"A Sweet Premise"
The Earl of Rochester has set about to find his
illegitimate son in order to carry on the vaulted Rochester
name. He sends his loyal butler Reeves in search of
Tristan Llevanth. Once Reeves finds him he has been
charged with turning Tristan a former pirate and sailor
into a proper gentleman. Reeve's has his work cut out for
him. Tristan is a hard man wounded in both mind and body.
When he introduces Prudence Thistlewaite to the mix it's
anyone's guess on whether love will find a way here. Tristan's life has been hard. His mother was imprisoned,
his father ignored him and his twin brother Christian, and
now the father that couldn't be bothered with him when
Tristan needed him the most...now wants the world. That
would be easy enough to deal with if he wasn't being
bedeviled by Mrs. Prudence Thistlewaite. This lass rubs
him wrong. He wants nothing but peace and quiet to heal
and that is the last thing he gets with Prudence pestering
him about sheep. Prudence wants nothing to do with the ill-tempered captain
turned neighbor. She has her dream and will do what she
must to see it through. But, when Reeves makes her an
offer she can't resist Prudence has to wonder if perhaps
just maybe she could smooth out Tristan's rough edges.
After all she's not afraid of a little challenge. Imagine
her surprise when things change between her and the sea
captain. Has she found a happy ending where she least
expected it? This read had a sweet premise but Reeves was such a strong
character that he at times over shadowed Pru and Tristan's
romance. Add to that the romance between Tristan and Pru
seemed rushed or even forced. They start out disliking
each other and then BAM! Tristan can't get enough of Pru.
This is what you want in a romance I know...but it would be
nice if this switch wasn't so jarring. Ms. Hawkins has
began a fine new series with this title and I look forward
to reading Christian's story next.
Reviewed by Kristi Ahlers
Posted May 9, 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
| 
