Regency romance author Patricia Wynn turns her talents to the high seas of the eighteenth century with Capturing Annie, a light and humourous romance. Though the heroine shares a name and hair colour with infamous piratess Anne Bonny, and both spent their seafaring careers in male attire, I could find no other relation between the historical character and the protagonist of this otherwise entertaining read. Calico Jack Rackham, Mary Read, and Anne's own career and background are all conspiciously missing, which dampened my enjoyment of the story itself.

Suitable for a quick, light summer read, Capturing Annie brings us the tale of two nice people who find a very nice relationship despite being surrounded by pirates. Annie, called Jem at first, has been raised on board a pirate ship as a boy, and knows far too little about being female, or male/female relationship. When her ship is taken by Sir James Avery (James/Jem conversations could get awfully confusing with the similar names) Jem's secret is discovered.

Though James is engaged to another, and Annie hopelessly naieve about all things feminine, the two become lovers. James decides to deposit Annie with a female acquaintance, to teach her the intricacies of womanhood, while he goes back about his business of seeking treasure.

Annie transforms quite nicely (there's that word again) but the Jem part of her still comes to the fore when needed. Having the heroine pull the hero's proverbial chestnuts out of the fire is an interesting twist, but every time Annie's full name was mentioned, I couldn't help thinking "this isn't Anne Bonny."

For a light, entertaining read, Capturing Annie is quite satisfactory. For an engrossing fictional account of the real Anne Bonny's life and career, try Sea Star by Pamela Jekel.