Review: The Mercenary Pirate (The Heart of a Hero #9) by Katherine Bone

Print Length: 138 pages

Publisher: Seas the Day Publishing (September 7, 2017)

From Goodreads.com: Wolfgang, one of Lord Wellington's craftiest spies, is a fighter, an indulgent loner who is cunning and bold enough to go where others do not dare. He hates distractions and complications, especially those involving the fairer sex, and his instincts have always fueled him and kept him on course, mission after mission. That is, until his talents steer him toward a destiny he didn’t know he had and a search for the brother he barely remembers. And when he comes into contact with a brave young woman disguised as a boy, the urge he feels to protect her might just lead him on the biggest adventure of all. 

Selina’s wedding day did not go as planned. Instead, she was kidnapped by pirates and ransomed for an exorbitant sum. Her diabolical captors didn’t hold up their end of the bargain, however, and kept her imprisoned even after their demands were met. More clever than her kidnappers expected, she managed to escape and disguised herself as a boy. Forced to lie, cheat, and steal in order to stay alive, she loses hope of ever returning to the man she intended to marry. Desperate, she agrees to become a handsome and compassionate sea captain’s cabin boy to gain passage back to Cornwall, but the captain endangers the one thing she cannot afford to lose—her heart. 

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My Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Let me start off by making one thing perfectly clear. You should NOT be intimidated by the fact that this plainly says "Book #9". The only real thing these books have in common is the fact that each Hero is one of Wellington's spies. Aside from that, and a brief mention of a character here or there, all of these books can be read independently of each other. 

That being said I LOVED everything about this story! There was just a perfect balance of romance and action to keep the story flowing at a steady pace while also keeping the reader engaged and interested. I have read other books by this author, and let me tell you, each one is better than the last! This author truly has a gift with words being able to bring the reader directly into the world she had created, weaving things together in a way that actually allows you to visualize what is taking place. You see what these characters see. You (in some cases) smell what they smell. And most importantly? You FEEL what they feel. You are able to experience the anguish Wolf feels as he begins to remember certain aspects of his childhood, you understand the depth of Selina's devotion to her brother. 

In fact, I have just one minor complaint about this story, and even that isn't really a complaint, but a hope. This story did end a bit abruptly, with certain threads still unresolved. However it also perfectly sets the stage for the author to bring us a second (or even a third) installment with these two. 

Overall, I am certain this story will appeal to those who enjoy well written and engaging novels that feature pirates, and your not-so-average heroine! 

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 Mercenary Pirate is available from Amazon.com