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Treasure Trail
Owner of Matey’s Tavern, a popular brewpub-tavern in St. Augustine, Florida, Derick Keyes loves his adopted hometown and job. He also harbors a crush on a pirate captain.
Tour guide for the popular Pirate Pub Walking Tour, Christopher Easton portrays a pirate captain as he takes visitors on a guided tour of St. Augustine, stopping at certain taverns for a pint of grog and tales of the golden age of piracy. With a little liquid courage, Chris breaks the cycle when he talks to Derick. Things change between them. Derick wants a chance for more with Chris.
During the Annual Pirate Festival, Derick creates a treasure hunt for Chris after “cursing” him. To break the curse, Chris must find four clues before the final battle on Sunday night. Only then can the curse be broken.
States of Stories of romance that span every corner of the United States.
Tour guide for the popular Pirate Pub Walking Tour, Christopher Easton portrays a pirate captain as he takes visitors on a guided tour of St. Augustine, stopping at certain taverns for a pint of grog and tales of the golden age of piracy. With a little liquid courage, Chris breaks the cycle when he talks to Derick. Things change between them. Derick wants a chance for more with Chris.
During the Annual Pirate Festival, Derick creates a treasure hunt for Chris after “cursing” him. To break the curse, Chris must find four clues before the final battle on Sunday night. Only then can the curse be broken.
States of Stories of romance that span every corner of the United States.
71 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 24, 2016
53 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Dennis
80 books121 followersDreamy…Sensual…Forever Love
A quiet one, Nicole Dennis is the penname of an asexual author of different genres of fiction – both LGBT+ and hetero. Lots of characters, worlds, and stories build up in her head until she must get them down on the screen – anything from romance to fantasy to paranormal.
During the day, she works in a quiet office in Central Florida, where she makes her home, and enjoys the down time to slip into her imagination. She is owned by a feline companion – a fluffy house panther, known as Midnight the Void. A very special furbaby who is FIV+ and polydactyl on her front paws (fluffy danger mittens!).
A quiet one, Nicole Dennis is the penname of an asexual author of different genres of fiction – both LGBT+ and hetero. Lots of characters, worlds, and stories build up in her head until she must get them down on the screen – anything from romance to fantasy to paranormal.
During the day, she works in a quiet office in Central Florida, where she makes her home, and enjoys the down time to slip into her imagination. She is owned by a feline companion – a fluffy house panther, known as Midnight the Void. A very special furbaby who is FIV+ and polydactyl on her front paws (fluffy danger mittens!).
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 24, 2016
Set in Florida, this entertaining novella is part of the ‘States of Love’ series that offers stories of romance that span every corner of the United States. If all of them contain the same interesting and informative flavor of the state they are set in as ‘Treasure Trail’, this will be a great series to read. It will almost be like taking a tour encompassing the entire USA, only much cheaper than actually traveling there! Having been to St. Augustine many years ago, it was nice to “revisit” and see it through someone else’s eyes. And with the flavor of the Annual Pirate Festival, mock battles included, the scene is set for a lively story with lots of fun events.
Derick owns a brewpub-tavern named Matey’s Tavern, and as shy as he is on a personal level, for his job he has no problem acting the part of a jovial host. He likes all the pirate pub walking tour groups who make a stop at his place, and not just because it’s good business. Chris, one of the tour company’s guides, a “captain” who styles himself after none less than Captain Jack Sparrow, has Derick’s particular attention. Too bad Derick is too shy to do something about his attraction.
Then one day Chris takes the first step, and they discover mutual interests, a similar shyness where personal relationships are concerned, and a shared love of riding their bicycles. One thing leads to another, and Derick creates a very special treasure hunt for Chris that has both of them enjoying some teasing, lots of innuendo, and more than one shared kiss.
If you like stories with lots of local flavor, if pirates are your thing, and if you’re looking for a light, entertaining read with a few puzzles, then you will probably enjoy this novella.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Derick owns a brewpub-tavern named Matey’s Tavern, and as shy as he is on a personal level, for his job he has no problem acting the part of a jovial host. He likes all the pirate pub walking tour groups who make a stop at his place, and not just because it’s good business. Chris, one of the tour company’s guides, a “captain” who styles himself after none less than Captain Jack Sparrow, has Derick’s particular attention. Too bad Derick is too shy to do something about his attraction.
Then one day Chris takes the first step, and they discover mutual interests, a similar shyness where personal relationships are concerned, and a shared love of riding their bicycles. One thing leads to another, and Derick creates a very special treasure hunt for Chris that has both of them enjoying some teasing, lots of innuendo, and more than one shared kiss.
If you like stories with lots of local flavor, if pirates are your thing, and if you’re looking for a light, entertaining read with a few puzzles, then you will probably enjoy this novella.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
March 30, 2018
It was nice -- both the MCs were pretty likable. I also enjoyed the treasure hunt. BUT I thought it missed the opportunity of telling some of the background part of the character. I mean, it said that Derrick survived an emotionally abusive relationship; however I thought it was pretty glossed over. Oh, and I missed Chris' POV in this; at least maybe I could see the two cats in his house ^^
August 25, 2016
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
Derick owns a popular pub in downtown St. Augustine, Florida. It’s pirate themed and it’s part of a pub crawl for tourists. Derick has a bit of a crush on Christopher, the leader of one of the pub crawls. He dresses like a pirate, and they have some scripted banter back and forth. Derick is shy, though, and his employees keep encouraging him to go and talk to Christopher. One night, after the crawls are over, Christopher and some of his roommates come to Derick’s place (Matey’s…and isn’t that a cool name for a pirate themed pub?). Christopher is a bit tipsy, and he lets it slip that it was because he needed some liquid courage to work up to talking to Derick.
What follows is a short, sweet, and to the point sexy romance between two men who deserve to be happy. I loved every minute of it. Derick and Christopher have chemistry to spare. Their scenes together are sweet and very hot! There are several incidents in a park, in the dark, away from prying eyes that really made my heart pound. I love the idea they could have been caught. It really amped up the sexy factor. When Christopher expresses the desire to get to know Derick better, Derick sends him on a treasure hunt of sorts…map and clues included. That was really fun and a totally original idea.
Read Kenna’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
Derick owns a popular pub in downtown St. Augustine, Florida. It’s pirate themed and it’s part of a pub crawl for tourists. Derick has a bit of a crush on Christopher, the leader of one of the pub crawls. He dresses like a pirate, and they have some scripted banter back and forth. Derick is shy, though, and his employees keep encouraging him to go and talk to Christopher. One night, after the crawls are over, Christopher and some of his roommates come to Derick’s place (Matey’s…and isn’t that a cool name for a pirate themed pub?). Christopher is a bit tipsy, and he lets it slip that it was because he needed some liquid courage to work up to talking to Derick.
What follows is a short, sweet, and to the point sexy romance between two men who deserve to be happy. I loved every minute of it. Derick and Christopher have chemistry to spare. Their scenes together are sweet and very hot! There are several incidents in a park, in the dark, away from prying eyes that really made my heart pound. I love the idea they could have been caught. It really amped up the sexy factor. When Christopher expresses the desire to get to know Derick better, Derick sends him on a treasure hunt of sorts…map and clues included. That was really fun and a totally original idea.
Read Kenna’s review in its entirety here.
May 5, 2017
3 stars
I'm pretty sure this one's on me because everyone else seemed to have loved it. I struggled to connect with the MCs and the setting of this story. Chris and Derick were likable guys so I'm not sure what the problem was. As for the setting, I kept having to remind myself that it was in the U.S. (Florida). I kept thinking it was the U.K.
I have read this author one other time and enjoyed that story so I'm going to call this a fluke on my part.
I'm pretty sure this one's on me because everyone else seemed to have loved it. I struggled to connect with the MCs and the setting of this story. Chris and Derick were likable guys so I'm not sure what the problem was. As for the setting, I kept having to remind myself that it was in the U.S. (Florida). I kept thinking it was the U.K.
I have read this author one other time and enjoyed that story so I'm going to call this a fluke on my part.
June 12, 2017
I waffled between giving this little short 2.5 or 3 stars. I decided on 3 because I really, really liked the premise but I thought the execution needed work. There were a few editing issues, mixed up names and sentences that didn't make sense which took me out of the story. While I liked the MCs a lot I was never able to grasp any connection to them or their story and I need that in the romances I read.
July 7, 2018
What can make this story even more fun. Reading it while vacation in St. Augustine and staying at the Pirate Haus Inn. I loved the fun story of the "treasure" hunt that helps bring these two men together. I also had fun visiting all the same places from the hunt. This is a quick read but lots of fun. The author did their homework for this story.
May 21, 2018
** 3.5 Stars
Sweet and entertaining!
May 24, 2018
3.5 stars
September 27, 2016
Who wants to take a trip to Saint Augustine? This girl.
Pirates, Treasure maps, and beer, oh my! Chris is a sexy pirate re-enacter for a Pub Crawl in St. Augustine. Derick owns a pub on the crawl. For years the two have wanted each other. The only time the two spoke was from a script for the groups Chris was taking around.
One day Chris gets the drunken nerve to approach Derick. The two start talking after work, and Derick decides to make a Treasure map for Chris, finding clues to brake a cure that Chris now is under.
The story over all is cute and sweet. Derick is suppose to have social anxiety, but somehow its forgotten about and he has no problem when Chris is around.
My only annoyance is that Derick would tell me (reader) what he hoped Chris would think of certain things, instead of Chris letting me know what he thought. With that I just had to assume that Chris did understand what Derick was trying to say or do.
Plot: 4
Chemistry: 4
Pacing: 4.5
Ending: 4
Character Development: 4
Heat: 4.5
*ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Arlyna from Alpha Book Club
Pirates, Treasure maps, and beer, oh my! Chris is a sexy pirate re-enacter for a Pub Crawl in St. Augustine. Derick owns a pub on the crawl. For years the two have wanted each other. The only time the two spoke was from a script for the groups Chris was taking around.
One day Chris gets the drunken nerve to approach Derick. The two start talking after work, and Derick decides to make a Treasure map for Chris, finding clues to brake a cure that Chris now is under.
The story over all is cute and sweet. Derick is suppose to have social anxiety, but somehow its forgotten about and he has no problem when Chris is around.
My only annoyance is that Derick would tell me (reader) what he hoped Chris would think of certain things, instead of Chris letting me know what he thought. With that I just had to assume that Chris did understand what Derick was trying to say or do.
Plot: 4
Chemistry: 4
Pacing: 4.5
Ending: 4
Character Development: 4
Heat: 4.5
*ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Arlyna from Alpha Book Club
August 24, 2016
I was given an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Treasure Trail is a delightful story of Derick, a bar owner in St. Augustine and Chris, who plays a pirate and leads a pub crawl. Derick is shy and suffers from social anxiety. He prefers to stay hidden in his office rather than out mingling with the customers. Chris is a very outgoing, personable man who loves his role as a pirate. He’s good at what he does and the tour groups always love him. When Chris decides to finally see if Derick is interest in him, Derick couldn’t be more happy about it. Derick has had a crush on Chris for awhile, but was too shy to do anything about it.
Derick and Chris spend time together and the attraction is undeniable. Derick really wants more with Chris so he devises a treasure hunt for Chris as part of the annual Pirate Festival. If Chris finds all of the clues, Derick is prepared to offer his heart.
I loved this story. Both men are sweet and the other characters in the book are fun additions to the tail. The treasure hunt is endearing with a finale that was sweet enough to cause cavities. This is a wonderful, short story that is an easy read and definitely enjoyable.
Treasure Trail is a delightful story of Derick, a bar owner in St. Augustine and Chris, who plays a pirate and leads a pub crawl. Derick is shy and suffers from social anxiety. He prefers to stay hidden in his office rather than out mingling with the customers. Chris is a very outgoing, personable man who loves his role as a pirate. He’s good at what he does and the tour groups always love him. When Chris decides to finally see if Derick is interest in him, Derick couldn’t be more happy about it. Derick has had a crush on Chris for awhile, but was too shy to do anything about it.
Derick and Chris spend time together and the attraction is undeniable. Derick really wants more with Chris so he devises a treasure hunt for Chris as part of the annual Pirate Festival. If Chris finds all of the clues, Derick is prepared to offer his heart.
I loved this story. Both men are sweet and the other characters in the book are fun additions to the tail. The treasure hunt is endearing with a finale that was sweet enough to cause cavities. This is a wonderful, short story that is an easy read and definitely enjoyable.
August 22, 2016
Derick is a bartender and bar owner in St Augustine. He loves the Pirate Pub Tours that come through, especially a certain Pirate Captain.
Chris has liked Derick for a long time and been waiting for him to make a move, so he finally takes it upon himself to talk to Derick, this gets Derrick opening up, and Derick sends Chris on a little treasure hunt.
I liked both Chris and Derick; I thought the treasure hunt was such a sweet idea and Chris meeting Derick at night for Bike rides o home was romantic as well. The sex was hot and sensual.
If you're looking for a short fun, sexy sweet romance to fill a little time, This is a good one!
If you like Pirate re-enactment, Bartenders, short, sexy romances this one is for you!
*I received a copy for an honest review.*
Chris has liked Derick for a long time and been waiting for him to make a move, so he finally takes it upon himself to talk to Derick, this gets Derrick opening up, and Derick sends Chris on a little treasure hunt.
I liked both Chris and Derick; I thought the treasure hunt was such a sweet idea and Chris meeting Derick at night for Bike rides o home was romantic as well. The sex was hot and sensual.
If you're looking for a short fun, sexy sweet romance to fill a little time, This is a good one!
If you like Pirate re-enactment, Bartenders, short, sexy romances this one is for you!
*I received a copy for an honest review.*
December 26, 2016
3.5 stars
January 10, 2017
3.5 stars
February 21, 2017
This was a sweet story of 2 shy men both with a crush on the other. Finally, one gets the liquid courage to start things. Very enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews