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The Outcasts #3
Scandalous
"Have you no decency?"
Straight-laced missionary Sarah Fisher has never met a man like Captain Martin Bouchard. He is the most beautiful person—male or female—she's ever seen. Overwhelmingly masculine, elegantly attired despite months at sea, he is in complete command of everyone and everything around everyone, that is, except Sarah. But that's about to change, because Sarah has bought Bouchard's mercy with the only thing she has to her body.
"None at all..."
In spite of her outrageous offer, Martin has no doubt Sarah is a virgin, and a most delectable one at that. But instead of bedding her, he finds himself staring down the muzzle of his own pistol. Clearly, the longer she stays on his ship, the greater the chances that she'll end up its damned captain! Most infuriating of all, she looks past his perfect exterior to the wounded man inside. Can Martin outrun his scandalous past in time to have a future with the first woman to find and capture his heart?
Straight-laced missionary Sarah Fisher has never met a man like Captain Martin Bouchard. He is the most beautiful person—male or female—she's ever seen. Overwhelmingly masculine, elegantly attired despite months at sea, he is in complete command of everyone and everything around everyone, that is, except Sarah. But that's about to change, because Sarah has bought Bouchard's mercy with the only thing she has to her body.
"None at all..."
In spite of her outrageous offer, Martin has no doubt Sarah is a virgin, and a most delectable one at that. But instead of bedding her, he finds himself staring down the muzzle of his own pistol. Clearly, the longer she stays on his ship, the greater the chances that she'll end up its damned captain! Most infuriating of all, she looks past his perfect exterior to the wounded man inside. Can Martin outrun his scandalous past in time to have a future with the first woman to find and capture his heart?
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2019
157 people are currently reading
1647 people want to read
About the author
Minerva Spencer
65 books1,754 followers**I ONLY RATE BOOKS I REALLY ENJOYED**.
Before I began writing I spent time as a dock worker, a reader for the blind, a criminal prosecutor, and I taught American History on the college level for five years. My last job was running an 8-bedroom bed and breakfast, a subject I will never write about...
I like historical fiction because I enjoy escaping into the past when I relax. And I write romance because I love a happy ending and everything that happens along the way.
I came to writing late in life and I feel like I have to write fast to catch up! I work every day at a desk looking out over the Sangre de Cristo mountains, my free range birds, and my three flock protecting hounds Earl, Spot, and Rover.
When I'm not writing I'm playing with my animals, knitting, DIYing, crocheting, sewing, or watching old movies.
I also write historical romance and erotic romance under the name S.M. LaViolette and historical mystery under the name S.M. Goodwin.
Before I began writing I spent time as a dock worker, a reader for the blind, a criminal prosecutor, and I taught American History on the college level for five years. My last job was running an 8-bedroom bed and breakfast, a subject I will never write about...
I like historical fiction because I enjoy escaping into the past when I relax. And I write romance because I love a happy ending and everything that happens along the way.
I came to writing late in life and I feel like I have to write fast to catch up! I work every day at a desk looking out over the Sangre de Cristo mountains, my free range birds, and my three flock protecting hounds Earl, Spot, and Rover.
When I'm not writing I'm playing with my animals, knitting, DIYing, crocheting, sewing, or watching old movies.
I also write historical romance and erotic romance under the name S.M. LaViolette and historical mystery under the name S.M. Goodwin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
November 13, 2019
I've given this a B- at AAR, so that's 3.5 stars rounded up.
Scandalous is the third book in Minerva Spencer’s series The Outcasts , and it takes as its hero Martín Etienne Bouchard, the beautiful , enigmatic and seductive privateer who was introduced in the previous book, Barbarous. Ms. Spencer’s sophisticated, precise prose continues to impress, as does her ability to tell a compelling story and create complex characters, but something about the principals and romance in Scandalous didn’t quite gel for me. The heroine is determined and independent of spirit in a way that feels perfectly right for the story and the period, but the hero, while he has a truly traumatising backstory, spends much of the novel behaving like an emotionally stunted adolescent. The author skilfully makes the reader aware that there are good reasons for Martín’s behaviour and actually manages (sometimes) to make him into a fairly sympathetic character – even before we find out the true extent of what he went through (which doesn’t happen until fairly near the end) – but there were still times I came perilously close to losing patience with him.
Martín Bouchard is a former slave who is now a wealthy privateer who has built himself a fearsome reputation as a cold, hard killer who was more concerned with his cravat than his life. Not surprisingly, Martín hates those who buy and sell slaves with a passion, so he has little sympathy for the crew of the Blue Bird, a Dutch Ship with a hold full of slaves, when he captures it off Africa’s Gold Coast.
The daughter of missionaries, Sarah Fisher was born in Africa – in the village of N’Goe – where she’s lived all her life. Her parents died after contracting a sickness that killed many in the village, and since their deaths some two years earlier, Sarah has acted as the village’s healer. When the slavers arrived in N’Goe and captured all its inhabitants, Sarah went with them, which is how she comes to be aboard the Blue Bird when it is attacked by the Golden Scythe, a British privateer, at the same time as the crew is on the verge of mutiny.
To try to avert the latter, Sarah and the ship’s captain Mies Graaf go aboard the Golden Scythe to parlay with its captain – who is the most beautiful man Sarah has ever seen. But Captain Bouchard is as intractable as he is handsome; he refuses to allow the Blue Bird to return to port to return its ‘cargo’ and has no patience with Graaf’s protests that the slaves were purchased without his consent or knowledge.
When the woman who accompanied Graaf enters the discussion, Martín finds himself liking her spirit as well as the way the snug breeches she’s wearing are clinging to her legs. He’s far more used to women throwing themselves at his feet than arguing with him and prefers it that way – although the way this particular woman refuses to back down certainly enlivens the discussion; she’s not especially attractive in the way Martín usually appreciates, but he’s nonetheless sufficiently interested to suggest he’ll show mercy to the crew of the Blue Bird if she’ll share his bed. But when what should have been a night of pleasure is interrupted and Martín finds himself looking down the barrel of his own pistol, he decides Sarah is more trouble than she’s worth and just wants to get her off his ship.
Roughly half the book is taken up with the journey to England, and the rest sees Sarah connecting with long-lost relatives and deciding what she wants to do with her life. Throughout the story, Sarah and Martín move towards each other and then away in a continual (and frustrating) dance, Martín clearly infatuated with Sarah and in deep denial about it, Sarah telling herself a man like Martín can’t possibly be interested in a woman like her. Martín hates the way Sarah seems able to see through his tough outer shell to the parts of himself he’s carefully hidden away and tries desperately to convince himself he wants nothing more than to be rid of her. He continually pushes Sarah away, treating her with disdain and wounding her with insults and rudeness. But Sarah keeps trying to reach him – certainly going beyond the point at which my patience would have snapped! – with kindness and compassion, until someone tells her that Martin doesn’t react well to either of those things and that she should instead treat him as badly as he has treated her if she really wants to get through his defences. After they arrive in England things between them don’t change much. Martín keeps trying to keep his distance, but gets all caveman when other men take an interest in Sarah; he keeps trying (and failing – little Martín refuses to perform with anyone except her) to assuage his lust elsewhere, and telling himself she’ll despise him if she finds out the truth about his past. He seems to prefer to wallow in his own fears of inadequacy than to see what’s under his nose and acknowledge the truth of Sarah’s feelings for him and his for her.
Minerva Spencer is a gifted storyteller and in Scandalous, has crafted a compelling and very readable tale featuring characters who, while not particularly likeable, are flawed and complex. But no matter how well characterised or how vibrantly written – and both those things are true here – a romance stands or falls upon how the hero and heroine interact, how strong the chemistry is between them and on readers being able to buy into their relationship – and I’m afraid that’s where the book falls down. The author does a good job of making it clear that Martín is a very damaged individual, but his poor behaviour towards Sarah goes on for too long, and by the time he finally does start to show a bit of maturity, it’s too little too late. (I actually felt as though he’d had an overnight personality transplant.) He spends most of the book denying his attraction to Sarah – an attraction I never quite understood – and actively avoiding her; and while Sarah is an admirable character to start with – strong, determined and courageous – as the story progressed, I couldn’t understand what she actually saw in Martín and what drove her to forgive him over and over again other than his looks and abilities between the sheets.
Scandalous is obviously going to be polarising as some readers will be completely turned off by Martín’s behaviour towards Sarah, while others will be prepared to cut him some slack given his traumatic background. It’s not a perfect novel by any means, but it stands out from the current – rather disappointing – crop of historical romances due to its superb prose, well-developed characters, and interesting and unusual plotline. I’d have rated it more highly had the romance been more convincing and the leads more appealing, but ultimately, it engaged me and held my attention for the duration, so I’m giving it a cautious recommendation.
Scandalous is the third book in Minerva Spencer’s series The Outcasts , and it takes as its hero Martín Etienne Bouchard, the beautiful , enigmatic and seductive privateer who was introduced in the previous book, Barbarous. Ms. Spencer’s sophisticated, precise prose continues to impress, as does her ability to tell a compelling story and create complex characters, but something about the principals and romance in Scandalous didn’t quite gel for me. The heroine is determined and independent of spirit in a way that feels perfectly right for the story and the period, but the hero, while he has a truly traumatising backstory, spends much of the novel behaving like an emotionally stunted adolescent. The author skilfully makes the reader aware that there are good reasons for Martín’s behaviour and actually manages (sometimes) to make him into a fairly sympathetic character – even before we find out the true extent of what he went through (which doesn’t happen until fairly near the end) – but there were still times I came perilously close to losing patience with him.
Martín Bouchard is a former slave who is now a wealthy privateer who has built himself a fearsome reputation as a cold, hard killer who was more concerned with his cravat than his life. Not surprisingly, Martín hates those who buy and sell slaves with a passion, so he has little sympathy for the crew of the Blue Bird, a Dutch Ship with a hold full of slaves, when he captures it off Africa’s Gold Coast.
The daughter of missionaries, Sarah Fisher was born in Africa – in the village of N’Goe – where she’s lived all her life. Her parents died after contracting a sickness that killed many in the village, and since their deaths some two years earlier, Sarah has acted as the village’s healer. When the slavers arrived in N’Goe and captured all its inhabitants, Sarah went with them, which is how she comes to be aboard the Blue Bird when it is attacked by the Golden Scythe, a British privateer, at the same time as the crew is on the verge of mutiny.
To try to avert the latter, Sarah and the ship’s captain Mies Graaf go aboard the Golden Scythe to parlay with its captain – who is the most beautiful man Sarah has ever seen. But Captain Bouchard is as intractable as he is handsome; he refuses to allow the Blue Bird to return to port to return its ‘cargo’ and has no patience with Graaf’s protests that the slaves were purchased without his consent or knowledge.
When the woman who accompanied Graaf enters the discussion, Martín finds himself liking her spirit as well as the way the snug breeches she’s wearing are clinging to her legs. He’s far more used to women throwing themselves at his feet than arguing with him and prefers it that way – although the way this particular woman refuses to back down certainly enlivens the discussion; she’s not especially attractive in the way Martín usually appreciates, but he’s nonetheless sufficiently interested to suggest he’ll show mercy to the crew of the Blue Bird if she’ll share his bed. But when what should have been a night of pleasure is interrupted and Martín finds himself looking down the barrel of his own pistol, he decides Sarah is more trouble than she’s worth and just wants to get her off his ship.
Roughly half the book is taken up with the journey to England, and the rest sees Sarah connecting with long-lost relatives and deciding what she wants to do with her life. Throughout the story, Sarah and Martín move towards each other and then away in a continual (and frustrating) dance, Martín clearly infatuated with Sarah and in deep denial about it, Sarah telling herself a man like Martín can’t possibly be interested in a woman like her. Martín hates the way Sarah seems able to see through his tough outer shell to the parts of himself he’s carefully hidden away and tries desperately to convince himself he wants nothing more than to be rid of her. He continually pushes Sarah away, treating her with disdain and wounding her with insults and rudeness. But Sarah keeps trying to reach him – certainly going beyond the point at which my patience would have snapped! – with kindness and compassion, until someone tells her that Martin doesn’t react well to either of those things and that she should instead treat him as badly as he has treated her if she really wants to get through his defences. After they arrive in England things between them don’t change much. Martín keeps trying to keep his distance, but gets all caveman when other men take an interest in Sarah; he keeps trying (and failing – little Martín refuses to perform with anyone except her) to assuage his lust elsewhere, and telling himself she’ll despise him if she finds out the truth about his past. He seems to prefer to wallow in his own fears of inadequacy than to see what’s under his nose and acknowledge the truth of Sarah’s feelings for him and his for her.
Minerva Spencer is a gifted storyteller and in Scandalous, has crafted a compelling and very readable tale featuring characters who, while not particularly likeable, are flawed and complex. But no matter how well characterised or how vibrantly written – and both those things are true here – a romance stands or falls upon how the hero and heroine interact, how strong the chemistry is between them and on readers being able to buy into their relationship – and I’m afraid that’s where the book falls down. The author does a good job of making it clear that Martín is a very damaged individual, but his poor behaviour towards Sarah goes on for too long, and by the time he finally does start to show a bit of maturity, it’s too little too late. (I actually felt as though he’d had an overnight personality transplant.) He spends most of the book denying his attraction to Sarah – an attraction I never quite understood – and actively avoiding her; and while Sarah is an admirable character to start with – strong, determined and courageous – as the story progressed, I couldn’t understand what she actually saw in Martín and what drove her to forgive him over and over again other than his looks and abilities between the sheets.
Scandalous is obviously going to be polarising as some readers will be completely turned off by Martín’s behaviour towards Sarah, while others will be prepared to cut him some slack given his traumatic background. It’s not a perfect novel by any means, but it stands out from the current – rather disappointing – crop of historical romances due to its superb prose, well-developed characters, and interesting and unusual plotline. I’d have rated it more highly had the romance been more convincing and the leads more appealing, but ultimately, it engaged me and held my attention for the duration, so I’m giving it a cautious recommendation.
October 22, 2019
This is the third in Minerva Spencer’s Outcasts series and third I have read by her. She is a without a doubt a good writer. Her writing flows and is engaging and I applaud her efforts in attempting to create unique stories and characters in a flooded market. They do stand out in comparison to many other books in the genre. That being said, I didn’t enjoy this one much. It started out well enough, but the romance was a big let-down, especially when the two leads were interestingly intricate characters.
Captain Bouchard is on a quest to catch slavers. Sarah has been a missionary in an African village all of her life and gets caught with her village folks by slavers. Bouchard captures their slaver ship and there is immediate tension between the two. It felt like a recipe for a great story. The problem was the back and forth, will they/won’t they, romance. I just didn’t have the patience for it. Besides Bouchard devilish good looks, there seemed very little reason for Sarah to like, let alone love, him. He was rude more often than not, and frequently crude and degrading, and very rarely kind or even temptingly flirty. Maybe this was reasonable behavior for his character, but it did not make sense on what drew Sarah in. I needed more to believe the connection between these two.
All-in-all this was my least favorite of the series. If you have enjoyed this series, both couples previously featured are fairly major players here, and it was nice to see them. It was an easy read. I just wish the romance had been more satisfying.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Captain Bouchard is on a quest to catch slavers. Sarah has been a missionary in an African village all of her life and gets caught with her village folks by slavers. Bouchard captures their slaver ship and there is immediate tension between the two. It felt like a recipe for a great story. The problem was the back and forth, will they/won’t they, romance. I just didn’t have the patience for it. Besides Bouchard devilish good looks, there seemed very little reason for Sarah to like, let alone love, him. He was rude more often than not, and frequently crude and degrading, and very rarely kind or even temptingly flirty. Maybe this was reasonable behavior for his character, but it did not make sense on what drew Sarah in. I needed more to believe the connection between these two.
All-in-all this was my least favorite of the series. If you have enjoyed this series, both couples previously featured are fairly major players here, and it was nice to see them. It was an easy read. I just wish the romance had been more satisfying.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 7, 2019
Another stellar historical romance from the very talented Minerva Spencer.
I was drawn in right away by Scandalous, and I could barely put it down. I finished the whole book in about 24 hours, and though it wasn't without flaws, it's a smart, interesting historical romance that Minerva Spencer fans will adore.
I loved both the male and female MC, and thought the author did a great job portraying them as complex characters. Their individual storylines were fascinating, and I found the plot to be unique amongst all of the romance books I've ever read. I just really wanted to know these two, especially Sarah. Sarah really shown in this story, and I could have read a book just of her (sans romance). She had an interesting life, and I loved her way with people.
Oddly, my biggest issue with this book was the romance. The male MC fought against the romance, tooth and nail, and I found it to be tiresome at times. He was rude and abrupt, and though I often find that to be endearing, I wanted him to grow up and come to his senses. Admittedly, he had a terribly hard life and truckloads of baggage, but it made the romance an awkward match.
Even though the romance left me wanting, the story was so tightly written and with such skill that I could barely put my Kindle down. That means a success, in my book.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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I was drawn in right away by Scandalous, and I could barely put it down. I finished the whole book in about 24 hours, and though it wasn't without flaws, it's a smart, interesting historical romance that Minerva Spencer fans will adore.
I loved both the male and female MC, and thought the author did a great job portraying them as complex characters. Their individual storylines were fascinating, and I found the plot to be unique amongst all of the romance books I've ever read. I just really wanted to know these two, especially Sarah. Sarah really shown in this story, and I could have read a book just of her (sans romance). She had an interesting life, and I loved her way with people.
Oddly, my biggest issue with this book was the romance. The male MC fought against the romance, tooth and nail, and I found it to be tiresome at times. He was rude and abrupt, and though I often find that to be endearing, I wanted him to grow up and come to his senses. Admittedly, he had a terribly hard life and truckloads of baggage, but it made the romance an awkward match.
Even though the romance left me wanting, the story was so tightly written and with such skill that I could barely put my Kindle down. That means a success, in my book.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog
July 26, 2020
I enjoyed the first two books in The Outcasts series by Minerva Spencer and was looking forward to reading Scandalous. This is Martin Bouchard's book whom we've met previously. He was such a fascinating character in the earlier books, I was very much looking forward to his story, and I truly enjoyed it. Sparks fly when Martin meets Sarah, a missionary woman, on a board of a slaver ship where she makes a deal with him to save her people. They are total opposites, their chemistry is explosive, and they butt heads a lot but ultimately fall in love. I must say Martin came across as a jerk at times, but when his backstory is revealed, his behavior makes more sense.
The Outcasts is such a fun historical romance series; each time I finish a book, I look forward to the next one. The next book, Notorious, is Gabriel's story, which I have been waiting for since book one, and it makes me very excited and impatient at the same time.
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley
The Outcasts is such a fun historical romance series; each time I finish a book, I look forward to the next one. The next book, Notorious, is Gabriel's story, which I have been waiting for since book one, and it makes me very excited and impatient at the same time.
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley
August 20, 2019
Can she accept him for whom he is while he forgives himself for his own past.
Martin Étienne Bouchard is a former slave who ran away from America and became a privateer.
He shaped himself in the man he is now along the encounters he had on the way to his now-self.
At first sight he could have passed as being the vilain as he appears vain and uncaring but by sharing his thoughts the author reveals the tortured and broken man he is.
He is easily angered, haughty and arrogant, it is his way of dealing with his freedom dearly won. He is prone to fit of temper now he is released from his shackles, and he has every right to hold his head high for his own achievement.
And there is one person who seems to combine everything to bring the worst out of him.
Sarah Fisher a missionary’s daughter finds herself in a dire predicament when kidnapped among her neighbors as a slave for trade. She is an incredible woman, never a damsel in distress, always taking matter in hands whatever the outcome could be. She is not perfect, she struggles with her feelings and her upbringing lessons but she is a good woman, aware of her faults and chastising herself when she is not enough christian for her own taste.
Her more philosophical than Christian view of life put her on the path of a well known corsair.
The one man whom stirs the worse and the better from her, too bad he sees her only as an annoyance.
But does he really?
It was nearly impossible to put this book down, I read while walking, even while showering!
I needed absolutely to know what came after.
Mrs Spencer conducted a sizzling tale of redeeming where blindness and mishaps from the main couple caused a lot of hurt from one to another due to their awkwardness to communicate properly. They were unable to convey their feelings without putting their feet in the cookie jar, ineptly bringing the worst of the other out.
Martin reacts badly to kindness, he is like a caged animal, he strikes and bites. More suspicious to nice words than insults.
Sure at time, he is quite the wicked wretch. Bringing pain in return for his own hurts. I would have slapped him more than one time on the head, but Sarah while not reacting as badly as him is equally guilty of miscommunications and misconceptions.
What stunned me the most is that Martin’s behavior should have rattled me but I was so engrossed in the story, something to add to my praise of the author’s talent, I accepted it as part of his journey towards his healing.
Martin, sure, reaches summits of arrogance and haughtiness. He is such an aggravating man, portrayed as unable to see past his nose. But it is all a masquerade, him parading as a civilized man when inside he is consumed by a fury that eats him alive. Sarah could be his anchor if he does not drown before he accepts his own feelings.
This was my first read by Mrs Minerva Spencer and it will not be the last. Her tale is vivid and colorful with fleshy flawed paper heroes honor bond to right the wrong done around them.
I just have one interrogation, with an acute accent on Martin?
Edited review : a friend of mine got an explanation from the author, Martín origin’s name is not from a French fellow but a Mexican, why an accent.
A fat 5 stars
I was granted by Netgalley and the publisher Kensington an advance copy. I purchased also my own. Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
Martin Étienne Bouchard is a former slave who ran away from America and became a privateer.
He shaped himself in the man he is now along the encounters he had on the way to his now-self.
At first sight he could have passed as being the vilain as he appears vain and uncaring but by sharing his thoughts the author reveals the tortured and broken man he is.
He is easily angered, haughty and arrogant, it is his way of dealing with his freedom dearly won. He is prone to fit of temper now he is released from his shackles, and he has every right to hold his head high for his own achievement.
And there is one person who seems to combine everything to bring the worst out of him.
Sarah Fisher a missionary’s daughter finds herself in a dire predicament when kidnapped among her neighbors as a slave for trade. She is an incredible woman, never a damsel in distress, always taking matter in hands whatever the outcome could be. She is not perfect, she struggles with her feelings and her upbringing lessons but she is a good woman, aware of her faults and chastising herself when she is not enough christian for her own taste.
Her more philosophical than Christian view of life put her on the path of a well known corsair.
The one man whom stirs the worse and the better from her, too bad he sees her only as an annoyance.
But does he really?
It was nearly impossible to put this book down, I read while walking, even while showering!
I needed absolutely to know what came after.
Mrs Spencer conducted a sizzling tale of redeeming where blindness and mishaps from the main couple caused a lot of hurt from one to another due to their awkwardness to communicate properly. They were unable to convey their feelings without putting their feet in the cookie jar, ineptly bringing the worst of the other out.
Martin reacts badly to kindness, he is like a caged animal, he strikes and bites. More suspicious to nice words than insults.
Sure at time, he is quite the wicked wretch. Bringing pain in return for his own hurts. I would have slapped him more than one time on the head, but Sarah while not reacting as badly as him is equally guilty of miscommunications and misconceptions.
What stunned me the most is that Martin’s behavior should have rattled me but I was so engrossed in the story, something to add to my praise of the author’s talent, I accepted it as part of his journey towards his healing.
Martin, sure, reaches summits of arrogance and haughtiness. He is such an aggravating man, portrayed as unable to see past his nose. But it is all a masquerade, him parading as a civilized man when inside he is consumed by a fury that eats him alive. Sarah could be his anchor if he does not drown before he accepts his own feelings.
This was my first read by Mrs Minerva Spencer and it will not be the last. Her tale is vivid and colorful with fleshy flawed paper heroes honor bond to right the wrong done around them.
I just have one interrogation, with an acute accent on Martin?
Edited review : a friend of mine got an explanation from the author, Martín origin’s name is not from a French fellow but a Mexican, why an accent.
A fat 5 stars
I was granted by Netgalley and the publisher Kensington an advance copy. I purchased also my own. Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
September 24, 2019
Scandalous indeed!
I actually struggled with the character of Sarah Fisher first up. This outspoken missionary's daughter who had been captured by slavers along with the rest of her African village is a force to be reckoned with.
When Captain Martín Bouchard, ex slave turned privateer fires on the slaver ship freedom is at hand. At that moment some of the slave ship's crew mutiny against their captain. When the vicious mutineers are overthrown, thanks to a combination of Martín's forces and the slaves, Sarah has her own thoughts about what should happen to them as governed by her Christian responsibilities. I for one felt the mutinous crewman should walk the plank. After all this is the man who'd arranged such a cargo unbeknownst to his Captain. However, against Bouchard's better judgement the mutineer leaders were imprisoned, and the story became more complicated from that point forward.
What all came to expect, those that Sarah came in touch with, including your reader, was that Sarah would have an unusual response to any given situation. She never takes the easy road or even the wiser course. She muddies even the calmest waters.
Bouchard, much to his chagrin becomes absolutely enamoured with Sarah. To the point where he finds his manhood threatened. He can't function normally, even though he does try to forget Sarah in brothels. This part is ridiculously amusing. I for one am glad to see the rakish captain get his comeuppance. Martín is truly puzzled by his attraction for this woman with a mind of her own. After all he's 'bedded hundreds of women' he reminds himself. Welcome to a look into Bouchard's surface thoughts! His questioning of himself is rather hilarious, "Martín knew the frustration that came from a lack of sexual release was detrimental to a man’s mental processes." Oh how the mighty make excuses! But given Martín's past, the idea of love is painfully chancy.
It seems these two might love each other, they are certainly in lust with each other as their bed-sports indicate. (Just how did this straight-laced missionary find herself in this tangle? I don't know whether to applaud or be horrified). To get them to admit their feelings takes a highly dramatic episode.
Of course there's so much more. A complex plot, interesting characters, fascinating responses, a healthy dose of humour and irony.
An excellent novel based around the slavery background of Bouchard, as he faces some of the darkness and horrors he's had inflicted upon his being. A darkness that sears his soul.
An endearing read that had unexpected depths along with a lightening levity.
A Zebra/ Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley
I actually struggled with the character of Sarah Fisher first up. This outspoken missionary's daughter who had been captured by slavers along with the rest of her African village is a force to be reckoned with.
When Captain Martín Bouchard, ex slave turned privateer fires on the slaver ship freedom is at hand. At that moment some of the slave ship's crew mutiny against their captain. When the vicious mutineers are overthrown, thanks to a combination of Martín's forces and the slaves, Sarah has her own thoughts about what should happen to them as governed by her Christian responsibilities. I for one felt the mutinous crewman should walk the plank. After all this is the man who'd arranged such a cargo unbeknownst to his Captain. However, against Bouchard's better judgement the mutineer leaders were imprisoned, and the story became more complicated from that point forward.
What all came to expect, those that Sarah came in touch with, including your reader, was that Sarah would have an unusual response to any given situation. She never takes the easy road or even the wiser course. She muddies even the calmest waters.
Bouchard, much to his chagrin becomes absolutely enamoured with Sarah. To the point where he finds his manhood threatened. He can't function normally, even though he does try to forget Sarah in brothels. This part is ridiculously amusing. I for one am glad to see the rakish captain get his comeuppance. Martín is truly puzzled by his attraction for this woman with a mind of her own. After all he's 'bedded hundreds of women' he reminds himself. Welcome to a look into Bouchard's surface thoughts! His questioning of himself is rather hilarious, "Martín knew the frustration that came from a lack of sexual release was detrimental to a man’s mental processes." Oh how the mighty make excuses! But given Martín's past, the idea of love is painfully chancy.
It seems these two might love each other, they are certainly in lust with each other as their bed-sports indicate. (Just how did this straight-laced missionary find herself in this tangle? I don't know whether to applaud or be horrified). To get them to admit their feelings takes a highly dramatic episode.
Of course there's so much more. A complex plot, interesting characters, fascinating responses, a healthy dose of humour and irony.
An excellent novel based around the slavery background of Bouchard, as he faces some of the darkness and horrors he's had inflicted upon his being. A darkness that sears his soul.
An endearing read that had unexpected depths along with a lightening levity.
A Zebra/ Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley
December 13, 2022
I thought I was reading book one in this series and didn't realize it was book three until I was halfway through...this was just okay. I enjoyed when they met because he was catching slave ships and she was being held on one. The plot in the middle was really slow and I got a bit bored, though. Not a whole lot happened when they were on the ship together or when they arrive on land. The hero was adamant that he wasn't a good match for the heroine because of his past, no matter how many times she told him that didn't matter to her. I definitely want to go back and read book one because I hear so many good things about it, but I didn't love this one.
October 21, 2019
I must say that I was expecting much more, but it was not entirely bad...
I wanted to slap Martin several times, but I also wanted to slap Srah, so, IMHO, they're even! ;)
Sarah is supposedly a missionary daughter, but I found her very stupid sometimes. For example, she barters herself to save the lives of slavers, beacause God says that we must forgive and be compassionate, but then is startled when said slavers spit on her....
Martin thinks and acts in a confusing manner too: he thinks he's God's given, but at the same time thinks he doesn't deserve anything...
So, you see why I wanted to slap them!
I still read the story and liked it, but I don't think this deserves more than 3 stars...
I wanted to slap Martin several times, but I also wanted to slap Srah, so, IMHO, they're even! ;)
Sarah is supposedly a missionary daughter, but I found her very stupid sometimes. For example, she barters herself to save the lives of slavers, beacause God says that we must forgive and be compassionate, but then is startled when said slavers spit on her....
Martin thinks and acts in a confusing manner too: he thinks he's God's given, but at the same time thinks he doesn't deserve anything...
So, you see why I wanted to slap them!
I still read the story and liked it, but I don't think this deserves more than 3 stars...
June 11, 2023
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
Introduction
Scandalous is the final book in the "Outcasts" trilogy and I honestly went into this one very blind. I found this one to be a quite interesting one but not my favorite of the trilogy if I am being honest. I think book 2 is my favorite of the trilogy but I will say that "Scandalous" was still highly entertaining. But there are many aspects to this story that will deliver to the readers for sure. And if you are looking for plenty of drama, adventure and unique settings and tackling some serious issues then you should definitely pick this one up.
The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Captain Martin Bouchard
Martin is a runaway slave, who has made his yearnings on the sea. He is a rogue, wild in his passions and tormented by his past. Highly masculine with some alpha tendancies.
The Heroine: Sarah Fisher
Sarah is a missionary, a virgin and innocent of sexual pursuits. She is also a healer of sorts and can handle a pistol when needed. She is strong in her convictions.
Summary
Scandalous is a story of Sarah, who finds herself on a slaver ship and finds herself taken by the captain of a privateer ship who rescues the people kidnapped and forced into slavery. But when some misunderstanding occur between Sarah and Martin, and her ancestry comes to the surface, Martin returns her to her family in England only she finds herself being pursued by fortune hunters and Martin has never stopped wanting Sarah. But Sarah is her own woman and doesn't believe that Martin cares for her but when the truth comes out, a scandal may come to the surface where they might have to be forced apart...
My Outlook
Scandalous I will say was a wildly entertaining story and I had so much fun with it. I absolutely couldn't seem to get enough of these two even when they were aggravating me to no end. haha I will mention that if you are looking for more "adventure" themes in your romance then you definitely need to pick up this series. I am not sure how her newer books compare but this series just satisfied me on that front. What impressed me also with this one is that the author really researched her history especially for slavery for both white and black people and how they were forced into this slave trade. I really appreciated that she knew her history but also was able to capture on it in a way that didn't seem too heavy for the story but offered dimensions especially to Martin's character.
There is some wonderful character growth within this one here and I really enjoyed seeing the background being put front and center with Martin and Sarah. They both have such explosive personalities and they really butt heads so frequently and in fact I think its their headstrong natures that cause so many misunderstandings and from the beginning there is a ton of them. My goodness, these two just couldn't get a break. They both didn't seem to really understand each other and were able to really have healthy communication. I think in the third act conflict especially is where I started to really struggle with the heroine. As what she does, is what bothers me a ton about women especially. Because *spoiler* but when the hero comes clean with her in a open honest discussion, she basically gets offended and starts yelling at him and acting like he cheated o her. Keep in mind they are not in a committed relationship and she is courting other men including one whose father used to own Martin as a slave. She just comes off as a hypocrite but she wants him to be honest, but apparently not really honest. But I did enjoy "plot wise" how it builds in the third act and the reveals that come out especially concerning Martin's past. So in the end I enjoyed the way that it all worked out, I just would have liked some more couple page time than what we get in this one here.
Overall View
I found Scandalous to be a thrilling adventure which takes the reader from the high seas to the ballrooms of the London ton'. Its a story of scandal, secrets and hidden passions with a satisfying ending.
Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 4
World Building:5
Cover: 5
Hero: 5
Heroine: 3.5
Steam: 4.25
Heart & Feels: 3.5
Ending:4
Overall View: 4/5
September 1, 2019
Sarah Fisher, a missionary and the daughter of missionaries, had been kidnapped along with the people from her village in Africa, where she was born. Captain Martín Bouchard has dedicated his life to capturing slavers and made his fortune that way. He seizes the enemy vessel on which Sarah was held captive, but she begs for mercy on behalf of the slaver ship's captain by offering herself to Captain Bouchard.
I had been eagerly awaiting Martín's story, the enigmatic, seductive, dissolute rake with the fascinating past. He's fastidious, exceedingly proud, vain, and he's prone to violent outbursts. And he is irresistible to all women. SCANDALOUS seemed off to a great start with witty dialogues, a lively pace, and an atmosphere that reminded me of old Errol Flynn black and white movies. Minerva Spencer is an extremely talented storyteller, her exquisite prose vibrantly eloquent, and her characters staggeringly complex, even secondary ones such as Mies Graaf. I liked Mies, in spite of some prior distasteful actions, and herin lies the problem: my dislike for Martín, which grew as the story progressed.
SCANDALOUS is one of those books where I wondered if Martín had been merely very good-looking, not the absolute epitome of masculine beauty in the history of time, if the romance would have occurred at all. I did not understand the romance. He's mean, treats women as disposable commodities, which I found a little strange considering his upbringing. At least, it's logical that Sarah would want to "save" him, she's a missionary after all and she was grateful that he'd rescued her, but I couldn't understand why she "fell in love" with him merely because of his god-like appearance and the lure of sexual ecstasy. He treated her with contempt, he was dismissive, rude, insulting, condescending; the only reason I could see was that she was a glutton for punishment, and she came back for more because he was physically irresistible.
Sarah had seemed like an admirable character at the beginning until she made an utter fool of herself, drooling over this beautiful monster. Yes, he had a very painful past, but it was no excuse for the way he acted towards her, and worse for her to always forgive him because of his beauteous person. In a way, I came to hate her even more than him for her superficiality, for "loving" him while he was such an insufferable beast. I found Martín to be one of the most unpleasant heroes I have ever seen and she was no better than the countless other women who fell at his feet. And unfortunately, as the story unfolded, I hated him even more. I just had no idea where his supposed infatuation came from, why he wanted her - I can't say love, because I never saw it - except that he enjoyed tormenting her because she put up with his boorish behaviour while she desperately lusted after him? Because his oversized ego thrived on taunting her? He wanted her for some obscure reason that eluded me until the very end. I don't find this a solid basis for a happily ever after.
I found the sections of the book that revolved around slavery the most interesting. I was hoping for an ending that would make up for that non-romance, alas it was not to be. Martín experienced some sort of miraculous partial metamorphosis, two cumbersome characters were conveniently disposed of, and Sarah and Martín went on to fornicate happily ever after. Hopefully, the few mistakes in French will have been corrected in the final version. Needless to say, this was not a pleasant read for me.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I had been eagerly awaiting Martín's story, the enigmatic, seductive, dissolute rake with the fascinating past. He's fastidious, exceedingly proud, vain, and he's prone to violent outbursts. And he is irresistible to all women. SCANDALOUS seemed off to a great start with witty dialogues, a lively pace, and an atmosphere that reminded me of old Errol Flynn black and white movies. Minerva Spencer is an extremely talented storyteller, her exquisite prose vibrantly eloquent, and her characters staggeringly complex, even secondary ones such as Mies Graaf. I liked Mies, in spite of some prior distasteful actions, and herin lies the problem: my dislike for Martín, which grew as the story progressed.
SCANDALOUS is one of those books where I wondered if Martín had been merely very good-looking, not the absolute epitome of masculine beauty in the history of time, if the romance would have occurred at all. I did not understand the romance. He's mean, treats women as disposable commodities, which I found a little strange considering his upbringing. At least, it's logical that Sarah would want to "save" him, she's a missionary after all and she was grateful that he'd rescued her, but I couldn't understand why she "fell in love" with him merely because of his god-like appearance and the lure of sexual ecstasy. He treated her with contempt, he was dismissive, rude, insulting, condescending; the only reason I could see was that she was a glutton for punishment, and she came back for more because he was physically irresistible.
Sarah had seemed like an admirable character at the beginning until she made an utter fool of herself, drooling over this beautiful monster. Yes, he had a very painful past, but it was no excuse for the way he acted towards her, and worse for her to always forgive him because of his beauteous person. In a way, I came to hate her even more than him for her superficiality, for "loving" him while he was such an insufferable beast. I found Martín to be one of the most unpleasant heroes I have ever seen and she was no better than the countless other women who fell at his feet. And unfortunately, as the story unfolded, I hated him even more. I just had no idea where his supposed infatuation came from, why he wanted her - I can't say love, because I never saw it - except that he enjoyed tormenting her because she put up with his boorish behaviour while she desperately lusted after him? Because his oversized ego thrived on taunting her? He wanted her for some obscure reason that eluded me until the very end. I don't find this a solid basis for a happily ever after.
I found the sections of the book that revolved around slavery the most interesting. I was hoping for an ending that would make up for that non-romance, alas it was not to be. Martín experienced some sort of miraculous partial metamorphosis, two cumbersome characters were conveniently disposed of, and Sarah and Martín went on to fornicate happily ever after. Hopefully, the few mistakes in French will have been corrected in the final version. Needless to say, this was not a pleasant read for me.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 11, 2019
I've loved all three books in this series so far, but this one is just outstanding - Minerva Spencer in top form. Smart, funny, perceptive, this story held me riveted to the page. Martin is a one-of-a-kind hero. I fell in love with him even as I wanted to smack him upside the head for letting his emotional scars warp his behavior. Spencer doesn't back off on holding his feet to the fire, either. A wonderful, rich, and emotional book. Can't recommend highly enough!
September 24, 2019
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Scandalous by Minerva Spencer is the third book in the Outcasts series and it can definitely be read as a standalone. I loved Dangerous and Barbarous, but I have a lot of mixed feelings about Scandalous. This is going to sound ludicrous coming from a romance reader, but…this book would have been better if it wasn’t written as a romance. I know! I know! Blasphemy! But…that’s how I feel about it.
Miss Sarah Fisher is a Christian missionary living in Africa and she gets captured with the people of her village by slave traders. Martin is a privateer acting under the authority of the British government and captures the ship that was carrying Sarah and the people of her village. Now Martin has to bring Sarah back to England so she can acquaint herself with her parents' family.
The least exciting part about Scandalous is the underdeveloped romance. Oh, Sarah and Martin had chemistry, but chemistry isn't enough if there is less than stellar emotional development. Martin was quite the asshole and Sarah fell in love so quickly even though he was constantly rude towards her. I don’t care how good-looking Martin is, rudeness and douchebaggery is NOT attractive. I can count on my fingers the number of times Sarah and Martin spent significant time together that would positively contribute to their relationship development. Most of the time, they were either stuck in rooms filled with other people or they were fighting. I don’t entirely hate Martin, but I don’t love him either. As for Sarah, she lost points when she easily fell for Martin even when he was a complete asshole towards her. What kind of self-respecting woman does this?
Now that I’ve got the romance out of the way, let’s talk about the main theme of this book: slavery and the trading of slaves. Yes, it’s a heavy topic. There’s a supporting character, Captain Graaf, who was the Captain of the ship that was carrying Sarah and the people of her village. According to Graaf, he had no power on his ship and his sailors essentially took over his ship and they were ones responsible for capturing Sarah and the others. He apparently had no idea at first, but he did eventually find out. And once he found out, he didn’t even bother trying to do anything to help those people. In my humble opinion, being a bystander is just as bad as those who were directly responsible for slave trading. Graaf’s characterization was a morally gray area in this book. It confused me a lot because…I couldn't bring myself to view this character in a good light even though he was a "nice" man and saved Martin at one point. That’s how Sarah feels as well, but she forgives the man out of Christian goodness. What I don’t understand is why this character was so prominent in the story and why Sarah had to constantly hang out with him. I was just…so confused...I'm still confused. Graaf was basically just there to piss off Martin and make him jealous...but I still don't get why it had to be Graaf to make Martin jealous. Is there more to this character that I missed?
Martin’s personal journey to confronting his past and growing as a character was the most interesting part of this story, which is why I stand by my conclusion that this book would have been much better if it wasn’t a romance novel. The strength of this book lies with Martin’s past as a born-slave and how he fought his way to freedom and turned into the man that he is. When he is eventually confronted with his past, you can’t help but feel for him. I have a lot more to say about how that was resolved, but I won’t go into it because I don’t want to spoil the book. I feel like Martin had too many heavy things to deal with and the romance just seemed so inconsequential next to his personal journey. I mean, yes, a small part of his growth was triggered by his feelings for Sarah, but like I said, Martin and Sarah spent so much time fighting that there was more relationship regression than relationship development. I'm thinking if the book's premise was structured differently, then the romance would have been much stronger.
Minerva Spencer’s writing is excellent as usual and I think she did a great job writing Martin’s character, but unfortunately, the romance just fell flat for me. I'm still excited for Jibril's story next!
Scandalous by Minerva Spencer is the third book in the Outcasts series and it can definitely be read as a standalone. I loved Dangerous and Barbarous, but I have a lot of mixed feelings about Scandalous. This is going to sound ludicrous coming from a romance reader, but…this book would have been better if it wasn’t written as a romance. I know! I know! Blasphemy! But…that’s how I feel about it.
Miss Sarah Fisher is a Christian missionary living in Africa and she gets captured with the people of her village by slave traders. Martin is a privateer acting under the authority of the British government and captures the ship that was carrying Sarah and the people of her village. Now Martin has to bring Sarah back to England so she can acquaint herself with her parents' family.
The least exciting part about Scandalous is the underdeveloped romance. Oh, Sarah and Martin had chemistry, but chemistry isn't enough if there is less than stellar emotional development. Martin was quite the asshole and Sarah fell in love so quickly even though he was constantly rude towards her. I don’t care how good-looking Martin is, rudeness and douchebaggery is NOT attractive. I can count on my fingers the number of times Sarah and Martin spent significant time together that would positively contribute to their relationship development. Most of the time, they were either stuck in rooms filled with other people or they were fighting. I don’t entirely hate Martin, but I don’t love him either. As for Sarah, she lost points when she easily fell for Martin even when he was a complete asshole towards her. What kind of self-respecting woman does this?
Now that I’ve got the romance out of the way, let’s talk about the main theme of this book: slavery and the trading of slaves. Yes, it’s a heavy topic. There’s a supporting character, Captain Graaf, who was the Captain of the ship that was carrying Sarah and the people of her village. According to Graaf, he had no power on his ship and his sailors essentially took over his ship and they were ones responsible for capturing Sarah and the others. He apparently had no idea at first, but he did eventually find out. And once he found out, he didn’t even bother trying to do anything to help those people. In my humble opinion, being a bystander is just as bad as those who were directly responsible for slave trading. Graaf’s characterization was a morally gray area in this book. It confused me a lot because…I couldn't bring myself to view this character in a good light even though he was a "nice" man and saved Martin at one point. That’s how Sarah feels as well, but she forgives the man out of Christian goodness. What I don’t understand is why this character was so prominent in the story and why Sarah had to constantly hang out with him. I was just…so confused...I'm still confused. Graaf was basically just there to piss off Martin and make him jealous...but I still don't get why it had to be Graaf to make Martin jealous. Is there more to this character that I missed?
Martin’s personal journey to confronting his past and growing as a character was the most interesting part of this story, which is why I stand by my conclusion that this book would have been much better if it wasn’t a romance novel. The strength of this book lies with Martin’s past as a born-slave and how he fought his way to freedom and turned into the man that he is. When he is eventually confronted with his past, you can’t help but feel for him. I have a lot more to say about how that was resolved, but I won’t go into it because I don’t want to spoil the book. I feel like Martin had too many heavy things to deal with and the romance just seemed so inconsequential next to his personal journey. I mean, yes, a small part of his growth was triggered by his feelings for Sarah, but like I said, Martin and Sarah spent so much time fighting that there was more relationship regression than relationship development. I'm thinking if the book's premise was structured differently, then the romance would have been much stronger.
Minerva Spencer’s writing is excellent as usual and I think she did a great job writing Martin’s character, but unfortunately, the romance just fell flat for me. I'm still excited for Jibril's story next!
February 23, 2023
I enjoyed the beginning of the book. Sara (heroine) had a brief badass moment when she pointed Martin’s (hero) own gun at him in front of his crew.
The romance was lacking and felt forced. From what I can remember, they fought a lot. Martin usually ends up saying hurtful things to Sara (probably to push her away, thinking he’s unworthy of her). Since he couldn’t bed her, he’d visit brothels but can no longer get aroused by other women. I’m surprised Sara fell in love with him at all.
I didn’t quite understand why a secondary character (Captain Graff) remained in the book for that long. I felt that he no longer served a purpose other than perhaps to make the hero jealous and possessive. Not that that was Graff’s intention.
I checked out the audiobook from my library. The transition from one chapter to the next confused me at times, like chapters 31 and 32. It ends with and then in the next chapter, the hero is on his ship. All I’m thinking was, “What the heck happened? Did I miss something?” I didn’t like this nonlinear storytelling, especially when I’m listening to the audiobook.
The romance was lacking and felt forced. From what I can remember, they fought a lot. Martin usually ends up saying hurtful things to Sara (probably to push her away, thinking he’s unworthy of her). Since he couldn’t bed her, he’d visit brothels but can no longer get aroused by other women. I’m surprised Sara fell in love with him at all.
I didn’t quite understand why a secondary character (Captain Graff) remained in the book for that long. I felt that he no longer served a purpose other than perhaps to make the hero jealous and possessive. Not that that was Graff’s intention.
I checked out the audiobook from my library. The transition from one chapter to the next confused me at times, like chapters 31 and 32. It ends with and then in the next chapter, the hero is on his ship. All I’m thinking was, “What the heck happened? Did I miss something?” I didn’t like this nonlinear storytelling, especially when I’m listening to the audiobook.
January 14, 2020
This book was so so close to being an all time favorite. I loved the beginning of this book so much! But the middle and end lost it for me and it never really recovered. This is the third book of Minerva Spencer's Outcasts series, the first being Dangerous and the second being Barbarous. I have overall enjoyed all the 3 books. If you've never tried her before I find I enjoy her writing. Shes rather witty, some parts are mildy humerous, she tends to cover strong topics and has unique scenery, characters and stories.
Sarah was raised in an African village with her missionary parents. Her parents died 2 years prior and she has stayed in the village helping with medicine (although I wouldn't say she's a doctor). She is captured with members of her village by a slaver ship and held in the hold.
Sarahs personality was feisty for sure. She doesn't have a problem with confrontation and holds numerous men at gun point. I felt like her character was okay. I didn't get a ton of character depth to her. I felt like I didn't really know her that well after the book was done. I felt like I couldn't understand why she was in love with hero with their interactions. I also was curious why her Christianity made her really think about forgiving others and refusing to take anyone's life yet she was a total wanton. I mean, I'm not complaining, I didn't mind it but it was just a little weird for these character traits I guess.
Martin was a character I really liked. Arrogant, vain, with a short temper, seething with jealousy. Thats my thing, terrible I know. He is such a damaged character and has overcome so much. I felt like Sarah could have really healed him yet it turned into more enemies to lovers as the book progresses. To me they just stayed enemies way too long. Refusing to share their feelings until the very end of the book, fighting tooth and nail until then. They both can be rather cruel to each other in their words because they don't understand each other's feelings. I guess by the end of the book I was hoping to see more of their relationship as solid and that they were perfect for each other. While I'm not left unhappy, especially with the epilogue, I just felt like I never got to see how they were going to WORK together and that was important with everything Martin has gone through.
The first half of this book is so much my favorite. It takes place on board Martins ship and its just wonderful. Its tension filled, hot, the first kiss was so steamy, I adored it. Sarah helps teach Martin and it was such a wonderful part of the book. But as the book goes on and they continue to fight, I feel like the tension and relationship starts to fade. They are separated and when they are together they don't really talk. Both are having interactions with other people and I just prefer my couples to be together. And interacting. And talking. And other stuff. Wink wink. I love Spencer's sex scenes but in this book there was a long dry spell and it kind of killed the story for me. I love that tension to keep it going, there doesn't have to be a ton of sex. I also was getting tired of Martin by the end and his lack of action towards a relationship with Sarah.
I was able to receive an ARC copy complimentary from netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Sarah was raised in an African village with her missionary parents. Her parents died 2 years prior and she has stayed in the village helping with medicine (although I wouldn't say she's a doctor). She is captured with members of her village by a slaver ship and held in the hold.
Sarahs personality was feisty for sure. She doesn't have a problem with confrontation and holds numerous men at gun point. I felt like her character was okay. I didn't get a ton of character depth to her. I felt like I didn't really know her that well after the book was done. I felt like I couldn't understand why she was in love with hero with their interactions. I also was curious why her Christianity made her really think about forgiving others and refusing to take anyone's life yet she was a total wanton. I mean, I'm not complaining, I didn't mind it but it was just a little weird for these character traits I guess.
Martin was a character I really liked. Arrogant, vain, with a short temper, seething with jealousy. Thats my thing, terrible I know. He is such a damaged character and has overcome so much. I felt like Sarah could have really healed him yet it turned into more enemies to lovers as the book progresses. To me they just stayed enemies way too long. Refusing to share their feelings until the very end of the book, fighting tooth and nail until then. They both can be rather cruel to each other in their words because they don't understand each other's feelings. I guess by the end of the book I was hoping to see more of their relationship as solid and that they were perfect for each other. While I'm not left unhappy, especially with the epilogue, I just felt like I never got to see how they were going to WORK together and that was important with everything Martin has gone through.
The first half of this book is so much my favorite. It takes place on board Martins ship and its just wonderful. Its tension filled, hot, the first kiss was so steamy, I adored it. Sarah helps teach Martin and it was such a wonderful part of the book. But as the book goes on and they continue to fight, I feel like the tension and relationship starts to fade. They are separated and when they are together they don't really talk. Both are having interactions with other people and I just prefer my couples to be together. And interacting. And talking. And other stuff. Wink wink. I love Spencer's sex scenes but in this book there was a long dry spell and it kind of killed the story for me. I love that tension to keep it going, there doesn't have to be a ton of sex. I also was getting tired of Martin by the end and his lack of action towards a relationship with Sarah.
I was able to receive an ARC copy complimentary from netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
September 21, 2019
Martin Bouchard, Captain of the Golden Scythe, privateer for England has captured a Dutch ship that is most certainly a slaver. As a former slave, Martin lives to capture and punish slavers and in the process has become a very rich man. When he enters the room to parlay with the captain of the Blue Bird, he is shocked to see one of the people waiting is a woman. Sarah Fisher was taken along with all the people in her village during a slaver raid – she is the daughter of missionaries and is trying to convince Martin to forgo the prize and let everyone go. She even goes as far as to hold him at gunpoint and to offer herself in exchange.
Martin just wants to get rid of Sarah and the annoying captain Mies Graaf, but soon finds out that he will not be getting his prize and must transport Mies and Sarah back to England. Along the way he gets to know Sarah and she teaches him to read and write. She is falling hard for him – just like every woman with eyes does – but he keeps pushing her away.
As the story progresses the reader learns much more about Martin and his past, which explains a lot of his behavior, but failed to make me like him – he is just such a jerk – he is arrogant, vain and cruel. Why Sarah loved him is beyond me. I mean what’s not to love about a hero that is snide, rude, hurtful and runs off to brothels every chance he gets? Or one that sends a letter explaining everything and then leaves England without the heroine? I really tried to forgive him, but every time he had a chance to win me over, he blew it. I remember him being a bit cocky in the previous book, but not like this. Upside, we got to reunite with Hugh, Daphne, Mia, Adam and Jabril (Gabriel) from the previous books and that was wonderful. I struggled to rate this story, it was well written, flowed nicely, has steamy love scenes, interesting historical details about the slave trade, great secondary characters and a sweet epilogue. But Martin and Sarah were not my favorite couple and their “romance” just fell flat for me. This is the third book in the series, and I HIGHLY recommend the previous books, but neither are necessary to read to enjoy this book.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by Netgalley and the publisher.*
Martin just wants to get rid of Sarah and the annoying captain Mies Graaf, but soon finds out that he will not be getting his prize and must transport Mies and Sarah back to England. Along the way he gets to know Sarah and she teaches him to read and write. She is falling hard for him – just like every woman with eyes does – but he keeps pushing her away.
As the story progresses the reader learns much more about Martin and his past, which explains a lot of his behavior, but failed to make me like him – he is just such a jerk – he is arrogant, vain and cruel. Why Sarah loved him is beyond me. I mean what’s not to love about a hero that is snide, rude, hurtful and runs off to brothels every chance he gets? Or one that sends a letter explaining everything and then leaves England without the heroine? I really tried to forgive him, but every time he had a chance to win me over, he blew it. I remember him being a bit cocky in the previous book, but not like this. Upside, we got to reunite with Hugh, Daphne, Mia, Adam and Jabril (Gabriel) from the previous books and that was wonderful. I struggled to rate this story, it was well written, flowed nicely, has steamy love scenes, interesting historical details about the slave trade, great secondary characters and a sweet epilogue. But Martin and Sarah were not my favorite couple and their “romance” just fell flat for me. This is the third book in the series, and I HIGHLY recommend the previous books, but neither are necessary to read to enjoy this book.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by Netgalley and the publisher.*
January 22, 2020
As the upstanding, moral daughter of English missionaries to Africa, Sarah Fisher has never met anyone like the compellingly beautiful Captain Martín Bouchard. When the privateer captures the slave ship Sarah was captured on, she offers the only thing available to her to ensure the captain's mercy on the Dutch crew: her body.
Martín knows women and recognizes Sarah for the innocent she is, but instead of an educational night in bed, he winds up at the wrong end of his own pistol and desirous only of removing the bothersome woman from his ship. Even worse, she sees parts of him he's managed to keep well-hidden and the more time he's forced to spend with the irritating woman, the more he finds himself looking for ways to keep her with him in spite of his scandalous past.
I have such mixed feelings about this book and I think it's because I really didn't like either the hero or the heroine, although they were indeed perfect for each other. The hero was just as arrogant and pig-headed as the heroine accused him of being, but for her part, she was quite judgmental and shrewish much of the time, and just as stubborn. This was a slow burn between these two because of their communication issues, and also due to how very damaged Martín was, but that did fit the characters to a tee. Even though I didn't even really like them, I was still rooting for them to get it together and it was so satisfying when they finally did.
This book was exquisitely well-written and handled some very difficult topics beautifully and for that it's getting five stars. I can't wait for the next one.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Martín knows women and recognizes Sarah for the innocent she is, but instead of an educational night in bed, he winds up at the wrong end of his own pistol and desirous only of removing the bothersome woman from his ship. Even worse, she sees parts of him he's managed to keep well-hidden and the more time he's forced to spend with the irritating woman, the more he finds himself looking for ways to keep her with him in spite of his scandalous past.
I have such mixed feelings about this book and I think it's because I really didn't like either the hero or the heroine, although they were indeed perfect for each other. The hero was just as arrogant and pig-headed as the heroine accused him of being, but for her part, she was quite judgmental and shrewish much of the time, and just as stubborn. This was a slow burn between these two because of their communication issues, and also due to how very damaged Martín was, but that did fit the characters to a tee. Even though I didn't even really like them, I was still rooting for them to get it together and it was so satisfying when they finally did.
This book was exquisitely well-written and handled some very difficult topics beautifully and for that it's getting five stars. I can't wait for the next one.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 1, 2019
I love the swashbuckling adventure in Minerva Spencer’s books but it’s her compelling characters that keep me coming back. Scandalous is no exception. Sarah is a missionary, capable of taking care of herself, eager to care for others, and used to taking charge. This does not sit well with Martin, a former slave and now privateer, whose ship she seems to be taking over. Martin’s past makes him suspicious of Sarah’s kindness and he reacts by lashing out. Regardless, they have a steamy chemistry and mixed with Sarah’s patience and persistence, it leads them to an achingly slow and beautiful meeting of the minds and hearts. I could not put this one down.
October 12, 2021
Well, this one wasn't quite as compelling as the previous two.. and I am very sad about that.
These two just could NOT get on the same page and the amount of deliberate miscommunication was maddening....
So yeah... not as fun as the previous ones, but there we go.
3.5/5 stars
These two just could NOT get on the same page and the amount of deliberate miscommunication was maddening....
So yeah... not as fun as the previous ones, but there we go.
3.5/5 stars
October 8, 2019
3.5 stars rounded up
July 29, 2019
What a delightful read. I have found a favorite author in Minerva Spencer! She kept me engrossed in the storyline from beginning to end. She definitely has a flair for the written word!
This is the first book I’ve read of this series which can be read as a stand-alone book. I loved the characters so much that I went and bought the first two books to read their back stories.
This is the first book I’ve read of this series which can be read as a stand-alone book. I loved the characters so much that I went and bought the first two books to read their back stories.
January 3, 2025
Last book of 2024! (How is the year over already??! Wtfff)
The beginning was confusing, and I was also thrown by the story starting on a ship. I questioned if this was a historical romance and if I was reading the right book. (Spoiler alert I was.)
I was impressed by Minerva Spencer's prose, and I found the book difficult to put down. However, the romance was unsatisfying, so I'm giving the book 4 stars. The romance was probably 2 stars, though. I couldn't see what the heroine, Sarah, saw in Martin (pretend I accented the i) as he was cruel to her for most of the novel besides his ridiculously good looks. As a result, it was hard to believe that she had fallen in love with him so quickly.
I liked how the author paired an extremely handsome guy with a woman who was a plain virgin. It's nice to think that the plain girl can still catch someone out of her league looks-wise. Because Sarah was described as plain for so long, it threw me off that her face was described as "pretty" in the epilogue when she gave birth to their son.
Moreover, I liked how unique the story and characters were: Sarah is English but was born in Africa, the daughter of missionaries. She's had a very unusual upbringing and hasn't left Africa. She's also headstrong and determined to get her way. I appreciated Spencer commenting on that from Martin's POV because otherwise, a few of Sarah's actions (like pointing a pistol at Martin) seemed OTT. Martin Bouchard is a runaway slave from New Orleans who is now a wealthy ship captain chasing down slave ships. Martin is the epitome of a rake; he's slept with hundreds of women, but none have ever touched his heart. Women are disposable and interchangeable to him... He's also arrogant, vain, and mysterious.
About half the book is set on the ship's voyage to England (I was surprised at how long it seemed), and then the other half involves Sarah connecting with long-lost relatives and deciding what she'll do with her life. There's a lot of miscommunication and back-and-forth between the two with Martin denying his infatuation with Sarah (and continually trying and failing to sleep with prostitutes) & Sarah thinking she's not attractive enough for a man like Bouchard. There's also a weird transition between Chapters 31 and 32.
I decided to get this book from the library as I thought I might as well finish the trilogy and I needed more paperbacks for subbing. Moreover, I remembered the hero from the previous books and found him fascinating. Ironically, I read this book in our hotel in Washington D.C. and on the plane ride back. Even though the romance wasn't great, this book was my favorite in the series.
I almost wish I had written this review last night when I finished the book because I fear I'm missing a lot of things I wanted to say. (Also I feel this review is awful, and it's taking me forever to write... The words aren't flowing.) I was tired because it was 11 pm, but I was still on the time zone three hours ahead, so it was 2 am to me. I wanted to finish this book before 2025, lol.
My library copy had a preview to Notorious, which piqued my interest and featured a character I liked from Book 1 as the hero, but the reviews for that one are bad, so we'll see.
The beginning was confusing, and I was also thrown by the story starting on a ship. I questioned if this was a historical romance and if I was reading the right book. (Spoiler alert I was.)
I was impressed by Minerva Spencer's prose, and I found the book difficult to put down. However, the romance was unsatisfying, so I'm giving the book 4 stars. The romance was probably 2 stars, though. I couldn't see what the heroine, Sarah, saw in Martin (pretend I accented the i) as he was cruel to her for most of the novel besides his ridiculously good looks. As a result, it was hard to believe that she had fallen in love with him so quickly.
I liked how the author paired an extremely handsome guy with a woman who was a plain virgin. It's nice to think that the plain girl can still catch someone out of her league looks-wise. Because Sarah was described as plain for so long, it threw me off that her face was described as "pretty" in the epilogue when she gave birth to their son.
Moreover, I liked how unique the story and characters were: Sarah is English but was born in Africa, the daughter of missionaries. She's had a very unusual upbringing and hasn't left Africa. She's also headstrong and determined to get her way. I appreciated Spencer commenting on that from Martin's POV because otherwise, a few of Sarah's actions (like pointing a pistol at Martin) seemed OTT. Martin Bouchard is a runaway slave from New Orleans who is now a wealthy ship captain chasing down slave ships. Martin is the epitome of a rake; he's slept with hundreds of women, but none have ever touched his heart. Women are disposable and interchangeable to him... He's also arrogant, vain, and mysterious.
About half the book is set on the ship's voyage to England (I was surprised at how long it seemed), and then the other half involves Sarah connecting with long-lost relatives and deciding what she'll do with her life. There's a lot of miscommunication and back-and-forth between the two with Martin denying his infatuation with Sarah (and continually trying and failing to sleep with prostitutes) & Sarah thinking she's not attractive enough for a man like Bouchard. There's also a weird transition between Chapters 31 and 32.
I decided to get this book from the library as I thought I might as well finish the trilogy and I needed more paperbacks for subbing. Moreover, I remembered the hero from the previous books and found him fascinating. Ironically, I read this book in our hotel in Washington D.C. and on the plane ride back. Even though the romance wasn't great, this book was my favorite in the series.
I almost wish I had written this review last night when I finished the book because I fear I'm missing a lot of things I wanted to say. (Also I feel this review is awful, and it's taking me forever to write... The words aren't flowing.) I was tired because it was 11 pm, but I was still on the time zone three hours ahead, so it was 2 am to me. I wanted to finish this book before 2025, lol.
My library copy had a preview to Notorious, which piqued my interest and featured a character I liked from Book 1 as the hero, but the reviews for that one are bad, so we'll see.
Read
September 30, 2021I don’t really have words for how much I hated this. Hated that the author exploits slavery for titillation, playing up the idea of the sexy brute and savage at every turn. I have a pretty thick hide by now and yet this elicited a surprisingly painful reaction. There’s nothing modern about this brutal retread/ mashup of the tragic mulatto and pirate romance. I disliked everything about how the male lead, a former enslaved man, was portrayed throughout. But what really made it worse was that the climax and resolution pivot on a secondary character, a Black woman whose voice is obliterated. She’s used as a plot point and then denigrated and replaced as a mother to facilitate the white female lead’s HEA. Just intolerable.
I’m not going to spend more time on this author but I’ll just put this here. This is Martin taking stock of himself after Sarah challenges him about not being able to read and he reacts defensively:
“He turned away from her, as if he could turn away from the vision she had forced him to look at: that of an illiterate brute only aping his betters with fine clothes, rich trappings, and books he could not read.”
That “brute” characterization and the dehumanizing terminology of Martin being like an animal “aping” his betters (a metaphor like this used in a racial context has double meaning) would be less glaring if the text didn’t *repeatedly* and sensationally treat him as such. That's not countered just because Martin is supposedly saved by Sarah. Even Martin's work against the slave trade doesn't come into full view until it's used to prop up their union and her virtue. I understand that the nonsense idea of women humanizing terrible men is a popular trope. But when it's used in this racialized way with a man of color it is egregious and grotesque.
I’m not going to spend more time on this author but I’ll just put this here. This is Martin taking stock of himself after Sarah challenges him about not being able to read and he reacts defensively:
“He turned away from her, as if he could turn away from the vision she had forced him to look at: that of an illiterate brute only aping his betters with fine clothes, rich trappings, and books he could not read.”
That “brute” characterization and the dehumanizing terminology of Martin being like an animal “aping” his betters (a metaphor like this used in a racial context has double meaning) would be less glaring if the text didn’t *repeatedly* and sensationally treat him as such. That's not countered just because Martin is supposedly saved by Sarah. Even Martin's work against the slave trade doesn't come into full view until it's used to prop up their union and her virtue. I understand that the nonsense idea of women humanizing terrible men is a popular trope. But when it's used in this racialized way with a man of color it is egregious and grotesque.
August 7, 2021
Long winded story with a good plot that got lost in the H's angst. He'd been tortured, now full of self doubt. He didn't believe in love, even though his friends showed how much they all cared about him. The h is feisty but what I really disliked is that she's a liar. She placated others, accepted gifts but kept her truth to herself. This couple squabble for most of the story. I really didn't like them.
October 6, 2019
When I picked up Scandalous Minerva Spencer was a historical romance author that I had heard of but not read. The first two books in this series didn't really appeal, but the description of Scandalous hooked me, and I can't say that the book didn't deliver. This one was way over the top - kind of reminding me of Kerrigen Byrne - and I really couldn't put the book down until I had finished reading. There were a couple of instances where I questioned my own enjoyment: Sarah and Martin were awful to each other (Martin especially), but the drama and the over-top-aspect of their courtship just worked. If you like exaggerated and unlikely romances (again, thinking of Kerrigen Byrne here), you will absolutely love this one.
Reading Scandalous did make me go back and read Spencer's Barbarous, but wasn't nearly as good as this one.
*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
Reading Scandalous did make me go back and read Spencer's Barbarous, but wasn't nearly as good as this one.
*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
September 28, 2019
Scandalous by Minerva Spencer
The Outcasts #3
I have enjoyed this series and looked forward to reading this book. I have to say that I was a bit disappointed. Why? I felt disappointed in the portrayal of beautiful, vain, unfeeling Captain Martin Etienne Bouchard. He could have used his past to be more than his job and money and reputation as a rake. And Sarah Fisher, missionary, was a good-hearted woman secluded from much by living twenty-four years in a small village with only her parents and the tribe around her. She was taken in by a pretty face and mean talking man and fell head over heels for him...that I had trouble understanding. Also, I had trouble believing that Sarah could have or would have done some of the things she did. It is fiction and thus can happen in a book but...she was strong and weak in weird ways.
What I liked:
* Martin’s love for the man that saved him and his ability to become the man he did
* Sarah’s love of all human beings and her willingness to stand up for their rights while forgiving evil doers.
* Seeing some of the characters from previous books
* Beauville finding Mary
* Some of the interactions between Sarah and Martin
* Hearing the backstories of Martin and Sarah
* Sarah knowing where her heart really lay
What I did not like:
* Martin’s immature acting out and what just seemed mean at times
* The Slavers...all of them
* Armand and his father
I enjoy a swashbuckling tale and this provided that. I had parts I loved and parts I didn’t like as much in this book. I felt that the time in England could have been shortened a bit and more time spent on Martin and Sarah actually getting along rather than fighting and at cross purposes. I understood that with the history Martin had it would be hard to trust and love and believe in a future though in some ways he was a bit tooo much of a caricature...or something.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes and No
Would I read another book in this series? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington – Zebra for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
The Outcasts #3
I have enjoyed this series and looked forward to reading this book. I have to say that I was a bit disappointed. Why? I felt disappointed in the portrayal of beautiful, vain, unfeeling Captain Martin Etienne Bouchard. He could have used his past to be more than his job and money and reputation as a rake. And Sarah Fisher, missionary, was a good-hearted woman secluded from much by living twenty-four years in a small village with only her parents and the tribe around her. She was taken in by a pretty face and mean talking man and fell head over heels for him...that I had trouble understanding. Also, I had trouble believing that Sarah could have or would have done some of the things she did. It is fiction and thus can happen in a book but...she was strong and weak in weird ways.
What I liked:
* Martin’s love for the man that saved him and his ability to become the man he did
* Sarah’s love of all human beings and her willingness to stand up for their rights while forgiving evil doers.
* Seeing some of the characters from previous books
* Beauville finding Mary
* Some of the interactions between Sarah and Martin
* Hearing the backstories of Martin and Sarah
* Sarah knowing where her heart really lay
What I did not like:
* Martin’s immature acting out and what just seemed mean at times
* The Slavers...all of them
* Armand and his father
I enjoy a swashbuckling tale and this provided that. I had parts I loved and parts I didn’t like as much in this book. I felt that the time in England could have been shortened a bit and more time spent on Martin and Sarah actually getting along rather than fighting and at cross purposes. I understood that with the history Martin had it would be hard to trust and love and believe in a future though in some ways he was a bit tooo much of a caricature...or something.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes and No
Would I read another book in this series? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington – Zebra for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
September 16, 2019
I really liked that this book is different. It deals with some serious issues of slave trade and abuse. The hero is a former slave and illegitimate son of his owner. The heroine is an African missionary. A very unlikely pairing. It is an intriguing story and there were plenty of opportunities for character development. I liked the inclusion of characters from the previous two books in the series.
This books did not appeal to me to way it seems to appeal to other readers. I think this is a personal preference difference, not a commentary on the writing. I didn't like the anger and misunderstandings between the hero and heroine that lasted through 80% or more of the book. The characters did not have much of a chance to build a strong relationship within the confines of the book. It went from anger and distrust to seemingly lasting love virtually overnight. I also felt the story was a little slow in places.
I liked the book and I admire the author's efforts to deal with some difficult content. It just didn't click with me on the relationship level.
ARC provided through Netgalley.
This books did not appeal to me to way it seems to appeal to other readers. I think this is a personal preference difference, not a commentary on the writing. I didn't like the anger and misunderstandings between the hero and heroine that lasted through 80% or more of the book. The characters did not have much of a chance to build a strong relationship within the confines of the book. It went from anger and distrust to seemingly lasting love virtually overnight. I also felt the story was a little slow in places.
I liked the book and I admire the author's efforts to deal with some difficult content. It just didn't click with me on the relationship level.
ARC provided through Netgalley.
September 23, 2019
3.5 Stars
Straight-laced missionary Sarah Fisher has been kidnapped along with the people from her village in Africa, where she was born. Which is bad enough then the kidnappers vessel is captured by Captain Martin Bouchard. He is the most beautiful person—male or female—she’s ever seen. Sarah being desperate to save everyone offers to buy Bouchard’s mercy with the only thing she has to sell: her body.
I’d really been looking forward to this third book in the series & for Martin's story & whilst it was another very well written, well researched book it fell a bit flat for me as the more I read the more I disliked Martin & just couldn’t get my head round him loving Sarah. I wanted to like him I really did but the way he treat Sarah was despicable & I thought she was in lust with him for his looks as no way could she have loved him & I couldn’t see that their HEA would continue after the passion died. It's taken me a while to write a review as I needed to re read the book to see if I'd first read it on a bad day.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Straight-laced missionary Sarah Fisher has been kidnapped along with the people from her village in Africa, where she was born. Which is bad enough then the kidnappers vessel is captured by Captain Martin Bouchard. He is the most beautiful person—male or female—she’s ever seen. Sarah being desperate to save everyone offers to buy Bouchard’s mercy with the only thing she has to sell: her body.
I’d really been looking forward to this third book in the series & for Martin's story & whilst it was another very well written, well researched book it fell a bit flat for me as the more I read the more I disliked Martin & just couldn’t get my head round him loving Sarah. I wanted to like him I really did but the way he treat Sarah was despicable & I thought she was in lust with him for his looks as no way could she have loved him & I couldn’t see that their HEA would continue after the passion died. It's taken me a while to write a review as I needed to re read the book to see if I'd first read it on a bad day.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
September 23, 2019
I have been following Martin from the beginning and knew he would make a fantastic hero. I was not wrong. This story, like the others in this series, takes me back to old-fashioned romances. Pirates, women who need their help, villains and lots of exotic locales. These stories are fun. There is a lot of angst which I totally love. Martin is amazing and Sarah is feisty and holds her own against Martin. Their journey starts and becomes more passionate and loving with each new thing they learn. Yes, they have to deal with a lot of differences and secrets but you can feel their bond growing. I know this is a full-length novel but I could have kept reading about them.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
September 7, 2021
this was a great series.
Very different from any "ton" book I usually read.
I love Minerva Spencer's writing.
Not only were they long in length which I like but the depth of characters and the story were incredible.
I usually read a book or more a day and it took me 5 days to read all three in this series.
There was just so much story to read and I didn't want to miss anything.
Great book.
Each book just got better and better.
This one was by far my favorite.
The things that Martin went through but then to have someone like Sarah save him. SO GOOD!
Highly recommend this book and this series.
Very different from any "ton" book I usually read.
I love Minerva Spencer's writing.
Not only were they long in length which I like but the depth of characters and the story were incredible.
I usually read a book or more a day and it took me 5 days to read all three in this series.
There was just so much story to read and I didn't want to miss anything.
Great book.
Each book just got better and better.
This one was by far my favorite.
The things that Martin went through but then to have someone like Sarah save him. SO GOOD!
Highly recommend this book and this series.
September 19, 2019
I was so fortunate to read this book. I don’t know where to begin. So I’ll just start talking. The emotions, the feelings, the everything this book brings forth is fabulous. To say this is a book about slavery would be Wrong. We have villains. More than one. We have sexual sensual love. We have characters that are so real you feel as if you know them. There are slaves in this book. Represents the slavery in the Americas which are not in Europe. You were so happy when one of the villains is killed. You are so emotional with a fabulous sensual lovemaking. Finally the ending is just so perfect. I’m hoping to read more of this authors books. She makes you feel as if all the characters are real. Do not miss this book
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