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Publisher:
Leisure Books |
Release
Date: October 2003 |
ISBN:
0-8439-5277-6 |
Awards:
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Format
Reviewed: Softcover |
Buy
it at Amazon |
Read
an Excerpt |
Genre:
Romance -- Historical |
Reviewed:
2003 |
Reviewer:
Kristin Johnson |
Reviewer
Notes: Reviewer, Kristin Johnson, is the author of CHRISTMAS
COOKIES ARE FOR GIVING, co-written with Mimi Cummins. Her
third book, ORDINARY MIRACLES: My Incredible Spiritual, Artistic
and Scientific Journey, co-written with Sir Rupert A.L. Perrin,
M.D., will be published by PublishAmerica in 2004.
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The
Pirate Next Door
(Review 1)
By Jennifer
Ashley
Jerry
Bruckheimer may have gotten an advance copy of The Pirate Next
Door for his swashbuckling film, Pirates of the Caribbean.
For all the romance fans sighing over hunks on sailing ships, reading
the book after seeing the Disney movie will make you feel like you've
just discovered a treasure hoard.
You
can picture the brooding Johnny Depp or the darling Orlando Bloom
in either the role of Jennifer Ashley's romantic hero Grayson Finley
or her antagonist, Grayson's former best friend and pirate partner
James Ardmore. And the movie's female lead Keira Knightley would
find the role of Alexandra Alastair a similar challenge, with a
twist.
Widow Alexandra Alastair, having survived
a loveless marriage, is looking for a sensible husband based on
a The Rules-type list. The problem is, Grayson Finley kisses her
senseless the first time she rescues him from James Ardmore, who
hates him desperately and has imposed a postponed death sentence
(similar to the one on Will Turner in Pirates of the Caribbean)
in exchange for giving Maggie, Grayson's daughter by Sara, the woman
Grayson and James both loved, safe passage from the islands. In
addition, James has kidnapped the exiled French king, whom Grayson
is trying to find for the British Admiralty, a quid pro quo for
a Nixon pardon of his pirate crimes. Don't you hate it when passion
gets in the way of a blood debt, political intrigue and sensible
respectable marriage?
Passions
and longings of the heart drive this sensual, seaworthy romp. Forget
about the bodice-ripping. The main action is the conflict between
heads and hearts in this marriage comedy that, as so many romances
do, models itself well on Jane Austen. Oliver displays sense and
sensibility in portraying her characters' motivations and feelings,
and the characters themselves have emotional depth. Grayson has
compassion and understanding for James Ardmore's hatred; Alexandra
recognizes that her rashness led to her first unhappy marriage,
but that an American Bandstand-type list for judging a mate is hardly
a better approach. The steamy sex scenes are just the topper. Yo
ho, a pirate's life for me!
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