Audiobook Review: The Pirate by Jayne Ann Krentz

The Pirate
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz
Narrator: Wendy Tremont King
Series: Ladies and Legends (Book 1)
Publication: Tantor Audio (October 30, 2018)
Length: 6 hours and 42 minutes

Description: Historical romance novelist Kate Inskip needs a break. Divorced, overworked, and completely stressed out, her writing buddies decide to surprise her with exactly what she needs - a vacation on a remote island that boasts a rich history and a crumbling castle built by an 18th-century pirate.

It's the kind of story Kate can't possibly pass up, and it will allow her to turn her thoughts from the reality of today to the romance of the past. But things don't go according to plan. A long flight, lost luggage, and a missed connection leave Kate wishing she'd stayed home. A knife-wielding mugger is the last straw.

Too late to help, but just in time to enjoy the show, Jared Hawthorne catches a harried woman in the act of kicking the local thief into submission. As far as Jared is concerned, Kate is the most interesting tourist to arrive on Amethyst Island in a very long time. Kate, however, has already concluded that a month-long vacation on the island is about 30 days too long. Still, Jared Hawthorne is starting to look very familiar....

My Thoughts: When a stressed-out author of historical romances is sent by her friends to a South Pacific Island complete with a crumbling castle, Kate Inskip is expecting a quiet vacation. It doesn't start well when she is accosted by a knife-wielding robber after a long flight, lost luggage, and missed connections. Kate takes her frustrations out on the thief and fights him off with techniques she learned in a two-week self-defense course. 

Jared Hawthorne, the resort owner, arrives in time to see Kate overcoming the thief and doesn't wait to share the story with his resort employees. He's impressed with her skills and with her moxie. He is also intrigued by Kate. This is a new thing since he hasn't looked at a woman since the death of his wife some five years earlier. 

Kate is less than impressed with Jared at first. He reminds of her of someone and she's too over-stressed, tired, and hungry to notice his good looks at first. 

Romance grows slowly but the fact that they live thousands of miles apart could be a dealbreaker. Then there is the possibility that Jared is too much like his pirate ancestor. Something hinky is going on in the ruins of that castle and Jared isn't telling Kate what. 

I enjoyed this contemporary romance. I liked that Kate was a strong, independent woman. I liked Jared too. He's made a good life for himself and his young son. I liked the island setting and the interesting characters who lived there. 

I bought this one from Chirp for $.99 on July 24, 2023. You can buy your copy here.