Title: And a Star To Steer Her By
Author: Philippa Grey-Gerou
Published in 2006 by Linden Bay Romances
Genre: Historical
ISBN: 1-905393-23-7
Emma Sulivan absolutely loves the sea. It is the only life and love that she has known. After her father dies, she accepts the role as Captain of the Lucifer. Perhaps it wasn’t her choosing but she does not plan to disappoint his memory, someone has to take over the reins. Her duty as captain comes first and woman comes second, but after she captures Nicholas Randolph, she learns that she can have both if she will only give him the chance. Every time his fingers caress her skin, her flesh slowly craves more of his touch.
Emma knows that her father was captain of the Lucifer, a notorious privateer. Growing up, the sea was all the life she knew. Now that he is gone, she must accept the role of captain. Not long after capturing the ship that Nicholas is on, she soon discovers the man is much more interesting than what she imagined. In time the concealed feelings of love that she kept buried begin to surface as her heart aches for Nicholas tenderly. In a funny way they seem to relate in many ways. Together they have been tossed into situations that others elected for them. It is time they fill their hearts with pleasures intended for them. He teaches her so many different steps in his world of society that touch her deeply and she finds it hard to even consider letting him go.
Nicholas Randolph has just concluded a business trip in America. Now he and his sister are headed home when the ship they are traveling is inundated by a privateer ship. He is surprised to find a woman captain who takes him captive to her ship, Lucifer. Now he is at Emma’s mercy and may not ever see his home in England again. With only one thing left to do, he decides to do the noble thing and trade his freedom for his sisters. He would rather her go home and he be the one taken captive. Emma is a tough captain but he sees beneath the surface. She is a young woman eager to come out of her shell and experience love and he intends to set her feelings free by allowing her to explore what all she has bottled inside all these years.
After Nicholas is captured by the pirates, he uses some of his earned talents to benefit not only himself but the others on board as he in turn learns many of their skills. They all believe they have him as a disadvantage. But as far as he sees it, he suffers no adversity. Being on the privates ship is no hardship since he didn’t care much for his life in England where there is no freedom where he cannot make his own choice in life. Now he can actually be himself and not something in someone else’s shell. He uses everything that he has be taught over the years to better advance the ship and become closer to Emma. For a man who seldom knew what he wanted, the one important thing he most desires now is Emma. Together they can forge a lasting partnership that will last until the end of time. It will be a captivity where he will never feel trapped.
The ship, Lucifer, finds itself amidst many dangers when it embarks dark waters toward the British. After kidnapping Nicholas, the crew learns many things from him and soon accepts him as part of the circle even instructing him on the proper way to fire a gun, and calling him Nick. He will do anything to help since he knows the crew is wagering more than their freedom. With Emma it is a bit more private since her feelings are tugging more toward Nicholas in a way that she has never experienced. And when family members of Nicholas become involved things really begin to heat when he uses them to give him more time to savor with Emma.
And a Star To Steer Her By is a story where two different people with different lifestyles discover that they really have something in common and seek to bond and make things better for them. With every good pirate tale on the high seas, there is tension, drama, raging waters, stormy clouds and high strung pirates bickering, in this case Emma and Nicholas. The risks they endure are worth all the torturous months as they discover a love that was meant to be while sailing the open seas. Philippa Grey-Gerou develops a wonderfully written story that gives great descriptive detail allowing the reader to feel as if they are aboard the pirate ship. I loved the matchmaking of Emma and Nicholas and their discovery of what they wanted out of life. This swashbuckling tale is thoroughly engaging. Ms. Grey-Gerou brilliantly crafts a romance that reaches deep into the heart incorporating a courageous escape and liberation sure to please any reader. Be sure to visit Linden Bay Romances today and pick up your copy.
Sincerely good reading,
Linda
Philippa Grey-Gerou Review Buy Philippa's Linden Bay Romances Books Buy Philippa's Liquid Silver Books
