So enjoyable!

The action literally hums! Not a dull moment! Gorgeous, ' enfant terrible', pirate spy and enticing lady spy masquerading as a lady's maid are unknowingly in search of the same things.
Half French, Danielle LaCrosse, has been placed by the home office secret services into the household of Viscount Rafferty Cavendish, to watch his brother Cade Cavendish.
Having lost her father at thirteen, and with her mother gravely ill, Danielle is determined to bring the villain responsible for her family's pain, Lafayette Baptiste, to justice. That conveniently coincided with the wishes of General Mark Grimaldi, head of an elite unit of English spies.
Equally Cade is determined to track down the enemy who nearly killed his brother, Baptiste!
State secrets, vengeance and love go hand in hand in this high powered, free flowing addition to Bowman's Playful Brides series.
Danielle is a delight. Sure in all things to do with her trade, a lonely focused figure, part urchin, part seductress, totally unsure about friendships and love.
Cade is a perfect foil, the rakish, piratical, devil may care veneer, masking the pain of his past.

A NetGalley ARC
(May 2017)

Danielle LaCrosse is a spy, working for the English crown. Her boss has sent her undercover as a ladies maid in a posh London home. That is about as far from her normal assignments as is possible to get.
Cade Cavendish is the black sheep of his family. His hero twin brother has just been given the title Viscount, and until very recently believed his brother dead. Cade is a man with many different names depending on who he is with. He has one main purpose he is determined to carry out.
Our characters are both devious but loving and loyal to their families. There is lots of fun, subterfuge and some sexy scenes. It is very easy to get involved in their lives. There is also danger when the enemy is confronted.
This is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone. It will however tempt you to read the previous book.
I loved every page. Great fun.

Another great book in the Playful Brides Series. Danielle and Cade are both wonderful characters that make this book a fabulous read. Two spies that don't know that they both working for the same spymaster.. A powerful sexual attraction.. Both with a different reason for the lifestyle they have chosen to live. Danielle is after the man who killed her father and Cade is hunting the same enemy because of what happened to his twin Rafe. The journey that they both embark on is full of adventure and peril. Valerie writes a stunning love story that will keep you entertained and wanting more.. Fast paced, sexy, smart and everything you would expect from a book written by Valerie.

I found this book while poking around on netgalley looking for something new. Valerie Bowman is a new to me author, but the cover caught my eye – such a lovely blue – and the blurb sounded fun. I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

And, sure enough, I loved it! The entire reason I’m deducting one star is because this is the 7th book in the series and there are certain secondary characters that I’m sure feature in the earlier books. While it didn’t stop me from greatly enjoying this story, it would have been helpful to have read the earlier works. If nothing else, it would have given the full story of Rafe and Daphne.

As for this book, well….it has a bit of everything! Fancy ton evenings, twins, French and English spies, a bit of a Cinderella story, the possibility of a return/rise again of Napoléon, and high seas adventures with privateers! Literally, everything! And, with all those elements, it isn’t any wonder that the plot moves quickly, the writing is fast and upbeat, and the romantic build sizzles off the page. I enjoyed Cade and Danielle’s banter, flirtations, and that they are trying something new, together.

So, in general, if you’re looking for something fun, that truly has a lot of elements working well together, give this book a try. I’d certainly recommend it!

I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read many of the books in Valerie Bowman’s Playful Brides series, so I was looking forward to reading the latest entry- Never Trust a Pirate. This book features Rafe Cavendish’s twin brother Cade, who is paired with the mysterious Danielle LaCrosse.

Now, Rafe and Daphne’s book is one of the only books in the series that I haven’t read, but I feel like I “know” them from their secondary role in the other books in the series. That said, I knew very little of Cade, who spent years abroad and was presumed dead.

Danielle is working in the Cavendish house as a maid, but there is more to her story than appears. When she first encounters Cade, she thinks that he is the master of the house, and is relieved to find out that he is a different person- just one who happens to look like her employer!

Despite their difference in station, Cade and Danielle have an instant connection. Things really get interesting partway through the book when they discover that they have more in common than they even realized.

Never Trust a Pirate is full of surprises, which makes for a fun book. Sometimes it is the characters who are surprised, and sometimes it is the reader who is treated to a big reveal. Cade and Danielle are both struggling to overcome issues from their past, but there are some lighter moments as well to balance out the more serious moments. This isn’t as angsty as some of the other historicals I’ve read recently, which is a nice change of pace.

I would absolutely recommend Never Trust a Pirate. This book functions well as a standalone, and it’s a little different than the other books in the series. There isn’t as much interaction with the characters from the other books, but if you think about it, Cade isn’t really part of their “set”, so he doesn’t have as much of a reason to spend time with the recurring cast (so to speak). I’m already looking forward to Bowman’s next book. I certainly don’t want to wish away the summer, but I can’t wait for October!

I can't get enough of Valerie Bowman's romances! This one was no different. While not my favorite of the Playful Brides series, I still adored this novel.

There was a twist in this novel that revealed my own implicit bias. I appreciate that I was wrong, and it makes this novel better. I don't want to reveal where my bias came in because it would ruin the entire novel, so I won't.

I'm not sure if it was my mentality when I was reading it, or just how drawn out this story was (because I was busy), but I did experience a lull during this story where I was losing interest. The ending definitely fixed that for me because it has a lot more adventure.

Overall, this was a great story, not the couple I was expecting for novel #7, but a great one none-the-less.

This historical-spy romance set in Post Napoleonic War England was a very entertaining read, with its adventurous plot, spunky heroine and intriguing hero. The hero, Cade Cavendish, is the black sheep of his aristocratic family. He has been out of the country for years and is recently back. He has a rakish reputation and is infamous for his dalliances with women. Cade is the exact opposite of his perfect twin brother, a famous war hero spy, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. But he is a master of disguise, a chameleon whose secrets complicate his relationship with his family. Cade is a globetrotter, feeling at home on the sea. He is in town to get information and life in London’s glittering high society circles is wearing on his nerves.

Danielle LaCrosse is a spy of French origin, she is strong, savvy and resourceful. She has secured a position of maid of Cade’s sister-in-law, Lady Cavendish and she plays her part to perfection. She mistakes Cade for his twin brother at first and is intrigued by his secretive nature. She finds him charming and yet dangerous and sneaky. Cade and Danielle both have hidden agendas and their mutual attraction is very inconvenient. Feelings can’t compromise their respective missions.

I loved the interactions between these two intelligent characters, their cat and mouse game was irresistible. They are flirting and at the same time testing one another. I enjoyed their battle of wits, Cade wants Danielle to believe he is brainless rake living off his brother, but there is obviously much more to him than meets the eye. He may be her best ally and the one she has been looking for.

Valerie Bownan has delivered a cast of vibrant characters and a suspense filled plot with witty dialogue, sexy times and a heartwarming romance. This book is part of the Playful Brides series, but it can be read as a complete standalone. I definitely recommend this well-written and witty historical romance, and I can't believe this was my first book by this talented author!

An advanced copy of this book was generously provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley.

​Need to Know: Never Trust a Pirate is a highly sensual read featuring independent, passionate characters and compelling Napoleon-era backstories.

I've written before that I admire romance writers who can take the conventions of a romance novel—the meet-up, the physical chemistry, the emotional attraction, the break, and the reconciliation—and write about them in original ways. Enter Valerie Bowman, whose historical romance Never Trust a Pirate features two very independent people whose jobs and backgrounds might drive them apart…or bring them together.

Danielle LaCrosse is hired by General Mark Grimaldi to pose as a lady’s maid to Lady Daphne Cavendish. Her real purpose is to spy on Lady Daphne’s brother-in-law, Cade, who has returned from a long, mysterious absence and whose intentions cannot be trusted. Once Danielle completes this mission, she’ll be able to move her consumption-stricken mother to the seaside, where she can hopefully recover.

Cade Cavendish has more noble intentions in returning to London than many would give him credit for. He wants more than anything to “avenge his brother’s treatment at the hands of the French,” though “he’d die before admitting that purpose to [his brother] Rafe.” Cade believes that he owes his brother for decisions he made in their youth, but he’s also unwilling to drop his "ne’er-do-well" charade, a fact which both antagonizes and troubles his brother.

Danielle decides to accept Cade’s offer of a drink, because, after all, she has a mission to consider. But a drink leads to conversation and conversation leads them to…the knowledge that they have amazing physical chemistry. With both of them pretending to be not quite who they are, is there a chance that they can trust the other?

Valerie Bowman skillfully sets Danielle and Cade’s hot romance against the fascinating backdrop of 1817 England. The stakes are high for both Danielle and Cade, partially because England’s stakes on the world stage are high. Some French (and British) are hoping to bring Napoleon out of exile, and a pirate named the Black Fox is terrorizing some ships in the area. Bowman’s backdrop could have become unwieldy, but instead, it gives her primary and secondary characters depth.

And luckily for us, her characters are truly fun to watch operate in this world. Danielle, in particular, is very resourceful in how she thinks on her feet. She’s strong and determined, and she’s been caring for herself—and her mother—for a long time. There were a couple of times when I was surprised by her lack of confidence—largely relating to her physical appearance—but overall, she is a great example of a female character in a romance novel who is self-sufficient and chooses to make relationships with others.

From the halls of an elegant Mayfair townhouse to the high seas, Never Trust a Pirate is a delightful Regency romp. Valerie Bowman has a fun, breezy writing style that never fails to entertain me and her characters are always jam-packed with wit and charm, so it was easy for me to fall into this seventh Playful Brides novel.

Cade Cavendish is the black sheep of his family. Having grown up poor with an abusive father, he’s much more at home on his ship or in a tavern than he is at a ball. Cade is fun, a shameless flirt with Danielle, and though he plays the rogue he’s got a good heart and a strong sense of loyalty. Cade would run circles around your average society girl, which is why it’s a good thing Ms. Bowman pairs him with an unconventional heroine. Danielle has been on her own since she was thirteen. She’s been a smuggler and a spy, and she’s more at home on a ship than in her latest role as lady’s maid to Cade’s sister-in-law. I loved that both Cade and Danielle were spies, had secrets, and were able to throw one another off their strides. These two don’t fit in in the stuffy world of the ton and I loved that they never really tried to conform. Whether they’re trading secrets or hunting a common enemy, they make a good team and it was fun to watch Danielle shock Cade with her spy skills. Danielle is Cade’s equal in every way and that made their love story all the more interesting. I was well and truly hooked into their romance, which was sensual, energetic, and just plain fun to read.

Never Trust a Pirate is the seventh book in the Playful Brides series, but if you don’t mind spoilers for The Irresistible Rogue (Rafe Cavendish’s story) then it can be read as a standalone. I’ve been reading this series out of order, and though all of the books I’ve read so far have had a lighthearted feel, Never Trust a Pirate is definitely the most casual. The relationships and interactions between the characters in this book was a bit more informal than I’m used to in a historical romance (even taking into account Cade and Danielle’s upbringings), which did draw me out of the story a couple of times. As far as complaints go, it’s a fairly minor one as far as I’m concerned when there are such delightful characters to keep me entertained. I know I’ve used the word “fun” multiple times to describe Never Trust a Pirate, but that’s honestly the best word for Cade and Danielle’s story. It’s sexy, engaging, sparkling good fun and I cannot wait to read the next Playful Brides tale!

What’s it About? Cade Cavendish is considered the black sheep in his family. Among other things he’s rumored to be a pirate and is almost always up to no good. While at his twin brother’s estate he meets Danielle LaCrosse, a new maid who mistakes Cade for his brother but is quickly informed that Cade is not Rafe. Cade has his reasons for coming home but he’s not inclined to share them with anyone, meanwhile Danielle has secrets of her own and a reason to be at the same place as Cade. Soon both of their secrets end up leading them after the same dangerous person and they have to decide whether or not to trust each other enough to work together.


Describe the hero in five words: Charming. Sneaky. Intelligent. Trouble. Loyal.

Did you like him? Yes.

Why? Cade is definitely my favorite hero of the entire Playful Brides series! He was a natural at fishing out secrets but at the same time he loved being the rebellious, sneaky, woman loving, black sheep of his family. He wasn’t a bad guy, just a little irresponsible, and a bit lost when it came to his life and what he wanted to do with it. Cade had an abundance of charisma and charm that he used just as well as any weapon and it was inevitable that I too would fall under his spell. The charming rascal was irresistible! In the beginning Cade came off as just an average rogue out to cause trouble but as the story went on it Cade began to reveal different layers to his personality he went from troublemaker to a guy who felt a lot more for his family than everyone around him thought. He definitely won me over and had me falling in love with him.



Describe the heroine in five words: Blunt. Brave. Intelligent. Sneaky. Fun.

Did you like her? Absolutely!

Why? I never realized how refreshing it could be to have a heroine who didn’t blush for everything. I also didn’t realize how annoying that blushing thing could be until Danielle came along. She was totally refreshing, a female character that could talk the talk AND walk the walk you know what I mean? She said she could take care of herself and by gosh she proved it time and again that she could! Danielle didn’t suddenly become clumsy or inept at her job just because Cade was around, she was good at what she did and nothing was going to change that. I loved her to pieces. She had a forthright manner that was totally welcome and made her stand out to me. She even had a few surprises up her sleeves that caught me off guard and had me going “YOU GO GIRL!” I can’t say enough good things about this character; she’s going on my favorites list for sure!



Let’s talk about the romance: Cade and Danielle had excellent chemistry that was made better by Danielle’s bold personality. She didn’t flush or stammer just for the sake of making herself seem more feminine. She met Cade head on in the flirtation department and that just brought a whole new level of awareness and attraction between them. Cade and Danielle were delicious and well matched which proves my point that a strong female character makes for a better heroine. These two were like two peas in a pod but they didn’t know it.



How about that supporting cast? Cade and Danielle do most of the heavy lifting when it comes to the plot but it was nice to see Cade’s relationship with his twin Rafe. There were a lot of misunderstandings between the twins but it was nice to see that through the events of Never Trust a Pirate the two were on their way to repairing their relationship. Of course were Rafe was, his wife Daphne wasn’t far behind. It was nice to see her again too. Danielle makes friends (For the first time) with Rafe and Daphne’s staff, a housemaid named Mary and the housekeeper Mrs. Huckleberry who at times gave Danielle the bit of insight that she needed to make her choices when it came to Cade. They also gave her a taste of a different life than what she had been leading. Danielle hadn’t had friends prior to that point and their friendship changed her.




Overall reaction to the story? Never Trust a Pirate made my heart sing, I’m not going to lie. From the start I fell for Cade’s rakish charm and Danielle’s strength and wit. These two were meant to go head to head and then fall in love. They made a great team and I just couldn’t get enough of them! Valerie Bowman crafted an adventure filled romance with two irresistible characters and gave a new spin on the Playful Brides series. I couldn’t put it down!


Click It or Skip It? Click It. Don’t miss out on Cade and Danielle’s story, it’s easily the best of the series.

Cade Cavendish is known as the black sheep of the family. When he’s home to an extended visit to his twin brother’s home, everyone is trying to figure out what he’s up to. Miss Danielle LaCross is an undercover spy. When she finds out she’s to monitor Cade Cavendish, her curiosity might get the best of her.
I really liked this book. I liked getting to know Cade and Danielle. I liked the interactions between them and the build-up of the story. I highly recommend.

It took me a little bit to get into this book but after I got about a quarter way through the story, I couldn't put it down. I loved the mystery and intrigue within this romance. The hero and heroine are likeable characters and there is solid chemistry between them. I love strong female leads that can take care of themselves and can bring a man to their knees. I really enjoyed this multifaceted regency romance!

Thanks St. Martin's Press and netgalley for this ARC.

This is one of the the best romances of the year for me. It's just the right balance of danger, love, and intrigue. Not your typical, textbook,or formula romance here. This is grade A supercharged one of kind, stands on it's own fiction.

Captivating! Filled with Passion, Adventure, Secrets, Intrigue & Danger. Fantastic read that had me captivated till the last page. Valerie Bowman takes the reader on a journey, filled with secrets, spies, pirates, murder, revenge, and romance. 
This was an exciting and thrilling adventure and I loved every tantalizing minute of it, especially the twists and turns that added so much intrigue, danger and passionate romance to this historical romance. Beautifully written, the author’s skill at setting up the plot is mesmerizing as it draws the reader into this story where no one is whom they seem, and secrets are everywhere. But this fast paced story also has unique and lovable characters, as well as some sassy, fun, sparing, scandalous banter and sizzling chemistry between Danielle LaCrosse and Cade Cavendish that will set your heart on fire. These two have met their match, and they just can’t stop thinking about the other and neither will you. 
When you combine romance with a unique and totally different storyline, stunningly, fantastic descriptions and characters that completely captivate you, you have a must read book. I loved it! Highly Recommended! 
I would like to thank the publisher of St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me the privilege to read this book before publication and I have voluntarily wrote an honest review.

Secrets abound in this wonderful spy story, who is the maid really? and where has Cade been? what is he hiding? The book is full of twists and you just keep wanting to turn the pages to find out.

There are quite a few emotions at play and I love it when a book can make me chuckle.

Definitely worth a read, and considering this is part of a series, you may want to read those too.

I voluntarily received an advanced copy from Netgalley and chose to leave my opinion.

Throwback Pirate Tale? Not really but I did like the small aspect of pirates that was thrown in but wanted more of that part of the story. I loved Cade and his “in your face” attitude and rogueish ways and I liked Danielle but not as much. The witty dialog was the highlight of the book. This is a nice story with a little intrigue.

Intrigued by Grimaldi and hope he gets a story.

<i>He might have the face of a Greek god but he had the personality of a horse's ass.</i>

What started out as a promising historical regency-style Spy vs Spy, with some pirates thrown in, turned out to.. be.. less promising. Or at least never living up to the concept or my hopes.

This is my first read by Bowman and I'm coming into this <i>Playful Brides</i> series at book seven (shame shame) but that being said I found it pretty easy to slip into this world. Her writing wasn't extraordinary but neither did it grate on me and with all the familiar locales -- Mayfair, St Giles, Bond Street, etc -- it made the read pretty effortless. But alas.. it didn't add much to my experience beyond that, either.

"<i>What in the devil's name was that?</i>"
"<b>A kiss, you dolt. It wasn't particularly good.</b>"
"<i>That was not a kiss. That was a physical attack.</i>"

The best part of NEVER TRUST A PIRATE were the leads. They weren't amazing but the chemistry between the french spy playing at a Lady's maid and the english maybe-spy-maybe-turncoat playing the scoundrel rake of her Mistress' brother in law was mostly fun. And, when we finally got to that point, the heat and sizzle between them for their sexytimes was pretty excellent. However it took a looong time to get there and that was where things actually got interesting : around the 70% mark. And unfortunately it's just after that bit of finally-getting-naked-together where I felt very confunded and confused.

I don't want to reveal anything because it's definitely spoilery but I didn't find that the backstory matched up with the present-day activities, not to mention some specific angst between the brothers, and how everything tied together seemed.. convenient while still being befuddling.

There was a lot of potential to this story but sadly the pirate-portion of it all was super minor and there was hardly any spying beyond our heroine having a propensity for asking a lot of questions. There was also quite a bit of "I've never told this to anyone/I've never had friends" repetition that, by repeating, lost the emotional impact that otherwise might've been present, and I definitely lost the plot when the author tried to explain away everyone's true roles.

Sadly this read just didn't work for me.

I really like Danielle she acts like a strong, independent woman, she has had to deal with a lot through her life she and been forced to grow up far too quickly then she should have and that has made her so self-reliant, but she craves love and kindness something she has never been shown. Her father was a Frenchman and died too soon and her English aristocratic mother is seriously ill, Danielle never had the extravagant Tonish balls and come out like all women of her station would, and that has implemented in how she carries herself now.

You can really relate in someway or another to Danielle, she is an extraordinary woman, beautiful as well as deadly, she knows her own mind she is brave, spunky and she is super smart. Immersed in a dark and dangerous world of espionage, she has to use all of her cunning to stay alive, she is a an unusual woman for the times, never happier then when she is walking around dressed like a boy in breaches. She is a skilful and very clever spy.

But the thing that I think Bowman has got so right with Danielle is how she has been holding her own in what is predominantly a mans world and proves herself again and again and again just what a woman can do. I’m all for strong woman and she isn’t afraid to confront danger and she does all of this for a good selfless reason.

To make her seriously ill mother live the last of her days in peace and comfort.

Cade is a real rogue! A proper cad or has he thinks of himself the black sheep of the family, but under all that charismatic cheekiness there is a really good man, a lovable rogue. He has so many secrets and so many alter ego’s, is he a spy? Is he a traitor? Is he a pirate? Or is he the elusive black fox? He is a man of many faces he even turns up at his brothers front door under an alias this is a man that has got many feathers in his hat. Plus atop of all that he is a sinfully sexy, scandalous rogue who can make the most solid woman go weak at the knees.

Cade also does the one thing that no one has ever done with Danielle, he sees her! He sees past the strong mask and he sees what is deep down inside which is something that Danielle desperately needs that in her life. She wants to be noticed for the woman that she is and not just the spy or cabin boy or servant and Cade does just that. There is a beautiful moment where they both finally realise just how much they mean to one an other, where Danielle and Cade do a secret moonlit waltz together just before she has to leave. That is beautiful!

What a stroke of genius it was, putting these two together. They are both highly volatile, extremely skilled at what they do and they are both hiding secrets and both highly adapt at being creative with the truth. Cade and Danielle both yearn for what others have, they want love and friendship and more than that they want someone to trust. Something that neither of them have been able to do. They are just perfect for each other.

Bowman is a highly skilful writer who knows her craft like the back of her hand. She is a remarkable author at setting the scene and building up to a climatic finish, the first scene in particular does a great job at grabbing you and keeping you gripped throughout the whole book. The more you read the further you get absorbed into the dark and murky world or secrets and spies, this is a terrific adventure which is so much more than your average Historical Romance. It’s fast thrilling and exciting.

This is a stonking good story which is marvellously engrossing and for me is a huge success. It is stylish and sophisticated, a real winner. I love it! It’s classy and sassy with an outstanding mix of romance and adventure.

https://chicksroguesandscandals.wordpress.com/2017/04/28/blog-tour-never-trust-a-pirate-playful-brides-7-by-valerie-bowman-exclusive-excerpt-qa-and-review/

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. Loved the book. It is well written with an intriguing storyline. The love between Cade and Danielle developed over a short period of time. The book is a great read and I would highly recommend it.