Scandalous

The orphaned daughter of Christian missionaries in Africa, Sarah has been kidnapped, along with all the people in her village, by Dutch slave-traders. The slave trader is boarded by Martin, a former slave turned privateer on behalf of the English king, who loathes slavers with every iota of his being. At first Martin thinks Sarah is a slaver, or a slaver's doxy, but soon comes to realise she is nothing of the sort and is a formidable woman as she enters into bargains for the lives of the slave trader and his crew. Martin tries to offload Sarah and the slavers in Freetown but the British Admiral in charge balks when he discovers that Martin's slaver is related to the Dutch King, suddenly Martin is forced to transport Sarah and the Dutchman Mies to England. Rising sexual tension on board a small ship, jealousy and frustration create a does he/doesn't he vibe on board ship but this felt a bit samey-samey to me. I know the circumstances were different to Mia and Hugh but I just had the he was a slave, they did unspeakable things to him seen it all before vibe, which seems crushingly insensitive I know but I felt the idea had been done to death with the first two books. Also, Martin was supposed to be a ladies' man with women falling over themselves to both bed him and marry him but he seemed totally clueless about women. Overall, if I hadn't read the two previous books I think I would have enjoyed this more.

Scandalous by Minerva Spencer The Outcasts #3 I have enjoyed this series and looked forward to reading this book. I have to say that I was a bit disappointed. Why? I felt disappointed in the portrayal of beautiful, vain, unfeeling Captain Martin Etienne Bouchard. He could have used his past to be more than his job and money and reputation as a rake. And Sarah Fisher, missionary, was a good-hearted woman secluded from much by living twenty-four years in a small village with only her parents and the tribe around her. She was taken in by a pretty face and mean talking man and fell head over heels for him...that I had trouble understanding. Also, I had trouble believing that Sarah could have or would have done some of the things she did. It is fiction and thus can happen in a book but...she was strong and weak in weird ways. What I liked: * Martin’s love for the man that saved him and his ability to become the man he did * Sarah’s love of all human beings and her willingness to stand up for their rights while forgiving evil doers. * Seeing some of the characters from previous books * Beauville finding Mary * Some of the interactions between Sarah and Martin * Hearing the backstories of Martin and Sarah * Sarah knowing where her heart really lay What I did not like: * Martin’s immature acting out and what just seemed mean at times * The Slavers...all of them * Armand and his father I enjoy a swashbuckling tale and this provided that. I had parts I loved and parts I didn’t like as much in this book. I felt that the time in England could have been shortened a bit and more time spent on Martin and Sarah actually getting along rather than fighting and at cross purposes. I understood that with the history Martin had it would be hard to trust and love and believe in a future though in some ways he was a bit tooo much of a caricature...or something. Did I enjoy this book? Yes and No Would I read another book in this series? Yes Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington – Zebra for the ARC – This is my honest review. 3-4 Stars

Prepare for another fabulous adventure from Minerva Spencer, who has become one of my go to authors. She always captures my imagination quickly and with this story or a privateer and a missionary, the banter is endless and emotions over the top. Martin Couchard was Captain of the Golden Scythe. He was a privateer, but he also sought justice for those enslaved on ships and helped them become free. He had honed his "reputation of a cold, hard killer who was more concerned with his cravat than his life." But Martin had a hard past and had overcome a lot but knew he was still lacking. Sara Fisher was a missionary who got caught up on a ship filled with human cargo and she only wanted to get them free. As Martin takes the ship with the same intent (although she does not know that) the journey begins!! This was a fast paced engaging story as the handsome privateer and the strong, determined missionary come together as he ends up taking her back to England along with the weak Captain Mies. If you have never read one of Minerva's stories, you don't know what you are missing! I read this through NetGallery and the Publisher.