Kidnapped by the Pirate

Between three and four stars. This was my first time reading Keira Andrews, and it turned out to be very different from my usual reads. It reminded me somewhat of the books I've read by Ava March, because there are a lot of detailed sex scenes. But Ava March's books are usually light on plot (which is fine), while this has a solid plot, as well as good character development. I also really enjoyed the historical details, such as Hawk's life story as he tells it to Nathaniel. That section of the book felt especially real to me.

Nathaniel experiences a lot of shame and internalized homophobia early on, and it was just too thorough for my taste as a reader. There was so much of it, in fact, that I thought the author might turn it into something like humiliation kink when the sex scenes began, but that didn't happen. Nathaniel just gets over it, because of his emotional bond with Hawk (and because of all the sex, of course). Nathaniel is also ashamed that he can't read (I think he's meant to be dyslexic).

I really disliked that Hawk uses Nathaniel's shame about being gay and his shame about not being able to read as weapons to push him away. Especially the disability thing, that really put me off. I'm not even calling the book out - I understand its function within the story and that even Hawk didn't truly believe his own insults. But for me, it went too far, and prevented me from really losing myself in the romance.

But I liked the romance very much, as well as both of the MCs' emotional journeys over the course of the story. So although this book didn't match my tastes completely, I did enjoy it. I'll probably read more of her books.

I absolutely loved this, and that cover! So gorgeous.