Reviewed by Laura F.
January 25, 2006
"Bad Boys Ahoy! deserves a spot on anyone's bookshelves."
With her book Bad Boys Ahoy! Sylvia Day has brought together a collection of undeniably sexy stories into one totally readable historical anthology.
In Stolen Pleasures, the pirate known as Captain Phoenix has kidnapped his own bride. He can't decide which is the bigger mistake, capturing the ship of his apparent father-in-law or kidnapping the bride-by-proxy that he didn't know he had. Olivia Merrick finds it hard to believe at first that the sexy pirate who holds her captive on his ship is her husband, Sebastian Blake, Earl of Merrick, but she quickly comes to terms with the truth. The man is attractive in a way she's never had to deal with before and the passion sparking between them can't be held at bay.
The heart of this story is Sebastian's need to remain apart from the life he should be leading in England as the future Marquess of Dunsmore. Olivia knows she wants to stay married, but Sebastian can't seem to make up his mind if he wants to keep her or return her to her father. A subplot of intrigue develops and although I would loved for it to have been a longer, more involved story, Stolen Pleasures was a very satisfying novella.
The second story, Lucien's Gamble, revisits characters introduced in the previous story, but Lucien's Gamble actually takes place three years prior to Stolen Pleasures. Lady Julienne La Coeur enters Lucien Remington's Gentleman's Club looking for her brother. Her brother Hugh has gambled away nearly their entire fortune and Julienne is trying, as usual, to get him out of the mess he's gotten them into. She's going to have to marry for money or they'll be destitute. Lucien, secretly harboring desires for Julienne, sees this as a perfect opportunity to have her, but her innocence makes it hard for him to give in to his baser desires.
He does, they do, and the sexual tension is amazing as they find every way possible to fulfill their desires without letting Julienne lose her innocence. Lucien must gamble on Julienne's ability to love him despite his parentage and must fight his fear of never being good enough for her.
The final story in this anthology is Her Mad Grace, in which we see Hugh, Julienne's unreliable brother, stuck in a decrepit mansion belonging to the Duchess of Glenmoore. He spends his time with Charlotte, the apparent companion of the duchess, who is obviously not an innocent and who feels the attraction between them just as strongly as he feels it.
This story is the most interesting and intriguing of the set, with its portrayal of the change in Hugh. Hugh must learn to be reliable and more of a man than he's ever had to be. Charlotte is strong and capable, but she has secrets and a fear of letting down those she cares for that have made it hard for her to trust. There isn't as much sexual tension in this story as in the others, but it is a good story, and what it lacks in sexual tension it makes up for with heart. Her Mad Grace will make you cheer for Hugh, all grown up now, and you won't begrudge him his happy ending.
Bad Boys Ahoy! deserves a spot on anyone's bookshelves.
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Book Description for Bad Boys Ahoy!
Oh, those naughty rakes. With their wicked winks, sensual smiles, and bad boy habits, you just can't take them out in polite society. But who wants to go out when you can stay in...?
Stolen Pleasures
Sebastian Blake, Earl of Merrick, long ago fled the responsibilities of his title to become the infamous pirate, Captain Phoenix. But the booty he's just captured on a merchant ship is a fierce tempered minx who claims to be a bride...his bride, married to him by proxy on behest of their fathers. He could shame his hated family and return his beautiful wife untouched, but no treasure has ever proved more tempting to Sebastian, and making their marriage a true one—in every sense—is his one urgent desire...
Lucien's Gamble
Lucien Remington's reputation as a debauched libertine who plays by no one's rules—in business or the bedroom—is well deserved. He gets what he wants, social repudiation be damned. But society can keep from him the one thing he truly desires, the untouchable Lady Julienne La Coeur. Until she sneaks into his club dressed as a man and searching for her irresponsible brother. Suddenly she's in Lucien's grasp, his to take, and his mind is filled with the most wickedly sinful thoughts. A gentleman would walk away from the temptation she presents. But then, Lucien has never claimed to be a gentleman...
Her Mad Grace
Hugh La Coeur never wanted to be the Earl of Montrose. Wine, women, and a hefty wager are preferable to responsibility of any kind. It's certainly preferable to spending the night in an eerie, neglected mansion owned by a legendary madwoman. The duchess's companion, the fiercely independent Charlotte, is another matter altogether. Hugh would be happy to spend as many nights in her bed as possible. He knows she's hiding terrible secrets, but for once in his life, Hugh has the desire to take on someone else's burden as his own, no matter what the danger...
They're mad, bad, and totally irresistible...
