Azure-eyed Alanis was by far the most exquisite treasure ever claimed by the black pirate known as the Viper, but his motives went deeper than his silken promise to ravish the feisty Yorkshire heiress. Commanding the waters of the Caribbean was his means to an end: reclaiming his birthright—and his blood debt against those who had betrayed him.
Then he gave her nights of wicked pleasure...
Comfortably betrothed to a nobleman, Alanis never imagined the heady emotions involved in the true games of seduction—games this blackguard seemed to thoroughly enjoy playing with her. Swept up into an adventure that soon revealed a gentleman and kindred spirit beneath the ruthless veneer of a privateer, Alanis began to soften towards her enigmatic captor, as her pride and her heart fell under his erotic spell.
Rona Sharon is the author of critically acclaimed historical novels of intrigue, passion, and danger. Her latest, ROYAL BLOOD, is a tale of lust and violence in the treacherous Tudor Court.
From her home on the Mediterranean Coast in Tel Aviv, surrounded by thousands of years of history, Rona brings her passion for culture and travel to her writing and never fails to deliver a story that carries a punch… and a dagger.
If you love sexy historical romances with a lot of history woven into the story, you will LOVE this book. This book offers a thrilling, passionate romantic adventure set in time when Louis the XIV, the Sun King, reined France. The war between countries sets the background. The story follows Eros "the Viper", a dark and dangerous pirate with a mysterious past, and Alanis, the beautiful and intelligent granddaughter of a powerful English Duke. It takes you on an incredible "Indiana Jones" type journey through many countries, and introduces you to many great secondary characters. It is fast paced, highly passionate and seductive, and at times utterly heart wrenching! A very satisfying ending too. LOVED IT!!
4.5 - 5 stars, an excellent read with a really great story/plot! I purchased this on Amazon for $2.42 four years ago and finally read it. Sorry I waited so long as it was a great book and I really enjoyed it! This book has got a lot of meat to it. Adventure, action, and wonderful history, which I love, along with a great love story. If you love those elements in your stories as well I highly recommend this one, don’t miss it!
Azure-eyed Alanis was by far the most exquisite treasure ever claimed by the black pirate known as the Viper, but his motives went deeper than his silken promise to ravish the feisty Yorkshire heiress. Commanding the waters of the Caribbean was his means to an end: reclaiming his birthright—and his blood debt against those who had betrayed him.
Then he gave her nights of wicked pleasure...
Comfortably betrothed to a nobleman, Alanis never imagined the heady emotions involved in the true games of seduction—games this blackguard seemed to thoroughly enjoy playing with her. Swept up into an adventure that soon revealed a gentleman and kindred spirit beneath the ruthless veneer of a privateer, Alanis began to soften towards her enigmatic captor, as her pride and her heart fell under his erotic spell
Eros, also known as the Viper, is the most notorious pirate and privateer of the Caribbean. No one knows who he really is and he is wanted by the law. Now he has a mission, to save his beloved sister from Lucas Hunter, viscount Silverlake, who hunts him. Eros has abducted his betrothed Alanis and wants to exchange her for his sister. There is just one problem with his brilliant plan, his sister does not want to be saved for she and Lucas are in love. To help his sister he takes Alanis with him, he did not want to part with this stunning and feisty beauty anyway. He finds himself enchanted, not only because she is beautiful but because she offers him true friendship and a challenge he cannot resist. She stirs up feelings and emotions in him he thought were long gone, but can he really trust her for he has been betrayed so many times in his life...
Alanis, the granddaughter of the Duke of Dellamore, wants to escape her dull life in England and has sailed to Jamaica to surprise her fiancé and to set a wedding-date. She had not anticipated to be abducted by Eros or that her fiancé never had the intention of marrying her. Now she is at the mercy of this seductive pirate and if only for her impeccable reputation she cannot give in to him. Yet he arouses all these feelings inside her and she finds herself irresistible drawn to him. But each time she reaches out for him he pushes her away, can she truly love and help Eros if he does not trust her with his past or tell her his secrets that torment him...
My Wicked Pirate is the first novel of Rona Sharon and without a doubt it is an impressive debut. Rona Sharon is a gifted writer for she is capable of keeping you hypnotised from the first to the very last page. This stunning pirate story will make you devour all 432 pages in a heartbeat and it leaves you baffled at the end for you do not want it to end!
With her outstanding writing skill she takes you on a fabulous journey around the world without leaving your couch. With this story you will travel the world from the exotic shores of Jamaica and Tortuga to Algiers and Agadir with their Arabian 1001 nights vibe to sophisticated Italy, decadent France and haughty England. The plot of this story is really superb, it is exciting and thrilling, it has depth and it is drawn up brilliantly.
The couple and main characters that will accompany you on this journey are Eros and Alanis. Eros is this real complex man who struggles with any form of intimacy due to his past, he has been betrayed, his birthright was stolen from him and he considers himself a cursed man who does whatever it takes to reach his goal and have his revenge. Alanis is this beautiful and spirited lady who wants to escape her dull life in England, she is bold, outspoken and in pursuit of her own happiness. Their relationship develops slowly from a physical attraction into something much more meaningful and their interactions are snappy and sizzling hot!
Alanis to Eros and vice versa:
“No gentleman would dare speak of such matters.” “I never professed to being a gentleman. Too many taxing restrictions. I, tesoro, am free to do as I please, including undressing unwilling females”, he drawled, mentally licking his chops. She gave him a disparaging look. “You may roll that lolling tongue back into your mouth. You may not be a gentleman, but I am a lady”. His grin broadened into a full-blown smile. “All the more interesting”.
There are many secondary characters, all different and unique, adding even more debt to the story and most of them are necessary to understand the character development of Eros, because his life is the pivot on which everything hinges. Some of these secondary characters like Sanah, Nasrin and Sallah and even Eros sister are uplifting, while others such as Taofik and Cesare will give you the creeps. This variety of supporting characters makes sure this story is a fast-paced read and that it does not get tedious.
The pirate genre is a difficult genre to tackle, but with My Wicked Pirate Rona Sharon has succeeded to pen down a breathtaking and deep touching tale. With characters larger than life and witty banter this emotional gripping story is definitely a must read! I cannot wait to read her next novel.
Bajak laut di novel ini lebih unik drpd bajak laut lainnya yg pernah saya baca. Boleh dikatakan bangsawan pelarian yg sedang menyamar sbg bajak laut.
Dari sisi petualangan dan peperangan lumayan mengasyikkan alur kisahnya. Dari Jamaika, Aljazair, Italia, Perancis, Inggris semuanya ditampilkan dgn apik dan diromantisir. Saya suka sisi historical dari novel ini, terlihat bhw author nya mumpuni dan menguasai sejarah, dari masa keemasan Louis XIV hingga masa pemerintahan Paus Clement XI di Roma. Walau saya sempat menemukan satu kesalahan fatal, dikatakan Queen Anne beragama Katolik padahal sebenarnya Queen Anne beragama Protestan. (Sejak Henry VIII memutuskan hubungan diplomatik dgn Roma, hanya Queen Mary yg beragama Katolik, yg lain Protestan Anglikan hingga saat ini). Tapi saya juga ragu author bisa membuat kesalahan fatal ini atau terjemahannya yg ngawur?
Saya menyukai nuansa politik dlm buku ini. Scene favorit saya adalah saat "Permainan Kepercayaan". Karakter Eros aka Stefano Sforza tampil menawan dan luar biasa, saya tidak menemukan kecacatan transformasinya dari seorang bajak laut yg seksi dan perayu hingga menjadi Duke yg angkuh dan dingin.
Sayangnya, justru "cacat" di novel ini saya temukan pd karakter sang heroine, Alanis. Sbg cucu seorang duke yg berpengaruh di Inggris, saya merasa karakter Alanis kurang meyakinkan. Ada kesan ketidak-konsistenan yg terselubung. Kadang-kadang terlihat plin-plan, nanti terlihat impulsif dan super kepo, kapan lagi terlihat cengeng dan galau berlebihan, adakalanya bisa cerdas juga. Pokoknya banyak ketidakstabilan karakter yg membuat saya bingung sendiri. (Kalau zaman sekarang bisa dibilang bipolar nih cewq). Saya sulit utk merasakan cinta Eros kepada Alanis melampaui keindahan wajah dan tubuhnya, serta gelar prestise yg menyertainya. Mungkin kalau author membuat karakter Alanis lebih sederhana dan lebih fokus, akan terlihat jauh lebih baik dan Alanis jadi tidak terkesan mau enaknya doang.
Jadi yg mau membaca buku Historical Romance ini, sangat direkomendasikan, apalagi jika kamu sangat menyukai historical. Kalau yg tidak suka baca sejarah panjang lebar, masih bisa menikmati scene adegan hot yg bikin hati berdebar-debar..... ho ho ho....
This was just strange. It's 1705 but our pirate/prince walks up to his crew and asks, "What's Up?' Maybe it's because I downloaded it on my phone for $1.99 but it seemed like a bad translation or maybe just really bad editing. The phrasing was just odd. Still for $.99 it's likely I'll be reading Once a Rake soon.
salah satu buku favorit. Pas beli kaget juga begitu buku dateng krn ternyata teballllll, udah kayak buku pelajaran aja...siapin waktu buat baca nih en ternyata begitu baca nga bisa berenti ^.^b top abis deh.
idenya memang klise mainstream tapi in a very goooood waayyyy \(^ o ^)/
Cinta bergairah yang dimulai di atas lautan karibia, makin membara dalam petualangan menyusuri negeri 1001 malam dengan segala eksotisnya, hingga diuji kematangannya dalam intrik politik kerajaan di kota kelahiran Leonardo Da Vinci.
Lady Alanis is on a ship headed toward her fiancee one she hasnt seen in years, but is nonetheless dedicated to marrying him. However on the journey, her ship is attacked by pirates, with their leader the well known "Viper". Who usually attacks fleets not single ships. However he has a ulterior motive for attack Alanis's ship. He believes his sister is captive by her fiancee no less, so he plans on making a trade. Eros is a tormented man, that is the lost prince of Milan, who lost his birthright when he was young, and he lost his family believing that his own mother betrayed him and his father. When Eros meets Alanis, he finds her to be so different than any other woman he has ever known. He finds himself softening toward her at times, and trusting in her, when the list of people he trusts is small. When he finds out that his sister has fallen in love with Alanis's fiancee. He agrees to take her to various places around the world, before returning her to her grandfather the Duke of Dellamore. Both Alanis and Eros are drawn into a adventure of a lifetime. As they endeavor to return Eros's birthright to him, will result in a wave of adventure, passion, love, and a voyage that will bring two souls into a exciting and thrilling ride.
When I first looked at the cover of this book, I knew that I would want to read it. I love historical romances involving nautical scenes, filled with romance and adventure. I wasn't disappointed with this, and it was one adventure after another. I never got bored, not one bit. This being the first I have read anything from this author, and having never heard of her, I was a bit nervous when I started, but as I got into it, I started to relax and let myself be drawn into the compelling story. Eros is a captivating,handsome yet deal with a inner torment of his past. He knows how to survive, despite all those that are out for his head. He finds himself drawn to the beauty Alanis, and learning the meaning of trust and true love. Alanis is a courageous, witty young woman, who really just wants to travel the world. When she meets Eros, she is drawn to him, not knowing why. He has a jeckyll/hyde personatilty. There are times when he is tender to her, and other when he is furiated with her. I really fell in love with Alanis because she stands up to Eros, she challenges him constantly, and she also finds herself falling in love with him. Both these characters are definitely too different, but somehow they connect and learn to trust 100% in one another, surrounding them is danger at every time, but also a love that strengthens. I loved how well its emotionally portrayed, I felt so drawn in by the story and the way that the author writes, there were times where it felt so real. There were a couple times in the book that it didn't flow as well as the rest, but apart from that it was a very enjoyable read.
THIS WAS THE MOST INTENSE AND FULFILLING BOOK I HAVE READ THIS YEAR! IT MADE SUCH AN IMPACT ON ME AND I AM SPEECHLESS. A STORY LIKE THIS IS HARD TO COME BY AND I AM GLAD TO SAY IT IS A KEEPER.
The author has written this story in a way that you feel like you are on an adventure, sailing from one place to another, encountering perils and falling in love with the characters. This story goes way beyond a love story. It is the story of a fallen prince.
OUR HERO is the said prince, and he captivated and mesmerised me from the moment he was introduced, his character so compelling and complex. So mysterious with a hint of danger you just cannot resist peeling the layers beneath. He is the tortured hero in this story with a dark past that he slowly reveals to Alis throughout the entire story before divulging the entire truth. He has truly been though shit and I am so glad he found our heroine, and the only woman in the world who has the power to heal him, love him and change him. Their meeting was instant awareness but not insta love. They got to know each other while being attracted in a good way and not like how most romances are written. There is tension and mystery that pulls you in to read more. Not to mention, the entire mating dance of seeing how Alis tames the viper for good. One thing I loved about him is how he often portrays a young boy who is in need of love because he has abandonment issues and often he says mean things to Alis but in actual fact, he is obsessive and possessive of her, basically he cannot live without her but is retaliating because he has never been in love and is afraid to be hurt again. But trust me, I have never seen a hero with so much issues and this man takes the cake.
OUR HEROINE is the granddaughter of a Duke and she was to marry her old childhood friend LUCAS also a pirate hunter but ends up marrying Jasmine, Eros's sister. She is very intelligent and what caught my interest during their first meeting when he kidnapped her, was their bantering that was so intellectual, perceptive yet humourous, it just makes me respect her and love her! She loves wholeheartedly and it only takes a strong woman to stand beside Eros and not to give up on him. She isnt the average HR heroine and that's what makes her the best.
OVERALL it really was intense and I think if it was a movie, it would be EPIC. Its not just about being a pirate or some lofty Duke, its about reclaiming one's identity and of course the power of love. I always knew that a book that is 300+ pages long is always worthy to read although it has a very complex background. All the more why I feel so satisfied at the end. Truly I felt this all the way to my bones. It is a pity this author only has 3 published works so far. I would love to read more of her ingenious complexity.
Critax baguuuss...Tp syang g mnimbulkn kesan lebih d hati jd ksih 3,5* ajaaah... Erosx kreeen(suka cow b'rambut hitam n mata biru ;p)
liat bukux nan tebal,sempat mkir kl alanis n eros bkal lama ktmux...Ternyata bru 2halm mreka sudah bertemu... Alanis yg sdg berlayar dri inggris k jamaika utk b'temu n menikah dgn tunanganx lucas hunter dculik oleh eros utk djadikan tawanan yg nantix akan dtukar dgn "sesuatu" milik eros yg ad pda lucas...Ternyata sbelumx eros sdah pernah melihat alanis 3thn yg lalu dsuatu pesta d prancis...
Sempat tjadi ssuatu yg seru n bkin gemez saat alanis,eros dan lucas brtemu...Eros seorang bjak laut n lucas yg sangat b'napsu utk menangkapx m'bwt ptmuan it sdikit panas yg m'bwt eros terluka n drawat oleh alanis...slgi dy drawat oleh alanis eros m'bujukx utk tinggalkn tunanganx ikt dgnx melihat dunia yg slama in diimpikan alanis...
Dmalam t'akhr eros b'layar alanis mmutuskn utk ikut tp ddetik2 kberangkatn dy b'ubah pikiran(kesal liat alanis yg plin plan...!!) n skli lg eros harus mculikx karna eros pnya alasan tersendiri... Eros bjanji akan mngantarkn alanis k inggris tanpa khilangan apa pun...Tp dperjalanan rencana it b'ubah...
Kesal skali lagi am alanis wkt mereka pertama kli ML...Alanis mw tdur dgn eros kl eros m'beri tahux spa dy sbenarx,cz alanis mrasa ad yg dtu2pi...Jd wkt eros m'ceritakan spa drix,alanis langsung mw tdur dgn eros n kesanx alanis it kek cew matre(yah wlaupn sbnarx bukan) ...Krna eros tnyata lebih dri skedar seorang bajak laut rendahan yg hina...
Settingx dbanyk negara,jamaika,maroko,aljazair,italia,prancis n inggris...N ni crita m'bwt aq penasaran dgn sejarah kota milan n bangsawanx d tahun 1700an...
Ps: lebih suka crita in dr pda The windflowerx Tom curtis... ;p
A torrid historical romance written artfully well is my chief guilty pleasure in life, and this book fit the bill.
However, if you're hoping for a swashbuckling pirates of the Caribbean romp, like I thought this would be from reading the description, keep moving. If you're into Italian culture, like really really REALLY into Italian culture (I'm not, but hey, to each their own) this book is SO for you.
The author does a fairly good job of shoehorning an Italian pirate into the golden age of piracy (I don't think there actually were any. The Caribbean was mostly a theatre for the Spanish, English, French, and Dutch) because he has an interest in haranguing King Louis XIV. The short time in the beginning of the book they do spend in the Caribbean was my favorite. Eros (really? ok, it is a bosom buster) is a delightfully wicked rogue and I liked him very much. The heroine Alanis got tiresome at times, but for the most part I liked her too.
However, this book trips into the worst pitfall that drives me crazy in romance books. The lovers are about to come together and then OH, a stupid little misunderstanding or snit that drives them apart for another 50 pages. I love a good drawn out chase, but goddam woman! This book easily could have been 200 pages shorter and still been a rich and wonderful read.
It's been a while since I've enjoyed a really good pirate novel. So glad that I had the chance to read this. You need to carve out some time to read this, but the characters and plot are worth it.
Eros The Viper, membajak kapal yang ditumpangi Lady Alanis ( Granddaughter of Duke Delamore , Queen Anne's Advisor ) yg menuju Jamaica. Sang lady bermaksud mengunjungi sang tunangan Lucas Silverlake aka Pirate Hunter. Selama berada di Alastor ( kapal sang Viper ) Alanis stayed at Eros's Cabin. tp Eros memperlakukan Lady Alanis ( meski pada akhirnya Eros mencium lady Alanis karena ternyata mereka pernah bertemu di pesta dansa yang diselenggarakan King Louis di istana Versailles) dengan baik layaknya gentleman terlepas Eros baru saja membajak kapal sang lady.
setelah "insiden" ciuman yang memabukkan keduanya, alanis jadi bimbang dgn perasaannya sndri. Alanis jadi tdk terlalu bersemangat lagi untuk mengunjungi sang tunangan. ketika akhirnya bertemu dengan si tunangan, ternyata baru ketahuan " salah satu " alasan Eros menculik Alanis karena Lucas juga menawan Gelsomina aka Jasmine yg tak lain a/ adik kesayangan Eros namun alanis mengira Gelsomina a/ kekasih Eros. setelah perdebatan yg cukup sengit, Lucas bersikukuh untuk tidak mau melepaskan Gelsomina meski Eros sudah menawarkan alanis sebagai barter. akhir nya Lucas menantang Eros u/ duel pedang dan disini ketahuan lha bahwa lucas & Gelsomina kena cinlok. Alanis kaget n malu sama Eros krn tunangan yg dibanggakan ternyata malah jatuh cinta dgn tawanannya sendiri. saat duel Eros yg seharusnya " sudah membunuh " Lucas ditahan gelsomina malah akhirnya Eros terluka o/ Lucas. Tapi Alanis dengan sigap dan menawarkan diri u/ memberikan pertolongan pertama dan merawat Eros di kamarnya di Kingston ( tempat persinggahan / base camp Lucas ).
setelah adegan alanis merawat luka Eros, petualangan kedua anak manusia ini pun dimulai.... and terlalu banyak yang harus diceritakan , so please spare your time to read this marvelous Book !
i always feel lucky when i found a good book to read. meski buku ini tema nya romance yg manis tapi plot nya cukup kompleks dengan latar belakang sang hero ( Stefano Andrea Sforza aka Eros aka El Amar )yang sedikit banyak menyangkut hajat hidup orang banyak yakni gelar lahir yang jd tanggung jawab as a Duke of Milan, hubungan politik antar negara antara Perancis, Italy, Inggris... dan kehidupan Eros sebagai pedagang di Agadir, Maroko. pun kisah percintaan antara Eros n Alanis yg tarik ulur nan emosional. saya suka kisah romance antara Eros & Alanis yg berdasarkan Teman Tapi Mesra aka Friends with benefit, so pasti chemistry diantara mereka terpampang nyata sekali. that's why Pirate stories never fail me...and this Pirate is one of my favorite !!!
Zebra romances are so much fun. Unfortunately, a lot of their best imprints are now defunct, but I believe a lot of the rights reverted back to the authors and you can get them pretty cheap on Kindle. Like this one! MY WICKED PIRATE is everything I love in a non-dark romance. There's adventure and swashbuckling and banter and forbidden romance and a hero who understands What Women Want™ (answer: dinner, a lavender-scented bath, and a cold glass of Lambrusco).
Alanis is on her way to see her fiance when she is kidnapped by the terrifying pirate, Eros, who is known as The Viper. Don't worry, I think his name is silly too. BUT HE'S HOT, even if he is named after the naked love angel of the Greek gods. Anyway, it turns out that her fiance has been keeping Eros's sister as his mistress and he's in love with her, but he was going to marry Alanis anyway to keep up appearances. Gross. So after an exchange is done for the two women, they go to the bad fiance's Jamaica estate, and basically end up switching back when Eros tricks Alanis into joining him once more as he flees for his life.
It turns out the pirate is not all that he seems though. Even though he is every bit as terrifying as his reputation claims (in all ways), he has a dark and honestly rather tragic secret. He's also involved in some very high-level political machinations which involve the House of Sforza, King Louis of France, and the Dey of Algiers. And the book takes us to all of these places, dealing out angsty romance and court intrigue by the handful, and I ate up all of it on a silver spoon. The romance was prolonged but really well done. By the time they finally did it, I wanted to bang a gong in celebration. I also really liked the chemistry between the H and the h, and how you could really feel how high the stakes were.
The book does employ a trope I really don't love: Pretending I Don't Love You for Your Own Good. And the way he levered his emotional issues against the heroine was so frustrating that I sometimes wanted to scream (intentional? Probably). MAJOR KUDOS, however, for casually finding excuses to make the hero shirtless, multiple sensual bathing scenes, and exquisite descriptions of food that had me craving Middle Eastern feasts at 2 in the morning. I've never read anything by this author before but I'll definitely be checking out her other stuff.
Honestly my least favorite of her books. The plot was so contrived, it felt like there were massive sections missing between chapters with how it continued to jump with little to no explanation. I went into this not really expecting it to be plot heavy to begin with, having read Royal Blood before this (which was also marketed as historical fiction), but with this even Alanis and Eros' relationship had the same issue. Eros is supposed to be enigmatic, with an equally guarded past, but it really just ended up feeling like his character was never developed properly. It was like all of his descriptors labeled him as mysterious in hopes that readers wouldn't notice the gaps. Analis was just there. Her grandfather is a duke, she's from England. All it really did in the end was make sure we knew she was English and everyone else wasn't.
Stranamente, un romance che mi è piaciuto abbastanza. Mi è piaciuta l'ambientazione piratesca e i viaggi che fanno in nave in giro per il mondo, anche se avrei voluto più arrembaggi e duelli di spade; mi è piaciuto il lieto fine e anche il mistero dietro a Viper, anche se mi ero immaginata altro. L'enemies to lovers non è molto accentuato, perchè praticamente è un insta love, almeno per lei. Però per l'amor del cielo, se dovete inserire parole italiane nel testo, controllate che siano giuste!! Non ci vuole molto!! Ne ho trovate forse un paio corrette, altre erano americanizzate (tipo "Capisce?" quando era seconda persona singolare) oppure sbagliate e basta. Ci vogliono pochi secondi con un traduttore, o farlo leggere a qualcuno madrelingua.
Personalmente, si que me gustó este libro, pero no por la histórica romántica, para mi ese apartado no tenía mucho de novedoso. Lo que más me gustó sin duda fue la colocación histórica tan exacta que tiene, y aún más las referencia literarias que posee.
After an exhaustingly long slump I managed to read this gem. Don’t be fooled by the cringey cover, this was a really wonderful story, packed with history and culture. Can’t vouch for the authenticity of anything, but since it’s fiction, I don’t care. I enjoyed literally every part of the story.
Old fashioned historical romance. I was able to travel back to some of my favorite countries Jamaica and Italy. From pirates to the King of France and everything in between, Loved it!
For any Historical Romance reader, My Wicked Pirate is one you’ll love to sink your teeth in and receive full satisfaction upon closing this historical treasure! And this is why:
The characters are diverse and distinctive from one another with Alanis and Eros leading the story. While Alanis is hungry for adventure, seeking the freedom to pursue this and see the world, Eros “The Viper” is a complicated, pensive, remote, multilayered man that deems himself irredeemable. He taunts the vested leaders of the world as a Pirate and when their paths cross a plot is set in motion that runs deep and will keep you focused on the desire to unravel both Eros and the plot. Because Alanis is very transparent in her wants and needs but is confronted with a man that intrigues her, makes her feel, provokes her but above all let’s her experience life in all its facets.
While Eros intercepts the ship Alanis is on it is evident from their first encounter that they set each other on fire, their very nature’s creating a vigorous spark set out to consume. The verbal sparring between them is quick, sharp and full of whit only adding to their incredible dynamic as a couple. Though Alanis is set for her fiancé a situation unfolds that gives her a choice, as her choice is made we get to visit Jamaica, Isle de la Tortue, the Kasbah of Algiers, Agadir in Morocco and Italy. The author easily conjures images of exotic places creating a fascinated canvas of an interesting time period. It does not distract from the plot or the personal trials and tribulations of the crucial characters but it adds a backdrop that enhances the feel of Eros’ turbulent past and Alanis’ desire to see the world.
Secondary characters like Giovanni, Niccolo and Greco from the crew aboard Eros’ ship, Alastor, prove to be a welcome addition with their somewhat playful side. Moreover, they have been with Eros for a long time as well as Sanah, whom I got to meet in Algiers. Though Eros calls himself a loner, it is friends in many places that refute this and speak of more to this man then the harsh cold inner nature he displays at times. All the characters had meaning and purpose in this story, from the grandfather of Alanis, to the fiend Cesar. It is with Rona Sharon’s elegant prose and poignant writing style that gives the characters an emotional-laden charge that reaches out to the reader and it did not miss its effect on me.
While the conspiracy thrives and drives Alanis and Eros to new directions, My Wicked Pirate is above all a Romance novel. And though this story is gradually set up the growth of feelings benefits from this, it feels natural, real and in the end delivers on the promise of all consuming feelings that blaze from the pages. I slowly savored the journey of this amazing couple. I emotionally empathized with them creating a stupendous final that had me tearing up and finally feeling like I conquered it all right alongside them.
The plot entails various courts, that of The Sun King of France, Queen Anne of England and torn up Italy with its Princes. Without revealing more then I already did Rona Sharon managed to give this time period a lush, vibrant feel with political intrigue and at the same time making it all about Eros and the woman who chose to love him. The intertwining of the past and present gave both Alanis and Eros a chance to grow and to overcome obstacles. It made me root for them every step of the way!
When I pick up a Historical Romance novel then this is the kind of story I love to read. Complicated characters that reveal a mysterious layer at a time and a complot that holds me spellbound to the pages with intrigue and madcap adventures. With the grandest adventure taking place in this tale is the journey of Love with the capital L. The one that makes hero’s out of men when they forsake all goodness and what makes women courageous and bold when the heart speaks so clearly.
With 400+ pages of historical delight Rona Sharon has set the bar high in this genre!
Quote: Eros “The Viper” He glimpsed at his bed, then recaptured her gaze. Humor and challenge twinkled in his dark eyes. “What exactly did you have in mind – rough ravishing or prolonged pleasure? I’m game for both diversions.”
Quote Eros “The Viper” “Don’t make me chase you,” Eros whispered softly in her ear. “I’m endeavoring to behave like the perfect gentleman. Do not tempt the beast in me.”
Quote Alanis about Eros The man fascinated her. He had the mannerism of a Lord, the reputation of the Monarch of Hell, the body of a Greek god, the handsomest face, and when he was not pillaging – he attended balls at Versailles.
Alanis sailed to Jamaica in order to meet up with her fiance, whom she hadn't seen for 3 years, in order to light a fire under his butt and get their marriage started. But enroute, her ship is seized by Eros, who plans to use her as collateral to get his sister back from Alanis's fiance. They connect and both acknowledge that there's an attraction, but neither is there a future for them. The exchange doesn't go as planned, and Alanis, longing to be free and see new sights, agrees to an adventure with Eros, no strings attached. Through their adventure, the two fall in love, but Eros and his past will chase them from port to port in a big way.
This was a long, intense and very involved historical romance. No fluff here. The characters are very well developed and their romance is one of growth, where the two characters really get to know each other, really come to accept each others' faults and weaknesses and they love each other anyway. Eros is pretty tortured and described as having a dual personality. That really comes across in the way he blows hot and cold. But it worked very well because it put Alanis on edge and made it harder to fall for him. I think I was more intrigued by him as well because the author doesn't really present his POV very often and when she does, it doesn't reveal much about his feelings, only his reactions toward events. Eros doesn't monologue - which means his feelings remain a mystery, which holds us in suspense about whether he's going to risk it all for Alanis. I didn't initially like Alanis at first, especially since she had a tendency to frustratingly change her mind quite suddenly and not explain herself. But she was extremely loyal, clever and persistent.
The end got pretty angsty. But it was I've never really liked that kind of angst. Also, I was rather disappointed in the epilogue. It was like 99% of emotional rollercoaster and then 3 pages of objective journalism or something. I was hoping for a reunion with Sanah and what that would have entailed...
This really is a worthwhile read if you've got the time and you want something of a saga.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Lady Alanis, granddaughter of the Duke of Dellamore has been patiently waiting for the last three years for her betrothed, Viscount Silverlake to return from Jamaica and marry her. Her patience now worn thin and a desire to see what the world has to offer, Alanis, disregarding her grandfather’s warning that war time is no time to travel unescorted as well as the high seas being infested with vicious, cut-throat pirate’s sets sail aboard the Pink Beryl. The excitement and sense of freedom are just what she was looking for.
Unfortunately, Alanis’ freedom is short lived as pirates, led by the infamous Viper invade her ship and claim Alanis as their ultimate prize. Will Alanis escape her captors or will she become entranced by her sculpted and ruggedly handsome Italian pirate?
Eros, also known as the Viper has had great success making a name for himself as a vicious Italian blackguard who roams the sea with no mercy. His main objective is to reclaim what is rightfully his. On a mission to save his sister with a trade of his latest prize, Eros becomes entranced by his beautiful, stubborn prisoner. Will Eros be able to reclaim his birth-right and quench his feelings for the fair-haired Alanis?
My Wicked Pirate was a welcomed diversion from the chill of the latest ice storms. Rona Sharon is a debut romance author who lives in Tel Aviv, Israel. With romance novels being non-existent over there, she admits she spends a lot of time on Amazon.com purchasing and reading romance novels.
My Wicked Pirate is by far the best historical romance I have read in a long time. The novel is set in the 18th century and is filled with everything a reader could possibly want such as betrayal, war, action, adventure, seduction and much more. Ms. Sharon’s eloquent prose enables the reader to envision themselves in the story as well as providing some quick Italian language lessons. There were many times I wish I could have grabbed Alanis and given her a good shaking. This book grabs your attention from page one leaving it very difficult to put it down. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys romance with a lot of spice. I truly enjoyed this seductive adventure and I anxiously look forward to more works by this incredibly talented author.