Series: The Brothers of Wolf Isle, #2
Traits & Tropes: opposites attract
Publication Date: 08.23.21
Genre/Setting: Historical; Medieval, Ulva, Scotland, 1547
Heat Level: 2
Rating: 4/5
Since the vicious French pirate Claude Jandeau murdered her family, Eliza Wentworth has spent the rest of her life at sea with her rescuer and pseudo-father, Captain John Pritchert, helping others who have been kidnapped. She’s certainly no lady and has no intention of ever marrying, but when she finds herself stranded longer than was planned on a remote Scottish island, even she must admit to needing help. She’s even more annoyed when that aid comes from a man she is immediately attracted to.
Beck Macquarie is taken with Eliza’s unconventionality from the start. Given the curse on his clan and their isle, he hasn’t been able to meet many women and he needs to marry and raise children to break it, but Eliza is not the woman to settle down with. She makes it clear that she intends to return to the sea as soon as she’s able and he knows he should leave her alone but finds he can’t stay away.
When Eliza asks Beck to educate her in the activities men and women enjoy in the bedroom while she waits on his family’s isle, Beck can’t bring himself to refuse her. As they come to know each other, their past hurts are revealed and Eliza must choose between the freedom she thought she always wanted and the love she’s unexpectedly found with Beck.
This was a solid, original story with a lovely and unique setting. I really liked honorable, steady Beck as a hero, especially the fact that he wasn’t a womanizing rogue. Eliza, however, was rather rough, which I suppose is to be expected since she mostly grew up on a privateer vessel, but still. She seemed slightly overdrawn in her crassness and too open about things. She was too happy to say things just for shock factor. The most frustrating thing though was how she had no problem showing a ton of loyalty to Captain John and virtually none to Beck. It seemed that much of the time Beck did all the giving and Eliza basically just used him for sex. Possible spoiler here: She even stayed away rather than caring for him when he was injured saving her, which felt like a huge missed opportunity for some serious romance and a lovely declaration of feelings. Instead, Beck was always having to meet her on her terms, rather than her being willing to come to him. It fit her character for the most part, but I did find it frustrating. This book was also quite short, so parts of it felt rushed and I would’ve liked a bit more open communication between Beck and Eliza just to solidify the permanency of their relationship. Nonetheless, this was an enjoyable story overall and I love the setting and concept of this series, so I’m looking forward to Callum’s book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4179043021
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/2653694716
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