Lord of the Privateers

by Stephanie Laurens Narrated by Steve West

Overview

Can true love die? Or, neglected, does it lie dormant until the object of true desire is again within reach? Denied, does passion smolder, like embers waiting for the right conditions to flare into an all-consuming conflagration?

New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens delivers the thrilling conclusion to the acclaimed Adventurers Quartet series played out on the high seas and sweltering tropical jungles.

The eldest of the Frobisher brothers, known as the lord of the privateers, Royd expects to execute the final leg of the rescue mission his brothers have been pursuing. What he does not expect is to be pressured into taking with him his emotional nemesis, childhood sweetheart, ex-handfasted bride, and business partner, Isobel Carmichael. But is it Isobel doing the pressuring or his own restless, unfulfilled psyche?

Isobel, unstoppably resolute and determined, has a mission of her own: find her cousin Katherine and bring her safely home. If she can also rid herself of the dreams of a life with Royd that haunt her, then well and good.

Neither expects the shock that awaits as they set sail aboard Royd's ship, much less the new horizons that open before them in London and in their mission at the mining compound in the jungle.

Yet even with the support of his brothers, their ladies, and rescued ex-captives, Royd and Isobel discover that freeing the captives is only half the battle. They must identify and convict the backers behind the illicit enterprise and thus protect the government from catastrophic destabilization. So they return to the ballrooms of Mayfair to hunt the villains on their home ground.

But having found each other again, having glimpsed the heaven that could be theirs again, how much are they willing to risk in the name of duty?

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

★ 12/05/2016
In this enthralling Regency romance (the satisfying finale to the Adventurers’ Quartet, after The Daredevil Snared), Capt. Royd Frobisher balances intrigue and adventure on the high seas with his newly rediscovered feelings for his former love, Isobel Carmody Carmichael, who divulges a secret she has kept from him for eight years. Royd, the fourth of the seafaring Frobisher brothers, must leave Aberdeen, Scotland, to play his part in the quest to free the captured slaves—including Isobel’s cousin—in West Africa’s Freetown. Laurens’s deft interweaving of backstory through characters’ thoughts and dialogue makes this series installment work as a standalone novel. (New readers will also appreciate the maps and dramatis personae at the front of the book.) Royd and Isobel’s early relationship is immediately introduced in a prologue that gets the story off to a fast start. The alluring characters are fully actualized through actions that convey nuances of their personalities, such as the bonds among the four brothers. Isobel and Royd both love and respect the sea, and their headstrong natures are contrasted well with their growing affection. The fast-moving narrative, emotionally weighty plot, and appealing cast make for a dynamic and heartwarming read. (Jan.)

From the Publisher

"Laurens' Adventurers Quartet delivers all the fast-paced action, dangerous intrigue, vividly etched characters, and sexy romance her fans have come to expect."-Booklist

"Laurens successfully brings her Adventurers Quartet to a resounding conclusion. The broad literary canvas, swashbuckling adventures, dangerous intrigue, and steamy romance of these novels are rare treats for readers who miss those old-school historical romances by Shirlee Busbee and Katherine Woodiwiss."-Booklist on Lord of the Privateers

"Filled with beloved characters, exciting escapades and sweeping landscapes, the conclusion to Laurens' Adventurers Quartet is just what her fans want. Lord of the Privateers is the last piece of the puzzle that fans have been excitedly piecing together. Significant characters from the series are brought back one last time for a wholly satisfying read." -RT Book Reviews

"Laurens's rich characterization and well-thought-out plot make for a captivating adventure romance and provide elements of danger and surprise throughout the story. The vivid narrative, combined with quick cuts from scene to scene, make for an engrossing read with an ending poised to continue the adventure with yet another Frobisher brother." –Publisher's Weekly, starred review, on The Daredevil Snared

"Laurens deftly balances action with dialogue and description, creating an intriguing and suspenseful novel that is equally effective whether read as a sequel or on its own." -Publisher's Weekly, starred review, on A Buccaneer at Heart

"Laurens launches her new Adventurers Quartet on a high note, with a fast-paced tale that is jam-packed with dangerous intrigue and red-hot passion.... Readers looking for something a little bit different than the usual Regency historical will be delighted with the exotic African setting of the book as well as its swashbuckling plot."—Booklist on The Lady's Command

"Stephanie Laurens plays into readers' fantasies like a master and claims their hearts time and again."
-RT Book Reviews

"Stephanie Laurens never fails to entertain and charm her readers with vibrant plots, snappy dialogue and unforgettable characters."
-Historical Romance Reviews

"When it comes to dishing up lusciously sensual, relentlessly readable historical romances, Laurens is unrivalled."
-Booklist

"Laurens's writing shines."
-Publishers Weekly

Kirkus Reviews

2016-10-19
The oldest brother of a grand British family finishes what his brothers started.The first Frobisher brother discovered an illegal diamond mine, the second tried to learn more, the third got swept up by it—and now it is up to Royd Frobisher, the eldest of the clan, to lead the mission that will free its captives and bring the perpetrators to justice. Just as he receives his orders and prepares his ships for Freetown, a woman he's tried desperately to forget sweeps back into his life, asking to go with him. Isobel Carmichael and Royd were childhood friends who were handfasted eight years ago, then torn apart when a secret mission kept him away through most of their year promised to each other. Isobel has her own reasons for tagging along, as does their son, Duncan—a surprise stowaway and totally unknown to Royd. Their revived chemistry is instant and fierce and held back only by their broken hearts and life-threatening mission. In the final volume of The Adventurers Quartet, many plotlines require wrapping up, and this detracts at times from Isobel and Royd's second chance at love. Between a complicated rescue scheme and social intrigues, much of the book is devoted to adventure and justice rather than romance. When the plot turns to love, their relationship is steamy and sophisticated, and it's delightful to see all four couples reach their final happy endings together as the quartet ends. Readers looking for more focus on romance may be disappointed, and those who haven't read the first three will be confused—but faithful readers will love this story and its four plotlines as they come to an appropriately grand ending. A sweeping end to an exploratory historical romance quartet.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169722147
Publisher:	Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Publication date:	12/27/2016
Series:	Adventurers Quartet Series , #4
Edition description:	Unabridged

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