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Sutherland Brothers #1
The Captain of All Pleasures
In her exhilarating debut novel, Kresley Cole captures the drama, passion, and boundless adventure of the high seas—as one fiery lass finds herself caught in a tide of torrid romance.
Raised as a free spirit aboard her American sea captain father's majestic clipper ship, willful Nicole Lassiter has never encountered an obstacle she couldn't overcome—until she meets Captain Derek Sutherland. His sizzling kisses leave her longing, but after they share a night of passion, his subsequent disdain makes her blood boil. Nicole vows to take her revenge—by helping her father beat Sutherland in a high-stakes competition: the Great Circle Race from England to Australia.
Nicole's scheme is thrown overboard after her father is wrongly imprisoned, yet she remains undaunted—taking to the high seas with her father's ship. But a storm wrecks her plans, and she finds herself a virtual prisoner aboard Sutherland's vessel. And while her mind tells her she should escape, her body urges her to surrender.
Raised as a free spirit aboard her American sea captain father's majestic clipper ship, willful Nicole Lassiter has never encountered an obstacle she couldn't overcome—until she meets Captain Derek Sutherland. His sizzling kisses leave her longing, but after they share a night of passion, his subsequent disdain makes her blood boil. Nicole vows to take her revenge—by helping her father beat Sutherland in a high-stakes competition: the Great Circle Race from England to Australia.
Nicole's scheme is thrown overboard after her father is wrongly imprisoned, yet she remains undaunted—taking to the high seas with her father's ship. But a storm wrecks her plans, and she finds herself a virtual prisoner aboard Sutherland's vessel. And while her mind tells her she should escape, her body urges her to surrender.
370 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2003
147 people are currently reading
3739 people want to read
About the author
Kresley Cole
69 books27.5k followersKresley Cole is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the electrifying Immortals After Dark paranormal series, the young adult Arcana Chronicles series, the erotic Gamemakers series, and five award-winning historical romances.
A master’s grad and former athlete, she has traveled over much of the world and draws from those experiences to create her memorable characters and settings.
Her IAD books have been translated into 23 foreign languages, garnered three RITA awards, a RWA Hall of Fame induction, and consistently appear on the bestseller lists, in the U.S. and abroad.
Cole lives in Florida with her family. Learn more about Kresley at: www.kresleycole.com & www.thearcanachronicles.com
A master’s grad and former athlete, she has traveled over much of the world and draws from those experiences to create her memorable characters and settings.
Her IAD books have been translated into 23 foreign languages, garnered three RITA awards, a RWA Hall of Fame induction, and consistently appear on the bestseller lists, in the U.S. and abroad.
Cole lives in Florida with her family. Learn more about Kresley at: www.kresleycole.com & www.thearcanachronicles.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 291 reviews
August 30, 2016
One night, while browsing Kresley Cole's bio on GR, I came across this:
'an author of ... FIVE award-winning historical romances'
and went WHAAAAAA???? because I only heard of/read THREE of them so I decided to rectify the situation by diving into her Sutherland Brothers Duet IMMEDIATELY! In a nutshell, I took a break from Kresley Cole's IAD series to read more ... Kresley Cole!
I really REALLY enjoyed this one! Historical romance with a brooding Hero and a heroine that started Kresley Cole's never-ending list of superior leading ladies set on the high seas? YES, PLEASE! The story, once again, had just the right amount of everything in order for me to enjoy the book: well written, great plot, kick ass heroine and a Hero that's imperfectly perfect. Add to this already incredible mix a supporting cast that's extremely entertaining and a dialect that makes you feel like you are there, with the rest of them, in the 1800s England and you've got yourself a winner!
According to the blurb, this was Kresley's debut novel. Because I read this after having read some of her recent stuff, I can honestly say that she went from being a really, REALLY good storyteller to an absolutely FLAWLESS one! I guess when you've got it, you've got it.
An absolute must read for any Kresley Cole fan.
Cheers!
'an author of ... FIVE award-winning historical romances'
and went WHAAAAAA???? because I only heard of/read THREE of them so I decided to rectify the situation by diving into her Sutherland Brothers Duet IMMEDIATELY! In a nutshell, I took a break from Kresley Cole's IAD series to read more ... Kresley Cole!
I really REALLY enjoyed this one! Historical romance with a brooding Hero and a heroine that started Kresley Cole's never-ending list of superior leading ladies set on the high seas? YES, PLEASE! The story, once again, had just the right amount of everything in order for me to enjoy the book: well written, great plot, kick ass heroine and a Hero that's imperfectly perfect. Add to this already incredible mix a supporting cast that's extremely entertaining and a dialect that makes you feel like you are there, with the rest of them, in the 1800s England and you've got yourself a winner!
According to the blurb, this was Kresley's debut novel. Because I read this after having read some of her recent stuff, I can honestly say that she went from being a really, REALLY good storyteller to an absolutely FLAWLESS one! I guess when you've got it, you've got it.
An absolute must read for any Kresley Cole fan.
Cheers!
May 20, 2021
4 Business Rivals Turned Lovers Stars
Nicole Lassiter is the daughter of a well-known and successful captain Jason Lassiter, and since her mother's death when she was a child, she has spent most of her life at sea and feels most comfortable there. That appears to be the consensus among the many finishing schools she has been sent to as she keeps getting kicked out for breaking the ridiculous rules. And the ones she hasn't been expelled from, she has escaped as she has no aspirations to marry into the society her mother was a part of. Nicole has a secret: she is actually the heir to a very wealthy and influential marquis, and her grandmother's goal is to arrange a suitable and beneficial marriage to continue the line. But all Nicole wants is to be given the chance to captain her own mission, and when her father is thrown in jail for brawling with his bitter rival right before the Great Circle Race, she finally has her opportunity to prove she can do the job. But that dratted rival captain keeps finding a way to distract her, and she is worried that she might enjoy those efforts a little too much.
Captain Derek Sutherland has been at sea most of his adult life as he much prefers it to the misery that is his life as an English earl. As a second son, he never wanted a life of responsibility and endless societal obligations, so he has successfully avoided those things and endeavored to enjoy as much debauchery as possible since. One of his family's assets is a shipping company, and in order to ensure it remains successful, Derek must win the Great Circle Race as it will lead to more contracts and financial opportunities. Though he knew Jason Lassiter would be the only one to give him a run for his money, he didn't count on his daughter throwing him for the loop he has been in since he first laid eyes on her. And neither of them counted on the saboteur that will pose a significant challenge to their journeys and their budding relationship.
What I liked:
--- The H was flawed but redeemable, and definitely swoon-worthy; the h was no withering flower - loved her strength and intelligence, and that the H appreciated those things about her
--- The secondary characters were also interesting and added to the story
--- There was some mystery along the way which kept me interested and made the book hard to put down
--- Steamy goodness - once we got there, it was good
What I didn't like as much:
--- Miscommunication angst is my least favorite thing in romances, but the author resolved it relatively quickly (still dragged out longer than necessary, imo)
--- Not as much steam as I like; definitely a slow-burn even though it seemed like it was going to get going out of the gate (a lot of start and stop)
--- I felt like there were a couple of loose threads that never really resolved themselves (ex )
--- More than a few typos (weird ones - maybe when it was moved from paper format to e-book bc the issues were missing words/half words and random symbols thrown in?)....
Overall, this was a good story that I enjoyed even though it didn't have as much steam as I generally prefer.
Plot --- 4/5
Main Characters --- 4/5
Supporting Cast --- 4/5
Steam Level* --- 2.5/5
Violence --- nothing overly graphic
Language --- some
POV --- 3rd
*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild (nothing descriptive); 2/5 - 3rd base action/1 home run; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere (a couple of full-on steamy scenes); 4/5 - yes please! (erotica territory); 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all
Nicole Lassiter is the daughter of a well-known and successful captain Jason Lassiter, and since her mother's death when she was a child, she has spent most of her life at sea and feels most comfortable there. That appears to be the consensus among the many finishing schools she has been sent to as she keeps getting kicked out for breaking the ridiculous rules. And the ones she hasn't been expelled from, she has escaped as she has no aspirations to marry into the society her mother was a part of. Nicole has a secret: she is actually the heir to a very wealthy and influential marquis, and her grandmother's goal is to arrange a suitable and beneficial marriage to continue the line. But all Nicole wants is to be given the chance to captain her own mission, and when her father is thrown in jail for brawling with his bitter rival right before the Great Circle Race, she finally has her opportunity to prove she can do the job. But that dratted rival captain keeps finding a way to distract her, and she is worried that she might enjoy those efforts a little too much.
Captain Derek Sutherland has been at sea most of his adult life as he much prefers it to the misery that is his life as an English earl. As a second son, he never wanted a life of responsibility and endless societal obligations, so he has successfully avoided those things and endeavored to enjoy as much debauchery as possible since. One of his family's assets is a shipping company, and in order to ensure it remains successful, Derek must win the Great Circle Race as it will lead to more contracts and financial opportunities. Though he knew Jason Lassiter would be the only one to give him a run for his money, he didn't count on his daughter throwing him for the loop he has been in since he first laid eyes on her. And neither of them counted on the saboteur that will pose a significant challenge to their journeys and their budding relationship.
What I liked:
--- The H was flawed but redeemable, and definitely swoon-worthy; the h was no withering flower - loved her strength and intelligence, and that the H appreciated those things about her
--- The secondary characters were also interesting and added to the story
--- There was some mystery along the way which kept me interested and made the book hard to put down
--- Steamy goodness - once we got there, it was good
What I didn't like as much:
--- Miscommunication angst is my least favorite thing in romances, but the author resolved it relatively quickly (still dragged out longer than necessary, imo)
--- Not as much steam as I like; definitely a slow-burn even though it seemed like it was going to get going out of the gate (a lot of start and stop)
--- I felt like there were a couple of loose threads that never really resolved themselves (ex )
--- More than a few typos (weird ones - maybe when it was moved from paper format to e-book bc the issues were missing words/half words and random symbols thrown in?)....
Overall, this was a good story that I enjoyed even though it didn't have as much steam as I generally prefer.
Plot --- 4/5
Main Characters --- 4/5
Supporting Cast --- 4/5
Steam Level* --- 2.5/5
Violence --- nothing overly graphic
Language --- some
POV --- 3rd
*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild (nothing descriptive); 2/5 - 3rd base action/1 home run; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere (a couple of full-on steamy scenes); 4/5 - yes please! (erotica territory); 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all
July 16, 2010
---SPOILER ALERT---
I just love Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark, and being deprived of her Scottish Lykae, and stunning Valkyrie I decided to tackle her historicals.
This is the first of 2 books about the Sutherland Brothers. Derek Sutherland is a shipping captain who has basically lost any and all hope. He's an earl, and a captain-guess which one he actually cares about?
Nicole is the daughter of a sea-captain and the granddaughter of a marchioness. When her mother dies when Nicole is only 5, her father makes promises to her grandmother (on her mother's side) that at age 12 he'll send Nicole back to England to be schooled properly and then introduced among the ton. yeah, Nicole wrapped her daddy around her little finger and she didn't go to finishing school til she was 18 (he he)
But the story is about a race round the world-London to Sydney. And Nicole's father needs to win that race! His shipping line/reputation depend on it, but someone is sabotoging the competition. Nicole hears noises on deck and when she investigates, the saboteurs want to have a little fun.
When Derek first sees Nicole, he sees her dressed as a boy, but she 's in a brothel (looking for her father), so he sees through her boy clothes and sees the hottie she is...too bad he thinks she's a whore! After she leaves with his arch rival Lassiter (her dad), he can't get her out of his head. So when she runs straight into his arms later that night, looking incredibly frightened, he decides he'll save her, but she's coming back to his ship.
This is where a lot of the misunderstandings start. He doesn't know who she is, and she doesn't correct him. He doesn't know that she's titled, she never tells him, and the woman (Lydia) who shows up demanding money isn't spoken of either. After spending the night with each other (not that way! get your minds out of the gutter!) Nicole is discovered by her father's men and Lassiter and Derek fight it out, with derek shouting all kinds of obsenities about Nicole (he believes she's a whore still) and provoking Lassiter even more. But then after both are jailed, Nicole realizes her father will never be released in time for the big race-so she sails the ship herself.
There are lots of chance encounters on the way to Sydney but Nicole's ship was sabotaged and during a big storm it starts to sink. Obviously Derek saves her and her crew, but he thinks the sabotage on his ship was Nicole's fault. So he's pissed and treats her like crap. then they like each other again, and he asks her to be his mistress. She tells him where he can go :) But what he doesn't tell her is why he won't marry her-he's already married. So he leaves her and she meets up with her crew and they go back to London where she is not only broken-hearted, but willing to let her grandmother play matchmaker. when she sees Grant (Derek's brother) she is so stunned that her expression causes Grant to come over and introduce himself. But Lydia steps in and announces that she is his sister-in-law, and ruins everything by telling of her marriage to Derek (which got annulled), and poor Nicole fainted.
Derek meanwhile realized he's an ass and has been searching for her, especially now that he is single. When he sees her on the arm of someone else, he storms over, yanks her outside tells her they are getting married, and she runs off.
The next day he sneaks in and drags her out of the house to marry her in Gretna Green. that was one of my favorite parts. In fact this line cracked me up.
Derek to Nicole's grandmother:
"I am Derek Andrew Sutherland, sixth earl of Stanhope and I am taking your granddaughter to Gretna Green to marry her."
"If you must..."
The only reason I didnt' give this a higher rating is that there were too many "misunderstandings." Even after they were married, Nicole didn't clear up a misunderstanding. It drove me nuts, plus, I think that Lydia could have had a bigger part as the evil bitch wife (she tricked the Sutherland family into forcing Derek to marry her). But at the same time, hello? it's Kresley Cole! we know it'll be a good book.
I just love Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark, and being deprived of her Scottish Lykae, and stunning Valkyrie I decided to tackle her historicals.
This is the first of 2 books about the Sutherland Brothers. Derek Sutherland is a shipping captain who has basically lost any and all hope. He's an earl, and a captain-guess which one he actually cares about?
Nicole is the daughter of a sea-captain and the granddaughter of a marchioness. When her mother dies when Nicole is only 5, her father makes promises to her grandmother (on her mother's side) that at age 12 he'll send Nicole back to England to be schooled properly and then introduced among the ton. yeah, Nicole wrapped her daddy around her little finger and she didn't go to finishing school til she was 18 (he he)
But the story is about a race round the world-London to Sydney. And Nicole's father needs to win that race! His shipping line/reputation depend on it, but someone is sabotoging the competition. Nicole hears noises on deck and when she investigates, the saboteurs want to have a little fun.
When Derek first sees Nicole, he sees her dressed as a boy, but she 's in a brothel (looking for her father), so he sees through her boy clothes and sees the hottie she is...too bad he thinks she's a whore! After she leaves with his arch rival Lassiter (her dad), he can't get her out of his head. So when she runs straight into his arms later that night, looking incredibly frightened, he decides he'll save her, but she's coming back to his ship.
This is where a lot of the misunderstandings start. He doesn't know who she is, and she doesn't correct him. He doesn't know that she's titled, she never tells him, and the woman (Lydia) who shows up demanding money isn't spoken of either. After spending the night with each other (not that way! get your minds out of the gutter!) Nicole is discovered by her father's men and Lassiter and Derek fight it out, with derek shouting all kinds of obsenities about Nicole (he believes she's a whore still) and provoking Lassiter even more. But then after both are jailed, Nicole realizes her father will never be released in time for the big race-so she sails the ship herself.
There are lots of chance encounters on the way to Sydney but Nicole's ship was sabotaged and during a big storm it starts to sink. Obviously Derek saves her and her crew, but he thinks the sabotage on his ship was Nicole's fault. So he's pissed and treats her like crap. then they like each other again, and he asks her to be his mistress. She tells him where he can go :) But what he doesn't tell her is why he won't marry her-he's already married. So he leaves her and she meets up with her crew and they go back to London where she is not only broken-hearted, but willing to let her grandmother play matchmaker. when she sees Grant (Derek's brother) she is so stunned that her expression causes Grant to come over and introduce himself. But Lydia steps in and announces that she is his sister-in-law, and ruins everything by telling of her marriage to Derek (which got annulled), and poor Nicole fainted.
Derek meanwhile realized he's an ass and has been searching for her, especially now that he is single. When he sees her on the arm of someone else, he storms over, yanks her outside tells her they are getting married, and she runs off.
The next day he sneaks in and drags her out of the house to marry her in Gretna Green. that was one of my favorite parts. In fact this line cracked me up.
Derek to Nicole's grandmother:
"I am Derek Andrew Sutherland, sixth earl of Stanhope and I am taking your granddaughter to Gretna Green to marry her."
"If you must..."
The only reason I didnt' give this a higher rating is that there were too many "misunderstandings." Even after they were married, Nicole didn't clear up a misunderstanding. It drove me nuts, plus, I think that Lydia could have had a bigger part as the evil bitch wife (she tricked the Sutherland family into forcing Derek to marry her). But at the same time, hello? it's Kresley Cole! we know it'll be a good book.
January 6, 2018
3.5 bis 4 Sterne
Kresley Cole kann wirklich Liebesromane schreiben! Bisher habe ich viele Bücher ihrer Immortals after Dark-Reihe und die Gamemaker Trilogie gelesen 😁.
"Die Geliebte des Captains" spielt im Jahr 1856. Nicole Lassiter ist auf dem Meer groß geworden und liebt es zu segeln. Nachdem ihr Vater festgenommen wird, entschließt sie sich das Kommando über sein Schiff zu übernehmen und an einem Wettkampf teilzunehmen. Nur leider gibt es Leute die betrügen und die Schiffe sogar sabotieren.
Als das Schiff in einem Sturm zerstört wird, rettet sie der größte Rivale ihres Vaters: Derek Sutherland. Dieser hat schon vorher Gefühle in Nicole ausgelöst 😚...
Nicole ist einfach genial! Sie ist nicht auf den Mund gefallen, lässt sich nicht so schnell unterkriegen, hat kein Problem damit sich die Hände schmutzig zu machen und ist absolut sympathisch 😁.
Durch ihre charakterliche Stärke kann sie sich auch gegen eine Crew von Männern durchsetzen.
Die männlichen Charaktere von Kresley Cole sind sich oft sehr ähnlich. Sie sind dominant, stark und ziemlich besitzergreifen,so auch Derek Sutherland. Trotzdem fand ich ihn toll, denn er hat z. B. auch einen stark ausgeprägten Beschützerinstinkt.
Die Liebesgeschichte fand ich süß 😍, aaaaber es gibt wirklich so einige Missverständnisse 😱🙈. Bei einem Missverständnis ist es ja noch spannend, aber es wurden immer mehr 😳😅. Meistens steht Derek am Schluss als der Blöde da, weil er einfach etwas angenommen hat oder nicht glaubt, was man ihm sagt. Dadurch, dass beide Charaktere ziemlich sturköpfig sind, kommt es natürlich auch zu einigen Streitereien.
Trotzdem habe ich dieses Buch geradezu verschlungen, weil die Liebesgeschichte mich doch mitreißen konnte und ich einfach mein Happy End haben wollte.
Der Schreibstil der Autorin war wie immer locker, flüssig und durch die Wortgefechte zwischen Nicole und Sutherland auch sehr humorvoll.
Das Buch ist bereits vor einiger Zeit erschienen (2003)und ich glaube es ist sogar schon einmal bei einem anderen Verlag auf deutsch erschienen 🤔.
Im zweiten Band geht es um Derek's Bruder Grant 😁, da bin ich auch schon gespannt drauf.
Fazit
Eine süße Liebesgeschichte 😁
Kresley Cole kann wirklich Liebesromane schreiben! Bisher habe ich viele Bücher ihrer Immortals after Dark-Reihe und die Gamemaker Trilogie gelesen 😁.
"Die Geliebte des Captains" spielt im Jahr 1856. Nicole Lassiter ist auf dem Meer groß geworden und liebt es zu segeln. Nachdem ihr Vater festgenommen wird, entschließt sie sich das Kommando über sein Schiff zu übernehmen und an einem Wettkampf teilzunehmen. Nur leider gibt es Leute die betrügen und die Schiffe sogar sabotieren.
Als das Schiff in einem Sturm zerstört wird, rettet sie der größte Rivale ihres Vaters: Derek Sutherland. Dieser hat schon vorher Gefühle in Nicole ausgelöst 😚...
Nicole ist einfach genial! Sie ist nicht auf den Mund gefallen, lässt sich nicht so schnell unterkriegen, hat kein Problem damit sich die Hände schmutzig zu machen und ist absolut sympathisch 😁.
Durch ihre charakterliche Stärke kann sie sich auch gegen eine Crew von Männern durchsetzen.
Die männlichen Charaktere von Kresley Cole sind sich oft sehr ähnlich. Sie sind dominant, stark und ziemlich besitzergreifen,so auch Derek Sutherland. Trotzdem fand ich ihn toll, denn er hat z. B. auch einen stark ausgeprägten Beschützerinstinkt.
Die Liebesgeschichte fand ich süß 😍, aaaaber es gibt wirklich so einige Missverständnisse 😱🙈. Bei einem Missverständnis ist es ja noch spannend, aber es wurden immer mehr 😳😅. Meistens steht Derek am Schluss als der Blöde da, weil er einfach etwas angenommen hat oder nicht glaubt, was man ihm sagt. Dadurch, dass beide Charaktere ziemlich sturköpfig sind, kommt es natürlich auch zu einigen Streitereien.
Trotzdem habe ich dieses Buch geradezu verschlungen, weil die Liebesgeschichte mich doch mitreißen konnte und ich einfach mein Happy End haben wollte.
Der Schreibstil der Autorin war wie immer locker, flüssig und durch die Wortgefechte zwischen Nicole und Sutherland auch sehr humorvoll.
Das Buch ist bereits vor einiger Zeit erschienen (2003)und ich glaube es ist sogar schon einmal bei einem anderen Verlag auf deutsch erschienen 🤔.
Im zweiten Band geht es um Derek's Bruder Grant 😁, da bin ich auch schon gespannt drauf.
Fazit
Eine süße Liebesgeschichte 😁
July 24, 2017
Bueno, al principio me gustó. Pero luego empezaron a largar chorradas y chorradas acerca que si te merezco o no, que no quiero que me rompan el corazón, etc. Muy histérico todo, tratan de concretar no lo logran hasta bastante avanzada la novela. Y secretos que se develan al final que podrían haberse dicho o comentado y aunque tienen resolución tardía . Y un montón de desacuerdos, todo por ocultarse cosas. El final muy infantil y estirado.
Meh. Terminado en diagonal
Meh. Terminado en diagonal
May 29, 2024
When I came across this, I just knew I had to read it immediately. Whew a lot happens in this book and this couple really has to go through a lot before they get their ending. It gets super toxic at one point & Derek really deserves a 🥾 up his ass!! The Audacity
My main issue with this book is it is third point of view, but it doesn’t give you a clear indication when it switches characters pov ( I don’t know how to make this make sense) one paragraph will be her situation and it will immediately switch to his without Informing the reader?
Also, the time jumps were not clear I had to reread multiple paragraphs
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and would read more historical romance from her
My favorite character is Chancey .he didn’t play about Nicole.
My main issue with this book is it is third point of view, but it doesn’t give you a clear indication when it switches characters pov ( I don’t know how to make this make sense) one paragraph will be her situation and it will immediately switch to his without Informing the reader?
Also, the time jumps were not clear I had to reread multiple paragraphs
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and would read more historical romance from her
My favorite character is Chancey .he didn’t play about Nicole.
July 6, 2025
4.75 Stars
A strong adventurous woman who doesn't let the conventions and opinions of others to get in her way of living the life SHE wants.
A man who allowed his family & the conventions of the times to destroy any hope he ever had for happiness & the life he wanted.
Then they meet.
Fireworks!
Supremely written.
But then, I would expect nothing less from
Kresley Cole.
A strong adventurous woman who doesn't let the conventions and opinions of others to get in her way of living the life SHE wants.
A man who allowed his family & the conventions of the times to destroy any hope he ever had for happiness & the life he wanted.
Then they meet.
Fireworks!
Supremely written.
But then, I would expect nothing less from
Kresley Cole.
December 13, 2018
Está buscando uno de sabrina jeffries que según era los que más me gustaba del genero romance histórico . Hallé este y le tenía ganas de leer algo de Kresley Cole. El libro tiene una trama sencilla y media engañosa asi que mejor no lean la sinopsis. O yo me engañe sola ya no lo sé.
Estuvo interesante para variar que una chica haya sido criada en el mar junto a su padre el capitán . y aunque el objetivo era llegar primero a una carrera eso se olvido por la situación del romance.
No creo que voy a leer kresley mas de historico ( me dijeron que ya no escribirá de este genero)
Estuvo interesante para variar que una chica haya sido criada en el mar junto a su padre el capitán . y aunque el objetivo era llegar primero a una carrera eso se olvido por la situación del romance.
No creo que voy a leer kresley mas de historico ( me dijeron que ya no escribirá de este genero)
April 12, 2011
What a great book! I can't believe this is K. Cole's debut novel! Wow! Derek got on my nerves at time, but I finally understood why, and he redeemed himself in the end.. And I loved Nicole! What a great heroine! Definitely looking forwards to Grant's book!
August 25, 2018
3.5 stars
This was a decent KC read. Like all of her heroines, the heroine in this one is not a simpering idiot & GASP is curious about her sexuality. I don't think this is the book for you if you're looking for historical accuracy, there is talk of divorce etc. Hero is a drunk but surprisingly not much of a jerk as KC heroes can be.
This was a decent KC read. Like all of her heroines, the heroine in this one is not a simpering idiot & GASP is curious about her sexuality. I don't think this is the book for you if you're looking for historical accuracy, there is talk of divorce etc. Hero is a drunk but surprisingly not much of a jerk as KC heroes can be.
January 1, 2018
A lovely romance novel... I enjoyed it very much... Kresley Cole always keeps me interested all the way.
February 14, 2025
2025 reread for Romancelandia University:
Put a romance on a boat, and I'm bound to love it. It's the combo of forced proximity and road trip along with the very real danger of disaster.
Nicole Lassiter is the daughter of American Merchant, who is at odds with Captain Derek Sutherland. Nicole has been on board ships most of her life, and when her father is jailed for a fortnight for fighting, Nicole enters the Great Circle Race herself. She's got a bone to pick with Sutherland, and she doesn't understand why he gets under her skin. He's racing too, but he's racing away to get her out of his mind, too: no woman has ever affected him like Nicole. But they both have major secrets that they're hiding.
This reads more like old school romance than I remembered. Derek is the prototype for so many of Kresley's heroes: he's domineering and possessive alpha. Nicole is a bit of an archetype of the competent woman on board a ship. (She reminds me so much of Isabeau from Across a Moonlit Sea!) But she's stubborn and determined and fun to read. I just wish that not only would Derek and Nicole talk, but that they would *listen* to each other. Also, he needs to stop wanting to f**k her while she's sleeping.
Not a swashbuckler, but a high seas adventure that I enjoyed on a second read.
Original review: My first non-IAD book from Kresley Cole. This was a great debut with some twists i didn't expect. 1850s high seas, very fun to read on the heels of The Wager. A little of the hot and cold I don't love that feels prevalent in the era, but tbh less dubcon than I expected too given how IAD started.
Put a romance on a boat, and I'm bound to love it. It's the combo of forced proximity and road trip along with the very real danger of disaster.
Nicole Lassiter is the daughter of American Merchant, who is at odds with Captain Derek Sutherland. Nicole has been on board ships most of her life, and when her father is jailed for a fortnight for fighting, Nicole enters the Great Circle Race herself. She's got a bone to pick with Sutherland, and she doesn't understand why he gets under her skin. He's racing too, but he's racing away to get her out of his mind, too: no woman has ever affected him like Nicole. But they both have major secrets that they're hiding.
This reads more like old school romance than I remembered. Derek is the prototype for so many of Kresley's heroes: he's domineering and possessive alpha. Nicole is a bit of an archetype of the competent woman on board a ship. (She reminds me so much of Isabeau from Across a Moonlit Sea!) But she's stubborn and determined and fun to read. I just wish that not only would Derek and Nicole talk, but that they would *listen* to each other. Also, he needs to stop wanting to f**k her while she's sleeping.
Not a swashbuckler, but a high seas adventure that I enjoyed on a second read.
Original review: My first non-IAD book from Kresley Cole. This was a great debut with some twists i didn't expect. 1850s high seas, very fun to read on the heels of The Wager. A little of the hot and cold I don't love that feels prevalent in the era, but tbh less dubcon than I expected too given how IAD started.
February 24, 2016
This was a fun, sexy read and I wasn't ready for it to be over. KC should write more historicals and I am looking forward to the next one.
October 28, 2016
3,5 en realidad. Ha sido entretenido y aunque no me ha apasionado la relación entre ellos, la trama a tenido algunos giros salseantes.
August 12, 2023
This is my first book by this author, and I already know that it will not be my last. I loved the writing style so much. It just pulled me in and wouldn't let me go.
I am having a hard time rating this book though because I had an issue with the plot. I'm not going to say what that issues is because it was a VERY big shock/plot twist that I was not expecting what so ever. So I don't want to give anything away; however, it just kind of made me pause and not fully appreciate the story at that point.
Looking back though, I really did enjoy this book as a whole and loved the characters. If you are looking for a pirate romance, then check this one out.
I am having a hard time rating this book though because I had an issue with the plot. I'm not going to say what that issues is because it was a VERY big shock/plot twist that I was not expecting what so ever. So I don't want to give anything away; however, it just kind of made me pause and not fully appreciate the story at that point.
Looking back though, I really did enjoy this book as a whole and loved the characters. If you are looking for a pirate romance, then check this one out.
September 12, 2010
This is a historical romance by Kresley Cole, which I really enjoyed, not as much as her paranormal romance series Immortals After Dark, but I really like it. It was funny, with a hot and steamy romance, and hijinks on teh high seas, the hero Derek Sutherland was both hot, dangerous and tortured and in desparate need of a good woman's lovin'. Nicole Lassiter, the good woman mentioned was spunky and funny, not your typical historical maiden.
I would read this if you are a fan of Kresley Cole and if you like a good light hearted historical romance. I have also got the next one in the series The Price of Pleasure about Derek's more sombre younger brother and I look forward to reading it.
I would read this if you are a fan of Kresley Cole and if you like a good light hearted historical romance. I have also got the next one in the series The Price of Pleasure about Derek's more sombre younger brother and I look forward to reading it.
November 17, 2018
Well, I’ve got a mini-book about this book for you today. I really loved this book. I’ve been feeling uninspired to read lately. Nothing’s been catching my attention and I feel like this book has firmly reawakened my interest. It reminded me of all the things I love about romance, that I’ve been missing for a couple months now (with a few exceptions). While this book wasn’t perfect, it had some really special things about it, namely the setting, which is different than your average historical, but also an intriguing hero and heroine and an abundance of all those feelings of falling in love.
The setting of this book is quite captivating. The hero and heroine (Derek and Nicole) are rival sailors competing in the Great Circle Race, which takes them over a 13,000 mile journey from London to Sydney. They travel across some of the worlds most ferocious seas, battle terrifying storms, and through it all their relationship navigates deceit and mistrust as much as it does lust and love.
And there’s some excellent storytelling here. The details about the hero and heroine are revealed slowly, peeled back layer by layer through their interactions with others and the happenings in the book, as opposed to only through their own inner dialogues, as happens in so many other novels. We only learn something new about them or have a secret revealed when it becomes relevant or is raised naturally as things develop and progress.
Nicole is just twenty years old but has lived her life aboard a yankee clipper ship and has traveled the world. She’s an accomplished navigator and as comfortable with hard labor as the men in her crew. What I loved about Nicole is that she’s so sure of herself. She doesn’t question her actions or ever regret them. She lives life without apology, and manages to do so without coming off as hard, uncaring, or cold, which I think is something authors struggle with at times when writing independent women. And when it comes to Derek, she genuinely tries to understand what kind of man he really is, even when she questions his intentions, she’s quick to try and discover the truth.
The problem is that Derek has no idea who he is or what kind of man he’s capable of being. He doesn’t believe in himself and no one else does either. They all think he’s rotten to the core, and selfish to boot. And over the years he’s met those expectations by sinking himself lower and lower into alcohol and sailing, completely abandoning any of his responsibilities and caring very little that he’s done so.
With Nicole, Derek gets everything so wrong. He messes everything up. He’s exceedingly arrogant, despite the fact that his arrogance is completely unwarranted. He is a brute, the kind of man who thinks he can own and control women. He thinks it and threatens is, but before you give up on him, he barely acts in it. Because in reality, it’s all a defense mechanism. Inside he’s so sad and lonely, so self-loathing, and so lost. Never connecting with anything or any one (and no wonder), until Nicole, which he screws up to nearly unfathomable depths.
What I loved so much about this story is that he changes for her. And not because she asked him to. Not because she pushed him to. It wasn’t at her behest. He changed because he decided to become worthy of her all on his own. I loved that. I loved that he woke up and won her without her begging him to do so. He simply realized that it was time. That he would lose any chance with her if he didn’t wake the hell up and fix himself. That’s not to say he miraculously does a complete about face. He waivers. His old tendencies reassert themselves. He continues to make mistakes. But as he does he tries to figure out what he’s done wrong and make it up to her.
So, why am I not giving this book 5 stars? Well, it could have been pure magic if only there’d been a bit more world building. As a kid I spent my summers sailing around the Long Island sound. Sure, that’s nowhere near as incredible as sailing a clipper ship from London to Sydney, but there are things about being out on the open water that are so nostalgic to me and are utterly unique to the experience of being at sea. Like the sounds of seagulls overhead, the rhythm of crashing waves, the scent of salty and fresh sea air, the way the wind chafes your face, the low fog that lingers over the sea in the morning, the slight smell of fish and seaweed when in a harbor, the clanging of bells and whipping of sails in the wind. All of these things were markedly absent to me and they could have added an extra layer of richness to the book.
There were also some parts that dragged a bit, a few things less developed or resolved than I would have preferred, and I don’t think she captured the passage of time so well. And, while it didn’t bother me, some people might complain that this book doesn’t “feel” historical. It could take place in nearly any time period, save for a few London season scenes. But perhaps that’s the nature of being at sea, which will inherently remain timeless outside of whatever ship you sail on.
But the negatives are outweighed by the the chemistry between the hero and heroine. I rather expected Kresley Cole to be almost...erotica. But this book was steamy without going overboard (pun intended). There were even long stretches with very little physical contact, but the tension between them was sizzling. And then there was a great amount of falling in love, which of course is what we all want in a romance.
The setting of this book is quite captivating. The hero and heroine (Derek and Nicole) are rival sailors competing in the Great Circle Race, which takes them over a 13,000 mile journey from London to Sydney. They travel across some of the worlds most ferocious seas, battle terrifying storms, and through it all their relationship navigates deceit and mistrust as much as it does lust and love.
And there’s some excellent storytelling here. The details about the hero and heroine are revealed slowly, peeled back layer by layer through their interactions with others and the happenings in the book, as opposed to only through their own inner dialogues, as happens in so many other novels. We only learn something new about them or have a secret revealed when it becomes relevant or is raised naturally as things develop and progress.
Nicole is just twenty years old but has lived her life aboard a yankee clipper ship and has traveled the world. She’s an accomplished navigator and as comfortable with hard labor as the men in her crew. What I loved about Nicole is that she’s so sure of herself. She doesn’t question her actions or ever regret them. She lives life without apology, and manages to do so without coming off as hard, uncaring, or cold, which I think is something authors struggle with at times when writing independent women. And when it comes to Derek, she genuinely tries to understand what kind of man he really is, even when she questions his intentions, she’s quick to try and discover the truth.
The problem is that Derek has no idea who he is or what kind of man he’s capable of being. He doesn’t believe in himself and no one else does either. They all think he’s rotten to the core, and selfish to boot. And over the years he’s met those expectations by sinking himself lower and lower into alcohol and sailing, completely abandoning any of his responsibilities and caring very little that he’s done so.
With Nicole, Derek gets everything so wrong. He messes everything up. He’s exceedingly arrogant, despite the fact that his arrogance is completely unwarranted. He is a brute, the kind of man who thinks he can own and control women. He thinks it and threatens is, but before you give up on him, he barely acts in it. Because in reality, it’s all a defense mechanism. Inside he’s so sad and lonely, so self-loathing, and so lost. Never connecting with anything or any one (and no wonder), until Nicole, which he screws up to nearly unfathomable depths.
What I loved so much about this story is that he changes for her. And not because she asked him to. Not because she pushed him to. It wasn’t at her behest. He changed because he decided to become worthy of her all on his own. I loved that. I loved that he woke up and won her without her begging him to do so. He simply realized that it was time. That he would lose any chance with her if he didn’t wake the hell up and fix himself. That’s not to say he miraculously does a complete about face. He waivers. His old tendencies reassert themselves. He continues to make mistakes. But as he does he tries to figure out what he’s done wrong and make it up to her.
So, why am I not giving this book 5 stars? Well, it could have been pure magic if only there’d been a bit more world building. As a kid I spent my summers sailing around the Long Island sound. Sure, that’s nowhere near as incredible as sailing a clipper ship from London to Sydney, but there are things about being out on the open water that are so nostalgic to me and are utterly unique to the experience of being at sea. Like the sounds of seagulls overhead, the rhythm of crashing waves, the scent of salty and fresh sea air, the way the wind chafes your face, the low fog that lingers over the sea in the morning, the slight smell of fish and seaweed when in a harbor, the clanging of bells and whipping of sails in the wind. All of these things were markedly absent to me and they could have added an extra layer of richness to the book.
There were also some parts that dragged a bit, a few things less developed or resolved than I would have preferred, and I don’t think she captured the passage of time so well. And, while it didn’t bother me, some people might complain that this book doesn’t “feel” historical. It could take place in nearly any time period, save for a few London season scenes. But perhaps that’s the nature of being at sea, which will inherently remain timeless outside of whatever ship you sail on.
But the negatives are outweighed by the the chemistry between the hero and heroine. I rather expected Kresley Cole to be almost...erotica. But this book was steamy without going overboard (pun intended). There were even long stretches with very little physical contact, but the tension between them was sizzling. And then there was a great amount of falling in love, which of course is what we all want in a romance.
August 12, 2016
High Seas Romance at its Best—a Keeper!
This is one of my all time favorite romances set on the high seas with a daring sea captain and a worthy heroine. I have read it more than once. It’s a keeper.
The story is centered around two competing shipping companies in 19th century England, and two competing captains (the English Earl, Captain Derek Sutherland, and the American Captain, Jason Lassiter), each of whom must win the Great Race from London to Sydney to survive.
When Lassiter is imprisoned, his daughter, Nicole, who has been raised at sea and can navigate as well as her father, must win the race for him. Nicole cannot resist the handsome Sutherland, who when he first encounters her in a dockside bar, thinks she's a whore. He wants her and then he's lost for her, but circumstances make them enemies. When sabotage of her ship forces her to join Sutherland on his ship for the rest of the race, her spirit and his wall of stone collide; the result is a fast-paced romance that grabs you.
There are many things I can praise Kresley Cole for in her writing, all of which are present in this novel: she gives the reader a real historic setting--London and a major sea race in 1856; she weaves wonderfully colorful characters into her story so seamlessly the story becomes a tapestry of lives; the story pulls you in from page one--you feel like you're living it and you cannot put it down; the love scenes seem real, each tailored to the character and the story; she lays a good foundation for the emotion displayed; and the plot is interesting with just enough history to ground you in the time.
Cole is simply one of the best romance writers, and even though this was one of her early novels, it is well worth 5 stars. The sequel is THE PRICE OF PLEASURE, the story of Derek's brother, Grant, also a sea captain.
For nautical historic romance at it's best, I highly recommend this one!
This is one of my all time favorite romances set on the high seas with a daring sea captain and a worthy heroine. I have read it more than once. It’s a keeper.
The story is centered around two competing shipping companies in 19th century England, and two competing captains (the English Earl, Captain Derek Sutherland, and the American Captain, Jason Lassiter), each of whom must win the Great Race from London to Sydney to survive.
When Lassiter is imprisoned, his daughter, Nicole, who has been raised at sea and can navigate as well as her father, must win the race for him. Nicole cannot resist the handsome Sutherland, who when he first encounters her in a dockside bar, thinks she's a whore. He wants her and then he's lost for her, but circumstances make them enemies. When sabotage of her ship forces her to join Sutherland on his ship for the rest of the race, her spirit and his wall of stone collide; the result is a fast-paced romance that grabs you.
There are many things I can praise Kresley Cole for in her writing, all of which are present in this novel: she gives the reader a real historic setting--London and a major sea race in 1856; she weaves wonderfully colorful characters into her story so seamlessly the story becomes a tapestry of lives; the story pulls you in from page one--you feel like you're living it and you cannot put it down; the love scenes seem real, each tailored to the character and the story; she lays a good foundation for the emotion displayed; and the plot is interesting with just enough history to ground you in the time.
Cole is simply one of the best romance writers, and even though this was one of her early novels, it is well worth 5 stars. The sequel is THE PRICE OF PLEASURE, the story of Derek's brother, Grant, also a sea captain.
For nautical historic romance at it's best, I highly recommend this one!
August 1, 2011
This one started out a bit slow for me but quickly turned into a high seas adventure that kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next.
Nicole (h) has been raised on her fathers ship The Bella Nicola, and now that he might lose his shipping line Nicole sets out to save it. The only way to do that is to win the Great Circle Race from England to Australia. The one thorn in her side and major competitor is Captain Derek Sutherland (H) who also happens to be her father's biggest enemy.
Derek was happy being the middle son, raised to take over the family shipping line until his older brother dies in a duel and he now has to take on the responsablity of the Earldom too. Left bitter and angry he turns to the bottle and stays at sea away from his family, leaving his younger brother Grant to run things at home. When Grant comes to him and tells him to wake up, that he's running the faimly shipping line into the ground Derek agrees to enter The Great Circle Race.
When Nicole's father is wrongly imprisoned she decides to take the ship and win the race herself. However someone is sabotaging the ships and when Derek suspects Nicole of the crime he takes her prisoner aboard his ship. And though her mind tells her she should escape her body is saying something different......
Nicole (h) has been raised on her fathers ship The Bella Nicola, and now that he might lose his shipping line Nicole sets out to save it. The only way to do that is to win the Great Circle Race from England to Australia. The one thorn in her side and major competitor is Captain Derek Sutherland (H) who also happens to be her father's biggest enemy.
Derek was happy being the middle son, raised to take over the family shipping line until his older brother dies in a duel and he now has to take on the responsablity of the Earldom too. Left bitter and angry he turns to the bottle and stays at sea away from his family, leaving his younger brother Grant to run things at home. When Grant comes to him and tells him to wake up, that he's running the faimly shipping line into the ground Derek agrees to enter The Great Circle Race.
When Nicole's father is wrongly imprisoned she decides to take the ship and win the race herself. However someone is sabotaging the ships and when Derek suspects Nicole of the crime he takes her prisoner aboard his ship. And though her mind tells her she should escape her body is saying something different......
March 26, 2020
This book was almost a 4 star for me. I liked it and thought the banter between the hero and heroine was great, but toward the end the ongoing conflict just didn't work for me. I found myself fighting the urge to skim the last 20% of the book. and that's not a good sign. I loved how strong Nicole was. She was a Badass for sure. To be unabashed in her desires and her plans was great. And also, what a way to lose your virginity. Not often that the heroine has so much control in that situation. I like the resolution of the conflict, i think Derek's actions spoke louder than words in the end but i think i wanted to have him say to Nicole "I hear you... I can't just decide things and throw you over my shoulder like a cave man... i have to ask you for things." I am not entirely sure he actually ever asked her to marry him, which Nicole said multiple times that she wanted to be asked! Overall I still really liked it and would recommend it. I am not sure if I'll keep reading the series. but I might!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2009
Since I am all out of IAD books, I thought I would try out Cole's earliest work. Derek is a bit of a jerk, but a sexy, brooding one who finally cleans up his act for the right woman. A bit of the plot seems like filler to make the book a little longer, but overall, I found it quite enjoyable. If you enjoy romances any of the following, this is the book for you:
1) Historicals
2) High seas adventure
3) A sexy, brooding hero
4) A brave, intelligent heroine
5) Characters who fight their attraction and each other.
6) Hot, steamy sex scenes
IMHO, another winner from Cole.
1) Historicals
2) High seas adventure
3) A sexy, brooding hero
4) A brave, intelligent heroine
5) Characters who fight their attraction and each other.
6) Hot, steamy sex scenes
IMHO, another winner from Cole.
August 15, 2012
a very good historical read. if you've ever read a Kresley Cole novel you will not be disappointed. I saw so many of the traits I've come to love in her IAD characters portrayed in these very human characters. I can't wait to read the next in the series and keep enjoying all the types of wonderful romance Ms. Cole has shared with the world.
could-not-finish
December 27, 2015December 8, 2016 CNF: I don't like this H also, there seems to be nothing at all between h/H but insta-lust. I don't see any relationship developing between the 2 MCs.
Thursday, November 26, 2015: I'm going to give this another chance.
CNF @ page 114. November 13, 2015.
An insufferable heroine and an irresponsible, selfish, drunk for a hero.
Thursday, November 26, 2015: I'm going to give this another chance.
CNF @ page 114. November 13, 2015.
An insufferable heroine and an irresponsible, selfish, drunk for a hero.
May 6, 2023
These porn books are always the same plot. Woman small weak but with big attitude. They want to bang. There's a lot of rapey vibes. Big masculine man like violence. He not very violent to main woman character. Masculine man falls in love with woman with attitude. Submissive woman masculine mans man. I will admit I didn't get very far. The lack of consent was bothering me so I think I will pass.
September 4, 2024
This book was ok as spicy romances go, but the ending really didn’t make sense to me.
The whole premise of the book is that the main female character doesn’t want to be tied down by uptight British society, loves sailing, and wants to love her life at sea. And then by the end of the book we’re supposed to believe she’s happy married to an earl, no longer sailing, and pregnant?? Made no sense.
The whole premise of the book is that the main female character doesn’t want to be tied down by uptight British society, loves sailing, and wants to love her life at sea. And then by the end of the book we’re supposed to believe she’s happy married to an earl, no longer sailing, and pregnant?? Made no sense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2016
Interesantno; lep pocetak serijala :)
February 14, 2025
So so lovely.
March 20, 2015
Deep sea fishing for sharks constitutes foreplay when you're the captain of all pleasures.
February 10, 2022
4.5 stars
Business rivals (bordering on enemies) to Lovers.
Insta-lust/attraction.
One bed.
High seas adventure.
A grumpy, flawed, yet redeemable hero.
And a passionate, rebellious, capable heroine.
I absolutely enjoyed this.
Nicole and Derek were such engaging characters, I thoroughly enjoyed their battle of wills, even as they constantly struggled to keep from succumbing to their mutual attraction toward one another. Both excellent sailors, both secretly members of the peerage, both with conflicting loyalties... and yet the passion they have for one another... c'est très magnifique.
While its not Kresley's strongest book, for her very first, it's still quite solid and a thoroughly enjoyable read. The plot is fast-paced, the characters memorable, and any miscommunication or conflict tended to be resolved rather quickly. A fun, historical adventure romance.
Definitely see myself returning to this one for a reread.
Business rivals (bordering on enemies) to Lovers.
Insta-lust/attraction.
One bed.
High seas adventure.
A grumpy, flawed, yet redeemable hero.
And a passionate, rebellious, capable heroine.
I absolutely enjoyed this.
Nicole and Derek were such engaging characters, I thoroughly enjoyed their battle of wills, even as they constantly struggled to keep from succumbing to their mutual attraction toward one another. Both excellent sailors, both secretly members of the peerage, both with conflicting loyalties... and yet the passion they have for one another... c'est très magnifique.
While its not Kresley's strongest book, for her very first, it's still quite solid and a thoroughly enjoyable read. The plot is fast-paced, the characters memorable, and any miscommunication or conflict tended to be resolved rather quickly. A fun, historical adventure romance.
Definitely see myself returning to this one for a reread.
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