THE DAREDEVIL SNARED / LORD OF THE PRIVATEERS ( The Adventurer’s Quartet #3 & #4) by Stephanie Laurens-reviews

 

LORD OF THE PRIVATEERS
(The Adventurer’s Quartet #4
by Stephanie Laurens
Genre: adult, historical, romantic, adventure

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 27,2016

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

Revel in the action, drama, intrigue and passion as the Frobishers— with help from Wolverstone, the Cynsters and many familiar others— steer the adventure to a glorious end.

Unstoppable determination

Widely known as the lord of the privateers, Royd Frobisher expects to execute the final stage of the rescue mission his brothers have begun. What he does not expect is to be pressured into taking Isobel Carmichael—his childhood sweetheart, former handfasted bride and current business partner—with him. A force of nature, Isobel has a mission of her own: to find and bring a young cousin safely home. And along the way, she hopes to rid herself of the dreams of a life with Royd that still haunt her.

Unfinished business

Neither expects the shock that awaits them as they set sail, much less the new horizons that open before them as they embark on a full-scale rescue-assault on the compound deep in the jungle. Yet despite the support of his brothers and their ladies, Royd and Isobel discover that freeing the captives is only half the battle. To identify and convict the conspirators behind the illicit enterprise—and save England from political disaster—they must return to the ballrooms of the haut ton and hunt the villains on their home ground.

Unforgettable love

But having found each other again, having glimpsed the heaven that could yet be theirs, how much are Royd and Isobel willing to risk in the name of duty?

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REVIEW: LORD OF THE PRIVATEERS is the fourth and final installment in Stephanie Laurens’s THE ADVENTURER’S QUARTER historical, romantic adventure series focusing on the Frobisher brothers and their search for several missing women, children and military personnel in Freetown, South Africa. This is eldest brother Captain Royd Frobisher, and his childhood sweetheart Isobel Carmichael’s story line. LORD OF THE PRIVATEERS an be read as a stand alone although I recommend reading the series in order as each installment builds upon the events of the previous story lines, and the ongoing ARC throughout.

Told from several third person perspectives including Royd and Isobel, LORD OF THE PRIVATEERS is the culmination of four story lines that followed a trail of missing and kidnapped children, women and men in Freetown, South Africa, and the realization that some very powerful people with money and connections were backing the exhumation of illegal diamonds in the mines of South Africa. With their youngest brother enslaved in the mining camp Royd, Declan and Caleb Froubisher, along with their crews embark on a journey to free the prisoners and uncover the identity of those behind the mines. Enter Isobel Carmichael, Royd’s former sweetheart, who demands passage on the journey , in search of her cousin Miss Katherine Fortescue. What ensues is the rekindling relationship between Royd and Isobel; the detailed rescue mission to free the slaves; and a secret revealed that will change Royd’s relationship with the woman he has always loved.

LORD OF THE PRIVATEERS is a detailed and complex story line with a multi-layered premise with a large number of secondary and supporting characters that cross over between series and story lines. A mission to rescue loved ones finds Royd and Isobel rediscovering what once was, and what is meant to be. But freeing the captives is only part of their mission; returning home it was time to reveal the people involved. LORD OF THE PRIVATEERS is a grand finale that brings together family and friends in a multi-faceted conclusion where happily ever afters make way for future adventurers on the high seas.

Reviewed by Sandy

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THE DAREDEVIL SNARED
The Adventurers Quartet #3
by Stephanie Laurens
Genre: adult, historical, romantic, adventure

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: RELEASE DATE June 28, 2016

He has something to prove

Captain Caleb Frobisher, hedonistic youngest son of a seafaring dynasty, wants to be taken seriously. Seizing the next leg of the covert mission his brothers are pursuing, he acts decisively and effectively in securing the mission’s objectives. But responsibility has taken root, and he remains in the jungle to ensure the mission’s ultimate goal.

She will risk everything

Katherine Fortescue fled a life of poverty and came to Freetown as a governess, only to be kidnapped and forced to oversee the child workforce at a mine. Guarded by well-armed, well-trained mercenaries, the captives have lost all hope of escape. Then Katherine meets a handsome man—a captain—and he brings the sweet promise of rescue.

Together they will face the future

The sadistic mercenary who runs the mine has other plans, but Caleb’s true strength lies in extracting advantage from adversity, and through the clashes that follow, he becomes the leader he was always destined to be. The sort of man Katherine can trust—with her body, with her life. With her love.

•••••••••••

REVIEW: THE DAREDEVIL SNARED is the third installment in Stephanie Laurens’s Regency-era historical romantic adventure series THE ADVENTURERS QUARTET focusing on the Frobisher brothers and their search for several missing women, children and military personnel in Freetown, South Africa. This is youngest brother Captain Caleb Frobisher, and governess Katherine Fortescue’s story line. THE DAREDEVIL SNARED can be read as a stand alone although I recommend reading the series in order as each installment builds upon the events of the previous story lines, and the ongoing ARC throughout.

Told from several third person perspectives THE DAREDEVIL SNARED continues the search for a number of missing children, women and British military officers in Freetown, South Africa presumed to have been kidnapped by a band of European slavers. Captain Caleb Frobisher and his men including best friend Captain Phillip Lascelle have been commissioned by the British Crown for the third leg of the search and rescue to locate the ‘mining camp’ and report back their findings but an unexpected encounter finds the Captain exposing his men to the enemy they seek. Caleb and his crew are imprisoned and forced to work the mines along with the men and women they are seeking but not before our hero is able to send off his report to the people back home. What ensues is the building relationship between Caleb and Katherine Fortescue, and the struggle to slow down the mining operation before their would-be rescuers arrive.

THE DAREDEVIL SNARED is an infinitely detailed story line with a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including men, women and children, as well as the captors and the revelation of the people in charge. The slow building story line becomes lost in the numerous, small details about mining for diamonds and the dangerous working conditions of which the prisoners have been exposed. Although their captor is not one to be crossed he does allow the prisoners some freedom and personal expression.

Liked many middle books in trilogies THE DAREDEVIL SNARED loses itself in a lack of real story line and series build up ; too much repetition, detail and focus on the mining for diamonds; and the slow building romance is more of an afterthought due to their circumstances and the potential for rescue from abroad.

THE DAREDEVIL SNARED is a story of adventure, greed, struggle and love. The premise is somewhat tedious and I lost interest very early due to the lack of any true drama or conflict. Hopefully the final installment LORD OF THE PRIVATEERS featuring eldest brother Royd Frobisher brings some much needed action and intrigue.

Reviewed by Sandy