This book is a perfect example of why Connie Mason is one of my favorite authors. Mason thrills with her foray into the sultry, decadent world of 1564 Turkey. I don’t normally pay attention to book covers, but the cover photo here tells you everything you need to know. The Pirate Prince is hot! Mason’s story does the cover art justice. She guides the reader through an arousing journey of the senses that is impossible to put down.

Prince Dariq is forced from his palace home after his brother, Ibrahim set out to kill all the remaining males in his family. Dariq vows revenge, turning to piracy to wreck havoc on his brothers ships. Lady Willow Foxburn, a prim and proper debutante is on her way back to England from visiting her mother in France when her ship is attacked by Barbary pirates. During the ordeal she ends up being captured and sold off to a slave master. If that isn’t bad enough, Willow is sold by the slave master to Ibrahim; is dressed in a skimpy harem outfit and once again finds herself on a ship this time headed to Istanbul. She hardly has time to contemplate the terrible turn in which her life has taken when her ship is again set upon by pirates. Fear really clamps down on her throat when the next fearsome man she encounters is devilishly handsome and even more dangerous to her soul than any slave master could ever be.

Dariq has been enjoying tormenting his brother through pirating and is overjoyed when he finds that the plunder from his brothers ship is actually Willow, Ibraham’s much sought after blond treasure. Finally revenge is in sight! The plan is to trade Willow for his mother Saliha Sultana, who was unavoidably left behind at the palace. Willow just wants to go home. Willow is much more resourceful than she looks and is not about to accept the fate of being any man’s prize, especially not an arrogant pirate’s prize. Though Dariq knows it is best to give Willow to Ibrahim untouched for her own safety, he finds it is increasingly difficult to keep himself away. Though mutual attraction smoulders between the two, they both fight it, Willow more so than Dariq. Desire gets the best of Dariq and he begins to seduce Willow at first with suggestive words, teasing her with erotic possibilities and his own smug charm. Frustration at Willow’s predicament as the pawn of two brothers is palpable. The reader wants to hate Dariq for being the typical self-assured male of his time but he is too irresistible for the reader and for Willow as well. Everyones defenses begin to weaken.

Since it will take weeks for a rendevous exchange to be arranged, Dariq ensconces Willow in his harem hideaway on the tropical island of Lipsi. Mustafa, Dariq’s shadow of a bodyguard is a bit irritating and overly protective in his attempts to dissuade his master from making what he views as big mistake. Willow is just happy to get off the ship and receive a reprieve from Ibrahim’s clutches while seeking solace on the island. On Lipski however, Willow finds she has to deal with more than just fending off Dariq’s advances. Safiye the sole concubine in the seraglio doesn’t take kindly to the threat Willow presents and makes her life a living hell. There is crackling tension with all the jealous harem women. Mason provides a fascinating insight into harem life from the bathing pools, the eunuchs and even the harem grooming rituals. I felt so sorry for the eunuchs.

Soon enough, Willow succumbs to Dariq with a raging passion of her own, falling deeply in love. Dariq falls just as hard for his “Beauty”. In the back drop of the lush island they enjoy a fun-filled erotic paradise. Unfortunately the clock is ticking and the exchange must still be made. Dariq refuses to let go of Willow or risk losing his mother in the process. He makes a bold sacrifice. Willow makes a sacrifice of her own. The two have to frantically use all of their resources when they are plunged into an even more amazing journey when the evil Ibrahim is finally confronted.

The book was excellent. The ending was heart-melting. Too bad the story had to end. ( )