His Pirate by Stephanie Lake

Desperate to leave London and move his ailing sister to a climate that will save her life, Rhain Morgan books passage to their Caribbean plantation on the only available ship, one captained by Alastair Breckenridge. The alluring captain looks and acts like a pirate and Rhain fights his attraction, but the man’s fairness wins Rhain over. The trip started as endless becomes far too short.

For years, Alastair held people away from his heart, until Rhain. Finally admitting his feelings to himself, he tries to convince Rhain to stay on board, but it’s all in vain.

Despite his own burgeoning feelings for Alastair, Rhain wants to prove himself and refuses to let go of his dream of making a home for his sister and himself on their plantation. But when Alastair’s ship sails away, Rhain is left alone to make the best of disastrous circumstances. Overwhelmed by regret, he nurses his broken heart.

When all seems lost, they dare to hope for a second chance to set things right and love again.

Book 2
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
I have to confess that it was the Jack Sparrow look alike on the cover that got my attention, but the romance between Rhain and Alistair was a fun, sexy read. The premise is simple: Rhain and his sister book passage on Alistair’s ship as they travel to their family’s plantation in Dominica. Along the way, attraction grows between the sea captain and the gentleman.

This is fun story with more romance than swashbuckling. I enjoyed the historic details about Alastair’s ship and his crew and I also enjoyed the secondary relationship that develops between Rhain’s sister and Alistair’s first mate.

I’m not sure if some of the sex scenes are intentionally comical, but I found myself laughing out loud at a few brilliant descriptions. There are some very steamy scenes in this story and I thoroughly enjoyed the heat between Rhain and Alistair.

This book has a playful self-awareness. The story doesn’t win any plausibility prizes, but I thoroughly enjoyed Rhain and Alistair’s adventures as they cross the Atlantic on Alistair’s ship.

Also Available in the Second Chance Series

Book 1
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For reviews & more info, check out our His Second Chance post.

Stephanie Lake is the pen name for a husband/wife team who enjoy writing historical M/M (gay) romance with happy endings and steamy middles.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of His Pirate (Second Chance #2) by Stephanie Lake to read and review.

His Second Chance by Stephanie Lake

The Seventh Viscount of Torring, Randall Blair is more than disgusted with unfaithful lovers. When his last lover announces his engagement to the current reigning belle, Randall decides to suppress his true nature and follow suit. He is determined, once and for all, to forget the dark sailor who slipped in and out of his life five years before.

Lady Prudence Wedgewood has, for a member of the fair sex, unquestioned beauty, and shows a surprising wit, which will entertain Randall, even if her well-proportioned body does not arouse his desires. The marriage should at least be bearable.

The Blair and Wedgewood wedding plans unfold flawlessly...until Lady Prudence’s brother returns.

Lieutenant David Wedgewood has always been beyond discreet with his unnatural attraction to men. An attraction, which years ago, nearly set Randall’s bed aflame for a blissful, torrid week. David returned for only one reason: to save his beloved sister from a marriage destined to bring nothing but pain. Marriage to a sod!

He will kill Randall if that’s what it takes to stop the wedding. And he is willing to seduce Randall, to prove that this marriage can only end in disaster and heartbreak.

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆
3.5 Stars.
Stephanie Lake is a new-to-me author, and I found her writing style easy to read and the pacing fluid, offering a few stolen hours of guilty pleasure reading.

His Second Chance was a well-developed historical romance novella on the shorter side, featuring ex-lovers. A rich aristocrat, Randell is lonely, to the point he wishes to marry just so he can have someone to come home to. While he prefers men, they have never given him the stability which he seeks, especially with the hangman's noose hanging over his head should his affairs be discovered. With the help of his aunt, he seeks a bride.

David had freaked 5 years earlier, fleeing his lover's bed in fear, only to have the nightmare become reality when a fellow serviceman and lover is hanged, where he finds out the man had been cheating with many others, and upon interrogation, the man named David as another he had bedded.

Terrified, filled with self-loathing and need, David returns home when he finds out his ex-lover is set on marrying his sister. None of which is a spoiler, but I felt the need to set the tone. Angst. Angst. Hurt feelings and pride. More angst. All of which sets the tone for a deliciously indulgent read.

Why did I only rate at 3.5 stars? Novellas are difficult to write – so few pages means everything has to be at warp speed, the development of the characters and connecting the reader to them. I felt disconnected while reading, never emotionally checking in. This is my personal opinion, and it very well could have been my current mood. But with a novella, when I feel the need to skim, it must not be to my tastes. Also, I felt as if I had been dropped in the middle of an already established series, like I was missing something, but this is listed as book #1 in a new series, therefore something was off about the set-up, unless this is a spin-off.

Recommended for readers of MM historical romance.

Would I read more by this author? Yes, I am curious to read more.

Stephanie Lake is the pen name for a husband/wife team who enjoy writing happy endings and steamy middles. We hope you enjoyed His Second Chance, the first book in the Second Chance series.

Connect with Stephanie

Loose Id  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of His Second Chance (Second Chances #1) by Stephanie Lake to read and review.