The Captain of All Pleasures

The only reason I read this book is for my Book Bingo of debut novel for a favorite author. It was mediocre at best and I probably wouldn't like Kresley Cole if this was the only book I had read by her. She has definitely grown as an author with her writing style. I prefer her paranormal and contemporary fiction rather than her historical. Although this book was not my favorite, it's still better than the majority of stand-alone romance novels that I have read.

I can't believe I like romance novels. I've been able to get around admitting it by liking Paranormal Romance, and pretending that the Romance part was just kind of tacked on there. But I really love Kresley Cole's Immortals after dark series and I finally decided I wanted to read her non-paranormal stuff.
And I'm glad I did. The Captain is a really fun book, great characters and kind of glee-inducing for me. I am a sucker for dark, tormented heroes and plucky heroines.

4.75 Stars

A strong adventurous woman who doesn't let the conventions and opinions of others to get in her way of living the life SHE wants.
A man who allowed his family & the conventions of the times to destroy any hope he ever had for happiness & the life he wanted.
Then they meet.
Fireworks!
Supremely written.
But then, I would expect nothing less from
[a:Kresley Cole|4428|Kresley Cole|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1328377628p2/4428.jpg].

The first time Captain Derek Sutherland, Earl of Stanhope sees Nicole she is dressed like a boy in seedy tavern. He mistakes her for a prostitute but desires her anyway. When she leaves with his hated rival Jason Lassiter (a man at least twice her age) he can't believe she would prefer Lassiter over him. The next time he sees Nicole she is running for her life down the docks from two saboteurs/would-be-rapists. He saves her and brings her back to his ship. Only after Derek and Lassiter are arrested does Derek find out Christina is not a whore.. and also not Christina. She is Nicole Lassiter, daughter of his rival but he still wants her.
Nicole Lassiter has come home to her father's ship for the Great Circle Race from London to Sydney. show more She finds her father in a tavern where she is informed he is investigating ships being sabotaged. Later at her father's ship she wakes up during the night and find two villains sabotaging the ship. Of course they decide they should rape her but Nicole puts up a hell of a fight and gets away with them still in pursuit of her only to be rescued by Sutherland.
This is only the start for them because their journey will take them across the world from England, to Africa, to Brazil, and then to Sydney and back again. Lots and lots of misunderstandings adds even more danger to their journey and they don't need any more danger with saboteurs running amok and devastating storms and shipwrecks to contend with. A great romance with lots of adventure. show less

Derek Sutherland is an Earl who wants no ties to his title. Instead he sails the seas competing in ship races and working trade routes. Nicole Lassiter is the daughter of his biggest rival, but when her father is jailed for a crime he didn't commit it becomes Nicole herself who becomes his biggest competitor.

I really enjoyed this story and the characters of Nicole and Derek. Derek was definitely a tortured hero which is always a big weakness for me :-) There were also some humorous parts, such as when Nicole paints Derek's cabin, which made the book even more enjoyable.

I was gliding through this book until the "big surprise", like the book all the better for that complete change of gears. Not Cole's best, but still enjoyable.

The Captain of Pleasure

Author: Kresley Cole

ISBN: 1-4165-5455-6



4 Hearts



Description:

Raised as a free spirit aboard her sea captain father's clipper ship, Nicole Lassiter has never encountered an obstacle she couldn't overcome—until she meets Captain Derek Sutherland.



His sizzling kisses leave her longing, but after they share a night of passion, his subsequent disdain makes her blood boil. Nicole vows to take her revenge—by helping her father beat Sutherland in a high-stakes competition: the Great Circle Race from England to Australia.



Nicole's plans are thrown overboard after Sutherland inadvertently prevents her father from sailing, yet she remains undaunted—taking to the high seas with her father's ship. But after a harrowing show more storm, she finds herself a virtual prisoner aboard Sutherland's vessel. And while her mind tells her she should escape, her body urges her to surrender. show less