The Privateer

London, 1812 At twenty-two years old Lark Eddington is in dire straits. Her father's gambling and subsequent suicide have left her destitute with a mountain of debts. She did what she could to raise the funds to pay off the debtors but she's still a few hundred pounds short - for that she's thrown into debtor's prison. Basil, 'King', Kingston, Earl of Grayshire, needs to acquire a companion for his eccentric mother and she insists that the young woman be selected come from a debtor's. He plans to marry and beget heirs as soon as he has his mother settled. It seems simple enough but few things in life ever are and Basil's about to discover just how complicated things can get. King's visiting Marshalsea where he hopes to find a suitable young woman to serve as a companion to his mother. He witnesses Lark's humiliation at having her possessions stolen by fellow debtors. He'd heard of her father's unfortunate problem and death but hadn't been aware that she was in such dire straits. She's a well brought up young lady and would be a perfect companion for his mother. Being plucked from the dismal existence at Marshalsea by King is a godsend to Lark. That she's completely oblivious to his intentions poses a bit of a problem but then he's paid off her debt and she owes him. The only regret she has about leaving the debtor's prison is leaving behind her newfound friend Agnes. It isn't until she's well away from the horrible conditions and abuse of the prison that she learns King's intentions but not before suffering abuse at the hands of his own servants. King's enraged by the audacity his servants exhibit and Biddy is turned out without reference over the incident. Lark's agreeable to being a companion to King's mother despite her unconventional attitude. The only trouble is she's falling in love with King and trying so hard to keep from doing so - especially since he intends to marry Lady Anne. King's just trying to keep everything in his life from falling apart. He's been awarded a Letter of Marque by the Crown. His ship, Cormorant, has been licensed for profiteering. He's supposed to aid in ending the smuggling ring - of which his own father was very much a part. His intentions to marry may have to fall along the wayside while he finds a way out of this mess. Life's become exceedingly complicated in a short period of time but even his preoccupation with his own problems doesn't stop him from being drawn to Lark. Dawn MacTavish (a.k.a. Dawn Thompson) transports readers back in time with this enchanting tale. THE PRIVATEER is full of characters you'll either love or love to hate but I can guarantee you won't be bored as you immerse yourself in this regency storyline. Lark is a surprisingly strong young woman. She suffered the loss of not just her father but everything she's ever had and yet she still has a determined spirit and refuses to allow anyone to use her. King is the kind of man women fantasize about - strong, trustw

When her father commits suicide rather than face his disgrace, Lady Lark Eddington is thrown into debtor's prison. The Earl of Grayshire pays her bond, but has Lady Lark exchanged one dangerous life for another? The Earl of Grayshire, Basil "King" Kingston, finds his overbearing mother a suitable companion in Lark, but will he lose his heart to the brave beauty? Ms. MacTavish, a gifted storyteller, whisks the reader back in time to the splendor of Regency England. With its page-turning plot, intriguing characters and passionate romance, this wonderfully crafted story is just the perfect read to warm your heart on a cold winter night.

Lady Lark Eddington's life seems over when the gates close on the Marshalsea debtor's prison. But when the roguishly handsome Basil Kingston, Earl of Greyshire redeems her from the mire of debt and scandal, she has a second chance. But what cost will "King" demand of her? Ms. MacTavish's latest regency kept me turning pages, with an intriguing plot, sensual romance, and vibrant characters, set against a vivid backdrop evoking all the elegance of Regency England and the wilderness of the Cornish coast. Add in a pair of sneaky villains, a political entanglement, a gypsy wench, a lost soul, and above all, a devilishly lovable scheming countess, and you have a recipe for a finely crafted novel. Ms. MacTavish's tale of riches-to-rags-to-riches will please the most refined tastes and regency virgins alike.

Lark Eddington finds herself in extreme circumstances. Abandoned by the ton she enters Marshalsea, a debtor's prison. Hundreds of pounds of debt from her fathers gambling and alleged theft forced her to this place where survival takes money. But money is the one thing she lacks. She does not lack resourcefulness and spirit. The Earl of Grayshire, Basil "King" Kingston can't forget the beautiful woman literally cast at his feet while on a mission to Marshalsea to find a companion for his mother. Strangely her touch lingers with him and he pays not only her debt but the debt of a female companion from Marshalsea. The virile but wary Grayshire finds himself drawn more to Lark than to the woman he thought to marry. The feelings are reciprocated by Lark much to her consternation but she can't deny her feelings for the powerful privateer. Duty demands much from Grayshire and subsequently Lark. They marry but marriage is no smoother than single life as danger foments around them. Danger lurks for both Basil and Lark from an old enemy who rears his head like a sea serpent. Throw in King's cantkerous mother and loyal friends for support and the story leaps into new dimensions. Ms. MacTavish provides a excellent read with well drawn characters in a historically accurate settings. I can only be thankful there were no debtor prisons when I graduated from college. You won't be disappointed in The Privateer which reaches a satisfying conclusion after our lovers toss and turn on the sea of love.

Dawn MacTavish captured me with The Marsh Hawk, and I have to say her books are as close as you can come to a guaranteed great read. The Privateer had me from page one. The one-eyed man who prefers to be called "King" is Basil Alistaire Kingston, Earl of Grayshire. He's haunted with a somewhat shady past, but his burden (other than his termagent mother, a wonderful character!) is his father's legacy of piracy and womanizing. King worries that he'll end up just like good ol' dad, and it's likely, too, considering the orders he receives from the Admiralty. But he can handle all that. When his mother demands he find a companion for her in a debtor's prison, he meets Lady Lark Eddington. The introduction wasn't formal--she was fighting with three other women who'd robbed her of what little she had left. Her father had gambled away all the family's assets and her inheritance; hence, debtor's prison. She definitely didn't belong there. What a journey! An alpha male with a very strong heroine and a determined mother, an unscrupulous bad guy, and a nasty woman out for vengeance. It's all here, a compelling story that will keep you reading. If you're late for work, just remember, you have been warned. :)