2.5⭐️ From the title and blurb I expected humor, a goofy pirate crew, and a plot that was a reverse twist on My Fair Lady. Maybe it did and I was in the wrong mood and not paying attention.

A duology, Bk. 1, Tristan and Prudence. Funny and sweet, and the parts with the sheep are hysterical.

I picked up this book because someone posted about it in an LJ romance book community, saying how great it was. While it was a decent book with its good points, I found it missing something that would have made it great.

I liked the base storyline - Tristan's past, Prudence's past, their situations, etc. It made for a good starting point for a story. And the characters were enjoyable. Each had their quirks that made them unique and interesting. Tristan was a complex character. On one hand, he's this tough former pirate captain and a war hero, and on the other hand, he is a bit of a humanitarian, taking in the members of his former crew and helping them. Prudence was okay. At times I felt she was too forward for the time period she lived in.

The romance was good. Prudence and Tristan were a nice pairing. I also liked the addition of Tristan's twin brother Christian to the story. It added a good side-story - with a lead in to the next book?. And the whole thing with the sheep was great.

I guess what bothered about the book was that it almost completely lacked action. There wasn't really anything going on in the story. It was all just about Tristan becoming an Earl and Prudence helping him with his manners. I wanted something to happen, something to add some action, some excitement. I just ended up a bit bored at times. But overall, like I said, it was a decent story. Enough so that if there is a follow-up with Christian's story, I'll read it.

This book was amusing at times, yet slow and boring at others. I have no issue with a pure romance with no side plot/outside tension, however, this book is a little long without those extra dimensions. The ending also felt a little rushed and unfulfilled (am I the only one wondering about the maintenance, and running of the Earls estate that is entailed to T and will produce an income, oh and are the ladies really going to be able to run their school?)

I like Karen Hawkins’ newer books, but this one was just okay- a basic romance novel, with nothing to make to stand out.

enjoyable read

4.5 stars

Is this profound? Deeply moving? One of the best things I’ve ever read? No.

Is it rollicking, clever, humorous, hot, and highly enjoyable? Yes, indeed.

Exhibit A:
“I refuse to give up every vice I possess at the whim of a pack of froth-laced fools.”

“No indeed, my lord,” Reeves said soothingly. “There would be nothing left of you if we were to demand you give up every vice.”

Exhibit B:
Tristan eyed the first mate’s new coat. Several sizes too large, the sleeves hung over the man’s hands, the hem resting at the back of his calves instead of his knees as it was meant to.

Stevens held out his arms and turned, glancing back over his shoulder. “Do ye like it, Cap’n?”

Reeves sent Tristan a pained smile. “Master Stevens believes the coat makes his er, posterior appear large. I hastened to tell him that it did no such thing and was, in fact, quite slimming.”

“What do ye think, Cap’n? Does it make me arse look big?

Tristan, former pirate and current wounded war hero, has been driven ashore to a small cottage where he plans to molder and die mourning the loss of his beloved sea. Those plans are interrupted by the parade of his fellow wounded sailors showing up to be fed and cared for, unfortunately rapidly depleting his funds. Additionally, an attractive neighbor keeps showing up to lambast him about one of his sheep that keeps getting into her garden, so life is not quite as deadly dull as he had planned.

And that was before Reeves (purportedly his father’s butler but with all the magic of a fairy godfather) shows up to inform him that his father, the earl of Rochester, has died without legitimate heir and has manipulated records to award Tristan, his oldest illegitimate son, his title and, if he can convince a board of trustees of his gentility, a vast fortune.

A fortune he needs to care for his sailors. Tristan is about as genteel as a rabid badger, so his sheep-hating attractive neighbor, misnamed Prudence, who runs a seminary for young ladies without any young ladies currently attending, reluctantly accepts the job of teaching Tristan comportment for much-needed cash.

I, as well as the new earl, may need some of those comportment lessons. I burst into unfettered laughter so many times during this book it was positively unseemly. The pace was brisk but the author lingered when she needed to, the prose was lively and clever, the sex was fun AND hot, and the characters were well-defined and likeable. I thought the reasons for the last-act obstacle to an HEA were a little inflated and contrived, so I’m churlishly knocking off half a star, then rounding up.

A thank you to Lori for bringing this author to my attention—this was my first book by her—and to Irina for picking this particular book for me to try. It was delightful!

Tristan dan saudara kembarnya, Christian terpisah karena ibunya dipenjara atas tuduhan makar, dan sang ayah, Earl of Rochester mengabaikan mereka. Hingga saat ketika sang Earl menjelang ajal tanpa memiliki anak sah, dia teringat anak kembar haramnya. Sang Earl menginginkan anak-anaknya mewarisi gelar dan uangnya, tetapi dia tahu salah satu anaknya sudah menjadi bajak laut.

Tristan digambarkan sbg mantan bajak laut, pahlawan veteran perang Trafalgar bersama Laksamana Nelson. Tristan memiliki cinderamata dari perang tsb, kakinya terluka permanen. Selagi memikirkan beban hidupnya dan kru anak buahnya sesama eks bajak laut, datanglah seperti angin segar, janda cantik tetangga sebelah, Prudence Thistlewaite. Mereka bertengkar gara-gara domba yg masuk dan memakan daun ramuan milik Prudence dan saling menyalahkan satu sama lain.

Anak buah Earl, Reeves mendapat maklumat utk mendapatkan si kembar. Tristan tidak senang dgn kedatangan Reeves, apalagi anak buahnya gampang sekali disogok dgn makanan lezat. Tetapi Tristan hrs memikirkan kepentingan anak buahnya padahal dirinya sudah nyaris gak pny duit lagi. Jadi dgn berat hati Tristan mau menyandang gelar Earl. Tetapi gak semudah itu, Tristan harus mendapatkan pelatihan sopan-santun spy layak masuk komunitas bangsawan, hal yang dirasakan lebih berat drpd maju berperang bagi Tristan.

Maka Prudence dipanggil sbg tutor utk mengajari Tristan utk bersikap layaknya bangsawan. Bukannya belajar ttg tatacara, Prudence mendapatkan dirinya "dirayu" oleh Tristan. Keduanya sebenarnya saling mengelak dari ketertarikan satu sama lain. Tetapi apa daya, chemistry yg begitu kuat mengalahkan semua pengendalian diri mereka. Bab 16 membuktikan biarpun mereka horny satu sama lain, keras kepala mereka menandai bhw mereka berdua nyaris tidak mau saling mengalah.

Karakter Tristan yang tidak beradab dan sulit diajari menjadi inti cerita dan saya tertawa melulu karena Tristan yang sarkastik, sinis dan "menentang" hampir semua yang diajarkan kepadanya. Tetapi salut pada Prudence, yang selalu punya balasan cerdas utk menimpali Tristan yang barbar ini.

Saya suka novel ini karena plot ceritanya bagus dan karakter-karakternya juga kuat semua. Dan yang paling keren adalah setiap kali saya mengira bisa menebak alurnya, ternyata saya kecele. Tidak bisa diprediksikan tetapi sangat lucu dan menggoda rasa penasaran saya. Penggemar HR pasti tidak menyesal membaca novel ini.

Good read from Karen Hawkins. Don't know how I missed this one! I can't believe how much i laughed through this tale. I really liked the characters and the plot of this book. Looking forward to reading many more from this talented storyteller.

It is widely believed by many members of the ton that, for servants, the greatest rewards in our honored profession come from praise. That is a very noble concept, though a blatant falsehood. Whether servant or master, saint or supplicant, nothing motivates more thoroughly than the sight of a freshly minted gold coin.


A former 5 star read, now more of a 3 to 3.5 star read. I picked up the book at the worst possible time, though. I was just not in the mood for the silliness and absurdity (and should have stopped reading when it became clear). My mood aside, I also think that I don't like insta-lust or even insta-love combined with that kind of romantic comedy.

Because I think the humor possibly may have amused me at another point in my life and would have smoothed over my problems with the love story, I'll only rate it down to 4 instead of 3 stars.
(Plus, there's a sheep in it!)

Tristan Llevanth loved the sea and being aboard his ship, but when he is injured fighting side by side with Admiral Nelson, he has to give up what he loves, and his men come with him. Tristan settles in a house in the countryside that overlooks the ocean. And despite the peace he desires, he never manages to hold onto it. A neighbor widow, Prudence Thistlewaite, is definitely the bane of his existence and they tend to get on each other's nerves. Then Reeves (his late father's butler) tells him that he is the new earl, he needs to learn all the pompous rituals that come with the title and the money, which he desperately needs for his men. So Reeves has Prudence endeavor to teach Tristan, which is a sore trial in and of itself. And the more time they are alone together, passions ignite between the two of them, with the future uncertain if they could end up together in the end.
As much as I love this author, this is probably my least favorite book of Karen Hawkins. It took me a while to get into the story, and had to force myself to keep reading until I got into the story, which thankfully I did, but it seemed to take a while. There were certain aspects of the story that I really fell in love with though. The characters I found intriguing and utterly fascinating, and all of them had me at the very beginning. The plot was very mystery packed and filled with surprises, that will delight you. However I just found at the beginning the interaction between Prudence and Tristan, leaves much to be desired, however once the story really got going, then it started to even out, and I started to enjoy the story. But overall it was a good romance and was glad to finally read Tristan's story.

Okay story of an illegitamate Pirate/ Captain, his highway man brother and the women hired to tame the Earl.