Lord of the Privateers - Stephanie Laurens (Mira - Jan 2017)

Series: Adventurers Quartet (Book 4)

Unstoppable determination

Widely known as the lord of the privateers, Royd Frobisher expects to execute the final stage of the rescue mission his brothers have begun. What he does not expect is to be pressured into taking Isobel Carmichael -- his childhood sweetheart, former handfasted bride and current business partner -- with him. A force of nature, Isobel has a mission of her own: to find and bring a young cousin safely home. And along the way, she hopes to rid herself of the dreams of a life with Royd that still haunt her.

Unfinished business

Neither expects the shock that awaits them as they set sail, much less the new horizons that open before them as they embark on a full-scale rescue-assault on the compound deep in the jungle. Yet despite the support of his brothers and their ladies, Royd and Isobel discover that freeing the captives is only half the battle. To identify and convict the conspirators behind the illicit enterprise -- and save England from political disaster -- they must return to the ballrooms of the haut ton and hunt the villains on their home ground.

Unforgettable love

But having found each other again, having glimpsed the heaven that could yet be theirs, how much are Royd and Isobel willing to risk in the name of duty?

Fantastic conclusion to the series. At the end of the previous book, A Daredevil Snared, Royd had just arrived in London, to begin his part of the mission to rescue the captives. He was accompanied by Isobel Carmichael, a woman from his past, deemed "Trouble" by Roy's brothers. As this book opens, we get the background of why Isobel is with him. Isobel has been tasked by her grandmother to go to Freetown and discover the whereabouts of a missing cousin. Royd is the only person she trusts to get her there, in spite of, or maybe because of, their history.

Royd and Isobel grew up together, haunting the shipyards of Aberdeen. He is the oldest of shipping family, and she the likely heir to her family's shipyards. As they grew older, they realized that they were each other's perfect match. Isobel's grandmother didn't believe Royd was good enough for Isobel and insisted on a year's handfasting before they could marry. They'd been handfasted for three weeks when Royd left on a voyage, expecting to be gone one or two months. What Isobel didn't know was that Royd undertook secret missions for the Crown, and this was one of those. Months went by without hearing from him, and no one would tell her where he was. When he finally returned, after thirteen months away, she was so furious and hurt she slammed the door in his face and refused to see him, declaring their handfasting over. When repeated attempts got him nowhere, Royd accepted it. Their personal relationship may have been over, but their professional one remained, so they saw each other frequently over the next eight years.

I enjoyed Royd's reaction to Isobel's appearance. He has come to realize that his feelings for her have never died and is determined to win her back. He looks at the voyage to Africa as the perfect way to make a start on that. Isobel is more interested in trying to root out her feelings for Royd and move on. But the first leg of the journey (early in the book, so not a spoiler) brings a shock to them both. Stowing away on board was Isobel's almost eight year old son - the son Royd knows nothing about. He is, of course, shocked and angry, but he is a mature and controlled man. I loved how he waits for Isobel's explanation of what had happened. Both of them agree that they have made mistakes that led to those actions, and the best thing to do is to accept and move on. However, it only reinforces Royd's determination to win Isobel back to his life.

I really liked Isobel. She is tall, beautiful, stron-willed, capable, and just as determined as Royd. She is a talented ships' designer and has had a successful business relationship with Royd in spite of their past. However, she does suffer from some insecurity, in believing that a man wouldn't want her for herself, just for her inheritance. This is part of what played into the ending of their relationship years earlier. She's also honest enough with herself to know that her feelings for him haven't gone away.

Their relationship throughout the book is one of getting to know each other again. Royd has to learn to accept that trying to protect Isobel by keeping things secret is a bad idea. I loved watching him go from protector to partner, discovering that sharing it all makes their relationship so much richer. Isobel has to learn to trust Royd again, and believe that he won't shut her out of any part of his life. That trust becomes easier as the mission continues and Isobel is fully included. Not that it comes easy for Royd. His internal battles are obvious, but so is his knowledge that it is the only way to win the battle for her heart. Isobel fought it longer, more hesitant to risk her heart again, until she could no longer deny her feelings for him. It does take a crisis for her to finally let go of her fears, but the rewards were worth it.

The main story is the mission to rescue the captives, shut down the mine, and find a way to bring the backers to justice. As such, it is more than just Royd's mission. He is the leader, but others must also be involved. Caleb and Katherine were still among the captives, waiting and planning for their rescuers to arrive. Declan and Edwina, and Robert and Aileen, are also part of the rescue mission, along with others from the Frobisher fleet. Their planning is painstakingly detailed, with success depending on everything going right, and everyone doing their parts. There is a terrific scene between Royd, Isobel, and Admiral Decker that had me laughing out loud and feeling a teeny bit (but not too much) sorry for Decker. I also loved seeing the power of the Frobisher women as they worked together.

The lead up to and rescue itself were an exciting read. The increasing tension as all the parts moved into place had me turning the pages as fast as I could read. As is likely in any kind of confrontation, there's always something that could go wrong, and there are several places where all could fall apart. When all was said and done, the rescue went amazingly well. The first two objectives were achieved: captives rescued and mine shut down. They even managed to catch some of the ones they needed. But the biggest fish are still back in London, and there our adventurers must go to bring their mission to a successful close.

This was also an exciting part of the book. Traps must be prepared and every contingency planned for. I loved that the bait in the trap was thought of by the ladies, and Isobel was the perfect person to do it. I loved seeing not only the Frobishers and their ladies, and the Wolverstones, but so many others from previous stories. Having Devil and some of the other Cynsters, as well as members of the Bastion Club and those from the Black Cobra mission involved increased the intensity as the final confrontation neared. The resolution was extremely satisfying after another heartstopping encounter.

The epilogue was marvelous, wrapping up the series perfectly for each couple. There is also a hint that we may not be entirely done with the Frobishers, and I can't wait to see what's in store.

The Daredevil Snared - Stephanie Laurens (Mira - July 2016)

Series: Adventurers Quartet (Book 3)

Captain Caleb Frobisher, hedonistic youngest son of a seafaring dynasty, wants to be taken seriously by his family, and understands he has to prove himself sufficiently reformed. When opportunity strikes, he seizes the next leg of the covert mission his brothers have been pursuing and sails to Freetown. His actions are decisive, and he completes the mission's next stage -- but responsibility, once exercised, has taken root, and he remains in the jungle to guard the captives whose rescue is the mission's ultimate goal.

Katherine Fortescue has fled the life of poverty her wastrel father had bequeathed her and come to Freetown as a governess, only to be kidnapped and put to work overseeing a child workforce at a mine. She and the other captured adults understand that their lives are limited by the life of the mine. Guarded by well-armed and well-trained mercenaries, the captives have been searching for some means of escape, but in vain. Then Katherine meets a handsome man -- a captain -- in the jungle, and he and his crew bring the sweet promise of rescue.

The sadistic mercenary captain who runs the mine has other ideas, but Caleb's true strength lies in extracting advantage from adversity, and through the clashes that follow, he matures into the leader of men he was always destined to be. The sort of man Katherine can trust -- with her body, with her life. With her love.

This is the third book in the series and my favorite so far. At the end of the previous book, A Buccaneer at Heart, Caleb has stolen Robert's journal and departed for Freetown, to take up the next leg of the investigation. He is the youngest of the brothers and considered to be rather reckless. He wants the respect and trust of his brothers, and has been unable to convince them that he can be responsible.

As this book opens, Caleb and his crew, and fellow captain and friend Philippe and his crew, have located the slavers' camp and take it upon themselves to wipe them out. They are also smart enough to make it look like the slavers have simply moved on to greener pastures. Their next move is to find the mine and send its location back to England for them to mount a rescue. In doing so, they meet a young lad and one of the women, the only two captives allowed outside the gates of the compound.

Kate is the missing governess, who was taken to be in charge of the children. She is stunned by the presence of Caleb and his men. They bring hope to a group who have increasingly realized that they won't leave the jungle alive. Kate is able to make use of her trips outside the gate to get information to Caleb that is useful for his mission. She knows he'll have to leave, to return to England, but the hope he leaves behind will have to sustain them.

But Caleb can't bring himself to leave the lovely Kate and others in danger. So he sends the information off with his ship and most of his crew, while he, Philippe and others remain behind to watch over the captives. Unfortunately, the mercenary in charge of the mine discovers the men and makes them captives too. Caleb isn't too concerned. He is a man who is used to making the best of situations, and he immediately settles in to becoming part of captives' unit.

I have to say that I loved Caleb. He is one of those people that nothing can keep down for long. He is also smart, intuitive, and easy to like. He quickly makes a place for himself with the captive leadership, helping them to find ways to help themselves. A realistic look at the obstacles they face has them pulling together to survive until they can be rescued. I loved seeing Caleb's natural leadership abilities emerge. He doesn't simply take charge, he involves everyone, right down to the children, in the efforts to save them all. Of course, one of his biggest motivations is the desire to get to know Kate better. Kate is the perfect match for him. She is just as strong a leader and devotes her efforts to keeping hope alive among the women and children. She is also clever and thinks well in crisis situations.

I loved the development of the relationship between them. Caleb had been taken with her from the moment he saw her, meeting her simply solidified his fascination. Kate's fascination with Caleb was equally strong. Somehow, in the midst of the danger, they manage to have a truly wonderful courtship. With nothing but time stretching in front of them, they have the chance to truly get to know each other. Some stolen kisses ramp up the attraction they feel, and the hope that they will survive to explore it further.

But not everything goes smoothly. The captives are fully aware that when the mine is played out, they will be killed. They have to find a way to keep the mine going until their rescue can be accomplished. One tunnel is nearly depleted, and they have no idea how many diamonds are in the second tunnel. Plus, with the addition of Caleb and his men, there are more bodies able to dig. When it looks like that tunnel may play out before they are ready, the captives must come up with ways to delay that won't rouse the suspicions of their captors. I loved the spirit of cooperation that imbues them all, and the cleverness of their actions. But things look increasingly bleak as their efforts still bring them up short. The arrival in camp of one of the conspirators from town is just one more straw to be dealt with. A desperate attempt nearly goes horribly wrong, but in the end, brings an unexpected reprieve. We are also left with a cliffhanger, as the captives are still waiting for their rescue.

In the final part of the book we also finally get a look at the backers of the mine, and discover just how evil and highly placed they are. Their greed knows no bounds, and two of them decide that it's time to go to Africa and apply their own brand of motivation.

We also see Caleb's ship arrive, and the information sped to London and Caleb's brothers. Just as they are reading it over, still in the hallway, a carriage arrives, obviously in a hurry. From that carriage steps the oldest brother, Royd, who had been sent for by Wolverstone. To the shock of Robert and Declan, Royd is not alone. With him is a woman, referred to only as "Trouble". I'm so glad I already have the fourth book, as I would not want to have to wait to read the conclusion to this exciting series.

A Buccaneer at Heart - Stephanie Laurens (Mira - May 2016)

Series: Adventurers Quartet (Book 2)

After a decade of captaining diplomatic voyages for Frobisher Shipping, alongside covert missions for the Crown, Captain Robert Frobisher decides that establishing a home -- with hearth and wife -- should be his next challenge. But an unexpected mission intervenes. Although Robert sees himself as a conservative businessman-cum-diplomat and this mission is far from his usual sphere, it nevertheless falls within the scope of his abilities. As matters are urgent, he agrees to depart for West Africa forthwith.

To Robert, his way forward is clear: Get to Freetown, determine the location of a slavers' camp, return to London with the information, and then proceed to find himself a wife.

Already in Freetown, Miss Aileen Hopkins is set on finding her younger brother Will, a naval lieutenant who has mysteriously disappeared. Find Will and rescue him; determined and resolute, Aileen is not about to allow anyone to turn her from her path.

But all too quickly, that path grows dark and dangerous. And then Robert Frobisher appears and attempts to divert her in more ways than one.

Accustomed to managing diplomats and bureaucrats, Robert discovers that manipulating a twenty-seven-year-old spinster lies outside his area of expertise. Prodded by an insistent need to protect Aileen, he realizes that joining forces with her is the surest path to meeting all the challenges before him -- completing his mission, keeping her safe, and securing the woman he wants as his wife.

But the villains strike and disrupt their careful plans -- leaving Robert and Aileen no choice but to attempt a last throw of the dice to complete his mission and further her brother's rescue.

Compelled to protect those weaker than themselves and bring retribution to a heartless enemy, they plunge into the jungle with only their talents and inner strengths to aid them -- and with the courage of their hearts as their guide.

Exciting continuation of the series. This one picks up where The Lady's Command left off. Declan and Edwina have returned to England with the information they were sent to get. Robert has just arrived home from his latest voyage ferrying diplomats when he is met by the Duke of Wolverstone (Dalziel) who wants Robert to take the next leg of the investigation, finding the location of the slavers' camp, and bringing that information back to England. Robert is understandably disgruntled about not being able to see the investigation through to its conclusion, but accepts the reasoning. He also has a secondary motive for wanting to finish as quickly as possible: After years of sailing and missions for the Crown, he wants what Declan has found - a home and wife of his own. The sooner he returns home, the sooner he can start looking.

Aileen Hopkins grew up in a Navy family, with all the men in her family for generations having served. When word comes that her youngest brother, Will, has disappeared from his ship in Freetown, Aileen is determined to find and rescue him. She is smart, stubborn and a dead shot with a pistol. It doesn't take long for her to realize that there is more going on than meets the eye.

With both Robert and Aileen tackling the same mystery from different points, it isn't long before their paths collide. That first meeting is quite incendiary, as Robert steps in just as one of the slavers notices that Aileen appeared to be watching him. Using a kiss that rapidly gets out of hand, their cover is maintained, but both are left reeling. Robert is determined to convince Aileen that she should back off and let him handle things, and she is equally determined not to be shunted off to the side. It was quite enjoyable to see Aileen take each one of Robert's objections and counter it with excellent logic. Robert quickly came to realize that he would be certain of her safety only if he kept her at his side.

The development of their relationship is fast and furious. They are evenly matched in intelligence and determination, and discover that they work together quite well. There is also a simmering attraction that builds quickly. I really enjoyed seeing Robert's frustration with Aileen at the beginning, as she didn't behave in any way like he expected her to. However, that same behavior soon impressed him with her ability to adapt to any circumstances. It didn't take long for him to realize that fate had combined his mission and his search for a wife, if only he can keep her safe. I also enjoyed seeing the effect that Robert had on Aileen, shaking up her usual ability to focus on her goals. There were several fun parts where Aileen notices the similarities between Robert and her brothers, and handles him the same way she would them. There are also times when Robert needs all the diplomacy he's learned over the years to make Aileen see things his way. But through it all, there is no doubting the respect they have for each other. There are no games played, no big secrets to drive them apart, and no doubting that they are meant for each other.

The carrying out of Robert's mission was exciting from the beginning. The first part of the book shows both Aileen and Robert following their plans independently. Robert and his men have their work cut out as they follow their suspects and wait for their chance to track the slavers. Aileen's frustration with the lack of help she receives from the officials leads her to take matters into her own hands. She's unaware of the bigger picture and the danger until she joins forces with Robert. Her switch in focus to the missing children brings her to the attention of the wrong people, and her capture creates havoc with Robert's plans. There is a great deal of danger, fear, excitement and even some humor in her rescue, but that's not the end of it. Still missing some key information, their search leads into the jungle and yet another close call with the slavers. A heartbreaking scene involving some of the missing children gives further impetus to their need to escape with the information they now have. That confrontation was a real nail-biter as I wondered how close it was going to be.

I loved the final chapters, as Robert and Aileen take the time during the voyage home to truly get to know each other. Their arrival involved a bit of fun, as we meet the youngest brother, Caleb, and experience the ever present competitiveness between the brothers. It concludes with a most satisfying meeting with Wolverstone and other familiar faces, including Edwina and Minerva, Lady Wolverstone. There's an unexpected twist involving the next leg of the investigation that sets the stage for the next book.