What do you think?
Rate this book
The Duke & the Pirate Queen
Aboard her privateering ship, The Seaflower , Captain Imena Leung is the law. Ashore she answers only to her liege, Duke Maxime. They are a powerful couple, with an intense attraction neither can disguise nor deny. As a nobleman, Maxime is destined to wed strategically, so his seductive advances must be purely for pleasure. And what self-respecting pirate denies herself any pleasure?
Their delicious dalliance is prolonged when Imena is forced to abduct Maxime to thwart a political plot against him. At sea, with a stunningly virile man bound and held in her private quarters, Imena can imagine—and enact—any number of intoxicating scenarios.
The heat between captain and captive is matched only by the perils that beset The Seaflower and her crew. Violent storms, marauding corsairs and life-or-death sex games on a desert island—how fortunate for the seemingly insatiable lovers that danger and desire go hand-in-hand.
Their delicious dalliance is prolonged when Imena is forced to abduct Maxime to thwart a political plot against him. At sea, with a stunningly virile man bound and held in her private quarters, Imena can imagine—and enact—any number of intoxicating scenarios.
The heat between captain and captive is matched only by the perils that beset The Seaflower and her crew. Violent storms, marauding corsairs and life-or-death sex games on a desert island—how fortunate for the seemingly insatiable lovers that danger and desire go hand-in-hand.
368 pages, Paperback
First published November 16, 2010
11 people are currently reading
247 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Janssen
35 books99 followersVictoria Janssen currently writes science fiction romance for Kalikoi.
Her most recent print novel is The Duke and the Pirate Queen, fantasy erotica (Harlequin). It has pirates, sharks, and the Island of the Lotus Eaters. It's set in the same universe as her first novel, The Duchess, Her Maid, The Groom, and Their Lover. Her second novel, The Moonlight Mistress, is an erotic historical set during World War One. It has a tie-in story with a cross-dressing soldier heroine, "Under Her Uniform."
Janssen has sold over thirty short stories. For her blog and a full list of her publications, please visit her website at victoriajanssen.com.
She's a member of The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association.
Social Media:
Bluesky.
Wandering Shop at Mastodon.
Tumblr.
Facebook Author Page.
Her most recent print novel is The Duke and the Pirate Queen, fantasy erotica (Harlequin). It has pirates, sharks, and the Island of the Lotus Eaters. It's set in the same universe as her first novel, The Duchess, Her Maid, The Groom, and Their Lover. Her second novel, The Moonlight Mistress, is an erotic historical set during World War One. It has a tie-in story with a cross-dressing soldier heroine, "Under Her Uniform."
Janssen has sold over thirty short stories. For her blog and a full list of her publications, please visit her website at victoriajanssen.com.
She's a member of The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association.
Social Media:
Bluesky.
Wandering Shop at Mastodon.
Tumblr.
Facebook Author Page.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
January 4, 2011
I picked The Duke and the Pirate Queen up on a whim in the bookstore. The cover is beautiful, and I loved the idea of the heroine being a female ship captain. I have to say, I should follow my whims more often. This book was gorgeously written, incredibly sexy, and a very entertaining read.
The characters in this book are wonderful. They’re all well-rounded and interesting, even the minor characters, and I am heartily impressed by that. It’s so easy to just use stock characters as, for example, the crew of The Seaflower or the courtiers, but Janssen brings all of them to life. I also love that the characters are so diverse. Janssen doesn’t go overboard with descriptions, but the hints she throws out about their appearances build a widely-varied cast. The world of The Duke and the Pirate Queen is invented (though not exactly a fantasy world), though it seems to be based on our cultures through the use of names like Arionhrod and Kuan. Those little hints of various ethnicities and cultures create a world that is wonderfully refreshing as well as richly described.
Imena and Maxime are great lead characters. Maxime is the kind of hero that’s almost too good to be true: gorgeous, ripped, with an enormous… asset and a habit of sleeping with pretty much anyone who tickles his fancy. But he’s also quietly intelligent and a skilled diplomat, with a deep set of motivations and a strong sense of devotion to the people he cares about. I liked him very much, but Imena was the character who really fascinated me. She feels like a foreigner no matter where she goes; her parents are of very different ancestries, and in her mother’s land, Imena is seen as an outsider and an aberration. In the duchies, Maxime’s land, her looks as well as her privateer’s tattoos set her apart from those people as well. She only feels at home on her ship, with her crew, and it was a pleasure to see her open up to Maxime. I was surprised and pleased by the fact that Imena regularly shaves her head. The tattoos extend onto her scalp, so she shaves so they’re visible, but it was such a surprising move, to have a heroine that doesn’t have long, lustrous hair.
My only complaint about the book is that the plot sometimes feels like it’s meandering rather than moving smoothly forward. After Imena abducts Maxime and they go on the run, much of the story is taken up with seemingly random events. Sylvie, a spy working for Maxime’s close friend, does the brunt of the work in rooting out the plot against the duke, and while Imena and Maxime do more than their fair share of fighting and evading danger, their part of the story seems more designed to bring the two of them together romantically. The ending felt rather anti-climactic, too, but the more I think about it, the more it fits with the pace of Maxime and Imena’s story. I wished there had been a bit more in the way of excitement in the ending (more showing and less telling), but it was still satisfying.
Admittedly, I’m not complaining too much. The two of them coming together romantically (and repeatedly) more than makes up for a minor complaint in pacing. Janssen can write sex scenes that will set your panties on fire. For a while I’d gotten bored with the love scenes in romances; they all seemed repetitive and boring. I think this book has helped me get over my boredom. Holy cow.
I enjoyed pretty much everything about this book, from the steamy love scenes to the amazing descriptions to the likable characters. I’ll definitely be seeking out more Victoria Janssen novels.
(Originally published at The Discriminating Fangirl.)
The characters in this book are wonderful. They’re all well-rounded and interesting, even the minor characters, and I am heartily impressed by that. It’s so easy to just use stock characters as, for example, the crew of The Seaflower or the courtiers, but Janssen brings all of them to life. I also love that the characters are so diverse. Janssen doesn’t go overboard with descriptions, but the hints she throws out about their appearances build a widely-varied cast. The world of The Duke and the Pirate Queen is invented (though not exactly a fantasy world), though it seems to be based on our cultures through the use of names like Arionhrod and Kuan. Those little hints of various ethnicities and cultures create a world that is wonderfully refreshing as well as richly described.
Imena and Maxime are great lead characters. Maxime is the kind of hero that’s almost too good to be true: gorgeous, ripped, with an enormous… asset and a habit of sleeping with pretty much anyone who tickles his fancy. But he’s also quietly intelligent and a skilled diplomat, with a deep set of motivations and a strong sense of devotion to the people he cares about. I liked him very much, but Imena was the character who really fascinated me. She feels like a foreigner no matter where she goes; her parents are of very different ancestries, and in her mother’s land, Imena is seen as an outsider and an aberration. In the duchies, Maxime’s land, her looks as well as her privateer’s tattoos set her apart from those people as well. She only feels at home on her ship, with her crew, and it was a pleasure to see her open up to Maxime. I was surprised and pleased by the fact that Imena regularly shaves her head. The tattoos extend onto her scalp, so she shaves so they’re visible, but it was such a surprising move, to have a heroine that doesn’t have long, lustrous hair.
My only complaint about the book is that the plot sometimes feels like it’s meandering rather than moving smoothly forward. After Imena abducts Maxime and they go on the run, much of the story is taken up with seemingly random events. Sylvie, a spy working for Maxime’s close friend, does the brunt of the work in rooting out the plot against the duke, and while Imena and Maxime do more than their fair share of fighting and evading danger, their part of the story seems more designed to bring the two of them together romantically. The ending felt rather anti-climactic, too, but the more I think about it, the more it fits with the pace of Maxime and Imena’s story. I wished there had been a bit more in the way of excitement in the ending (more showing and less telling), but it was still satisfying.
Admittedly, I’m not complaining too much. The two of them coming together romantically (and repeatedly) more than makes up for a minor complaint in pacing. Janssen can write sex scenes that will set your panties on fire. For a while I’d gotten bored with the love scenes in romances; they all seemed repetitive and boring. I think this book has helped me get over my boredom. Holy cow.
I enjoyed pretty much everything about this book, from the steamy love scenes to the amazing descriptions to the likable characters. I’ll definitely be seeking out more Victoria Janssen novels.
(Originally published at The Discriminating Fangirl.)
May 3, 2011
I'm having a hard time rating this book. The overall plot and structure felt a little too loose, like it could have used another revision or two to tighten things up. The intrigue arc fell a little flat. Yet those things didn't manage to dim my overall enjoyment of The Duke & the Pirate Queen. (BTW, the heroine is neither a pirate, nor a queen, but I suppose "The Duke and the Female Former Privateer" didn't quite have the same ring.) So I'm stuck with a bit of a quandary, because I really enjoyed the individual scenes that made up this book, but as a full story, it needed some polish and tightening. I almost want to give it four stars anyway, because like I said, the individual scenes were great. Beautiful imagery, great fights, and the sex was hot and not formulaic. The only word I can think of for it is "sincere," which sounds ridiculous, I know. But you can tell that Ms. Janssen really put her love into this book, and it shows in so many ways. I gotta respect that.
I also loved the fact that the Duke wasn't an alpha hero. Yet he was strong in all the right ways and in the most important way: emotionally. I thought it was interesting to have a story, not about how two people fall in love, but how they come to terms with the fact that they are in love. And it was done in a very human and flawed way. Both Imena and Maxime were incredibly human amidst a very fantastical setting. This was reflected in so many little and big ways, and really made the romance and sex in this story so enjoyable.
The secondary characters were also great, really interesting and fleshed out without being too distracting. The business with Sylvie and Raoul could have been a disaster plot-wise, but it worked.
Over all... sigh, I'm still torn on my rating. 3.87? I think it's definitely worth reading, despite the loose feel of the whole thing. It was different and fresh, and that gets bonus points in my book.
I also loved the fact that the Duke wasn't an alpha hero. Yet he was strong in all the right ways and in the most important way: emotionally. I thought it was interesting to have a story, not about how two people fall in love, but how they come to terms with the fact that they are in love. And it was done in a very human and flawed way. Both Imena and Maxime were incredibly human amidst a very fantastical setting. This was reflected in so many little and big ways, and really made the romance and sex in this story so enjoyable.
The secondary characters were also great, really interesting and fleshed out without being too distracting. The business with Sylvie and Raoul could have been a disaster plot-wise, but it worked.
Over all... sigh, I'm still torn on my rating. 3.87? I think it's definitely worth reading, despite the loose feel of the whole thing. It was different and fresh, and that gets bonus points in my book.
March 13, 2018
This is an erotic story. I thought it was enjoyable but I didn't love it. I liked Imena because she's a take-charge woman who is the captain of her own ship. I had a hard time liking Maxime, and since he is the hero of the story, it pretty much made it hard for me to get into the book.
February 11, 2011
Plot wandered. Characters felt thrown in. I was not engaged or excited to read this. I wanted it to be over.
STORY BRIEF:
Maxime is a duke. He loves Imena, but she has been refusing his advances. She is a half-breed and feels she wouldn’t fit in his world. She is captain of her own ship and works for Maxime, bringing products for sale in his country. One night, Imena overhears two men plotting to kill Maxime. She immediately has two of her crew help her kidnap Maxime and take him onto her ship for safety. She immediately leaves port. While at sea, Imena’s ship is searched, they are attacked by pirates, and Imena and Maxime are taken prisoner by some islanders. Meanwhile one of Maxime’s friends, Sylvie, is investigating to learn who is behind the plot.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
Give this a pass. It was tedious. I wanted it to be over. Some parts were told and not shown. I didn’t like the way Imena treated Maxime on her ship. He had no idea there was a plot against him. And he had no idea why he was kept locked in a room for hours. When she finally comes to him, she ties him up and still doesn’t tell him anything. She had no reason to tie him up. I think the author was suggesting she tied him up so he wouldn’t tempt her with sex. But that didn’t make sense. She said no to sex before. She could say no again. This didn’t feel right. It felt contrived for conflict. Earlier when they first had sex, he pleased her and then she left without reciprocating. She came off as inconsiderate and selfish.
Some of the plot elements weren’t developed enough. The plot wandered. The characters felt thrown in, rather than using their personalities to do something interesting. Toward the end Maxime uses his powers of persuasion to convince Captain Litvinova to do something. I wanted to hear that conversation. It was told, not shown. When the conspiracy is uncovered, it too was told, not shown. There is no conversation with the bad guy. I wanted to know more about his motives, methods, and punishment. I had unanswered questions about Raoul. I was not engaged or excited to read this. There was one long sex scene (17 pages) between Sylvie and someone she was questioning. It wasn’t exciting or passionate. She gave him orders throughout and asked him questions. Other sex scenes were ok, but nothing really moved me.
I was unhappy with the cover picture being wrong. Imena is dark skinned, cover girl is not. Maxime has shoulder length hair, a beard and chest hair. Cover guy has a short haircut, no beard, and no chest hair.
CAUTION MINOR SPOILERS:
When the pirates attack Imena’s ship, she loses the battle. But later, one of her crew shoots some arrows to start a fire on the pirate’s ship. This allows Imena and Maxime to jump back over to her ship and sail off. They are faster sailors and get away. Why didn’t they do this before they were caught?
When Imena and Maxime are caught by the islanders. They are told they must have sex in front of the islanders. Another couple is also having sex at the same time. The first couple to have orgasm wins. If they win, Imena and Maxime will be set free. The performance was not exciting. It could have been done better.
DATA:
Story length: 353 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: 11. Estimated number of sex scene pages: 44. Setting: unknown time in the Horizon Empire and on the sea. The time and place sound similar to England in the early 1800s. Copyright: 2010. Genre: erotic historical high seas romance.
STORY BRIEF:
Maxime is a duke. He loves Imena, but she has been refusing his advances. She is a half-breed and feels she wouldn’t fit in his world. She is captain of her own ship and works for Maxime, bringing products for sale in his country. One night, Imena overhears two men plotting to kill Maxime. She immediately has two of her crew help her kidnap Maxime and take him onto her ship for safety. She immediately leaves port. While at sea, Imena’s ship is searched, they are attacked by pirates, and Imena and Maxime are taken prisoner by some islanders. Meanwhile one of Maxime’s friends, Sylvie, is investigating to learn who is behind the plot.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
Give this a pass. It was tedious. I wanted it to be over. Some parts were told and not shown. I didn’t like the way Imena treated Maxime on her ship. He had no idea there was a plot against him. And he had no idea why he was kept locked in a room for hours. When she finally comes to him, she ties him up and still doesn’t tell him anything. She had no reason to tie him up. I think the author was suggesting she tied him up so he wouldn’t tempt her with sex. But that didn’t make sense. She said no to sex before. She could say no again. This didn’t feel right. It felt contrived for conflict. Earlier when they first had sex, he pleased her and then she left without reciprocating. She came off as inconsiderate and selfish.
Some of the plot elements weren’t developed enough. The plot wandered. The characters felt thrown in, rather than using their personalities to do something interesting. Toward the end Maxime uses his powers of persuasion to convince Captain Litvinova to do something. I wanted to hear that conversation. It was told, not shown. When the conspiracy is uncovered, it too was told, not shown. There is no conversation with the bad guy. I wanted to know more about his motives, methods, and punishment. I had unanswered questions about Raoul. I was not engaged or excited to read this. There was one long sex scene (17 pages) between Sylvie and someone she was questioning. It wasn’t exciting or passionate. She gave him orders throughout and asked him questions. Other sex scenes were ok, but nothing really moved me.
I was unhappy with the cover picture being wrong. Imena is dark skinned, cover girl is not. Maxime has shoulder length hair, a beard and chest hair. Cover guy has a short haircut, no beard, and no chest hair.
CAUTION MINOR SPOILERS:
When the pirates attack Imena’s ship, she loses the battle. But later, one of her crew shoots some arrows to start a fire on the pirate’s ship. This allows Imena and Maxime to jump back over to her ship and sail off. They are faster sailors and get away. Why didn’t they do this before they were caught?
When Imena and Maxime are caught by the islanders. They are told they must have sex in front of the islanders. Another couple is also having sex at the same time. The first couple to have orgasm wins. If they win, Imena and Maxime will be set free. The performance was not exciting. It could have been done better.
DATA:
Story length: 353 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: 11. Estimated number of sex scene pages: 44. Setting: unknown time in the Horizon Empire and on the sea. The time and place sound similar to England in the early 1800s. Copyright: 2010. Genre: erotic historical high seas romance.
February 1, 2015
WARNING: Book contains LOTS and LOTS of sex. Everyone is enthusiastically consenting and having a good time, but it’s very explicit with few euphemisms, so steer clear if you prefer your characters to Do It with the bed curtains fully closed.
The book is set in a world where just about everyone is a 5 on the Kinsey Scale, open about their sexuality, and looking to have fun with whoever else is in the mood.
There’s plenty of political, racial and class issues – but it was amazingly refreshing to read about a world where sexuality and gender were not issues. People are free to pursue their interests, either in bed or at work, and gender or sexual preference will not stand in the way. Wow!
And pursue their interests these characters do, in all ways. Palace intrigues, spying, piracy, sea battles, and plenty of down time in between adventures to… release tensions.
Biggest complaint – the way the book and world building is set up, I felt as though I had been plopped into book 4 for an 8 book series.
The plot is basically the captain overheard a plot to hurt the duke she works for , so actually, she kidnaps him naked from his bedroom rolled up in a rug – for his own safety, and whacky hijinks ensue.
Also – “making the tide” is my new favorite expression for sex.
May 6, 2017
Well that's the last time I choose a book without checking Goodreads. I didn't finish. I didn't get past chapter 3 (I think). How do people accomplish anything when ALL they think about is sex? And I do mean all. Tedious and way too repetitive.
March 16, 2021
Fun story of the high seas... and royal machinations... and lost of sex
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2017
This is like the book version of Jupiter Ascending: it's bad but in the best way possible.
This thing is basically a bunch of my favourite tropes all rolled into one: fantasy (no magic), nautical, pirate captain and dominant heroine, a smattering of political intrigue and plenty of sex.
Things I loved: the world building was interesting - I would want to spend more time in this world. There were characters of colour, various sexualities and even a transgender character that were all treated with respect. Women were allowed to be just as sexually experienced as men.
The plot was kind of a mess, and the relationship development was pretty meh (I would have preferred if it started when they first met). The main characters were ok - not a huge amount of personal development. But entertaining enough. The writing was also ok.
I would have liked it to be a little more spicy - it's a little to vanilla with all that promise.
If this is part of a series, I will track down the others.
This thing is basically a bunch of my favourite tropes all rolled into one: fantasy (no magic), nautical, pirate captain and dominant heroine, a smattering of political intrigue and plenty of sex.
Things I loved: the world building was interesting - I would want to spend more time in this world. There were characters of colour, various sexualities and even a transgender character that were all treated with respect. Women were allowed to be just as sexually experienced as men.
The plot was kind of a mess, and the relationship development was pretty meh (I would have preferred if it started when they first met). The main characters were ok - not a huge amount of personal development. But entertaining enough. The writing was also ok.
I would have liked it to be a little more spicy - it's a little to vanilla with all that promise.
If this is part of a series, I will track down the others.
February 27, 2017
Fun On the High Seas
Full of pirates, spies, adventure, and steamy romance, Victoria Janssen really knows how to entertain her audience! I really enjoyed this, and look forward to more by a new favorite romance author! Four and a half stars!
Full of pirates, spies, adventure, and steamy romance, Victoria Janssen really knows how to entertain her audience! I really enjoyed this, and look forward to more by a new favorite romance author! Four and a half stars!
December 29, 2010
THE DUKE AND THE PIRATE QUEEN by Victoria Janssen is a Spice historical romance set in nineteenth century high seas,England. It is well written with depth and details. It has romance, danger, lust, betrayal, passion, violent storms, pirates, spicy sex,love,sex games on a deserted island, trust, role reversal with the enpowerment of women, and a powerful couple with an intense attraction of each other. The heroine, Imena, is beautiful, a pirateeing captain, captain of "The Seaflower", has an intense attraction to the handsome Maxime, who is also her boss. The hero, Maxime, is handsome, a Duke, destined to wed, a powerful nobleman, and has an intense attraction to his beautiful employee, Imena. When Imena, overhears the plans to abduct Maxime, she decides to kidnap him herself to keep him safe. They have had an attraction for each other from the beginning. With Maxime deciding he wants to marry the beautiful,sexy,seafaring captain, Maxime. Together they make a powerful couple. Either,battling pirates on the open seas or being captured on a deserted island, for sexual games.
This is a powerful story of love, meeting their destinies and coming together of a powerful couple. WARNING: This book does have explicit sex scenes. I would recommend this book, especially if you enjoy high sea drama, graphic sex scenes and a great story of love, lust, power and a couple learning to trust each other. This book was received for the purpose of review from Net Galley and details can be found at HQN, Spice and My Book Addiction and More.
This is a powerful story of love, meeting their destinies and coming together of a powerful couple. WARNING: This book does have explicit sex scenes. I would recommend this book, especially if you enjoy high sea drama, graphic sex scenes and a great story of love, lust, power and a couple learning to trust each other. This book was received for the purpose of review from Net Galley and details can be found at HQN, Spice and My Book Addiction and More.
November 30, 2010
The King wants Duke Maxime to marry the Lady Diamanta Picot but Max only wants Captain Imena Leung who is his employee. Imena is also having the same problem because her parents want her to marry and settle down. There is now way she is going to do that. She loves her crew and ship, The Seaflower, and can't imagine life without them. While ashore she overhears a plot to kill Max so she kidnaps him and brings him aboard her ship until Sylvie, who is Duchess Camille's bodyguard/spy/handmaiden, discovers who is behind it. Lord Odell is the chief suspect because he hopes to elevated himself to Duke. Now the fun begins between Max and Imena and they discover that maybe they are more suited for each other then originally thought!
What a fun read! This had everything that I liked in a historical romance. Action, intrigue, and hot steamy romance! Captain Imena Leung is a very strong heroine and well matched against, Duke Maxime, who is determined to marry her. If you are fan of the historical romance you will not be disappointed in this book!
What a fun read! This had everything that I liked in a historical romance. Action, intrigue, and hot steamy romance! Captain Imena Leung is a very strong heroine and well matched against, Duke Maxime, who is determined to marry her. If you are fan of the historical romance you will not be disappointed in this book!
June 14, 2022
A marvelous tale spun with adventure and romance. The colorful arrangement of characters in terms of gender, sexuality, and race was well written and enjoyable to interact with. While the book is set in a fantastical setting, it still felt familiar and easy to grasp the imagery of the world presented. At times, I felt the plot got lost amongst some of the romantic encounters between characters but I was never disappointed in the moments presented. Overall, a lovely story that I can see myself returning to.
September 27, 2011
I had such high hopes for this novel. It had a beautiful cover and what I thought would be a fascinating storyline.
I couldn’t have been more wrong. The storyline was boring and the characters were annoying. What I thought would be an engaging storyline actually almost bored me to tears. I was so disinterested that I found myself skipping large passages without even realizing it. The characters also left me wanting. They were so set in their ways that their personalities became obnoxious.
Not to mention the lack of heat. After reading the beginning, which was very steamy, I thought the rest would be just as erotic. I was wrong. When they leads finally did have sex, it was so bland, I had to reread it to make sure I didn’t miss anything. After that, any erotic scenes also fell flat with.
Don’t be fooled by the pretty covering and interesting sounding plot. Oh, and she isn’t really a pirate queen, by the way.
I couldn’t have been more wrong. The storyline was boring and the characters were annoying. What I thought would be an engaging storyline actually almost bored me to tears. I was so disinterested that I found myself skipping large passages without even realizing it. The characters also left me wanting. They were so set in their ways that their personalities became obnoxious.
Not to mention the lack of heat. After reading the beginning, which was very steamy, I thought the rest would be just as erotic. I was wrong. When they leads finally did have sex, it was so bland, I had to reread it to make sure I didn’t miss anything. After that, any erotic scenes also fell flat with.
Don’t be fooled by the pretty covering and interesting sounding plot. Oh, and she isn’t really a pirate queen, by the way.
May 6, 2013
Not a bad story about a alternate historical universe where men and women are treated equally and sexual orientation is fluid.
I liked the uniqueness of the universe though it took me a bit to realize it was a fantasy place. I especially liked Imena. Strong and competent with a soft side. Once they get on the ship the plot was in danger of following into monotony but Janssen through them into some situations which kept interest and allowed the characters to grow.
Maxime was a mixed bag for me. Didn't care for him at all in the beginning though he did grow on me as the story progressed. The story did run a little long in places and I skipped short sections to get back to the interesting things.
There's also a sub plot featuring Sybil (forgot her name) who is looking to solve the assassination plot. I could have done without that, completely uninteresting.
An different kind of book to be sure though I have yet to decide if I'd want to read any others in this world.
I liked the uniqueness of the universe though it took me a bit to realize it was a fantasy place. I especially liked Imena. Strong and competent with a soft side. Once they get on the ship the plot was in danger of following into monotony but Janssen through them into some situations which kept interest and allowed the characters to grow.
Maxime was a mixed bag for me. Didn't care for him at all in the beginning though he did grow on me as the story progressed. The story did run a little long in places and I skipped short sections to get back to the interesting things.
There's also a sub plot featuring Sybil (forgot her name) who is looking to solve the assassination plot. I could have done without that, completely uninteresting.
An different kind of book to be sure though I have yet to decide if I'd want to read any others in this world.
October 29, 2013
Aboard her privateering ship, The Seaflower, Captain Imena Leung is the law. Ashore she answers only to her liege, Duke Maxime. They are a powerful couple, with an intense attraction neither can disguise nor deny. As a nobleman, Maxime is destined to wed strategically, so his seductive advances must be purely for pleasure. And what self-respecting pirate denies herself any pleasure?
Their delicious dalliance is prolonged when Imena is forced to abduct Maxime to thwart a political plot against him. At sea, with a stunningly virile man bound and held in her private quarters, Imena can imagine;and enact;any number of intoxicating scenarios.
The heat between captain and captive is matched only by the perils that beset The Seaflower and her crew. Violent storms, marauding corsairs and life-or-death sex games on a desert island;how fortunate for the seemingly insatiable lovers that danger and desire go hand-in-hand.
Their delicious dalliance is prolonged when Imena is forced to abduct Maxime to thwart a political plot against him. At sea, with a stunningly virile man bound and held in her private quarters, Imena can imagine;and enact;any number of intoxicating scenarios.
The heat between captain and captive is matched only by the perils that beset The Seaflower and her crew. Violent storms, marauding corsairs and life-or-death sex games on a desert island;how fortunate for the seemingly insatiable lovers that danger and desire go hand-in-hand.
July 6, 2015
This book is steamy, with plenty of sexual tension and a few jaw-dropping moments. It was a delight to read, and I very often found myself wondering what it would be like to be Imena. To have such confidence in her skill as a captain and as a privateer; to have such sexual confidence and the patience to wait for the man she really wanted; to stand proud and sure of who she is, regardless of who her parents are or who people imagine she is. I loved the fluidity of the world in this book. The characters are all fleshed out wonderfully and I could see them easily in my mind's eye - minus their exact skin tone, which I think was deliberate and a brilliant story-telling device.
I'll keep this one on my sexy, steamy, romance/adventure shelf.
I'll keep this one on my sexy, steamy, romance/adventure shelf.
June 23, 2011
The Duke and the Pirate Queen was a fun roll in the hay, the ocean, the sex-fiend infested island and numerous other unlikely locations.
I have to admit, I won this book from Goodreads and thought there would be more exotic setting and characterizations. I'd have to say those things are not the book's strong points. There was more eroticism than I'd expected and erotic romance is not my normal read. At times I wanted the story to move forward without the interruption of one more sex scene.
However, if you lust after a steamy adventure and voyeurism on the high seas, this book is a must read. Leave a comment and one lucky winner will receive a free copy.
I have to admit, I won this book from Goodreads and thought there would be more exotic setting and characterizations. I'd have to say those things are not the book's strong points. There was more eroticism than I'd expected and erotic romance is not my normal read. At times I wanted the story to move forward without the interruption of one more sex scene.
However, if you lust after a steamy adventure and voyeurism on the high seas, this book is a must read. Leave a comment and one lucky winner will receive a free copy.
April 15, 2011
A Hot Steamy Erotic tale - explicit sex scenes, not for faint of heart. Set within Duchys and the Sea, with espionage, pirate attacks, natives, and a King's court. There is a plot to kill Maxime (the Duke) leaving him in the capable hands of rescue of the woman he employs and loves Imena (the Pirate Queen). Amist the unravelling of the key players against him, pirate ships attacking, battles, can he get her to say yes to marriage before danger catches up to them. Being locked in close proximity certainly helps.
October 15, 2010
Janssen delivers witty one liners, loveable characters and lots of hot smex! Started this one without knowing of the previous books set in the same world, there are several mentions of various happenings from other books, but was written well, to where I was not lost in reading this book as a 'stand alone'. Only wished I'd read the others prior to this strictly because I wouldn't want to miss out on other little gems such as this! ;-)
February 15, 2011
really good book
if you enjoy drama, graphic scenes and a good love story, power and a couple trying to learn trust.
I did enjoyed this book on the 8 hours flight... - very entertaining to read
slowly developing plot than moving smoothly forward...
if you love historical romance with action, intrigue, and good love story this book is for you.
I hope to see second book...
I would like to thank you Author Victoria Janssen for sending this book for review...
if you enjoy drama, graphic scenes and a good love story, power and a couple trying to learn trust.
I did enjoyed this book on the 8 hours flight... - very entertaining to read
slowly developing plot than moving smoothly forward...
if you love historical romance with action, intrigue, and good love story this book is for you.
I hope to see second book...
I would like to thank you Author Victoria Janssen for sending this book for review...
September 10, 2013
Do you want to read about the male sleeping with everyone? Male and female? Even if it isn't the woman he's courting? (The protagonist) Then this is the book for you!
Tries to sleep with the protagonist and when she turns him down, he goes off and has a blowjob from some chick. Nice. And I loved reading about it. Can you sense my sarcasm?
And god it pissed me off that this strong female protagonist just took his bull shit. Couldn't even finish, even with the hundred billion sex scenes.
Tries to sleep with the protagonist and when she turns him down, he goes off and has a blowjob from some chick. Nice. And I loved reading about it. Can you sense my sarcasm?
And god it pissed me off that this strong female protagonist just took his bull shit. Couldn't even finish, even with the hundred billion sex scenes.
July 16, 2014
From time to time I like a good trashy novel. But just because it's trashy doesn't mean the writing should be bad. However, in this book the writing is exactly that. Wording seemed repetitive, and the plot lacked depth. There were several times during reading this book that I honestly just wanted to close it and forget about it. I had a really hard time with the last two chapters because I felt that it was slow I'm just really unimaginative.
July 22, 2011
Nice enough erotic romance between a fiesty pirate queen and the duke she rescues from an assassination plot. Action, adventure and a surprisingly tender romance ensues. In general it's a bit tamer than some of the Spice line that I've read. Enjoyable, especially after reading much heavier fare.
April 5, 2011
I thought this was a lot better than I expected. It was also nice in that there was an actual plot involved here as well. Probably closer to a 3.5 star rating but it was a lot of fun so I bumped it to four.
June 22, 2011
I wasn't really crazy about this book. The plot was too slow and the book didn't really hold my interest. I had to force myself to continue reading the book but by then I didn't even care about the characters. I'm not sure if I'll read another book from this author.
July 1, 2011
Not too erotic....seemed a little off that the characters shag anything that moves but also want love.... Hmmm just didn't jive. The characters and background could have been developed more. All in all this book was an easy read but failed to move me in any way.
December 20, 2010
Loved this book. Love the characters, love the plot, love the settings. This is a grand adventure pirate story turned on its head and I loved it.
January 13, 2012
alittle hard to get into at first but then it turns into a pager turner unexpectedly.
August 4, 2011
Shhhhhh I didn't finish this one, don't tell anybody. Apparently I need to stop picking up romance thinking that I'll like it.
September 3, 2011
3.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews