This is the seventh book in Playful Brides series, and if you're coming to it with no knowledge of the other six, don't fret. The author brings in some of the characters from her other books, but you'll have no trouble following this story. It is well written so it can definitely be read as a stand-alone.

Listen, I'm not a huge fan of pirate tropes, but I am a huge fan of this author, so I "dived" into this one feet first and eyes wide with anticipation and hope that I'll at least like this tale. Guess what? I loved it! But, that shouldn't be a surprise to any of this authors fans. She can weave a tale and draw her readers with an ease because she creates highly entertaining and immensely intriguing characters.

But characters alone wouldn't make this tale as good as it was if we didn't have plenty of intrigue and a fast pace that moved the plot and the story to its final end.

If you're like me and like your romance to be filled with sensuality, humor and some mystery, please grab this one. It will make you sigh and smile from page one, straight to the end.

Melanie for b2b

~ARC was given by the publisher via NetGalley.~

This is the 7th book of the series. Even though I was not able to read all of the previous books, it was really a delight to read the rest of them.

Since I was not able to read Captain Rafferty Cavendish, The Irresistible Rogue , I cannot really say how the two was brought up. But as the story progress, there were some parts that you can clearly see, how much Cade love his twin.

"Cade regretted that he couldn’t share his secrets with his brother, but it was best this way. To keep Rafe safe. The less he knew, the better. "

It was one of those reasons why a black sheep must return. Not because, for his own, but for the people he left behind.

I love how the two interacted with one another. From the light banner, to the throwing of arrogance.

“I don’t know many lady’s maids who are so—ahem— proficient with a knife. I clearly need to get out more.”
“How many lady’s maids do you know?”
“Enough?”

The lines, my gods, they were the kind that would keep you laughing at some point because if you can actually imagine how they looked liked when they said those lines.

The love story? It was a progressing thing. It was not as obvious as the other romances that I read, but it was enough for the readers to know how will the HEA will turn out.

I truly enjoy this book and I look forward to reading the rest of it.

Spies, pirates, and the elusive Black Fox. Cade and Danielle are both clever spies, and each have secrets, but somehow they're following the same trail and are looking to seek revenge and catch Baptiste for different reasons. Along the way, desire and and attraction throw these two together, but will their goals keep them apart. This is a fun and smexy romance! and remember: never trust a pirate!

**I was provided a copy through netgalley

I really enjoyed this book and hope to see more books in the series.

Another interesting story with enticing and loveable characters. Never Trust a Pirate is a treasure hunting type historical romance worth reading. It got off to a good start only to slow down a bit in the middle, but hold in there because it picks back up with a punch. Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for a honest review. Link to follow soon.

Having not read any of this “new to me” author’s work, specifically the previous six books of this series, I wasn’t sure what I was in store for, folks. Throw on top of that, a spy backdrop can be hit and miss with me, as I often have low tolerance for too much storytime being pirated away from the main couple’s romance. So I’ll just openly admit I let the smexy, romantic cover speak for itself and let it entice me to give this one a try.

Good news, first, my fellow romance book-loving friends...The writing flowed, stayed engaging, you could feel the main couple’s attraction/chemistry which lead to lots of delicious saucy grins, raised flirtatious eyebrows, and seductive back and forth banter. All which built up to explosive, heart melting, movie screen worthy, passionate kisses. Sure, very graphic steamy encounters eventually followed, but I sure enjoyed the author taking her time to get there.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the strong, sassy French heroine and the identical twin/black sheep of the family set-up that were paired together. The spy element was interwoven in such a way it definitely added to the storyline but did not highjack it by any means. The author also did a good job of adding an unexpected twist near the end that completely caught me off guard. Not only did it help create a touching romantic ending, but I absolutely love being surprised like that.

My only word of caution would be for avid romance readers who are not fond of a previous “devil may care” unapologetic manho who had no qualms about seeking pleasure with “lots” of similarly loose women (i.e., brothels). Though Danielle wasn’t a virgin, she didn’t have a lot of experience but refreshingly still managed to handle herself in a confident, flirtatious manner when dealing with Cade. Yeah, one good saucy eyebrow raising deserves another, don’t you think? (wink)

Not only could Danielle handle herself in dangerous situations, she was also adept in dealing with whatever this good guy but perceived as a rogue pirate dished out. In fact, it eventually became apparent she was at the helm in steering their relationship into unchartered waters. She definitely turned the tide on him more than once, and no one was more surprised than Cade to find his heart completely captivated then stolen away.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention this one contains the “dresses like a lad and somehow gets away with it” scenario. Honestly, maybe it’s just me, but I struggle with that notion whenever it appears in any romantic read, especially when close work/living quarters are involved.

Well, I’m glad I trusted my instincts on reading this one, folks. Maybe we should never trust a pirate, but Cade’s “Colin O’Donoghue” like character (the Captain Hook actor from the TV series Once Upon a Time) kept coming to mind and gave me lots of reasons why he seems to break that mold and cast in stone, golden rule altogether.

Title: Never Trust a Pirate, Series: Playful Brides (Book 7), Author: Valerie Bowman, Pages: 288, stand-alone but part of a series, unapologetic “devil may care” rogue/manho hero, sassy/strong/confident beautiful French heroine who is full of surprises, heroine has had only one previous brief smexy experience, cameo appearances of previous book characters,non-virgin main couple, VERY steamy scenes, showdown with a mutual enemy, no cheating, no love triangle, no OM drama, brief OW drama.

(I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for a fair review which was distributed via NetGalley. No compensation was provided to me, nor do I have any affiliation with the author/publisher/NetGalley. It will be posted on Amazon, Goodreads, NetGalley, and Barnes & Noble.)

This was an insanely fun book. It begins with a thief sneaking into a captain's cabin to steal the map to be used to help Napoleon escape his prison and then moves on to a rake living with his brother his brother's new wife meeting the new French ladies maid and it all goes a bit crazy from there.

This is not a book to be taken too seriously. It's meant to be a fun romance with adventure and intrigue and a little bit of mystery as well. I knew it was going to be a fun read as soon as I saw the word Pirate in the title. I mean, pirates are always fun. The great thing about this book is you're continually kept guessing about why people are doing what they're doing because there are pirates and spies and neither always tells the whole truth!

I thought I might not like this book, especially as when you first meet Danielle she's interviewing to be a ladies maid but you can tell she doesn't really know much about the job. I began to question why she was there (I was suspicious from the start) but she ends up being a really great character who was strong and her own motives for her slightly duplicitous behavior but you'll find that out as you read.

Then there was Cade, I'm still not fully convinced I 100% liked him. I mean, he was a great black sheep and rake and the perfect opposite to Rafe (his twin) but whilst his rakeish ways are frequently mentioned I wasn't fully convinced he was the bad guy everyone believed him to be. The fact I didn't believe it meant I didn't like him as much as I might. That being said, he did have some fun banter with Danielle and them together was fun,

I did notice one of the later plot twists early on and the ending was a little rushed for my tastes but if you're looking for a romance which is a little ridiculous then this is the book for you.

What happens when a pirate hiding in plain site as a black sheep of a brother meets his sister-in-law's lady's maid who is a pirate/spy in disguise? Sparks fly! From the start, you can see that these two are perfect for each other. You know they are each hiding something but are not quite sure what and the reader isn't sure if either of them are good or bad.
This book is a wonderful addition to this series by Valerie Bowman and was a delightful, fun read. The characters are well-written and I love a good story with s strong, independent heroine and a strong man who appreciates her.
Even though it is part of a series, it totally works as a stand-alone story. Don't let the title fool you, this isn't a story about rough and tumble pirates - there's not a parrot or peg-leg in sight.
I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I really thought this was a very good story. I enjoyed the comedy that was in the story. The characters were fun. This was the second book in the series but you don't need to read the first to enjoy this book. Just remember that this us historical fiction and not Christian fiction. I received this ebook through Netgalley via St Martins Press for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

A captivating, humorous, sexy and suspenseful historical read!!

Cade and Danielle's story was even better than I expected. I love everything about this couple, I was captivated right from the start.
Cade is Rafe's twin brother and the black sheep of the family. There is some rumor about him being a pirate. He is sexy, charming, protective, possessive, and caring.

The story is beautifully well-written, fast-paced, and with great banter; the entire cast of characters were great and likeable. The plot was entertaining and the connection and chemistry was so palpable between hero and heroine!!

NEVER TRUST A PIRATE is now one of my favorite historical reads of 2017, and I highly recommend it!!

ARC Kindly Provided by St. Martin's Press via NetGalley

This is Book 7 of the "Playful Brides" Series and it has all the elements I love in a spicy and entertaining historical! There are pirates, lots of secrets, of course, spies and of course an amazing romance!

Cade and Danielle are great together and the chemistry between them is wonderful!!!!

Very entertaining read!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Black sheep of his well-to- do family, Cade Cavendish relishes his world of rebellion, deception, and seduction. Miss Danielle LaCrosse is a former heiress, orphaned and left penniless and now works undercover. Danielle is startled to learn the handsome gentleman who is as handsome as sin with the devil in his eyes is not her employer the Viscount, but rather his infamous brother Cade. They work together to uncover the identity of a dangerous enemy from their past the Black Fox. You’ll be captivated by this compelling and sensuous story into the world of pirates, spies, revenge and intrigue with a sensual romance thrown in to keep things exciting! It is fast paced and keeps you wondering what will happen next.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers' copy of this book from Net Galley and the publisher.

Never Trust a Pirate by Valerie Bowman
Playful Brides #7

Had me from the first page and did not let me go till the last…and then…I wanted to keep reading to know more about the wonderful characters in this book! Who is the Black Fox…this stealthy stealer of items and perhaps hearts? What mission is the Fox bent on in this story and will it be a success? Spies aplenty abound in this story with nobody quite sure who is spying on whom and who said spies work for. Throw in a pirate or two and a bit of time on a ship (just a bit) and you end up with a wonderful story waiting to be read.

I loved Danielle! She was strong, resilient, resourceful, intelligent, charming and humorous. Cade was the perfect person for Danielle with his roguish ways, quick wit, charm, humor, skills, intelligence and so much more. The two brought out the best in one another and had so much fun doing so! I smiled, laughed, rooted for them to get a HEA and loved every moment reading this book. I was glad to hear the villain was thwarted and left curious about the puppet master of spies wondering if someday Grimaldi’s story will be shared. I have not read all of the books in this series but would love to at some point in time.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

Every year I try an other pirate romance in the hopes that it will work for me. It's not my genre of Historical romance, but I liked Eloisa James's take on it so I keep hoping there'll be another book out there that I like. It's not this one though. It was just too bonkers, with too many contradictions and too much stuff that didn't work for me to allow me to get swept away in the story. Hey ho.

I must start being better at checking what I thought of an author's last book before I accept another through a NetGalley widget....

I really enjoyed this book. It has all the elements are enjoy: adventure, action, humor and romance. Great job!

A swashbuckling romance that is delicious and adventurous right from the first page of the book. I absolutely adored both the hero, Cade Cavendish and heroine, Danielle LaCrosse. They both are brave, fun and full of secrets. It felt like they were completely made for each other. This amazing story is book seven in the Playful Brides series and is definitely one for the keeps. I have just one minor disappointment that considering that Rafe and Cade are identical twins, the models on this cover and the cover of "The Irresistible Rogue" should have been the same but unless I am wrong about it, they are completely different. I wish they would have paid more attention to the covers. I would recommend reading this book as part of a series instead of a standalone for better understanding of the characters and their relationships. I also really like Delilah's character and wish she gets her own book too.

* I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

A fun and suspenseful historical read. Cade is the black sheep of the family and is rumored to be a pirate. Danielle is working as a lady’s maid and after a steamy encounter is relieved to learn her employer has a twin brother. These two both have lots of secrets to hide, can they work together against a common enemy? Entertaining story and great chemistry. I really liked it!

Valerie Bowman has done it again! She has written a light, fun and sexy Regency romance with just enough intrigue and natural humor to move the adventure along.
I love a story with pirates or spies and this has both! I scored this a 4 out of 5 stars because some of the French sayings were used too much and became trite. But soon, my eyes just skimmed over them and they didn't distract from the fun.
Mrs. Bowman has continued her Playful Brides writing style. If you enjoyed her other books, you'll definitely want to check out Pirate. If you're new to Valerie's novels, they are fun, quick reading on the train or just a lazy afternoon.

A beguiling blend of searing emotion, red-hot passion and nail-biting suspense, Never Trust a Pirate is a captivating historical romance guaranteed to keep readers eagerly turning the pages late into the night!

Cade Cavendish has always balked at convention and propriety. A man who is far happier marching to the beat of his own drum than blindly following the diktats of society, Cade has always done things his own way – which probably accounts for the fact that the Ton has always viewed him and his activities with great suspicion and wariness. Rebellion, deception and the seduction of beautiful women come as easily and naturally to him as breathing, but not even a rogue like Cade is prepared for the maelstrom of emotions that are unleashed after an unexpected encounter with a raven-haired lady’s maid!

Despite her noble birth, Danielle La Crosse’s life is anything but a bed of roses. Left orphaned, destitute and penniless, Danielle had been forced into service to save her mother’s life. However, there is more to the gently-bred Miss La Crosse than meets the eye and she keeps her closely guarded secrets firmly under lock and key for to risk exposure would mean signing her very own death warrant – and Danielle is adamant to keep her cards very close to her chest. But will all over of her stubborn resolves to keep the world at bay melt away when she encounters the sinfully handsome Cade Cavendish?

When a dangerous enemy from both of their pasts threatens to destroy everything which they hold dear to their hearts, Danielle and Cade find themselves thrust in close proximity together. As passion overwhelms the two of them, Danielle and Cade find themselves wondering whether their love could triumph over all the obstacles standing in their way…or whether their relationship is simply not meant to be…

An enthralling historical romantic mystery that kept me up way past my bedtime, Never Trust a Pirate is a spellbinding tale of spies, secrets and seduction that I found absolutely impossible to put down! Valerie Bowman imbues her story with plenty of twists and turns, humour, drama and emotional intensity and I was absolutely riveted by this captivating historical romance.

Roguish Cade is sure to have readers swooning with his charisma, charm and good looks and Danielle is a terrific heroine that is impossible not to like!

A wonderful read from a writer I’ve added to my auto-buy list, Never Trust a Pirate is a historical romance that delivers on all counts – I can’t wait to read more books from Valerie Bowman’s talented pen!

Blog Tour, Review, Q&A & Giveaway: NEVER TRUST A PIRATE (Playful Brides) by Valerie Bowman http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-8F8
►Enter Rafflecopter (Paperback Copy) ➢ http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/275e66a387/
Publication Date: May 2, 2017
Genre: Historical Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Cori
Rated 4 Stars

I really enjoyed this one! I was in the mood for a good historical romance and Valerie Bowman's NEVER TRUST A PIRATE fit the bill. It was fun and sexy, with a bit of mystery that added to the story. It satisfied my historical romance craving and had me craving more. I'll be checking out Valerie Bowman's previous books and I look froward to the next book in her Playful Brides series. NEVER TRUST A PIRATE is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone. I recommend this book for historical romance lovers looking for a good book to curl up with.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

~*~*~*~

Kindle http://amzn.to/2qip9ew