Never Trust a Pirate

An escape from St. Helena is being planned for Bonaparte, and the Black Fox narrowly escapes with the map indicating the route the general will take... Who is the Black Fox? Until nine months ago, the world thought Cade Cavendish dead, but he is alive and well and living in Mayfair with his identical twin brother Rafe. Cade is the black sheep of the family, nobody really knows how he earns his living. He is also a bit of a rogue. Danielle LaCrosse desperately needs the position as lady’s maid to Lady Cavendish, Rafe’s wife. Danielle is a bit out of her element, but she’s resourceful, and she’ll do what it takes: she needs the money to pay for her mother’s medical bills. Danielle is startled by the handsomeness of Rafe, and more than pleasantly surprised that his brother Cade is just as easy on the eye, and unmarried. Danielle’s new job might have some unexpected perks, after all, and Rafe is quite taken with the new lady’s maid. NEVER TRUST A PIRATE is Valerie Bowman’s latest instalment in the Playful Brides series, and while past events play a part in the narrative, the author briefly and clearly recaps what has happened previously, and new readers will be able to easily hop along. There are many spies in Rafe’s home, but who is really a spy, and who is spying on whom? Most of NEVER TRUST A PIRATE proceeds at a comfortable pace, after a breathtaking and exciting opening. I must confess that I was expecting that more emphasis would be put on the spying, or done differently maybe, or I was thought there would be more action. A large chunk of the narrative consists of life in a posh Regency household, while Danielle gets accustomed to her new duties. While everyday historical details are a bit shaky, it is enjoyable nonetheless. I was a bit worried when the blurb mentioned a case of mistaken identity, but this is dealt with speedily and efficiently by the author, and in a rather amusing way. Danielle is an intriguing character, with many facets, and for once she wasn’t endlessly blushing. I really liked Cade as well until I felt he became a tad too pushy and insistent. The sex scenes are well done, however I was not crazy about the circumstances under which the first one occurred. The action sequences are terrific, and I would have liked more of them, before the explosive ending. Ms. Bowman’s descriptive style shines, as always, the dialogues are delicious, as is the flirtatious banter between Danielle and Cade is delectable. All in all, NEVER TRUST A PIRATE is an entertaining Regency romp! I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

Despite a few bumps in the road, Never Trust a Pirate delivered a mystique that proved an intriguing match for the adventurous duo that led the journey. While Danielle and Cade make a go of seducing each other, Ms. Bowman likewise entices her readers into this web of secrets, suspense and romance. There's always a new discovery in this dangerous tale of sensuality that got a bit out of control but kept me as a reader on my toes.

Spies, pirates, and the elusive Black Fox. Cade and Danielle are both clever spies, and each have secrets, but somehow they're following the same trail and are looking to seek revenge and catch Baptiste for different reasons. Along the way, desire and and attraction throw these two together, but will their goals keep them apart. This is a fun and smexy romance! and remember: never trust a pirate! **I was provided a copy through netgalley