A Ladies Guide to Love and Pirates, by Jennifer Moore, introduces Captain Reid Courtney. He has been a part of Annabelle Bradford’s life from shortly after her birth. Courtney had boarded the San Sebastián to gather loot but he also finds a baby. And this baby, whom he thinks of as Belle, changes his life from that day on. Captain Courtney not only becomes her godfather, but also becomes a companion Belle spends many summers with out at sea!
The year Belle turns twenty, a few of the sailors she had met on these summer trips, surprise her with a visit to her London home. Unfortunately, they come bearing bad news. Courtney has suddenly disappeared. Belle’s first action to try to locate her godfather is to break Captain Hawke out of prison hoping he will help track down Captain Courtney!
Once Hawke is found and the crew along with Belle are headed out to sea, you wonder if they will find Courtney or simply more trouble. In the midst of adjusting to dealing with Captain Hawke, Belle must choose between the two people that she loves. Her mother wants her to settle down and marry; however, Belle cannot imagine giving up Courtney or the sea!
Hawke tries to prepare Belle for the battle to come, but neither are prepared for what they must face in the end. Will Hawke and Belle be walking away from each other or will they find a happily ever after? There is definitely a surprise ending to this tale!
I received a copy of this book from Shadow Mountain Publishing in exchange for my review.