As she spends more time with Phin, and also meets a couple of times with Grant, she sees the similarities between the two, and the very different paths they have chosen. It is fascinating to see this from within the story, rather than just being seen by the reader. It changes Mairi, and changes the story.

[Yazmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Pleasing the Pirate by Sharon Cullen, the pirate English Phin Lockwood has been captured and has been sentenced to death. Thanks to his friend the crown has given him two choices, bring in a certain Scottish traitor or hang. Phin knows that it will not be easy to flush out a traitor but his dear friend, who also happens to be a spy, has already put plans into motion to help Phin locate the traitor, to start Phin will have to go to Scottland.
 
Mairi McFadden is desperate to free her brother and convince him to take his place as chief of the clan. But first she needs to get to England, find her brother and then convince him to return home. Thankfully one of the few men that arrived to help her has pointed her in the direction of Phin the pirate, she is told that he can help her find her brother with the right price. What Mairi doesn’t know is how handsome Phin is and how hard it will be to keep him at a distance, or that the pirate also wants to find her brother but to bring him to the crown.
 
The attraction and chemistry between Phin and Mairi is immediate, and while Mairi would like to intimidate Phin with the pistol she carries it only makes him more charming. Unfortunately for Mairi, hiring a pirate is not cheap and while her people all gathered everything they had to gather enough money might not be enough. Mairi will barter with Phin for his services and if she has to pay in kind then so be it.
 
Phin had not expected for the help he needed to find the traitor to come to him and ask for his help to the same end. But keeping his hands from her while trying to apprehend her brother will not be easy. And he will have to lie to her the entire time until they find her brother which makes things more complicated the longer he is in her company. Betraying her trust will not be easy, but it’s either her brother or him that will hang.
 
Mairi learned to hate the English from her family and friends, but spending time with them in Phin’s company makes her see that they are not so different. Even if she does think them to be wasteful when her people could make use of all the food they waste and the money they spend of what she considers frivolity.
 
While her heart starts to thaw towards Phin, his family and friends her brother will try to use her towards his advantage. Which will put Mairi in a complicated situation and make her see how far her brother has gone in his hate while testing her and her beliefs. But she will she be able to betray the people that have opened their arms and homes to her over her brother who has abandoned her and their clan?
 
Phina and Mairi will have you turning page after page wanting to know what will happen next. The chemistry between them is strong but so are their beliefs and will to not give in, which will make this a very charged situation. Add in a little intrigue, betrayal, love and jealousy and you know that you have an entertaining read.
 
For a fun and entertaining read full of intrigue and hot chemistry, don’t miss Pleasing the Pirate by Sharon Cullen.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasing the Pirate ........Sharon Cullen

Phin Lockwood, notorious pirate, is wasting away in Newgate prison for a crime he admits was not very smart on his part. He attacked a ship belonging to a Duke's family member. The future doesn't look too bright in this dingy horrible cell. Phin is suddenly yanked out of his cell and is brought to meet with Sebastian Addison, a friend known for his accomplishments as a spy. They then appear before the King, where Sebastian proposes a plan. Grant McFadden, known reprobate and traitor needs to be found. Sebastian explains to the King that Phin's known underworld contacts are valuable in finding the Scotsman McFadden. The King reluctantly releases Phin to Sebastian, with the understanding that if McFadden is not found, Phin will sacrifice his life. Not a good alternative as far as Phin is concerned. Phin plans to sail to Scotland to find McFadden's sister to help with their quest. He will just keep the fact they want to arrest him a secret.

Mairi McFadden is stowed away in the captain's cabin to enlist his help, at gunpoint, to find her brother. Unfortunately, she didn't add being horribly sea sick to her plan. Her stomach rolls with every toss of the ship, and they are still anchored. Her brother Grant had left their clan four years ago after the murder of his fiancé by the British. Mairi has been trying to hold onto the land, feed the women and children, and keep hope alive. She had received the first message from Grant in four years saying he had been captured. She knew of no other way to keep her land or her clan.....she had to find him and bring him home.
Suddenly a very large muscled, shirtless, handsome man enters the cabin, she points the gun, shakily, demanding his help. He quietly approaches her, warning the kick on the pistol could send her right out the porthole. She is momentarily distracted and he edges closer, where she proceeds to empty the contents of her stomach on his boots and floor, and then faints away. Phin realizes this tiny person, who he originally thought was a boy, is a very curvy beautiful woman. Mairi McFadden, the woman he was searching for, has literally fallen at his feet. A very interesting turn of events.

This is the third historical romance novel I have read by Sharon Cullen. It is a stand alone, but wonderful characters from previous books make an appearance. Her female characters are always very strong and brave, and an exciting match to the heroes. Her blend of history, humor, and romance insure a delightful read. I especially enjoyed the introduction of the Highlands of Scotland to her historical's. Hope there's more highlands and highlanders in future stories. I highly recommend this novel to lovers of historical fiction who enjoy a laugh or two while reading.

I received this novel from the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review.
Pat Fordyce

[Kimberly Rocha~ Book Obsessed Chicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is one of those titles that does not quite do the book justice. The title seems to be a bit light when in fact, this story has so much more substance than the title implies. PLEASING THE PIRATE by Sharon Cullen is a wonderful tale of what desperation will make someone do. Scottish lass, Mairi McFadden has stowed away on a pirate ship after being sent by a trusted acquaintance who tells Mairi that pirate Captain, Phin Lockwood, will help her find her brother Grant. Grant McFadden has been away from his home and people in Scotland since the uprising with the English. He is now branded a traitor to the crown by the King.

Dashing pirate, Phin Lockwood was on his last mission, but this mission was one too many, for his luck ran out when he is captured and tossed into a dungeon in England. Convinced that he is going to his death when summoned into the King's presence, Phin is given a conditional reprieve with the help of affluent friends. The terms of his release are to find the traitor, Grant McFadden and give him over to the crown. Now determined to save his own life, Phin will do anything to bring Grant McFadden to justice, even use a wee Scottish lass as bait.

What Phin does not count on, is this wee Scottish's lass' resolve to find her wayward brother and bring him back to Scotland to care for the people he abandoned on his quest for his hatred against the English. Mairi's strong will is an attraction for the pirate who has seen it all and when Mairi makes an indecent proposal to Phin, the lass has Phin's head spinning.

PLEASING THE PIRATE by Sharon Cullen is an adventure with intrigue and romance. Phin Lockwood has so more more to lose than just his life if he fails in his mission for the King. he is strong, intelligent and committed. Mairi is a fish out of water at first, with her skewed view on the English in general brought about by the injustices done to Scotland and her people and by the brother Grant, whose hated borders on insanity. When Mairi sees first hand that Grant was not all correct in his estimation of the English, especially those who have opened their hearth and homes to her, she begins to think her brother may be fighting the wrong fight. Mairi is no simpering female. She resolves to right injustice, even if it means the loss of her only family. Both Phin and Mairi are such fabulous characters and they play off each other so well. Their stark differences in upbringings only add to their plights and make the ending all so sweeter than expected.

PLEASING THE PIRATE is the fabulous follow-up to THE NOTORIOUS LADY ANNE by Sharon Cullen and can be read as a stand-alone, although it's so much more fun to know more about all those characters by reading their beginnings. I highly recommend this historical romance. I enjoyed it and I think you will too.

~KIMBERLY~

[Kiltsandswords · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I liked both main characters right away. They were interesting and definitely had serious agendas that fed the plot lines. Mairi needed a chief to her clan to deal with all the women who were abandoned, a chief to lead the financial wellbeing of the clan and someone to save her from having to wed her neighbour who is insist they wed. Phin is about to be hanged unless he can produce Mairi’s brother Grant, the runaway turned rebel chief of the McFadden clan.
I liked how the hero and heroine meet – she vomits on his boots after stowing away on his ship. It leads to an interesting game of cat and mouse. Mairi quickly surmises she is being used as bait for Phin to get her brother, but she doesn’t know that the man she is falling in love with will die unless he gets his hands on Grant.
What I enjoyed about this book is the variety of scenes. We have everything from a ship, to a shady London tavern, to Mayfair and the Highlands of Scotland. It sounds like the story jumps around a lot, but it is timed really well. You get a bit of everything with this book.
Phin is a fearsome, swashbuckling rogue who barters with Mairi for her virtue. He claims that he won’t take it, but the two develop intense feelings for one another along with pretty lustful thoughts and emotions. The love scenes are full of hard thrusting and fiery emotions. It’s a relief when they finally consummate the longing the two have for each other.
Just when you think there isn’t more to Phin than finding Grant to save his neck, you learn about his sister and Annabelle. These two characters make it hard for the reader to root for Grant to continue his actions. You see that people count on and care for Phin and he is not just a rogue pirate, no matter what he says.
I really enjoyed the perspective Mairi brings to the novel. I liked that she felt horrified at the waste of food after a dinner party, as I have always read about these extravagant feasts and then thought about the starving children in Regency England. She is uncomfortable with the life of the upper class of England and it shine a light on what the rest of the world is experiencing besides this select group. There is a significant reference to the work of helping abused women and the aristocracy did not need to sit by and be idle to the travesties of the age.
Although there is a happily ever after, it is clear that a choice had to be made between brother and lover. I like how the author made the choice palatable to the reader. It wasn’t a hard pill to swallow and I’m thrilled that Mairi got what she needed the most.

Reviewed for Kiltsandswords

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book provided by NetGalley and Loveswept for an honest review!

MaIri McFadden is desperate to find her brother, she has been alone trying to provide for her clan which is mostly compromised of women and children ; she needs Grant to come back home , by him coming home some of the men should follow who can help rebuild.

Phin Lockwood has found himself in Newgate prison for pirating a ship of a influential Lord. Luckily for him King George wants Grant McFadden more and his freind Sebastion was able to convince the king that he needs Phin to accomplish this task, however should Phin fail to bring in Grant his life s forfeit.

Mairi 's search for her brother thanks to Sebastion will lead her right to Phin who she has been told can get her to her brother, of course it is all a set up. Once Phin gets Mairi to London they will use her to draw Grant out of hiding.
Mark makes her way to Phins ship that is docked in Scotland and stows away on board until the ship pulls out of dock.
Phins finds Mairi in his cabin pointing a gun at him, which he finds amusing since te gun is almos bigger than her, sing his charm he gets her talking and to lower the gun a which point she explains what she wants of him , t help find her bother , offers him money and jewels for his trouble not nearly enough, winds up bartering her virtue. Phin accepts her offer with his initial intention to never cross that line . The more interaction Phin and Mairi have the greater the attraction these two have for one another till Phin begins questioning wether he can go through with capturing Mairi's brother.
Fr Mairi, her problems are equally as bad she has fallen in love with Phin along the way and her decision becomes to betray the brother she loves to save the man she loves or collect her brother and run.
Grant McFadden can not see past his hatred however for the English to see the desperation that has brought his sister to London searching him out.

Wonderful read, great character interaction and a nice blending of Character's from previous books in the series, so if you like hunky Pirates, intrigue and romance this is a great read!

[Monica Cullip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasing The Pirate
Sharon Cullen
This story was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review.
Grant McFadden is a traitor, he has been imprisoned by the King and he has escaped. He is on the minds of our two main characters for two completely opposite reasons.
Mairi McFadden is the loving sister, she desparately needs her brother to return to their lands and take charge. The lands are suffering and the people and not doing well. She needs her brother to take control and make things right. She will do anything to ensure that he returns home.
Pirate Phin Lockwood made the mistake of pirating the wrong ship, and now he is on the bad side of the King. He has been made an offer which will save his life, bring the traitor Grant McFadden back into custody for the King once again.
Mairi enlists the help of Phin. Phin is using Mairi as bait to flush out her brother. They travel in close quarters through London searching and searching for Grant. Mairi bites back her hatred of all things English and starts to see Phin as a real person. Phin starts to notice things about Mairi that are not in keeping with his plans.
This was a very well written historical romance. There was a great underlying story. It was not just simply sex. The secondary characters all played a large part in the overall sceme to save England. There were spies, kidnapping, pirating and chases down London's back roads. It was definately an action filled book. I really liked how these characters were allowed to develop over the story and that they stayed true to form throughout. Mairi continued to love and worry about her brother and her home lands. Even though he began to have feelings for her, Phin realizes that he must save himself first. The storyine surrounding his friends the spies and his sister and niece played a integral part of the story line.
I would certainly read more by this author. I would give this story a 4/5 rating

[Amy Alvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally reviewed for: Historical Romance Lover blog

This is book three in the series.

Mairi McFadden is desperate to find her brother to save her clan from starvation. She received a letter from him saying that he was in prison in London. With the aid of a clansman, Mairi finds her way to Phin Lockwood's ship to ask him for help.

Phin Lockwood has been given a reprieve from hanging. If he brings in a traitorous Scot, he will be granted his life. The Home Office arranges for Mairi, the traitor's sister, to be lead to him. He plans to use her as bait to draw her brother out.

Mairi is excited when Phin agrees to help her find her brother, but is startled to learn that he has escaped captivity and is considered a traitor to the English crown.

Mairi soon learns that Phin is using her to capture her brother but doesn't know that he is doing it to save his own life. As the two of them spend more and more time together, they can't fight the attraction between them. Can Mairi find happiness with the man that is trying to imprison her brother?

I have been a fan of Sharon Cullen's work since I read The Notorious Lady Anne. This is also where I was introduced to Phin and I have eagerly awaited his story.

Mairi is the perfect woman for Phin. He spent years with "Lady Anne" and would need a strong woman to catch his eye. Mairi stuck by her brother's side, even when she knew what he was doing was wrong because she valued her family and all that it meant. Knowing what he would have done and did for his sister, Phin can understand this type of devotion and admire it.

I loved seeing the H/H from Cullen's other two novels and hope that there will be more books in the series to be published.

Thanks go to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.

[Kai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasing the Pirate begins with Phin Lockwood being free from Newsgate. He was given a choice of finding a Scottish traitor or be hang. With his friend's help, he was given the location of finding Mairi McFadden, the Scottish traitor's sister to lure her brother into a trap.

Mairi is at wit-ends. Her clan is starving and is in need of leadership from her brother. After the English has taken everything, the last person she seek help is from an English pirate, Phin. Without Phin's help, she would have to marry her neighbor unwillingly to save her clan and there was no guarantee her neighbor would make sure her clan be taken care of.

Even though Mairi needed her brother to ensure your clan's survival, she also discovered that her brother have other priorities other than her and their clan. Even though both of them hated the English for destroying their way of life, her brother was willing to sacrifice everything to have his vengeance against the English.

Phin on the other hand, after falling in love with Mairi, was trying to make sure that Mairi was able to take care of her clan. He was putting his plan in action that Mairi will never know until it is too late.

I have enjoy reading Pleasing the Pirate. With Phin and Mairi, they depicted the events under King George III of the upheaval between Scotland and England and France and England. Even being a pirate has its own code: stay loyal to the Crown and steal the goods from other merchant ships.

These two characters have a lot to learn about each other. When it comes down, they are the same despite their nationality. I do love Mairi when she realized her feeling for Phin and figuring what where her loyalty lies.

I was given this book by the publisher through Net Gallery for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mairi McFadden makes a deal with the pirate Captain Phin Lockwood to find her brother Grant so she can convince him to return to Scotland and take care of his responsibilities. Their people are counting on her to bring their laird back and she’s determined not to let them down. When Phin was captured by the King and ordered to bring in the Scottish traitor Grant McFadden in exchange for his own freedom, his friend Sebastian arranges to lead Mairi to him to ask for his help. Phin has no choice but to use Mairi to lead him to her brother, but the more he gets to know this courageous young woman, the harder it is to mislead her into thinking he will help her, rather than capture her brother and turn him in to the king. As the story unfolds, Mairi meets with her brother several times and begins to realize that he’s not going to acquiesce to her demands to return home. Instead he tries to embroil her in his schemes against the British, including the people she’s beginning to care for. Mairi has to make some difficult decisions, she’s torn between the only family she has left and the people she’s grown to care for. I really felt for Mairi, who was so conflicted between her life as it once was, and learning to accept the reality of life as it had become. There were a few tense moments of adventure for Mairi, and Phin as well, but there was a wholly satisfying conclusion that wrapped up the story nicely. I enjoyed seeing some of the characters from The Notorious Lady Anne in this story as well; it was fun seeing them again.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I was generously provided an ARC of this novel by Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept via Netgalley for an honest review

Rating: 4.75

The blurb above does a great job of describing this book, so I’m not going go into any plot details in this review.

This was a thoroughly refreshing historical romance. Sharon Cullen did a wonderful job painting the backdrop and historical references in this book. Pleasure the Pirate is told in two POV and I have to admit, my favorite was Mairi. Mairi is a spit-fire, courageous, stubborn Scotswoman and I loved the development of her character throughout the book. She stays true to her character, which I find very refreshing (and hard to come by). I became more emotionally invested in her character’s POV than I did Phin’s. The sexual tension between the two characters propelled me through most of the novel.


Tidbit of Love: This book is truly a present, you are always unwrapping a new surprise or twist of the story. Sharon Cullen does a great job with the complexities while avoiding confusion.

Warning: This is not a swashbuckling, ARGH-matey-Pirate novel... please don’t go into this book expecting that character.

(So, why the -.25? I like my books a little hotter.. just personal preference. Otherwise, incredibly romance.)

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mairi's clan has been ravaged by the English and now her land is being threatened. She needs her brother, Grant, to step up as laird and save their people, but first she needs to find him. She seeks the help of a pirate, Phin, to help her find Grant. Phin has a different motive for helping Mairi. He was tasked by the crown to arrest Grant for treason, and Phin's life depends on his success in the mission. As they set out on their journey to find Grant, feelings begin to develop, but will their love survive the lies and deceit between them?

It took me four tries to finally get into this book. I'm glad I didn't give up though; on my last attempt, I really began to enjoy it. It was a surprise though to find out that this book was not at all the high seas adventure that I had expected. In fact, about 70% of it takes place in London. While I do love pirate adventures, this book did turn out to be a winner. Phin is a caring and likeable man. For being a pirate though, I would have liked to see him portrayed as more rough-around-the-edges, a bit less refined maybe? Something. Mairi was OK. Despite her desperate need to save her clan and strong dislike toward the English, she sure did have a weak willpower for Phin and his friends. This didn't bother me though because I knew that without some give and take, we wouldn't have a romance.

Thank you NetGalley for the pleasure of reading and reviewing Pleasing the Pirate by Sharon Cullen.

[Shelly Lewis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was slightly disappointed with this book. If you're expecting adventure on the seas, you won't find it here. The story takes place mostly in France with the characters chatting up the aristocracy. The characters and plot points are a little flimsy and everything has the sense of being a little too easy... people overhearing just the right part of conversation to advance the plot, troublesome problems being overcome with ease, etc. And there were a few inconsistencies that turned me off. For example, in Chapter One, we read "He also had no idea how long he'd been here... Time stood still when all you saw were the same four walls and food was sporadic at best." and on the next page the hero hears keys at the door, and comments that it was not "feeding time" and "a change of schedule" isn't good. So the feeding is sporadic at best, and impossible to use as a method of counting the number of days spent in the place, but apparently food is consistent to a daily schedule - and changes in that schedule can mean something significant? There were a few spelling and grammar errors, like the word "site" used instead of "sight". Overall, the idea for the story was good, but the execution could have been much better. There were some cute moments, but I wouldn't recommend this book to avid readers. It makes a good simple story, when you just want to read a little romance.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about the English pirate Phin Lockwood, who we were introduced to in the 1st book of this series (The Notorious Lady Anne). He’s recruited (more like forced) to find a Scottish traitor lest lose his life. The sister of this traitor – Mairi – needs to find him to help save their land and people. She thinks enlisting Phin’s help is the way to find her brother and save her clan. But she doesn’t know Phin has other motivations for helping her.

I cannot express how much I enjoy Cullen’s historical romance series. Although the books are somewhat formulaic – its results pleases me so! Strong leading characters, action and danger drawing Phin and Mairi together, sparks & chemistry between the two drawn out so when they do finally give in to their desires it’s very satisfying to read, resolution to the drama and action, and the happily ever after. I say if it’s not broke – don’t fix it! Cullen’s work is always engaging, well written, and steamy with the romance. We’re also treated to interactions with characters from the previous two books in the series, so always nice to revisit them. This book was devoured within a couple days, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.