Do the mysterious pearls with the red-gold color of the burning sun hold the key to love… or to a curse?Emma Langdon’s life was changed by a kiss that never happened. Hugh Le Brecque, the handsome viscount meant to do the kissing never showed up, and Emma has been trying to forget him ever since. But when thieves break into her elegant home to steal a family heirloom known as the Pearls of … the Pearls of Fire, a necklace she believes is cursed, Emma knows she must turn to Hugh for help. Her father, driven mad with grief, has run off after the thieves and Emma fears his life is now in danger. Can she trust Hugh to find her father? Or will he betray her for those mysterious pearls that shine with the brilliance of a red-gold flame and seem to hold a dark power over men?
Hugh Le Brecque, once a respected privateer in service of the Crown and English peer known as Viscount Brixham, is now a convicted pirate with no intention of hanging for a crime he did not commit. He has already made plans to seek revenge on the men who framed him when Emma Langdon storms back into his life, entering his cell and offering a bargain he cannot refuse – take her to the East Indies to help her find her father, and she will use her powerful connections to see his conviction overturned. A two hundred year old journal written by Emma’s ancestor who first acquired the Pearls of Fire is the only clue to her father’s whereabouts.
Will Hugh fall under the spell of these mysterious pearls? Or is Emma’s enchanting innocence the greater danger to his heart?
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Another great book by Meara Platt
Emma Langdon was in love with the handsome Viscount Brixham, Hugh Le Brecque who was supposed to meet her for a kiss but never showed up; that was 2 years ago & she is still trying forget him. Thieves break in to their home & steal the Pearls of Fire, a family heirloom necklace believed to be cursed by some people & Emma believes they are.
Emma’s Father has been driven mad by the theft & has disappeared to chase after the thieves & Emma knows he has gone to Buru – she also knows there is only on man who can help her, Hugh Le Brecque, who was once a successful privateer in service of the Crown but has since been convicted of a crime he did not commit. He was framed & when Emma waltzes into his prison cell & offers a deal he cannot refuse; he agrees to take her to the East Indies to help find her father & she will use her powers to have conviction reversed. The only clue they have as to her father’s whereabouts was written in a 200 year old journal by an ancestor of Emma’s, Stefan Landon who wrote about the island of Buru.
In summing ups this book, I will just say if I was 50 years younger & lived a couple of hundred years ago, I would spend the rest of my days on Buru with Hugh the handsome, funny, wickedly suggestive, sexy, wildly adventurous, brave Captain & Viscount – I think Meara Platt just wrote about my perfect hero! I highly recommend this story to everyone!
Pearls of Fire Great Adventure
Have been enjoying this author’s Farthingale and Book of Love series for some time, and had this one in my TBR file. Wow! So glad I finally started Hugh and Emma’s story. Absolutely loved it! Journey on the high seas, pirates, murder, mystic powers, pearls of fire, love and romance. True to her style, great writing, captivating storylines, and amazing characters.
Pearls of Fire is a beautiful heirloom necklace (that everyone thinks has been stolen)that Lady Emma Langdon feels is cursed. Her brother and mother have died and now her father has gone missing and quite possibly mad. She knows the general area where her father is but has know way of getting to him. She knows of only one man who can help her; old flame Hugh Le Brecque. He once was an old flame who broke her heart, but she trusts (as well as any person) him. The problem he is in prison for killing another man when he sailed the seas. Now she must arrange his release and broker a promise from him. Find her father. Hugh wants to find the Pearls. Emma thinks that is all he wants so she only gives him bits of information that she feels he needs. In order to keep both safe, Hugh needs her to trust him and give him all the information Emma possesses. When the two (and Hugh’s crew) are attacked they are stranded on an island (while Hugh’s ship is repaired), there they both come to know the truth and learn to trust and love each other. Will it be enough to save Hugh from the gallows and Emma’s father, not to mention where are those Pearls…Quite the adventure/mystery from Meara Platt!! One you will enjoy!
The villians are truly despicable and the cast of supporting characters are worth remembering. A story with danger, secrets, laughter and intrigue, all in a well-paced story that will keep the reader turning the pages. A great addition to the Pirates of Britannia shared world.
Reviewed by Cyrene
It began two years before with a stolen kiss at a ball.
Lady Emma needs to find her father, since her mother’s murder, he is all that remains of her family. In his grief over the loss of his wife he has left England to search for a missing family heirloom that Emma believes is cursed. The only way to find, and hopefully save, her father is by making a deal with a jailed former privateer named Hugh.
Hugh and Emma have a past. They were once enthralled with each other, and he was on the edge of proposing marriage. Being pushed together on this adventure has brought those feelings of attraction and need back to the forefront, for both of them. Once known as Viscount Brixham, now as an exiled pirate, Hugh has a quest of his own. He must save his own family and avenge the monster who framed him for the murder of his friend. But will Hugh do this at the expense of a possible future with Emma? Can he survive his own desperate drive for vengeance? Will he choose his revenge over Emma?
Fun romance filled with secrets, intrigue, danger and daring along with heat from their travels and each other. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it.
I discovered Meara Platt‘s work with her regency rom-com Farthingales series, which I adored, I’m now half way in her paranormal regency Dark Gardens series, so when I saw this new release, I did not hesitated, I had to read it.
Pirates reads are not my favorite but I do loved this one, the author created a bunch of great characters, with plenty of adventures, some actions and a mystery to solve with a bit of fantastic.
Emma is a great character, despite her youth, she is very determined with a strong will, her only weakness is her attraction to Hugh. Meara Platt creates a kind and caring woman who stands her ground when needed, she does not hesitate voice her opinions but is able to recognize when she must retreat.
Her main problem is to trust Hugh, she felt betrayed when he did not show up, since she doubts him. Plus the events which occurred after tested her faith in people. She lost everyone, and is now quite alone in the world.
«He jerked his gaze away. “Go away, Emma. You don’t belong here.” She turned to go, then paused to stare at the sunrise. “That’s my problem, Hugh. I don’t belong at Langdon Heath either. There are too many painful memories for me there. So where do I belong? I don’t know yet. But right now, it’s here. With you.” »
But whatever she told herself, he is still a man she can count on, he is not the same man she felt in love but he is still a good soul.
Hugh Le Brecque was stripped from everything when he found himself imprisoned, beaten with a death sentence awaiting him. Emma becomes his road to freedom, but he is torn between helping her to find her father or clearing his name by confronting his enemies.
The more the story progressed, the more I learned to love him, he appeared long at first to comprehend Emma’s constant demand, but his acts redeemed his words.
« I wanted to come to you with my head held high and offer you all that was mine to give. But that time may never come. I might never clear my name. I might never hold you in my arms like this again. But whatever else happens, know that I love you, my sweet Emma. This pirate loves you with all his heart and always will.” »
This book is a beautiful story of acceptance, forgiveness and letting the past go to face a new future.
Now I do wonder if Lucifer’s story is the next in line and if the Meara Platt will be its author?
A big fat 5 stars rate for this awesome story.