{Playful Brides Review} Never Trust a Pirate by @ValerieGBowman

Never Trust a Pirate (Playful Brides, #7) by Valerie Bowman
Published by St. Martin's Paperbacks on May 2nd 2017
Pages: 288
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The rules of engagement were never so scandalous. . .

A rumored pirate and the scurrilous black sheep of his well-to- do family, Cade Cavendish relishes his world of rebellion, deception, and seduction. Nothing and no one can hold him to be the duty-bound, honorable man he is expected to be. But when an unexpected run-in at his twin brother's estate with a ravishing, raven-haired maid leads her to believe he's actually a viscount, Cade's renegade life is thrown wildly off-kilter. And even though a case of mistaken identity can be quickly set to rights, matters of the heart are quite different...

Miss Danielle LaCrosse is startled to learn that the handsome gentleman who radiates sin and has the devil in his eyes is not her employer the Viscount, but rather his infamous brother. A former heiress, orphaned and left penniless, Danielle has more than a few secrets of her own. Cade may be skilled at coaxing even the most hidden desires out of Danielle but can he earn her trust--and win her heart--as they embark on an adventure to confront a dangerous enemy from both of their pasts . . . and uncover the identity of the so-called Black Fox along the way?

Never Trust a Pirate is part of the Regency-set Playful Brides series by Valerie Bowman

I received Never Trust a Pirate (Playful Brides, #7) for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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!