The Pirate Lord by Sabrina Jeffries

I know, I know, I promised reviews of romance novels! I have been so wrapped up in politics that I have let that promise lag. So this month I read the Pirate Lord by Sabrina Jeffries. It is the first book in the Lord Trilogy. Jeffries is one of my favorite authors and this book did not disappoint.
I have just finished The Pirate Lord. I have to admit when I first started reading it I was not sure I was going to like it. The premise of creating Utopia on an island named Atlantis seemed pretty far fetched, although the idea of a Utopia is quite appealing. The pirate ship, Satyr, captured an English ship that was carrying female convicts to New South Wales. On board was Sara Willis. Sara was accompanying the women to be sure they were treated well and to keep a journal about the conditions on board the convict ship. Gideon, the captain of the pirate ship, wanted the women to become wives of his ship's crew on the island Atlantis.
Gideon, the hero, was so filled with bitterness over the way he had been treated as a child that it was hard to like him at first. His willingness to change when they got to the island brought out his goodness.I did not care of the Earl of Blackmore (Jordan) and Sara step brother, as he was so dictatorial even though he was being protective of Sara. One of the funniest scenes was when Sara had been taken back to England and Jordan was making her go to a ball and she appeared dressed in a very provocative dress. I laughed out loud at the way she provoked Jordan! Sara was a very strong heroine and it was interesting to see how her actions and words changed the way Gideon thought and acted.
The character that I did not like at first became one of my favorites and that was Silas, the cook. He was such a grouchy human being but he ended up standing up for the women and especially for Sara. His love for Louisa, one of the convicts, grew into something very special. He was the one who helped Sara understand Gideon and why he so wanted to create this place of happiness and wonder. Sara was always putting others before herself and was very courageous.
I did not like Queenie, an ex prostitute, but was very surprised at the end of the book to find her married to Barnaby, the ship's first mate, and expecting a child. So I guess there is redemption for even the most disliked person.
I had a feeling all along that Sara would find Gideon's mother but I was taken by surprise to discover his real father alive. I did not see that coming at all.
I did enjoy watching the love between Gideon and Sara develop. Jefferies does write some very good love scenes and her level of sensuality is not over the top but quite nice and very romantic.
Jeffries is an automatic buy for me. I especially liked her School for Heiresses series. I have not read the other books in the Lords series but will surely do that now that I have read Pirate Lord. This was a good read for April! I gave the book 4 stars.