Re-read 7/18/10 -- Man... I think I even liked this audiobook better the second time around. Pirrrrrrrratical fun. ;)4.5/5 stars. This was my first novel by Johanna Lindsey, though I read a short-story of hers in an anthology before reading this book. As I listened to the audiobook, I was trying to determine why I was enjoying the book so much, despite numerous bodice-ripper type of clichés. I made myself a list to justify both my enjoyment and distaste.Reasons I enjoyed this book?tMy love of historical romance stories where the heroine has über-protective brothers who act crazy out of love for their sister. In this book, Georgina has 5 older brothers :) Fisticuffs ensue. Rinse, Lather, Repeat. More fisticuffs. 5-on-1 brother against pirate. Wheee! I’m almost surprised Georgina didn’t leap into the ring herself. I loved the description of sprawled legs and flinging arms. Then post-fight, the blithe retort of James to Georgie in front of her brothers: “I don’t think they like me, George.” Or, how about the silly discourse between the brothers: “Should we really hang him if he marries Georgie? It doesn’t seem right, hanging a brother-in-law.” Resume fisticuffs. :)tMy secret-obsession with men wearing pirate shirts, tight pants, and an earring. Wheeee! PIRATE!tMy extreme enjoyment of picturing a “gentleman”-pirate in the spirit of the Pirates of Penzance, not the raping-pillaging sort.tI hate to admit, but I love a gender-bender/woman-in-pants pretending to be a guy plotline.tThe audiobook narrator’s voice when reading the character of James Mallory reminded me of the audiobook narrator who reads the character of Barrons in the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning. The narrator also did a good job with the brogue of Ian. I like it when audiobook narrators can do different voices and accents. tReferences by Americans in the book to London as a “den of iniquity”. People usually romanticize London during books of this time period, so it was fun to see characters hating the idea of England and London. Not that I have anything against the UK myself. :)tI like characters in books that can raise their eyebrow at something another character says. James had a very sexy way of raising his eyebrow in the book and not saying anything aloud, but saying everything with his expression.tDid I mention I like to picture men with earrings and pirate-shirts? I might just have to dress my husband up next Halloween… Make him swab the deck or walk-the-plank or something. Hmmmm…So, what were my issues with the book?tDespite Georgie as a spitfire heroine with a supposedly hot temper, she seemed rather wimply at times. The whole nausea thing annoyed me in the book. Dizzyness and urge to faint or something, I could understand. But nausea? Feeling like throwing up on the Pirate? Bah! She was ready to jump his bones, not vomit. tFlippant disregard for chance of pregnancy on a ship in the middle of the ocean. Ummmm. Seemed a bit unrealistic to me. Maybe not for the guy in the 1800s harboring a secret female in his cabin, but I would at least think Georgie would at least have a tinge of worry about it.tThe idea that Georgie could pull off a 12 year old boy when she was a 22 year old female without anyone suspecting. Too young and too unbelievable. And an icky thought. When I pictured Georgie in drag, I saw her as a 17 year old cabin-boy in my head. Not 12.tI was reading along, and suddenly it felt like I was reading The Flame and the Flower by Woodiwiss. Except with retired pirates. Yes, I know they are really very different books. But, I still felt like I was blending the stories together in my head.tThere was no cannon fire at sea when I was expecting it. They saw a pirate ship, but instead of fighting, they ran away. BOOOOO!!!!! I wanted battle and sword fighting/swashbuckling. tLack of sea chanty singing and sea monsters. Where there are pirates there should be sea-chanties and drunken behavior. And large octopi or squids. Maybe I’ve read too much paranormal fiction recently. I doubt that there are many sea monsters in historical romance, other than that recent rewrite of Austen with Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. I might just have to read that…tParts of the book were so cheesy that I felt like a voyeur watching a bad Cinemax late-night movie. At least they were cheesy fun like flaming hot cheesey goo on pizza fresh out of the oven.Would I read it again? *Raises an eyebrow* You question that? Of course I would, though it likely won’t be for a while until I’m in the mood again for a protective – brothers – of – gender – bender – spitfire – heroine – who – has – frisky – behavior – at – sea – with – gentleman – pirate - captain storyline. Somehow, I doubt this is the only historical romance with that plot, but I could be wrong. :)
What a disappointment. So much praise for nothing. I picked up this book because I do like pregnant heroine stories, however apart from 2 sentences announcing that heroine was pregnant it wasn’t mentioned or included in the plot. Hero was totally ignoring it as if that meant nothing and heroine was acting as if “it is what it is” no point of brooding over it too much.The book writing style is the first thing I disliked, I felt like I was reading a script for the stage it was purely dialogue and not very good dialogue at that, it was not smart or funny, it was plain and childish.The hero/heroine emotional development was missing, I didn’t care if they stayed together or apart, for me there were 2 people having sex without sharing any intimacy, there was no build-up, there was nothing to make me want to see them together and the cherry on top of this whole thing was when the hero said “I love you”. It was the worst I love you ever , it wasn’t a soul rendering I cant live without you I love you but it was like “goddamn it you cant leave me, I love you”. If she wasn’t about to leave he wouldn’t have said it to begin with. It was flat.I didn’t care for the secondary characters, all these brothers and wives and nieces didn’t bring much to the story. Ok I guess her brothers did but his weren’t worth the ink and paper.One other thing is that them being on a ship didn’t bring anything to the story. I expected storm, pirate fighting, shark attack, she saving the day somehow since she has been on ships all her life, even though it was in port. Nothing.All in all I won’t be reading anything else by this author, this was too blah for me to care reading anything remotely similar.
What do You think about Gentle Rogue (2005)?
Strong willed Georgina Anderson is determined to find the fiancé she lost four years earlier when he had been impressed into service by the British during the war of 1812. Doing so meant leaving the five older brothers who raised her, as well as her home in America, but she’ll be damned if she’d let a little thing like war, time, and distance get in between her and her plans for the future.And find him she does. However her ‘fiancé’ is married and settled down- to someone else!- and he is baffled that she actually is still clinging to the hope of marrying him. Hurt and more than a little red-faced, all Georgie wants to do now is get out of Jolly ol’ dreadful England- but the only immediate way back to America is to work her way home incognito as a cabin boy!One problem. The Captain of the ship turns out to be the one man who knows exactly who she is.James Mallory cant believe the impish girl dressed as a man he ran into weeks ago- and has never forgotten- has made her way onto his ship. Her "cabin boy" disguise isn’t fooling him… but he’s not telling her because this is the perfect opportunity to keep the feisty little darling nearby- and get her into his bed. To keep the game afoot he must pretend to all that she is what she says she is. But the game of seduction he plans backfires, and he finds himself just as trapped into their respective roles as she is. Passion explodes and all is revealed rather quickly- because this temperamental woman fascinates him to no end- but he’s got an even bigger stumbling block looming unaware ahead of him… Her brothers.Written back in the days of big hair and Fabio covers, Johanna Lindsey defined the historical romance genre. Why have I clung to the romance genre all these years? Because of this book…and ones like it. Yes the plot is cheesy as all get out- but the characters and dialogue are as fresh today as they ever were.Unfortunately Johanna Lindsey’s newer releases are decidedly lacking. Still, if you want to know why Lindsey’s name became legendary or why her books sold-and are still being sold- in the millions all over the world, read Gentle Rogue.
—Zeek
It was really good and I give it four stars because I couldnt seem to put the book away and so it kept me up all night. I counldn't quite give it five stars because the Heroine annoyed me at some parts of the book for starters she was content and happy with being around James even if he didn't love her.She even said once, "I can love for the both of us." Meaning she would be in a marrige where he didn't love her. And that even though at some point like when they were on the ship she was happy to be with him even thought she thought that he only was with her to get back at her brothers or some other reason not that he loved her just had passion for her. She should of had more self control then and there to resist him because his attityde towards her were only that he lusted after her and didn't care for her. (What she thought that is)She to me comes off a bit weak. She didn't confront him when she should have only put it off, util she was cornered and even then she didn't. i absolutley love the hero, specially his love declaration on the ship. Priceless!
—Sagal Hussein
This book was a bit disappointing. The characters were all very interesting. The abundance of characters though, was a bit overwhelming at times. For being a romance, this one lacked just that. The focus was less on James and Georgina and more on their siblings and interactions. I know this is a third of a "series" so there was familiarity between characters and certain story lines. But, I felt that left little room for THIS story. More time was spent on past or future books. I wish we would have seen a deeper or more meaningful connection between James and Georgina. Instead, we're just told that it was there. Overall, it was a funny read but just lacking in other areas.
—Whitney
