Will a virgin captive surrender to this pirate’s sinful touch?
Nathaniel Bainbridge is used to hiding, whether it’s concealing his struggles with reading or his forbidden desire for men. Under the thumb of his controlling father, the governor of Primrose Isle, he’s sailing to the fledging colony, where he’ll surrender to a respectable marriage for his family’s financial gain. Then pirates strike and he’s kidnapped for ransom by the Sea Hawk, a legendary villain of the New World.
Bitter and jaded, Hawk harbors futile dreams of leaving the sea for a quiet life, but men like him don’t deserve peace. He has a score to settle with Nathaniel’s father—the very man whose treachery forced him into piracy—and he’s sure Nathaniel is just as contemptible.
Yet as days pass in close quarters, Nathaniel’s feisty spirit and alluring innocence beguile and bewitch. Although Hawk knows he must keep his distance, the desire to teach Nathaniel the pleasure men can share grows uncontrollable. It’s not as though Hawk would ever feel anything for him besides lust…
Nathaniel realizes the fearsome Sea Hawk’s reputation is largely invented, and he sees the lonely man beneath the myth, willingly surrendering to his captor body and soul. As a pirate’s prisoner, he is finally free to be his true self. The crew has been promised the ransom Nathaniel will bring, yet as danger mounts and the time nears to give him up, Hawk’s biggest battle could be with his own heart.
This May-December gay romance from Keira Andrews features classic tropes including: a tough alpha pirate too afraid to love, a plucky virgin captive half his age, enemies to lovers, first-time sexual discovery, and of course a happy ending.
To love could only be madness.
Pirates. Give me a pirate romance any day.
I feel like 2017 is one for pirate romance spoiling, well for me, that's for sure. So many good MM pirate romances are out there! Keira Andrews'
Kidnapped by the Pirate definitely can join the ranks of an entertaining and swoon-worthy tale. (I'm a bit of a pirate connoisseur if you couldn't tell.)
This book has a lot of buzz qualities. The hype is backed by the quality of this novel. If you're new to pirate romances, I think this is a wonderful start. I forgot how much this author excels at writing enemies to lovers tropes.
In
Kidnapped by the Pirate, it delivers the blurb and more:
- age difference - Nathaniel (aka Plum) is 18 to Captain Hawk's 41
- enemies to lovers - both men were mere puppets on the villain's stage. It starts as kidnapper/captive but it blossoms to much more.
- first time sexual discovery - once you get over the cherry popping in your head, think of all the fun an experienced lover can bring.
If you prefer a historically accurate tale, stop here.
If you enjoy tropes and don't mind having to stretch reality here and there, come aboard matey! Don't mind my squee.
In this tropey tale, Nathaniel's sole purpose in his life according to his shitty father is to be an heir. Motherless with a reading disability (dyslexic?), he's been told all his young life by his father that he's an imbecile. The one solace he has is being active and in the outdoors as much as he can. Forced into a betrothal to fatten his father's pockets, Nathaniel has to journey from England to his father's failing island Primrose Isle.
Nathaniel has a secret that would see him killed in 1710, he's gay. A fact he hides very well. And just his luck his dastardly father pissed off the wrong pirate, the legendary Sea Hawk. Captain Hawk can see his revenge finally come to fruition when he raids the merchant ship with Nathaniel on it. In order to save his sister from the wicked pirates, Nathaniel allows himself to be kidnapped peacefully.
Hawk puts Nathaniel in his quarters as his prison. And he tries to keep his eyes on the prize. Hell he even names him Plum to try and distance himself. The older, taller pirate has his eyes on the prize. Ransom the little brat in a month's time and if the governor fails to give him the money, he'll kill Plum...no problem.
Plum was supposed to be the prisoner, yet Hawk was ensnared, powerless to deny him anything, a fishing boat caught in a frigate's churning wake, swept up and only able to hold on.
Keeping a nubile, curious virgin in close quarters will wear down on a man. No matter how much Hawk acted like an ass.
I never tire of reading about a curmudgeon brought down by love. The more they resist, the more they protest, the harder they tend to fall. Hawk gave a good fight. But he was out stubborned by his Plum. Nathaniel slowly wears him down by being himself. Plus, being in close proximity day in and day out leads to caring about the other's well-being.
While the two started to open up to one another (*drum smash*), the mutual attraction only added to Hawk's downfall.
The urge to be the first to plunder that sweet, tight arse beat in Hawk like a war drum, and it was all he could do to keep himself in check.
You can only wave that juicy
plum in front of a hungry person until their tempted to bite.
You know what is even better than that? When you add a heavy dose of possessiveness.
Thick, calloused fingers gently pushed the seed back inside where it dripped from Nathaniel's tender arse. "Only me," Hawk muttered, still leaning over him, lips by Nathaniel's ear.
*grunts*
The sex? Hot and plentiful. It's a sexual discovery win if that scratched your itch. Nathaniel is naturally submissive and eager to learn.
"Tell me. What is it you want, Plum?"
"Your cock. All of it."
Some highlights: domination, rimming, frottage, outdoor sex. Great variety and it didn't overtake the plot. I got kink teased. Just when I thought breath play was on the table, but it wasn't served. Maybe next time? ;) Overall, vanilla with a hint of spice.
The plot was fun. There wasn't as much swashbuckling action. Instead, we read how Nathaniel and Hawk grow to care and be each other's savior. Very romantic.
The villain, Walter Bainbridge is a loathsome man. He was giving me a
certain Orange-Wanna-Be-Dictator vibes. *grimace* And while I wished his outcome would have been different (read: more violent and on page), it worked for the story.
Why not the full 5 stars? Being a pirate lover... I can't help but compare it to my top pirate reads. This was sweeter. There was action, but it was over fairly quickly. The central plot resolves around the kidnap and ransom, how it all ended was good. But I am lusty when it comes to revenge, I prefer on page justice. And when the final blow out happens? It was more a battle of wits and craftiness than swords.
There was a cracky fluff quality that I enjoy. It definitely delivers on the tropes and held my attention. The epilogue was pushing it for me in the sugar territory. I'm borderline on it being needed or not. (I like it darker with my pirates) However, if you're a reader who likes the HEA to sticky sweet and sweaty... you will not be disappointed! This is definitely added to my list of pirate top reads. The writing is strong and the main characters were charming.
Men were said to possess souls, and he only just discovered his and given it weight and shape.
Recommended to enemies to lovers fans who like tropes, hot sex from a pirate who likes to charge and an eager virgin who loves with his entire heart!
