Laura Renken does it again in the second installment of a series destined for the keeper shelf.

When last we left Marcus Drake in My Lord Pirate, he was presumed dead and cast adrift...and straight into the path of Maria Liandra Espinoza y Ramirez, a Spanish noblewoman ill equipped to defend her ship against marauding pirates.

Liandra has enough to deal with, including her spoiled cousin, Isabella, a precious cargo of horses she intends to deliver to the mother she longs for, and a spirit that will not be broken. Marcus is equally determined, equally proud, and the use of cultural differences (English and Spanish) makes the conflict sing with authenticity. The chemistry between Marcus and Liandra is apparent from the first, making their road to romance all the more compelling as obstacles from within and without threaten to keep them apart.