A strait-laced lieutenant. A free-living pirate. Enemies from the first. Lieutenant Thomas Peregrine is outraged when he’s ordered to leave his ship and join the Brethren of the Coast. But Perry knows the folly of disobeying the tyrannical Commodore Pobjoy. He enlists with the Audacious, a pirate ship bound for the high seas in search of the Spanish treasure galleons.Aboard his new ship is … galleons.
Aboard his new ship is sailing master Gabriel Quinn, the most beautiful man he’s ever laid eyes on. Perry, a devout Puritan, is dismayed by his desire for a godless pirate, and an Irishman withal. He blurts out a shocking insult. And though he tries to apologise, it’s too little, too late. There can be nothing between them but bitter hatred.
Then one night, in a rowdy Port Royal tavern, Quinn stops him from making a stupid mistake. But there are consequences for carelessness. Perry’s orderly world is about to be turned upside down.
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What I Think: Warning – Long Review Ahead! This time though, I have a good excuse, promise. Its two tales! I refuse to separate them because they were both absolutely necessary. This is my first tale by this author and I loved it and its twin so damn much. I wouldn’t have survived having one and not the other so when you’re getting your copy, make sure you get both too. What the Quille hath joined, let no human put asunder. Let’s dive in! The opening verbal salvo between Perry and Master Quinn sounds too close to foreplay and damn, it feels so good to be right. Now, Perry is apparently not as holy as some people believe. A holiness that’s ascribed to him and I do not know as yet if he created that impression or didn’t bother to correct it. But, hold. The way he trembles in Quinn’s arms, even as he listens to instructions and can’t seem to go against them. Is it? Could it be? You know what I’m thinking right? BDSM set in a Historical with a size gap? Be damn quiet, my heart! I have apparently become a pervert and have no idea why I am not bothered more by it. But I do know that I am bothered by the loneliness and alienness Perry carries buried in his soul. A loneliness so deeply ingrained that he can’t even ask for friendship from anyone, convinced that he’s hated beyond all reasonable doubt. I want to snatch him out of the arms of Quinn because Quinn is too fine to not be suspicious, then take my time uncovering Perry’s secrets because there’s something afoot. Which is when this amazing Authoress took me back to the past. My ‘thank you’ is fervent! Perry’s captain is an idiot, a bully, and an idiot. I hope very fervently that Perry gets the chance to stand up to him. Oh, the 2nd idiot was for him not knowing Perry’s worth and sending him to what I hope will be his emancipation. Perry’s hatred of pirates is born of an envy so deep, it makes me wonder if my Mama might be right when she says behind every homophobic mind is jealousy for a life not fully lived. I need a fairytale entrance portal. I just need to slap okro seeds from Perry’s captain real quick. He’s pure, unadulterated scum, quickly forgotten when Perry meets Quinn and begins their courtship with a very saucy tongue. Quinn needs to remove the iron up his backside then give Perry’s mouth something better to do before he damages his brain. Oh dear, my innocence. All that longing underneath such a well kept facade needs to spill over at some point and I’m here for that explosion. The narration of the battles made them unfold perfectly in my mind’s eyes. Made me almost smell the sea air (which could be true as I live a walk from the sea) and breathed life into the pages of the tale. Wanting to fit in a world you do not belong and yet you wished you could with all your heart when you do not not know how to be anything else but what life has pummeled you into is a feeling I know far too well. Quinn, if you mess around, I am coming for your head meself! Then grief slices through everything and made it all dark but when his true self begins to spill over, I am rendered speechless. Oh Perry, you utter deliciousness. How did you keep all this heat bottled up? Finally, Quinn shows how worthy he is of my Perry as he dissects the truth ruthlessly, yet so kind and tender before my brain turned to mush at the lavish decadence that ensued. Please, hold on while I take notes on Quinn’s mastery for it is an art. Quinn is as fierce as he is gentle, precisely what Perry needs but as their feelings finally come to light, I worry for Perry. Will he be able to stand by Quinn, or will his fears and habits make him turn away? Its been a while since I’ve been this worried about the aftermath of an erotic scene and just as I’m given a hint that one night only won’t be the case here, it. Ends. See why I said both books should never be cleft in twain? So, at the point when I thought I would lose my mind, the tale continues, going back from Quinn’s point of view to the events that led to discovering Perry’s truth and I am fascinated as one things leads to another, then another and finally, I realise why Quinn apologised for being so daft. Bloody idiot! He better be deserving of my Perry but my fears where unfounded as these 2 tumbled headlong into each other, showing why its called lovemaking. And then things start to get real as more of Quinn’s mission is revealed. Secrets he carries that he cannot share. And the doubts in his mind as he realises just how much he wants Perry. Not just for now but for matelots (a term that makes so much sense and led to some interesting research. Ooohh, homework!). He has the same fears I do for we are both unsure how far and how long Perry is willing to be with him. Only for the one and only Lady Rouge herself to make a stupid mistake that even Quinn can’t stop her from and I can tell is going to cost them all dearly as she plunges forward without thinking into something that is obviously a trap. I paced then sat, paced then sat, waiting with bated breath, wondering how bad things could get. And then the battle was joined and there was no more time to even think of anything but to endure. Coffin nail in hand, I wait for the doom to come because the Rouge One’s sailors will not be coming out of this unscathed. Goosebumps covered every inch of my skin as Quinn proves why he is the Pirate Master, refusing to surrender for even one moment, ready to die standing and the thought of Perry losing him when he’d just found the one that made him whole made me ache until I was too anxious to move. Only to be swept off to a most daring rescue, as victory is snatched from the jaws of torture and death, leading to an audacious (couldn’t help it) escape as Perry shows he is truly where he belongs. Finally, its time to nurse Quinn back to life and I fear that he will never be the Master he once was, as all those things have been so tainted by the horror of men. But, we know my Perry is nothing if mot stubborn and if anyone can heal the scars within, its him and his gift of love. And we already know there is nothing love can’t cure. I’ve always thought Irish a beautiful language and having it scattered through the soul-binding scenes in this tale made it more intimate somehow. My personal highlight, though, was the ending scene. To see Perry proud of himself and happy in his skin as he faces down his demons was pure sugar. I crowed in delight as his mates surrounded him and his love, wishing I was there to stand beside them, pistol and machete in hand as love wins its just deserved glory! Now, there are just 2 problems – is the Black Wolf’s story in the works? Secondly, please, I want more. Is there more?
Verdict: A roaring, historical sweep through love as it claims and emboldens all in its path, destroying the old even as it rebuilds with greater strength!