Umm...why have I not read a pirate romance before now?!? I feel sorry for any that may follow because it's quite the standard to live up to.

This was an incredibly well-balanced read. The right amount of plot and characterization to create a tense, thrilling atmosphere that gave way to heavily erotic romantic scenes.

At times, I was getting Our Flag Means Death-vibes from Hawk, who enjoys the theatrical elements of being a pirate. But at 41, he's also tiring of the pirate life and wants to retire to a quieter, more peaceful existence. When 18-year-old Nathaniel becomes his captive, many things get thrown for a loop for Hawk, none more so than the chance at an actual relationship. I enjoyed how their relationship developed from intimidation and mistrust to appreciation and reciprocity. They also have some great teasing interactions:

"It looked like quite a big ship."
Grimacing, Haw said, "Aye, but bigger isn't always better. Those hulking ships are not as..." He waved his hand in the air as if searching for a word.
"Agile?"
"Yes, you fancy little fuck. Not as agile."

There was A LOT of sex, more than I thought there would be, yet it I found it wasn't sex for sex's sake, each scene paramount to particular circumstances they found themselves in and boy were they 🔥🔥🔥

It did drag a bit towards the end, but overall was quite an enjoyable read.

This is a great read for fans of:
-Age gap
-power imbalance
-hurt/comfort
-enemies to lovers
-virgin MC