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tessanne's review against another edition
1.0
DNF at 20ish percent. This is beyond bananas, it just doesn’t make any sense.
To start, how is the heroine so adept at fighting and killing when none of the others in her smuggling ring are?
Also, her take-charge attitude during her first sexual encounter with this experienced man? After being captured by him like a couple hours ago? BIZARRE.
And the vocabulary used… those were some choices.
This book is (I’m not trying to be mean) stupid.
To start, how is the heroine so adept at fighting and killing when none of the others in her smuggling ring are?
Also, her take-charge attitude during her first sexual encounter with this experienced man? After being captured by him like a couple hours ago? BIZARRE.
And the vocabulary used… those were some choices.
This book is (I’m not trying to be mean) stupid.
rjordan19's review
adventurous
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
Overall: 1.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖
Feels: 🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡
Romance: 💞
Sensuality: 💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑 (Ranges from 1-3)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 (I was generous with some scenes, they were on the shorter side)
Humor: I think there was meant to be some humor but I didn’t find it too funny
Basic plot:
Caragh leads a gang of smugglers and regularly runs around in trousers and makes deals in taverns. When a pirate captures her, she knows her reputation is going to be officially ruined so she jumps in his bed and they hump their way across the high seas.
Give this a try if you want:
- Huge hero, tiny heroine (she’s described as coming halfway up his chest)
- Pirate hero with lots of sea travel and a bit of a road trip romance feel – about half of the book takes place on the ship and half at various ports
- High steam – many, many scenes here, though a lot are quite short and vague, there’s enough longer ones to count as a 5 steam I thought. Some kink elements (see locations of intimate scenes below for details)
- Captive trope – heroine is captured by the hero at the beginning of the book
Ages:
- Heroine is 20, hero is 25
My thoughts:
Let me start with one of the most absurd lines I’ve ever read in romance novel.
<i>
He tangled his hand in her hair as he positioned her head for him to plunder her mouth. He intended to control the kiss, but Caragh’s hunger matched his.
Their moans and grunts blended together to create a symphony only they would appreciate.
</i>
Mmm yes, moans and grunts, lovely already, but knowing only they appreciate it? So hot.
Sadly this book was absolutely not my thing. I wanted a sexy, dirty pirate. And I got one. But, Rowan was also really dumb and I didn’t like that. :P
This book just didn’t make sense to me in so many parts. The plot kind of ran here and there but didn’t have a smooth flow throughout the story. Sex was jammed in every which way (which is usually woohoo, but here it was just strange! And there were a lot of super short scenes that were not even worth it. I would have rather omitted those, left the hotter scenes in and spent that time on relationship development or character depth.) NOBODY CAREDTHE BROTHER DIED! Poor Eddie….
I was not feeling any sexual tension. I didn’t care about or like the characters. I didn’t feel any romance. I am still not sure they have a happily ever after – I am not convinced of their love or trust.
The light bdsm aspect just felt...weird. I am all for some bondage, spanking, domestic discipline, control aspects in sex...but here it just did not feel right. It felt like it was thrown in for wow factor and not actually developed/fitting with the characters.
I don’t know. I don’t want to talk about this book any more because I already went through the entire thing again after putting off this review for weeks and marking what I wanted to note from highlights below. And now my eye is twitching. So I think I’ll just stop here.
Would I read any more from this series? Not even if you paid me. Would I read another Celeste Barclay? Absolutely! This was my first by her and I’m hoping maybe if I get out of this pirate world I might like something else more.
Here’s random parts that I wanted to note from the book
Maybe it’s because I haven’t read too much domestic discipline but this just didn’t seem like it fit with what he was actually doing/acting like.
<i>
Rowan brushed her hair away from her temple and slowly dropped a kiss. Although she stood there with nothing covering her breasts, it was the first true act of intimacy between them, and the kiss charged the air between them.
“I’ll never act in anger. By the time I’ve ready to deliver your punishment, it’ll be with a calmness. My intention isn’t to harm you, Caragh, but to be sure you understand there are certain things I won’t tolerate.”
</i>
When he blows it in her and is regretting it
<i>
“Rowan, I know how babes are made. I understand the risks I took, but I’m the one who took them. It’ll be me who’ll manage any consequences. Rest easy, I’m not going to make any demands.”
</i>
Okay so you were so worried your reputation was going to be ruined, you jumped into bed with him but now you don’t care if you have children?
And they’ve known each other for about an hour -
<i>
No other woman he’d ever known could compare to Caragh, and Rowan suspected in that moment that he’d met his match and his mate.
</i>
And a bit later
<i>
A mantle of possessiveness cloaked him as he looked at the woman on his bed. He’d never been possessive of any woman, and there were few things since he left home that inspired such emotion.
</i>
And when they are facing possible attack with another ship
<i>
Rowan looked up at Caragh once more, and while he was angry that she risked climbing the rigging, he had to admit it was obvious she was experienced. And if they were about to into battle, he wanted her high and out of sight. She would be safer there if they were boarded.
</i>
The immediately after
<i>
“Do you know why you’re to be punished?”
Caragh slowly shook her head. She truly didn’t know what angered him.
“Did I not warn you about taking needless risks? That I would protect you from yourself if need be?”
She nodded her head but stayed silent.
“And just what do you think you did climbing up that mast?”
</i>
Then he spanks her and tells her to enjoy it. And thank him afterwards. Um you were HAPPY she went there and said it was the safest place! Why are you beating her again?
They return to her home and there are other pirates there, raiding. Rowan tells her <i> “Stop, Caragh. I’ll go ashore with my men. I’ll end whatever is happening. When it’s safe, I’ll return for you. Go to our cabin and wait until I’m back. We shall sail closer before we lower the dinghies, but I must ready the crew.” </i>
With that, Caragh goes to the cabin, changes and dives off the boat to swim to save her family/friends. There, her brother dies, and they realize it’s Rowan’s cousin that’s behind the raid. Rowan’s cousin wants Caragh her himself and Rowan invites him back to the boat to see if it will work out (Ummm wtf is happening???)
Once there, Rowan makes Caragh do her hair and wear a translucent gown. Rowan offers her to his cousin.
Here’s one example of what I had non stop issues with in this book – here, Caragh states
<i>
Caragh sucked in a breath. She wouldn’t go easily into this arrangement. Not after all.
</i>
FOUR paragraphs later we get this shit.
<i>
Caragh had made her decision. Once more in a position where control was stripped from her, the one thing she could decide for herself was how she turned herself over. She could kick and scream, or she could make the most of it. She walked to Ruairi and ast on his lap, her legs between his. She turned to look once more at Rowan before she leaned forward and kissed Ruairi.
</i>
Wow, your fire and will to not go into this arrangement easily really lasted *eye roll
But really, what the F*** is happening here. Rowan LOVES her SO MUCH!! So so much he cares about her and her safety that he has to spank her every single night and get a blow job. He’s never ever felt like this. He’s never let a woman on top during sex. He’s never let a volcano of pirate sperm inside a vagina until her. She is THE ONE. So….why is he giving her up so easily? And why is she just going along with it? Obviously she has no love for Rowan if she can just as easily switch over to another man.
Here, we get our explanation of why Rowan would do this. Are you ready?
<i>
She was willing to risk her life to get away from him, and his heart broke. He couldn’t look at her, not after she rejected him and abandoned him. He decided in that moment that he would give her to Ruairi.
</i>
Wowwwww – you literally brought her home. Her HOME. And her friends and family were being ATTACKED BY PIRATES. She was going to rescue them and in fact goes and sees her brother’s throat being slit and gets revenge on that man that did it. But you are so fn stupid you think she was doing whatever she could to just get away from you? I am just so frustrated at this point. It doesn’t make any sense. None.
BUT, okay now that her boobs are flying around and her vagina is ready to grab your cousin’s cock then you get mad and roar and are going to kill your cousin. And then you admit how dumb you are.
<i>
“You gave up on me. You gave me to him.”
Caragh’s words permeated his fog. He spun around and backed her against the wall, using his arms to bracket her in. “I’m not the one who gave up. I’m not the one who ran, or rather swam away at the first chance for escape. You left me.”
I did no such thing. I left your ship, but I never intended to leave you.”
“What?”
“You wouldn’t let me go, but that’s my home. My family. I knew you would follow me. I trusted you would support me, help me fight whoever attacked my people.”
</i>
Nope, instead he gave you to the person whose crew just slit your brothers throat. Yeah, remember poor Eddie??? And you almost rode this guy’s cock.
Speaking of Ruairi
<i>
“You love her. I wouldn’t have gone through with it, even if it was tempting. Why did you wait so long? It almost went father than I was prepared for. She’s quite the seductress.”
</i>
Ummmm yeah you were gonna stop her anyyyyyy minute, right? Your cock was literally wet from her vagina….
But, everyone, it’s okay. Because all of this actually proves his love.
<i>
“Your love is something precious that I should have cared for and protected, just as I promised to protect you. I broke that pledge to you tonight. How could I have done that to you?”
“Because you love me, too. If you didn’t, you couldn’t have been hurt enough to react as you did. If you didn’t care about me, if you weren’t hurting so deeply, then you wouldn’t have struck out as you did.”
</i>
Mmmmk
Oh! Yeah! And you know the brother that died??? Here’s basically all the closure you’re going to get. Obviously everyone hated Eddie.
<i>
Caragh’s humor sobered as she bid farewell to her family, but they understood the nature of separation better than most. They’d avoided the topic of her brother Eddie, but as she prepared to leave Bedruthan Steps possibly for the last time, she looked at each other family, and said a prayer of goodbye to her little brother. No one had blamed her, but she could feel the hollowness they all shared.
</i>
I thought Caragh’s catty and nasty behavior towards Alane just gross. She was a woman from Rowan’s past, he says he’s done with her and Caragh is just aggressive from the beginning and I found it awful.
She calls her a bitch when they meet and then she propositions her and lets her eat her out – then she pushes her off the bed onto her butt to ‘show her’ or whatever...I don’t know but the whole thing was super distasteful to me.
Yes Alane turns out to by a psycho, but maybe she wouldn’t have if you would have handled that encounter differently.
Ahhh we are finally at the end of the book. The epilogue continued to reveal to me that Rowan is one of the worst heroes with these glimpses into fatherhood
<i>
“Yes, well, you aren’t the one who has to wipe away their tears and try to fit them both on your lap with a belly as big as a barrel in the way, all while this wee imp tugs on your skirts. You just get to deal with your men. A far easier task, I would say. Care to swtich?”
“Not on your life, mo Caragh. But I do like to watch. You amazing with how you wrangle this brood! Just as well as you did your smugglers. Our children listen to you better than they do me, and I consider myself far more intimidating.”
</i>
Content Warnings:
Spanking for punishment
Domestic discipline/spanking in sex
Anal/anal play
Death of a family member on page
Death of parents
Violence and gore
Dubious consent at best (more probably consensual nonconsent feeling)
Miscarriage on page
Torture and beating of main female character on page
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
10% - 🔥 kisses, breast play, cock touches, fingering for her, sex on the table
14% - 🔥 basically immediately follows previous scene, some brief dialogue, then he carries her to the bed. Her on top. Followed by him standing and her on all 4s on the bed, spanking, oral for her, he finishes with his hand.
15% - finger in the butt
18% - missionary, it’s pretty vague and not too long
20% - 🔥 oral for her, sex, fairly short and vague again but followed by a blow job
23% - 🔥 anal
30% - 🔥 spanking for discipline, light fingering during, then blow job after
35% - a paragraph of finding release together, very vague. Followed soon by alluded to scenes of spanking always followed by blowjobs.
39% - kisses and lap dance, breast touches and cock touches between Caragh and Ruairi (Rowan’s cousin)
42% - sex, like 2-3 short paragraphs and not descriptive
46% - one sentence of sex, no details
48% - a few sentences of sex, not much details
55% - Caragh engages in oral with Rowan’s prior mistress
56% - 🔥 spanking, finger, and blowjob all at the same time!
57% - alluded to sex
59% - one sentence alluded to sex
73% - 🔥 hand job, very short (maybe 2 paragraphs), followed by fingering, missionary sex
77% - alluded to sex and spankings
77% - kisses, blow job (incomplete) spanking, fingering, then table sex (this is done similarly, and at the same time as Rowan’s cousin Ruairi and Senga get it on in the same room)
82% - 🔥 blindfolded sex followed by blow job
I might have missed some. No I will never ever open this book again and check.
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖
Feels: 🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡
Romance: 💞
Sensuality: 💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑 (Ranges from 1-3)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 (I was generous with some scenes, they were on the shorter side)
Humor: I think there was meant to be some humor but I didn’t find it too funny
Basic plot:
Caragh leads a gang of smugglers and regularly runs around in trousers and makes deals in taverns. When a pirate captures her, she knows her reputation is going to be officially ruined so she jumps in his bed and they hump their way across the high seas.
Give this a try if you want:
- Huge hero, tiny heroine (she’s described as coming halfway up his chest)
- Pirate hero with lots of sea travel and a bit of a road trip romance feel – about half of the book takes place on the ship and half at various ports
- High steam – many, many scenes here, though a lot are quite short and vague, there’s enough longer ones to count as a 5 steam I thought. Some kink elements (see locations of intimate scenes below for details)
- Captive trope – heroine is captured by the hero at the beginning of the book
Ages:
- Heroine is 20, hero is 25
My thoughts:
Let me start with one of the most absurd lines I’ve ever read in romance novel.
<i>
He tangled his hand in her hair as he positioned her head for him to plunder her mouth. He intended to control the kiss, but Caragh’s hunger matched his.
Their moans and grunts blended together to create a symphony only they would appreciate.
</i>
Mmm yes, moans and grunts, lovely already, but knowing only they appreciate it? So hot.
Sadly this book was absolutely not my thing. I wanted a sexy, dirty pirate. And I got one. But, Rowan was also really dumb and I didn’t like that. :P
This book just didn’t make sense to me in so many parts. The plot kind of ran here and there but didn’t have a smooth flow throughout the story. Sex was jammed in every which way (which is usually woohoo, but here it was just strange! And there were a lot of super short scenes that were not even worth it. I would have rather omitted those, left the hotter scenes in and spent that time on relationship development or character depth.) NOBODY CARED
I was not feeling any sexual tension. I didn’t care about or like the characters. I didn’t feel any romance. I am still not sure they have a happily ever after – I am not convinced of their love or trust.
The light bdsm aspect just felt...weird. I am all for some bondage, spanking, domestic discipline, control aspects in sex...but here it just did not feel right. It felt like it was thrown in for wow factor and not actually developed/fitting with the characters.
I don’t know. I don’t want to talk about this book any more because I already went through the entire thing again after putting off this review for weeks and marking what I wanted to note from highlights below. And now my eye is twitching. So I think I’ll just stop here.
Would I read any more from this series? Not even if you paid me. Would I read another Celeste Barclay? Absolutely! This was my first by her and I’m hoping maybe if I get out of this pirate world I might like something else more.
Here’s random parts that I wanted to note from the book
Maybe it’s because I haven’t read too much domestic discipline but this just didn’t seem like it fit with what he was actually doing/acting like.
<i>
Rowan brushed her hair away from her temple and slowly dropped a kiss. Although she stood there with nothing covering her breasts, it was the first true act of intimacy between them, and the kiss charged the air between them.
“I’ll never act in anger. By the time I’ve ready to deliver your punishment, it’ll be with a calmness. My intention isn’t to harm you, Caragh, but to be sure you understand there are certain things I won’t tolerate.”
</i>
When he blows it in her and is regretting it
<i>
“Rowan, I know how babes are made. I understand the risks I took, but I’m the one who took them. It’ll be me who’ll manage any consequences. Rest easy, I’m not going to make any demands.”
</i>
Okay so you were so worried your reputation was going to be ruined, you jumped into bed with him but now you don’t care if you have children?
And they’ve known each other for about an hour -
<i>
No other woman he’d ever known could compare to Caragh, and Rowan suspected in that moment that he’d met his match and his mate.
</i>
And a bit later
<i>
A mantle of possessiveness cloaked him as he looked at the woman on his bed. He’d never been possessive of any woman, and there were few things since he left home that inspired such emotion.
</i>
And when they are facing possible attack with another ship
<i>
Rowan looked up at Caragh once more, and while he was angry that she risked climbing the rigging, he had to admit it was obvious she was experienced. And if they were about to into battle, he wanted her high and out of sight. She would be safer there if they were boarded.
</i>
The immediately after
<i>
“Do you know why you’re to be punished?”
Caragh slowly shook her head. She truly didn’t know what angered him.
“Did I not warn you about taking needless risks? That I would protect you from yourself if need be?”
She nodded her head but stayed silent.
“And just what do you think you did climbing up that mast?”
</i>
Then he spanks her and tells her to enjoy it. And thank him afterwards. Um you were HAPPY she went there and said it was the safest place! Why are you beating her again?
They return to her home and there are other pirates there, raiding. Rowan tells her <i> “Stop, Caragh. I’ll go ashore with my men. I’ll end whatever is happening. When it’s safe, I’ll return for you. Go to our cabin and wait until I’m back. We shall sail closer before we lower the dinghies, but I must ready the crew.” </i>
With that, Caragh goes to the cabin, changes and dives off the boat to swim to save her family/friends. There, her brother dies, and they realize it’s Rowan’s cousin that’s behind the raid. Rowan’s cousin wants Caragh her himself and Rowan invites him back to the boat to see if it will work out (Ummm wtf is happening???)
Once there, Rowan makes Caragh do her hair and wear a translucent gown. Rowan offers her to his cousin.
Here’s one example of what I had non stop issues with in this book – here, Caragh states
<i>
Caragh sucked in a breath. She wouldn’t go easily into this arrangement. Not after all.
</i>
FOUR paragraphs later we get this shit.
<i>
Caragh had made her decision. Once more in a position where control was stripped from her, the one thing she could decide for herself was how she turned herself over. She could kick and scream, or she could make the most of it. She walked to Ruairi and ast on his lap, her legs between his. She turned to look once more at Rowan before she leaned forward and kissed Ruairi.
</i>
Wow, your fire and will to not go into this arrangement easily really lasted *eye roll
But really, what the F*** is happening here. Rowan LOVES her SO MUCH!! So so much he cares about her and her safety that he has to spank her every single night and get a blow job. He’s never ever felt like this. He’s never let a woman on top during sex. He’s never let a volcano of pirate sperm inside a vagina until her. She is THE ONE. So….why is he giving her up so easily? And why is she just going along with it? Obviously she has no love for Rowan if she can just as easily switch over to another man.
Here, we get our explanation of why Rowan would do this. Are you ready?
<i>
She was willing to risk her life to get away from him, and his heart broke. He couldn’t look at her, not after she rejected him and abandoned him. He decided in that moment that he would give her to Ruairi.
</i>
Wowwwww – you literally brought her home. Her HOME. And her friends and family were being ATTACKED BY PIRATES. She was going to rescue them and in fact goes and sees her brother’s throat being slit and gets revenge on that man that did it. But you are so fn stupid you think she was doing whatever she could to just get away from you? I am just so frustrated at this point. It doesn’t make any sense. None.
BUT, okay now that her boobs are flying around and her vagina is ready to grab your cousin’s cock then you get mad and roar and are going to kill your cousin. And then you admit how dumb you are.
<i>
“You gave up on me. You gave me to him.”
Caragh’s words permeated his fog. He spun around and backed her against the wall, using his arms to bracket her in. “I’m not the one who gave up. I’m not the one who ran, or rather swam away at the first chance for escape. You left me.”
I did no such thing. I left your ship, but I never intended to leave you.”
“What?”
“You wouldn’t let me go, but that’s my home. My family. I knew you would follow me. I trusted you would support me, help me fight whoever attacked my people.”
</i>
Nope, instead he gave you to the person whose crew just slit your brothers throat. Yeah, remember poor Eddie??? And you almost rode this guy’s cock.
Speaking of Ruairi
<i>
“You love her. I wouldn’t have gone through with it, even if it was tempting. Why did you wait so long? It almost went father than I was prepared for. She’s quite the seductress.”
</i>
Ummmm yeah you were gonna stop her anyyyyyy minute, right? Your cock was literally wet from her vagina….
But, everyone, it’s okay. Because all of this actually proves his love.
<i>
“Your love is something precious that I should have cared for and protected, just as I promised to protect you. I broke that pledge to you tonight. How could I have done that to you?”
“Because you love me, too. If you didn’t, you couldn’t have been hurt enough to react as you did. If you didn’t care about me, if you weren’t hurting so deeply, then you wouldn’t have struck out as you did.”
</i>
Mmmmk
Oh! Yeah! And you know the brother that died??? Here’s basically all the closure you’re going to get. Obviously everyone hated Eddie.
<i>
Caragh’s humor sobered as she bid farewell to her family, but they understood the nature of separation better than most. They’d avoided the topic of her brother Eddie, but as she prepared to leave Bedruthan Steps possibly for the last time, she looked at each other family, and said a prayer of goodbye to her little brother. No one had blamed her, but she could feel the hollowness they all shared.
</i>
I thought Caragh’s catty and nasty behavior towards Alane just gross. She was a woman from Rowan’s past, he says he’s done with her and Caragh is just aggressive from the beginning and I found it awful.
She calls her a bitch when they meet and then she propositions her and lets her eat her out – then she pushes her off the bed onto her butt to ‘show her’ or whatever...I don’t know but the whole thing was super distasteful to me.
Yes Alane turns out to by a psycho, but maybe she wouldn’t have if you would have handled that encounter differently.
Ahhh we are finally at the end of the book. The epilogue continued to reveal to me that Rowan is one of the worst heroes with these glimpses into fatherhood
<i>
“Yes, well, you aren’t the one who has to wipe away their tears and try to fit them both on your lap with a belly as big as a barrel in the way, all while this wee imp tugs on your skirts. You just get to deal with your men. A far easier task, I would say. Care to swtich?”
“Not on your life, mo Caragh. But I do like to watch. You amazing with how you wrangle this brood! Just as well as you did your smugglers. Our children listen to you better than they do me, and I consider myself far more intimidating.”
</i>
Content Warnings:
Spanking for punishment
Domestic discipline/spanking in sex
Anal/anal play
Death of a family member on page
Death of parents
Violence and gore
Dubious consent at best (more probably consensual nonconsent feeling)
Miscarriage on page
Torture and beating of main female character on page
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
10% - 🔥 kisses, breast play, cock touches, fingering for her, sex on the table
14% - 🔥 basically immediately follows previous scene, some brief dialogue, then he carries her to the bed. Her on top. Followed by him standing and her on all 4s on the bed, spanking, oral for her, he finishes with his hand.
15% - finger in the butt
18% - missionary, it’s pretty vague and not too long
20% - 🔥 oral for her, sex, fairly short and vague again but followed by a blow job
23% - 🔥 anal
30% - 🔥 spanking for discipline, light fingering during, then blow job after
35% - a paragraph of finding release together, very vague. Followed soon by alluded to scenes of spanking always followed by blowjobs.
39% - kisses and lap dance, breast touches and cock touches between Caragh and Ruairi (Rowan’s cousin)
42% - sex, like 2-3 short paragraphs and not descriptive
46% - one sentence of sex, no details
48% - a few sentences of sex, not much details
55% - Caragh engages in oral with Rowan’s prior mistress
56% - 🔥 spanking, finger, and blowjob all at the same time!
57% - alluded to sex
59% - one sentence alluded to sex
73% - 🔥 hand job, very short (maybe 2 paragraphs), followed by fingering, missionary sex
77% - alluded to sex and spankings
77% - kisses, blow job (incomplete) spanking, fingering, then table sex (this is done similarly, and at the same time as Rowan’s cousin Ruairi and Senga get it on in the same room)
82% - 🔥 blindfolded sex followed by blow job
I might have missed some. No I will never ever open this book again and check.
abhss's review
The interactions between the MCs are rushes. No chemistry and have no idea where the plot was going
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