Island Flame (Troubadour Books)

Island Flame is an all-time classic for those romance readers who love a senusal pirate romance. The young beautiful blonde, blue-eyed, Lady Catherine Aldley has lived in opulent comfort with her father Sir Thomas Aldley, the ninth Earl of Badstoke as the Queen's Ambassador to Lisbon. He is concerned that "Cathy," now seventeen and starting to be courted by young men is becoming too isolated in Lisbon. So he decides to send her to England to live with her aunt and rejoin English society and make an advantageous marriage, sending her off on a military ship the "Anna Greer" feeling she will be safe. Little does he realize that silver and other expensive goods were to be disguised in the hold so that pirates would not discover the treasure. The dark, handsome, pirate Captain Jonathan Hale knows about this treasure and attacks the "Anna Greer," but comes to realize there is even a richer treasure when he feasts his eyes on the beautiful, young Cathy. In all of his 34 years he has never seen such beauty. Jon takes Cathy's innocence and continues to keep her captive throughout the long voyage. Once they stop for supplies at the Spanish Port of Cadiz, Cathy makes an escape attempt and falls into even rougher hands. Jon saves her, only to almost lose his own life. Through the long days of nursing Jon back to health, she learns from his man Petersham the hard boyhood and life Jon has had and she begins to realize she is falling in love with this dark, troubled pirate. When Jon awakes from his illness he realizes the same about Cathy and struggles with his feelings of love that are new to this hardened man. He takes her to his island home in Las Palmas and they have a short idyllic life, still not expressing their love. As Cathy discovers she is carrying Jon's child, the island is attacked by British ships. Her father is among them and he captures Jon and is ready to hang him. Cathy pleads for his life and that of her child and convinces her father to allow her to marry Jon. After the ceremony Cathy's father knocks Jon unconscious, has him hauled off to prison, but tells Cathy that he has escaped and left her alone and pregnant, while at the same time whipping and torturing Jon in prison telling him that all of his torture is at the request of Cathy. Jon eventually escapes and once again kidnaps a very pregnant Cathy, taking her this time to America to his Charleston plantation. There they struggle through their relationship and the mutual lies and betrayals. This is not a story for the squeamish. If the reader is uncomfortable with rape and harsh treatment, then this may be a book to avoid, but these details fit in a story about a rough pirate, and most definitely in the understanding and building of the hardened character of Jonathan Hale and how this young tenderhearted woman eventually breaks down all barriers within his heart and emotions and helps him understand himself and finally find true love and happiness. It is disturbing and dark at times, with a happily ever after ending. A true classic romance that is rare and one that is destined to be on romance collector's shelves for years to come.