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Secret Lords and Ladies #1
Serenade
Grace is plotting a course for unknown territory.
When young Grace Hathaway decides to escape from the threat of marriage to a horrible man, she takes her fate into her own hands, stowing away on the Serenade with the aim of sailing to Spain.
Captain Marcus James is haunted by a violent past he can barely remember except in the dark murky sea of his dreams. Competition with government traders has seen him take on illegal hidden goods, just to keep The Serenade and her crew afloat. The last thing he needs is undue attention from the wrong quarters, and the last thing he expects to find is Grace.
Facing stormy seas, bloody battles with pirates and a sizzling romance, will Grace and Marcus find a port of call?
When young Grace Hathaway decides to escape from the threat of marriage to a horrible man, she takes her fate into her own hands, stowing away on the Serenade with the aim of sailing to Spain.
Captain Marcus James is haunted by a violent past he can barely remember except in the dark murky sea of his dreams. Competition with government traders has seen him take on illegal hidden goods, just to keep The Serenade and her crew afloat. The last thing he needs is undue attention from the wrong quarters, and the last thing he expects to find is Grace.
Facing stormy seas, bloody battles with pirates and a sizzling romance, will Grace and Marcus find a port of call?
- GenresHistorical Romance
ebook
First published April 12, 2010
9 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Erin Grace
21 books41 followersErin Grace's love of collecting and reproducing antique lace led to a deep connection with the past. She felt every snippet of the precious fabric held a unique story - one Erin longed to tell.
But, as no two pieces of lace are the same, neither are Erin's stories. Escaping from her 'real world' of sales and marketing, she immerses herself in unfolding tales of dire circumstance, brave heroines, unscrupulous villains and, of course, passionate hot-blooded men.
Erin's favourite authors include Julie Garwood, Amanda Quick and Diana Gabaldon.
When not writing, Erin indulges in her love of home-style food by cooking for her family and friends. Erin lives with her husband and three sons in the beautiful Blue Mountains of Australia.
But, as no two pieces of lace are the same, neither are Erin's stories. Escaping from her 'real world' of sales and marketing, she immerses herself in unfolding tales of dire circumstance, brave heroines, unscrupulous villains and, of course, passionate hot-blooded men.
Erin's favourite authors include Julie Garwood, Amanda Quick and Diana Gabaldon.
When not writing, Erin indulges in her love of home-style food by cooking for her family and friends. Erin lives with her husband and three sons in the beautiful Blue Mountains of Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 4, 2021
On land and sea 1793. This contained 2 romances. The
1st half seemed better than the 2nd half.
The evil stepfather (step) kept Grace & cousin Victoria
hostage. He planned to force Grace to wed her 2nd cousin
so step could control her inheritance. Grace wanted to sail
to Spain to speak in person w/ her 2nd Guardian, Mr. Bailey.
She stowed away on H's ship w/ a crew she thought pirates
(untrue!) to reach Spain. Destination: no where near Spain.
Captain Marcus James, masculine & alpha (& vulnerable)
considered Grace a nuisance and referred to her as "my little
barnacle." She declined to share her stowaway purpose. At
one point the hero's ship converged with 2 other ships ( 1 a
man-o-war!) & the h acted a fool. How could the H love the
h who showed so little concern for her safety or that of the
H's crew? Grace stomped her feet a few times too (how old
was she again?) If the irritating elements were modified or
eliminated, this would have been an adventurous romance.
Marcus deserved a better woman. If he met Grace 5 yrs on,
she'd still need time to mature. The author hinted at a HEA
for Vic and her man.
1st half seemed better than the 2nd half.
The evil stepfather (step) kept Grace & cousin Victoria
hostage. He planned to force Grace to wed her 2nd cousin
so step could control her inheritance. Grace wanted to sail
to Spain to speak in person w/ her 2nd Guardian, Mr. Bailey.
She stowed away on H's ship w/ a crew she thought pirates
(untrue!) to reach Spain. Destination: no where near Spain.
Captain Marcus James, masculine & alpha (& vulnerable)
considered Grace a nuisance and referred to her as "my little
barnacle." She declined to share her stowaway purpose. At
one point the hero's ship converged with 2 other ships ( 1 a
man-o-war!) & the h acted a fool. How could the H love the
h who showed so little concern for her safety or that of the
H's crew? Grace stomped her feet a few times too (how old
was she again?) If the irritating elements were modified or
eliminated, this would have been an adventurous romance.
Marcus deserved a better woman. If he met Grace 5 yrs on,
she'd still need time to mature. The author hinted at a HEA
for Vic and her man.
December 10, 2018
It is a long time since I have read a pirate story and this one is really good, what a pirate Marcus is and what a stubborn heroine Grace is, she certainly gives him a run for his love. This one will keep you turning the pages as together they sail the high seas, fight real pirates and discover secrets and true love.
Grace Hathaway is on a mission to find her benefactor Mr Bailey who is in charge of her inheritance before she is forced into marrying her horrid cousin, her and her cousin Victoria have been kept tightly under control by her Uncle Horace, but to find Mr Bailey she must get to Spain, this she does by stowing away on the ship The Serenade, but when she is discovered by the very handsome Captain James, her life is about to change in many ways and she will lose her heart to this man in a very sensual way.
Marcus James has very few memories from his past the only life he has known is the sea she is his mistress, but often he is plagued by short memories from his childhood. He loves being captain of his ship and mostly what he does is legal but there is often some illegal trading going on, but when he finds the beautiful stowaway Grace he is about to lose his heart to her in a spectacular way.
This is a fabulous fast paced story it is sensual and moving as well, I did love Grace, feisty and not afraid to say what she thinks, I loved seeing her stand up to pirates and Marcus what a hero, and Grace was just who he needed. Their journey to a HEA is pretty up and down especially when they get back to London and discover a few things about Marcus, I do highly recommend that you pick this one up, a good pirate story is a must read.
Grace Hathaway is on a mission to find her benefactor Mr Bailey who is in charge of her inheritance before she is forced into marrying her horrid cousin, her and her cousin Victoria have been kept tightly under control by her Uncle Horace, but to find Mr Bailey she must get to Spain, this she does by stowing away on the ship The Serenade, but when she is discovered by the very handsome Captain James, her life is about to change in many ways and she will lose her heart to this man in a very sensual way.
Marcus James has very few memories from his past the only life he has known is the sea she is his mistress, but often he is plagued by short memories from his childhood. He loves being captain of his ship and mostly what he does is legal but there is often some illegal trading going on, but when he finds the beautiful stowaway Grace he is about to lose his heart to her in a spectacular way.
This is a fabulous fast paced story it is sensual and moving as well, I did love Grace, feisty and not afraid to say what she thinks, I loved seeing her stand up to pirates and Marcus what a hero, and Grace was just who he needed. Their journey to a HEA is pretty up and down especially when they get back to London and discover a few things about Marcus, I do highly recommend that you pick this one up, a good pirate story is a must read.
September 11, 2021
This was actually really good! I wasn’t expecting much going in but it had me hooked! My only issue is the pacing really- The first half was so exciting and fast paced, and whilst the second half was still good, it was a lot slower and there was a lot more miscommunication that could have been resolved quicker. I really loved Captain James and Grace and thought they were really cute together. I would have liked a bit of a longer ending, it kind of ended abruptly but overall it was a pretty good read.
September 1, 2022
it made me Cry, Laugh and just love every minute of it i can read it a second time.
February 15, 2023
A lovely book to escape into. Grace is a feisty little stowaway aboard Marcus's cargo ship, although she mistakes him as a pirate. But she'll soon learn he's no scoundrel pirate when she encounters real, bloodthirsty, evil ones. I thoroughly enjoyed the scenes at sea and things grew more complicated upon the return to London, and Grace and Marcus were separated. But they each needed to come to terms with who they were and find their way to love again.
This was a great read and turns out, historical sea captains are hot. :D
This was a great read and turns out, historical sea captains are hot. :D
September 17, 2011
Fabulous story! The characters were wonderful and had all the qualities(and a few flaws)that real people do. A delicious hero and spunky heroine--just what I love in a romance. Some truly heart-wrenching moments.
October 9, 2021
Oh boy, Grace was a frustrating person. Marcus had a lot more patience than I would have had. However, the story was engaging.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews