Review: The Pirate's Duty (Regent's Revenge #3) by Katherine Bone

Print Length:  294 pages

Publisher: Seas the Day Publishing (August 8, 2017)

From Goodreads.com: Innkeeper Oriana Thorpe is a smuggler’s daughter who has been hardened by a legacy she cannot escape. She has risked everything, including her safety, in her attempts to break free, going so far as to challenge her evil pirate brother, Charles, in order to save a lady and her maid from his wrath. Determined to atone for his villainy, Oriana distributes the blood money he left behind to widows and orphans living nearby. But when threatening letters promising retribution begin to arrive from Charles, she suspects one or more of her customers may be her despicable brother’s spies. Yet one haunted man promises to protect her, and she finds herself taking the greatest risk of all—falling in love. 

Captain Pierce Walsingham should have died when his ship was destroyed by the notorious smuggler Captain Carnage. Instead, Pierce was pulled from the water by the Robin Hood of Cornwall, a pirate known only as the Black Regent. In gratitude, Pierce accepts the Regent’s offer to take over the man’s role, allowing his name to be added to the list of the dead and vowing to protect the beautiful innkeeper who saved his sister Chloe’s life. Unfortunately, Oriana is also Carnage’s next of kin, and the smuggler has sworn vengeance against her and Chloe. 

While there is no cause dearer to Pierce’s heart than stopping Carnage, the task won’t be easy. Strategic allegiances have replenished his enemy’s power at sea, and he’s moving ever closer to enacting his revenge. Now Pierce must find a way to defeat Carnage, all while fighting his desire for the resilient woman who fiercely defends her roost. 

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My Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Let me start off by saying that although this is book #32 in the, you do not have to have read the first two books in order to understand and enjoy this one. The author manages to give a new reader the condensed backstory without giving away too much, or making it too tedious for those who have already ready the others. 

As someone who has read the other stories, I can honestly say that this was a fantastic addition to this series! I loved Oriana as a "secondary" character in the last book, so to see her get her own book nearly felt like a personal triumph for me. She is such a strong willed, and independent character who has overcome so much personal tragedy that I longed to see how she ended up - and Ms. Bone did NOT disappoint! 

I loved the chemistry between Oriana and Pierce, even when he was masquerading as a simple fisherman. It was apparent from the start that neither of these characters were quick to trust anyone (and with good reason), so to see them navigate the walls the other had erected around their heart was nothing short of an engaging feat. 

There was also just enough threat of danger hanging over their heads to keep things from becoming stagnant, in fact as a reader, I was kept on edge just as much as they were wondering when and where Captain Carnage would strike. And without giving away spoilers, can I just say that final showdown definitely did NOT disappoint! 

Overall, I believe this novel will appeal to those who enjoy a story that is well written as well as engaging. I would read more from this author! 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                               The Pirate's Duty is available from Amazon.com