Book 115, 2023

[chez_jae]

The Pirate And His Lady by Margaret St. George

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I came so close to finishing my "work" book at lunch today that I brought it home to read the last chapter. The book was The Pirate and His Lady by Margaret St George. It's a time-travel romance from Silhouette's "Dreamscapes" line. Main characters are historical researcher Elizabeth Rawley and privateer Richard Colter.

Elizabeth has long been fascinated by the legendary Captain Colter, to the point of finding modern day, real men dull in comparison. When a freak storm washes a man up on the beach in front of her house, Elizabeth is astonished to discover it it Richard Colter in the flesh. While initially enchanted, Elizabeth is soon faced with the daunting task of introducing a man from the 1800's to the marvels of modern technology. Not only that, but Richard has a lot to learn about current values and societal norms.

One moment, Richard's beleaguered ship was going down in a storm, and the next he found himself being rescued by a lovely wench. Once the reality of his situation sinks in, Richard is horrified and intrigued in equal measure. He's convinced that Lizzy is the one for him, but he won't ask for her hand until he can make his own way in this strange, new world.

The first half of this was vexing to read. While Richard is a product of his time, his antiquated notions concerning Elizabeth were annoying. He felt less than a man, simply because he was startled by things that she took in stride. Things improved somewhat by the second half of the story as Richard gained confidence and found simple employment. The book was compelling with engaging characters, although it wasn't terribly enjoyable, if that makes sense.

Favorite line: He intended to protect her by doing battle with a dune buggy.

I didn't really like the story, but it was well-written, earning four stars.