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Pirates #2
Seaflame
THE DEVIL'S DAUGHTER
It was in their blood--passion and piracy, and a path that led from the savage seas to the Sun King's palace. Fate had reunited the, but now they would follow separate paths in search of their mother, Sabelle, the most infamous lady pirate of them all.
As Evonne swept across the ocean, living and loving with careless abandon aboard her notorious pirateer, the Black Angel, Genevieve charmed her way from England's shores to the highest courts of France, haunted by the spy she loved, enslaved by the Count she married, blazing a trail of desire and destiny, bound to the mission that was their life, their breath, their sacred honor.
It was in their blood--passion and piracy, and a path that led from the savage seas to the Sun King's palace. Fate had reunited the, but now they would follow separate paths in search of their mother, Sabelle, the most infamous lady pirate of them all.
As Evonne swept across the ocean, living and loving with careless abandon aboard her notorious pirateer, the Black Angel, Genevieve charmed her way from England's shores to the highest courts of France, haunted by the spy she loved, enslaved by the Count she married, blazing a trail of desire and destiny, bound to the mission that was their life, their breath, their sacred honor.
440 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1980
About the author
Valerie Vayle
5 books13 followersA pseudonym used by Jean Brooks-Janowiak and Janice Young Brooks writing together. It was later used exclusively by Jean Brooks-Janowiak after obtaining the legal rights to the name.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 20, 2016
Strong Women who are Pirates!
I read this because I had already read and reviewed books 1 and 3 in the Pirates trilogy and liked them. While Vayle writes well and tells a good story with lots of historical detail woven in, which appeals to me, this story has some aspects that will not appeal to all, mostly related to the morals of the main characters.
Genevieve Faunton, as a young girl, was living on an island in the Caribbean with her mother and sister (and possibly a pirate father) when she was captured by pirates and sold to a well-meaning but coddling woman who made Genevieve her ward. Years later (1701), she married and was widowed from the woman’s son (who, by all accounts, was not missed). On her way back to England from the West Indies, Genevieve’s ship is attacked by pirates, but this ship, the Black Angel, is captained by a woman—Evonne Meadows—who turns out to be Genevieve’s long lost sister.
To make a long summary shorter, Genevieve joins her sister in piracy and they fall in with two British rakes, Jean-Michael (“Michael”, French born but British raised, who serves the English king) and Robert St. Justine (a ne’er do well aristocrat Evonne takes captive and then invites to her bed). Genevieve's main desire is to find her mother (another pirate).
I was enjoying the adventure when half way through the book, Genevieve, who struck up an intimate relationship with Jean-Michael (just called “Michael”), sleeps with Robert when Michael goes off on some mission. Right. Well, there’s lots more in this 440-page story. Michael is a fun-loving, horse-stealing spy who eventually decides he cares for Genevieve. Robert, who dallies with many, suddenly falls for a young debutante. Frankly, while I liked Genevieve, I would have been happier if the women leads didn’t have the morals of an alley cat. Still, for those who don’t mind that, it’s a historically accurate, detailed fun read.
I’ve read the whole trilogy and think Oriana is the best. The first two are related (Garlanda and Rogue, the heroine and hero in book 1, appear in book 2) but the third is more a stand alone.
Pirates Trilogy:
Lady of Fire
Seaflame
Oriana
I read this because I had already read and reviewed books 1 and 3 in the Pirates trilogy and liked them. While Vayle writes well and tells a good story with lots of historical detail woven in, which appeals to me, this story has some aspects that will not appeal to all, mostly related to the morals of the main characters.
Genevieve Faunton, as a young girl, was living on an island in the Caribbean with her mother and sister (and possibly a pirate father) when she was captured by pirates and sold to a well-meaning but coddling woman who made Genevieve her ward. Years later (1701), she married and was widowed from the woman’s son (who, by all accounts, was not missed). On her way back to England from the West Indies, Genevieve’s ship is attacked by pirates, but this ship, the Black Angel, is captained by a woman—Evonne Meadows—who turns out to be Genevieve’s long lost sister.
To make a long summary shorter, Genevieve joins her sister in piracy and they fall in with two British rakes, Jean-Michael (“Michael”, French born but British raised, who serves the English king) and Robert St. Justine (a ne’er do well aristocrat Evonne takes captive and then invites to her bed). Genevieve's main desire is to find her mother (another pirate).
I was enjoying the adventure when half way through the book, Genevieve, who struck up an intimate relationship with Jean-Michael (just called “Michael”), sleeps with Robert when Michael goes off on some mission. Right. Well, there’s lots more in this 440-page story. Michael is a fun-loving, horse-stealing spy who eventually decides he cares for Genevieve. Robert, who dallies with many, suddenly falls for a young debutante. Frankly, while I liked Genevieve, I would have been happier if the women leads didn’t have the morals of an alley cat. Still, for those who don’t mind that, it’s a historically accurate, detailed fun read.
I’ve read the whole trilogy and think Oriana is the best. The first two are related (Garlanda and Rogue, the heroine and hero in book 1, appear in book 2) but the third is more a stand alone.
Pirates Trilogy:
Lady of Fire
Seaflame
Oriana
February 18, 2016
An old Skool HR with out any rapes or violence done to the h. The two authors could have gone there, but chose not to.
This book had elements that would make it unacceptable to legions of HR readers of the present day (except those who are sick fucks like me and tolerate all sorts of craziness and WTFery in these old HR's)
Some of the things that I think would be unacceptable to readers are conspicuous features of the BR. In this book they are:
1) At the start of the book, the h is already a widow
2) she shags the H and his friend (unwittingly).
3) But first, the friend did the mattress mambo with the h's sister.
4) there are long periods of separation between the H/h. Most of the time the H/h are apart.
5) The h marries someone (else) instead of the H.
6) The h knocks boots with the H while she is married to the other guy.
7) The h is pregnant by the H while married to the other dude. She is really too far along and away from her husband for too long for him to think it's his.
8) The Story takes place over several years
9) It's 440 pages long
10) multiple sea voyages (some of them multiple trips by ship to the Caribbean and other places).
These are the type of elements that you find in a Bodice Ripper along with rape or other violence to the h.
As I hinted earlier, there could have been some abuse (from her husband) even before she became preggers with the H's child.
**This is disgusting: The h, her sister and mother had a celebratory feast that included cooked parrot. Ewww.
This book is book two of the author's "Pirate Trilogy:
Lady of Fire
Seaflame
Oriana
This book had elements that would make it unacceptable to legions of HR readers of the present day (except those who are sick fucks like me and tolerate all sorts of craziness and WTFery in these old HR's)
Some of the things that I think would be unacceptable to readers are conspicuous features of the BR. In this book they are:
1) At the start of the book, the h is already a widow
2) she shags the H and his friend (unwittingly).
3) But first, the friend did the mattress mambo with the h's sister.
4) there are long periods of separation between the H/h. Most of the time the H/h are apart.
5) The h marries someone (else) instead of the H.
6) The h knocks boots with the H while she is married to the other guy.
7) The h is pregnant by the H while married to the other dude. She is really too far along and away from her husband for too long for him to think it's his.
8) The Story takes place over several years
9) It's 440 pages long
10) multiple sea voyages (some of them multiple trips by ship to the Caribbean and other places).
These are the type of elements that you find in a Bodice Ripper along with rape or other violence to the h.
As I hinted earlier, there could have been some abuse (from her husband) even before she became preggers with the H's child.
**This is disgusting: The h, her sister and mother had a celebratory feast that included cooked parrot. Ewww.
This book is book two of the author's "Pirate Trilogy:
Lady of Fire
Seaflame
Oriana
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2017
Definitely Not Your Typical Romance...
After reading that Valerie Vayle is a pen name for two authors, it made it even more clear to me why Lady of Fire seemed a bit too busy and all over the place at times. So, I knew what to expect going into Seaflame. So much was going on in this book, which was enough to keep me in suspense; but at the same time, this only works if there's clearly a balance between the two authors collaborating ideas into weaving a good story. The second book in this trilogy was more the exception.
Now, I understand that for your standard romance heroine that Genevieve's character can be scrutinized as being immoral but for someone who is undergoing the proccess of change after being locked up tight without a say on any decision making whatsoever, let alone it being acceptable for her to even voice her own opinion in a home not quite her own, is just bursting to get out of this drab, aristocratic cocoon. SO when she has the chance to join the ranks of pirates, the butterfly emerges into something not what she could have ever imagined. Are pirates really known for their morality anyway? When I think of pirates, I think of free spirits defying the social norms. I don't blame her for making some of her "immoral" decisions. Keep in mind that she was also a widow from an arranged and loveless marriage.
The book didn't quite feel like a romance to me, Genevieve's focus was on finding the long lost mother she was seperated from. She had yet to begin this journey until fate leads her to unexpectedly meet her sister. There were passionate moments for her throughout, but there really wasn't much time for courting as the hero had his own situation to deal with. Michael was juggling with being a spy for the British and also trying to figure out who his parents were amidst a war about to develop.
You can expect action and intrigue, and maybe latent declarations of love. The writing was superb, the historical value adding colorful depth to the already complicated yet adventurous story makes this a really good read.
After reading that Valerie Vayle is a pen name for two authors, it made it even more clear to me why Lady of Fire seemed a bit too busy and all over the place at times. So, I knew what to expect going into Seaflame. So much was going on in this book, which was enough to keep me in suspense; but at the same time, this only works if there's clearly a balance between the two authors collaborating ideas into weaving a good story. The second book in this trilogy was more the exception.
Now, I understand that for your standard romance heroine that Genevieve's character can be scrutinized as being immoral but for someone who is undergoing the proccess of change after being locked up tight without a say on any decision making whatsoever, let alone it being acceptable for her to even voice her own opinion in a home not quite her own, is just bursting to get out of this drab, aristocratic cocoon. SO when she has the chance to join the ranks of pirates, the butterfly emerges into something not what she could have ever imagined. Are pirates really known for their morality anyway? When I think of pirates, I think of free spirits defying the social norms. I don't blame her for making some of her "immoral" decisions. Keep in mind that she was also a widow from an arranged and loveless marriage.
The book didn't quite feel like a romance to me, Genevieve's focus was on finding the long lost mother she was seperated from. She had yet to begin this journey until fate leads her to unexpectedly meet her sister. There were passionate moments for her throughout, but there really wasn't much time for courting as the hero had his own situation to deal with. Michael was juggling with being a spy for the British and also trying to figure out who his parents were amidst a war about to develop.
You can expect action and intrigue, and maybe latent declarations of love. The writing was superb, the historical value adding colorful depth to the already complicated yet adventurous story makes this a really good read.
August 20, 2008
My favorite campy romance novel EVER!
It has tough female pirates! How much more could you ask for?
It has tough female pirates! How much more could you ask for?
September 13, 2019
I'm actually torn about my rating. I picked this book up in the breakroom at work because I was without something to read. That almost never happens and when it does, I get a little desperate.
Can you say "Purple Prose"?
So very purple.
Right up front in the first chapter, pirates swarm an island in the Bahamas. A pirate finds a woman, rips her clothes off and fell on her then "writhed in animal ecstasy." When I read that I nearly fell off my chair I was laughing so hard (thinking, "take your clothes off first, you fool). The prose was so purple it was actually a fun read (just not the way the author intended.) Sadly, the writing got better and the story became a pretty average bodice ripper.
So two stars because the writing, while fun, was not good.
Can you say "Purple Prose"?
So very purple.
Right up front in the first chapter, pirates swarm an island in the Bahamas. A pirate finds a woman, rips her clothes off and fell on her then "writhed in animal ecstasy." When I read that I nearly fell off my chair I was laughing so hard (thinking, "take your clothes off first, you fool). The prose was so purple it was actually a fun read (just not the way the author intended.) Sadly, the writing got better and the story became a pretty average bodice ripper.
So two stars because the writing, while fun, was not good.
April 1, 2023
2.5 stars - this was…something. I picked this up at a Little Free Library because of the cover and because I wanted to try some old school romance. This wasn’t bad, and it wasn’t nearly as offensive as I feared (there are several BIPOC characters, and while some language is dated, the author(s) also calls out how poorly they’ve been treated by white people).
The plot was pretty scattered and the romance was weak, so I won’t be returning to this author, but it was an interesting snapshot of older pirate romances!
Also hilariously, all of the main female characters have very distinct descriptions of their Raven or coal-black hair, so not sure why the cover heroine is blonde.
The plot was pretty scattered and the romance was weak, so I won’t be returning to this author, but it was an interesting snapshot of older pirate romances!
Also hilariously, all of the main female characters have very distinct descriptions of their Raven or coal-black hair, so not sure why the cover heroine is blonde.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews