What do you think?
Call Me Captain
Cassandra Rackham, born to two pirate legends, has sailed the seas in disguise, commanding her crew with a stone-cold heart while guarding an ancient map she can’t read.
But when she discovers that her infuriating, honorable prisoner holds the key to the vast treasure awaiting her—the ability to read—everything changes.
With a malicious pirate hunter on her trail and a crew teetering on the brink of betrayal, Cassandra must trust the man who could unravel her secrets… or lose every hope of gaining true freedom.
Set in 1727, Call Me Captain follows a pirate forged by legacy and loss, who must navigate a world where women have no say, exact revenge on the man who sent her parents to the gallows, and guard her heart against the sailor who seeks to win it.
Perfect for fans of Adrienne Young, Tricia Levenseller, and historical romance with teeth, this swashbuckling tale of revenge, romance, and treasure-hunting will keep your heart pounding to the final page.
But when she discovers that her infuriating, honorable prisoner holds the key to the vast treasure awaiting her—the ability to read—everything changes.
With a malicious pirate hunter on her trail and a crew teetering on the brink of betrayal, Cassandra must trust the man who could unravel her secrets… or lose every hope of gaining true freedom.
Set in 1727, Call Me Captain follows a pirate forged by legacy and loss, who must navigate a world where women have no say, exact revenge on the man who sent her parents to the gallows, and guard her heart against the sailor who seeks to win it.
Perfect for fans of Adrienne Young, Tricia Levenseller, and historical romance with teeth, this swashbuckling tale of revenge, romance, and treasure-hunting will keep your heart pounding to the final page.
429 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 26, 2025
About the author
LillieAnne Brown
1 book10 followersLillieAnne Brown is an author dedicated to writing clean, young adult fiction books filled with adventure, action, and romance. She has been a passionate reader since the age of seven and began crafting stories in 5th grade.
She started working on Call Me Captain in her junior year of high school, inspired by the ocean she adored and her favorite movie, Pirates of the Caribbean. She's a lover of high seas adventure, dangerous secrets, and slow-burn romance.
When she's not dreaming up pirate captains or diving into historical rabbit holes, she can be found re-reading her favorite novels, playing guitar with her siblings, or hiking in the forests.
Call Me Captain is her debut novel.
She started working on Call Me Captain in her junior year of high school, inspired by the ocean she adored and her favorite movie, Pirates of the Caribbean. She's a lover of high seas adventure, dangerous secrets, and slow-burn romance.
When she's not dreaming up pirate captains or diving into historical rabbit holes, she can be found re-reading her favorite novels, playing guitar with her siblings, or hiking in the forests.
Call Me Captain is her debut novel.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 28, 2026
My first ever pirate read, and can I just say how much I loved it! Savvy? Brown did a masterful job weaving history, lore, and fiction into an adventurous blend that had me turning the pages, chuckling at the authentic pirate dialogue, and wanting to play dress up all at the same time! The FMC is incredible, the MMC is such an awesome green flag, and the plot is brilliant. Twists, turns, and lots of cool little details that end up being not so little… I loved every page and I can’t wait for the sequel!
September 24, 2026
This was such a fun read to add to my list of pirate books! It nailed a lot of the vibes that are great in Treasure Island or Pirates of the Caribbean and even has a lot of fun references to potc (some subtle, some less so).
For someone who doesn't do a ton of romance books, it felt a little clunky between the romance and action sides of the story, but if you like romance, it is definitely a good subplot that adds to the narrative. I really appreciated the way it wove in the real story of Anne Bonny, Mary Read, and Calico Jack, along with other fun historical details. Overall, really enjoyed it and am looking forward to the sequel!
For someone who doesn't do a ton of romance books, it felt a little clunky between the romance and action sides of the story, but if you like romance, it is definitely a good subplot that adds to the narrative. I really appreciated the way it wove in the real story of Anne Bonny, Mary Read, and Calico Jack, along with other fun historical details. Overall, really enjoyed it and am looking forward to the sequel!
July 3, 2026
THE MOST PERFECT READ EVER!!!
If you’re like me, and you read a ton, it can feel like taking a gamble when picking up a debut authors book. I rarely pick up a debut book for the sole purpose that I have read so many that I dnf because they are usually not edited well and a little childish. (I know that’s a bad mentality to have, but I can’t help it, i only have so many hours of my day to read and I want to make sure the book I’m reading is a good one lol!)
When I saw this book on Instagram I was SO excited because I’m always on the lookout for clean pirate books! But then I saw it was a debut book and was like…do I really want to spend money on this knowing that most of the debut books I’ve picked up lately are not the greatest???
I read the sample here on Goodreads and was impressed with the maturity in the writing and decided I’d take the risk, and BOY AM I HAPPY I DID!
I enjoyed every minute of this story, from start to finish. You would never have known this was Browns first novel. The writing was excellent. The pace was just the right speed. The story telling was remarkable. And most of all, I forgot I was even reading a book most of the time because the book was that enthralling.
There is so much to love from this story:
⚓️pirate lingo
⚓️enemies to lovers romance
⚓️treasure hunt
⚓️sword fights
⚓️travel
⚓️historically accurate pirates
⚓️hidden identity
⚓️banter
⚓️clean romance
⚓️witty characters that will make you smile
⚓️writing that makes you forget you’re reading
⚓️and so much more that I won’t spoil for you
Overall, I’m very thankful I picked up this book! You can tell Brown put her full heart into crafting this story. I’m highly anticipating the second book in this duology! I can’t wait!
(I also want to state I RARELY give typed out reviews. A book really has to ping my interest for me to take the time out of my day to want to give a review. The author has no clue who I am and this was completely written because I wanted to give this book some praise.)
If you’re like me, and you read a ton, it can feel like taking a gamble when picking up a debut authors book. I rarely pick up a debut book for the sole purpose that I have read so many that I dnf because they are usually not edited well and a little childish. (I know that’s a bad mentality to have, but I can’t help it, i only have so many hours of my day to read and I want to make sure the book I’m reading is a good one lol!)
When I saw this book on Instagram I was SO excited because I’m always on the lookout for clean pirate books! But then I saw it was a debut book and was like…do I really want to spend money on this knowing that most of the debut books I’ve picked up lately are not the greatest???
I read the sample here on Goodreads and was impressed with the maturity in the writing and decided I’d take the risk, and BOY AM I HAPPY I DID!
I enjoyed every minute of this story, from start to finish. You would never have known this was Browns first novel. The writing was excellent. The pace was just the right speed. The story telling was remarkable. And most of all, I forgot I was even reading a book most of the time because the book was that enthralling.
There is so much to love from this story:
⚓️pirate lingo
⚓️enemies to lovers romance
⚓️treasure hunt
⚓️sword fights
⚓️travel
⚓️historically accurate pirates
⚓️hidden identity
⚓️banter
⚓️clean romance
⚓️witty characters that will make you smile
⚓️writing that makes you forget you’re reading
⚓️and so much more that I won’t spoil for you
Overall, I’m very thankful I picked up this book! You can tell Brown put her full heart into crafting this story. I’m highly anticipating the second book in this duology! I can’t wait!
(I also want to state I RARELY give typed out reviews. A book really has to ping my interest for me to take the time out of my day to want to give a review. The author has no clue who I am and this was completely written because I wanted to give this book some praise.)
May 2, 2026
4.5 stars
If you love pirates and books that feel like Pirates of the Caribbean, then this is a must read!
Cassandra Rackham is the daughter of two legendary pirates and the captain of her own ship. She’s tough and quick witted, while also compassionate about not spilling blood needlessly. She wants to find a treasure marked on a map left to her by her parents before they were sent to the gallows. The only problem? She can’t read. Luckily she has a prisoner on her ship who can, and he is the key to finding this long lost treasure. Unfortunately, a pirate hunter named Jonathan Barnet will stop at nothing to take her down. Full of sword fights, unexpected friendship, and lots of humor, this book is an adventure in and of itself!
I love that this book is rooted in real history. As a beach lover and someone who goes to the OBX every summer, I have always had a deep fascination with pirates. Seeing names that I’m familiar with was an unexpected bonus! I love that Brown took the mystery that is Anne Bonny’s fate and developed this story as a result. Such a fun “what if” scenario!
Cassie is such a fun FMC! She’s ruthless, but also very caring. She grows and develops a lot, but still holds to her pirating ways. And Alexander is also great!! Despite being a scholar and wanting nothing to do with pirates, he learns that Cassie is more than her heritage and aids her on her quest for find the treasure. I love that their relationship is really built on friendship and seeing how it develops was really heartwarming!
If you love pirates and books that feel like Pirates of the Caribbean, then this is a must read!
Cassandra Rackham is the daughter of two legendary pirates and the captain of her own ship. She’s tough and quick witted, while also compassionate about not spilling blood needlessly. She wants to find a treasure marked on a map left to her by her parents before they were sent to the gallows. The only problem? She can’t read. Luckily she has a prisoner on her ship who can, and he is the key to finding this long lost treasure. Unfortunately, a pirate hunter named Jonathan Barnet will stop at nothing to take her down. Full of sword fights, unexpected friendship, and lots of humor, this book is an adventure in and of itself!
I love that this book is rooted in real history. As a beach lover and someone who goes to the OBX every summer, I have always had a deep fascination with pirates. Seeing names that I’m familiar with was an unexpected bonus! I love that Brown took the mystery that is Anne Bonny’s fate and developed this story as a result. Such a fun “what if” scenario!
Cassie is such a fun FMC! She’s ruthless, but also very caring. She grows and develops a lot, but still holds to her pirating ways. And Alexander is also great!! Despite being a scholar and wanting nothing to do with pirates, he learns that Cassie is more than her heritage and aids her on her quest for find the treasure. I love that their relationship is really built on friendship and seeing how it develops was really heartwarming!
July 30, 2026
Wow, just wow. I wish I could give this book a million stars!! I have been in a reading slump lately, frustrated by books that all seem the same and have "strong" female characters that are just strong because they act like men. This book exceeded my expectations and just became one of my top reads!
The characters were each so distinct. I felt like they were actual people standing beside me telling me their story. The main character is so well written. I loved her from page one and cheered for her the entire time. Also, she is a strong female character, not because she is a pirate who can fight, but because she is confident in her femininity and, in fact, better at what she does because of it. She is inspiring in a way I haven't seen in a while.
As for the book's overall vibe. It was definitely Pirates of the Caribbean, but I would honestly say better. Plus, I loved the historical accuracy of this book. The author did her research, and it showed. Thank you, Lillieanne, for this incredible book.
The characters were each so distinct. I felt like they were actual people standing beside me telling me their story. The main character is so well written. I loved her from page one and cheered for her the entire time. Also, she is a strong female character, not because she is a pirate who can fight, but because she is confident in her femininity and, in fact, better at what she does because of it. She is inspiring in a way I haven't seen in a while.
As for the book's overall vibe. It was definitely Pirates of the Caribbean, but I would honestly say better. Plus, I loved the historical accuracy of this book. The author did her research, and it showed. Thank you, Lillieanne, for this incredible book.
August 4, 2026
What a fun and witty pirate read!
For those of you who loved Pirates of the Caribbean, this is for you. It’s got loads of banter, sword fights, and a ton of adventure. Who doesn’t want to sail across the sea in search of treasure???
Especially when you have a yummy scholar?
This story manages to weave together the grit of pirate life and plenty of lore, while also wiggling in those heartwarming feels that make it so satisfying. It was a book with everything you could need.
There are challenges to writing an FMC, but Brown does an exceptional job bringing Cassie to life. She is tough (she is a pirate, after all!), but she is well-rounded and isn’t immune to her emotions. I find that many stories lean too heavily one way or the other with FMCs, so they can become hard to relate to. Not Cassie. Cassie is exactly what I imagined a daughter of pirates would be like—imperfectly human and with a quick tongue.
Excited to see what Brown brews up next!
For those of you who loved Pirates of the Caribbean, this is for you. It’s got loads of banter, sword fights, and a ton of adventure. Who doesn’t want to sail across the sea in search of treasure???
Especially when you have a yummy scholar?
This story manages to weave together the grit of pirate life and plenty of lore, while also wiggling in those heartwarming feels that make it so satisfying. It was a book with everything you could need.
There are challenges to writing an FMC, but Brown does an exceptional job bringing Cassie to life. She is tough (she is a pirate, after all!), but she is well-rounded and isn’t immune to her emotions. I find that many stories lean too heavily one way or the other with FMCs, so they can become hard to relate to. Not Cassie. Cassie is exactly what I imagined a daughter of pirates would be like—imperfectly human and with a quick tongue.
Excited to see what Brown brews up next!
January 6, 2026
This was a fun pirate adventure of a book! From a tough, untrusting female main character to the swaggering male main character that dislikes pirates, this book will keep you on your toes to see what happens next.
With plenty of fun hints to the Pirates of the Caribbean movies and some Treasure Planet type of moments, I had a lot of fun reading through this treasure of a story 😉 (I’m getting better at puns in reviews.)
The action is exciting, the romance is just enough to keep it interesting while not being overwhelming, and the characters certainly make you attached.
With twists and surprises around every page, I recommend this to anyone that likes a good pirate adventure (or just a fun read!)
And the ending set up well for her second book without being a frustrating cliff-hanger, which is always appreciated! Can’t wait for the next one.
With plenty of fun hints to the Pirates of the Caribbean movies and some Treasure Planet type of moments, I had a lot of fun reading through this treasure of a story 😉 (I’m getting better at puns in reviews.)
The action is exciting, the romance is just enough to keep it interesting while not being overwhelming, and the characters certainly make you attached.
With twists and surprises around every page, I recommend this to anyone that likes a good pirate adventure (or just a fun read!)
And the ending set up well for her second book without being a frustrating cliff-hanger, which is always appreciated! Can’t wait for the next one.
October 24, 2025
All the elements of a great pirate story, plus some slow-burn romance! I liked how the main character's backstory had roots in actual pirate history and was very well fleshed out in order to explain why she behaves the way she does. Lots of swordfights and witty exchanges made the romantic buildup really fun. The treasure hunt drew me in and had me on the edge of my seat as they drew closer to it. Looking forward to seeing where this story continues!
June 14, 2026
Call Me Captain is an incredibly well written novel with a captivating storyline. Lillie is a super talented writer and she absolutely nailed this book!
Call Me Captain quickly became something I just couldn’t put down. I loved diving into Cassandra’s world of sword fights, pirate hunters and slowly falling for the man she thought she’d never get along with!!
If you’re a fan of a good treasure hunt, slow burn romance and a badass female main character then this novel is a must!!
Call Me Captain quickly became something I just couldn’t put down. I loved diving into Cassandra’s world of sword fights, pirate hunters and slowly falling for the man she thought she’d never get along with!!
If you’re a fan of a good treasure hunt, slow burn romance and a badass female main character then this novel is a must!!
November 12, 2025
It was awesome!! The slow burn romance, historical feel, and the details and backstory were everything I wanted them to be. I was on the edge of my seat for more than half of the book. Each character had a unique story and motivation for the things they did, as well as good reactions to the actions of other characters. Highly recommend! Good for all ages. Can’t wait for book two 🤞
November 17, 2025
As a book that served as my first book after not reading for years, it was an amazing book to pull me back into the reading atmosphere. Between the action scenes, plot and slow-burn romance, I always found myself smiling, carefully inspecting the words and imagining each scenario in a motion picture setting. I cannot wait to see what more comes from this author.
October 18, 2025
A suspenseful page-turner with daring characters which a reader can't help but fall in love with. A wonderful story with the perfect amount of twists and turns along side well-written character arcs. I would highly recommend this book!
October 24, 2025
This book was AMAZING. It was the perfect mix of adventure and slow burn romance. I flew through this book. I recommend 100% !!
January 15, 2026
I loved this book! It was very entertaining and I could not put it down! I always love a slow burn romance mixed with action and adventure and this book is exactly it!
April 27, 2026
Always keep your eye on the pirate. This book is a closed door pirate read. So if you are in the market for a pirate book this is the one for you!
September 22, 2026
Fun, fast, easy pirate adventure with a subplot of romance. What more could you ask for!
August 29, 2026
Overview:
Language 🤐: mild-moderate ( biblical swears, Lord’s name in vain, bastard, Bloody, I’d say over 10 times all through out used)
Romance ❤️🔥: LV 1 Kisses only (non descriptive)
Violence ⚔️: PG-13 on page death, fighting, wounds, blood, semi descriptive but not overly. If you can get through the epilogue I feel like it’s not any worse than that so you should know based off of that
⚠️Toxic Relationships, Alcoholism, grief, loss of parents, LGBT side character (mentioned once in the whole book not a focus and really not till like 70% through), talk of slavery, Lord’s Name Taken in vain, this is what I tracked and can think of⚠️
Tropes/Micro tropes
- Single POV (except a few chapters in villains POV)
- Enemies to Lovers
- Treasure hunting
- YA MC 17-19 year olds
- Hilarious side Characters
My Thoughts:
4.5 ⭐️
I really enjoyed this book! I’m always a lover of a great pirate story! I love that this story is based on some actual history and what could have possibly happened! I love reading fiction and thinking what could have been.
I feel like this is a pretty historically accurate as well as like descriptively accurate story. I like the mention of the reality of how life at sea would be, how important food is and how quickly you’re down to not the best rations. I just felt it showed the reality and that it wasn’t always glorious.
I enjoyed Cass an Alexander’s interactions. The back and forth was fun. Preston was truly probably my favorite his lines always cracked me up and just I think he’s probably my favorite of the book.
There were several twist I didn’t see coming that I think were done really well.
I feel like there were a few times that things were glossed over or not totally believable or explained in a way to be believable. This could just be me with some of how they got away with the plan the execute in the end, some of the trust of getting a new crew, how she tricked her old crew. Overall it was super enjoyable just a few things that I’d love to have gotten like a bit more exploration or seeing more of the convincing, there were just a few things that felt semi convenient to me, again this could just be me.
This was a wonderful debut and I’ll definitely be checking out the further books!
Language 🤐: mild-moderate ( biblical swears, Lord’s name in vain, bastard, Bloody, I’d say over 10 times all through out used)
Romance ❤️🔥: LV 1 Kisses only (non descriptive)
Violence ⚔️: PG-13 on page death, fighting, wounds, blood, semi descriptive but not overly. If you can get through the epilogue I feel like it’s not any worse than that so you should know based off of that
⚠️Toxic Relationships, Alcoholism, grief, loss of parents, LGBT side character (mentioned once in the whole book not a focus and really not till like 70% through), talk of slavery, Lord’s Name Taken in vain, this is what I tracked and can think of⚠️
Tropes/Micro tropes
- Single POV (except a few chapters in villains POV)
- Enemies to Lovers
- Treasure hunting
- YA MC 17-19 year olds
- Hilarious side Characters
My Thoughts:
4.5 ⭐️
I really enjoyed this book! I’m always a lover of a great pirate story! I love that this story is based on some actual history and what could have possibly happened! I love reading fiction and thinking what could have been.
I feel like this is a pretty historically accurate as well as like descriptively accurate story. I like the mention of the reality of how life at sea would be, how important food is and how quickly you’re down to not the best rations. I just felt it showed the reality and that it wasn’t always glorious.
I enjoyed Cass an Alexander’s interactions. The back and forth was fun. Preston was truly probably my favorite his lines always cracked me up and just I think he’s probably my favorite of the book.
There were several twist I didn’t see coming that I think were done really well.
I feel like there were a few times that things were glossed over or not totally believable or explained in a way to be believable. This could just be me with some of how they got away with the plan the execute in the end, some of the trust of getting a new crew, how she tricked her old crew. Overall it was super enjoyable just a few things that I’d love to have gotten like a bit more exploration or seeing more of the convincing, there were just a few things that felt semi convenient to me, again this could just be me.
This was a wonderful debut and I’ll definitely be checking out the further books!
May 28, 2026
A Pirate Novel Worth Reading
Captain Me by Lilleanne Brown was such an incredible read. It’s honestly been a long time since I picked up a pirate story because I’ve been completely spoiled by the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Usually when I read or watch anything pirate-related, all I can picture is Johnny Depp or Orlando Bloom. Although, I have to admit, Colin O’Donoghue as Hook in Once Upon a Time is still one of my favorite pirate portrayals EVER!
That said, Captain Me completely pulled me in from the beginning. You can tell Brown did extensive historical research because the world feels authentic in every way, from the speech patterns to the pirate culture and treasure-hunting details. The historical atmosphere adds so much depth to the story, and the constant obstacles and adventures keep the pacing exciting the entire time.
But what truly made this book unforgettable for me was the slow-burn romance between Alexander and Cassandra. Cassandra is such a strong protagonist: a tough-as-nails female captain trying to prove herself in a male-dominated world. Watching the walls slowly come down between her and Alexander was easily my favorite part of the book. The chemistry, the tension, the longing looks…it all builds so naturally that you can’t help but keep turning pages late into the night.
If you love treasure hunts, slow-burn romance, historical adventures, pirates, and the same sense of adventure that made Pirates of the Caribbean so entertaining, then Captain Me absolutely deserves a spot on your TBR.
Captain Me by Lilleanne Brown was such an incredible read. It’s honestly been a long time since I picked up a pirate story because I’ve been completely spoiled by the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Usually when I read or watch anything pirate-related, all I can picture is Johnny Depp or Orlando Bloom. Although, I have to admit, Colin O’Donoghue as Hook in Once Upon a Time is still one of my favorite pirate portrayals EVER!
That said, Captain Me completely pulled me in from the beginning. You can tell Brown did extensive historical research because the world feels authentic in every way, from the speech patterns to the pirate culture and treasure-hunting details. The historical atmosphere adds so much depth to the story, and the constant obstacles and adventures keep the pacing exciting the entire time.
But what truly made this book unforgettable for me was the slow-burn romance between Alexander and Cassandra. Cassandra is such a strong protagonist: a tough-as-nails female captain trying to prove herself in a male-dominated world. Watching the walls slowly come down between her and Alexander was easily my favorite part of the book. The chemistry, the tension, the longing looks…it all builds so naturally that you can’t help but keep turning pages late into the night.
If you love treasure hunts, slow-burn romance, historical adventures, pirates, and the same sense of adventure that made Pirates of the Caribbean so entertaining, then Captain Me absolutely deserves a spot on your TBR.
November 22, 2025
Such a fun book full of pirate adventures and friendship!! With twists and turns, lots of emotional moments, and love able characters, this book was such a blast to read! I can’t wait for the second one!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews