Swept Away By a Kiss (Rogues of the Sea)

Book 1 in the Rogues of the Sea Series. A society jade thinks she's done it all until she meets the devil himself dressed in priest's clothing. A Secret Identity.
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Yes, he was a spy and serving a higher calling, but none of this excuses the cruelty with which he treated Valerie. She'd given him loads of proof she could be trusted with his secrets as well as demonstrated her competency, intelligence, and powers of observation - traits any real spy would have valued in a potential accomplice, if not lover. Beastly Stephen repeatedly tells the reader how hard it is for him to resist her as well as how it hurts him to cast her aside so often, but if he really felt so tenderly for her, surely he could have found a kinder way to do so. Instead, he behaved like a brute.

While I'm happy for Valerie's happy ending, I remain unconvinced Stephen deserves any of it. I'm glad I won this book as well as its sequel in a raffle.

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Had I only gotten this one, I never would have pursued more of the author's work. May 11, Cynthia rated it it was amazing Shelves: She has gained another loyal fanatic follower with her story of Steven and Valerie. I knew I would be swept away by the time I read the first 25 pages. Valerie is a fearless heroine.

Yet she doubts any man could love her. The story opens with Valerie returning home to England after a two year stay in Boston. She had been shipped off to America because of her scandalous ways. Before the ship gets underway, she spies a Jesuit priest. Valerie narrowed her eyes against the gathering dusk.

The journey of Valerie and Steven is magnificent. It takes you from the peril of the high seas to the intrigue of the parlors of the ton. Their passion sizzles as they deny and succumb to their desires. A few of the scenes are so hot, you will feel yourself melting! Ashe has written beautiful, longing lust. All of this and more while being entangled with pirates, Ladies and Lords, secret identities, and mistruths during the Christmas season. You will find the information invaluable. As for me, this is surely a keeper. Oh yeah — cover alert with Paul Marron! Jun 30, Amanda rated it liked it Shelves: It changed how I read and write stories.

What it talks about is ultimately what I find Katharine Ashe's books to be lacking: The reason motivation -- often found in a life-changing event in the character's past -- is so important is that it tells the reader how the characters will react to the situations they're put in. To truly feel like we're a part of the story, some element of predictabilit 3.


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To truly feel like we're a part of the story, some element of predictability needs to be there; we need to understand why a character acts a certain way. And that, for me, is why I can't get flaily about Katharine Ashe's books of which I've now read two and both had the same issue. They're good stories, for sure. But things just seem to happen, and I didn't always understand why.

Because I didn't "get" the characters. So, we know that Valerie and Steven have some kind of event in their past that shapes who they are from the very beginning, but it often takes a couple hundred pages before we get the full picture. But by then, it's not enough to make a true connection with either character. Still a good story, but I'm uncertain at this point whether I want to continue reading more Katharine Ashe.

Aug 02, Aemelia rated it it was ok. Regrettably, this book did not sweep me away. I was so excited to get a book that took place on a the high seas with pirates, but that was quickly diminished, mostly because I had a very hard time connecting with Valerie, who came off as to stubborn for her own good. She made rash decisions that seemed foolish to me, and pointless in the growth of the story. I liked Steven, for the most part, but there were times that I though he was a bit to assuming, as to what he expected Valerie to do for hi Regrettably, this book did not sweep me away.

I liked Steven, for the most part, but there were times that I though he was a bit to assuming, as to what he expected Valerie to do for him. Each time I felt that their chemistry was starting to click, one of them would do or say something that made me just plain irritated. I had hoped that they would have consummated their relationship earlier in the storyline, because too much teasing and tension just made it painful for me.

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I like sexual tension in a book, and don't need the steamy scenes, but when they continuously get so close to completing the act but always going away unsatisfied, I end up thinking, please just do it and get it over with. A Secret Identity When pirates storm Viscount Steven Ashford's ship upon the high seas, it brings him closer than ever to the nefarious criminal he seeks to ruin. If they make it off the ship alive, to protect her from his enemies he must never see her again.

An Undeniable Love A Secret Identity When pirates storm Viscount Steven Ashford's ship upon the high seas, it brings him closer than ever to the nefarious criminal he seeks to ruin. An Undeniable Love Back in England, and under the ton's scrutiny for a reckless past she hasn't escaped, Valerie dreams of the breathtaking "man of the cloth" with whom she shared her greatest adventure. What a cool story this was. This book is almost two completely different books.

The first part is about the pirate ship takeover and the tortuous situation that Steven and Valerie find themselves in and the second part is back in England where Valerie is still Valerie, but Steven is a completely different person. The conflict they face on the ship in the first part is tortuous because the Captain, a crazy one of course, wants to break Steven, the priest, by putting him and Valerie in situations where he may be forced to take her virtue.

The tension in these scenes is palpable. I did not see the resolution to this conflict coming. The ideal would have been that Valerie and Steven continue on with the tension from there, but the book picks up in England where they are reunited but Steven is a complete ass. Hard core though this is, the reader must suffer through what Valerie feels and I tell you, I, as the reader, did!

Rewards are always sweeter when earning them was tough and I, the reader, was well rewarded.

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I highly recommend Katharine Ashe in general — she is an extremely talented writer — and I recommend this book. Did I mention this is her debut? While sad to see Steven and Valerie go, I am assured they appear in the next book, so I look forward to it. View all 3 comments. Dec 09, Becca rated it really liked it Shelves: The beginning of this book was so unique and had so much tension, I couldn't put it down.

And then there was a separation and we meet an entirely different hero. This was Ashe's debut novel so she was newer to creating angst. It was not quite right here, but she has mastered it in more recent books. Swept Away By a Kiss opens with our heroine, Valerie, and our hero, Steven disguised as a priest , on a ship returning to England. There is an instant forbidden spark between the two that only grows The beginning of this book was so unique and had so much tension, I couldn't put it down.

There is an instant forbidden spark between the two that only grows hotter and hotter when a pirate takes over the ship and forces them together.

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After dealing with the pirate, Steven remains behind and sends Valerie on to England where she struggles to move on from the events on the ship, never forgetting the priest. Valerie later meets Steven at a house party and Steven pretends he doesn't know her. Steven is at the house party on a secret mission to expose one of the guests and does not want the villain to know Valerie is important to him. His internal dialogue tells us it's for Valerie's own protection, but I hated how he would draw her in and then coldly discard her.

As for Valerie, at the beginning of the story, I admired her strength, but as she kept returning to Steven despite his cold treatment, I felt pity for her. She didn't know what us readers knew and it bugged me that she tolerated his horrendous treatment. Everything gets resolved at the end in a way that suits Valerie and Steven's lack of conformity, but I felt that the angst was too drawn out and there were many threads dreams, character backgrounds that were never truly explained.

This was not Ashe's best work, but it was fun to see how she has honed her style in her recent Prince catchers series. Jan 22, Jultri rated it liked it Shelves: I regret that this book did not bring me as much enjoyment as it has to numerous other readers. Maybe it's my good girl Catholic upbringing, but I found the heroine's instant lusty attraction to the hero's Jesuit priest alter ego just a bit off putting.

They exchanged very little words and none of them pleasant on board the ship, yet, one look or accidental touch from him left her in a quivering, wet heap. An unrepentant flirt with a scandalous past, she thinks nothing of using her females wiles I regret that this book did not bring me as much enjoyment as it has to numerous other readers. An unrepentant flirt with a scandalous past, she thinks nothing of using her females wiles to further her gains yet would call another similar minded female a slut for doing the same.

There were plenty of other inconsistencies and confusions. The hero's hot and cold treatment did not always make sense, and there were things mentioned and introduced that lead to nowhere. Bottom line though is that I found the heroine a rather difficult character to sympathise with, egocentric, lust driven, blinded to the effects her improper behaviour might have on her family and already damaged reputation. Despite this, she was not censored by anyone but even embraced by the hero's aunt and godmother and declared virtuous before she had done anything to earn it.

This was Ms Ashe's debut novel though, and her writing style was not bad,so I will cut her some slack. Nov 28, Yumru rated it really liked it. Apr 11, Catherine rated it it was amazing Shelves: A man on a mission. A woman escaping her past. It has been a long time since I've picked up a historical romance novel that swept me away pun intended as Katharine Ashe's did. The characters are complex and highly sensual, the plot riveting and the backdrop vividly detailed. This is both a page-turner and a keeper. Ashe has definitely gained a new fan in this reviewer.

Ashe has taken the extra step and given her readers a twist of originality, offering everyone the pure pleasure of a breathtaking romance. I absolutely loved this book. This is on my favorites list…The sexual tension between the two is nothing short of amazing, beautiful and steamy! Duchess by Design by Maya Rodale.


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Swept Away By a Kiss - Katharine Ashe - E-book

HarperCollins Children's Books books for young readers. Harper Perennial literary fiction and nonfiction. Temptation has never been so intoxicating or so forbidden, for Steven is disguised as a French priest. If they make it off the ship alive, to protect her from his enemies he must never see her again. An Undeniable Love Back in England, and under the ton's scrutiny for a reckless past she hasn't escaped, Valerie dreams of the breathtaking "man of the cloth" with whom she shared her greatest adventure. Then he reappears in society under his true identity, Viscount Ashford, but, despite the danger, their consuming passion cannot be denied.

Now standing in the way of their desire are Valerie's wounded heart, Steven's lone destiny, and a villain who will stop at nothing to crush them both. What a cool story this was. This book is almost two completely different books. The first part is about the pirate ship takeover and the tortuous situation that Steven and Valerie find themselves in and the second part is back in England where Valerie is still Valerie, but Steven is a completely different person.

The conflict they face on the ship in the first part is tortuous because the Captain, a crazy one of course, wants to break Steven, the priest, by putting him and Valerie in situations where he may be forced to take her virtue. The tension in these scenes is palpable. I did not see the resolution to this conflict coming. The ideal would have been that Valerie and Steven continue on with the tension from there, but the book picks up in England where they are reunited but Steven is a complete ass. Hard core though this is, the reader must suffer through what Valerie feels and I tell you, I, as the reader, did!

Rewards are always sweeter when earning them was tough and I, the reader, was well rewarded. Did I mention this is her debut? While sad to see Steven and Valerie go, I am assured they appear in the next book, so I look forward to it. I thought I had all Katharine Ashe's books but for some reason I didn't have this one. Before I go forward with my review, I can only say that In the Arms of the Marquess is an absolutely unforgettable book.

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If you haven't read it, you might consider taking a look at the book's description and check out some of the reviews. In this first book of the "Rogues of the Seas" series, we have a heroine, Valerie, who was apparently banished to America for a couple of years due to her rebellious behavior which is somewhat explained over the course of the story.

It's obvious she had issues with her father - she never calls him anything but "the earl" and eventually the bits and pieces reveal further information about their relationship which apparently was never fulfilling and has resulted in the wounding of Valerie's soul to the point these wounds will flavor her future relationship with the man she will eventually fall in love with. Valerie's brother has inherited the title and he's married to Valerie's best friend, Anna, so Valerie is looking forward to going home and has been on her best behavior, deciding to turn over a new leaf and hopefully, she will be accepted back into society.

But, unfortunately or "fortunately" depending on your opinion, the ship she's sailing on is taken over by pirates and this sets up the story very nicely for the romantic relationship with Valerie and a pretend French priest, Father Etienne La Marque, who is actually Steven Ashford in disguise - a disguise he's used for several years in his efforts to halt human trafficking on the high seas.

Steven and his partner, Maximin, have big plans for this journey across the high seas and Valerie was never part of the plan. When the ship is taken over, Steven must do everything he can to continue the plan he and Maximin have in motion, while attempting to protect Valerie as much as possible. Valerie is a brave, courageous girl but she is very confused about her attraction to Etienne and the events that take place once the pirates board the ship. In truth, I was a bit confused about what was going on myself - just had to continue reading until it became clear.

Steven has been greatly affected also but fights it to the point he is willing to have her put on another ship and go on her way to England. His "business" takes him there to his godparents' home where a house party has been planned and of course Valerie has been invited. More confusion arises in Valerie's heart and mind because initially, she recognizes Steven as Etienne and doesn't understand why he is there as Steven Ashford. To further complicate matters, Steven makes it clear she means nothing to him. This part disturbed me quite a bit because Steven ran hot and cold with Valerie leaving her confused and her heart torn up.

Even though she stands up to him in an admirable fashion and even goes so far as to make plans of her own which she thinks will help Steven in his efforts relative to his business, she's mostly hurt and wounded throughout most of the story. Even so, their relationship is very vital and romantic in many ways. Steven comes across as being a man of great integrity and honor and he's actually trying his best to stay as far away from Valerie emotionally as possible because he doesn't believe he can ever bring her into his world - it's simply too dangerous and he's not about to give it up.

It is his passion. Of course, he's been dealt a "love blow" so to speak when it comes to his future because his heart will not dismiss the lovely, courageous Valerie. It was simply too much at times. I went in to this so excited because I love Katharine Ashe's writing style. My excitement made it through the first part of the book but quickly took a nosedive. The hero turns into the biggest jerk! Not only that but the heroine loses her vitality from the beginning and turns into a wuss.

I was thoroughly disgusted with both of them! I'm hesitant to read anymore in this series as this one put me off of this author. One person found this helpful. But in this one, I thought, she made Valerie too desperate for Ashford's attentions. I was thinkn to myself, "Just be patient girl, let him come to you for once!