What a Pirate Desires-Michelle Beattie

What a Pirate Desires
Michelle Beattie
Berkley, Dec 2008, $7.99
ISBN: 9780425224939

In 1661 one thing drives Samantha Fine; vengeance against vicious Captain Dervish for what he did five years ago in the Caribbean. He is the reason she became pirate Captain Sam Steele, whose loyal crew know her gender but none will gossip about this factoid because they successfully raid merchant and pirate vessels. They are so good Captain Sam is the most feared person on the sea.

The only person besides her crew to know Sam’s gender is incarcerated Luke Bradley, a former member of Dervish’s cruel crew. Sam rescues Luke demanding he will lead her to Dervish. As they become acquainted with one another while arguing they fall in love, but both agree that destroying Dervish whom they each loathes comes before any future plans beyond that.

This terrific seventeenth century High Seas pirate romance works because Samantha comes across as an avenging sea-she pirate captain. Her verbal battles with Luke are amusing with word play sharper than sword play. Fans will enjoy this fine at sea cat and mouse tale while wondering whether it will be Sam, Samantha, or neither to survive the expected combat with Dervish.

Harriet Klausner