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The Ruby Reaper
Not yet published
Expected 1 Jul 26A woman on the run from her island home
A pirate captain with a hard exterior and a soft heart
A love between two women that spans oceans
Ria has always been attracted to all things scandalous, but when her mother banishes her from their mansion in Copenhagen to her father’s sugar plantation on St. John, she’s caught in a world that’s unimaginably cruel. When she learns Cuban pirate captain Ana de Orellana is docked nearby with her ship, the Ruby Reaper, Ria’s intrigued. Not only is the captain a woman—and Ria loves women—but this might be her way to escape her island captivity.
Ria runs away, but Captain de Orellana isn’t about to let a rich girl with no skills onto her ship. When Ria defies her and stows away, Ana reluctantly lets her stay, and Ria determines to convince the captain she’s worth keeping—and that she’s worth kissing. Ana’s daughter, Marín, steals Ria’s heart and the band of outcast sailors become like a family to Ria, but the way through Ana’s tough exterior is a harder path.
Ria is free for the first time in her life and she has finally found a place among people who loves her for who she is, but life as a buccaneer is dangerous, and when they’re double-crossed by another pirate captain, the Ruby Reaper becomes wanted by the Spanish empire. When a slave revolt breaks out on St. John, Ria convinces Ana to help the slaves in their fight, but aiding in the rebellion comes at a high cost.
The Ruby Reaper takes you on an adventure around the Caribbean. It’s a tale of deceit and courage, about standing up for what’s right and finding your place in the world, and it’s the story of an unlikely love between two women.
A pirate captain with a hard exterior and a soft heart
A love between two women that spans oceans
Ria has always been attracted to all things scandalous, but when her mother banishes her from their mansion in Copenhagen to her father’s sugar plantation on St. John, she’s caught in a world that’s unimaginably cruel. When she learns Cuban pirate captain Ana de Orellana is docked nearby with her ship, the Ruby Reaper, Ria’s intrigued. Not only is the captain a woman—and Ria loves women—but this might be her way to escape her island captivity.
Ria runs away, but Captain de Orellana isn’t about to let a rich girl with no skills onto her ship. When Ria defies her and stows away, Ana reluctantly lets her stay, and Ria determines to convince the captain she’s worth keeping—and that she’s worth kissing. Ana’s daughter, Marín, steals Ria’s heart and the band of outcast sailors become like a family to Ria, but the way through Ana’s tough exterior is a harder path.
Ria is free for the first time in her life and she has finally found a place among people who loves her for who she is, but life as a buccaneer is dangerous, and when they’re double-crossed by another pirate captain, the Ruby Reaper becomes wanted by the Spanish empire. When a slave revolt breaks out on St. John, Ria convinces Ana to help the slaves in their fight, but aiding in the rebellion comes at a high cost.
The Ruby Reaper takes you on an adventure around the Caribbean. It’s a tale of deceit and courage, about standing up for what’s right and finding your place in the world, and it’s the story of an unlikely love between two women.
- GenresLesbian
270 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Rip-Roaring Adventures of Ria Riding-Whip and the Cool and Brooding Captain Ana and her gorgeous scarlet waistcoat.
Set against the broad sweep of Seventeenth century pirate life, The Ruby Reaper is a great read and an immersive adventure, a sweeping story that is told in glorious technicolour and bright words. Eline Evans writing is rich, evocative and raw. It’s a story with light and shade and grit and it is a real page turner which doesn’t sugar coat the brutality and human consequences of colonial life and slavery, life as a buccaneer and the impossible choices Ria and the crew find themselves facing.
It’s fast paced, exciting and engaging. The story is told from the perspective of Ria Riding-Whip and she tells it well. Her character arc is fantastic and we see some of her growth in the beautiful and touching scenes with Marin, Ana’s daughter. Ria is a woman who definitely stands out from the crowd and she tells us early on, how her attraction to anything scandalous ‘was notorious.’ She is headstrong and often thinks before she acts but her heart is definitely in the right place. She has a comfortable life—though she bears quite a few scars—but she’s not comfortable with it. She has to escape and knows that the Ruby Reaper might be her only chance to do so.
The cast of characters is rich and rewarding for the Ruby Reaper is something of a home for people who have no home, for those fleeing brutality and prejudice, all under the watchful eye of one of the sexiest pirates in the Caribbean, Captain Ana de Orellana—a fact Ria is all to aware of. Ria is sharp and quick witted and so fascinated by the brooding Captain Ana. While Ana is calm and collected, Ria acts first and thinks later which is all part of her charm. The Reaper is exciting and sexy, with so much heart and a heroine in Ria Riding-Whip who is all too human and prickly. Does Ria get her girl? Well, you’ll have to read it and find out. You won’t be disappointed and this is a definite TBR in my opinion.
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC of this book. All of the opinions here are my own.
Set against the broad sweep of Seventeenth century pirate life, The Ruby Reaper is a great read and an immersive adventure, a sweeping story that is told in glorious technicolour and bright words. Eline Evans writing is rich, evocative and raw. It’s a story with light and shade and grit and it is a real page turner which doesn’t sugar coat the brutality and human consequences of colonial life and slavery, life as a buccaneer and the impossible choices Ria and the crew find themselves facing.
It’s fast paced, exciting and engaging. The story is told from the perspective of Ria Riding-Whip and she tells it well. Her character arc is fantastic and we see some of her growth in the beautiful and touching scenes with Marin, Ana’s daughter. Ria is a woman who definitely stands out from the crowd and she tells us early on, how her attraction to anything scandalous ‘was notorious.’ She is headstrong and often thinks before she acts but her heart is definitely in the right place. She has a comfortable life—though she bears quite a few scars—but she’s not comfortable with it. She has to escape and knows that the Ruby Reaper might be her only chance to do so.
The cast of characters is rich and rewarding for the Ruby Reaper is something of a home for people who have no home, for those fleeing brutality and prejudice, all under the watchful eye of one of the sexiest pirates in the Caribbean, Captain Ana de Orellana—a fact Ria is all to aware of. Ria is sharp and quick witted and so fascinated by the brooding Captain Ana. While Ana is calm and collected, Ria acts first and thinks later which is all part of her charm. The Reaper is exciting and sexy, with so much heart and a heroine in Ria Riding-Whip who is all too human and prickly. Does Ria get her girl? Well, you’ll have to read it and find out. You won’t be disappointed and this is a definite TBR in my opinion.
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC of this book. All of the opinions here are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I would join Captain Ana de Orellana's crew in heartbeat; the type of leader I'd go to battle with.
Set in the 1730's when pirates, privateers, and buccaneers roamed the Caribbean looking for bounty while being chased by the navy of colonizing nations. The author showcases the cruelty of people who had power and wealth and how they used that to buy people, use and abuse them to make themselves wealthier. The violence and harms are not glossed over showing a snapshot of life during this period.
The Ruby Reaper isn't like other pirate ships, it is a safe haven for people who have needed to escape other circumstances, and if they are loyal, they enjoy the protection of a strong and fierce Captain. If they don't obey the rules, they will face her wrath.
When Ria escapes her own brutal existence she finds herself on Ana's ship, knowing nothing of life on the sea she has a lot to learn, but slowly she is able to endear herself to the crew and Captain.
I found myself pulled into the story, the writing was fast pace and the characters are richly described. I could taste the food and could feel the plumage of Ana's hat. The crew of The Ruby Reaper were diverse and all of them had their own backstories and history that brought them together.
The ending was epic with the Captain making a choice about love of her ship, her crew, her daughter, and Ria, the woman she loves. I won't spill the rum - you'll just have to get to it yourself.
There is an indication that this is book one -and I will happily read more about The Ruby Reaper.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an advanced digital copy to be able to read and review.
Set in the 1730's when pirates, privateers, and buccaneers roamed the Caribbean looking for bounty while being chased by the navy of colonizing nations. The author showcases the cruelty of people who had power and wealth and how they used that to buy people, use and abuse them to make themselves wealthier. The violence and harms are not glossed over showing a snapshot of life during this period.
The Ruby Reaper isn't like other pirate ships, it is a safe haven for people who have needed to escape other circumstances, and if they are loyal, they enjoy the protection of a strong and fierce Captain. If they don't obey the rules, they will face her wrath.
When Ria escapes her own brutal existence she finds herself on Ana's ship, knowing nothing of life on the sea she has a lot to learn, but slowly she is able to endear herself to the crew and Captain.
I found myself pulled into the story, the writing was fast pace and the characters are richly described. I could taste the food and could feel the plumage of Ana's hat. The crew of The Ruby Reaper were diverse and all of them had their own backstories and history that brought them together.
The ending was epic with the Captain making a choice about love of her ship, her crew, her daughter, and Ria, the woman she loves. I won't spill the rum - you'll just have to get to it yourself.
There is an indication that this is book one -and I will happily read more about The Ruby Reaper.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an advanced digital copy to be able to read and review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The book kept me enthralled. I didn't want to put it down.The pacing of the book was perfect. If you like novels about pirates and love, this is the book for you. The ending was good and realistic. It had a bit of white savior complex which I was not fond of, but I still enjoyed the book in spite of that. I would read this author again. I do recommend the book be put on your TBR. It definitely provides excitement and escape. There was great character development. FTC Disclosure: I was given an advanced copy of this book by the author in exchange for an objective review. All ideas are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
TBF I love a pirate adventure. And make them sapphic pirates and I'm going to forget whatever else I need to accomplish that day.
The Ruby Reaper is a swashbuckling powerhouse of a book!
A pirate captain, a stowaway, and a crew that has chosen the freedom only piracy can offer. The Ruby Reaper is an action-packed high seas adventure set in a world still ruled by colonialization. No spoilers. If you like sapphic pirates and a good moral compass this is a great adventure for an afternoon escape.
It ends on a cliffhanger BUT.... the 2nd book is also releasing in July.
The Ruby Reaper is a swashbuckling powerhouse of a book!
A pirate captain, a stowaway, and a crew that has chosen the freedom only piracy can offer. The Ruby Reaper is an action-packed high seas adventure set in a world still ruled by colonialization. No spoilers. If you like sapphic pirates and a good moral compass this is a great adventure for an afternoon escape.
It ends on a cliffhanger BUT.... the 2nd book is also releasing in July.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Ruby Reaper by @eline_evans_author brings us a love story as strong as the Caribbean ocean current.
The story of the legendary Captain de Orellana, that found true, deep love in the most unexpected place, to adventures and action at sea. Immerse yourself in a fantastic tale of epic proportions, steamy scenes and the strong undercurrent of love that conquers all! 📸📚
🧡🤍🩷 Meet Captain de Orellana and Ria
The story of the legendary Captain de Orellana, that found true, deep love in the most unexpected place, to adventures and action at sea. Immerse yourself in a fantastic tale of epic proportions, steamy scenes and the strong undercurrent of love that conquers all! 📸📚
🧡🤍🩷 Meet Captain de Orellana and Ria
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews