Great suspenseful fun! kept me on my toes! Just who is the black fox!?

Cade and Danielle were a great hero and heroine pairing. There were some scenes that stand out to me (I don't like to give spoilers in my reviews) in this story. I liked how they challenged each other. Danielle was an unconventional heroine and was very likable. I felt that the story moved along at a good pace.

Valerie Bowman's writing is engaging and easy to read.

This story starts with the Black Fox stealing a map from a ship's captain. The stealth required to do this is only overshadowed by the nerveless courage required. This scene is an example of some of the adventure involved in this story.
Rafe and Cade Cavendish are identical twins. Rafe has been elevated to the title of Earl for his heroics in the Napoleonic War. Cade has recently returned to England after being gone for years. His past seems to be a black hole. No one knows exactly what he was doing all those years he was gone. But the rumors run rampant.
Danielle LaCrosse has just been hired to be the personal maid for Rafe's wife, Lady Daphne. But, she is not exactly who or what she seems. She must learn all the methods of making a lady look her best at all times. It is a new challenge for her.
No one in this book is exactly as they seem. That is part of the charm.
Danielle has been sent to work in Rafe's household to spy on Cade. She works for a British spymaster who wants to learn all he can about Cade, because so little is known of his past. There are suspicions about what he was doing and how he made a living.
When Danielle spends time in the Cavendish home, she is drawn into friendships. Lady Daphne admires Danielle, a housemaid and the housekeeper draw her in by sharing laughter and secrets with her. Danielle has not lived a life which included friendships.
The conversations between Danielle and Cade are very entertaining. They are drawn to one another on several different levels. There is lust, but there also is a desire to learn secrets and get to know one another.
This book is a romantic adventure story. It is also a story of the various relationships in a life. Cade and Danielle have both held their lives as separate from others. Not only must they learn to deal with their attraction for one another, but they must also learn to build relationships with family and friends.
Ms Bowman has created another story which includes witty conversations, a plot which moves forward at a good and fast pace as well as characters who draw the reader into their lives.
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are my own.

As always, Valerie Bowman has produced a unique, romantic novel with a daring heroine and dashing hero! I loved this unique take on the pirate theme, especially since both main characters are, in a way, pirates. It was almost two stories within one, as the first half takes place in a well-to-do house in London and the second half takes place on a ship bound for France. This made for an engaging story from start to finish.

Cade Cavendish is back from the dead. After seven years away from his family, he has reappeared in London to stay with his brother in his lavish home. Considered a rogue by friends and family, his activities are under constant suspicion. And their suspicions are well-founded - Cade is a spy. And he is under surveillance by none other than his sister-in-law's new lady's maid, Danielle LaCrosse. Danielle was bribed into service in order to save her mother from prison and get her the medical care she needs for consumption. Having been on her own when her father was murdered in France, Danielle has many unique talents that are of use to the government. However, her talents are put to the test when faced with an equally skilled man - her employer's twin brother, Cade. In a battle of wits, they face off from the halls of his home to the deck of his ship, and the final battle will be waged with their hearts on the line.

Cade and Danielle were a perfect match! While I am not always a fan of the heroine who doesn't need a man (I have always been a white knight sort of girl), I appreciated the balance between a self-reliant female spy and an anxious young woman who has never before encountered a love such as she finds with Cade. She has both sass and vulnerability, which creates an intriguing romance. He wants to be with her and finds her impossible to resist, and this only becomes worse when they're forced into close quarters on the ship. Their banter back and forth was already like an old married couple in London, and it became even better as the story progressed. I greatly enjoyed the building of their relationship.

I love Valerie Bowman's books, and this is no exception! Unique, engaging, and hard to put down. The perfect combination for when you need an escape from reality.

**I received a free copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

If you like novels that give you some twists and surprises then I’m sure you will like this one. There are secrets that both Danielle and Cade are hiding. This novel is about the business of spies and also revenge and falling in love. The side characters we have met before in previous novels of the series but in no way will you be lost if this is your first time. Some characters, like Grim, are particularly mysterious and I hope their story is on the horizon. There is action, adventure and steamy, sexy times. Our hero is handsome and totally HOT and our heroine is feisty and full of surprises. I highly recommend this book and Valerie Bowman’s entire Playful Brides series.

Overall, “Never Trust a Pirate” was an enjoyable read with main characters that break the mould, playing by their own rules.
The plot revolves around a world of deception, a game of mirrors with spies and pirates. The hero and heroine are not exactly who they seem to be – Cade Cavendish, the black sheep of the family, is seeking justice; the heroine, Danielle LaCrosse, is far from being an harmless maid.
I particularly liked Cade’s build up as a character: a rogue, a rake, a mischievous charmer who can be either a gallant knight or show “the manners of a dockworker”. Even his speech is in line with this.
I also enjoyed that it is the heroine who leaves – and Cade’s bewilderment with being left, despite the fact that “they hadn’t even had a dalliance”, is really funny.
As usual in historical romance, the depiction of social norms and interactions sometimes seemed a bit unrealistic.

I adore pirates and this did not fail wow. Give me a brooding male and add him being a pirate on top I am all for it

Cade Cavendish left home as a boy and made his way in the world with hard work, albeit mostly on the wrong side of the law. Since he reunited with his twin brother, a newly minted Viscount, he's been working toward only one goal. Find the man who ordered his brother tortured and an Earl killed.

Danielle LeCrosse wants to take care of her dying mother in a small cottage by the sea after finding the man who killed her father. She's worked unofficially for years as a young spy for England. Her latest assignment places her as a ladies maid to the new Countess, Cade's sister-in-law, Daphne. The reason behind the mission? Spy on Cade Cavendish.

The pair are taken with each other upon their very first strange meeting. Both have suspicious natures when it comes to life, but affairs of the heart have them falling hopelessly in love just like the other lovers of the Playful Brides series.

This was actually the first book of Bowman's that I've read. I was so intrigued with her writing and the world of characters she developed, I have now read the rest of the series. That's six additional novels and a novella. Each book was charming and delightful in it's own way. I loved this novel for many reasons, one large one being it made me love pirates! I'd never been truly enamored with the idea of men pillaging at sea, but Cade's story tugged hard at my strong heartstrings. I can't even imagine the process Bowman has gone through to create so many different characters, with complex backstories and adventures waiting to be had. Now that I've read the other novels, I realize there were clues peppered in about Cade from his very first appearance in the series. I loved the ultimate twist Bowman throws that caught me completely of guard.

Never Trust a Pirate is an adventure in romance and intrigue on land and by sea. This can be read as a stand-alone, but I highly recommend reading the rest of the series for all historical romance lovers. There are more characters that have yet to find their true love, so I hope Bowman has a few more playful brides to write about in this fantastic series!

What a fun spy versus spy story! Danielle LaCrosse has taken a job as a lady’s maid to Lady Daphne Cavendish but has another life too. She’s never been a maid before but is very good at adapting to a situation. Especially if that job gets her closer to moving her ailing mother out of London.

Cade Cavendish is the black sheep of his family and is currently residing at his brother’s home where he meets Danielle. He is very attracted to her but no woman interferes with his work or gets close to him.

They are attracted to each other but both have jobs to do. I won’t spoil this very fun book. It has spies, action, humor, mystery and romance. I really enjoyed it. It is part of a series but is easily read as a stand-alone. I enjoyed it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me this ARC. Release date is May 2nd.

This was an entertaining, well-written Regency romance. Miss Danielle LaCrosse has been hired as a lady's maid, and she is surprised to find out her employer, the Viscount, has a twin brother, Cade Cavendish. He's rebellious and rumored to be a pirate... and fascinating! They both have secrets to keep but find themselves wanting to trust each other... This book can be read as a standalone story, though it is part of a series with related characters. This book was fun to read and I look forward to reading other books by this author.

Another excellent book by Valerie Bowman. She's is quickly becoming one of my new favorite historical romance authors! If you're looking for some sultry romance with a few twists and turns and a rather unpredictable female heroine, you've come to the right place! Cade and Danielle have page-melting chemistry, and the ending is just too satisfying! The only reason it didn't get five-stars is because I felt the ending was a little too abrupt. I would have liked to stick with a story for just a little bit longer!

This was a fun and entertaining adventure. Both have secrets they cannot share. She is sent into the home of Cade Cavendish's brother in order to spy on Cade. Cade is in London on a mission of revenge and he plays up the "black sheep of the family" persona so that no one figures out his true purpose, not even his brother knows his mission. Danielle mistakes Cade for Lord Cavendish when she sees him, drunk and heading into the wrong room. She goes to help him and ends up on his lap just as the real Lord Cavendish and Lady Cavendish come to the door. From then on, the attraction builds between the two. Cade loves her open and independent nature and how she speaks her mind and flirts with him. Danielle enjoys their interactions and talks and she finds herself falling for her mark. Their attraction builds up to the point that she leaves him after they share a very romantic dance in her room. She has a new mission, to hunt down the man who killed her father. Cade gets word about the man who tortured his brother is leaving London and he races to catch him. I don't want to spoil anything but when they reunite, man it was wonderful to watch. I enjoyed their adventure and the characters are strong and the plot is entertaining. This was the first book that I have read

This was the first book that I have read by this author and I think I will definitely go back and read books 1-6 in the series.

Never Trust A Pirate by Valerie Bowman is a scandalous read. An English rogue who has a twin brother that's a spy. But little does the spy know his twin, Cade, also works for the government. Cade goes about life feeling like a black sheep due to his mother. However, his life gets shaken when a so called lady's maid, Danielle, walks into his life. She's not what she seems. A spy plus more. She's sent to spy on Cade because he leaves the English government suspicious of his absences. No one knows what his plans are or how long he plans to stay home. Danielle's life has never been easy. Her mother is thrown in jail, and now, her mother's health isn't good. Danielle works as a spy in order to take care of her mother. But now, danger is rising...both physical and emotional. Love might just hit both Cade and the mysterious lady, Danielle. I loved the humor and the brewing romance. The scenes were engaging and hot. Danielle is taught never to trust a pirate but then again, Cade isn't a pirate. The suspense and heat is powerfully displayed on every page. I found Never Trust A Pirate very entertaining and well worth reading. Overall, I highly recommend it to all.

Sensuous, smart, captivating, humorous - you'll be caught up in the world of pirates, spies, intrigue, murder, revenge and, of course romance. You'll be captivated by it!!! Such an exciting read!!! I enjoyed it so much I read it non-stop until I finished! The characters are compelling, witty, sensuous and filled to the brim with secrets.

I loved all of the witty banter between the two main characters. They are alike in so many way - yet they each think they are so very different. Both have had hard lives - he was raised in Seven Dials with an abusive, alcoholic father and weak-willed mother and her father was murdered in front of her and her mother was convicted (though she wasn't guilty) of the murder. Both are seeking revenge for wrongs done to their families.

There are absolutely no dull spots in the book. It is fast paced and keeps you wondering what will happen next. What would you expect when you have two spies who don't know about each other trying to follow the same clues to the same villain.

"I requested and received this book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."

Fun! Exciting! Full of suspense - and surprises I never saw coming. A sassy heroine- full of secrets and a bad boy hero with secrets of his own. If you enjoy pirate stories and you love Regency romances ...this book has it all.

The pain of losing her parents and seeing her father killed at the hands of a French traitor sends a thirteen year-old Danielle LaCrosse out into the world seeking revenge, dedicating her life to making it happen. She survives doing any job she has to- looking for something that can help her save her mother. She finds herself saved by a man who promises to help her mother, if she will work for him. Seeing that the man is one of his word, she accepts, but knows that her life will never have what what was her birthright - the life of a lady.

Thirteen year old Cade Cavendish leaves home, unwilling to watch his father beat his mother and unable to do a thing about it. He leaves his family and does everything necessary to survive. He learns that his twin brother is being tortured to death by a man that is a traitor to his country and he tries to save him. When his brother is safe, he vows he will make the man that almost killed his brother pay.

Danielle and Cade meet under the most innocent of situations. She takes a position as a lady's maid, working for the newly married Viscount - Cade's brother. Cade has business in London and decides to crash at his brother's town home, for the time being. The two meet, and while sparks fly- neither is willing to risk sharing the parts of themselves that could mean the most- their secrets and their hearts.

This book grabs you from page one and takes you on a wild ride through London and the high seas. The storyline is full of surprises and intrigue. I loved the character of Cabe - who could quite seriously become the ultimate of book heroes. He is captivating, charming and a rogue. And as much as he hates rules, he is willing to do anything to capture the love of the lady that steals his heart.

I give this book five stars PLUS!

Never Trust a Pirate has some unique plot twists along with a few predictable ones – all of it making for an interesting tale of who can be trusted and who knows what.

Charming, loner Danielle has lived a difficult life with the support of General Grimaldi as a spy. After seeing her father murdered by the Baptiste, the villain, and her mother arrested for his murder, through a series of incidents, she begins working for the general as a spy. Her father had been French and her mother English helping her to be bi-lingual and proficient in both languages. Grimaldi put her gifts to good use for the crown.

Cade frequently described himself as the black sheep of the family with his brother Rafe being the white sheep and better man of the two. It seems they grew up in a poor part of London with a drunken father and a horrible mother, but in spite of all of that Rafe earned a title for his service to the crown. Cade having run away at the age of thirteen with Rafe thinking him dead for a decade until he suddenly shows up. Cade has always been in trouble and as far as Rafe was concerned a decade away had not made his brother a better man.

Danielle was sent by the general as a maid to Rafe’s wife but it was really to keep an eye on Cade who was living with Daphne and Rafe. There is a really funny beginning with Danielle not knowing Cade and Rafe were twins, a bit of mistaken identity. Needless to say Danielle and Cade begin a sweet relationship until Danielle is sent to her next assignment. Her goal since she was thirteen was to track down Baptiste and make his pay for the murder of her father. Her next assignment would take her close enough to Baptiste to get her revenge.

Never one to give spoilers, let’s just say the lead up to the ending was a surprise to me. Generally, I can figure out how a story will end, but this one took me by surprise and I loved it. Thank you Net Galley for sharing this book in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent book. I loved the characters. Looking forward to read more books from this author.

3.5Stars

I took a good while to get into this book.

In the beginning it felt like a classic pirate romp movie. The characters all felt a bit cliche... and I was quite sure I was in for a tab bit of a disappointment.
This is the first book I read by Bowman. So I wasn't sure what to expect. The only thing that did keep me going in the beginning was the writing style and very soon the witty dialogues as well.
So about a quarter in I had resigned myself to a well written book with great banter but sadly characters that were to stylistic for me. Still a good book mind you.

But slowly there were layers added to all the characters and as the story goes on, I got to see different sided to them and somehow I found myself endeared by them, adore the entire cast. Well most of them anyway. Bowman did an excellent job building the MCs characters and most of the support cast. While at first sight it seems the usual usual, she added details, surprising tidbits that made them feel more real and unique. There is depths to most of the support cast as well. The only character that did come out flat in my opinion was the villain. Though that is probably connected to the story line.
By the way will there be a book about Grim?

The story line went from pirate romp to cute historical romance and back to privateering.
I loved the sections that were set in London. But the privateering bits? Not so much, which is funny, because I probably would have told you the opposite before if asked before hand. The thing is that the adventure bits of the book felt a bit rushed. There was this careful buildup in London, slow emotional connections and great character building, then it changed to lots of smut, the big show down.. and the happy ending. I felt a bit let down by the show down to be honest. It felt a bit anticlimactic.

Never Trust A Pirate is the seventh book in the series. As I mentioned I have never read a book by Bowman before this. It does work as a standalone. I might have take a bit longer to get into because of that however, I'm not sure, just saying it could be. What I am sure of however I will read the next book in the series and I will read the previous books as well. Definitely a series I could get into.


A well written historical romance, with some action and lots of fabulous banter. Definitely advisable for lovers of the genre.

This is my very first book by Valerie Bowman and now I'm hooked! I loved how this story flows so seamlessly between action, intrigue, humor and scorching romance scenes. Cade is just so darn sexy and charming you just can't help giggling at some of his more outlandish comments. Grace is the exact opposite and fits him to a tee. This book kept me on my toes til the very end. I can't wait to look up previous books in this awesome series!

Definitely a buy buy buy book! Arguably a four star, however , since I was so captivated by the characters and the plots I went 5! Spies, passion, secrets. Love and the regency. Who could really ask for more of a mixture? I was delighted at the writing of this author. She was witty at times, serious at times, passion, love, life. A mixture that is undeniably my weakness! I sincerely enjoyed reading this and now I shall back up a little and see if all in the series are as good as this one was. A delightful entrancing read. I was given this book in return for an honest review. Anna