Part Fact. Part Fiction. All Romance.Based on the actual events of real-life pirate Captain Henry Avery, The Arch Pirate twists and twirls blending fact with fiction in an adventure-filled 17th century pirate romance. While Avery and his crew make for Madagascar to start off their new life of piracy, they capture a Dutch ship along the way. It isn’t gold Avery finds in one of the chests they … finds in one of the chests they brought on board, but it’s treasure none-the-less… an exquisite woman unlike any he’s ever seen. Enraptured by her beauty and unable to return her to her own long-departed ship, Avery promises to keep her safe until he can secure her return passage home. But after he strips away the years of etiquette drilled into Lady Aleida Van Imhoff, it isn’t him doing the stealing this time… it seems she’s stolen his heart.
Aleida finds herself captured by Captain Avery’s crew while en route to marry the heir to the Dutch India Trading Company. She had thought being forced to marry the arrogant Albertus was the worst thing to happen to her… until she ended up on a ship filled with pirates. But the notorious Arch Pirate turns out to be more mischief than murderer, and soon she’s hoping her rescuers never arrive. Ensnared by Avery’s roguish charm and the temptations of a life unknown, the two soon find themselves on an adventure in pirate-controlled Madagascar.
Torn between family duty and her love for Captain Avery, Aleida must decide who wins the battle raging inside her. Will she choose her heart or her head?
★★★★★
“This story was such a wonderful high sea adventure that you will not want it to end.”
-Goodreads ARC Review
★★★★★
“Get ready for exciting high seas adventure, I wish I could give this book a 10 star rating!!!!”
-Goodreads ARC Reviewmore
The Arch Pirate by Katherine Hastings is the fourth book in the Daggers of Desire series but serves as a prequel to the full story.
The main character, pirate Henry Avery, has recently stolen the Charles II and taken over as Captain. Avery was among the crew that the previous captain was holding hostage without pay. He is a believer in fairness and only sacrificing what, or who, is necessary. Avery makes it his mission to provide the crew he now leads with fortune that will last their families a lifetime. All they need to do is intercept a fleet of ships heading to India, mainly the Ganj-i-Sawei that is rumored to carry the largest fortune of all.
Avery and his crew anticipate the raid to be difficult but the biggest obstacle of all is her – young, beautiful Lady Aleida. When she finds herself aboard the Charles II, she wants nothing more than to get home safely. She’s been arranged to wed Albertus Van Riebeek, who recently set sail with her father, to help expand the Dutch East India Trading Company. She deeply misses her father. And while being forced to marry someone simply to provide her family with security isn’t her dream, she makes the quick decision she’d rather be there than stuck on a ship with pirates.
During their time together, she learns that Avery’s got a great sense of humor and a more than normal dose of integrity for a pirate. And while he’s been with his share of women, he admits repeatedly that he’s never met one like Lady Aleida. She’s beautiful, smart and kind. Along with both of them having exceptional good looks, sharing a common goal of security for a lifetime makes these two the perfect pair!
This long journey gives Avery a taste of what life away from the sea would be like and Aleida is able, for the first time in her life, to experience true freedom. But Hastings doesn’t let them get too comfortable in their “new” life. She makes them zig when they want to zag, causing their trek to India to be anything but relaxing. Their constant dodging of obstacles makes you feel just about every emotion you can feel – happiness, sadness, anger and relief. I was so frustrated for Avery and Aleida at times, I wanted to throw my book!
I’ve read every book in this series and they’re all phenomenal. Hastings delivered them to readers in perfect sequence. She casts a variety of characters throughout, and makes each of the memorable, even if they aren’t lovable!
This book could be enjoyed by any reader as a stand-alone, but being dropped in fourth place in the series was perfect!! And if you’re going to read them all, do so in order.
Five stars for this one! And I hope this is not our last adventure with Avery and Aleida!
The plot was well written and well planned and the characters were so well fleshed out that I was totally hooked throughout the entire book!
He is a pirate and before he ends out he captures another ship. He finds good and a treasure unlike any. She is shocked when she is taken by the pirate and taken far away from home. See if she can escape
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I did not realize when I first starting read that this story is roughly based on a true pirate and is that not cool. This story was such a wonderful high sea adventure that you will not want it to end. Aleida and Henry are super characters and I loved all the interaction between them and the other cast of characters. If you love pirates, adventure with the splash of romance this is the book to pick up. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
This author has fast become one of my very favourite authors and she proves it again with “The Arch Pirate”!! Such an awesome story, made more amazing by the fact that it’s actually partly based on a real pirate by that name! I love Katherine Hastings’ version of how this pirate, Captain Henry Avery, lived his life and ooooh boy, what a sexy pirate he is:) Avery has become a pirate but he’s still a caring and gentle man and all he wants is to do right for his crew and give them the riches he’s promised them. What he isn’t prepared for is Lady Aleida Van Imhoff, who is accidentally captured by his crew when they overtake a Dutch ship! I adored their interactions, some of them truly do make you laugh out loud!! When they reach Madagascar, a pirate haven, Aleida discovers a bright new world where she is free to do as she pleases and some of the scenes are absolutely hilarious….others a bit scary! The love Avery and Aleida have for each other warms the heart and when they are forced apart by misunderstandings, my heart wept for them until they are together again. Get ready for exciting high seas adventure, I wish I could give this book a 10 star rating!!!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Arch Pirate by Katherine Hastings is a part fact, part fiction story. Based on the actual events of real-life pirate Captain Henry Avery, The Arch Pirate twists and twirls blending fact with fiction in an adventure-filled 17th century pirate romance.
This high sea adventure tale will make you crave more after the last page is turned!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.