Lord of the Privateers by Stephanie Laurens

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. Between a complicated rescue scheme and social intrigues, much of the book is devoted to adventure and justice rather than romance. 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. Their revived chemistry is instant and fierce and held back only by their broken hearts and life-threatening mission. Isobel has her own reasons for tagging along, as does their son, Duncan-a surprise stowaway and totally unknown to Royd. 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. 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. 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. The care taken to explore the deeper aspects of developing a loving relationship also contributes to make this an unusually interesting novel of romance and adventure.The oldest brother of a grand British family finishes what his brothers started. The meticulous detail about life aboard a sailing ship, strategies when attacking a strongly defended encampment, and social life in late Georgian London all lift it out of the usual. This is not a typical swashbuckling romance. Together they devise a strategy to entrap them. Successful after dangerous fighting, they return to London still needing to discover the instigators of the hostage-taking.

Royd and Isobel had been handfasted eight years ago and expected to marry, but Royd had left on a mission without word to her, and she had borne his son alone.ĭespite the tension between them, Isobel contrives to accompany Royd not only on the voyage, but also on the rescue mission to a diamond mine in the African jungle.

Insisting on going along with him on the long voyage is Isobel Carmichael, whose cousin is among the hostages to be rescued. The year is 1824, and Royd Frobisher, the Lord of the Privateers, has been summoned from Aberdeen by the English spymaster to undertake a rescue mission in Africa.

Lord of the Privateers by Stephanie Laurens