The Pirate Hunter

by Jennifer Ashley

Book Overview

A widowed woman believes she may have found the key to her hardened heart in the arms of her abductor?a roguish pirate hunter. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0843952806
• ISBN13: 9780843952803
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Leisure Books
• Length: 234 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.3" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

sensual and intriguing pirate tale....

this is my first Jennifer Ashley. I'm usually disappointed with most pirate romances-most being heavy on sex scenes but not much story. I'm happy to say this book was HIGHLY sensual but had a great storyline as well. Those who like their romances with adventuresome women, alpha males, and a hero/heroine who are older (no blushing school room miss here) then I highly recommend this book . It's on par with Amanda Quick, Johanna Lindsey or Lisa Kleypas style and scope. Great book despite the "old school" clutch shot cover too-LOL! 5 stars:)

A Good Read

Having read the Pirate Next Door and The Care and Feeding of Pirates I knew most these characters and really liked them. I enjoyed learning more about James and his complex personality. The thing that I really didnt care for was the relationship between James and Alexandria. I got the feeling from The Pirate Next Door that he admired her, but really gave her attention to "irk" Grayson. In this story it was made out to be much more.And also the way that Grayson flirted with Diane made me think less of his marriage with Alexandria. I also agree with the other reviewer that the ending should have been about James and Diane, not Grayson and Alexandria. I wanted to know how James acted towards his new son and where they finally settled. I still enjoyed the book, as I do all of her books.

Intense story of revenge and second chances at love

My first book by this author was prior book THE PIRATE NEXT DOOR (which I very much enjoyed) where we first met brooding pirate hunter James Ardmore. James is a driven pirate hunter who has also angered the British Royal Navy by attacking their ships and setting free pressed American sailors. He is considered an outlaw in England and a hero in his native America (Charleston, SC to be specific) but he will not rest until he has killed pirate Black Jack Mallory, the man who killed James' brother and his family. While extricating an American spy from an English house party the previous year, he stumbled onto Lady Diana Worthing whose father knows Black Jack. James abducts her thinking she may know something of value about where Jack is but during their stormy two-day encounter he determines that 1.) She knows nothing about Black Jack, 2.) She's a spitfire who is not easily cowed and 3.) He's extremely attracted to her and senses the feeling is mutual (they share one steamy kiss!). After asking her to come away with him (she refuses) he lets her return to her husband and her life.Unfortunately, Diana's life is miserable, trapped in a marriage to a man who detests her, thinks she cheats on him and who is ashamed of his own daughter who is deaf. She is also carrying guilt for her daughter Isabeau's hearing loss as a result of a childhood illness. If not for Isabeau, Diana may well have run away with James, but she could not leave her daughter behind to the mercy of an indifferent father. Now, a year later, she is a widow and living with her father on a private island off the English coast when she and Isabeau discover James Ardmore washed up on the beach!James and Diana quickly discover that they are no less attracted to one another than they were last year, but neither is particularly happy about it. James is determined to have his revenge on Black Jack - even if it means Diana and her father are caught in the cross-fire - and Diana is just as determined to keep her father's secrets and her daughter safe. Their relationship is stormy and tumultuous with sparks both verbal and sexual igniting regularly. Diana is a woman who loved once when she was young and stupid who is now smarter and a little embittered at what life as thrown her way. James is emotionally dead inside since the death of his brother and his estrangement from his sister, Honoria. The only thing keeping him going is revenge. But when these two begin to fall for one another, it changes everything. Will James decide that love is sweeter than revenge? Will Diana find that the right man can restore her faith in love? I must say that this is one intense couple! No lighthearted romance for these two. But I enjoyed James' character very much - intense, introspective, self-contained but with a sardonic sense of humour - though he was a touch too proud and uncommunicative sometimes. Though I admired Diana's backbone and dedication to Isabeau, at times I found her a touch wasp

yo ho ho and a bottle of fun!

Jennifer Ashley is an amazing writer. This is her third romance, but she is also doing rather well writing Regency Era Detective Mysteries under the penname of Ashley Gardner. Her tales are always charming, very strong historically, and this her third pirate tale, demonstrates her love for yo yo ho and a bottle of rum. She does it with panache! So check out all three pirate tales, but don't hesitate to buy her Regency Mysteries as well. She is a very talented writer no matter which genre.When James Ardmore washes up, barely alive, on a beach after the ship he was on goes down, he never expected HER to be staring at him, when he opened his eyes. HER - being Lady Diana. After all, he had kidnapped her and held her as a pawn in his plans for vengeance once before, so he does not expect a welcome, despite that passionate kiss they shared before.James is on a mission to destroy the buccaneer Black Jack Mallory and will stop at nothing, use anyone to achieve that aim. He will risk his own life to see the deed done for Mallory killed James' family.James abducted Diana, even though he knows it will ruin her socially, because her father has a connection to Black Jack. Only, a sexy Pirate Hunter does not cower Diana. She lives with a cold husband, a husband who abhors his only child, because she is deaf. So James does not rattle this gutsy lady. Despite making handling his captive more difficult, James admires Diana's strengths and her determination to escape, and Diana does everything to make James regret he kidnapped her. Only, Diana begins to see traits in the man, that he cares - which is a lot more than the cold fish she has for a husband does - so she begins to fall in love with the Pirate Hunter, even knowing the romance is doomed, especially since James cannot let go of the need for vengeance.Now, James has washed up on the beach of her isolated home, giving Diana another chance at teaching the man she loves to open his heart once more.Jennifer is a strong writer, with a deft voice. She is a wizard in creating interesting characters that make you care about them. In this one, the child with her hearing problem and how Diana helps her over come that, is so wonderfully done, with such heart.Here's to hoping Jennifer Ashley/Ashley Gardner, keeps giving us such rich Regency tales. Her love for writing is in every word.

fabulous Regency tale

In 1813, James Ardmore lives for his quest to destroy buccaneer Black Jack Mallory for slaughtering his family. James knows he will not rest until he personally kills Black Jack, but once that deed is done the obsessed pirate hunter has no reason to live.Because of her father's connection to Black Jack, James abducts Lady Diana though he knows that will ruin her if it comes out. However, instead of blithely cooperating, Diana does everything in her power to maim her kidnapper and to escape. James admires Diana's courage and feistiness. Diana begins to fall in love with James as she starts to understand his motive though she expects nothing to come of her feelings as his heart and soul were as dead as that of his family. Still when his plan goes awry and he lies near death at her feet, she tries to help her beloved knowing that if does not let go of his past they have no future together.Jennifer Ashley furbishes readers with a fabulous Regency tale with the twist that the hero is THE PIRATE HUNTER so that much of the venue is atypical of the sub-genre. The story line is fun to follow as Diana and her deaf child try to "communicate" sometimes with objects with the obstinate James who finds heaven in her arms. The key to this tale is Ms. Ashley's ability to keep her readers wondering whether love can lift the cloud from James' darkened heart as the author slowly alters the hero's internal conflict from one of revenge and hate to guilt and love.Harriet Klausner