Review: Kidnapped by the Pirate by Keira Andrews

Kidnapped by the Pirate by Keira Andrews
Amazon, Goodreads, Audible
Novel: 259pgs

4.5 Pants Off

Blurb: Will a virgin captive surrender to this pirate’s sinful touch?

Nathaniel Bainbridge is used to hiding, whether it’s concealing his struggles with reading or his forbidden desire for men. Under the thumb of his controlling father, the governor of Primrose Isle, he’s sailing to the fledging colony, where he’ll surrender to a respectable marriage for his family’s financial gain. Then pirates strike and he’s kidnapped for ransom by the Sea Hawk, a legendary villain of the New World.

Bitter and jaded, Hawk harbors futile dreams of leaving the sea for a quiet life, but men like him don’t deserve peace. He has a score to settle with Nathaniel’s father—the very man whose treachery forced him into piracy—and he’s sure Nathaniel is just as contemptible.

Yet as days pass in close quarters, Nathaniel’s feisty spirit and alluring innocence beguile and bewitch. Although Hawk knows he must keep his distance, the desire to teach Nathaniel the pleasure men can share grows uncontrollable. It’s not as though Hawk would ever feel anything for him besides lust…

Nathaniel realizes the fearsome Sea Hawk’s reputation is largely invented, and he sees the lonely man beneath the myth, willingly surrendering to his captor body and soul. As a pirate’s prisoner, he is finally free to be his true self. The crew has been promised the ransom Nathaniel will bring, yet as danger mounts and the time nears to give him up, Hawk’s biggest battle could be with his own heart.

This May-December gay romance from Keira Andrews features classic tropes including: a tough alpha pirate too afraid to love, a plucky virgin captive half his age, enemies to lovers, first-time sexual discovery, and of course a happy ending. 85,000 words.

Review

POUNDED IN THE BUTT BY THE PIRATE (Do you think Chuck Tingle will come sue me?)

This is the pirate book I never knew I need. Kidnapped by the Pirate was everything I wanted in a pirate gay romance, with enough sizzle to singe my arm hairs and leave me with a smile on my face. 

 Nathaniel Bainbridge wants a life where how could live and enjoy the things he’s good at. He’s never been one for the books and no amount of tutors have helped with the fact that he’s unable to read. Yes, he speaks like a gentleman and one would never be able to tell that he isn’t educated or was unable to be educated. Running, climbing, and swimming is where Nathaniel interest lies, along with his interest in men. He dreams of the day he can be mounted, he gets lost in cock fantasies quite a lot. So when his dad demands he marries and moves to the new world, Nat knows he’s very much screwed. He’s not meant to be a husband but he will do what he’s told, and make the journey to a place he will never belong and marry a woman he doesn’t want.  

The journey is tedious on the ship because Nathaniel is a man that needs to move, needs to do and so he’s looking forward to getting his land legs back. His trip gets cut short when his ship is boarded by pirates and Nathaniel is kidnapped for ransom by the legendary Sea Hawk. 

He’s expecting to be cruelly treated on The Damn Manta but his treatment comes as a surprise and also his feelings for the pirate that has kidnapped him. Captain Hawk is the type of man that would give Nathaniel a good seeing to, and his virgin everything is intrigued and both scared by the feelings the pirate invokes. Nathaniel has no disillusions that Hawk can be a cruel man but he’s also seen that he is a good man, and he wants to experience everything with this man before he returns to his father and becomes a proper married gentleman. 

First, I really freaking loved this for the sole fact that Captain Hawk is a real effing pirate. There are no rose coloured glasses when it comes to who he is. He walks the walk, talks the talk, and dresses like every dream I’ve ever had in my teenage years about being captured on the sea by a pirate and ravished. 

Secondly, Nathaniel and Hawk are hellfire hot. They did the things and introduced Nat to the wonderful world of man love and Nathaniel soon starts, to realize that now he’s had cock he can never lift a frock. Hawk cares for him start to transform his feelings and he’s dreaming of a life together but everyday aboard the ship proves that he’ll never be accepted and he’s the ticket to a lot of money. 

“Why did I think better of you because you read to me and were kind about my deficiencies?” Hawk tore his gaze away. “I don’t know, since apparently I must remind you I’m a fucking pirate!” 

Thirdly, the wonderful age gap. Isn’t it just true classic historical romance with the naïve virgin and the worldly older man. It’s trope as old as time but there is just something about it that’s works so well in a historical setting, and man did it deliver here. Captain Hawk is forward and brusque and Nathaniel’s innocence adds fire to an already burning super hot flame.  

Overall, I really enjoyed the shit out of this. Giving me all I need in pirate feels, delivering amazing fucking on a pirate ship, and giving me a beautiful HEA. I love it, I love it, and am so glad I decided to give it a read. Keira Andrews you most definitely have the sauce (no ketchup). If you’re like me and spent many a days reading Johanna Lindsey, Lisa Kleypas, Elizabeth Lowell, Christina Dodd, Kat Martin etc…in your youth (or even now). Then this book will give you such a delight, and is not to be missed. 

SideNote- I need more freaking gay historical romances in my life!! 

Review: The Winning Edge by Keira Andrews

The Winning Edge (Cold War #1-2) by Keira Andrews
Amazon
Novel: 214pgs

3.5 Pants Off

Blurb: After an explosive locker room confrontation with his Russian rival ends in the most intense sex of his life, American pairs skater Dev Avira is distracted to say the least. He’s worked for years to have a chance at Olympic gold, and he can’t let himself—or his partner—down. Playing cat and mouse with the steely and smoldering Mikhail Reznikov is the last thing he needs as he prepares for the biggest competition of his life, but they can’t keep their hands off each other as the Games approach.

Dev soon learns that beneath Mikhail’s arrogant and aloof exterior is Misha, a passionate man who warms Dev’s heart and scorches his bed. They’re both determined to win, but for Misha his freedom could be at stake if he and his partner take anything less than gold. Who will stand atop the podium? And can secret lovers from different worlds make a life together once the competition ends? 
 
This gay sports romance from Keira Andrews features enemies to lovers, two alpha men, sequins, and of course a happy ending. Content previously published as novellas Cold War and Holding the Edge.

Review

Causing An Ice Melting

I’ve only read one Keira Andrew’s book previously and really liked it, so when I saw there was a figure skating romance being offered up by the author I had to jump on (Yuri on Ice feels anyone). This is also a enemies (rivals) to lovers story. Let’s just say, I don’t understand how they even had ice to skate on because things were hot, hot, hawt! 

Dev wants to be a champion on the ice, he wants the gold for him and his partner but theres a team stopping him from achieving his dream and it’s the Russians. The team also has Mikhail Reznikov, colder than the ice he skates on and crazy beautiful. Dev is feeling things he shouldn’t and his eyes should be on the prize and not gloriousity that is Mikhail’s ass. When an angry encounter leads to some mutual getting off, Dev has more to worry about than winning a competition he now has to protect his heart from the cold. 

Mikhail is seen as cold and aloof and he’s accepted that. He’s got a job to do and that’s winning gold at the olympics. Its not that he wants to win its that he needs to win at all cost. He has no love for skating anymore, its become a way to keep his family safe to keep himself safe but Dev Avira has come and put a chink in his plan. Their chemistry is molten and Mikhail is putting all that he is in jeopardy but staying away from Dev is impossibly hard. He makes him need! 

The book is broken down in two parts and honestly I liked the first part a lot more. It had intensity, excitement, and a taste of the forbidden. Dev and Misha are fighting an attraction that neither of them needs, but the chemistry is so delicious and risks behind it is all so electrifying. I loved their coming together and the apprehension that Dev faces knowing that his ass and mind should be on the ice and not on Misha (easier said than done). 

The second part, while alright is not without it's faults. This is where the story hit a plateau for me. There was all this excitement in the first part and the second became a repetitive storyline about why they shouldn’t be together. The sex, sizzling but that dirty talk got me feeling some sort of way. Like some badly produced porn with dialogue, I could not deal. I was all “no more talkie, please no more talkie”. I was all on board for them having their happy ending, but the balance was off and by the end their I was just waiting for it to be over.  

Overall, I liked the story. In the beginning I was loving the story, loving the figure skating just loving it all but by the end there it was falling apart for me. The conflict was dragged out and then came together with an anti-climatic reveal. So this one was just an alright read for me, sucks cus I really dig the figure skating.

SideNote- Big applause for representation. It is great o see a person of colour on the cover and also represented in the book.

Review: Love's Nest by Leta Blake & Keira Andrews

Reviewed by Whuppsy
Love's Nest (Tempting Tales #3) by Leta Blake and Keira Andrews
Ellora's Cave
Novel: 161pgs
2 Pants Off

Blurb:
There’s no greater mystery in the kingdom than how Prince Mateo’s sisters wear out their shoes each night while locked away in their chambers. Using old magic, Mateo discovers their secret and follows them through a portal to an enchanted world of fairies and lusty delights.

Ópalo has waited years for his male human, and he knows Mateo is his destiny. Mateo soon succumbs to the pleasures of the flesh, but as their worlds collide, Ópalo has to risk everything to win his man forever.

Review
Prince Mateo is the youngest of twelve children (twelve!!!) and the only son of The King. There is a mystery afoot, what oh what can his 11 sisters be doing at night that their slippers are ruined? Mateo’s father has decided to find out and he’s not against using his children as a reward. ALL OF HIS CHILDREN!! Mateo included!! Mateo’s not going to stand for this, as he wants the right to live his own life, not the life that someone else requires of him.

Mateo takes it upon himself to find out what’s going on and with the help of his former maid and a magical cloak, he’s off to see what his sister’s are up too. He follows them through a portal into the land of Fairy. The same land of fairy that they heard about as children, there he sees his sisters fall into the arms of their mates. As he watches he sees another someone there alone, Opalo. Opalo takes Mateo with him across the lake and shows him the life that his sisters are so taken with.

Opalo has been waiting for years for his “bride”. The one for whom he was created to be with. He knows the moment that he sees Mateo that his wishes have come true. That this handsome man is the one!! Opalo helps Mateo to see the wonder of being in Fairy. He also shows Mateo something that Mateo has never had…Passion! Opalo teaches Mateo all about the sensual delights of the flesh. But the one thing that he requires, more than anything is Mateo’s heart, his love.

Yet, there here is the crux of the problem…Mateo refuses to fall in love. He’s seen the devastation that happens when you love and lose the one you love. He’s watched his Father become heartbroken and grief-stricken with the loss of his wife. That is something that Mateo wants to avoid at all costs.

Now this is a sweet, story. No real angst or mystery. This is just a sweet, tender love story. If you have a hankering for a story that will leave you feeling sweetly gooey, this is the story for you.

2 Pants Off