Once an Angel

After their parents and younger brother were killed in the Seven Years War, and their English village attacked, Grace Fisk and her older sisters, Morgan and Joanna, turned to pirating. But things have since quieted down. Morgan and Jo have both married noblemen. Grace, who longs for security, is sailing to the Massachusetts Colony to be married. Although she does not love her fiance, Grace knows he can give her the life she has always longed for. But the ship she sails on is attacked by pirates, led by Jackson Brodie, the only man Grace has ever loved. But she knows they can never be together -- he can never give her a peaceful, safe life. But her heart tells her otherwise: that he is the only man she can ever be happy with. When she arrives in America, Grace finds her fiance is not what he seemed. This was an action-packed historical romance that I truly enjoyed. I can't wait to read the other two books in the Jewels of the Sea trilogy.

The youngest Fisk sister finds happiness in Once an Angel. Grace Fisk wants two things: to be a lady, and to escape the scandal of her piratical past. To this end, she goes to a ladies' finishing school and becomes engaged to a viscount who lives in the colony of Massachusetts. Along with a classmate, she travels by ship to the colonies. Unfortunately, she has the bad luck to be on a ship carrying weapons to aid the British in the war against the Colonies. The ship is captured by a ship working for the Colonies. To Grace's horror, the captain is none other than Jackson Brodie! Grace has loved Jackson since she was a child but gave up on him when she realized he would always court danger on the high seas. Her attraction never died, though. He finally agrees to take her to her fiancé in Medford, Massachusetts. They arrive there to find a colony torn apart by the high passions of war, and her fiancé is in the thick of it. Jackson realizes quickly that her fiancé is big trouble. Grace fights that realization herself, for she doesn't want to let go of her dream of aristocratic life. It soon becomes clear that to keep Grace out of danger, Jackson is going to have to remove her from the scene himself. The "Jewels of the Sea" trilogy comes to a satisfying conclusion in this Revolutionary War adventure.

Grace Fisk, youngest of the pirate sisters, has always wanted peace and a place in society. Her engagement to Lord William Mason provides this, and she's sure that she can put her love for Jackson out of her mind. When Jackson's pirate crew captures her ship, all the bets are off and the action goes non-stop.Between storm, pirate attacks, the outbreak of the American revolution, treachery, and midnight raids, author Tammy Hilz turns up the pressure and never lets it up. Hilz does an excellent job integrating romantic tension with adventure, allowing Grace to grow as she confronts life-threatening obstacles.In some ways, writing peaceful and needy Grace must have been hard, but Hilz delivers. ONCE AN ANGEL may be the best in this fine series.

Eight years ago when the Fisk pirates were rescued from certain hanging, Grace vowed to leave pirating behind. She never wanted to walk the decks of the Sea Queen again; she did want a respectable husband who could provide handsomely for herself and the children they would one day have together.When Grace won the attention of William Mason, she considered him the epitome of nobility. His blue blood and patrician nose were enough to assure that her dreams would come true. Never mind that they weren't in love; they were both bringing things of value to the marriage. She brought a hefty dowry and connections while he provided security and respectability. They like each other, and, with luck, in time their regard might grow into love. Leaving London behind, Grace boards the Maiden Fair bound for America and her fiancé, hoping to never again have to travel the oceans. But destiny has other ideas.Pirates board the Maiden Fair, learning she was part of a plan to blockade the colonies. A terrible storm wrecks the ship, however, and her cargo, passengers and crew are put aboard the rechristened Sea Angel. Her captain, Jackson Brodie hasn't seen Grace in five years, but he's always carried deeply for the girl, even when she followed him around as a child like a guardian angel -- hence his nickname for her, Angel. He's not prepared for his attraction to her as a woman, nor does he wish to see her married, especially to a man with British sympathies. Further, he refuses to leave her in America during a time of war. Consequently, their clashes are inevitable. So is their inability to fight their mutual desire.A rousing conclusion to the Jewels of the Sea trilogy, ONCE AN ANGEL boldly completes the quest for love and destiny. Grace Fisk, the youngest sister and the one who wishes to distance herself furthest from her pirating past, must learn to accept not only who she once was, but who her true love is. Further, she must learn where to place her loyalties, and to respect the need for force in its time and place. Together, Grace and Jackson prove themselves to be strong as their passion rages as intently as the war around them, powerful, and memorable characters. Spirited and exhilarating, ONCE AN ANGEL comes very highly recommended.