Once a Pirate

Part of a jet fighter squadron flying towards the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, experienced Navy pilot Lieutenant Carly Callahan struggled with a nasty storm. Things turn worse when her radar fails and the twin engines of her F018C fighter flame out next. Forced to bail out into the icy Atlantic, Carly soon observes wooden ships in battle. Sir Andrew Spencer and his pirates pluck Carly out of the sea. Andrew believes he has captured Lady Amanda Paxton, the fiancee of his enemy, the Duke of Westbridge, even if she fails to fit the description he has of her. Carly insists she is a US navy officer, but Andrew rejects her nonsense as gibberish even as he cannot understand who is "O.K." and "Ray Dio". When Carly sees a newspaper dated 1821 and other evidence, she concludes that somehow she landed in the past. As they sail to obtain her ransom, Andrew and Carly fall in love, but the obstinate Adonis not only distrusts that emotion, he cannot accept that she is from a future that allows a woman to fly in combat. ONCE A PIRATE is an enjoyable time travel romance due to the reactions of the lead characters to one another and their situation as Carly's survival training is tested. Still, the plot belongs to both lead characters, as they struggle with her displacement and their love for one another. Susan Grant casts quite a spell on her audience with this superb debut novel that will have sub-genre fans seeking her newer work, the recently released THE STAR KING.Harriet Klausner

Great romance novel. Plausible plot and fast paced storyline. Heroine is spunky, but not overly so. Hero is perfect, but not too perfect as to be unbelievable. I really, really loved this book and I am very, very picky. I could not put the book down...finished it in one day. Had humor, romance (not porn), and suspense. What more can I say?

ONCE A PIRATE was such a refreshing change from the run of the mill time travel books! Susan Grant was able to transport me into the story and make me believe I was actually on the ship with Carly and Andrew. This was a light-hearted romp through time, and I enjoyed the concept of a woman fighter pilot ending up on a Pirate ship - completely out of her element, yet able to cope. Ms. Grant has a way of writing that made me smell the salty sea air and feel the salt spray on my face - and feel Carly and Andrew's emotions. The ending was such a complete surprise that it left me shaking my head in wonderment. As an author, she is a combination of Deb Stover and Sandra Hill, but has her own unique way of telling a story. I can hardly wait to read other books by her. She should go far.

Once a Pirate is the best romance I have read this year. From the opening chapter to the final page, I was sucked into the world of Carly and Andrew. Susan Grant's debut has restored my faith in time travel romance. But what struck me the most out of all the wonderful elements was the ending. Lately, I have felt that I have been reading the same ending in every time travel romance. Of course they're all happy ones, but the characters get to that happy ending in the exact same manner. What Grant has done is different, and I found it very refreshing. Susan Grant has a bright future ahead of her, and I hope she can write fast.

Oh, man! I couldn't wait to read this book after hearing so many wonderful things about it from on-line readers' groups. Wow, am I ever tickled it was everthing people were raving about. A strong, modern day heroine. A hunky pirate hero who meets his match. I could practically smell the sea brine as I read this tale. Well worth the price! I'll definately read more by this author.