Three young heirs, imprisoned by an unscrupulous uncle, escaped—to the sea, to the streets, to faraway battle—awaiting the day when they would return to reclaim their birthright.

Once upon a time, he was Lord Tristan Easton—now he is Crimson Jack, a notorious privateer beholden to none, whose only mistress is the sea. But all that will change when exquisite Lady Anne Hayworth hires his protection on a trip into danger and seduction. . .

Desperation brought Anne to the bronzed, blue-eyed buccaneer. But after the Captain demands a kiss as his payment, desire will keep her at his side. She has never known temptation like this—but to protect her heart, she knows she must leave him behind. Yet Tristan cannot easily forget the beauty—and when they meet again in a London ballroom, he vows he won't lose her a second time, as fiery passion reignited takes them into uncharted waters that could lead the second lost lord home. . .

Series: Lost Lords of Pembrooke

Review

Heath’s second book in her Lost Lords Trilogy was definitely a surprising read. The cover blurb made me think the whole story was going to be about the heroine and hero finding love on a ship, but there was so much more. It doesn’t begin, develop, and end on the sea… thank goodness! Not that I don’t like a good pirate story, I just feel a heroine and hero are best challenged when their love is subject to open society versus seclusion on a ship.

Lord Tristan Easton, otherwise known as Crimson Jack, is determinedly wicked. I love his desire to flaunt convention at every turn. He’s the bad boy and I’ve got a soft spot for bad boys. But every bad boy has his weakness and that weakness is Lady Anne Hayworth. Anne is on the mend from a broken heart. She lost her fiancé, and just wants to wrap up all those feelings before she’s forced into the London season. I liked Anne, for the most part. She kind of ticked me off when she kept leading another lord around because she felt he could give her safety and security over Tristan. In my mind halfway through a book the heroine should be set on her man. This back and forth, triangle business didn’t sit right with me.

Otherwise the story is fun and adventurous. There are plenty of moments where I thought they would get caught embraced in each other’s arms, but they didn’t. Add in some memorable secondary characters, including Anne’s maid and the kind hearted Lord Chetwyn, and it’s a story with a recipe for hijinks and plenty of smiles as well. I held a few smirks on my face while reading.

I also enjoyed the deep felt emotions and feelings that drove Anne and Tristan’s reluctance to give in to each other. Tristan was all for keeping his independence, and appeared baffled by the idea that he could want a woman so bad. While Anne believes there’s no future in connecting herself to a person determined to sail away for another port whenever he gets the notion to. Needless to say there’s plenty of growth required for these two to get an HEA. Heath did a delicious job of keeping me guessing, I really didn’t know how both of them would win. Ultimately someone has to give up their desires for true love to reign, as to who does I won’t say. 

For those who enjoy Jennifer Haymore and Adele Ashworth.

Reviewed by Landra

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