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Secrets of the Seas #2
Seas of Seduction
She challenged fate. He changed course. Love changed everything.
Newly appointed naval lieutenant Isaac Caldwell is tasked with returning the ship Tortuga’s governor lent him. He expects a smooth transaction so he can begin hunting for the notorious Captain Thorne, a capture that would launch his career forward. What he doesn’t expect is the stowaway.
When Josephine Montclair first sets eyes on the sailor pounding on their door, it’s love at first sight—or so she tells herself. Longing for escape and adventure, she seizes the chance to take her destiny into her own hands when the handsome lieutenant returns her father’s ship.
So, maybe sneaking aboard his ship hadn’t been the best plan. Isaac is furious when he discovers her and hands her off to a friend with strict instructions to return to Tortuga. But Josephine isn’t ready to go home. Determined to chase adventure, she stows away a second time for the pirate hunt of a lifetime.
Isaac doesn’t have time to return his unwanted passenger. With the mission on the line, Josephine breaks every rule he lives by. She both frustrates and fascinates him—her unconventional spirit and boldness an irresistible seduction. When Thorne takes a dangerous interest in Josephine and the mysterious necklace she wears, Isaac realizes the greatest threat isn’t on the sea… it’s in his heart.
Tropes You'll Forced proximity Opposites attractSlow burnHigh seas adventureBold and independent heroineKidnapping/Rescue Romance
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Secrets of the Seas
Book 1 - Waves of Desire
Book 2 - Seas of Seduction
Book 3 - Tides of Passion
Newly appointed naval lieutenant Isaac Caldwell is tasked with returning the ship Tortuga’s governor lent him. He expects a smooth transaction so he can begin hunting for the notorious Captain Thorne, a capture that would launch his career forward. What he doesn’t expect is the stowaway.
When Josephine Montclair first sets eyes on the sailor pounding on their door, it’s love at first sight—or so she tells herself. Longing for escape and adventure, she seizes the chance to take her destiny into her own hands when the handsome lieutenant returns her father’s ship.
So, maybe sneaking aboard his ship hadn’t been the best plan. Isaac is furious when he discovers her and hands her off to a friend with strict instructions to return to Tortuga. But Josephine isn’t ready to go home. Determined to chase adventure, she stows away a second time for the pirate hunt of a lifetime.
Isaac doesn’t have time to return his unwanted passenger. With the mission on the line, Josephine breaks every rule he lives by. She both frustrates and fascinates him—her unconventional spirit and boldness an irresistible seduction. When Thorne takes a dangerous interest in Josephine and the mysterious necklace she wears, Isaac realizes the greatest threat isn’t on the sea… it’s in his heart.
Tropes You'll Forced proximity Opposites attractSlow burnHigh seas adventureBold and independent heroineKidnapping/Rescue Romance
Read in Kindle Unlimited!
Secrets of the Seas
Book 1 - Waves of Desire
Book 2 - Seas of Seduction
Book 3 - Tides of Passion
- GenresHistorical Romance
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 4, 2026
4 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Everly
2 books7 followersLauren Everly first discovered her love for historical romance at the age of twelve, when she stumbled upon a hidden box of Johanna Lindsey novels in her mom’s closet—an accidental find that sparked a lifelong passion for dashing heroes and bold heroines. Now living in the heart of Middle Tennessee with her husband and three children, she’s a flight attendant by day and a writer of sinfully delicious stories by night. When she’s not jet setting around the country or putting steamy words to pages, you’ll find her tending an expansive garden, baking something wonderfully sweet, or out exploring the beautiful scenery of TN. Her love for travel, both in real life and through the pages of history, continuously fuels her imagination. For Lauren, the best romances—like the best adventures—are the ones that leave you breathless and longing for more.
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March 28, 2026Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
Seas of Seduction by Lauren Everly is a third person dual-POV historical romance set during the Age of Sailing. To escape from an arranged marriage to a man old enough to be her grandfather, Josephine sneaks onto the ship of a handsome naval lieutenant. Isaac has recently been promoted and is trying to focus on returning home to America, but the stowaway on his ship is proving a tempting distraction.
There are several spicy scenes that last multiple pages and it's pretty obvious from their intro that Josephine and Isaac are physically attracted to each other before they become emotionally attracted. Josephine is not as unaware of sex as many historical romance FMCs have been over the years; she is friends with a sex worker and has heard bits and pieces even though she’s never gone quite that far due to her place in society.
There is an overarching plot regarding pirates, but it’s kind of more of a subplot rather than anything driving the overall story forward. What drives the plot forward is Josephine not willing to be married to someone so much older than her and her inability to get Isaac out of her head while he finds it harder and harder to leave her alone.
I would recommend this to fans of pirate romances
Seas of Seduction by Lauren Everly is a third person dual-POV historical romance set during the Age of Sailing. To escape from an arranged marriage to a man old enough to be her grandfather, Josephine sneaks onto the ship of a handsome naval lieutenant. Isaac has recently been promoted and is trying to focus on returning home to America, but the stowaway on his ship is proving a tempting distraction.
There are several spicy scenes that last multiple pages and it's pretty obvious from their intro that Josephine and Isaac are physically attracted to each other before they become emotionally attracted. Josephine is not as unaware of sex as many historical romance FMCs have been over the years; she is friends with a sex worker and has heard bits and pieces even though she’s never gone quite that far due to her place in society.
There is an overarching plot regarding pirates, but it’s kind of more of a subplot rather than anything driving the overall story forward. What drives the plot forward is Josephine not willing to be married to someone so much older than her and her inability to get Isaac out of her head while he finds it harder and harder to leave her alone.
I would recommend this to fans of pirate romances
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
One of the reasons I like reading historical romance is immersing myself in another time period. I'm well aware that there will always be inaccuracies and things that are changed to fit storylines. Sometimes I can overlook those things and sometimes I can't.
Seas of Seduction caught my eye because I like a good pirate historical. The setting being Tortuga in 1803 also caught my fancy. Knowing Tortuga was owned by the French at the time, I sort of expected the whole upperclass lady running into pirates scenario. Think Elizabeth Swann meets ole Captain Jack Sparrow. Seas of Seduction attempted to deliver on that expectation, but I had a lot of quibbles that ended up being full-blown annoyances.
Our FMC was born in France, raised in France, and brought to Tortuga by her father at the age of 10. So she's a native French speaker. What was her education like before and after moving to Tortuga? Was she schooled in other languages? Did she have a governess at some point? Why are there no French phrases on this Creole French speaking island????? How are they all communicating with each other????? Why is this American naval officer regularly working with the governor of the island????? Does he speak French? He's a northern born man according to the book. What was his education and background like???
So...if Josephine had some sort of education, how come she doesn't know the rules of society? I would think a governor would still expect some of society's rules to be taught to his only child especially if he's planning to wed her to a wealthy merchant or officer at some point. Why is Josephine so ignorant about proper decorum???
It must be because she's too stupid to live.
Yup, our FMC keeps stowing aboard ships. She has no experience sailing despite living on an island and being the daughter of a governor. But yet, she's going to just disguise herself, march up there, and things are going to fall into place. And she does this stuff repeatedly. Just takes it into her head to leave places, stow aboard boats, get herself lost, and she's surprised when she's in danger. What an utter idiot.
Our MMC, Isaac (I think that's his name) also has no personality except to be stern. Or hot for Josephine. He's supposed to have brains, but you couldn't tell since he's wildly attracted to the dumbest woman to ever grace a historical romance book. It's like Everly decided to move this romance along, but these two had no chemistry together.
The only interesting part was the reason why the pirate was the pirate. I only stuck around for that story because the rest was a mess.
Thank you to Dragonblade Publishing and Netgalley for the arc for review purposes.
Seas of Seduction caught my eye because I like a good pirate historical. The setting being Tortuga in 1803 also caught my fancy. Knowing Tortuga was owned by the French at the time, I sort of expected the whole upperclass lady running into pirates scenario. Think Elizabeth Swann meets ole Captain Jack Sparrow. Seas of Seduction attempted to deliver on that expectation, but I had a lot of quibbles that ended up being full-blown annoyances.
Our FMC was born in France, raised in France, and brought to Tortuga by her father at the age of 10. So she's a native French speaker. What was her education like before and after moving to Tortuga? Was she schooled in other languages? Did she have a governess at some point? Why are there no French phrases on this Creole French speaking island????? How are they all communicating with each other????? Why is this American naval officer regularly working with the governor of the island????? Does he speak French? He's a northern born man according to the book. What was his education and background like???
So...if Josephine had some sort of education, how come she doesn't know the rules of society? I would think a governor would still expect some of society's rules to be taught to his only child especially if he's planning to wed her to a wealthy merchant or officer at some point. Why is Josephine so ignorant about proper decorum???
It must be because she's too stupid to live.
Yup, our FMC keeps stowing aboard ships. She has no experience sailing despite living on an island and being the daughter of a governor. But yet, she's going to just disguise herself, march up there, and things are going to fall into place. And she does this stuff repeatedly. Just takes it into her head to leave places, stow aboard boats, get herself lost, and she's surprised when she's in danger. What an utter idiot.
Our MMC, Isaac (I think that's his name) also has no personality except to be stern. Or hot for Josephine. He's supposed to have brains, but you couldn't tell since he's wildly attracted to the dumbest woman to ever grace a historical romance book. It's like Everly decided to move this romance along, but these two had no chemistry together.
The only interesting part was the reason why the pirate was the pirate. I only stuck around for that story because the rest was a mess.
Thank you to Dragonblade Publishing and Netgalley for the arc for review purposes.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. I absolutely adore Lauren Everly’s writing style! She strikes the perfect balance, fast-paced without ever feeling rushed. Her characters are easy to follow and even easier to fall in love with, as she introduces each one with intention and purpose.
One of my favorite aspects of her writing is how immersive it is. From the scents to the vivid, picturesque settings, she brings the landscape and era to life so beautifully that I found myself daydreaming about Tortuga and life aboard a ship long after finishing the final page. I also love how she continues to weave in characters from Waves of Desire throughout Seas of Seduction. It adds depth and continuity to the story. I already can’t wait for the third book… secretly hoping it might center around Thorne’s love story!
Josephine has lived on Tortuga since she was a young girl. Raised on a pirate island, far removed from high society, she longs for something more (giving subtle Little Mermaid vibes with her sense of wonder and desire for a bigger life). When she unexpectedly comes face to face again with Isaac, a man she can’t stop dreaming about, she takes a bold leap and stows away on his ship. This setup creates so many opportunities for humor, wit, and playful banter as the story unfolds.
And yes, the spice delivers. It’s passionate and well-written without feeling overdone or distracting. The chemistry between the characters is strong, and the romantic moments enhance the story rather than overshadow it. At its core, this is a truly engaging and well-crafted tale.
Will be counting down until the final book of this Trilogy releases! 🫶🏽🏴☠️
One of my favorite aspects of her writing is how immersive it is. From the scents to the vivid, picturesque settings, she brings the landscape and era to life so beautifully that I found myself daydreaming about Tortuga and life aboard a ship long after finishing the final page. I also love how she continues to weave in characters from Waves of Desire throughout Seas of Seduction. It adds depth and continuity to the story. I already can’t wait for the third book… secretly hoping it might center around Thorne’s love story!
Josephine has lived on Tortuga since she was a young girl. Raised on a pirate island, far removed from high society, she longs for something more (giving subtle Little Mermaid vibes with her sense of wonder and desire for a bigger life). When she unexpectedly comes face to face again with Isaac, a man she can’t stop dreaming about, she takes a bold leap and stows away on his ship. This setup creates so many opportunities for humor, wit, and playful banter as the story unfolds.
And yes, the spice delivers. It’s passionate and well-written without feeling overdone or distracting. The chemistry between the characters is strong, and the romantic moments enhance the story rather than overshadow it. At its core, this is a truly engaging and well-crafted tale.
Will be counting down until the final book of this Trilogy releases! 🫶🏽🏴☠️
Review of advance copy received from Author
****Spoiler-Free ARC rec****
⭐️🌟⭐️🌟⭐️ 5 stars🌟⭐️🌟⭐️🌟
Thank you Lauren Everly and Dragonblade Publishing for the Seas of Seduction ARC! The sequel to Waves of Desire was just as good and even better than it’s predecessor! Isaac’s storyline proceeds and takes the main focus for this book. Josephine, daughter of the Tortuga governor, is introduced as the sweet FMC. In a “she falls first” twist, Josephine meets Isaac and hopes to make a lasting impression. As she incidentally causes trouble Isaac’s rule following self is worn down, causing him to come to terms with what he wants— a well intending mischief-maker. Samantha and Christian are side characters, but stay true to their Waves characters. Samantha is actually a fun stabby FSC, every scene with her was great. I’m going to be watching hard for the third books release!!
⭐️🌟⭐️🌟⭐️ 5 stars🌟⭐️🌟⭐️🌟
Thank you Lauren Everly and Dragonblade Publishing for the Seas of Seduction ARC! The sequel to Waves of Desire was just as good and even better than it’s predecessor! Isaac’s storyline proceeds and takes the main focus for this book. Josephine, daughter of the Tortuga governor, is introduced as the sweet FMC. In a “she falls first” twist, Josephine meets Isaac and hopes to make a lasting impression. As she incidentally causes trouble Isaac’s rule following self is worn down, causing him to come to terms with what he wants— a well intending mischief-maker. Samantha and Christian are side characters, but stay true to their Waves characters. Samantha is actually a fun stabby FSC, every scene with her was great. I’m going to be watching hard for the third books release!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I read this without reading the first. There is a storyline that continued from the first book, but it doesn't detract from this story at all.
Isaac and Josephine's story was a fun one. Pirates and a mystery to solve is always good. There was a slight play on miscommunication (which I dislike) but it didn't hurt the story.
There was adventure, spice and a happy ever after (for now), with the third story looking like it will involve the couples from this book and the first. All in all, a fun read that was well worth my time.
Isaac and Josephine's story was a fun one. Pirates and a mystery to solve is always good. There was a slight play on miscommunication (which I dislike) but it didn't hurt the story.
There was adventure, spice and a happy ever after (for now), with the third story looking like it will involve the couples from this book and the first. All in all, a fun read that was well worth my time.
April 4, 2026
This swashbuckling pirate romance is the second book in the Secret of the Seas series. Just like the first installment, there are pirates, sea voyages with danger and action, life or death stakes, and a powerful romance that faces trials before a satisfying HEA. The pacing is good and the romance becomes nicely spicy after a slower burn. The couple from book one is featured and the scene is set for the next adventure. The imagery is lushly done particularly with regards to the historical setting in the United States south and the Caribbean. I greatly enjoyed this spicy historical pirate romance and will be on the lookout for book 3 when it comes out.
I received a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I received a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 4, 2026
— 3.5 stars, RIE
I didn’t care much for the romance but I liked the author’s writing style and I got too invested in the Thorne storyline so I’m gonna continue on with the series.
I didn’t care much for the romance but I liked the author’s writing style and I got too invested in the Thorne storyline so I’m gonna continue on with the series.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I finished this book in one day. I couldn’t put it down from the time I picked it up because it was so good.
Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes You'll Love:
Forced proximity
Opposites attract
Slow burn
High seas adventure
Bold and independent heroine
Kidnapping/Rescue Romance
Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes You'll Love:
Forced proximity
Opposites attract
Slow burn
High seas adventure
Bold and independent heroine
Kidnapping/Rescue Romance
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews