Samuel Keegan used to man the wheel of the Sea Dog over 200 years ago, but these days he’s the front man of a southern rock band. Rum and women are plentiful, but his world is changing rapidly now that his crew is back together searching for the Holy Grail to break their curse. But the quest leads him to a historian with raven hair and a wicked smile. She holds all the answers, but she could also spell death for them all.
Dr. Charlotte Sinclair works for the Maritime Museum in Savannah, an expert on ancient pirate wrecks. When a government agent requests her help in a top-secret investigation, she discovers not only is the Holy Grail real, but the lead singer of her favorite band is actually the immortal pilot of the Sea Dog crew.
The search for the Grail opens some dark secrets better left hidden, and Charlotte's life might depend on one Pirate's Passion...
Each book in the Sentinels of Savannah series is * Magnolia Mystic * Pirate's Passion
Wow! Goodreads just asked me for my city of birth and date of death... What if I could answer that? Would I live life differently if I knew for sure how much longer I had left?
Interesting thought.
That's generally how my writer brain works. I've been dreaming up stories since I was in elementary school. My first book was titled "The Wonders of Unicorn Creek" and my publisher was Dehesa elementary school.
Since then, I've published numerous short stories in anthologies and magazines. My story, "Immortal Beloved" was a finalist for a Bram Stoker award and was recently re-released in the "Dead Souls" anthology, along with a follow-up never-before-published story, "Subito Piano".
My debut novel, Night Walker, was released in 2012 and won a San Diego Book Award for Best Published Fantasy-SciFi-Horror. Night Walker also won the Romance Through the Ages in the Best Paranormal and Best First Book categories.
Since then, Night Thief and Night Demon have been released. The final book, Night Child will be released in March of 2014.
In the meantime,I have a new series beginning in July 2013 with Moonlight, Book 1 in the Moon Series.
I also post news and short stories on my Blog, so feel free to stop by for a read. http://Lisa-Kessler.com
Paranormal tales are my favorite and I tend toward the dark side. Join me? :)
Pirate’s Passion by Lisa Kessler Book 2 from The Sentinels of Savannah. Paranormal romance. Can be read as a stand-alone. The crew of the Sea Dog once drank from the Holy Grail. When the cup is stolen, a hidden department of the government gets Dr Charlotte Sinclair involved in the tracking.
These pirates have their own code and are only retrieving what’s theirs, never stealing or hurting innocents. Char becomes enamored with Keegan when he sings some old sea shanty. It’s a grand adventure where the paranormal isn’t just the several hundred year old pirates, but a shaman, a psychic and a group that is stealing artifacts isn’t above killing anyone that gets in their way.
The hero has watched so many others die in his long life. He doesn’t want to fall in love. But he can’t resist Char. There’s just something about her that draws him. There is quite a bit of angst and dithering from him that I didn’t care for. But it’s understood. Char wrote a book about the Sea Dog so has quite a bit of background on the crew. It was enjoyable to see her meet them all and have a little fan-girl couple of moments.
I look forward to reading more of these pirates finding their loves.
It’s back on board the Sea Dog for the second instalment in Lisa Kessler’s Sentinels of Savannah series, bringing us pirate-by-day rockstar-by-night, Keegan and historian, Charlotte who waste no time in showing us that the small issue of a 300 year age-gap is irrelevant when it comes to chemistry.
Immortality is only a gift when you don’t have to watch others die.”
Considering romance is strictly off the cards for Keegan due to the fact that loving an immortal will only end in heartache, his willpower is obliterated by Charlotte and as the crew’s quest for the holy grail continues, along with certain revelations with regards to Char’s life, the protective streak they have for one another kicks in and they soon realise there’s no point fighting their growing feelings.
I keep thinking none of this can be real, and then I remember my dinner date is an immortal pirate.”
With plenty of action thrown in amongst the the romance, Pirate’s Passion gives us the chance to get to know not only Keegan and Char, but the crew of the Sea Dog a little more and all whilst setting the wheels in motion for the next book. If paranormal romances float your boat, then you need to be hopping aboard the Sea Dog stat.
Forever has never looked so fucking good.”
Copy received courtesy of Entangled Publishing via NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion.
The second book in Lisa Kessler’s Sentinels of Savannah series, gives us Southern Rock Star/Pirate Samuel Keegan’s story.
"Such is a pirates life…"
The hunt is still on for the Holy Grail, but in Pirate’s Passion Keegan meets his forever match in Dr. Charlotte Sinclair.
"Immortality is only a gift when you don’t have to watch others die."
Keegan learned a long, long time ago to keep his emotions under wraps, and entanglements with women to the one night variety. Falling in love is not something you do when immortal, especially if you give your heart away to a mortal, the complications with that are obvious, and with the Grail missing, and possibly in the hands of the dark and dangerous Serpent Society getting entangled with any woman, especially one such as Char, who wakes up something in his heart is not a good idea.
He’d tasted her lips only once, but already an addiction was building, a hunger, and a troubling yearning…
But it’s not long before Char finds out that all is not as she was led to believe in regards to certain aspects of her own life, and that certain parts of herself if controlled can be an asset to the crew of the Sea Dog especially in retaking the Grail. And alongside Government Agent; David Bale (who has a large number of his own secrets) the crew work on retrieving it from the Serpent Society.
"I don’t know what tomorrow holds… but tonight… I just want to be the woman in your arms."
Action, adventure, a few thrills and surprises, as well as a likeable couple, the second book in the series kept me entertained, and also built upon the first in that I got to know the crew in general a little more, I am hoping that that deepening understanding carries on with each new book that’s added, especially as the adventure takes off in a different direction at the end of Pirate’s Passion I am interested to see where Lisa takes her readers next. I just hope it’s not too long of a wait as this is a story-line you want to keep fresh in your mind while reading further additions to it.
"You’re officially crew now."
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
Dr. Charlotte Sinclair, Char, decided to let her hair down at the urging of her friends. Little did she know she was going to find herself thrust into a world that the artifacts that she studied really did have magical properties or that the man that makes her burn is over 300 years old.
Samuel Keegan, lead singer in a southern rock band, couldn’t get the woman, Char, out of his head. When the top-secret government agency for policing the supernatural brings Char back into his life, he finds his world turned upside down.
Pirates, the holy grail and lots of other mayhem come full force at the Sea Dog crew.
I missed the first installment, but Pirate’s Passion stood just fine on its own. Kessler writes an exciting plot filled with fun and flirty characters and leaves us with the possibilities of more fantastic reads to come.
I received this ARC copy of Pirate's Passion from Entangled Publishing, LLC - Entangled: Amara. This is my honest and voluntary review. Pirate's Passion is set for publication Nov. 12, 2018.
My Rating: 4 stars Written by: Lisa Kessler Publisher: Entangled: Amara Publication Date: November 12, 2018 Sold by: Macmillan ASIN: B07FSKJ7G6 Genre: Urban Fantasy | Mythology
Oo those who love a rock star will be overjoyed to read all about Keegan but he's also a real life pirate . Or maybe that should be privateer but whatever one thing for sure is this book takes this series up a notch and sets sail for exciting times. The crew of the Sea Dog once drank from the mythical Holy Grail and now nearly three hundred years later the effects seem to be wearing off and more worryingly the Grail is missing ! Keegan knows only too well that letting people get close only leads to heartache but the gorgeous yet exasperating Charlotte just might be getting under his skin. Charlotte has known sorrow and now just buries her head in her fascinating work about the history of piracy. She hadn't ever expected to meet actual pirates but it seems her particular skills just might give insight into just who has taken the Grail. Too bad that those who Charlotte trusts have been keeping secrets from her ! I thought long and hard about this review and I've decided to rate this book as a five. Not only does it give readers a fabulous story with a believable romance but it brings action, danger and shocks along the way. This had a good plot with great characters who are starting to be increasingly fleshed out. Plus it's left in such a way that there's a lot of scope for further adventures and although there isn't a cliff hanger it's an ending that definitely leaves this reader wanting more. This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
Over 200 years ago, Samuel Keegan used to the man the wheel of the Sea Dog but now he’s the front man of a southern rock band who has sworn off of commitment. Working for the Maritime Museum, Dr. Charlotte Sinclair is an excerpt on ancient pirate wrecks.
Readers can’t help be become excited and completely caught up in this swashbuckling tale full of suspense and romance. Charlotte and Keegan are two wonderfully vibrant characters that easily hold readers’ attentions as they not only deal with the sizzling chemistry that flares hot every time they come together, but as they try to find the missing Holy Grail relic. The romance is sweet but full of emotional woes and obstacles to be overcome but the main one is Keegan’s past which has him shying away from love and reader can’t wait to find out if they ever reach that happily ever after.
The romance isn’t the only suspenseful part of this fast paced and exhilarating story, there’s actually plenty of it to go around as the search for the Grail brings danger to Charlotte’s doorstep and the government agent causes Charlotte all kinds of stress after some family secrets are revealed… secrets that rock her world. There is never a dull moment in this adventurous swashbuckling romance that singes readers with passion even as it keeps them glued to the pages. This fascinating world is full of unique elements and charming characters that ensure that readers will come back for more.
I’m loving reading this latest series from this highly talented author. Her love of all things piratical and paranormal shine through in this intriguing series, the books in which are standalone but they do have many shared characters and linking events. Over 200 years ago the crew of the Sea Dog discovered a true treasure – the Holy Grail that drinking from which has granted them all prolonged lives, but it has been stolen and its effects are wearing off. Now the pirate crew have other roles and one of them is Samuel Keegan, a singer in a rock band. Agent Bale encourages the pirates to recover it and enlists the help of Dr Charlotte Sinclair from the local Maritime Museum who has a particular interest in the history of pirate activities and wrecks in the area. Samuel is astounded when Agent Bale introduces Charlotte – they had met the previous night at one of his gigs and the chemistry between them was volatile!
This is a fun, exciting read, a great adventure with plenty of intrigue, mystery and romance in an enticing read that had me turning the pages and unwilling to put the story down until I’d finished reading it. Lisa Kessler has produced another enthralling read with well developed characters, a steamy romance and a superb plot, filled with surprises, revelations and mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed escaping into it and can’t wait to read more from this very talented author.
I requested and was given a copy of this book without obligation via NetGalley. I chose to read it and this review is my honest opinion of the book after thoroughly enjoying reading it.
An immortal pirate turned rock star, a brilliant historian with a hunger for adventure, a quest for the Holy Grail… How could Pirate’s Passion not be fun? It’s Pirates of the Caribbean meets Indiana Jones with a healthy dose of romance and secret government agencies thrown in.
Samuel Keegan is a charming rogue who enjoys his immortality and an ever-changing stream of women in his bed. The threat of losing his immortality is only dimmed by the panic he feels at risking losing his heart to Dr. Charlotte Sinclair. Keegan has lost a woman he loved once, and he feels no desire to drown in that despair again. Only he can’t seem to help himself from falling for Char. She’s an expert on pirates and knows all about the crew of the Sea Dog who supposedly died over two hundred years ago. Keegan and Char click immediately and I loved their chemistry. How things work out when one is immortal and the other not, I won’t say. But I did enjoy the ride author Lisa Kessler took these two on. Keegan is the perfect fantasy of a pirate turned rock star. He’s a gentleman and a scoundrel, and who can resist that? Not me, and definitely not Char. She’s his match in every way and their romance was sexy one moment, fun the next, and melted my heart the moment after that.
Pirate’s Passion is the second book in the Sentinels of Savannah series but you don’t have to have read Magnolia Mystic to follow along. The ongoing search for the Holy Grail – the cup that gave the Sea Dog pirates their immortality – continues in this story and we also delve further into the world of the mysterious government agency, Department 13. The quest for the cup was exciting and I was completely invested in this storyline. The rest of the world building was where the story hit a bit of a snag for me. It wasn’t quite as exciting, perhaps because it’s explored from the viewpoint of the somewhat bland Agent Bale. There was also a case of a lot being thrown in to spur further stories, which did set up some interesting prospects for future books but also had the side effect of leaving the villains in this one somewhat underdeveloped. Still, I enjoyed Pirate’s Passion overall. Ms. Kessler knows how to deliver sexy pirates heroes and adventurous, interesting heroines. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next in the Sentinels of Savannah series.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Once again, Lisa Kessler has captured my attention with a story about otherworldly pirates. Legend has it that in 1795 the pirate ship Sea Dog sanked off the coast of Savannah, Georgia. Before it sank, it was believed that the men on board stole and drank from the Holy Grail, thus making them immortal. Historian Dr. Charlotte Sinclair knows all about the stories of the Sea Dog. In fact, she’s even written a book about the ship and its members. Little does she know that the stories she’s written and read about are true. Charlotte is about to fulfill a dream by meeting not one, but all of the crew members and her life will forever be changed.
Samuel Keegan has lived hundreds of years. In present day Savannah, he may not be a pirate, but he does find ways to keep the pirate inside of him alive. Keegan is the frontman for a southern rock band called The Scallywags. In fact, their closing number is always him doing a solo rendition of a pirate shanty, dressed in a duster. No one but him knows the shanties and the leather frock coat he wears are authentic. During a performance, Keegan becomes enamored by a raven haired lady named Char. She’s unlike anyone he’s met before.
In the first book, Magnolia Mystic, the Sea Dog crew was approached by Agent Bale of Department 13, a secret US government agency that deals with the paranormal. The agency has known about the pirates for years, but when the Holy Grail goes missing, the government wants the crew to return to their thieving ways and steal it back. In return, the crew will be allowed to drink from the Grail one more time. To assist the pirates, Agent Bale brings Dr. Sinclair into the mix. He has a feeling there’s more to her than meets the eye. But she’s also done extensive research and he hopes she can help figure out who the pirates should be looking for.
Imagine Keegan’s surprise when he’s forced to meet with the historian, who turns out to be the fun and playful Char he met the night before. As the two start to work together to locate the Grail, they realize their attraction is too strong to ignore. Keegan realizes their biggest difference will be their undoing. Keegan is immortal and plans on living forever. Charlotte is human and will one day die. Keegan knows he isn’t strong enough to witness someone he loves die. But when their investigation leads to danger and that danger leads to life and death, Keegan and Charlotte are going to have to decide if their love is worth fighting and dying for.
Lisa is truly an amazing writer. It was so easy to visualize the words on the page. She’s even added a surprise that readers of her work will recognize and enjoy. My only question now is what does Lisa have up her sleeves for the rest of this series.
**Received a copy of the book courtesy of Entangled Publishing and voluntarily reviewed.**
I'm really not sure how to rate this book. I actually really loved the whole paranormal concept with the Holy Grail, immortal pirates (I've always had a thing for pirates, thank Jack Sparrow for that) and a secret government agency, but I think the execution could've been a bit better. Everything felt so rushed and stilted and I didn't think the conclusion was very exciting because I could predict some things from the very start. Everything that happened just went too smoothly and I love it when there's some difficulties the characters need to overcome.
I also didn't buy Keegan's "I've loved before, but lost her, so I never want to love again" attitude. One page he wanted to leave Char alone because he wouldn't be able to handle seeing her die of old age, and the next page he does a complete 180 and decides he wants to be with her after all?? Also, did I mention I really dislike insta-love? I just wasn't feeling it. He's also supposed to be a badass pirate but it was actually Char having to save his ass the entire time, and while I do love me some serious badass females, I wanted Keegan to be equally badass and I just wasn't feeling that either.
Overall, I really enjoyed the concept and the story itself, I just wish some things were done differently.
Received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
Dr. Charlotte Sinclair finds herself embroiled in a dangerous game when a government agent comes to her for help in her work as a Historian. She's an expert on pirate wrecks, so she's intrigued by the research she's asked to undertake to help find the Holy Grail. However, she never imagined she'd fall in love love or uncover a secret that would make her afraid of herself. But when things become dangerous, will she and Samuel Keegan fight and win against the bad guys or will they lose their shot at happy ever after?
What another fantastic addition to this series Ms. Kessler has delivered in this second book of her Sentinels of Savannah series where the main characters have interesting back stories and face tough obstacles to be together; and the dialogue was entertaining and intense due to main characters back stories, and the secret that's been hidden from the heroine that makes her a danger to anyone looking to hurt her and those she cares about. However, it was from the moment the hero and heroine come face-to-face for the first time where this story really takes off, as there's plenty of chemistry between this pair and I couldn't wait to read how Charlotte would help Samuel on his quest to find the Holy Grail.
With the main characters, the heroine was resilient and courageous when she learns things about her life that turn it upside down and make her worried how dangerous she really is. I also liked how determined she was to help the crew in their mission. Will they get what they want most -- to be able to drink the Holy Grail again, so they can retain their immortality? Since it appears they were starting to slowly lose their immortality? While the hero, he's confident, a little cocky, protective of his crew as well as the heroine, and I liked how determined he was to win the heroine over, even though he doesn't do relationships because he's already lost so much in his life and is not willing to lose anymore. Yet, what I liked most of all about the hero was the close friendships he has with his crew and how they tease each other, especially when it comes to the hero's growing relationship with Charlotte.
Overall, Ms. Kessler has delivered a really good read in this book where the secondary characters entertained me just as much as the main ones, especially the government agent; the chemistry between this couple was strong; the romance was nicely-detailed and hot; and the ending had me loving the danger these two face when they go up against the bad guys. Will Samuel and Charlotte come out on top? I would recommend Pirate's Passion by Lisa Kessler, if you enjoy paranormal romance or books by authors NJ Walters, Nina Croft, Mary Hughes and Heather Long.
I've done it again, found a great series and missed the first book!
Dr. Charlotte Sinclair is your typical uptight, straight laced historian. But when she indulges in her secret passion for a local band, fronted by the charismatic Keegan, she really lets her inner wild girl out and Char is a whole lot of fun! She and Keegan get up close and personal and her little walk on the wild side surprises her as she had been lusting after a colleague, trying to get him to notice her.
When she arrives at work the next day she gets sucked into a clandestine and very hush hush branch of the government which deals with things...that well, go bump in the night! She is astonished to realise that Keegan is actually Samuel Keegan, a member of the crew of the pirate ship she obsessed over most of her life!
Keegan is enjoying his long life, but is side swiped when one of his crew decides not to sip from the Grail yet again, he wants to grow old with his wife. But when the others start to fail and not heal as quickly, they seek out the Grail and realise it has been taken. Forced into working with the very secret squirrely secret agent that has been foisted onto is crew, he learns that Char and the stuffy historian are one and the same and the mission just got a lot more fun!
Sexy Pirates, the holy grail, fountain of youth and lots of supernatural shenanigans to enjoy. I'm not really a love of pirate stories but with the modern day setting and PNR elements made this super enjoyable! I wanna join the Sea Dog Crew!
What an interesting couple - Charlotte - a historian that specializes in pirate history and an immortal pirate - Keegan! They are thrown together by Agent Bale to find the Holy Grail which is missing and the pirates need to keep their immortality as it is wearing off after hundreds of years.
Lots of intrigue as they try to locate the cup and battle the brotherhood that is also searching for it. Lots of paranormal thrown in and Charlotte finds out a secret that has been kept for years and impacts her life.
There was non-stop action and I could not put the book down! I had to keep reading to find out how the pirates would get the cup back, how Keegan could overcome his fear of losing another woman that he loved, and how they could overcome the brotherhood.
A few sad parts but mostly a great HEA, and loved that Keegan wanted the gang to be pirates again - this time for the government!
A pirate who's a rocker....swoon. Keegan is hawt. This book is a delightful second addition to the Sentinels of Savannah series that adds more to the lore of how these pirates became immortal, weaving Holy Grail Lore with pirates. Love the creativity of that. Our heroine, Dr. Charlotte Sinclair (aka Char) is a delightfully nerdy historian who become integral to the pirates' search for their lost grail. She's got some secrets of her own that (no spoilers here) you'll have to pick this up to find out about. The two main characters scorch when on the same page. Loved it. Can't wait for the next one.
ARC received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I hope you enjoy this contemporary piratical adventure with the immortal pirate crew! I have such a blast writing this series, and Keegan, being my rock star pirate, had extra swagger!
He met his match with Dr. Charlotte Sinclair, and I had so much fun seeing the two learn how to be partners...
Lisa Kessler brings Pirate's Passion the 2nd in the Sentinels of Savannah series. LOVED the characters, the story line and the fact that the action is following the hunt for the Holy Grail. Immortality and the pit falls of Love and how they effect each other is explored. Real time pirate of olden times meets a historian that has done her research. Dr. Charlotte Sinclair is excited to meet Pirate Samuel Keegan who was born 200 years in the past. Keegan's crew along with Sinclair have to navigate clues to locate the Grail while side stepping the government agent in charge. "A copy of this book was provided by Entangled via NetGalley with no requirements for a review. "Comments here are my honest opinion." Lots of depth to this story that makes me want to catch up by reading the 1st in this series. LOOK FORWARD TO MORE!!
The first Sentinels of Savannah book was a novella. It was good, but it ended abruptly and needed more depth to make it truly great. In Pirate's Passion, Kessler fixes those issues, bringing depth and complexity to the story of an immortal pirate crew dealing with an evil secret organization that has stolen the Holy Grail. Okay, it sounds weird and cheesy, but it's good. Historian Charlotte Sinclair is a great addition to the series, both as a love interest and as a character in her own right. I look forward to reading the next book(s) in the series.
**I received a copy of Pirate's Passion from Entangled Publishing and Net Galley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review. My opinions are mine alone and not solicited in any way.**
Pirate's Passion by Lisa Kessler in the second book in her Sentinels of Savannah series I didn't read the first one and had no problems at all reading this as a stand alone. Because I loved this so much I bought the first book so I could find out about Colton and Skye. This is Samuel Keegan's and Dr. Charlotte Sinclair's story and it's worth more than five stars.
How can you not love a 300 year old Pirate who is also a rock star with his own band, lost treasure straight from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, plus throw in a secret Serpent Society who are locating and stealing artifacts for profit and Department 13 run by the FBI (Aka the Warehouse 13 TV show)? Because the book is all that and more especially with Savannah, Georgia as it's main city (My favorite place to visit) it wasn't hard to lose myself in Keegan and Char's story.
Dr. Charlotte Sinclair has studied and researched the Sea Dog, a ship lost during a storm at the mouth of Savannah river. She spends her evenings listening to the Southern Rock band, The Scallywag's, sing. When she meets Keegan and decides to take him up on meeting him backstage she doesn't realize that he's the pilot of the ship she's studied for her entire life. But then David Bale from the FBI shows up in her office saying that the crew from the Sea Dog are still alive because they found and drank from the Holy Grail. He's trying to find it before it falls into the wrong hands but he needs her help to get a find it. She's worked at the William Scarborough Maritime Museum for years never knowing pirates especially rock stars singing ones are real she agrees with one condition she wants to meet the crew to prove that they are still alive even 200 years later . There will be a traitor that could cause the cup to fall into the wrong hands, Serpent Society, Char will discover that she has a paranormal ability of her own and a mind bending climatic ending.
Samuel Keegan has manage to never show his 200+ year old age by changing his name and then create a new identity each time when he doesn't age like everyone. But when he sees Charlotte his long dead heart suddenly starts beating again but what will happen when he must disappear because she ages and he doesn't. Can he tell her the truth even when the crew of the Sea Dog is searching for the missing Holy Grail all the while fighting off the bad guys? Will she even understand that he's immortal and that they need the cup to stay alive? First he has to convince Captain Ian Flynn and the remaining crew of the Sea Dog that she is worthy of joining their crew and taking a drink from the Holy Grail.
Pirate’s Passion by Lisa Kessler is book Two in the Sentinels of Savannah series. This is the story of Dr. Charlotte 'Char' Sinclair and Samuel Keegan. I have read the previous book but feel you can make this a standalone book if you wish to do so. Charlotte is a nerdy workaholic who works for the Maritime Museum but on one rare night she lets her hair down which leads her to meet Keegan. Keegan is a immortal pirate that is now the front runner for the southern rock band 'Scallywags'. Keegan and his old crew the Sea Dogs once drank from the mythical Holy Grail that lead them to be immortal. But now they are looking for the lost Holy Grail to help them as it appears that it is wearing off. The group are start to get injured as a regular human not to mention other things. Keegan doesn't realize it at first but Charlotte might be the person they need to help locate it. Charlotte is dancing a dangerous game with a government agent comes forward looking for her help. I really enjoyed this first book and excited to read this one...now if I can just get the next one.... loved this one.
The first thing I must say is if you love romance, both regular and paranormal, you really need to read this author, and this book just highlights why. She can write words on a page, and the reader is immediately drawn into the story, no matter the content, and the people and places just come alive. Now, on specifically to this particular book. I am not a huge fan of pirates, but that doesn’t matter as this crew is so fun, hot, and full of kindness, you can’t help but love them. This latest book (there was previously a short story to introduce us to the cast) is full of great action, touch-your-heart romance, and an intense plot of finding lost treasure and will more than please fans of paranormal romance. And, the author is tying in another series of hers that just opens up so many stories. I really loved the ending of this book, and I can’t wait to read more. Please, let there be lots more! I highly recommend this book, series, and this author! I was provided the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed.
This book was different from a lot of books that I have read, this was about a band of immortal pirates and it was a lot of fun to read. Charlotte is a museum historian and know more about the Sea Dog pirate ship then most people but she is so involved in work she allows no time for fun. When she and her friend go to see a concert she ends up backstage meeting Keegan the lead singer and she leaves abruptly after just meeting him. Keegan is a two hundred year old pirate so meetups are no big deal but something about her called to him but when Agent Bale asked him to meet a historian that was helping find a missing artifact he cant believe it is the woman Charlotte from the bar. Kessler and Charlotte quickly become an item but Keegan knows it’s only temporary as Charlotte is not immortal, but this adventure may change things for them. Loved the old and new mixed together as they try to get the artifact back. Reviewed on behalf of Once upon an Alpha
What an amazing book. I love how the author combines history to make such an intriguing storyline. The holy grail has never been so exciting to follow. Samuel and Char were magical and the passion was hot. I highly recommend. Book provided by NetGalley.
I couldn't resist a book with 200 year old pirates and the holy grail. The crew of the Sea Dog and Char are helping a government agent recover the holy grail. I enjoyed the adventures that Samuel and Char have. I'm looking forward to the next book.
I really liked the paranormal aspect of the story. The secret government agency that monitors and protects the nation from paranormal beings was interesting and the idea of an immortal crew in possession of the Holy Grail was refreshing and unique. As the first book in a new series, it was entertaining and well written.
The romance only rated a 2 for me. I felt it was too rushed and both characters, although strong and complex on their own, didn't really sell their connection as anything lasting. They had potential but in the end it seemed their attraction fizzled out rather than strengthened as the story progressed. Long story short I didn't feel a real connection between the MCs and ultimately couldn't warm up to either of them. Keenan because he sold the whole "I loved once and it ruined me, so I'll never love again" too well and I couldn't buy his sudden turn about when it came to committing to the h. Char on the other hand reminded me a little of Bella from Twilight. She seemed more interested in sipping from the Holy Grail and living forever than she did for Keenan.
It didn't work for me but others may enjoy it more.
* * * ARC provided for an honest review * * * I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
While the title of this series is reminiscent of the Suzanne Johnson’s Sentinels of New Orleans, the story keeps giving me vibes that it’s related to Alyssa Day’s Warriors of Poseidon – along with a touch of a vampire romance series that I read a long time ago and now can’t recall the title of. And that’s going to drive me bananas until I figure out what it was.
Along with just a hint of the X-Files.
Only the beginnings of this mix were hinted at in the first book in this series, Magnolia Mystic. In that first story, readers were introduced to the immortal crew of the privateer Sea Dog, alive and mostly well over two centuries after their ship sank in the waters near Savannah.
Nearly, well, because their immortality seems to be wearing off.
The last treasure they took was the Holy Grail – and they all took a drink from the cup of immortality. But suddenly they aren’t healing as fast or as well as they used to. They decide to retrieve it from its hiding place and take another sip, only to discover that the cup is missing.
And that they aren’t the only ones after it. That’s where the X-Files come in, or at least Department 13, in the person of Agent David Bale.
That’s where we pick up the story in Pirate’s Passion. While Bale has already enlisted the help of the Sea Dog crew to retrieve the cup, they all need help figuring out who might have stolen it and why.
That’s where Dr. Charlotte Sinclair and the Savannah Maritime Museum come it. Charlotte is an expert on 19th century privateering in the Savannah area in general, and on the Sea Dog and its crew in particular.
She’s even written a book on the subject.
So it’s not much of a stretch to think that she might be able to help – once Bale reveals at least some of the truths to Dr. Sinclair. The big truth that “the truth really is out there” and that there are all sorts of legendary creatures that are not quite as legendary as she might have thought.
And that the crew of the Sea Dog, including the local rock singer she nearly went to bed with the night before, is alive and well and has been spending their eternity in Savannah. She’s not certain whether to be embarrassed about her previous encounter with Samuel Keegan, or to just go with the chemistry between them.
Her friends have all been telling her that she seriously needs to get a life – even if getting an immortal one isn’t quite what they had in mind.
Escape Rating B+: There is a LOT going on in this story. While Magnolia Mystic introduces the series, that was a novella. And now it kind of feels like a teaser. We met the crew and discovered their situation, but the wider (and sometimes wilder) world is mostly in the background. Which makes it a very nice introduction to the series but not critical to getting into this story.
Pirate’s Passion is where all the big guns and full-size cutlasses come out of their holsters and sheaths, and we learn just how different the world really is. While there is a romance in this story, and it looks like there will be in the rest of the series, the overarching story is urban fantasy.
This is our world, it just has a whole lot more…dimensions… than we are aware of. Many of those extra added attractions are interesting, some are very cool, and more than a few are quite deadly. As our heroine discovers, even if our hero isn’t certain whether that deadliness is something that he has to worry about – or not – or not yet.
The romance between Keegan and Char burns hot and heavy, but is often laced with tears. One of the dilemmas that ALWAYS has to be solved, resolved, or at least glossed over is what happens when one of the lovers is immortal. As far as they know, Keegan could live for centuries yet, where Char is mortal. If things go the way they have gone, his choices are to leave before his heart is too deeply engaged or watch her eventually grow old and die – if the dangers of their world don’t kill her first.
That this conundrum is resolved differently from the choices made in Magnolia Mystic gives the story some heft. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to this problem. (Also, one-size-fits-all is one of the ten biggest lies, right up there with “the check’s in the mail”, and “this will only hurt for a little while”)
This is also a series where, like Stargate and Anna Hackett’s Team 52 series, there is a government department tasked with dealing with the weird, that has a storage facility of dangerous artifacts. A department that employs agents who not only believe in the supernatural, but may also be a part of it.
Including Agent Bale, who has been fighting the bad guys longer than anyone expects. And where Char’s supposedly dead father has been hiding out from everyone who seems to be out to get him – on both sides.
So this is the book in the series where we learn just how big and bad the big bad is going to be. After all, if there are good guys on the side of the light, there must also be bad guys hiding in the dark. That there are multiple organizations out there who want to steal whatever artifacts Department 13 turns up for more-or-less nefarious reasons of their own makes sense in this context.
The world that the crew of the Sea Dog is a part of gets much bigger and much deadlier in this entry in the series. While I love the complexity of the world building, this is one of those times where it might have been better if it didn’t whack into the reader all at once – especially with Char’s own personal connections to the weird along with the crew of the Sea Dog finding out just how much is out there besides themselves.
Your mileage may vary.
That being said, I certainly enjoyed my second outing with the crew of the Sea Dog, if not quite as much as my first trip in Magnolia Mystic. I’m definitely looking forward to another voyage with this crew of pirates in Pirate’s Pleasure, sometime next year. Hopefully early next year!
This is my first book by Lisa Kessler and I am thoroughly in love. This book hooked from the beginning. A two hundred year old singing immortal pirate and a historian with magical powers meet in a bar... sounds like the layout to a farcical telling right? That couldn’t be farther from the truth of what is delivered in this book. The paranormal aspects of the story are prevalent but delivered in a way that does not feel over the top and campy, which I tend to find with a lot of paranormal romance novels. Keegan, our pirate, and Char, our gifted historian, have immediate chemistry that develops into a wonderful love story as the pages turn. Toss in the suspense and danger they face while attempting to retrieve a priceless relic and you have me hooked. I will be circling back to read the first book in this series next.
Thank you Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for an ARC of this title. All thoughts/opinions are unsolicited and my own.
Pirate’s Passion by Lisa Kessler is the 2nd book in her Sentinels of Savannah series. I did not read the first book in this series, but it was not an issue, as this book read very well as a standalone. However, I will have to go back to read the first book, and I really enjoyed Pirate’s Passion.
We meet Dr. Charlotte Sinclair, our heroine, at the start. Char works at the Maritime Museum in Savannah as a historian, specializing in ancient pirate wrecks and lore. She is a workaholic, and her friend pushes her to go out and have fun…say yes to everything. She goes to a bar, where a rock band is playing, and meets Keegan, the lead singer.
Samuel Keegan, our hero and lead singer for the band. What most people do not know is that Samuel Keegan was a pirate on the Sea Dog 200 years ago. He and some of his crew sipped from the Holy Grail and received immortality. Now all these years later, they find their healing is getting slower, and they fear losing the immortality. So they have asked for help to find the missing Holy Grail
Keegan finds himself attracted to the new girl watching his show. When he makes an attempt for her to join him after the show, she says ‘yes’, but just when things were getting hot, Char gets a phone call and needs to leave. Char meets with a government agent who wants her to help them find the Holy Grail, since she is the best person to do so. The agent introduces her to the pirate from the ship, and to her surprise, she sees Keegan. All of this is the beginning of this wonderful exciting and fun story.
What follows is an exciting adventure the brings Char together with Keegan and his crew in a desparate attempt to find the stolen Holy Grail, and fight off the enemies who want to destroy the Sea Dog crew, and keep the Grail for themselves. The romance between Charlotte and Keegan was very hot, as their chemistry together was sizzling. I loved how Char accepted that Keegan and his crew were indeed the members of the Sea Dog 300 years ago; she loved history and this was like a dream come true for her. Charlotte was a great heroine, smart, savvy and independent; and she was great working with them to fight the enemy. There were a some dangerous situations that put her life in danger, keeping us in suspense.
I loved the theme of Pirate’s Passion, and seeing the surviving pirate crew, how they each handle their immortality. Again, I loved Char and Keegan together, and the secondary characters were very good. Pirate’s Passion was not only exciting, action packed, with a nice romance, but also an excellent mystery which kept us glued to the frantic climax. I look forward to reading the next book in this series, as Lisa Kessler has many crew members to give us more stories. I wholly recommend you read this series, and I plan to go back and read the first book.
Lisa Kessler’s Pirate’s Passion is a delightful, action-packed pirates/rock star paranormal romance set back on board the Sea Dog moored in Savannah’s harbor. It’s the second installment in Lisa’s Sentinels of Savannah series, but can be fully enjoyed as a stand alone if that is your preference.
The crew of the Sea Dog drank from the mythical Holy Grail once and became immortal. Now, three centuries later, the effects are wearing off and the privateers require a booster swig. Unfortunately, the Grail they’d safely hidden away is missing. Pirate’s Passion chronicles the continuing hunt for the elusive Grail in conjunction with the steamy love story of sexy pirate Samuel Keegan and nerdy historian Dr. Charlotte Sinclair.
As the story opens, we find Charlotte totally out-of-character in a bar enjoying the performance of a southern rock band. She is there because she accepted her co-worker’s dare to let her hair down for once. She finds that she is most especially attracted to their lead singer, Keegan. The feeling is mutual as there’s an instant heated pull between the two. However, romance for either of them seems not to be in the cards. Keegan keeps his entanglements with the opposite sex to one-night stands because, as an immortal, he cannot bear watching someone he deeply cares for die. AND Charlotte is strait-laced with an all-work, no-nonsense persona and a seemingly impregnable wall around her heart.
Char walks away from their first encounter, but the two cross paths again when the top-secret government agency responsible for policing the supernatural enlists Charlotte’s expertise in the search for the missing artifact. Charlotte never imagined that the ancient artifacts she diligently studies possess magical properties and the man she cannot forget is three hundred years old.
I took an instant liking to both main characters. As always, Lisa hits solid homeruns with her sexy time scenes! I swooned, laughed and cried as she proves beyond a shadow of doubt that when the chemistry is there, age makes no difference!
Following please find a few of my favorite lines from Pirate’s Passion:
He signaled the bartender. “Get this woman some rum.”
Char chuckled. “If I didn’t know better, I might think you wanted my judgment to be impaired. I told you rum was my weakness in confidence.”
“In my defense” – he leaned in closer, his voice for her alone – “I am a pirate.” --- “I’m a pirate.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “I know treasure when I see it.” --- “I’ll wash your back if you wash mine.”
He raised a playful brow. “I’ll wash yer front, too.”
It’s a given that when I pick up one of Lisa’s books, I’m in for a treat. That’s why she’s one of my favorite authors and her books are, without exception, must-reads for me. Pirate’s Passion is a fun, wild and dangerous ride with a believable romance. It’s the perfect escape read. The HEA ending handily sets up further adventures with the Sea Dog’s crew. I can’t wait to see what surprises Lisa has in store for us in the next installment, Pirate’s Pleasure, set to be released in early 2019!
Immortal pirate meets sexy historian, creepy robed cultists, and a quest for the Holy Grail. Can't go wrong with that!
I dug Keegan and Char's budding romance. They get hot and heavy early on, but the author manages to build in a good deal of realistic emotion and connection between them. Keegan's baggage was a nice touch, though at one point, he does a rather abrupt 180 that seems a bit too easy for the plot.
I also very much enjoyed the history of Char's parents, especially her father. His occupation intrigued me. I've seen other stories where tech and magic mix, but his particular skillset was a first for me.
Most of the tension and conflict in the story arose from the quest for the Grail and the creepy cultists. I enjoyed the twists from that very much, but while I enjoyed the romance in the book, it didn't blow me away.
I never once had cause to doubt a happy ending, which kind of takes the edge off any relationship strife that might pop up. Of course, this is partly due to this being part of one of those series that pairs folks up in a certain location or social circle over the course of several books. Wouldn't make much of a series if some of the pairs didn't work out, would it?
On that note, the story is a standalone, but I picked up early on who got together in the last book, even without reading it. And their resolution is specified very clearly in this one. Might be better to read these in order if you plan to read more than one of them and don't care for spoilers. I think I might have enjoyed their cameos more had I started with Magnolia Mystic.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to folks who enjoy paranormal romance. It's steamy, but also fun with all the magic and pirate speak. Plenty of potential for future stories in the series (a whole crew's worth, I imagine).
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I wrote this review for the blog at puretextualitypr.com.
What do you do when you are intrigued by a man who is the lead singer in the band you love . Your assistant says that you should have an evening of yesses . You end up on a hunt for the Holy Grail with pirates , sexy pirates . That's what happens to Dr Charlotte Sinclair , she is the expert at the Maritime Museum. She knows all about the Sea Dog and its crew so when a government man shows up and asks for her help . She finds out the man of her dreams is a real pirate and she must help the crew find the Holy Grail and keep her love alive in the process . Ok ladies lets talk about these characters . They are well written and are complex . Samuel is well lets just say this , he is hot, sexy and a pirate . He is also an old soul that is burdened with the past . He is also immortal . You will fall for his tortured soul and will want to heal him anyway you can . Charlotte is a sweet over worked museum employee that has worked hard to get where she is . But she hasn't had fun in a long time . When she meets Keegan she finally lets her hair down and goes with the flow . As you read her you find out actually there is more to her then she knows. She is strong and independent and can drive Keegan crazy . These are great characters on their own but when they are together nothing can stop them from getting what they want . The rest of the crew is back also to help Keegan and Charlotte out . Love all these characters so much This is the second book in the series but I will let you know you can read it as a stand alone if you want to get to it right away . The author takes us on an rollercoaster ride that will take us on an epic adventure . The characters are so well written and you will love them so much . There is mystery , intrigue and of course love . I couldn't put the book down and got it read in an afternoon . I will tell you to get this book and sit down and read it . It will just take you an afternoon and you will be in love . So add this book to your winter reading list . Come and get yourself a pirate you will not be disappointed .