The Covert Buccaneer

by S. Lucia Kanter St. Amour

Editor’s Pick (BookLife, PUBLISHERS WEEKLY); Recommended on KIRKUS Reviews fiction alongside The Nightingale and The Women; Featured in the TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT

San Francisco. Two women. Two Centuries. One hidden diary with explosive truths.

1867–1919: Theodora “Teddy” Ellis is anything but ordinary. A pioneering miner, suffragist, and San Francisco real estate developer, she infiltrates male-dominated spaces in disguise, stakes claims in the ruthless Klondike, and fights for women’s rights and healthcare alongside her Miwok best friend. She survives the 1871 Chicago Fire and later helps rebuild San Francisco post-1906 earthquake and fire, reshaping the city’s future. But Teddy’s personal life is as unconventional as her ambitions—her relationships defy expectation, with the truth of her legacy lost to time.

2019–2020: Georgina “Ellie” Benvenuto is a divorced climate migrant attorney and single mother to a child with disabilities, struggling in a low-paying public interest job with a derailed legal career. As she wrestles with impossible personal and professional demands, she discovers her great-great-grandmother’s hidden diaries—revealing uncanny parallels to her own life. A long-forgotten heirloom of Teddy’s holds the key to a pivotal legal case—bringing the past crashing into the present and forcing Ellie to reconsider everything she understood about identity, love, and the cost of reinvention.

For readers who love intergenerational mysteries woven with family secrets, lost heirlooms, and women who get retribution—much like recent bestsellers that blend past and present narratives with a feminist lens, such as The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, The Personal Librarian, and Winter Garden—this is a must-read.

Compared to Lessons in Chemistry, this richly atmospheric, meticulously researched novel explores resilience, reinvention, and the defiant women history tried to erase. Like The Alice Network and other Reese’s Book Club picks, it's sure to rivet listeners and spark discussion—perfect for fans of Jo Piazza and other GMA Book Club authors.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Womens Fiction, Family Saga, Book Club, Literary Fiction, Audiobook, Dual Timeline

390 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 13, 2025

About the author

Author of Publishers Weekly, Booklife Editor's Pick: The Covert Buccaneer (also recommended on Kirkus Reviews fiction alongside The Nightingale and The Women, featured in The Times Literary Supplement; named LoveReading Book of the Month).

Nicknamed “She-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Tamed” by the media—and “The Most Interesting Woman in the World” by dubious sources—Lucia is an arresting cross-genre author, literary critic, and attorney action figure.

Her highly acclaimed sixth title, The Covert Buccaneer (2025), is an upmarket historical fiction family saga and legal drama, based on primary sources and real people & events—featuring a star-studded audiobook ensemble cast: Tavia Gilbert & Kate Reading. The sequel is coming in 2027 ...

One of the foremost women experts on negotiation, her debut book, For the Forces of Good: The Superpower of Everyday Negotiation, shot to #1 Bestseller in mere days. She followed it with The Money Fairy (2023), a whimsical fable co-authored with her son; Indispensable: Are Feminists Getting Women’s Rights Wrong? (2023), a sharp feminist theory essay; Moms Get Mad (2024), a humor-filled, heartfelt picture book about the realities of motherhood; and For the Forces of Good: Sidekick Journal & Workbook(2024), a companion guide to her celebrated negotiation book.

A VP emerita for UN Women (San Francisco) and named a "Top Woman Disruptor" by UK fashion magazine Violet Simon, Lucia has practiced law since 1998 and has taught negotiation & mediation for 20+ years at University of California law schools at both Berkeley & San Francisco. She has lectured at top law & business schools across the U.S. and Europe and served for several years as a judge & mediator for the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris.

In addition to "all that," Lucia hosts the podcast "Forces of Good," which has a dedicated following for its sociocultural-historical approach to negotiation—reminding listeners that negotiation isn’t just for business; it’s everybody’s business.

Lucia is the passionate and fastidious mom of five boys (3 canine, 2 human) and the founder of a nonprofit organization providing sibling programs, and dog matching & training for families of children with disabilities. She has learned (and used) six languages; is a pianist, an athlete, and a home cook of legitimate Italian cuisine. She lives in San Francisco--the fifth of six generations of her Italian family in the North Beach district.

Reviews

[Sabine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A triumph of storytelling—both sweeping in scope and intimate in detail. Kanter St. Amour has crafted a dual-timeline novel that is beautifully written, witty, and impossible to put down. Teddy’s incredible 19th-century adventures (including a polyamorous relationship--I don't see that detail mentioned much by other reviewers), and Ellie’s modern legal battles echo one another in striking ways, showing how resilience reverberates across generations. What also sets this book apart is its honest portrayal of special needs parenting. Too often in fiction it’s reduced to martyrdom or one-note heroism. Here, it’s depicted as it truly is: a grueling miasma that can feel crushing, even as you fiercely love your child. The ripple effects on siblings are shown with equal poignancy. Those moments are not only moving, they’re relatable to so many families who rarely see their truth reflected on the page.

This is a layered, textured novel: amily saga, legal drama, and a richly woven work of historical fiction all in one. The wit, warmth, and sharp insight make it soar, and the painstaking research shows in every detail. A must-read for anyone who loves multigenerational stories, historical fiction centered on women, and novels that don’t shy away from life’s hardest truths.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story that follows two timelines: that of Ellie in 2019 and Theodora (Teddy) in the latest 1800s.

We learn the stories of two incredibly strong women over 150 years apart, still facing issues and discrimination for being women, which in itself is increibly saddening and frustrating.

Ellie is a lawyer who fell pregnant twice and close together, much to the annoyance of the male controlled law company she worked for. When her son is diagnosed with complex needs, her career in litigation disappears when the male management fires her.

While a story, I was horrified as I know full well the misogyny that women face in male dominated environments, and this book really showcases a truly terrible example of misogyny at work.

After speaking to Ruby (her law hero), Ellie joins the fight to have 'carer' recognised and protected under employment laws in an attempt to protect future individuals from facing discrimination .

Teddy, on the other hand, is facing and battling the overtly sexist views of the 1800s. She had more 'modern' views in comparison to her peers of the time as clearly she was a very clever lady and definitely ahead of her time. One example that struck me was how she saved her money and invested in a business, only to have her investment tripled on its return.

She is also more liberal in her views of Native Americans, which, as we know, many did not have positive opinions in the 1800s.

Beautifully written and exploring many other hard subjects (misogeny is just one element of this multi layered book), this is a highly emotive and thought-provoking book.

I cannot recommend this book enough ❤️.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://sarahreads4.wordpress.com/202...

[Claire Smith-Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to LiterallyPR and the author for a copy of this book, here is my honest review.

I was swept up within pages of starting this book. I became as invested as Ellie does reading the diaries and I didn't want it to end. 


Told by a dual POV throughout the book, it flips seamlessly between the present day and 1867 and onwards. Ellie, an attorney and a mum to two boys, one with extra care needs has faced a tough year which saw her life turned upside down. Reeling from the changes she discovers a diary in her grandparents belongings of an old family relative that no one had spoken about. Delving into the pages she finds the life of Theodora “Teddy” Ellis aged 13, an extraordinary girl who never quite fit the mould. Instantly gripped she reads the on to uncover the fantastical historical events that Teddy had witnessed and how they shaped this strong, fierce, independent woman who found a way to forge her own path at a time when women had so few rights. 


So many of Teddy's adventures resonate with Ellie and I think she finds the strength she needs to become the driver in her own life through seeing the inner strength that Teddy had. 


I loved both of these fantastic characters, both are perfectly imperfect in the very best way and you end up rooting for both of them. The story cleverly highlights just how much of our history is described from a male point of view and how women have been written out. This book very much seeks to write them back in and I loved it for that. 


Undoubtedly one of my favourite reads this year. There is so much packed in that I've not even begun to include - I recommend picking up a copy asap 

[Kay Kett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful, thought-provoking, and impossible to put down

The Covert Buccaneer is one of those very rare novels that lingers long after the final page. Told through two perspectives - a present-day mother and lawyer, and a bold young diarist in 19th-century America - it’s both a gripping story and a deeply human exploration of what women endure, sacrifice, and reclaim across generations.

I was completely absorbed by the dual timeline, which made this a genuine page-turner. Ellie’s struggles with burnout and invisible labour felt so real, while Teddy’s diary bursts with defiance and discovery. The honesty in both women’s journeys is refreshing and often heart-wrenching.

This book is layered, smart, and full of conversation starters: touching on motherhood, identity, justice, and the legacy of women history tried to erase. I’d recommend it to fans of Lessons in Chemistry, The Paper Palace, and The Dictionary of Lost Words. An absolute triumph of a novel.

[Patricia Reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional book. The author interweaves so many threads using two timelines and I could not put it down. With gorgeous, visceral writing and regular doses of wit, you feel like you are right there with the characters. So refreshing to read nuanced female characters, and women who were left out of the history ledgers. Also refreshing to read the perspective of special needs parenting, which is not often part of a fictional character's profile. And everything in this book is drawn from lived experience and even real legal cases. A real gem!

[Helen Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Covert Buccaneer by S. Lucia Kanter St. Amour is one of the most compelling dual-timeline novels I’ve read in years. I was fortunate enough to be able to read this in manuscript form at the start of the year, and it's a privilege and pleasure to share this incredible book with the rest of the world ... with the official release date marked as October 13th 2025, there are a few lucky people who have the chance to read this one before the masses... and it's worth adding it to your TBR as soon as possible.

Already featured in The Times Literary Supplement, already attracting critical acclaim from the likes of Kirkus and Publishers Weekly, The Covert Buccaneer deserves the 'must-read' status and popularity it's attracting already - even before publication.

As someone who actively seeks out fiction that gives voice to forgotten women of history and exposes the uncomfortable truths we’ve too often ignored, this book delivered on every level.

Teddy’s 19th-century story is a fierce reckoning — a transformation from ignorance and privilege to bold defiance and justice. Her voice is sharp, unflinching, and deeply human. Ellie’s modern-day narrative, equally powerful, shows how advocacy, exhaustion, and determination can quietly change the world.

What moved me most was how The Covert Buccaneer doesn’t sugar-coat progress. It confronts bias, power, and silence with clarity and compassion.

I’ve always loved stories centred on female protagonists — especially those rooted in real historical moments.

We’re in a powerful era where the stories of erased women are finally coming into the light, and that’s thanks to creators like Lucia: writers, filmmakers, TV producers, artists. Books like this one remind us how many lives have been left out of the history books — and how thrilling it is to reclaim them.

If you're a fellow fan of Yellowstone, 1883, and that time/place setting, or any story that asks us to look again at who gets remembered and why — this book is for you. You won't regret picking this one up and it'll stay with you long after you've finished that last page. I promise.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Covert Buccaneer is a captivating historical fiction novel that weaves together the lives of two remarkable women across a century. The story follows young Teddy in 1867, who breaks societal norms as a miner and suffragist, and modern-day Ellie, who finds Teddy's hidden diary and heirloom. The book explores important themes like climate justice and gender roles, while keeping the reader engaged with its compelling plot. I enjoyed the blend of history and personal struggle. Definitely worth a read!

[Amy Field-smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

For lovers of historical fiction, particularly the sweeping Kristin Hannah-esque type novel, I highly recommend The Covert Buccaneer. S. Lucia Kanter St. Amour brings extraordinary depth to both Teddy’s 19th-century world and Ellie’s present-day challenges. I was captivated by the origin of the story - the discovery of a diary from a great-grandparent, giving the book a real sense of family history, reaching back through time to understand where we came from (but oh so much deeper).

I love a novel with strong female characters and boy (actually - girl) does this deliver. Teddy is a resourceful and strong woman who pushes against the norms of her time. Ellie's story is raw and honest. She is a single mom navigating challenges both as a special needs mom and a labor attorney representing the underdog client. (I loved the stories of her clients).

If you love stories that span generations, center strong women, and aren’t afraid to tackle tough truths & realities, this is absolutely worth the read. It is refreshingly original, particularly in a world with so many cookie cutter books that feel churned out by popular authors. Hope you love it as much as I do!

[Timothy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tour de force by S. Lucia Kanter St. Amour. The Covert Buccaneer is a gripping and detailed historical story which keeps the reader's attention and curiosity throughout. How refreshing to see a historical novel with female heroines set in San Francisco in locations well known and beloved. A must for anyone who wishes to understand the roots of the city and its development by some of its lesser known women influencers. It also explores many important cultural and societal facets with nuance, through real lived experiences. I couldn't put it down and have recommended it to several friends. Brava!

[Shreedevi Gurumurty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Great Chicago Fire occurred in Chicago, Illinois, during October 8–10, 1871. The fire began in a neighbourhood southwest of the city centre. A long period of hot, dry, windy conditions, and the wooden construction prevalent in the city led to the conflagration spreading quickly. The fire leapt to the Chicago River and destroyed much of central Chicago, including the iconic Palmer House Hotel. The popular tale claims that on the evening of October 8, 1871, Mrs. O'Leary's cow knocked over a lantern in a barn on her DeKoven Street property, sparking the Great Chicago Fire. The story was a fabrication, with reporters inventing details and misrepresenting Mrs. O'Leary's character. The myth gained traction due to prevailing anti-immigrant sentiment, particularly against Irish Catholics, and a desire to blame the poor and vulnerable for the tragedy.In 1997, the Chicago City Council formally cleared Mrs. O'Leary and her cow of any wrongdoing.

Amadeo Peter Giannini was an American banker who founded the Bank of Italy, which eventually became Bank of America. Giannini is credited as the inventor of many modern banking practices. Most notably, Giannini was one of the first bankers to offer banking services to middle-class Americans, mainly Italian immigrants, rather than the rich.

Elizabeth Haywood Ashe was a nurse who worked with the SF 1906 Earthquake survivors and victims, and along with Alice Griffith, cofounded the city's first settlement house - an organisation designed to assist struggling families with healthcare,daycare and education. The house is now the Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center.

Elizabeth Hitchcock Coit was a patron of San Francisco's volunteer firefighters and the benefactor for the construction of the Coit Tower.

The hatpin ordinance, was a period when hatpins were both a symbol of women's empowerment for self-defense against aggressive men, and a source of fear for public safety, leading to debates and laws about women's rights.

The National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) was formed on May 15, 1869, to work for women's suffrage in the United States.Its main leaders were Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

[Jess Leach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished The Covert Buccaneer and I'm still thinking about it days later—this book is something special.

This dual-timeline novel weaves together the stories of Theodora "Teddy" Ellis DeLuca in the late 1800s—a pioneering woman who dressed as a man to work as a miner, fought for women's suffrage, and refused to let society dictate her path—and her modern descendant Ellie, a climate attorney and special needs mother navigating present-day San Francisco. When Ellie discovers Teddy's hidden diary along with a mysterious heirloom, the past and present collide in unexpected ways.

What impressed me most is how thoroughly researched this book is. It's based on actual people and events, primary sources, and real legal cases—Teddy survives the Great Chicago Fire, stakes claims in the Klondike, rebuilds after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. St. Amour clearly did her homework, but the storytelling never feels academic or dry. The pacing is excellent and kept me engaged throughout.

The novel tackles significant themes: gender nonconformity, climate justice, caregiver discrimination, immigrant experiences, and how women's stories have been systematically erased from history. It handles these topics with nuance, humor, and a defiant spirit that makes the book feel both urgent and hopeful.

San Francisco becomes a character in its own right here, and North Beach in particular comes alive with vivid, authentic detail. The dual timelines are expertly woven together, and watching how Teddy's choices echo through generations to shape Ellie's life is beautifully executed.
The central question the book poses resonated deeply with me: "What do we owe the women who came before us—and what might we still become if we dare to follow their trail?"

Full disclosure: I had the honor of binding a copy of the original historical manuscript this novel is based on for the author in 2023. Having held that piece of history in my hands and now seeing it transformed into this compelling narrative makes the book even more meaningful to me, though it stands powerfully on its own merit.

[Emma Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️ Blurb -
San Francisco. Two trailblazing women—separated by a century—fighting for their futures. The Covert Buccaneer is a sweeping, dual-timeline historical fiction, women’s fiction, legal drama, and love story.
1867–1919: Theodora “Teddy” Ellis is anything but ordinary. A pioneering miner, suffragist, and San Francisco real estate developer, she infiltrates male-dominated spaces in disguise, stakes claims in the ruthless Klondike, and fights for women’s rights and healthcare alongside her Miwok best friend. She survives the 1871 Chicago Fire and later helps rebuild San Francisco post-1906 earthquake and fire, reshaping the city’s future. But Teddy’s personal life is as unconventional as her ambitions—her relationships defy expectation, with the truth of her legacy lost to time.
2019–2020: Georgina “Ellie” Benvenuto is a divorced climate migrant attorney and single mother to a child with disabilities, struggling in a low-paying public interest job with a derailed legal career. As she wrestles with impossible personal and professional demands, she discovers her great-great-grandmother’s hidden diaries—revealing uncanny parallels to her own life. A long-forgotten heirloom of Teddy’s holds the key to a pivotal legal case—bringing the past crashing into the present and forcing Ellie to reconsider everything she understood about identity, love, and the cost of reinvention.
For listeners who love intergenerational mysteries woven with family secrets, lost heirlooms, and the weight of inheritance—much like recent bestsellers that blend past and present narratives with a feminist lens, such as The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, The Personal Librarian, and Winter Garden—this novel is a must-listen.
💜 Review -
This was such an interesting read. I found the dual time line brilliantly done, the story was easy to follow, interesting and I loved the author's writing style. I also enjoyed the historical time setting, it's obvious that the author has done their research for the book. I hadn't read anything like this before and it made me eager to get stuck in. Overall, a brilliant novel that I highly recommend to other readers. I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Literally PR, the author and publisher for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jan Mawdesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Covert Buccaneer is one of those stories that commences slowly, if somewhat messily, but before you know it you are involved a wonderfully rich tale of life as we know it and life that once was, told with a wealth of understanding as to the history of the times and the courage it took to step outside of the dictates of society .
Ellie is a single mother of two little boys, one with severe developmental issues, a Lawyer and woman who was dismissed as Senior Partner in a top Law firm because she had children who would or could impair her work as a Lawyer.
She is now working in a role she loves as a Human Rights Lawyer representing women from a multi-cultural background, juggling her children’s schedules, while grieving for her beloved Grandfather.
A diary is discovered while cleaning out the house of her grandparents, written by Theodora Ellis, known as Teddy, commencing as a young girl rebelling about the dictates society is already placing on her, schooling and her step-mother, a woman for whom she has little respect.
Ellie finds she is enthralled by the diary, captivated by the story that is unfolding and when more diaries are discovered she is in raptures. She realises that so much of the story of early pioneer women was never told, the men being the ones who sought the accolades, the women carefully washed out of history.
As Teddy’s life unfolds, full of challenge and courage, creating her own pathway through society, so too does Ellie’s as she reaches out, learning to trust again and take on the might of a Law firm she once admired.
S. Lucia Kanter St. Amour has used a skilful blend of fact and fiction to tell the story of women who were brave enough to challenge the might of society in a time when it was a very patriarchal society and uses the modern day scarcely veiled world of patriarchy to strike a resounding note for women who are brave enough, strong enough and courageous enough to stand up for their hard earned rights.
The Author notes are a must read as they go into detail in relation to the characters and historic events, both past and recent.

[Kelly Hollingworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This late 19th/early 20th century and 21st century dual time line book centres around strong, resilient, determined women and is one not to be missed. I usually favour one time period or character over another when reading this style of book but I was equally compelled by Ellie and Teddy’s stories. Ellie Benvenuto is a professional single mum battling for her career, her family and for others in her role as a climate migrant attorney. She discovers her great-great grandmother Teddy Ellis’s diary. Teddy is equally battling her place in society as a pioneer, hiding or disguising who she is at times in many ways. I loved reading about her journey.

This book is based on real historical events, a real family archive and real life. The women face barriers and judgement, as well as gender and societal expectations, frighteningly even Ellie in the current era. This is clearly a meticulously researched book and I learnt a great deal about a number of interesting events such as the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. I was fascinated by the Author’s Note at the end of the book. I enjoy this genre of book and really enjoyed this one in particular. A must read for readers of history - women in history, American history and Indigenous history.

[Martin Smalley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant novel.
The scenes in the life of Theodora (Teddy) Ellis in the USA in the nineteenth century are particularly convincing and skillfully woven into the fabric of the life of the 21st century Ellie via the discovery of Teddy’s diaries.
Both women are strong characters. Ellie is a high-powered, socially conscious lawyer and a single mother with a disabled child. The challenges she faces in the modern USA are different to the ones Teddy faced, but both are rooted in being women in a patriarchal world.
The feminist theme of the book does not get in the way of the story, which cracks along at a good pace. The characters are vivid and realistic, too, making this a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Review by Martin Smalley
www.martinsmalley.com
@martinsmalleyauthor

[Ira Hakim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book! What a novel idea (no pun intended!) - two interwoven stories of brave and intelligent women, split across time and history - but yet so connected.

One of my favourite parts was how S. Lucia Kanter St. Amour wove parts of their own story, heritage and rich life experience into this novel. I think that helped it read more realistically but it also gave me an insight into several worlds that I'd never be privy to otherwise.

Even with this in mind, it was still such a relatable book and touched on very important topics of racism and feminism across the centuries in an insightful and clever manner.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written and enjoyable story that takes place in two different time periods, which the author handles extremely well. That those two stories are interwoven with some of the author’s own life made it particularly intriguing. And her frank handling of discrimination in the workplace is laudable! It was hard to put down and I wanted to cheer at the end. This would be a great book for a book club to discuss.

[Staceywh_17 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not ordinarily something I'd go for when book shopping, it's a book I'm so glad I had the opportunity of reading pre-release.

It's a dual timeline novel that sweeps us across centuries with the tale of two women fighting for their right to be treated equally.

The misogyny they faced was ever present, whether it was Teddy in the 1800's or Ellie in modern day. To think there are men out there who STILL consider a woman inferior is something which we should all oppose.

Such a captivating, thought provoking read.

So powerful!

[Becky Durstenfeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is well written; it has a lot of details. It is interesting. The main characters were complex. Teddy was quite talented in several areas and moved around quite a bit before settling in San Francisco. Her relationships with the two men was unconventional and a bit confusing.

Ellie had too much on her plate and relied on her best friend to take care of her sons quite a bit. Her relationship with Sam wasn't a typical love story.

I was not sure where the title of the book comes because I don't think any of the main characters were buccaneers.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Manikya Kodithuwakku · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fairly quick read, primarily because it’s well-paced and both stories are well narrated.

The gap between the dual timeline, although over 150 years apart, is negotiated seamlessly, with each story feeding into the other really well. I found the older timeline much more interesting than the later one, but I think that was because the later one had more things going on. While Ellie’s story was interesting, and made perfect sense juxtaposed with Teddy’s, it had quite a lot going on with her family, children, friends, work, and clients’ stories all wrapped together. None of these are random though - they capture Ellie’s high-stress life quite well. But sometimes it felt like her clients’ stories were novels in themselves and so the few references to them felt insufficient to do them real justice.

My two issues with the novel are its title and cover. Is the buccaneer a reference to Teddy? In what sense of the word? I’m not familiar with it outside its dictionary definitions - a pirate? an adventurer? a ruthless businessman? - so maybe I missed a metaphorical usage here? But none of them would really define Teddy who rules primarily from the heart and is honest - to herself and others - almost to a fault! Secondly, the cover prominently features a sari-clad woman. One of Ellie’s clients is an Indian immigrant but why she might be on the cover, instead of the American-(maybe)Italian Ellie, against the other figure depicted on the cover, is unclear. It felt like the cover attempts to give it a sense of the ‘exotic’, but without the story delivering on this.

My 4* reflects some editorial-decisions to include in Ellie’s story some aspects that felt quite forced, without blending into the story’s world. For eg, Ellie’s mother is portrayed as an epidemiologist and is not given much space, but then suddenly in one scene, delivers a pro-vaccine soliloquy that is almost too well-geared towards the impending Covid pandemic (Ellie’s story is mostly set in 2019). It seems to come out of the blue, and then is gone. It felt like Ellie’s mother was given this role only to have this soliloquy ‘makes sense’ here, although it still actually doesn’t. Her advice - seen as ‘paranoid’ at the time - at the beginning of Covid when Ellie has to travelbmakes total sense, but that earlier speech just jarred things. Similarly, there is suddenly a news story on post-monsoon flooding in Kerala, India, but it is not connected, in any way that I could see, to the narrative. I expected a client connected to this natural disaster or at least a similar one would come up, but nothing did in the end! The novel would not have lost anything without them having disrupted the narrative.

But overall, this is a good read! And I would definitely read more from S. Lucia Kanter St. Amour!

Thanks to BookSirens and the author for an ARC.

[Gillian Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say? I absolutely loved this book!
I’m a huge fan of multi-generational fiction—watching how families evolve over time, while certain traits and struggles echo across generations, never fails to captivate me. The Covert Buccaneer delivers all of this and more, weaving together a rich, layered story with fascinating elements of American history.
From the Great Fire of Chicago, to the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment granting women the right to vote, and the injustices faced by Native Americans, this novel offers not only an engaging narrative but a powerful educational journey. Much of the story is rooted in fact, which gives it even greater depth and resonance.
At the heart of the novel are two extraordinary women. In the present day, there's Ellie Benvenuto, a brilliant lawyer who’s treated unfairly by the powerful law firm she worked for. She's a single mother, juggling her demanding career with the challenges of raising two young sons, one of whom has special needs. Ellie stands up fiercely for those who are discriminated against—while facing similar injustices herself.
Then there’s Theodora Mary Ellis —Ellie’s great-great-grandmother. After the death of Ellie’s beloved grandfather Enzo, a collection of Theodora’s diaries comes to light, spanning from 1867 until her death in 1919. Through these pages, we meet a fearless woman who championed women’s rights, spoke her mind, and left behind a hidden legacy in San Francisco’s architecture—not just funding iconic buildings, but designing and building them herself.
Two timelines. Two powerful women. One unforgettable story.
The Covert Buccaneer is a spellbinding read, beautifully entwining drama, historical insight, and the very real struggles many still face today.

[Christine Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

TLDR: This book slaps. It’s cinematic, relevant, and emotionally gripping. It’s got book club hit written all over it. It will resonate deeply with readers who love sweeping, feminist historical fiction with intelligence, humor, and raw emotional truth.

The Covert Buccaneer is an absolute powerhouse of a novel. It’s ambitious, richly layered, and meticulously crafted. Kanter St. Amour’s attention to detail is forensic, her historical research impeccable, and her characters breathe. It’s not just a story—it’s a movement wrapped in narrative form.

The Covert Buccaneer is decidedly character-driven—but with a plot that hums beneath the surface like an underground current. The narrative momentum comes not from shocking twists or breakneck pacing, but from emotional stakes, moral dilemmas, and the characters’ evolving relationships—especially across time.

Teddy’s and Ellie’s arcs are both richly interior. Their growth is shaped by social forces, injustice, and choices of conscience. We’re riveted not because something happens every five pages, but because we care about what Ellie will decide next, or whether Teddy will succeed in claiming her voice and place. Even when the plot delivers tangible action—wrongful termination, suffragist intrigue, legal drama/ tension—it always loops back to who these women are, what they stand for, and what they carry (emotionally and ancestrally).

So while the dual timeline structure and historical mystery provide plot scaffolding, the soul of the novel is its character complexity, ethical weight, and emotional resonance.


Characters that stay with you? CHECK!

Thematic depth without preaching? CHECK!

Historical fiction done right with down-to-the-sentence level craft (and wit)? CHECK!

[Rachel Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Covert Buccaneer is a powerful dual-timeline novel centred around two female protagonists, Ellie and Teddy. The author shapes their stories by drawing on her own family history, career, and lived experiences. Both women are strong, complex characters whose voices evolve over time.
The novel explores important themes such as cultural bias, the immigrant experience, the suppression of Indigenous Americans, and the ongoing fight for women’s rights. Through Teddy’s voice, American history is reframed beyond the usual white male perspective, shining light on the often-overlooked resilience of women who survived and thrived during eras such as the Gold Rush and the Wild West. Her story, rarely recounted in history books, left me reflecting on the parallels between these timelines and the experiences of women today.
I found the book engaging, thought-provoking, and refreshingly readable. Too often, feminist or cultural bias literature can feel heavy-handed, but here the author’s background as an expert negotiator clearly informs her balanced and accessible approach.
If I had any criticisms, they would be that I was occasionally frustrated by Ellie’s relationship arc, and I felt Teddy’s story concluded a little too abruptly. However, these were minor points in what was otherwise a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding read.
I can see why The Covert Buccaneer has deservedly won literary prizes. It’s a novel that lingers in the mind long after the last page, and the inclusion of the author’s own recipes in the footnotes was a delightful and unexpected bonus.
Thank you to the author and Love Reading for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Kate Engler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy. Because Lucia is brilliant, I figured I would dig it, but I had no idea just how much I would LOVE it!

It is a bold, layered novel that gives us what we don’t often see enough of in fiction: female protagonists with room to be complicated, contradictory, and completely real.

The women at the heart of this story—who are based on real, badass women—defy traditional relationships, wrestle with motherhood, and admit to struggles many would rather keep hidden. They navigate sexual desires with nuance, sometimes pulling back not because they don’t feel them, but because they know their choices risk being judged. They exercise power in the outside world yet still grapple with self-doubt. In other words, they are unapologetically themselves—flawed, vulnerable, resilient—and all the more authentic and relatable because of it.

Lucia’s storytelling goes far beyond fiction. She moves seamlessly between modern day and the 19th century. With sensitivity and precision, she weaves in sharp insights about gender, race, human rights, our problematic work culture, and parenting—issues as pressing today as ever—without ever slipping into the didactic. Instead, these truths emerge through compelling narratives and rich characterizations, making the book both a page-turner and an education.

[Evelyn Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Covert Buccaneer by S. Lucia Kanter St. Amour is a triumph of dual-timeline storytelling a richly layered tapestry of resilience, ambition, and the enduring strength of women who refuse to be forgotten. Moving seamlessly between the gilded yet treacherous streets of 19th-century San Francisco and the modern-day struggles of a woman on the brink of reinvention, this novel captures how history echoes through generation whispering courage into those who dare to listen.

Through Theodora “Teddy” Ellis, a miner, developer, and suffragist disguised among men, and Georgina “Ellie” Benvenuto, an overworked attorney and mother facing her own fight for dignity and purpose, Kanter St. Amour binds two women by more than blood by defiance, by legacy, by love that transcends time.

With exquisite prose and meticulous historical grounding, The Covert Buccaneer stands among the best of contemporary historical fiction. Like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and The Alice Network, it’s both sweeping and intimate a novel that champions women who shape the world from its margins, and reminds us that the act of reclaiming one’s story is the bravest rebellion of all.

This is not just historical fiction it’s historical justice, told with precision, passion, and profound humanity.

[Siobhain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure what to expect from The Covert Buccaneer but I confess the title, cover and finally blurb hooked intrigued me and I am so glad they did. This book is an amalgamation of all the things I love in my media. I particularly adored Teddy and Ellie and how their stories intertwined over the years. There is a wonderful balance of mystery, history and family intrigue to keep you hooked throughout.

This is only aided by St. Amour’s writing that not only brings the characters to life but the streets and setting of San Francisco too. You really feel like you are following alongside these characters as you read thanks to the wonderful prose. It is also clear that St.Amour spared no time researching her setting, history and this only aids the transition to the worlds of Teddy and Ellie. Tied to this we have two fantastic protagonists whose journeys stay with you long after finishing. I highly recommend this novel to fans of historical fiction but also those who enjoy a mystery and well crafted tale.
As always thank you to Literally PR for the copy to review. My review is always honest, truthful and freely given.

[Gail Reitano · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the diaries of Theodora “Teddy” Ellis from the 1800’s, we delight in Teddy’s fight and pluck. Even as a young girl she faces the world with uncharacteristic, and scandalous for her time, ambition.
For Ellie Benvenuto, a high-powered lawyer in San Francisco, and Teddy’s great-great granddaughter, the diaries prove not only inspiration but provide a will to go on at the most difficult points in Ellie’s life. While balancing a demanding career, Ellie is also a special needs mom and in the middle of a painful divorce.
The novel was spawned from extensive diaries and other primary sources, and I kept thinking—how many of us are lucky enough to uncover the detailed past of an ancestor? And I was continuously surprised at how Teddy and Ellie’s lives converge across one hundred and fifty years. Ellie’s field of law is employment discrimination, and Teddy once fought for immigrants and women’s rights. The thoughtful weaving of the two stories, and S. Lucia Kanter St. Amour’s crisp, engaging style, had me turning the pages.
As we hop from voice to voice, century to century, we glean how women’s lives remain stubbornly the same even as they change, sometimes radically.

[FRANK L · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Covert Buccaneer is a big book in the best sense of the word — expansive, layered, and ambitious. It’s a family saga, a legal drama, and a dual-timeline historical fiction all at once, yet it never buckles under its own weight. Instead, it sails confidently between Gilded Age San Francisco and the present day, threading together themes of gender, inheritance, climate, and justice.

What struck me most was how complex yet cohesive it all feels. You can sense the painstaking research behind every scene, but it never reads like homework — it’s alive, propulsive, and often surprisingly funny. The prose carries a dry wit that catches you off guard in the middle of tense or emotional passages, reminding you that history is made up of very human moments.

It’s a rare book that can be both sprawling and intimate, serious and sly. The Covert Buccaneer manages it — and leaves you with the sense that you’ve read not just a story, but a legacy being reclaimed. An ambitious undertaking, executed with finesse.

[NB Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although The Covert Buccaneer is a work of historical fiction, many elements are rooted in the author's own family history and life experiences. That personal foundation makes the story feel especially vivid and engaging.
The novel follows two women who defy convention in their own eras. Teddy's storyline reads like an adventure, while Ellie's feels grounded in the complexities of modern life. Ellie's storyline is especially relatable, as the author explores the tension between motherhood (particularly caring for a child with special needs) and a demanding legal career. Rather than relying on clichés or lofty discourse about caregiving vs career, the author shows the actual decisions and trade-offs Ellie faces, along with the direct impact on her life.
Also, as a San Francisco resident, I loved the incorporation of local history and the appearances of figures like Lillie Hitchcock Coit (benefactor of Coit Tower) and A.P. Giannini (founder of the Bank of Italy, now Bank of America). Overall, this was a fun and reflective read, and I've already recommended it to many friends!