Fortune's Flames

by Janelle Taylor

Anxious to return to New Orleans, Maren James is outraged when the notorious Captain Hawk boards her British ship searching for illegally-impressed American sailors

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Pirates, Historical, Historical Fiction

512 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

The legendary Janelle Taylor was born on June 28, 1944 in Athens, GA. In 1965, she married Michael Taylor with whom she had two children, Angela Taylor-MacIntyre and Alisha Taylor Thurmond. Ms. Taylor attended the Medical College of Georgia from 1977 to 1979 and Augusta State University from 1980-1981. She withdrew from the latter after she sold her first two novels. Today, she is the author of thirty-nine novels, three novellas, and many contributions to other collections. There are thirty-nine million copies of her works in print worldwide and she has made The New York Times Bestseller List eight times. Ms. Taylor's works have also been featured ten times on the "1 million +" bestseller's list at Publisher's Weekly.

Some of Ms. Taylor's most recent books include By Candlelight, Someday Soon, Lakota Dawn, and Lakota Winds (due out in paperback in May 1999). She has also made contributions to other books including The Leukemia Society Cookbook, Christmas Rendezvous, and Summer Love. In addition, readers can see her as co-host of the QVC/TV Romance Book Club Show.

Ms. Taylor's interests include collecting spoons, coins from around the world, ship models, dolls, and old books. She loves to fish, ride horses, play chess, target-shoot, travel (especially in her motorhome and out West), hunt for Indian relics, and take long walks with her husband. Reading, in particular books set before 1900 and current Biographies, Thrillers, Horror, or Fantasy novels, is also one of Ms. Taylor's favorite activities. She is also extremely active with charity work and was even featured on the cover of Diabetes Forecast in February of 1998.

She lives in the country on seventy-nine acres of woods and pasture with a lake and a catfish pond. She writes her novels in a Spanish cottage which overlooks a five-acre lake, a working water mill, gazebo, and covered bridge.

Reviews

[Regan Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting Privateer Adventure in New Orleans during the War of 1812

Set during the War of 1812, this is the story of Maren Jones, an American, sailing on her cousin’s ship from England to her home in New Orleans when a privateer by the name of Captain Hawk attacks and boards their ship.

The infamous Captain Hawk is actually Jared Morgan, a patriot from Savannah who is working for President Madison and looking for traitors supporting the British. Maren’s cousin, Eric, tells her he is also working for the President, but it seems he is lying to her about many things.

Maren met Jared when she was 15 and was so enthralled, she disguised herself as a lad and followed the handsome young man around the wharf. So, when he captures her ship and then steals a kiss, she does not resist. Jared finds her enchanting, but he is also suspicious of both her cousin and her.

This is a tale has many twists and turns and wartime treachery as well. Maren and Jared come together to solve some mysterious happenings and find a way to be together. Jared is certainly a worthy hero I could not help but love. And Maren, having lost her father and mother, is determined to make it on her own with the gambling club left to her, Lady Luck.

There’s a surprise at the end, too!

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set during the war of 1812 between america and the british, this story describes how life is for people living during wartime. The struggle, tending to the sick injured soldiers, having no time with your loved ones, not knowing if they are dead or alive whilst they are off fighting to protect and save your country, not knowing if you will ever see them again.
Maren was living in england when she got the news from her cousin Eric that her parents were dead in america and he had to sell off all their assets and her inheritance to pay off their debt. The only thing she has left is her father's gambling house, Lady Luck, which eric couldn't sell because he discovered her father had an unknown partner. Now that her father is dead, maren inherited his share, but she must find this mysterious partner. On her voyage back to america aboard Eric's ship, they were attacked by an American ship thinking they were british. As soon as she locked eyes with the tawny colored eyes, sandy haired Captain Hawk, she knew she was done for.
Jared Morgan aka Captain Hawk is a privateer working for the american president to take down as many british ships as he can. This is war after all. His legend as the fearsome brave captain of the sea mist is know far and wide and men including pirates fear his wrath and fury. After he attacked Maren's ship and saw her he knew he had to have her.
He is sailing to new orleans to collect his share of the earnings of a gambling club of which he inherited from his father.
When maren found out her mysterious partner is Jared and a chunk of his share of the money missing, he makes her a deal: if she doesn't pay him back every cent within six months she has to marry him.
But someone is out to harm maren, someone wants the gambling club and they will do anything even kill both jared and maren for it. Maren learned that jared is the only one she can trust. After countless failed attempts on her life and after she has come to the realization that she love jared, she marries him and together they must find the person trying to harm her as time is against them.

Kudos to Ms. Taylor for this story. I was in a book funk and this story pulled me out of it. This is the first book I've read by this author and it doesn't disappoint. The story is a bit long and drawn out especially as we knew who was trying to harm maren from the beginning of the story but the love between jared and maren is real and pure. No doubts. They are just two people who love each other and wants the war over so they can live a peaceful life. With jared at sea most of the time and the separation between them, the craving for each other, makes the story all the more sweeter.
Also the deceit from all the people that maren grew up with, people she trusted makes it more relatable. The world is full of evil people and some of them are your own family and kin.
This book gave me many hours of reading pleasure and I must mention that cover is so beautiful, i find myself staring at it often. I definitely would read this author's work again.

[Jennilee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very simply put, this book was okay, but not great. A friend picked this out for me so we could start a cheesy romantic book club, and this was the first pick.

The main problem with the book is our protagonist, Maren. The author takes great pains to tell the reader maybe 100 times throughout the novel that Maren is as beautiful as she is clever.

So why is it that every time Maren is faced with the obvious signs that she is getting screwed over by nearly everyone around her, she ignores them completely? Her cousin wasn’t even subtle about stealing her entire fortune! We knew as soon as she arrived at Lady Luck that Eric had lied to her about her inheritance. The 200 pages of endless questions Maren asked herself were unnecessary.

Also, almost immediately after making a pact with Captain Hawk to not trust the shady people who might be connected to a string of incidents at Lady Luck, Maren trusts the shady people and gets abducted from the house! Maybe 5 minutes after Captain Hawk left! Unbelievable!!

Captain Hawk was definitely the best part of this story. And Eric’s ending, of course. I just wish the main character took less than 300 pages to put together what had been going on since the first chapter.

[Marie S HR Reader ❤ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give this 3 - 3.5 stars. The story line had loads of potential, plenty of intrigue. The characters had interesting backstories. There was much more going on than romance. In fact, that was somewhat backseat for much of the book in my opinion. Nonetheless, the story was worth continuing on to learn the outcome. The second half of the book was definitely better than the first as things in the plot were unfolding. Plenty of twists and turns. I think the pacing was a little sporadic for me personally and the writing style was not my usual preference. I like more compelling dialogue and scene descriptions especially if the book is a long one. (I normally start at 5 stars and kind of explain why if it drops to less, along with noting the positives of the book ❤). Decent if you're looking for a thick and verbose read.

[Krystina Schuler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, fast-paced historical romance. Maren is an intelligent, independent woman living in 1814 New Orleans. Orphaned and single, she intends to stay single and self-sufficient. She takes over the family casino and runs it by herself, while fending off the likes of Captain Hawk, the greed of her cousin, and attempting to figure out what really happened to her parents. The novel is full of intrigue, spies, pirates, and murder. A good, guilty-pleasure read.

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great storyline that is not predictable at all. Great character development. I like that the characters didn’t deny their feelings, that you were able to enjoy their love grow and get a glimpse of their life after the story ended. Highly recommend this book!

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love Janelle Taylor’s historical novels, however, this one is the first one I thought was meh. This is my personal opinion only. It was just an average story but it is still enjoyable to read. Janelle Taylor is a fantastic author!

[Libbi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't finish it. Plot was slow, things didn't make sense, and I didn't like any of the characters.

[Landy · Rating 5 out of 5]

First historical romance novel I read and the one that got me into reading.

[Tee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cheesy

[July · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maren James boards her cousin Eric's ship for home to America from London. But there is a war between the British and America and it makes it very dangerous. Eric has some bad news to tell Maren. That her parents are dead and the shipping buisness was failing and her father left it the him and he has been making a go of it getting supplies to the blockade. He procede to tell her that she must play the part of Mrs Slade while on board for her safety.
The more Eric tells her the more things don't sound right but she keeps it to herself. They are overtaken by a privateer that boards to find out what is on board. Eric has told her what to say which has made her think things are not right. When she see the man who is in charge she just about passes out. He is the man she has wanted since she was 15 years old. So she flirts with him, to see if he remembers but Captain Hawk does not. But he will find her months later in New Orleans. And help her solve her mystery.
Captain Hawk is just the man for Maren James. He will help her when all the accidents start coming her way. Captain Hawk is just what her father would have wanted for her.

[Vincent Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

An intriguing, fast paced historical fiction about a brash buccaneer, Captain Hawk and ebony-haired Maren James. When Maren heard that the notorious Hawk was aboard her British ship searching for illegally impressed American sailors, she couldn't wait for the pirate to be on his way She was impatient to be back home in New Orleans and this brash buccaneer was slowing her down. But then she saw the self-assured male who strode into her cabin-and the luscious beauty couldn't deny the raging ecstasy that sparked between them. Before she could consider the consequences, she was succumbing to his masterful touch-body heart and soul!

Dashing Captain Hawk had been with enough women to know that the curvaceous dame in his arms was no different from the rest. Somehow, though, her passionate kisses tasted innocent her lush, ripe body seemed untouched. But his dangerous mission gave him no leisure to enjoy the wench's charms beyond this night. Branding her with his fierce loving, Hawk realized he couldn't just let her go. Once he finished his assignment, he'd reclaim his unparalleled paramour for good- even it was against her will he'd make her surrender to FORTUNES FLAMES.

[Nessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

IT IS AN ENJOYABLE STORY BUT NOTHING THAT WOULD SET YOUR NERVES HIGH OR HAVE YOU JUMPING OFF YOUR COUCH IN JOY. NOTHING INTENSE OR DRAMATIC.

It was basically a love at first sight story and upon reuniting, the lovers get the chance to Stoke the flames of their desires and embrace the love they have for one another. Meanwhile, the villain of the story is the one whereby the mystery surrounds and is the obstacle that stands before the heroine because it is her beloved cousin.

What he did? You will have to find out by reading it. Honestly I just skimmed through the book because halfway done the lovers have already begun their marriage life while trying to uncover who the villain is.

OVERALL it is okay. Not something I would reread again in future.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was never interested in pirates until this book. It was clever, thrilling and worth the read! <3