Review of The Rogue Pirate's Bride by Shana Galen

The Rogue Pirate's Bride is the third book in Shana Galen Sons of the Revolution series, and it is the rare series that I didn't feel needed to be read in order. The first two books The Making of a Duchess and The Making of a Gentleman are both fantastic stories as well, so what are you waiting for? 

Raeven Russell the free spirited daughter of a British Admiral, and she is more comfortable on the high seas than in a ballroom. Raeven is brave, charmingly unconventional, and has an unusual set of handy skills that would make any rogue or pirate green with envy. She sets out to bring the notorious pirate Captain Cutlass to justice for the murder of her fiance. Raeven intends to make the "pirate" pay for his sins by running him through with her sword. 


Bastien Harcourt, marquis de Valere is a french aristocrat, who in his youth was separated from his family during the French Revolution. Bastien is working on plans for some vengeance of his own, and is in hot pursuit of a Barbary pirate, Jourdain who is responsible for the death of Bastien's mentor. Bastiens' efforts to find the scoundrel Jourdain and send him to a watery grave are disrupted by the arrival of the fiery and furious Raeven. 


Raeven and Bastien find themselves caught up in each others' plans and sparks begin to fly and then ignite between the unlikely couple. The Rogue Pirate's Bride is a fast paced tale of intrigue and betrayal that made me laugh, sigh and tear up in all the right places. Bastien is charming and Raeven is fearless and they were so terrific together that I didn't want their story to end. Loved this book from the first page to the last. I expect that The Rogue Pirate's Bride will bring many new fans to Shana Galen's writing, as well as please those who have already been enchanted by her storytelling.
                                                       

 Quote:                                                   
Something zipped past him and struck the man with enough force to cause him to drop his pistol and clutch his abdomen. Bastien had a moment to look behind him and saw his cabin girl, his beautiful cabin girl, standing there with arm out stretched. He'd known she's be accurate with that dagger.
                                 -The Rogue Pirate's Bride -Shana Galen
                                                                          
                        
Netgalley version provided by Sourcebooks

A Pirate by Any Other Name

In February the Rogue Pirate Princess of Prose otherwise known as Shana Galen, will be here on the blog doing a giveaway of her fabulous new historical romance The Rogue Pirate's Bride from Sourcebooks Casablanca. The Rogue Pirate's Bride is the final installment of  Shana Galen's Son's of the Revolution series. The three books tell the tale of a family of displaced french aristocrats , that become separated from each other during the French Revolution. The first book in the series is the The Making of a Duchess , and the second is The Making of a Gentleman .

In The Rogue Pirate's Bride, Shana Galen delivers an action filled, high seas adventure, and spins a tale of love and intrigue between Captain Cutlass, Bastien Harcourt and Raeven Russell two people who have no intention in falling in love. Raeven is intent on revenge and considers Bastien to be a murderer, who she plans to be bring to justice on the end of her sword. Bastien considers Raeven an over indulged, though  fascinating nuisance, who need to be returned to her father. To complicate matters, Raeven's father just happens to be a British Admiral on the HMS Regal. Bastien needs to part ways from Raeven, before she destroys his plans for some vengeance of his own.

Raeven considers him a pirate;

"Of course he claimed he was a privateer, and she knew he sailed under the Spanish flag and with that country's letters of marque . She didn't care for privateers any more than she cared for pirates, and made little distinction between them." -Raeven

According to Miriam Webster: Letters of marquee : written authority granted to a private person by a government to seize the subjects of a foreign state or their goods; specifically : a license granted to a private person to fit out an armed ship to plunder the enemy

                                           

Pirate or a privateer? What's in a name? Words have power, and these words conjure images that blur together in my mind. I thought it might be helpful to other readers to explore the differences in these words.

According to Miriam Webster:A pirate is someone who commits piracy : an act of robbery on the high seas; also : an act resembling such robbery

Also, according to Miriam Webster: A privateer on the other hand: an armed private ship licensed to attack enemy shipping; also : a sailor on such a ship

What if I asked you to name a pirate in pop culture? 

Many people would probably say Captain Jack Sparrow or Captain Hook? Even if they weren't the first to come to mind, they are indeed two examples of fictitious pirates that are easily recognized by most people.

But what if I asked you to name a privateer? 

Did you know that Sir Francis Drake the explorer, was a privateer flying under the English flag? His name now graces the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco. Or that, Henry Morgan was a Welsh born privateer who is easily recognizable as the Captain Morgan on the label of Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum? Though the title of privateer is basically the polite term for a government owned pirate, there is little doubt that they have made their own impact on pop culture.

Sir Francis Drake

Actor portraying Captain Morgan

                                                           
So, is Bastien a pirate? Or a privateer? Can Raeven find love with him either way? Lucky for you there are going to be many opportunities to win this book coming up in January and February. I'll keep you updated here, and you can follow Shana Galen on Google +, Facebook, Twitter, Website and Blog at The Sisterhood of the Jaunty Quills.

Shana Galen Super Pirate Extravaganza -click on the link below.

Pirates and Dukes and Gentlemen--Oh, My! at Fresh Fiction
Shana Galen is giving away, The Making of A Duchess, The Making of a Gentleman and next months release The Rogue Pirate's Bride at Fresh Fiction. As if that wasn't enough treasure Shana is adding gold doubloons (chocolate coins) and Pirate's Booty (a delicious gluten free snack). Ends on January 31, 2012.

The Rogue Pirate's Bride Tour - Dates and Locations
Well here is the list of stops on Shana's blog tour for The Rogue Pirate's Bride, and there will be an opportunity to win at every stop. Lots of great blogs, and fun topics.

Dana Marton - Last Spy Standing

I am thrilled to be able feature, Dana Marton's upcoming January 2012 release Last Spy Standing from Harlequin Intrigue. I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy, and loved it. Last Spy Standing is a fast paced adventure set in the jungles of South America. Dana Marton drops the reader right into the action, and sets the scene so vividly that it makes you wish for a handy machete, so you can cut your way through the jungle along with the characters.

Do you love reading a book set in the jungle? Where there is danger in every step the characters take, and the setting itself is as unpredictable as the enemy. Sparks and bullets begin to fly when Mitch Mendoza the hunky hero, meets the feisty heroine Megan Cassidy. Last Spy Standing is a book that you will not be able to put down. 


There a few elements that can be expected in any story that is set in a jungle. The first thing is snakes, and Dana delivers on that point there are plenty of snakes both poisonous and benign in  Last Spy Standing. The second is spiders, and the spider featured in this book is unbelievable, but very real.  


So, to help any of you that find yourself dropped into a jungle I thought I would point out a snake, and a spider in Last Spy Standing you should avoid. I am personally advocating that you avoid them all, but if you insist . . . First thing's first and in the classic cinematic words of Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark, "Snakes. Why did it have to snakes?" We will start with the snakes.


The fer-de-lance makes an appearance in Last Spy Standing, and even when he isn't on the page you get a feeling he is hiding in the leaves, just waiting for an opportunity to strike.
The fer-de-lance is a pit viper who is fast, venomous, can climb trees, swim and is easily agitated. Say no more, lets avoid him, but will Mitch and Megan?


Next we have the Banana Spider that gives new meaning to the word creepy. To be fair there are harmless yellow Banana Spider's out there, but the ones in Last Spy Standing are not those. The Banana spider is poisonous and reported to have the most painful of all spider bites. Though how they determined that is something I would rather not consider. Ouch.
                               

Brazilian Wandering Spider aka Banana Spider

I am not a spider person. I used to scream in my room until my mother would come take the offending creepy crawly outside. I am proud to say that I am now able to handle my own spiders, but if this jungle bad boy came my way, trust me I would not hesitate to get out of his way, and call for special ops to handle it. So, a good rule of thumb in the jungle is avoid spiders as well. Dana has some surprising details about this spider, and you'll have to read Last Spy Standing to find them out. 


Last Spy Standing is a must read for Dana Marton's fans, and for those of you who haven't read her books yet, this is a great book to start with. 

Dana is offering one randomly chosen commentator one her books either an e-book or in print. To be entered in the giveaway ( US or Canada please) ask Dana Marton a question in the comments below. Or answer which fictional hero or heroine would you want to bring with you if you were dropped into the middle of a jungle? I know who I'd bring, do you? 

                                                                                                                 
You can find Dana Marton on Facebook - Website - Twitter She loves to hear from readers.

Giveaway ends on Monday January 2 at 9 pm PST. Last Spy Standing is available now at all major online retailers, and at Harlequin.  Please leave an e-mail so I can get a hold of you if you win.

CASE FILE: CANYON CREEK WYOMING

Recently on Twitter one of my favorite Romantic Suspense Authors, Paula Graves was live tweeting from the hospital. I tweeted to her that she need a hunky bodyguard like her very own character, Riley Patterson from the Canyon Creek Police department. Riley is the hero of  CASE FILE: CANYON CREEK WYOMING which is Paula's RITA nominated Harlequin Intrigue and is the first book in her Cooper Justice series. Riley first meets Hannah Cooper the heroine in the hospital in a less than ideal situation. Paula tweeted back "When I meet the Intrigue hero of my dreams, I'd like to have clean hair and no oozing wounds." This tweet started me thinking that the whole premise of most Intrigue's is that the couple meets during a crisis, usually loaded with enough personal baggage to keep the average human being away, and often with little time for social niceties such as clean hair. The ability to move past these obstacles and find love in the face of impossible odds is the very reason I enjoy reading Harlequin Intrigues.

CASE FILE: CANYON CREEK, WYOMING

Heroine:

Hannah Cooper is a fishing guide from a large family, who is vacationing in Wyoming.

Hero:

Deputy Chief Riley Patterson a widowed police officer.

First Meeting Location:

They meet at a hospital in Jackson Wyoming, after Hannah has been attacked and peppered sprayed by a serial killer who posed as a police officer. Riley come to the hospital to question Hannah about the attack because he has a very personal interest in finding out who attacked her.

Hannah's Initial Impression:

Riley Patterson walks into the hospital room wearing a badge, and gets the following reaction."Her heart rate doubled in a span of a second, she opened her mouth and screamed.

Riley's Initial Impression:

"Bandages, blotchy skin and red rimmed eyes disappeared, revealing how pretty she was beneath her injuries." 

Paula Graves

Not an ideal meeting, nor an ideal location, but certainly the perfect setting for an Intrigue to start. This was the first book of  Paula Graves  that I had read. I was instantly hooked, by her cinematic style and carefully crafted stories. I've subsequently read everything else that she has written except for her most recent release from Harlequin Intrigue Major Nanny, which I am saving for a rainy day. 


So, I started thinking which locations and circumstances would make the least desirable romantic meeting places. Personally, I would not enjoy meeting my Intrigue hero at the dentist office, and if that dentist office was on a submarine, well that would be the worst possible romantic suspense scenario for me. Yet an Intrigue heroine might easily find love there, as the dentist would turn out to be a spy and their mission on the submarine dangerous and top secret.


My question for you is, what circumstance would you prefer not to meet your Intrigue hero or heroine in? *

*Everyone who  leaves a comment below before 9pm on December 27th, 2011 (PST) will  be entered in a random drawing and one person will  win a copy of Major Nanny by Paula Graves, and a ten dollar gift card to Amazon. Also, leave an e-mail  for me to get a hold of you. The winner will be posted on December 28th here and on Paula's Facebook page.

http//www.facebook.com/PaulaGravesBooks

Paula Graves upcoming March 2012 book - Secret Identity

Life lessons from Rory Joplin Egglehoff

The Good,the Bad and the Ugly 

Men I've Dated

by Shane Bolks

"This isn't just Star Wars stuff." I give her a stern look."This a life strategy. This is a relationship metaphor, so pay attention." -Rory

Jedi Knight

 "A Jedi Knight, like a knight in a fairy tale, is wise and brave and good. He is strong and powerful with fathoms of depth. Definite boyfriend material." -Rory

Wookiee

"A Wookiee appears to be a Jedi at the beginning of your relationship, but pretty soon his light saber is gone and you are stuck with a lot of hair and grunting." -Rory

Princess Leia

And for just one moment, Princess Leia's pose and beauty flowed into me, and it was a cool confident Rory striding down the catwalk. -Rory

Yoda

In my opinion, there are three truly great philosophers: Aristotle, Confucius, and Yoda. -Rory

Darth Vader

 If I were Princess Leia, I'd never let the Dark Side win. I'd fight for the forces of good to the bitterest end. -Rory

Rory is obsessed with Star Wars, and it defines her relationships with those around her. Most of us probably don't go that far, or at least won't admit it.

But I am going to go with the assumption that everyone has an obsession that might be considered a little geeky. Mine is RPG computer games such as Baldurs Gate and Dragon Age Origins. I also have an odd fascination with the green aliens from Toy Story. Feel free to share your geeky obsession here. Ewoks are welcome.

    My Goodreads review of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Men I've Dated by Shane Bolks. 

I loved this book. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Men I've Dated is packed full of witty dialogue and poignant characterizations. Rory the main character is living in the shadow of her childhood fear, that she doesn't quite fit in with her classmates or her family. As her high school reunion approaches she is desperate to show her former classmates that she is a somebody, but just not the somebody she truly is. To make matters worse Hunter, her childhood crush appears on the scene and much to her surprise takes an interest in her. It sounds like a dream come true, but Rory complicates the situation by not letting Hunter know who she really is. A general knowledge of Star Wars is helpful when reading this book, because it really is a collision between Star Wars and Chick Lit, but in the best way possible. 

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

View all my reviews

Veterans Day 2011

On Veterans Day

 and every day I would like to say,

thank you to those of you who have stood up to defend this country.

Thank you,

to those who have sacrificed so much to give American's the very freedom we take for granted.

Thank you, and may God bless you.

You are not forgotten.