Reviewed by Heather C
Title: Mutiny of the Heart
Author: Jennifer Bray-Weber
Series: Romancing the Pirate #4
Heroine/Hero: Joelle Quint/Sloan Ricker
Genre: M/F Historical Romance
Length: 216 Pages
Publisher: Carina Press
Release Date: June 23, 2014
Available at: Carina Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance eBooks and Kobo
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: Navigating the high seas as the female captain of a pirate ship means always being on your guard–especially when one takes a temptingly handsome slave on board.
Captain Joelle Quint believes the slave claiming to be a cartographer can help her decipher the map her father left her when she was a child. She’s spent years trying to unlock its truths, hoping that it holds the answers to a dark family secret.
Sloan Ricker has no intention of remaining captive. When the fiery, red-headed captain offers him his freedom in exchange for solving her map, what begins as an opportunity to escape becomes a struggle to make the beautiful, intriguing Joelle his mistress in more ways than one.
Amidst a battle with the Royal Navy and a first mate’s jealousy, Joelle also fights her growing lust. And as much as he’d like to deny it, Ricker’s desire for Joelle has overcome his initial disdain. To get the answers, independence and love that they both long for, Joelle and Ricker must relinquish control to each other…or die trying.
Review:
I came across this book late one night when I was looking for something new and different. So I pretty much grabbed this on a whim not realizing it was book 4 of the Romancing the Pirate series…not that it even matters because it can totally be read as a stand alone.
What grabbed my interest? A FEMALE PIRATE CAPTAIN PURCHASING A MALE SLAVE! What’s not to love, right?
For years, Captain Joelle Quint has been trying to interpret a map left to her by her father, hoping that it will reveal long, lost family secrets. So when she comes across a handsome map maker up for sale at a slave auction, she puts in the highest bid, promising him his freedom if he helps her find the “treasure”.
Sloan Ricker’s first plan under his new master is to incite a mutiny amongst Jo’s men, but soon realizes that he will never be able to sway them. No, they all respect their captain and it isn’t long before Sloan’s interest in Jo moves far beyond just gaining his freedom…
I loved so many things about this book!
The Romance: I’m not usually a fan of love triangles and this certainly has a big one. Joelle once had a little fling with her first mate Valeryn, but Valeryn betrayed her severely. I think its possible that I may have missed some of the history between Jo and Val by not reading the previous books in the series because there were quite a few references to the ‘big deception’. So when Sloan comes along, Valeryn starts feeling threatened and won’t give up easily. Then there is the crazy sexual tension between Jo and Sloan…and the sex between them was oh-my-god-I-need-you-now intense. Yes, it is a master/slave trope, but it was more on the humorous side and nothing dark and forced. I did find myself occasionally cheering for Valeryn; I know, he really screwed up but I can’t deny that the man has heart. Fortunately, I have it on good authority that Valeryn will get his HEA soon.
The Adventure: This almost reads like an action movie, kind of like Pirates of the Caribbean without all the paranormal creepiness. A little over the top with lots of strategic twists and turns, humor and a bit graphic. Plus, Joelle is one BADASS heroine. She didn’t become captain of her own ship by being a genteel lady. There were so many oh-my-god-did-she-really-just-do-that moments. No, this was NOT predictable at all.
The Characters: So many great secondary characters here…good guys and bad. The thing about the pirate life is that a man, or woman, can be your ally one moment and then your enemy the next. I loved how I never knew who I could trust and who would be the next betrayer. I think there were some appearances of characters from the previous books in the series, so now I’m even more interested in reading more from this author.
Loved loved LOVED!
If you are looking for a fun adventure romance with jealousy, angry sex and a badass heroine…you must add this to your TBR.
Overall Impression: I Loved It
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*
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