The Iron Rose
When a rogue privateer captained by Juliet Dante discovers a Spanish galleon attacking and sinking an English ship, she and her crew intercede. Although they are outnumbered and the English ship eventually sinks, they manage to win the day – along with the prize of an intact Spanish galleon. Juliet later learns that one of the surviving English passengers they’ve taken on board is nobleman Varian St. Clare, the Duke of Yarrow. Varian, it turns out, has been commissioned by King James I to seek out and convince her father, the infamous Pirate Wolf, to help England uphold a peace treaty with Spain by ceasing their attacks on Spanish ships. Although Juliet scoffs at his mission, she agrees to take him to her father – as her prisoner. At the very least she suspects he will bring a good ransom.
Set primarily on the high seas during the early 17th century, this novel is a light, easy read with a predictable outcome. Fortunately, the author has utilized history as more than a mere backdrop to the plot, and for this I commend her. Although glamorized to some degree overall, I found the information about privateers, the ships they sailed, and political unrest caused by their ventures well done.
