Rash Reckless Love

Love #2

by Valerie Sherwood

Van Ryker flees England to escape a murder charge and becomes a pirate, but his passionate bride learns the truth about his past and seeks to clear his name

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Pirates

Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

A pseudonym of Jeanne Hines.

Reviews

[Nick Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read recently that author Valerie Sherwood wrote her chunky, bodice ripping romances in bursts of inspired creativity. And, it shows. Sherwood propels the reader through a swashbuckling seventeenth century soap opera. There’s little room for logic, all manner of complicated, convoluted coincidences and loads of last minute plot twists. All of it, even a cliched Cinderella sub-plot, works wonderfully well.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the romance novel that I read while on my honeymoon at Waikiki Beach.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Rash Reckless Love," the second in Sherwood's "Love" quartet, divides its attention between Imogene settling into marriage with her buccaneer Van Ryker in 1660s Tortuga and fast-forwarding to 1671 to begin the story of her long-lost daughter Georgiana, being raised unknowing of her heritage on Bermuda. The section on Imogene, although suspenseful and well-done, is basically a self-contained novella. The second part, longer, advances the story, albeit with a very, very quickly arranged conclusion that promises to be resolved not in the third, but in the final book of the series. Characterized by Sherwood's trademark deep knowledge of the 17th century and its customs and costumes (at the beginning of her career, the author was a fashion journalist and it shows), the novel is a fun read.

[Stevie Seber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Rash Reckless Love, I've read it several times now and love it each time; the exotic locations, the fierce buccaneers and sleek, agile ships and brave and fierce Captain van Ryker and beautiful Imogene. I first read this book years ago when one of my aunts gave me a copy and I visited wild and colorful Tortuga for the second time and was introduced to van Ryker and Imogene.

I'll be honest, I cringe at the mention of the cosmetics of the time period but at the same time it's funny to read one of the characters threatening the use of puppy dog urine to her sister. I get the feeling I'll be enjoying this book as long as my eyes can see to read the words on those old, yellow pages. So, let's unfurl our sails, weigh anchor and set sail to the wild and colorful 1600's Caribbean.

[Stevie Seber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Rash Reckless Love again, I've read this several times before I ever started using Goodreads, I first got a copy from one of my aunts and having read about Anne Bonny, in Sea Star I was already familiar with Tortuga but reading Rash Reckless Love taught me a lot more about the island and a bit more about history; it was really cool to learn that a buccaneer actually captured the Spanish treasure fleet and that some of the events mentioned in this story were based from actual events that took place at the time period the story was set in.

Imogene and van Ryker made quite a pair, I found myself admiring Imogene's spirit and van Ryker's courage and love for his spirited lady. I really enjoyed reading about their 'buccaneer wedding', as well, where Imogene walked with van Ryker down an aisle under the archway of crossed cutlasses.

The book does shift a little, first it tells about Imogene and van Ryker and how Imogene gets reminded that she's among people who sail under false colors and many of whom can never return to their native lands and then it tells about Imogene's daughter by her barely mentioned lover before van Ryker, Georgina who grows up never knowing the beautiful and spirited woman who was her mother.