"Terrific Start to Hawkins New Series"
Dying without an heir, the very wealthy Earl of Rochester
gave his faithful and indispensable butler Reeves his final
instructions -- find his two missing illegitimate offspring
and make them worthy heirs of their noble blood.
Monumental tasks to not only locate them after 20 year
absences, but to teach them the fine rudiments of
gentlemanly behavior. Setting out on his mission, Reeves
locates the elder twin sibling aka an ex-pirate, turned
privateer, turned war hero at the battle of Trafalger with
Admiral Nelson -- Captain Tristan Llevanth. Tristan was found living in a cottage on a cliff
overlooking the sea he could no longer captain a ship
upon. Before he'd had too much time to slip into a
melancholic life, sailors once under his command sought him
out, and he was now master and commander of a household of
wounded warriors. Life was peaceful until his neighbor,
the widow Prudence Thistlewaite, started storming through
his doors demanding he keep his sheep out of her garden.
Reeves, the consummate butler and purveyor of solutions to
all sorts of mundane problems, showed up at about the same
time. After finally convincing Tristan to reconsider accepting
his inheritance, Reeves now had the immense task of turning
him into a gentleman. Recognizing a windfall of expertise,
Reeves enlisted the aid of Prudence Thistlewaite, in dire
need of funds to establish a school for girls, to teach
Tristan the finer points of behaving in a gentlemanly
manner and smoothing out his very rough edges. As these
two banes of each others existence came to butt heads, it
seemed only natural that the sparks would fly in passion as
well as stubbornness. *** Hawkins writes a fun-filled escapade as Prudence has
her work cut out for her in bringing the irascible captain
to heel. The secondary character of Reeves, along with
members of the captain's land-locked crew and Prudence's
mother filled out the cast to make this a merry adventure
and an enjoyable fast-paced read. The sensuality is steamy
and the carriage ride scene extremely memorable and not to
be missed. All in all, I found this to be a very fine
beginning to Hawkins newest series.
Reviewed by Marilyn Rondeau
Posted April 5, 2006
SummaryJust ask Reeves!
Dying without legitimate issue, the late Earl of Rochester
sent his butler extraordinaire, Reeves, to find his wild,
illegitimate children and "civilize" them. Reeve's must seek
out the first of the earls arrogant sons, Captain Tristan
Llevanth, a one-time pirate, and teach him to be a gentleman.
A will of steel...
Tristan Llevanth gave up his free-wheeling life as a pirate
to fight at Admiral Nelson's side. Wounded, Tristan will
never again sail the seas he loves. Life has no more
challenges. Or so he thinks, until Reeves brings a certain
outspoken lady into the captain's uncultured household...
An ironclad spirit...
Reeves believes Tristan needs a spark to relight the fires
of his soul. And who better than lovely Prudence
Thistlewaite, the bain of the captain's existence? Prudence
wants nothing to do with her wicked handsome, ill-tempered
neighbor. Still, she cannot refuse the outlandish sum
Reeve's offers to smooth Tristan's rough edges.
Can Prudence tame the rakish captain?
Or will Tristan gain what he most wishes, to become...
Her Master and Commander
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