Surely, his imagination is getting the better of him. Setting sail on a time-sensitive voyage to Portugal, he’s stunned to find a woman waiting for him in his cabin. Known to society as a rascal and reckless privateer, Captain Andrew James Rokesby actually transports essential goods and documents for the British government. But her delight turns to dismay when two pirates kidnap her and take her aboard a ship, leaving her bound and gagged on the captain’s bed… While visiting a friend on the Dorset coast, Poppy is pleasantly surprised to discover a smugglers’ hideaway tucked inside a cave. Sadly, none of the fools from her London season qualify.

Summaryįiercely independent and adventurous, Poppy Bridgerton will only wed a suitor whose keen intellect and interests match her own. The dialogue is witty, the heroes sexy and charming, and the heroines are realistic and fully realized. If you haven’t read any of Quinn’s books before then you need to stop and go pick one up. The focus is always on the more tender feelings between hero and heroine and every time I finish one of her books I am always left feeling content and happy about how things resolved. If you have been reading historical romances for a while you will know how quality Julia Quinn’s books are-Jane Austen-esque but with tasteful sex. This book offered a bit of a change in scenery from the usual Kent countryside or London that many of Quinn’s books are set in and instead takes us to the high seas and to Portugal. I definitely questioned some of this book initially, but by the end I was swooning right along with Poppy over Captain Andrew. Julia Quinn is the master of historical romances and after reading just a couple of pages, I had to remind myself of that fact. I was actually really surprised by this one, it went in directions I just wasn’t expecting. Andrew was my favorite brother from the first book and I was really looking forward to reading his romance. I couldn’t wait to read more about the Rokesby brothers and their romances. After reading the s econd book in this series, I immediately closed it and opened this one up.

The other miss