The Pirate's Tempting Stowaway: A Regency Romance

Erica Ridley

Dec 2015 · Dukes of War Book 6 · WebMotion

About this ebook

Enjoy another witty, emotional book in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erica Ridley’s fan-favorite Dukes of War regency romance series!

Captain Blackheart leads a simple life of roving the seas, wenching and treasure-hunting. He steers clear of romantic entanglements that could tie him to land. He shouldn't have any trouble keeping his hands off the gently-bred lady he's commissioned to abduct—except his cargo turns out to be feisty and passionate! She'd be a prize worth treasuring, if having her aboard didn't jeopardize everything...

Clara Halton thought the worst loss she could suffer was to be stripped of her family. Then she meets Blackheart. Their attraction is ruinous...and irresistible. When he delivers her to his client like so much plunder, his mission is over — but hers has just begun. She'll force him to acknowledge their connection, even if she must storm his ship to do it!

Grab the first book in the series FREE: The Viscount's Tempting Minx!

Ratings and reviews

Captain Blackheart, a Pirate, doing a job, that is all he was and all he wanted to be. He is to pick up a widowed woman in America and deliver her back to London, England and then he can be on his way to find the Crimson Corsair. A murderous pirate who is ruining his reputation. He did not figure on Clara Halton. She is far from the matronly widow he expected. He also doesn't count on her being locked in her home and the town leaving her for dead. Captain Steele aka Blackheart loves the sea. He feels completely out of sorts on land. He has had his "career" of sorts. He was once a very good Barrister. Then he was "recruited" kidnapped and taken out to sea and pressed into service. He found that he loved the life. Clara Halton is from England, but when she trusts the wrong "gentleman" she loses everything and runs away to America. She meets and marries a wonderful man, but he is lost all too soon. She is now a widow and seemingly dyeing of consumption. Captain Steel comes and immediately takes her health and well-being into his own hands. He has some experience with the deadly disease having lost family to it. She does not seem to have the same symptoms. Either way, his job is to bring her back to England to reunite with her daughter. This is the 6th book in the series and while having read the previous books lent itself to knowing the backstory, I think you could read this on it's own. It is a great romp of a story! Erica Ridley does a fantastic job of painting the scenes in rich detail, bringing the story to life with great witty banter and lovely real characters. I truly love the writing and the way she doesn't make it easy for the Hero and Heroine. They do eventually get their HEA but they have a rough way to get there!!

Erica Ridley is on one of the longest winning streaks I have ever seen: 6 books in a row, in the same fabulous series, and THE PIRATE’S TEMPTING STOWAWAY is just as wonderful as the previous five ones! When he came back from the war, Gregory Steele became a pirate and renamed himself Captain Blackheart. He loves adventures, he loves the sea, and is not looking to put down roots. He must fetch Mrs. Clara Halton in Philadelphia, on the orders of the Earl of Carlisle, and will be paid upon his return to England. He did not expect a spirited widow, supposedly on death’s door, to point a firearm at him when he arrives at her door! Clara is however delighted to be reunited with her daughter in England, and she goes willingly. Clara who always thought she wanted a quiet and uneventful life, soon discovers she loves adventures, and the bachelor pirate finds out he very much enjoy the companionship of the lovely widow. THE PIRATE’S TEMPTING STOWAWAY is a perfectly delightful romance; the chemistry between the pirate and Clara is a joy to behold; their banter is witty, and yet completely realistic. Ms. Ridley’s storytelling abilities shine again with very creative plot twists, and the characters are colourful and very appealing. I laughed out loud at the shipmates’ utterances; the dialogues are, as usual, spectacular. But the pièce de résistance is Ms. Ridley’s superlative writing: her words flow with such easy elegance, never pretentious yet always according to Regency usage. THE PIRATE’S TEMPTING STOWAWAY is a quick read: the pace never slows down from the first paragraphs, and neither does the enjoyment. A wonderful read that will leave you feeling happy! I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Pirate's Tempting Stowaway was a departure from the previous books within this series. It was the heroine Clara who needed to be rescued from all the pain and anger that was going on within her life. I received an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review. I was not as into Blackheart as I have been her previous male titular characters but the one thing that I did like about him is that he unwittingly helped Clara wake up to the things she was taking for granted and gave her a better appreciation for who she was. The Pirate's Stowaway is a story that I believe needed to be told. The negativity in life has a way of influences future choices. It also builds courage and the ability to show empathy to others. Empowering story.

About the author

Erica Ridley is a USA Today and New York Times best-selling author of historical romance novels. Her most popular three series, The Dukes of War, Rogues to Riches, and The 12 Dukes of Christmas, feature roguish peers and dashing war heroes amid the splendor and madness of Regency England. When not reading or writing romances, Erica can be found riding camels in Africa, zip-lining through rainforests in Costa Rica, or getting hopelessly lost in the middle of Budapest.