Monday 17 September 2012

Feature: The Sky Pirate's Wife by Allison Merritt

The Sky Pirate's Wife
by Allison Merritt

Fun facts about this book:
-        This is the second book in the Legends and Lovers Series. I never intended to write a series, but Van Buren had other plans.
-        The Sky Pirate's Wife, like the The Treasure Hunter's Lady, was originally set in Australia. I changed the settings because all the agents cringed when I mentioned a foreign country.
-        The title of the book comes from a line in The Treasure Hunter's Lady when the heroine of that novel refers to Van Buren as a sky pirate because she doesn't like the callous way he treats her (in spite of the fact that she sneaked onto his ship!

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Blurb:

After a tragic airship wreck, Captain Alwin van Buren makes a drastic decision to obtain a wealthy bride in order to save his flagging business. He meets his match in Sophie Barnes, heiress to an airship empire. After he seduces her and ensures their marriage—igniting a rivalry with her godfather—he learns the green-eyed beauty is as headstrong as he is.

Sophie knows Van Buren's reputation based on a series of dime novels written about his adventures. Determined to be more than an end to a means, she despises him for luring her into marriage. In fiction, he's a no-nonsense captain on the verge of piracy, but the flesh-and-blood man wins her heart by proving she's worth more to him than her money.

Their love is threatened when Sophie learns Van Buren's airship accident was a result of mythical creatures. Winged predators that appear to have a grudge against him, a fact he deliberately hid by accusing her godfather of sabotage. If she can forgive him for that, they still have to face the danger when they're cornered and at the mercy of beasts and the evil that controls them.

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Excerpt:

Sophie looked at the book in his hands. No one held the wheel but her. “You let go!”

He grinned. “You're doing fine, zoete. Keep her steady, she's climbing on her own.”

It wasn't the idea of being the only thing that stood between them and another flaming airship wreck that made her tremble. It was his smile. The kind that all women yearned to receive from a handsome man. “You should really take the wheel.”

“My hands are full.” He waved the logbook at her, but replaced it and remained standing beside her. “You're doing very well.”

“Are you certain?” The wind blew her hair and snagged her skirt. The horizon filled her line of sight and she suddenly understood the thrill of piloting a ship. It was like having the same freedom as a bird. She could point the ship in any direction and go wherever she pleased. Nothing had ever made her feel so alive. Except kissing Van Buren. Her head turned his direction like it was on a spring. She covered the sudden movement with a laugh. “I think I'm in love with your ship.”

His eyes darkened from icy gray to the shade of wet concrete. He lowered his mouth to her ear again and put his hand on her back. “Flying is a great deal like making love, Sophie.”

She nearly melted at her name on his lips. “W-why do you say that?”

“It's instinctual. The mind and body work together, creating a moment of beauty. The first time is a little frightening, but once you find the rhythm, the proper technique, you have something very enjoyable on your hands. Something that you feel deep within your soul. Something that you never want to give up. With the right person, the kind of relationship you'd die to protect.”

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You can find out more about the Legends and Lover Series and The Sky Pirate's wife at:

3 comments:

  1. Thank you so much, Allison, for stopping by and sharing such a yummy excerpt with us. :-)

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  2. Got to LOVE that last paragraph. Fantastic!!

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