Review: Privateers, Daring Exploits, Regency London and the Caribbean--these have it all!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 21, 2012
These are three tales of the Raveneau family of privateer and ship captains and their stormy romances. Wright does a great job of weaving in the history of the time beginning with the late 18th century at the time of the Revolutionary War and into the Regency period in London.SILVER STORM:This is set in the late 18th century, mostly in the waters off the coast of America in the time of the Revolutionary War when the French were allied with America in fighting off the British and the privateers were an important part of the young country's defenses. Young Devon Lindsay grew up in in New London, Connecticut and dreamed of adventures at sea borrowed from the stories of her sea captain father. She meets the famous French privateer, Captain Andre Raveneau, when she is only 12, and he mesmerizes her. Years later, the British attack New London and while the whole town is burning, Devon is saved by a lecherous sailor who steals her aboard Raveneau's ship, the Black Eagle. There she once again encounters the famous captain. This time he steals more than a kiss.Superbly told, well-written complex tale (I gave this book 5 stars) of a dashing arrogant privateer and the young woman whose heart (and virtue) he steals.SURRENDER THE STARS:This book weaves in a bit of the Beauvisage family and brings us to 1814 when America is still at war with the English (the War of 1812). Privateer Andre Raveneau is needed for a special Presidential assignment in London to keep track of what the English are doing and to find the person who is leaking American secrets. Andre does not look forward to being a spy but he will rise to the occasion and take his wife, Devon, and his daughter Lindsay, a beautiful though bookish schoolteacher, with him. Andre persuades his fiercest captain, a handsome Irishman named Ryan Coleraine, to go along, disguised as Andre's son. Sparks fly as Lindsay comes out of her shell to become more like the adventure-loving Raveneaus, and she and Ryan must deal with each other onboard the ship and in England.Wright tells a good tale, this one taking us from Philadelphia to London. She creates some wonderful characters and includes some historical figures. In what is clearly a well-researched novel, she does a fine job of showing us what life was like among the gentry in Regency London.SILVER SEA (originally BARBADOS):Winner of Romantic Times' Reviewer's Choice Award for Best British Isles Historical Romance (1995), this is a story that features a Raveneau hero and a Beauvisage heroine, combining two of Wright's most successful series.Set in 1818, Nathan Raveneau (son of Andre and Devon), known as "The Scapegrace" in London, is the captain of his own ship, the Golden Eagle, and has a home in Barbados. To gain land next to his enemy, Nathan agrees to Nicholai Beauvisage's request to protect his daughter, Adrienne, from an evil lecher in London and to keep her safe until her 21st birthday, four months away.Adrienne has sought to become independent, working as a governess. At their first meeting, Nathan and Adrienne clash as she thinks him an ogre and he thinks her a spoiled brat. Disguised a hired man named Nathan Essex, Nathan attaches himself to Adrienne as she takes on the new job as the companion of old Lady Thomasina Harms. There the attraction grows between them. When a suitor plots to lure her into an unwanted marriage, Nathan abducts her to his ship and sails to Barbados.It's a charming story with a few twists and turns and the usual conflict between the hero and heroine (who at times was rather snippy). As in all Wright's romances, the history is woven in so that you get a real feel for the period.Should you want to read more, here are the books in the Raveneau Series:SILVER STORM (1981)SURRENDER THE STARS (1987)SILVER SEA, originally BARBADOS (1995)TEMPEST (to be released in 2012)If you like reading a series in time order, as I do, here are the books in Wright's intertwined Raveneau and Beauvisage series in chronological order:1780 - SILVER STORM1783 - CAROLINE1789 - TOUCH THE SUN1793 - SPRING FIRES1814 - SURRENDER THE STARS1814 - NATALYA1818 - SILVER SEA (originally BARBADOS)1903 - TEMPEST (to be released in 2012)