Book review for “Captured by the Pirate Laird” by Amy Jarecki

As I promised in my previous post on Thursday, I’m posting my review for Captured by the Pirate Laird by Amy Jarecki. I’ll re-post the cover (linked to Amazon) and plot below for a refresher, but after that you can read all about what I thought of the novel. Let me just say now, though, that this has got to be one of my favorite books for 2014 so far. If you enjoy historical romance, then you’ve absolutely have to pick this one up. It’s fantastic!

Book Summary:

Wed by proxy to a baron old enough to be her grandfather, Lady Anne trudges up the gangway of a galleon that will deliver her into the arms of a tyrant. Crestfallen, she believes her disastrous life cannot get worse—until she awakes to the blasts of cannon fire.

Facing certain death, Anne trembles in her stateroom while swords clash and the chilling screams of battle rage on the deck above. When a rugged Highlander kicks in her door, she prays for a swift end.

But Laird Calum MacLeod has a reason for plundering the ship—and it’s not a stunning English lass. With no other choice, he takes Anne to his crumbling keep on the isle of Raasay and sends a letter of ransom to her husband. In time, Anne grows to understand MacLeod’s plight and finds it increasingly difficult to resist Calum’s unsettling charm—until the baron sends a reply agreeing to terms.

Ripped from passion that will be forever seared into their souls, will Anne and Calum risk everything for love?

MY REVIEW:

Some books take me awhile to get into, but not this one. From the start it grabbed my attention and kept it throughout. This is such a great story of a man and woman who should be at complete odds with each other, but once they meet there’s no ignoring their attraction. No matter what they feel, though, they have duties and responsibilities that they know will force them apart in the end. The reader is taken through a story with adventure, humor, and heartache. Every moment you’re wondering how things can possibly work out. I fell in love with this couple even as they fell for each other.

Anne’s young and innocent personality totally fit the time period, but she’s got that spark of bravery that I really enjoy seeing in a heroine. She doesn’t just sit by and let things happen to her. She defends herself, even if there’s no chance she can win. I also liked her kindness and generosity. This is one character that I couldn’t fault for her personality. She wasn’t perfect, but she was definitely easy to like and relatable.

Calum might be a Scottish laird and pirate, but I wouldn’t call him a bad boy. He’s a man who does whatever it takes to help and protect his people. He’s strong and honorable. I normally like my heroes a little more dark and damaged, but Calum was such a refreshing change of pace. He’s the kind of man a woman would dream of meeting and marrying. I could truly feel his conflict as he fought his attraction to Anne, knowing giving into it could risk his clan’s lives. Maybe he doesn’t make the right decisions every time, but he always does things with the right intentions.

This was truly an amazing love story that kept me in suspense throughout. Not only that, the author did an impressive job of including a lot of little details to fit it into the time and place. I have no doubt she must have spent countless hours researching to make the setting so vivid. Some historical romance authors skimp in this area, but I can honestly say Ms. Jarecki is not one of them. She also knows how to write intense action scenes, create unique characters, and pull the reader’s emotions at just the right times. I am most impressed with this author and will definitely be following her future work. Five whips for Captured by the Pirate Laird!

Note- I received a free ecopy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.