The Marooner by USA Today Bestselling Author Barbara Devlin
Get ready for an oceanic adventure with sexy pirates, a brawl or two, a few favorite characters from previous books, and intimate scenes that leave you breathless. This book has it all and more!
Barbara’s attention to the lush details in each and every scene, especially the ones on the ship, allows for a fully enveloped reading experience in the Pirates of the Coast. Because of this, you will add every future release to your auto-buy list.
Leland Stryker has faced insurmountable challenges and obstacles, and will have to face his biggest one yet when he meets Lady Sophia. Could it be that she’s his true soul mate? Can he trust Sophia to his secret? If not, it could kill them both.
From the first page to the last you will wish that it was you on that ship. Hang on to your heart, it’s about to melt and squeeze a multiple times. I wonder which pirate will be next in this high-seas adventure series?
With the heat and intensity in this book I give it 3 Peppers as it’s pretty hot and might offend. For mature readers 18+
THE MAROONER – Excerpt
Derbyshire, England
September, 1818
Somewhere in the dim light of the chandeliers, his future wife mingled with so-called polite society, but he would argue the perfumed peacocks, despite their refined manners, were every bit as cutthroat as the worst of his associates, especially the marriage-minded mamas, as they trotted their daughters before a man they believed was a well-heeled, wealthy American merchant.
In truth, he was but a wolf in gentleman’s clothing, with his face clean-shaven and his black hair trimmed and tied in a leather thong, that he might appear civilized. Of course, the as-yet unknown darling did not know she was marked as the bride for ruthless former pirate Leland Stryker, as he surveyed the various targets, bedecked in their finery, and how the beast was hungry. What would he choose from so many tempting offerings? Blonde, brunette, ebony, or redhead? Curvy or slender? Blue, green, hazel, or brown eyes? Tall or short? Meek and mild or saucy and fiery of temperament?
In the end, his body would decide.
“Good evening, Mr. Stryker.” Another in a long line of chits paraded past, batting her lashes at him, and he waited for some sign of life below his belly button, as he dipped his chin.
“Good evening.” Thus far, his notoriously fickle interest rejected every single blushing debutante, but he was in no rush to the altar.
Known throughout the pirate ranks as The Marooner, for his habit of abandoning his victims on deserted islands, a practice he considered far more charitable than gunning down, running through with a sword, slashing with a knife, or feeding to the sharks, as did other buccaneers, patience guided his every move. Whereas he always thought it unfair that the general public deemed him heartless and brutal for leaving his quarry to their own fate, his colleagues viewed his eccentricity as a sign of weakness.
For most marauders, innocents manifested prey to be consumed, in some form or another, if only to provide amusement for the crew. For Leland, those who had the misfortune of falling into his custody, through no fault of their own, other than happenstance, presented a connection to his childhood, to the young lad sold into servitude because his parents could not afford to feed him. Perhaps that was why he could not, by his own hands, kill the guiltless.
“My, my, Lady Sophia, what an interesting ensemble you sport, tonight.” An unseen female snickered in a nasty tone. “Is that not last year’s fashion?”
In that moment, he came alert.
“This is my favorite gown, so I see no reason to dispose of it, simply because it might offend your delicate sensibilities.” Given the cutting retort, the heretofore-unfamiliar Lady Sophia charged the fore, as she piqued Leland’s curiosity. “As always, Miss Barty, you exhibit the stellar comportment one would expect of a lady. Your parents must be so proud.”
“My father says your father has driven the earldom to ruin, and you have no dowry.” Now that bit of information snared Leland’s attention, because it made his goal much easier. “Such a pity. Who will have you now, when you possess naught but a good name to recommend you?”
“Certainly not that delicious Mr. Stryker from America.” So another tormentor joined the fray, and he gritted his teeth. “I mean, he could afford to marry anyone.”
“Why would he settle for nothing but an empty title?” Miss Barty replied, in the shrill voice that grated his last nerve. “When he could have a woman of taste and fortune.”
If there was anything he hated, it was a bully, because he was small in his youth and often the recipient of abuse aboard ship. But as the boy grew into a man, and he gained physical strength, he never forgot the seemingly endless beatings, and he always championed the unfortunate.
“Then I congratulate him on his good fortune, should he choose either of you.” Ah, Lady Sophia boasted a sharp tongue, and what he would love to do with that spirit. He had to see her.
With that in mind, he rotated casually, to glimpse a group of ladies, but the valiant Sophia remained with her back to him, as he identified the insufferable Miss Barty and her friend, Miss Oswald, two self-important debutantes he had already dismissed as viable candidates for a mate, because they inspired nothing but a queasy belly. Petite in stature, with dark brown hair, the mystery woman squared her shoulders, as she confronted her adversaries, and he cleared his throat.
“I beg your pardon, but would you care to dance?” Life was too complicated in England. In Jamaica, he would have taken her by the hand and hauled her into his arms.
“Oh, Mr. Stryker.” The snobbish Miss Barty gloated, and he savored the opportunity to take her down a peg or two. “It would be my pleasure.”
“I am so sorry, Miss Barty, but I address Lady Sophia.” Now he enjoyed that, as the haughty Miss Barty frowned, and his intended partner flinched, ever so subtly. When Lady Sophia faced him, a shiver of awareness kissed his flesh, and he gazed directly into her velvety brown eyes. “Leland Stryker, most definitely at your service, Lady Sophia.”
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Author Info:
USA Today bestselling, Amazon All-Star author Barbara Devlin was born a storyteller, but it was a weeklong vacation to Bethany Beach, Delaware that forever changed her life. The little house her parents rented had a collection of books by Kathleen Woodiwiss, which exposed Barbara to the world of romance, and Shanna remains a personal favorite.
Barbara writes heartfelt historical romances that feature not so perfect heroes who may know how to seduce a woman but know nothing of marriage. And she prefers feisty but smart heroines who sometimes save the hero before they find their happily ever after.
Barbara is a disabled-in-the-line-of-duty retired police officer, and she earned an MA in English and continued a course of study for a Doctorate in Literature and Rhetoric. She happily considered herself an exceedingly eccentric English professor, until success in Indie publishing lured her into writing, full-time, featuring her fictional knighthood, the Brethren of the Coast.
Katie Kenyhercz is one of 18 Authors in the Hot on Ice: A Hockey Romance Anthology