I really enjoyed the opening of this book. The setting was truly unique - an island in Jamaica during the 1820s. The background of the heroine, being the daughter of a pirate, and the hero, a privateer rake who was also a single father of two children by mistresses, gave the novel an air of originality compared to the typical historical romance.

However, as the plot developed, it unfortunately fell into a rather typical formula. The overly flowery prose was quite distracting and made me roll my eyes at times. The love scenes were cliched, and the author kept repeating the same few words and phrases to describe the hero's lust. I lost count of how many times he was referred to as "virile".

The plot was just okay. It suffered from a weak conflict that wasn't strong enough to sustain the story throughout. The heroine had essentially no real romantic conflict for most of the novel, except maybe a feeling that she wasn't good enough to marry the hero. The plot mainly relied on the hero's conflict. At first, it was that she was too young (she was 17 - 18 and he was 28, but in 1820 that age difference wouldn't have been unusual). Later, his conflict was that he didn't want to marry because he didn't need to, but by that point, it was hard to believe.

After a while, I simply lost my interest in the characters as they seemed to be stuck in a never-ending cycle. She would seduce him, he would almost lose control but then hold back, he would distance himself from her for her own good but without giving an explanation, and she would be hurt. And this cycle would repeat. The last part of the novel seemed to be driven by the worst kind of conflict, one that could have been easily resolved with just a brief conversation.

I might consider reading another novel by Joyce, but this particular one didn't leave me overly eager to do so.

Great book by Brenda Joyce!!

At first, I was a little put off with Amanda's brashness, I guess? It was like a bold and perhaps slightly overwhelming trait that she had. But as I delved deeper into the story, she really grew on me.

And Cliff - YUMM! He was just so charming and appealing. The way these two characters interacted and came together was truly endearing. I found myself completely engaged and couldn't put the book down.

I absolutely loved how Cliff protected Amanda and made her feel loved. It was such a sweet and heartwarming story. The relationship between them developed in a beautiful way, filled with tenderness and care.

Overall, I would rate this book 5 stars. It was a wonderful read that left me with a smile on my face and a warm feeling in my heart. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good romance.

Joyce is an extremely talented writer.

Her books are truly captivating, and the way she crafts a story is simply remarkable.

This particular work is part of the De Warren novels, and the family within it is full of intrigue and interest.

She has this amazing ability to make the readers emotionally invested in the characters, longing to see how things will unfold for them.

It's a story that pulls you in and keeps you engaged from start to finish.

If you have a penchant for a good romance, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to you.

It will surely satisfy your craving for a heartwarming and engaging love story.

You'll find yourself lost in the world that Joyce has created, rooting for the characters and experiencing all the emotions along with them.

Don't miss out on this wonderful literary gem.

I have read this book at least 8 times, and it has never become boring.

It is truly amazing to see Amanda grow and flourish into a beautiful lady while always remaining true to herself.

Watching Cliff finally fall in love and also have the courage to stand up for what is right when it comes to Amanda is a beautiful sight.

I find myself very interested in reading more about the green-eyed Scotsman.

His mysterious nature and the allure he holds make me eager to discover more about his story.

Perhaps there are hidden depths and secrets within him that will be revealed as the story progresses.

I can't wait to turn the pages and find out what adventures and challenges lie ahead for all the characters in this captivating book.