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Valois Sisters #2
Moth and Flame
It was difficult for the pirate to play the gentleman. But that was precisely what Laurent Lavasseur chose to do. Facing him stood the ebony-haired beauty, her lips still burning from his kisses, who had waited for months for his return from the sea. Renee might tempt him but he would be honest with her, no matter what the cost. he would not be her husband. The impact of his rejection sends both on a wild adventure from Louisiana to the high seas of the Caribbean.
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First published March 1, 1984
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 9, 2011
This was yet another Goodwill find. Have I ever mentioned how much I love scoring cheap books there? Picked it up because it looked interesting, and perhaps a bit like a bodice-ripper type romance. Finally got around to reading it. At first, it was sort of slow going, I didn't feel for the characters very much, Renee seems like a spoiled li'l debutante, and Laurent was sort of pretty much a jerk. See, they're unofficially betrothed, everyone expects them to wed,including Laurent's mother, with whom Renee is residing after escaping France during the revolution as a child. Laurent is a ship's captain, merchant, smuggling, that sort of thing. So he's been gone for a few months, and when he returns, Renee is expecting him to propose to her and get on with their marriage. But Laurent has decided he doesn't want the responsibility, doesn't want to be tied down, so after a hot make-out session, he dumps her, but tells her that she can tell everyone that it was she who dumped him, to save face. He promptly leaves again, leaving her awfully upset. He leaves a note for his mother telling her that Renee refused his proposal, and so Renee is uncomfortable remaining under the lady's roof, and decides she will head to England, to stay with her sister Gweneth and her husband Raoul (whose story, I just found out, is told in Silks and Sabers
, which I immediately added to my wishlist!). She takes along her maid and friend, Giselle, and they head off to New Orleans to secure passage on a ship. The ship they end up booking passage on, the Pelican is captained by Adam Breedon, a character in himself. He's an opium addict, and a bit of a drunk too. He's also friends with Laurent, who also happens to be on this ship, on his way to Tortola to buy his own ship, the Christobel, back after it was captured by the British navy. This fact makes Renee angry, but she goes along anyway, and the voyage to Tortola is begun. Giselle quickly falls for Adam's bad-boy charms and develops a pretty strong crush on him, meanwhile, a rough night aboard ship leads to Renee giving up her virtue to Laurent. As soon as they are in Tortola, Renee tries and fails to find passage on to England, and her decision is to attend the auction where Laurent is trying to purchase his ship back. She outbids him, and claims ownership herself, enacting a bit of revenge. In a bit of reverse-play, Laurent convinces the governor of the island (with whom Renee has been staying) that he is the best choice to captain the ship on Renee's voyage to England, and the governor agrees, putting them together again. While the ship is being repaired and stocked, Giselle and Adam start meeting clandestinely, and their love is rough, and hot, one of those fiery kinds of passion that takes no prisoners. I liked reading about them as a couple as much as I liked reading about Renee and Laurent. I could understand Giselle's attraction for the bad-boy, the one who's not usually very nice, who drinks and does drugs, and mopes around, and falls into tempers, and I was drawn to Adam because of it. I mean, who doesn't like a bad-boy, and want to save them? Laurent was a jerk sometimes, but he wasn't bad really. A bit of off-camera privateering, and drinking a little brandy, some talk of wenching in the past, but otherwise he was your average guy. So, anyway, once the Christobel is ready to leave port and head to Jamaica to pick up crew before making the long journey to England, Giselle is terribly, terribly distraught. Renee bullies her way into the captain's cabin claiming it for her own as owner of the ship, since it's the nicest room on board, and Giselle is installed in her own cabin. Renee kind of neglects Giselle on this voyage, being so wrapped up in her own thoughts of Laurent, and doesn't notice how depressed and sickly Giselle becomes. But Laurent does, catching her trying to throw herself overboard when she realizes she's pregnant with Adam's child. She confesses everything to him, and he helps her out, helping her stay to be more comfortable. It isn't long before Laurent and Renee are going at it themselves, as often as they can. When they meet up with the Pelican near Jamaica, Laurent goes aboard to talk to Adam and tell him about Giselle, but finds him all doped up and in a funk, going on about some terrible thing he did in the past, so instead, he tells Adam that Giselle is under his protection, and he's to stay away from her. In retaliation, Adam contacts the British, and soon they all end up captured for piracy. Due to her family connections with the British peerage, Renee and Giselle are quickly released, and Laurent is brought to trial. However, Adam refuses to implicate Laurent in an honorable move, and with that, and Renee's arguments, Laurent and the Christobel are quickly released. Having since found out Giselle's predicament, and the soul-deep love her friend has for Adam, Renee hatches a plan for Laurent to break Adam out of prison, the agreement being if he does that for her, she'll give him back his ship, and renounce all claim/desire to marry him. While Laurent's off doing that, Renee and Giselle use their feminine charms, and, using the last of Adam's laundanum/opium stash (since he won't need it anymore with Giselle and a baby to take care of they figure), they drug the soldiers guarding the Pelican and the crew of the Christobel quickly board and tie up the soldiers. When Laurent and Adam emerge on the beach, Renee tells him Giselle is waiting aboard his ship, and off he runs to be with his lady-love. After a brief kiss, Renee runs off too, for the Pelican is the ship she's taking to England. Laurent calls after her for her to marry him, but she ignores him and sails away. A few months later, Laurent finds himself in England, travelling to visit Renee at her sister and brother-in-law's estate. He's figured out long ago that he really loves her, and was just scared at the depth of it, and the aching need he had to be with her. Y'know how those heroes are... When Gweneth tells Renee he is there, she's freaking out. Turns out she's with child too, and now she doesn't want Laurent to see her, because then he'll be obligated to marry her instead of wanting to marry her because of love. She agrees to talk to him, but seats herself behind her knitting in the sitting room, hiding the beginning bulge of her belly. He comes in and confesses his idiocy and his love, begging her to marry him, and she accepts, only then revealing her bump to him. He's thrilled of course, and everyone lives HEA. I really liked this story, more than I thought I would in the beginning. Once I got to know the characters, and feel for 'em, it was great. They were fleshed out pretty well, and though their back-stories and all weren't hugely detailed, I felt I knew enough to get good images of them in my mind. I liked all the characters, both couples. The plot moved along at a good pace, and the historic detail was not overdone, or even richly detailed, but it was enough to give me a feel for time and place. The only thing I would've liked more of would be details aboard ship. A good portion of the story took place on one ship or another, and yet there were not many details about the ship or crew or surroundings or anything like that. More description maybe would be what I'm looking for. But that's just me, I'm a sucker for the old sailing ships... love 'em! If I ever come across any more books by this author, especially Gweneth's story, I'll snag 'em up, because I like the style. The sex scenes were good and steamy, not very purple, abundant but not overly so, and not squicky or violent. Very nicely done in my opinion. I'm happy to have read this one, and would be glad to pass it on to anyone else who might like to review it :)
, which I immediately added to my wishlist!). She takes along her maid and friend, Giselle, and they head off to New Orleans to secure passage on a ship. The ship they end up booking passage on, the Pelican is captained by Adam Breedon, a character in himself. He's an opium addict, and a bit of a drunk too. He's also friends with Laurent, who also happens to be on this ship, on his way to Tortola to buy his own ship, the Christobel, back after it was captured by the British navy. This fact makes Renee angry, but she goes along anyway, and the voyage to Tortola is begun. Giselle quickly falls for Adam's bad-boy charms and develops a pretty strong crush on him, meanwhile, a rough night aboard ship leads to Renee giving up her virtue to Laurent. As soon as they are in Tortola, Renee tries and fails to find passage on to England, and her decision is to attend the auction where Laurent is trying to purchase his ship back. She outbids him, and claims ownership herself, enacting a bit of revenge. In a bit of reverse-play, Laurent convinces the governor of the island (with whom Renee has been staying) that he is the best choice to captain the ship on Renee's voyage to England, and the governor agrees, putting them together again. While the ship is being repaired and stocked, Giselle and Adam start meeting clandestinely, and their love is rough, and hot, one of those fiery kinds of passion that takes no prisoners. I liked reading about them as a couple as much as I liked reading about Renee and Laurent. I could understand Giselle's attraction for the bad-boy, the one who's not usually very nice, who drinks and does drugs, and mopes around, and falls into tempers, and I was drawn to Adam because of it. I mean, who doesn't like a bad-boy, and want to save them? Laurent was a jerk sometimes, but he wasn't bad really. A bit of off-camera privateering, and drinking a little brandy, some talk of wenching in the past, but otherwise he was your average guy. So, anyway, once the Christobel is ready to leave port and head to Jamaica to pick up crew before making the long journey to England, Giselle is terribly, terribly distraught. Renee bullies her way into the captain's cabin claiming it for her own as owner of the ship, since it's the nicest room on board, and Giselle is installed in her own cabin. Renee kind of neglects Giselle on this voyage, being so wrapped up in her own thoughts of Laurent, and doesn't notice how depressed and sickly Giselle becomes. But Laurent does, catching her trying to throw herself overboard when she realizes she's pregnant with Adam's child. She confesses everything to him, and he helps her out, helping her stay to be more comfortable. It isn't long before Laurent and Renee are going at it themselves, as often as they can. When they meet up with the Pelican near Jamaica, Laurent goes aboard to talk to Adam and tell him about Giselle, but finds him all doped up and in a funk, going on about some terrible thing he did in the past, so instead, he tells Adam that Giselle is under his protection, and he's to stay away from her. In retaliation, Adam contacts the British, and soon they all end up captured for piracy. Due to her family connections with the British peerage, Renee and Giselle are quickly released, and Laurent is brought to trial. However, Adam refuses to implicate Laurent in an honorable move, and with that, and Renee's arguments, Laurent and the Christobel are quickly released. Having since found out Giselle's predicament, and the soul-deep love her friend has for Adam, Renee hatches a plan for Laurent to break Adam out of prison, the agreement being if he does that for her, she'll give him back his ship, and renounce all claim/desire to marry him. While Laurent's off doing that, Renee and Giselle use their feminine charms, and, using the last of Adam's laundanum/opium stash (since he won't need it anymore with Giselle and a baby to take care of they figure), they drug the soldiers guarding the Pelican and the crew of the Christobel quickly board and tie up the soldiers. When Laurent and Adam emerge on the beach, Renee tells him Giselle is waiting aboard his ship, and off he runs to be with his lady-love. After a brief kiss, Renee runs off too, for the Pelican is the ship she's taking to England. Laurent calls after her for her to marry him, but she ignores him and sails away. A few months later, Laurent finds himself in England, travelling to visit Renee at her sister and brother-in-law's estate. He's figured out long ago that he really loves her, and was just scared at the depth of it, and the aching need he had to be with her. Y'know how those heroes are... When Gweneth tells Renee he is there, she's freaking out. Turns out she's with child too, and now she doesn't want Laurent to see her, because then he'll be obligated to marry her instead of wanting to marry her because of love. She agrees to talk to him, but seats herself behind her knitting in the sitting room, hiding the beginning bulge of her belly. He comes in and confesses his idiocy and his love, begging her to marry him, and she accepts, only then revealing her bump to him. He's thrilled of course, and everyone lives HEA. I really liked this story, more than I thought I would in the beginning. Once I got to know the characters, and feel for 'em, it was great. They were fleshed out pretty well, and though their back-stories and all weren't hugely detailed, I felt I knew enough to get good images of them in my mind. I liked all the characters, both couples. The plot moved along at a good pace, and the historic detail was not overdone, or even richly detailed, but it was enough to give me a feel for time and place. The only thing I would've liked more of would be details aboard ship. A good portion of the story took place on one ship or another, and yet there were not many details about the ship or crew or surroundings or anything like that. More description maybe would be what I'm looking for. But that's just me, I'm a sucker for the old sailing ships... love 'em! If I ever come across any more books by this author, especially Gweneth's story, I'll snag 'em up, because I like the style. The sex scenes were good and steamy, not very purple, abundant but not overly so, and not squicky or violent. Very nicely done in my opinion. I'm happy to have read this one, and would be glad to pass it on to anyone else who might like to review it :)
October 10, 2023
I really liked this book. It didn't go overboard with the conflicts, arguments, misunderstandings, etc. and the same goes for the lovemaking scenes, which come across more romantic than pornographic.
I also liked the H and h, Laurent and Renee; both had their faults and flaws but not so much to get on your nerves, and both were aware of their own failings and wanted to do something to change. The only complaint I have is that given she was only 18, Renee had a bit too much self-assurance when it came to talking (and arguing) with the Governor and other officials. She was also too confident of her charms and ability to flirt with grown men, rather than just with young men more her age. she wasn't playing games, she was trying to help people she cared about and felt a need to use some feminine wiles, but it would have been more believable if she had been a few years older.
There was another couple in the book, Adam and Giselle, who had quite a story of their own, enough for a separate novel.
I won't give away details, and will just say it's well paced and never boring, and doesn't go over-the-top with improbable situations. It's worth reading.
I also liked the H and h, Laurent and Renee; both had their faults and flaws but not so much to get on your nerves, and both were aware of their own failings and wanted to do something to change. The only complaint I have is that given she was only 18, Renee had a bit too much self-assurance when it came to talking (and arguing) with the Governor and other officials. She was also too confident of her charms and ability to flirt with grown men, rather than just with young men more her age. she wasn't playing games, she was trying to help people she cared about and felt a need to use some feminine wiles, but it would have been more believable if she had been a few years older.
There was another couple in the book, Adam and Giselle, who had quite a story of their own, enough for a separate novel.
I won't give away details, and will just say it's well paced and never boring, and doesn't go over-the-top with improbable situations. It's worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews