The Pirate and the Pagan: A Novel

Not upto Ms. Henley standard

Winner of the Romantic Times Award for Best English Historical Romance in 1990, this is a wonderfully complex tale of deception and love set in 17th century England in the Restoration period, when Charles II ruled England. Henley does a masterful job of showing us what it might have been like to live in affluent London in those days. Her writing is incredibly detailed, obviously reflecting a great amount of research but woven so intricately into the fabric of her romance you won't feel like you're getting a history lesson. Few romance writers today bring such research and detail to their historical novels. I love how she takes time to develop the characters, too, and the dynamics of the explosive and passionate relationship between Summer and Ruark.Lady Summer St. Catherine is an innocent, but not very lady like, young woman raised on the Cornish coast with her younger brother, Spencer (nicknamed Spider). With their mother dead and their father a wastrel who spends all their money and all his time in London, they are quite alone since they cannot afford food, much less a servant. When Summer and Spider stumble into a smuggling opportunity, they take advantage of it in order to survive. Then their father dies and Summer goes to London to stay with their aunt (a wonderful character). Summer learns her father has mortgaged away their beloved home, Roseland. Her aunt, who is teaching her to be a lady, convinces her the way out of her troubles is to marry a wealthy man. Summer takes on the role of a lady and sets her sights on the neighboring Cornish lord, Ruark Helford, a friend of the king. She sets out to win Ruark's affections and both fall in love. Ruark has no idea his new bride is a smuggler and when she confesses, his violent temper destroys their relationship. But Ruark's younger brother, Rory, a pirate, will come to Summer's rescue providing her all the love she will no longer get from Ruark.Henley weaves an intriguing story of love and deception in an interesting time in the history of England. She includes many rich historical details of the court of Charles II, including some infamous characters, and lots of steamy love scenes. I must say I felt Ruark's reaction to learning the love of his live had been involved in smuggling prior to their marriage to feed her and her brother was over the top--as he acknowledges later. No normal man in love would have reacted that way. Yes, he would have been upset, even angry, but he wouldn't call her a bitch and cast his faithful wife into the group of all women who ever betrayed a man. But I got past that to fall in love with this story. Summer was a wonderful heroine...and inspiring woman with principles in a time when few had them. This is a well-told tale and I recommend it.

This was my first book by Virginia Henley but certainly not my last. Couldn't put it down and when I finished I had to start reading it again. Summer has to be one of my favourite heroines and Ruark is very much the hero, I liked that they fell in love early in the story and then circumstances drove them apart. But then we get Rory thrown in who's character is the opposite of Ruark and Summer is torn between the two. I've been reading historical romances for many years my favourite authors being Shirlee Busbee and Kathleen Woodiwiss but this is definately in my top five.

This is the first book I have read of this author Virginia Henley. She is brilliant, story line, characters, romance, drama, twist all there. I couldn't put it down. I do like period books and this one hits the mark. Very well written. I will be buying more books by this author.

I loved it..No complaints here and because i don't have any doesn't mean i'm for violence aginst women...Good read kept me captivated couldn't put it down...Ruark had a very nasty tempter, Rory was just the opposite very soft and loving even though Ruark and Rory are the same person..but i think Cat/Summer held her own...good read first book by this author won't be the last....AS for the love scenes some ppl complain when its too much or its too little, i found it ok it never kept you bored i could tell you that much....