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Beyond the Aristocracy

The Pleasure of a Pirate

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When the dastardly Baron Dorchester kidnaps Little Bo Peep from a costume ball and carries her onto a ship bound for France, the captain of the Molly, Blake Russell, must take on the guise of a pirate to rescue his booty in this delightful tale of a chase on the Channel. Can a tumble on the Thames be far behind?

182 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 26, 2019

13 people are currently reading
40 people want to read

About the author

Linda Rae Sande

126 books426 followers
A self-described nerd and lover of science, Linda Rae spent many years as a published technical writer specializing in 3D graphics workstations, software and 3D animation (her movie credits include SHREK and SHREK 2). An interest in genealogy led to years of research on the Regency era and a desire to write fiction based in that time.

A fan of action-adventure movies, she can frequently be found at the local cinema. Although she no longer has any fish, she follows the San Jose Sharks. She makes her home in Cody, Wyoming. More information about her books can be found at www.lindaraesande.com.

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5 stars
21 (37%)
4 stars
21 (37%)
3 stars
9 (16%)
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4 (7%)
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Profile Image for Space Cowgirl.
4,133 reviews144 followers
August 3, 2020
The Pirate Rescues His Own True 💘Love

ADULT Historical Regency Romance💕 and Ocean🌊 Adventure⛵.
Mayfair, London 1819
Captain Blake Russell🐺🔪🔫 of the Molly⛵, a ship owned by The British Navy, may look like a pirate🔪, but he's a spy and privateer for the 👑Crown.

He goes to a masquerade ball🎭 dressed as a pirate🐺🔪🔫 to keep 👀eyes on his target, suspected thief, broke and destitute, Baron Dorchester👺. Blake's superior, Lord Chamberlain, orders him to follow Dorchester👺 and keep him from leaving England with stolen jewelry or expensive knicknacks from the estate, taken during the ball.

While there, he sees Miss Barbara Wycliff💃💋, dressed as Little Bo Peep🐑💃. She has a voluptuous figure and beautiful eyes and lips, and Blake🐺🍆⛲🔫🔪 is infatuated. He loses sight of Dorchester👺 and Miss Wycliff in the crush, then spots his coach leaving at a high rate of speed.

In the morning, Chamberlain orders Blake🐺🍆⛲🔫🔪 to give chase, because Dorchester👺 has stolen Miss Wycliff💃💋 and is on his way with her across the channel to France!!

A high seas🌊 chase insues, with Blake's ship, the Molly⛵, sailing all out to catch Dorchester👺and rescue Barbara!

ARC Provided by Candid Book Reviews📚
I also got this ebook from Amazon for .99¢

This is basically a historical romantic comedy. The two main characters have plenty of funny asides about their own feelings and their feelings about each other. This is a fun, feel good 👍novel which is also a fast paced, quick read!
Profile Image for Margaret Watkins.
3,547 reviews88 followers
March 29, 2020
Although Captain Blake Russell captains a sometimes pirate ship, he does in fact work for the Crown, tracking down pirates, smugglers, and other miscreants. Given a mission to keep a watch on Lord Dorchester at a masquerade, who is rumoured to be planning a substantial theft, his attention is waylaid by a buxom young woman in a bo-peep costume. He is instantly enamoured by Miss Barbara Wycliff, not realising that she is the target of Dorchester's plot. The plot of this novelette is amusing and romantic with high adventure. It is also well written and Blake's mission is successfully completed. I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.
5,704 reviews39 followers
June 16, 2020
haha this one made me laugh and kept me interested.. still not my favorite genre but it was entertaining and made me smile. i liked it
223 reviews3 followers
March 29, 2020
**** SPOILER ALERT ****
I originally wrote a review for "The Pleasure Of A Pirate" as part of an overarching review that I did for the anthology "Once Upon A Pirate". Since Sande has chosen to break this story out and publish it as a standalone, I decided to post my review, but not the original. Oh the original makes up the skeleton of my review, but it's expanded a bit now.
In "The Pleasure Of A Pirate" Sande brings back two characters from "Epiphany Of An Explorer". The H.M.S. Molly and Blake Russell, now her captain. Yes, I said two characters and one of them is a ship, as the various iterations of the "Star Trek" TV series have shown, a ship can be just as much a character as a human. Or as the T.A.R.D.I.S. is very much a character in the long running BBC's "Doctor Who"serial. I really enjoyed the world building and character development that the author did in this tale to flesh out more fully the bones of the skeleton that Sande introduced to us in "Epiphany Of An Explorer". While this was a fine and entertaining tale. I was left feeling that there's a whole lot left of the meat of the story of Blake and Althea and I would encourage the author to bring that story to life in a full length novel featuring Blake and Althea and, as is her habit, another couple. I've yet to be disappointed when I have read any of Sande's work and I recommend this book, or any of her work.
In the interest of transparency: I was given a review copy of this book ( Well, novella ) and I am voluntarily sharing this review.
It is my own honest opinion.
1,634 reviews14 followers
March 29, 2020
More sweet than steam but you get the idea anyway;-)
Blake Russell acts as Captain of a pirate ship for His Majesty on clandestine missions and as such he went to a masquerade ball where he meets a most delectable curvy woman, Barbara Wycliff. Her father is “new” money in the merchant class and a baronet. Blake has become enamored of this sweet confection but she gets away from him as does the man he was sent to spy on. Things begin to happen quickly from this point on and I couldn’t read fast enough to find out if they get their HEA after much tribulation and angst. Truly enjoyed this clever plot. Just enough sweet steam but not too much.
I received the ARC of the anthology ONCE UPON A PIRATE and reviewed this particular story then. Still enjoyably remembered. It comes highly recommended for readers who like the suggestion of steam and a sweet story.
Profile Image for Jessica Mitchell.
2,051 reviews20 followers
November 28, 2020
It was too short in my opinion, but I loved it none the less. Pirates, the open seas and a very lost little bo peep.. Oh my, what is going on here? This historical adult romance is a good short story. With a dash of romance, some highway kidnapping and adventure sprinkled throughout this book. It will have you from beginning to the very end.
Little Bo Peep is lost at sea and only the famous pirate Blake can rescue this damsel in distress. Can he find his booty and catch the kidnapper before some bad happens to the charming and generous Miss Bo Peep.
1,117 reviews4 followers
May 13, 2023
Blake Russel was no two on the privateer/pirate ship owned by the home office. When Alexander Bradley left to pilot a desk, Blake took over as captain of the Molly. Asked by his boss to follow a potential thief to a costume ball, he dressed as a pirate of course, and is attracted by Bo Beep.

When his thief disappears chased by Bo Peeps carriage he retired back to the Molly thinking no theft will happen. Until he gets a message saying an heiress has been kidnapped by the thief, and he has to rescue her.

Not my favourite book by the author, too short, and too predictable
Profile Image for Sandra R.
3,347 reviews46 followers
April 6, 2020
A well written Historical romance novella that spans just over 24 hours in time, so insta-love. I liked it, it was a fun read. Parts were a bit melodramatic, on purpose I assume and there were several points of view, as well as those from the H/h. A nice way to spend a couple of hours - on the 'high seas' - of the English channel, with a swoon-worthy 'pirate' and a damsel in 'distress'. 🙂 3.5 stars.
Profile Image for Isis Ray-sisco.
748 reviews
May 2, 2020
I enjoyed this story. I thought it was a fun one. I liked the characters and the plot. I liked the chemistry between Barbara and Blake especially since she was not considered the best "catch" in society (she was only sought after for her father's money). Their chemistry sizzled right off the pages. I enjoyed the secondary characters as well. There were a few twists in the plot that kept it interesting as well. I would recommend this book and all of this author's other books to others.
Profile Image for Isha Coleman.
8,933 reviews172 followers
May 3, 2020
The Pleasure of a Pirate by Linda Rae Sande

Reviewed for Candid Book Reviews

I came for the romance and lost my heart to the adventure. Prepare to be swept away by the thrill of it all. The Pleasure of a Pirate will ride off into the sunset with more than just your heart. Sande is masterful at taking emotions on the sweetest of escapes. All you need is vivid imagination and an open heart to enjoy the ride.
4,720 reviews40 followers
May 18, 2020
Cutlass or sword?
This one is just too cute adventure, romance, along with a bit of danger a sinister plot to foil. The tale is amusing and so well written I fell in love with the characters and the witty dialogue. I do not want to say much about the tale and spoil the reader’s fun in reading it but it is an excellent book that I highly recommend. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
Profile Image for Christine Woinich.
2,778 reviews26 followers
June 16, 2020
I enjoyed this story. It was a quick read, and I loved the atmosphere. Pirates, sailors, kidnapping, daring young ladies, and more made this worth reading. The connection between Barbara and Blake was quick and strong, and sensual.

I received a copy of this story through CBR Services, and this is my unsolicited review.
Profile Image for Annette.
3,167 reviews9 followers
May 1, 2020
This is one of the best I've ever read by this author. I love the plot focus and the characters are down to earth with a bit of a spark of attraction from the start. Just enough of everything. I received a free copy without obligation and am voluntarily reviewing.
Profile Image for Barbara.
19.2k reviews8 followers
July 22, 2020
A well written short story that kept me turning pages. The captain of the Molly, Blake Russell and Miss Barbara Wycliff's story there is suspense, drama, danger, kidnapping, twists, turns, a villain and romance. I enjoyed seeing this story come together.
159 reviews
July 1, 2022
Only a part-time pirate

Mix an attractive (and rich) ransomed woman with a Captain assigned to rescue her at sea and enjoy the enjoyable adventure Sande always delivers.
Highly recommended!
2,951 reviews
November 12, 2024
An entertaining pirate kidnap story complete with a masked ball! I think the writing fell a bit flat at times and tension between Blake and Barbara could have been more believable. Overall, if this had been edited better and maybe even expanded, this would have been a great book.
Profile Image for Pufflez .
19 reviews
January 17, 2025
It wasn't anything special but a good casual read not much in terms of adversity the antagonist was easily delt with and the ending predictable but it was a pleasant read regardless good if you want to just read something casual
Profile Image for Candy.
888 reviews3 followers
April 11, 2022
I really tried to like this book but it was just so sophomoric.
Profile Image for Kera Graham.
45 reviews3 followers
February 20, 2024
I'm not sure what I'm missing that everyone else loves. Barbara was whiny and the dialog ridiculous even but romance novel standards. On the plus side it was short.
810 reviews8 followers
January 27, 2025
Strangers meet and the attraction is mutual. Quick paced storytelling with innuendo laden dialog in the style the author regularly delivers. Diverting.
118 reviews1 follower
September 4, 2023
Miss Barbara Wycliffe was attending a masquerade ball. Lord Dorchester was there, and Captain Blake Russell was commissioned to watch him. Barbara shared a dance with Lord Dorchester, and Captain Russell.

After supper, while Blake was watching for the other two to come back to the ballroom, they managed to disappear. Miss Althea Woodcock, Barbara’s maid, saw her mistress being kidnapped and followed. She tells Blake what she saw, and they pursue the “Tuscan” to France.

Aboard the “Molly”, Blake and his first mate, Mr Nelson have a discussion about the Lady’s maid. Nelson recognises her from when they were younger in Cheapside.

The “Molly” catches up to he “Tuscan”, and both Lord Dorchester and Barbara are escorted back to the “Molly”. Lord Dorchester is detained in the brig, and Barbara is settled into Blake’s cabin. He goes in search of the maid, and finds that she is now aboard the “Tuscan”.

On the return journey, Blake declares his love to Barbara, who reciprocates and states that her father will let them get married.

There are a couple of surprises at the end of the book too.

I absolutely love reading books by this author, and am never disappointed.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews

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