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ipross's review
5.0
The changing times have left dreaded pirate Jean Marc Cavalier with no recourse. It's either sign his Majesty's agreement and give up pirating forever or see himself at the end of the hangman's noose. Faced with those choices, he finds himself signing away the only life he's known and beginning his year of probation where he must prove that he will not fall back to his pirating ways. Feeling despondent and bored with his new life as a law abiding sailor, Jean Marc feels trapped. That is, until his ship comes across a vessel in distress. Victims of pirates, the sole survivor of the attack was a young Boston Heiress on her way to Port Royale to see the father she has very little recollection of. Jean Marc has never corrupted a proper lady before. To prove the he is still the fearsome pirate and be rid of some boredom, he may just get a taste of his prim miss. The next 3 weeks are going to be very interesting indeed. But who will be the winner in the test of wills? The lusty pirate or the headstrong society miss?
I found myself with a dilemma while reading The Black Morass. I both hurt for Jean Marc and I wanted to hurt him for having such a one track mind. I am huge fan of Ms. Devlin's work, however, I will admit that it took me a bit to really click with these characters. I am used to her characters' almost instant chemistry that explodes off the page. Jean Marc and Lady Madalene had a more subtle chemistry that built as the characters got to know each other. This is not to say that there weren't any sparks. Jean Marc expected a prim and proper miss, easily seduced in to his bed. Instead he was met with a quick-witted adversary who matched him in every way and gained his respect and affection.
Toss in a bit of intrigue, another roguish friend who, if the epilogue is anything to go by, we will be seeing a lot more of in the future, and you have a recipe for success. This new series by Devlin is a bit different from what I've become accustomed to but I look forward to seeing where she will be taking us next.
I found myself with a dilemma while reading The Black Morass. I both hurt for Jean Marc and I wanted to hurt him for having such a one track mind. I am huge fan of Ms. Devlin's work, however, I will admit that it took me a bit to really click with these characters. I am used to her characters' almost instant chemistry that explodes off the page. Jean Marc and Lady Madalene had a more subtle chemistry that built as the characters got to know each other. This is not to say that there weren't any sparks. Jean Marc expected a prim and proper miss, easily seduced in to his bed. Instead he was met with a quick-witted adversary who matched him in every way and gained his respect and affection.
Toss in a bit of intrigue, another roguish friend who, if the epilogue is anything to go by, we will be seeing a lot more of in the future, and you have a recipe for success. This new series by Devlin is a bit different from what I've become accustomed to but I look forward to seeing where she will be taking us next.
ipross's review against another edition
5.0
The changing times have left dreaded pirate Jean Marc Cavalier with no recourse. It's either sign his Majesty's agreement and give up pirating forever or see himself at the end of the hangman's noose. Faced with those choices, he finds himself signing away the only life he's known and beginning his year of probation where he must prove that he will not fall back to his pirating ways. Feeling despondent and bored with his new life as a law abiding sailor, Jean Marc feels trapped. That is, until his ship comes across a vessel in distress. Victims of pirates, the sole survivor of the attack was a young Boston Heiress on her way to Port Royale to see the father she has very little recollection of. Jean Marc has never corrupted a proper lady before. To prove the he is still the fearsome pirate and be rid of some boredom, he may just get a taste of his prim miss. The next 3 weeks are going to be very interesting indeed. But who will be the winner in the test of wills? The lusty pirate or the headstrong society miss?
I found myself with a dilemma while reading The Black Morass. I both hurt for Jean Marc and I wanted to hurt him for having such a one track mind. I am huge fan of Ms. Devlin's work, however, I will admit that it took me a bit to really click with these characters. I am used to her characters' almost instant chemistry that explodes off the page. Jean Marc and Lady Madalene had a more subtle chemistry that built as the characters got to know each other. This is not to say that there weren't any sparks. Jean Marc expected a prim and proper miss, easily seduced in to his bed. Instead he was met with a quick-witted adversary who matched him in every way and gained his respect and affection.
Toss in a bit of intrigue, another roguish friend who, if the epilogue is anything to go by, we will be seeing a lot more of in the future, and you have a recipe for success. This new series by Devlin is a bit different from what I've become accustomed to but I look forward to seeing where she will be taking us next.
I found myself with a dilemma while reading The Black Morass. I both hurt for Jean Marc and I wanted to hurt him for having such a one track mind. I am huge fan of Ms. Devlin's work, however, I will admit that it took me a bit to really click with these characters. I am used to her characters' almost instant chemistry that explodes off the page. Jean Marc and Lady Madalene had a more subtle chemistry that built as the characters got to know each other. This is not to say that there weren't any sparks. Jean Marc expected a prim and proper miss, easily seduced in to his bed. Instead he was met with a quick-witted adversary who matched him in every way and gained his respect and affection.
Toss in a bit of intrigue, another roguish friend who, if the epilogue is anything to go by, we will be seeing a lot more of in the future, and you have a recipe for success. This new series by Devlin is a bit different from what I've become accustomed to but I look forward to seeing where she will be taking us next.
amandasbookreview's review against another edition
3.0
Yesterday was Read a Book day and I read The Black Morass by Barbara Devlin. It is a historical romance novella.
It begins with introducing former pirate Captain Jean Marc. He comes across a sinking ship with only one woman alive, her name is Madalene Davies and she needs to head to Port Royal to secure her inheritance. Little does she know that her father and evil stepmother are planning to take it from her. Meanwhile, Jean Marc wants Maddie but not in a proper sense. Will he help Maddie or just use her and toss her away?
I had high hopes for this novella. I love pirate history and pirate fiction. However, this novella didn't really have a lot of historical detail but more focused on the sexual tension between the two characters. I love romance novels as well but there needs to be a balence. I also didn't understand Maddie's fascination with Jean Marc especially when he is constantly planning to defile her. (He uses that exact phrase several times)
However, I do appreciate that the author tried to give Jean Marc some character development. I do wish that Maddie had more development as well. Her character falls very flat. For a quick read, it wasn't bad. It just needed a better balence of romance and historical detail. I rate this book 2.5 out 5 stars.
It begins with introducing former pirate Captain Jean Marc. He comes across a sinking ship with only one woman alive, her name is Madalene Davies and she needs to head to Port Royal to secure her inheritance. Little does she know that her father and evil stepmother are planning to take it from her. Meanwhile, Jean Marc wants Maddie but not in a proper sense. Will he help Maddie or just use her and toss her away?
I had high hopes for this novella. I love pirate history and pirate fiction. However, this novella didn't really have a lot of historical detail but more focused on the sexual tension between the two characters. I love romance novels as well but there needs to be a balence. I also didn't understand Maddie's fascination with Jean Marc especially when he is constantly planning to defile her. (He uses that exact phrase several times)
However, I do appreciate that the author tried to give Jean Marc some character development. I do wish that Maddie had more development as well. Her character falls very flat. For a quick read, it wasn't bad. It just needed a better balence of romance and historical detail. I rate this book 2.5 out 5 stars.