A Pirate’s Duty

Oriana Thorpe has led a dangerous life.  The daughter of a ruthless smuggler, her only goal is to stay alive and keep her sweet mother’s legacy alive by running the family inn.  Determined to stop the horrendous acts of her evil brother Charles - aka Captain Carnage  - Oriana saves the life of a lady and her maid. Then, she determines to use his blood money to help the widows and orphans left behind. This puts her right in the cross hairs of the vicious pirate and all the smugglers who support him.

After Captain Carnage destroyed Captain Pierce Walsingham’s ship, he agrees to go undercover to bring down the pirate’s ring while keeping the young lady who saved his sister safe.  However, until he knows where Oriana’s allegiance lies, he cannot trust her and with a fortune in gold missing all points lead directly to her and her inn.

For intrigue and deceit, romance and lies, this pirate story runs the gamut and does it all while painting a beautiful picture of the era!  Ms. Bone’s writing is top-notch as she weaves historical facts deftly into the story line.  It is obvious she knows the subject matter and the setting very well. Unfortunately, that strength is also its one weakness, as it drags the pacing of the plot down considerably. Descriptions, lifestyle and inner dialogue takes up most of the first half of the book. Still, the unique characters are fabulous and once the plot takes off, it is an exciting ride to that happy ending!

Ruth Lynn Ritter