What do you think?
Rate this book
On a Lee Shore
“Give me a reason to let you live…”
Beached after losing his ship and crew, and with England finally at peace, Lt Christopher Penrose will take whatever work he can get. A valet? Why not? Escorting an elderly diplomat to the Leeward Islands seems like an easy job, but when their ship is boarded by pirates, Kit’s world is turned upside down. Forced aboard the pirate ship, Kit finds himself juggling his honor with his desire to stay alive among the crew, not to mention the alarming—yet enticing—captain, known as La Griffe.
Kit has always obeyed the rules, but as the pirates plunder their way across the Caribbean, he finds much to admire in their freedom. He deplores their lawlessness but is drawn to their way of life, and begins to think he might just have found a purpose. Dare he dream of finding love too? Or would loving a pirate take him too far down the road to ruin?
Beached after losing his ship and crew, and with England finally at peace, Lt Christopher Penrose will take whatever work he can get. A valet? Why not? Escorting an elderly diplomat to the Leeward Islands seems like an easy job, but when their ship is boarded by pirates, Kit’s world is turned upside down. Forced aboard the pirate ship, Kit finds himself juggling his honor with his desire to stay alive among the crew, not to mention the alarming—yet enticing—captain, known as La Griffe.
Kit has always obeyed the rules, but as the pirates plunder their way across the Caribbean, he finds much to admire in their freedom. He deplores their lawlessness but is drawn to their way of life, and begins to think he might just have found a purpose. Dare he dream of finding love too? Or would loving a pirate take him too far down the road to ruin?
289 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 12, 2012
39 people are currently reading
1230 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
July 7, 2013
Forget Jack Sparrow. Meet La Griffe. A pirate to swoon for, but not a ladies man. His eyes are firmly fixed on other shores!
Captain Christopher Penrose (Kit) is assigned as a valet to Sir George a British diplomat sailing to the Caribbean. Kit has been demoted after losing his ship, although not at fault, he has to pay penance. He boards the Hypatia a merchant ship and sets sail. The adventure that is about to await him will turn his world around and make him question his values. On the way the ship is attacked by pirates. He and Davy a ship's hand are taken as hostage and forced to work on the pirate ship.
However, what he discovers and learns is a way of life, although on the wrong side of the law, is more diplomatic and free than he has experienced in the navy. All the pirates have their story of misfortune to tell and have chosen this life rather than be condemned for something that they feel is unjust. The pirate Captain, La Griffe, is always in charge but only as long as the crew are happy with him. What I liked about this was getting to know about the previous lives of the crew and why they were left with no choice than to become pirates. Basically all of them victims of circumstance.
The plot is intricate and not only do the pirates have to contend with avoiding the navy but also have to deal with another pirate; Jago captain of the Garnet. After a joint attack and stealing a Spanish vessel laden with treasure the men forget some of their values and are blinded by the riches on the ship. Avarice raises its ugly head and forces Jago to behave in an abominable way which goes against many pirates' codex. Then the chase is on to right what has been wronged.
During all of this Kit is in conflict with himself. He starts to question the values that he has held dear until now and thought respectful and sees that some things in the navy are sadly lacking. The pirates appear to be educated men, just trying to survive the best way they know how. All the time trying to think how he can escape the Africa along with Davy
Not only is Kit in conflict with his conscience but also his feelings. He finds himself being ever more attracted to La Griffe and then the dam breaks. It is a slow build up, with Kit denying to himself what he feels and always pulling away. However, the pirates are more in touch with their feelings and as long as no harm is done to anyone are quite happy to live and let live. Two crew members, Protheroe and Lewis are a couple, open about their relationship and no one minds. La Griffe makes his advances on Kit and stays persistent until he breaks Kit down and there is no more denying the feelings between them.
This story has many layers and an intricate plot. Davy and Kit trying to survive among pirates, but also trying not to let go of the values they have been taught. Both of them going from resistance to acceptance to understanding for the pirates and their life.
It is also a book I believe you will either like or you won't depending on your point of view and what you are looking for. For me it is a well rounded historical novel with an m/m romance theme, rather than a m/m romance with an historical theme. There is an HEA and even La Griffe has one last surprise up his sleeve at the end. The romance theme is definitely there for sure, but it doesn't over shadow the life that such people led in those days.
It was a hard life aboard such a ship, whether navy or pirate, and I believe that Elin Gregory for me got the right balance. They can't be in the hold, cabin or focsle making out every five minutes when you have such a ship to sail, watches to organise and sleeping shifts. The amount of research the author must have done is incredible, all the nautical terms, the pirate language and vivid characters makes for a compelling read and throws the reader back to a time of the high seas where life was tough. Therefore it was realistic for this period and believable which is a good thing for me at least.
On a personal note what I really loved too was the Cornish family names and places mentioned. Being a born and bred Cornish boy myself you can't have a story about pirates and smuggling without having Cornwall in there somewhere. When I read the following quote in the book I had to smile as this is something I learnt as a child and every Cornishman knows.
All in all a thoroughly enjoyable historical novel with an m/m romance thrown in. I personally couldn't have wished for more.
~ This book was provided by the author in return for a fair and honest review ~
Captain Christopher Penrose (Kit) is assigned as a valet to Sir George a British diplomat sailing to the Caribbean. Kit has been demoted after losing his ship, although not at fault, he has to pay penance. He boards the Hypatia a merchant ship and sets sail. The adventure that is about to await him will turn his world around and make him question his values. On the way the ship is attacked by pirates. He and Davy a ship's hand are taken as hostage and forced to work on the pirate ship.
However, what he discovers and learns is a way of life, although on the wrong side of the law, is more diplomatic and free than he has experienced in the navy. All the pirates have their story of misfortune to tell and have chosen this life rather than be condemned for something that they feel is unjust. The pirate Captain, La Griffe, is always in charge but only as long as the crew are happy with him. What I liked about this was getting to know about the previous lives of the crew and why they were left with no choice than to become pirates. Basically all of them victims of circumstance.
The plot is intricate and not only do the pirates have to contend with avoiding the navy but also have to deal with another pirate; Jago captain of the Garnet. After a joint attack and stealing a Spanish vessel laden with treasure the men forget some of their values and are blinded by the riches on the ship. Avarice raises its ugly head and forces Jago to behave in an abominable way which goes against many pirates' codex. Then the chase is on to right what has been wronged.
During all of this Kit is in conflict with himself. He starts to question the values that he has held dear until now and thought respectful and sees that some things in the navy are sadly lacking. The pirates appear to be educated men, just trying to survive the best way they know how. All the time trying to think how he can escape the Africa along with Davy
Not only is Kit in conflict with his conscience but also his feelings. He finds himself being ever more attracted to La Griffe and then the dam breaks. It is a slow build up, with Kit denying to himself what he feels and always pulling away. However, the pirates are more in touch with their feelings and as long as no harm is done to anyone are quite happy to live and let live. Two crew members, Protheroe and Lewis are a couple, open about their relationship and no one minds. La Griffe makes his advances on Kit and stays persistent until he breaks Kit down and there is no more denying the feelings between them.
This story has many layers and an intricate plot. Davy and Kit trying to survive among pirates, but also trying not to let go of the values they have been taught. Both of them going from resistance to acceptance to understanding for the pirates and their life.
It is also a book I believe you will either like or you won't depending on your point of view and what you are looking for. For me it is a well rounded historical novel with an m/m romance theme, rather than a m/m romance with an historical theme. There is an HEA and even La Griffe has one last surprise up his sleeve at the end. The romance theme is definitely there for sure, but it doesn't over shadow the life that such people led in those days.
It was a hard life aboard such a ship, whether navy or pirate, and I believe that Elin Gregory for me got the right balance. They can't be in the hold, cabin or focsle making out every five minutes when you have such a ship to sail, watches to organise and sleeping shifts. The amount of research the author must have done is incredible, all the nautical terms, the pirate language and vivid characters makes for a compelling read and throws the reader back to a time of the high seas where life was tough. Therefore it was realistic for this period and believable which is a good thing for me at least.
On a personal note what I really loved too was the Cornish family names and places mentioned. Being a born and bred Cornish boy myself you can't have a story about pirates and smuggling without having Cornwall in there somewhere. When I read the following quote in the book I had to smile as this is something I learnt as a child and every Cornishman knows.
All in all a thoroughly enjoyable historical novel with an m/m romance thrown in. I personally couldn't have wished for more.
~ This book was provided by the author in return for a fair and honest review ~
April 1, 2014
I gulped this down with great enjoyment. A very enjoyable pirate tale. Well written and likeable characters. Kit's growth into someone able to have fun and stand by himself is very likeable. I felt Griffin stayed a bit too much of an enigma for too long and wondered if his POV would have helped.
The fighting ship details all sounded pretty good to this totally ignorant reader, though it wasn't overburdened with historical notes (which is fine because Patrick O'Brien already exists) - it was a bit of a fantasy pirate story but that's fine, the reality must have sucked. I felt that Griffin's secret as revealed in the last pages could have used a lot more exploring. (Again a bit of Griffin POV might have helped?) Recommended!
The fighting ship details all sounded pretty good to this totally ignorant reader, though it wasn't overburdened with historical notes (which is fine because Patrick O'Brien already exists) - it was a bit of a fantasy pirate story but that's fine, the reality must have sucked. I felt that Griffin's secret as revealed in the last pages could have used a lot more exploring. (Again a bit of Griffin POV might have helped?) Recommended!
June 18, 2021
5 stars
Re-read (for the third time!)
This was one of the first m/m books I ever read and is still very beloved to me. Beautifully written historical with a very, very slow burn!
Re-read (for the third time!)
This was one of the first m/m books I ever read and is still very beloved to me. Beautifully written historical with a very, very slow burn!
January 11, 2014
I was in a bit of a book funk last month and decided to sign up for January's Comfort Zone Challenge in the M/M Romance Group on Goodreads. For those of you who are not familiar with this challenge, a reader signs up and lists their likes and dislikes, and then they get paired with another reader who has to pick a book for them to read...preferably something not on their TBR list or any of their shelves. On a Lee Shore was picked for me to read by Susan A and I was so excited to start, I didn't even read the blurb and went in TOTALLY blind.
Desperately wanting to get back at sea following a huge scandal when the last ship he sailed sank, Kit Penrose doesn't have many options. He takes a job as simple valet for an inexperienced traveler aboard the Hypatia. What should be an easy journey and of no interest to pirates...quickly turns into Kit's nightmare when just that happens; the Hypatia is attacked and Kit is taken captive aboard the Africa and forced to turn pirate by the notorious pirate Captain Le Griffe (AKA Captain Griffin...sorta). Griffin has a plan and needs Kit's naval experience to carry it out, but Kit doesn't give in easy. As Kit battles with his conscience of helping pirates and the shame he feels as his attraction to Griffin grows, he soon realizes that there are good men around him and not all pirates have no morals. And he knows that someday soon he will have to make a choice: a choice between his heart and his name.
It was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!! Okay, I got that out of the way...
The Characters: I don't even know where to begin about how much I loved Kit and Griffin. Oh, certainly they are both flawed, but there were so many layers to them. Then all the secondary characters like Davy and Denny and Saunders and Lewis and Protheroe...and even the Africa. Yes, I was attached to the freakin' ship!
The Romance: I was totally in slow burn heaven! Sexual tension to the max and I was tortured forever until Kit and Griffin's lips ever even touched! Gah! These two did me in and there wasn't even any on page sex!! *sigh*
The Setting: 18th century Caribbean where pirates controlled the seas. I have no idea how historically accurate it is, and I don't really care. I loved the world and the codes the pirates lived by: where every man has a say and every wrong must be made right...and a man's word defines his honor.
The Pace: It started off a bit slow for me, but once Kit was taken by the pirates I could not put it down. Its not a short read so I was snatching bits and pieces every chance I got. There was some set up in the beginning that turned out to be very relevant throughout the story, so every word of it was important IMO.
The Language: Oh boy, all the naval/nautical terminology was turning my brain in circles. At first I was using my Kindle dictionary to look up the words, but eventually I gave up and the story started to flow. I was able to understand what was going on without knowing exactly what some of the words meant. For me, that enhanced the authenticity of the story and I feel like I learned a little something along the way. And the pirate speak? Well, it wasn't the cliched "Arrgh" like we are all used to. No, it was an interesting mesh of languages and dialects that proved to bring me back in time to the 18th century life of a pirate.
The "Ah Ha" moment: Yes, there were light bulbs going off all throughout the story and I had pretty much suspected what was really going on. But, honestly, I was still freaking out 'til about the last 5 minutes of the book!
The Ending: Dammit, I didn't want it to end!!! Why why why did it have to end??? I know its a very happy HEA that still makes my tummy flutter and put a big ol' smile on my face...but I still want the next adventure.
It will be a while before I can get over this experience. Ah, the joys of a great book.
Highly recommended to all those historical adventure lovers out there.
Reviewed for The Blogger Girls
Desperately wanting to get back at sea following a huge scandal when the last ship he sailed sank, Kit Penrose doesn't have many options. He takes a job as simple valet for an inexperienced traveler aboard the Hypatia. What should be an easy journey and of no interest to pirates...quickly turns into Kit's nightmare when just that happens; the Hypatia is attacked and Kit is taken captive aboard the Africa and forced to turn pirate by the notorious pirate Captain Le Griffe (AKA Captain Griffin...sorta). Griffin has a plan and needs Kit's naval experience to carry it out, but Kit doesn't give in easy. As Kit battles with his conscience of helping pirates and the shame he feels as his attraction to Griffin grows, he soon realizes that there are good men around him and not all pirates have no morals. And he knows that someday soon he will have to make a choice: a choice between his heart and his name.
It was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!! Okay, I got that out of the way...
The Characters: I don't even know where to begin about how much I loved Kit and Griffin. Oh, certainly they are both flawed, but there were so many layers to them. Then all the secondary characters like Davy and Denny and Saunders and Lewis and Protheroe...and even the Africa. Yes, I was attached to the freakin' ship!
The Romance: I was totally in slow burn heaven! Sexual tension to the max and I was tortured forever until Kit and Griffin's lips ever even touched! Gah! These two did me in and there wasn't even any on page sex!! *sigh*
The Setting: 18th century Caribbean where pirates controlled the seas. I have no idea how historically accurate it is, and I don't really care. I loved the world and the codes the pirates lived by: where every man has a say and every wrong must be made right...and a man's word defines his honor.
The Pace: It started off a bit slow for me, but once Kit was taken by the pirates I could not put it down. Its not a short read so I was snatching bits and pieces every chance I got. There was some set up in the beginning that turned out to be very relevant throughout the story, so every word of it was important IMO.
The Language: Oh boy, all the naval/nautical terminology was turning my brain in circles. At first I was using my Kindle dictionary to look up the words, but eventually I gave up and the story started to flow. I was able to understand what was going on without knowing exactly what some of the words meant. For me, that enhanced the authenticity of the story and I feel like I learned a little something along the way. And the pirate speak? Well, it wasn't the cliched "Arrgh" like we are all used to. No, it was an interesting mesh of languages and dialects that proved to bring me back in time to the 18th century life of a pirate.
The "Ah Ha" moment: Yes, there were light bulbs going off all throughout the story and I had pretty much suspected what was really going on. But, honestly, I was still freaking out 'til about the last 5 minutes of the book!
The Ending: Dammit, I didn't want it to end!!! Why why why did it have to end??? I know its a very happy HEA that still makes my tummy flutter and put a big ol' smile on my face...but I still want the next adventure.
It will be a while before I can get over this experience. Ah, the joys of a great book.
Highly recommended to all those historical adventure lovers out there.
I want to make note that I think there is a formatting problem with the electronic version of this book: there were absolutely no italicized words and I know that ship names are usually italicized...so that caused some confusion for me because a few times it took me a bit to discern if the characters were referring to a ship, a place, or possibly a person. Plus, there were some thoughts of Kit's that I highly suspected were meant to be italicized. I received my copy from the publisher, so I compared it to the sample version on Amazon and they were exactly the same...
Reviewed for The Blogger Girls
August 6, 2014
I read this on holiday. It had been on my kindle for AGES - I'd actually kind of forgotten about it. I was almost reluctant to read it cos I've never been awfully fond of age of sail books - although now I think that might be because of them being M/F books. I love M/F romance but just, well, not on boats. Anyhoo, THIS age of sail book was fantastic. Beautifully written and rich in detail. I could practically taste the salty spray. I relished the growing sense of threat that grew and grew. I adored the hero's character journey. AND I appreciated that Elin Gregory did not flinch from portraying troubling things like casual violence and brutality appropriate to the setting. Recommended.
May 22, 2025
Re-Read: Apr 2024
Original Read: Sept 2021
Rating: 4.5 stars (rounded up)
Update (21/04/2024)
It’s been a few years since I read this book for the first time and I’ve read the majority of the pirate MM romances that are currently available (I avoided the ones that are erotica or historical gay fiction) and this book is by far the best of them all. The writing is great, the historical details are on point, the pirate aspect is taken seriously and explored in depth, the romance is amazing and the cast of characters is one of the best I’ve come across.
Original Review
This story was such a wonderful and fun ride! It's the first Age-Of-Piracy historical romance I've read and I loved that the book didn't just provide me with a fantastic slow burn romance but that it was also educational.
My favorite part of this book was the effort the author put into depicting the complexities of the pirate lifestyle and how pirate ships functioned. The author added tons of side characters in the form of pirate crewmembers and she gave each of them interesting backstories and unique personalities. Some pirates fit into the stereotype of being lazy, violent drunks but many of them were good men who had been screwed over by society and forced to choose between enduring society's cruelties or living outside of society by taking up a life of piracy. Several crew members were escaped former slaves or men who had been sentenced to indentured servitude or prison for petty theft, the crew's doctor had been a respected surgeon who turned to alcoholism after a traumatic event that he was blamed for, and two crew members were gay men in a long term relationship who met after being cast out of society and wanted to live openly without fearing imprisonment.
Since the pirate crew consisted of men from all walks of life with different life goals and different moral codes, it was fascinating to see how such a society functioned. I never thought I'd find pirate politics interesting, but I did. I also loved the detailed depiction of ship life and found the book to be very educational. Most of the nautical terms flew over my head, but that didn't interfere with my ability to follow the plot. This being the first nautical themed book I've ever read, I found it interesting to learn about the complexities of surviving on a ship in the 1700s, particularly a pirate ship whose crew was so diverse. It was fascinating to realize that my assumption of pirate crews being full of lazy, drunk and selfish thugs was very far off the mark and pirate crews that consisted only of such men would never survive on the open ocean.
In particular, I adored all of the side characters. The author created interesting and unique individuals with each of them who I loved spending time with. Characters like Denny, Saunders, Lewis and Protheroe, Valliere, Davy and Detorres became as dear to me as they did to Kit and I missed them whenever they weren’t around. I also liked the many different villains because they were each distinct and interesting characters who were part of great plotlines.
I also loved how the author handled Griffin's alcoholism. It's not a huge part of the plot, but I liked that everybody who cared about him noticed his alcohol consumption increasing over time and they wanted him to stop. I really appreciated that the author had Griffin making the decision to cut back on his drinking and how the others banded together to help him achieve sobriety. Kit's presence in his life (and Kit's dislike of Griffin's excessive drinking) was a big factor in making him cut back but I liked that Griffin noticed the changes to his health once he was sober and that he made an effort to maintain his sobriety.
I really loved the pacing of this book, especially the relationship between Griffin and Kit. Their journey of going from enemies to colleagues to lovers was done in a realistic way and I like that the author didn't rush things. Both men bond over their love of sailing and nautical mathematics and Kit respects Griffin's intelligence and moral code while Griffin respects Kit being a competent sailor and becoming a member of his crew. I don't usually enjoy captor-captive situations but I felt this case was done in a way that I enjoyed. Right from the start, Kit (a Navy officer) considers himself to be above Griffin and his ragtag crew of misfits. He doesn't accept Griffin's authority right away and this puts him and Griffin on a much more equal playing field than a normal captor-captive situation. Once Kit takes on more and more sailing responsibilities on the ship, he starts getting to know Griffin and what kind of a person and leader he is and that makes Kit's slow acceptance of Griffin as his captain grow. But while Kit forms bonds with Griffin and many of the crewmates and enjoys his daily life on the ship, he's very clear that he despises the illegal acts which the crew participates in and he also struggles to accept his feelings towards Griffin, which prevents them from coming together for most of the book. I felt the pacing of their relationship was done perfectly and in a way that stayed true to both characters. I also loved that Kit matured a lot throughout the book. He starts out being naive and arrogant – very committed to the idea that Navy protocol is the be-all, end-all of how things should be done. By the end of the book, Kit physically and mentally barely resembles the young man he’d started out being and that transition was done in a realistic and enjoyable way.
Not only was the romance paced realistically, but I didn't mind having the romance subplot not be center stage at certain times of the book because there were so many other interesting plot threads happening. At 70%, multiple plot threads that had been created throughout the story all came together (somebody being marooned, pirate politics, the British Navy, a cutlass duel etc) and the result was a fantastic, action packed ride that I couldn't put down. I was thrilled that the author managed to include nearly every naval/pirate themed plotline you can think of but the story never felt cluttered. The author cleverly wove many plotlines together and they enhanced each other and allowed for easy transitions between them. In addition, the author balanced the high intensity of those plotlines with lots of quiet, domestic moments on board Griffin’s ship (playing games, singing, doing laundry, ship maintenance etc) that allowed us to get to know all the characters and gave a reprieve from the action packed excitement of the other plotlines.
There were only two parts of the book that I disliked. One of them revolved around
The other part I didn't like was the last 10%. The whole thing felt rushed and confusing, especially because the topic of smuggling had never been explored in the story and I was left not understanding exactly what Kit and Griffin would be doing. All of this was crammed into the last 10% of the book and I felt all of it was unnecessary.
That being said, despite those minor issues this is still my favorite pirate MM romance and I’ll be re-reading it for years to come. I highly recommend it if you’re interested in this subgenre!
Original Read: Sept 2021
Rating: 4.5 stars (rounded up)
Update (21/04/2024)
It’s been a few years since I read this book for the first time and I’ve read the majority of the pirate MM romances that are currently available (I avoided the ones that are erotica or historical gay fiction) and this book is by far the best of them all. The writing is great, the historical details are on point, the pirate aspect is taken seriously and explored in depth, the romance is amazing and the cast of characters is one of the best I’ve come across.
Original Review
This story was such a wonderful and fun ride! It's the first Age-Of-Piracy historical romance I've read and I loved that the book didn't just provide me with a fantastic slow burn romance but that it was also educational.
My favorite part of this book was the effort the author put into depicting the complexities of the pirate lifestyle and how pirate ships functioned. The author added tons of side characters in the form of pirate crewmembers and she gave each of them interesting backstories and unique personalities. Some pirates fit into the stereotype of being lazy, violent drunks but many of them were good men who had been screwed over by society and forced to choose between enduring society's cruelties or living outside of society by taking up a life of piracy. Several crew members were escaped former slaves or men who had been sentenced to indentured servitude or prison for petty theft, the crew's doctor had been a respected surgeon who turned to alcoholism after a traumatic event that he was blamed for, and two crew members were gay men in a long term relationship who met after being cast out of society and wanted to live openly without fearing imprisonment.
Since the pirate crew consisted of men from all walks of life with different life goals and different moral codes, it was fascinating to see how such a society functioned. I never thought I'd find pirate politics interesting, but I did. I also loved the detailed depiction of ship life and found the book to be very educational. Most of the nautical terms flew over my head, but that didn't interfere with my ability to follow the plot. This being the first nautical themed book I've ever read, I found it interesting to learn about the complexities of surviving on a ship in the 1700s, particularly a pirate ship whose crew was so diverse. It was fascinating to realize that my assumption of pirate crews being full of lazy, drunk and selfish thugs was very far off the mark and pirate crews that consisted only of such men would never survive on the open ocean.
In particular, I adored all of the side characters. The author created interesting and unique individuals with each of them who I loved spending time with. Characters like Denny, Saunders, Lewis and Protheroe, Valliere, Davy and Detorres became as dear to me as they did to Kit and I missed them whenever they weren’t around. I also liked the many different villains because they were each distinct and interesting characters who were part of great plotlines.
I also loved how the author handled Griffin's alcoholism. It's not a huge part of the plot, but I liked that everybody who cared about him noticed his alcohol consumption increasing over time and they wanted him to stop. I really appreciated that the author had Griffin making the decision to cut back on his drinking and how the others banded together to help him achieve sobriety. Kit's presence in his life (and Kit's dislike of Griffin's excessive drinking) was a big factor in making him cut back but I liked that Griffin noticed the changes to his health once he was sober and that he made an effort to maintain his sobriety.
I really loved the pacing of this book, especially the relationship between Griffin and Kit. Their journey of going from enemies to colleagues to lovers was done in a realistic way and I like that the author didn't rush things. Both men bond over their love of sailing and nautical mathematics and Kit respects Griffin's intelligence and moral code while Griffin respects Kit being a competent sailor and becoming a member of his crew. I don't usually enjoy captor-captive situations but I felt this case was done in a way that I enjoyed. Right from the start, Kit (a Navy officer) considers himself to be above Griffin and his ragtag crew of misfits. He doesn't accept Griffin's authority right away and this puts him and Griffin on a much more equal playing field than a normal captor-captive situation. Once Kit takes on more and more sailing responsibilities on the ship, he starts getting to know Griffin and what kind of a person and leader he is and that makes Kit's slow acceptance of Griffin as his captain grow. But while Kit forms bonds with Griffin and many of the crewmates and enjoys his daily life on the ship, he's very clear that he despises the illegal acts which the crew participates in and he also struggles to accept his feelings towards Griffin, which prevents them from coming together for most of the book. I felt the pacing of their relationship was done perfectly and in a way that stayed true to both characters. I also loved that Kit matured a lot throughout the book. He starts out being naive and arrogant – very committed to the idea that Navy protocol is the be-all, end-all of how things should be done. By the end of the book, Kit physically and mentally barely resembles the young man he’d started out being and that transition was done in a realistic and enjoyable way.
Not only was the romance paced realistically, but I didn't mind having the romance subplot not be center stage at certain times of the book because there were so many other interesting plot threads happening. At 70%, multiple plot threads that had been created throughout the story all came together (somebody being marooned, pirate politics, the British Navy, a cutlass duel etc) and the result was a fantastic, action packed ride that I couldn't put down. I was thrilled that the author managed to include nearly every naval/pirate themed plotline you can think of but the story never felt cluttered. The author cleverly wove many plotlines together and they enhanced each other and allowed for easy transitions between them. In addition, the author balanced the high intensity of those plotlines with lots of quiet, domestic moments on board Griffin’s ship (playing games, singing, doing laundry, ship maintenance etc) that allowed us to get to know all the characters and gave a reprieve from the action packed excitement of the other plotlines.
There were only two parts of the book that I disliked. One of them revolved around
The other part I didn't like was the last 10%. The whole thing felt rushed and confusing, especially because the topic of smuggling had never been explored in the story and I was left not understanding exactly what Kit and Griffin would be doing. All of this was crammed into the last 10% of the book and I felt all of it was unnecessary.
That being said, despite those minor issues this is still my favorite pirate MM romance and I’ll be re-reading it for years to come. I highly recommend it if you’re interested in this subgenre!
October 5, 2021
I liked a lot about this, and for a while I thought it was going to be a big winner. But it's way too long to have such a barely developed romance. It doesn't drag, because the focus is very much on the action/adventures of day-to-day pirate life, which is entertaining (and bloody and brutal) on its own, but I kept waiting for a real moment of connection between the MC and his love interest, and it never really happened. And you really need to buy into it for the last part of the book to land.
And in retrospect, the parts of the book that didn't make sense in the moment now make sense, but it doesn't make sense for none of that to make sense until the very end of the book...if that makes sense??! I know it doesn't, but suffice it to say: Honeytrap got me in the mood for historicals with some action/adventure. None of them have lived up to Honeytrap (unsurprisingly, since it was the best book I've read all month), but this one did manage to scratch the action itch for long stretches at a time. Go into it for the ship talk (these dudes have a well-developed romance with navigation and the sea, if nothing else :) and pirate politics/plundering, and you should be satisfied.
And in retrospect, the parts of the book that didn't make sense in the moment now make sense, but it doesn't make sense for none of that to make sense until the very end of the book...if that makes sense??! I know it doesn't, but suffice it to say: Honeytrap got me in the mood for historicals with some action/adventure. None of them have lived up to Honeytrap (unsurprisingly, since it was the best book I've read all month), but this one did manage to scratch the action itch for long stretches at a time. Go into it for the ship talk (these dudes have a well-developed romance with navigation and the sea, if nothing else :) and pirate politics/plundering, and you should be satisfied.
August 24, 2016
*** 3.5 Stars ***
On a Lee Shore has likable characters and an interesting story, but the book is heavier on plot that it is on romance (and that wasn't really what I was looking for). I was ultimately disappointed that the characters spent little time on page together and that the "L" word was never declared.
On a Lee Shore has likable characters and an interesting story, but the book is heavier on plot that it is on romance (and that wasn't really what I was looking for). I was ultimately disappointed that the characters spent little time on page together and that the "L" word was never declared.
November 6, 2025
perhaps the overall story didnt grab me as much but i commend the author for doing an insane amount of research on the time period.
February 10, 2018
This was a good pirate story. Penrose is a very likeable character, Griffin on the other hand was still a mystery to me till the end. There was romance but some parts were very confusing to read that the romance took a backseat. My first read from Elin Gregory, enjoyed and ill be reading more stories from this author for sure.
December 21, 2012
The writing was strong on the whole, and though it felt a little clunky at the beginning, it smoothed out as the book progressed. The author obviously knew an enormous amount about sailing, and the story was immersive and realistic. It went on kind of long; I didn't have a problem with that at the time, but I do think there were places that could have been trimmed down a bit.
It fell apart a little near the end, which wasn't as strong as the rest. Things seemed a little rushed, plot lines were left dangling and unresolved, and the last few scenes felt kind of unrealistic to me, particularly . It wasn't that I didn't buy what happened at all, but it was less natural, because there was just so much less space devoted to the end and things were hurried along quite a bit. A little more editing and more balance in terms of the pacing would help with all this. Otherwise, an enjoyable book.
It fell apart a little near the end, which wasn't as strong as the rest. Things seemed a little rushed, plot lines were left dangling and unresolved, and the last few scenes felt kind of unrealistic to me, particularly . It wasn't that I didn't buy what happened at all, but it was less natural, because there was just so much less space devoted to the end and things were hurried along quite a bit. A little more editing and more balance in terms of the pacing would help with all this. Otherwise, an enjoyable book.
May 29, 2019
I loved Eleventh Hour, and I love pirate stories, so this one was a no-brainer for me.
"Action-packed" doesn't even quite cover it; it's one adventure after another in this story. The details are rich and plentiful, and the writing is lovely. It's a great, romping ride from beginning to end.
It's more successful as a pirate adventure than a romance, though, and I had to work hard to believe in the connection between Kit and Griffin. The ending was a little too rushed, and a little too pat, and I'm still left wishing there had been more adventures. It's been seven years, so there's not likely to be a sequel, but I would jump on one in a second if it appeared.
"Action-packed" doesn't even quite cover it; it's one adventure after another in this story. The details are rich and plentiful, and the writing is lovely. It's a great, romping ride from beginning to end.
It's more successful as a pirate adventure than a romance, though, and I had to work hard to believe in the connection between Kit and Griffin. The ending was a little too rushed, and a little too pat, and I'm still left wishing there had been more adventures. It's been seven years, so there's not likely to be a sequel, but I would jump on one in a second if it appeared.
May 3, 2020
This was so well-written, so well-researched that I find myself thinking I need to go back and review my ratings for other books of this genre because I don't think they'd measure up.
Loved the action & romance, the battles & side-characters, and especially the ending. I'd totally read a sequel about Kit & Griffin's adventures working under-cover for the Crown. Also, I'd adore a novella about how Lewis & Protheroe met! I know this was written a while ago (and again, I keep managing to own books for years without reading them - so disappointed in myself) but a girl can dream!
Loved the action & romance, the battles & side-characters, and especially the ending. I'd totally read a sequel about Kit & Griffin's adventures working under-cover for the Crown. Also, I'd adore a novella about how Lewis & Protheroe met! I know this was written a while ago (and again, I keep managing to own books for years without reading them - so disappointed in myself) but a girl can dream!
September 15, 2013
Slow! This book was so slow. The developments were slow, the romance was slow, the plot just didn't move anywhere and was kinda confusing. This one just wasn't for me but I do have a thing for pirates so it is definite must read for anyone who loves them as well.
July 13, 2025
I'll write a proper review for this thing when my head is more put together, but I'm already mourning the end of this thing. It was such a delightful surprise, I wish I could read this for the first time again ten times over. Now I have to go find other pirate books to try and chase this high 😭
August 6, 2013
ON A LEE SHORE by Elin Gregory
Let’s get the concept of a “trope” out of the way first. The more recent and both popular and irritating (to purists) definition of a trope is: mean a commonly recurring literary device, motif, or cliché. (From Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trope_(...) It might be wise to listen to the advice on many such “tropes” on the web site TVtropes http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php... that sometimes the cliché is in the eye of the beholder. That’s what I am going to aver right now.
People who decry tropes no matter how clumsily or skillfully used in a work are ignoring the whole concept of archetypes, which scholars like Joseph Campbell say are part of the natural story telling of human beings. Like the infamous “boy meets boy, boy gets boy, boy loses boy and finally gets boy back” it is such a familiar story and so universal we not only accept it, we embrace it. I can imagine someone saying this novel’s plot is pure trope” “Honorable man meets pirate and falls in love and winds up joining him in his dastardly life – or is it so dastardly” The mistake is condemning it when it is well used. So there.
That out of the way, ON A LEE SHORE is the story of an honorable man with the charming first name of Kit who is an officer in the Royal Navy. His opposition to dishonorable practices by his former commanding officer gets him flogged, but the ship is in an accident and sinks. He is cleared at least officially at a court martial, but now he can’t get a new position, forced to take on the assignment of accompanying a diplomat in the capacity of a valet. His fate turns when the ship he and the diplomat are on is boarded by pirates, one of which is the infamous LeGriffe, a stunningly handsome and elegant rogue. They needed a good navigator, and Kit is just such a one, so he becomes a member of the crew, like it or not. He falls bit by bit for LeGriffe, who returns his interest, and also begins to recognize the gray areas of morality and honor on LeGriffe’s brand of pirate ship. Ultimately he must choose his former honorable life or throw that to the winds to fly into his new lover’s arms. It remains to be seen if he can do this and still embrace his own strict values.
As implied by my rant in the first paragraph here, this is a familiar story. Gregory manages quite skillfully to make it and the characters in it thoroughly her own. It may be a motif we all know but it’s neither simple-minded n or predictable. Both of the main characters are conflicted by their relationship, bringing to mind the gay pirate novels of M. Kei in the series Pirates of the Narrow Seas. It is as if Gregory sat down to think of a common fantasy, being carried away by a swashbuckling pirate, and considered “But what would happen next? Could I just go along with the less savory aspects of piratical existence?”
This is a well written adventure with plenty to enjoy but also to reflect on. The characters are not only well-named but complex and appealing, that is, the good guys anyway. It will join the happy collection of gay pirate romance adventures.
Let’s get the concept of a “trope” out of the way first. The more recent and both popular and irritating (to purists) definition of a trope is: mean a commonly recurring literary device, motif, or cliché. (From Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trope_(...) It might be wise to listen to the advice on many such “tropes” on the web site TVtropes http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php... that sometimes the cliché is in the eye of the beholder. That’s what I am going to aver right now.
People who decry tropes no matter how clumsily or skillfully used in a work are ignoring the whole concept of archetypes, which scholars like Joseph Campbell say are part of the natural story telling of human beings. Like the infamous “boy meets boy, boy gets boy, boy loses boy and finally gets boy back” it is such a familiar story and so universal we not only accept it, we embrace it. I can imagine someone saying this novel’s plot is pure trope” “Honorable man meets pirate and falls in love and winds up joining him in his dastardly life – or is it so dastardly” The mistake is condemning it when it is well used. So there.
That out of the way, ON A LEE SHORE is the story of an honorable man with the charming first name of Kit who is an officer in the Royal Navy. His opposition to dishonorable practices by his former commanding officer gets him flogged, but the ship is in an accident and sinks. He is cleared at least officially at a court martial, but now he can’t get a new position, forced to take on the assignment of accompanying a diplomat in the capacity of a valet. His fate turns when the ship he and the diplomat are on is boarded by pirates, one of which is the infamous LeGriffe, a stunningly handsome and elegant rogue. They needed a good navigator, and Kit is just such a one, so he becomes a member of the crew, like it or not. He falls bit by bit for LeGriffe, who returns his interest, and also begins to recognize the gray areas of morality and honor on LeGriffe’s brand of pirate ship. Ultimately he must choose his former honorable life or throw that to the winds to fly into his new lover’s arms. It remains to be seen if he can do this and still embrace his own strict values.
As implied by my rant in the first paragraph here, this is a familiar story. Gregory manages quite skillfully to make it and the characters in it thoroughly her own. It may be a motif we all know but it’s neither simple-minded n or predictable. Both of the main characters are conflicted by their relationship, bringing to mind the gay pirate novels of M. Kei in the series Pirates of the Narrow Seas. It is as if Gregory sat down to think of a common fantasy, being carried away by a swashbuckling pirate, and considered “But what would happen next? Could I just go along with the less savory aspects of piratical existence?”
This is a well written adventure with plenty to enjoy but also to reflect on. The characters are not only well-named but complex and appealing, that is, the good guys anyway. It will join the happy collection of gay pirate romance adventures.
July 6, 2014
This was really good. There were lots of things I liked about it, but also some things that kept me from rating it higher.
I really liked the writing, it was nicely descriptive, occasionally rather witty, and seemed to fit the setting really well. I'm not very knowledgeable about this time period, but the book seemed realistic to me. I liked Kit and Griffin a great deal, as well as a lot of the side characters. I really didn't want to put the book down while reading. This is definitely the best M/M pirate book I've read so far.
There were some things that annoyed me though. Occasionally things were mentioned but then never fully explained to the reader, which left me really confused at times. For example, . Maybe if my knowledge of the nautical terms of the time was better I would have been less confused? I read those pages at least 5 times before eventually giving up and moving on. There were also times when Kit, as narrator, would withhold information from the reader for reasons that were not apparent to me, so I would be really confused during whatever was happening and only finally understand pages later when it was explained retroactively, like for example . That may have been done for a bit of narrative tension but instead it mostly just left me confused. There was a big reveal at the end that wasn't explained either, which left me a bit frustrated. I kind of feel like I need to reread the entire book just to see if all of these things make more sense now that I've gotten to the end. Also, we never got the backstory of how , which I really really wanted to know.
Despite my confusion I had a lot of fun reading this book, and I'd like to come back and reread it, although who knows when I'll have time for that. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone interested in pirates during this time period who doesn't mind minimal romance and lots of nautical terms.
I really liked the writing, it was nicely descriptive, occasionally rather witty, and seemed to fit the setting really well. I'm not very knowledgeable about this time period, but the book seemed realistic to me. I liked Kit and Griffin a great deal, as well as a lot of the side characters. I really didn't want to put the book down while reading. This is definitely the best M/M pirate book I've read so far.
There were some things that annoyed me though. Occasionally things were mentioned but then never fully explained to the reader, which left me really confused at times. For example, . Maybe if my knowledge of the nautical terms of the time was better I would have been less confused? I read those pages at least 5 times before eventually giving up and moving on. There were also times when Kit, as narrator, would withhold information from the reader for reasons that were not apparent to me, so I would be really confused during whatever was happening and only finally understand pages later when it was explained retroactively, like for example . That may have been done for a bit of narrative tension but instead it mostly just left me confused. There was a big reveal at the end that wasn't explained either, which left me a bit frustrated. I kind of feel like I need to reread the entire book just to see if all of these things make more sense now that I've gotten to the end. Also, we never got the backstory of how , which I really really wanted to know.
Despite my confusion I had a lot of fun reading this book, and I'd like to come back and reread it, although who knows when I'll have time for that. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone interested in pirates during this time period who doesn't mind minimal romance and lots of nautical terms.
February 22, 2014
This satisfied as a pirate yarn, but not so much as a romance. And though well written with lots of period detail, it nevertheless felt a little long. I'm not sure what bits could've been trimmed, but I do know that I was anxiously waiting for the romance to join the party. Unfortunately, that anticipation made it feel as though something was lacking and it became a distraction. And when it does finally make an appearance, there's really not enough to it. I don't mind an adventure story with nothing more than sexual tension, but the blurb does mention something about finding love so I was hoping for more development on that front. Still well worth a read though, especially for pirate-lovers.
April 19, 2014
5 IWANTMORE Stars! I will be needing all of the Starfishes on the sea to rate this book.
Ladies and gentlemen I think I found true love in the arms of La Griffe
Ha! My first MM book about pirates and I wasn’t disappointed! I’m grinning from ear to ear right now while writing this review. That is how much I enjoyed this book. I still feel like I had a vacation on the tortoise sea of the Caribbean made so much fun and more exciting by characters of this book. Anyways back to my review!
Lt Christopher Penrose or “Kit” is a British naval offer. Home after what happened to this last ship he is eager to be onboard again. So when he was presented a job as valet, he took it just to be home at sea. Then the ship he was in got mugged by pirates and he was forced to be their sailing master. What he wasn’t prepared for was to feel at ease on board the pirate ship. To make the matter worst, he might be looking at captain far too much and the captain notices it.
This is just so good. I actually got a note from the author saying that though this book is marketed as a romance book, this is more like an adventure of the main character. So I don’t really know what to expect when I started reading this. But! That’s a big but, it turned out I really love it.
For me the adventure and the romance in this book is just the right mix. It’s not just about the attraction between the two main characters but their feelings at the same playing cat and mouse with other ships on the Caribbean. The tension between the two main characters is there. So thick sometimes. Though the romance building is a bit slow but that did bother me for it was sweetest when it finally came! Ha!
The chemistry between Kit and the captain is just for too much for me to handle without grinning. All those sweet kisses and gentle caress are treasured! You’ll anticipate when they will be alone and for it to be that “scene.”
[insert La Griffe here]
The writing was really good. For me one factor that will make you enjoy the book is how it was written, and the author really did a great job at that in this book. I feel like I’ve been transported back in time and cruising the Caribbean just with the narration and description of the author. And this is action packed too!
Loved the Pirates of the Caribbean? This book is highly recommended! I just loved every minute reading this! So if you have this on your library read it! And if you haven’t yet, what are you waiting for? Come on, the ship is leaving!
Ladies and gentlemen I think I found true love in the arms of La Griffe
Ha! My first MM book about pirates and I wasn’t disappointed! I’m grinning from ear to ear right now while writing this review. That is how much I enjoyed this book. I still feel like I had a vacation on the tortoise sea of the Caribbean made so much fun and more exciting by characters of this book. Anyways back to my review!
Lt Christopher Penrose or “Kit” is a British naval offer. Home after what happened to this last ship he is eager to be onboard again. So when he was presented a job as valet, he took it just to be home at sea. Then the ship he was in got mugged by pirates and he was forced to be their sailing master. What he wasn’t prepared for was to feel at ease on board the pirate ship. To make the matter worst, he might be looking at captain far too much and the captain notices it.
This is just so good. I actually got a note from the author saying that though this book is marketed as a romance book, this is more like an adventure of the main character. So I don’t really know what to expect when I started reading this. But! That’s a big but, it turned out I really love it.
For me the adventure and the romance in this book is just the right mix. It’s not just about the attraction between the two main characters but their feelings at the same playing cat and mouse with other ships on the Caribbean. The tension between the two main characters is there. So thick sometimes. Though the romance building is a bit slow but that did bother me for it was sweetest when it finally came! Ha!
The chemistry between Kit and the captain is just for too much for me to handle without grinning. All those sweet kisses and gentle caress are treasured! You’ll anticipate when they will be alone and for it to be that “scene.”
[insert La Griffe here]
The writing was really good. For me one factor that will make you enjoy the book is how it was written, and the author really did a great job at that in this book. I feel like I’ve been transported back in time and cruising the Caribbean just with the narration and description of the author. And this is action packed too!
Loved the Pirates of the Caribbean? This book is highly recommended! I just loved every minute reading this! So if you have this on your library read it! And if you haven’t yet, what are you waiting for? Come on, the ship is leaving!
February 27, 2013
Yesterday, I wanted to read just for a short time. Maybe and hour or so and I picked this book I had wanted to read for weeks.
I boarded Hypatia in good faith and cheerful mood together with Kit Penrose and thought the sail would be nice and easy for that day. Well, only until pirates swarmed our ship and their Captain known as Le Griffe ensnared not only Hypatia and Kit, but somehow managed to get me on his sloop Africa as well. I wasn’t exactly kicking and screaming. You see, by that time I had completely forgotten I had had some other plans for the day and just went with the flow. What a flow it was! Wild rapids could compare and they held me in their grip for hours and hours until I finished the book.
I’ll give you just a little peek in the story, as I’m trying to avoid any spoilers: Both the Captain and Kit are strong and stubborn men and it doesn’t seem the attraction between them can grow into something else than unfulfilled longing. Especially considering that their world doesn’t look favorably at intimate relationships between men. In fact, it can get them at the gallows just as reliably as making their living on a pirate ship.
But fate is fate, and Kit, a forced man, watches his old world tumble down as other possibilities emerge in front of him. Perilous and enticing at the same time. Torn between craving for freedom and rules that had led his life until the moment he involuntarily boarded Africa, he must take a hard decision after a hard decision, where each new one tests his heart, soul and body thoroughly. Challenges don’t spare the Captain either. They both are faced with situations that bring them in danger again and again. And each new wave of hardship heading their way seems to be higher and more powerful than the one before.
How do they fare? You will need to find out on your own. I can only tell you I feared for them and cursed their stubbornness and flaws many a time. Bolted to my chair, I waited breathlessly for the climax of this story I fell in love with so completely. And I would sail with both of them again, any time.
I boarded Hypatia in good faith and cheerful mood together with Kit Penrose and thought the sail would be nice and easy for that day. Well, only until pirates swarmed our ship and their Captain known as Le Griffe ensnared not only Hypatia and Kit, but somehow managed to get me on his sloop Africa as well. I wasn’t exactly kicking and screaming. You see, by that time I had completely forgotten I had had some other plans for the day and just went with the flow. What a flow it was! Wild rapids could compare and they held me in their grip for hours and hours until I finished the book.
I’ll give you just a little peek in the story, as I’m trying to avoid any spoilers: Both the Captain and Kit are strong and stubborn men and it doesn’t seem the attraction between them can grow into something else than unfulfilled longing. Especially considering that their world doesn’t look favorably at intimate relationships between men. In fact, it can get them at the gallows just as reliably as making their living on a pirate ship.
But fate is fate, and Kit, a forced man, watches his old world tumble down as other possibilities emerge in front of him. Perilous and enticing at the same time. Torn between craving for freedom and rules that had led his life until the moment he involuntarily boarded Africa, he must take a hard decision after a hard decision, where each new one tests his heart, soul and body thoroughly. Challenges don’t spare the Captain either. They both are faced with situations that bring them in danger again and again. And each new wave of hardship heading their way seems to be higher and more powerful than the one before.
How do they fare? You will need to find out on your own. I can only tell you I feared for them and cursed their stubbornness and flaws many a time. Bolted to my chair, I waited breathlessly for the climax of this story I fell in love with so completely. And I would sail with both of them again, any time.
March 20, 2016
God, this one is a lot of fun. Pirates, man. Pirates. And a hot naval officer gets all hot and sweaty with a hot pirate.
But there's a hell of a lot more to it. Yes, Kit and Griffin have their sexy times, but there's an actual story here with a plot and arcs and engaging characters. There's adventure and romance and betrayal. It's damn near perfect, especially since you don't have to put up with some irritating heroine.
But there's a hell of a lot more to it. Yes, Kit and Griffin have their sexy times, but there's an actual story here with a plot and arcs and engaging characters. There's adventure and romance and betrayal. It's damn near perfect, especially since you don't have to put up with some irritating heroine.
September 4, 2016
Really enjoyed this historical, naval and piratical ripping yarn, and I would never have guessed that Tristan was a spymaster, and that Iestyn (or Griffin) was working for him. Kit was a little priggish at first, but eventually warmed up to his fellow recruits on board the 'Africa', and I loved the two Welsh 'mollies'. 4 stars, and thanks Elin.
Want to read
July 4, 2013Pirates!
Oh I hope someone's booty gets plundered!
;P
Oh I hope someone's booty gets plundered!
;P
January 23, 2017
What a labor of love. Beautifully plotted and very satisfying swashbuckler.
Excellent evocation of the period too (and I am very hard to please on that score).
Excellent evocation of the period too (and I am very hard to please on that score).
August 2, 2020
This book left me with that feeling of butterflies in the stomach only the really special stories manage to do.
I think this was my first pirate Tale (not counting the Incredible Prosperity💜), and can't imagine a better way to start with a genre. I would have liked the book to be longer, maybe even a doulogy. I loved the characters! And every chapter was an adventure on its own.
The historic world building was as important and magical as the love story, and I loved that fact. I felt myself truly transported to that time in the Caribbean Sea 🙂.
Even if the romance-developing scenes were not as many as I would have liked, the chemistry and dialogues between the main couple were intense and amazing.
There were some details in the story that I would have liked to know more about. The Captain's backstory was too much of a mystery. BUT I think in the end the things that weren't explained in detail were the ones to deepened the novel in a way that will most definitely leave me thinking about it and its characters for some time to come.
Here is another Awesome Author Discovery ❤️.
I came to know this book through Sally Malcolm's newsletter recommendations. The author recently re-released it... May I dream of a second book to this incredible cast of characters???? ☺️☺️☺️
I think this was my first pirate Tale (not counting the Incredible Prosperity💜), and can't imagine a better way to start with a genre. I would have liked the book to be longer, maybe even a doulogy. I loved the characters! And every chapter was an adventure on its own.
The historic world building was as important and magical as the love story, and I loved that fact. I felt myself truly transported to that time in the Caribbean Sea 🙂.
Even if the romance-developing scenes were not as many as I would have liked, the chemistry and dialogues between the main couple were intense and amazing.
There were some details in the story that I would have liked to know more about. The Captain's backstory was too much of a mystery. BUT I think in the end the things that weren't explained in detail were the ones to deepened the novel in a way that will most definitely leave me thinking about it and its characters for some time to come.
Here is another Awesome Author Discovery ❤️.
I came to know this book through Sally Malcolm's newsletter recommendations. The author recently re-released it... May I dream of a second book to this incredible cast of characters???? ☺️☺️☺️
August 19, 2017
I'm really too tired to say anything more than that I enjoyed the heck out of this book. Slow burn romance, good action scenes, lovable side characters, conflicted MCs, the works.
If the ending might seem a bit tacked on, so be it. Sequel, please? Like, tomorrow?
If the ending might seem a bit tacked on, so be it. Sequel, please? Like, tomorrow?
October 2, 2024
I am conflicted on my feelings for this book, while I loved the characters and their adventures across the sea - the romance was lacking. Still I enjoyed all of the action and plot development, lots of pirate aspects to enjoy and their way of life with honour. The writing is incredible, with plenty of development and details throughout.
I enjoyed Kits pov and his sense of loyalty, keeping to promises and his own beliefs despite the situation. Yet he learns from those around him too and starts to see another way of life, why these people chose to be pirates and he begins to understand.
The friendships and relationships of the crew have a lot of focus, important to the progress of plot and their plans. I loved the twists and turns, the battles and banter between various crew.
Denny may be my favourite of the crew! His so much fun with his songs and comments, also enjoyed Saunders, his sarcasm and honesty as helps injured. Oh must mention Lewis and Protheroe who have probably the best relationship, i adored their love and passion for each other. Davy is wonderful too, as he trusts in Kit and supports him despite his longing for home.
Still I had hoped for more in the romance, as while the slow burn and enemies to lovers feels were great - amazing tension between Kit and Griffin. Their chemistry is stunning and i did enjoy all their moments together, it just wasn't as much a focus as I had hoped for.
The love didn't come across for me at all, they have more interactions with other people then each other as they have different shifts aboard the ship. It just didn't feel like they got to know much of each other, except from what observed and learned from other people.
Overall it was an interesting and enjoyable read, full of action and adventure across the seas. I enjoyed the plot and focus upon the pirates as they travel, searching for the next ship to loot.
Such a fascinating story with amazing world building! Along with a happy ending, look towards the next trip for Kit and Griffin 💕
I enjoyed Kits pov and his sense of loyalty, keeping to promises and his own beliefs despite the situation. Yet he learns from those around him too and starts to see another way of life, why these people chose to be pirates and he begins to understand.
The friendships and relationships of the crew have a lot of focus, important to the progress of plot and their plans. I loved the twists and turns, the battles and banter between various crew.
Denny may be my favourite of the crew! His so much fun with his songs and comments, also enjoyed Saunders, his sarcasm and honesty as helps injured. Oh must mention Lewis and Protheroe who have probably the best relationship, i adored their love and passion for each other. Davy is wonderful too, as he trusts in Kit and supports him despite his longing for home.
Still I had hoped for more in the romance, as while the slow burn and enemies to lovers feels were great - amazing tension between Kit and Griffin. Their chemistry is stunning and i did enjoy all their moments together, it just wasn't as much a focus as I had hoped for.
The love didn't come across for me at all, they have more interactions with other people then each other as they have different shifts aboard the ship. It just didn't feel like they got to know much of each other, except from what observed and learned from other people.
Overall it was an interesting and enjoyable read, full of action and adventure across the seas. I enjoyed the plot and focus upon the pirates as they travel, searching for the next ship to loot.
Such a fascinating story with amazing world building! Along with a happy ending, look towards the next trip for Kit and Griffin 💕
August 1, 2016
I have so many thoughts about this book, it's kind of hard to know where to start.
The thing about this book is that I expected the wrong things. I expected the romance to be in the forefront of the story, but the romance is more of a subplot. I ended up enjoying it, true, but it was a unsettling surprise when the romance ended up being not the center of the story.
I have mixed feelings about the romance. On the one hand, Kit and Griffin have a genuine chemistry and I really liked seeing the romance progress. And there were a few sexy moments. But (and this is a big thing)...sometimes Griffin was an asshole. He would lose his temper, act rude, a few times he was violent and I didn't like that at all. So love-hate feelings about the romance in this one
I liked most of the characters, but there were so many it was hard to feel a true connection to them. The only one is Kit, really. I do like him quite a lot.
Also, side note: this is a heavily male-dominated story. There's literally only one or two female characters with speaking lines, and they're just minor characters. And since this is both an m/m and historical fiction I guess I should've expected it, but I still didn't like it.
Sometimes the writing just skips over events with a summary sentence instead of actually showing what happened. And that was annoying af
Despite all my complaints, I did really enjoy this. I was scared towards the end that it would be sad, but never fear, there is an HEA. and it was so sweet. And I do love me some pirates :)
Tl;dr version- The only way I can sum up my feelings on this is love-hate. Loved some parts, hated others, and yet others I only mildly like. I would recommend it, just expect the romance to not be the main story.
The thing about this book is that I expected the wrong things. I expected the romance to be in the forefront of the story, but the romance is more of a subplot. I ended up enjoying it, true, but it was a unsettling surprise when the romance ended up being not the center of the story.
I have mixed feelings about the romance. On the one hand, Kit and Griffin have a genuine chemistry and I really liked seeing the romance progress. And there were a few sexy moments. But (and this is a big thing)...sometimes Griffin was an asshole. He would lose his temper, act rude, a few times he was violent and I didn't like that at all. So love-hate feelings about the romance in this one
I liked most of the characters, but there were so many it was hard to feel a true connection to them. The only one is Kit, really. I do like him quite a lot.
Also, side note: this is a heavily male-dominated story. There's literally only one or two female characters with speaking lines, and they're just minor characters. And since this is both an m/m and historical fiction I guess I should've expected it, but I still didn't like it.
Sometimes the writing just skips over events with a summary sentence instead of actually showing what happened. And that was annoying af
Despite all my complaints, I did really enjoy this. I was scared towards the end that it would be sad, but never fear, there is an HEA. and it was so sweet. And I do love me some pirates :)
Tl;dr version- The only way I can sum up my feelings on this is love-hate. Loved some parts, hated others, and yet others I only mildly like. I would recommend it, just expect the romance to not be the main story.
May 26, 2013
Hard book to rate. Very, very well written but felt rushed in some places, and just overall had an off feeling that is probably more to do with me than the book. For example, I felt as though I didn't know Griffin at all and did not get a feel for the genesis of the romance. I felt like he was a hypocrite, something he openly accused Kit of being. The fact that he refused to speak of his past was a missed opportunity and then forced Kit to speak of his made me dislike him for a good long while. I adored Kit though so was very put off by many of the things that happen throughout the book, starting with the incident with him punching Denny, Griffin accuses Kit of being too quick with his fists but this is after he, rather than explain, nearly tears Kits arm out of the socket to tell him he was very desirable. Huh? This was the first of many times I was tossed right out the story. Then he chained him naked (but with a blanket) to the bulkhead? Seriously? And then of course Kit had to go save him. What a moron. I could not understand why an honorable man like Kit loved him so much, and I think that's the core of my problems with the book.
We were told so much more than we were shown about their relationship that it felt forced. The ending was for me, well, disappointing to say the least. Of course Griffin was keeping secrets all the way to the end. I will read a follow up however so will definitely keep an eye out for any sequel.
For now I'm going with 3.5 stars rounded down. If there is a follow up I may reevaluate.
We were told so much more than we were shown about their relationship that it felt forced. The ending was for me, well, disappointing to say the least. Of course Griffin was keeping secrets all the way to the end. I will read a follow up however so will definitely keep an eye out for any sequel.
For now I'm going with 3.5 stars rounded down. If there is a follow up I may reevaluate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2013
Having read Ms Gregory’s “Alike as Two Bees” I became a fan of her deceptively simple prose that hides a clever and pacy plot.
“On a Lee Shore” is one of those books I couldn’t put down because I was fascinated by the main character, Lt Christopher (Kit) Penrose, from page one and subsequently by the dubious but compelling pirate known as Le Griffe. Told from Kit’s point of view the story transports the reader back to The Age of Sail with just the right amount of detail to create a perfect atmosphere, whether it’s London of that time, or the balmy Caribbean, or the fear and despair of a naval officer being taken prisoner aboard a pirate ship.
Courageous Kit is torn between his loyalty to his king and country – as well as the values instilled during his childhood - and his deeply buried true desires.
The author subtly sets off the harsh and cruel pirate life with a developing love story by using wry humour that bubbles under the surface of her writing and also by populating the novel with a cast of vibrant characters that will stay in my mind for a long time.
If I have to make one criticism, it will be that the ending happened too quickly. However, that could be remedied with a second novel in what could be a thoroughly enjoyable and compelling series.
“On a Lee Shore” is one of those books I couldn’t put down because I was fascinated by the main character, Lt Christopher (Kit) Penrose, from page one and subsequently by the dubious but compelling pirate known as Le Griffe. Told from Kit’s point of view the story transports the reader back to The Age of Sail with just the right amount of detail to create a perfect atmosphere, whether it’s London of that time, or the balmy Caribbean, or the fear and despair of a naval officer being taken prisoner aboard a pirate ship.
Courageous Kit is torn between his loyalty to his king and country – as well as the values instilled during his childhood - and his deeply buried true desires.
The author subtly sets off the harsh and cruel pirate life with a developing love story by using wry humour that bubbles under the surface of her writing and also by populating the novel with a cast of vibrant characters that will stay in my mind for a long time.
If I have to make one criticism, it will be that the ending happened too quickly. However, that could be remedied with a second novel in what could be a thoroughly enjoyable and compelling series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews