I read about 2/3rds of this tale. I love pirate stories but couldn't enjoy this one.  Shane is ok, but Maura is just a loose woman. She jumps into bed in a second! Young women in those days tended NOT to. Plus she's a nag. Sorry didn't love it.

I loved this book.  I enjoyed the story line from beginning to end.  It had its predictable moments but not in the way that you would expect.  The book had equal amounts of drama, adventure, suspense and for me a moment where I was biting my nails hoping for a certain outcome.  I 100% recommend this book to anyone.  No matter what your reading preference is.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I have

And here we have a classic example of a concept very much of interest - I mean, who doesn't like pirates?! - going to hell by a cast and plot that make no sense or hold said interest...

I started reading this book all giddy and stuff. I love pirate-themed stories, especially romantic ones, and if there's the proverbial ripping of corsets involved, then even better. At page 78 - read again, 78, I gave it a good effort to nearly reach 100, people - I just had to give up. It pains me to say, this was not the book for me.

Let's start with the general stuff. Because I have a bone to pick with the main heroine, but that's personal, so I'm leaving it for later. Priorities! So!

First of all, the pace. It was completely out of order. It was slow when there were no important events, and unreasonably fast in parts we needed more details on. Case in point, Maura and swordsmanship. How the heck did she learn to actually wield the blade? What, they just gave her a weapon, taught her none of the basics, and then spewed philosophical BS at her, expecting her to know what she was doing? Scenes like these add to character growth - which God knows Maura needed tons of - and there was none of it. On the other hand, we got a lot of unnecessary scenes, dragged out till it bored us to death.

And now, the personal problem. Maura. MAURA! What on Earth is it with that woman?! I remember writing down on my review notes (because yes, I have a notebook to write down stuff to remember for reviews when reading ARCs) that I didn't appreciate her constant need to change Shane's pirating ways - because the man obviously liked doing it, and he was damn good at it. And then, the next note, some pages later, is me writing in all caps a rant the likes of which I haven't seen in my notes in a while. Let me be more specific - in other words, rant is about to follow, beware.

You hare-brained sheep! The man has repeatedly told you - and showed you - he likes being a pirate. He's good at it. He enjoys it, identifies himself with it. And yet, I kept reading all the different ways and plans and schemes she came up with, trying to make him drop it. Ignoring his wishes. Totally not respecting him and his desires. Woman, you want him? Then take him as he is! Stop trying to teach him how to be your noble lapdog like he's Tarzan!

And then Maggie! What was the point of a 40-year-old maid going with Maura, who was supposedly being kidnapped by pirates to avoid her awful marriage? Who in their right mind would believe that a noble lady got kidnapped, yet the pirates were kind enough to offer to take her loyal servant with her?! Only to die, mind you, in the next chapters, in the very first battle, because sure, where else would a middle-aged woman be but in the middle of a fight between ships?! It made no sense for her to die like this, unless it was just for Maura to be a little sad and in mourning, refusing to sleep with Shane as a result (not that it lasted long, mind you, she jumped right in after a little while).

Oh, oh, and let's not forget that by page 78, they had already done the deed. Never mind the fact that a woman at that point of human history didn't just give in to sex because of her upbringing (and you people better not tell me otherwise, Maura wasn't even rebellious in nature to justify her sleeping with Shane right off the bat, she was even acting like the fucking virgin she was when he tried to make out with her the first time)! If the book was a novella, and an erotica one at that, it would have made sense, and it would be expected and wonderful. But when you have 158 more pages to go - what else IS there to read about?! Because it certainly wasn't Maura and her stubborn thoughts on how to get Shane out of the pirate ship - again, this seemed to be the only thing in her mind, EVER!

I don't know if Elizabeth Swan has set high standards for pirate romance heroines for me, but I do know that this wasn't enough of a reason for me to hate other heroines of this genre, who weren't like our dear Ms Swan. So I guess it was certainly Maura. Kudos, though, for the woman: just by being an obnoxious female lead, she managed to sour a story based on one of my top favorite themes, I mean, at least she has that going on for her as a record...

***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***

Pirate's Prey follows Maura Brent, the daughter of a man down on his luck with fortune. Facing a marriage arranged to keep her father's home, Maura does what is needed to protect her family's interest. Her fate takes a turn for the more adventurous when the pirate captain Falcon (Shane Christian) kidnaps her on her father's orders to rescue her. Despite countless warnings and Maura's best intentions, she finds herself falling for the pirate despite all that stands in their way.

This was a fun concept to explore! It did feel a bit rushed at times in the writing, but it fit a lot into the story. I liked the characters of Maura and Shane, they felt well-developed and had great chemistry. Other characters could have been described a bit stronger to make them more memorable, but with a leading couple like this it wasn't super distracting that the other characters were a bit basic. 

Pirate's Prey is a fun romance to get immersed in, I loved the storyline and the settings of the pirate ship, Ireland, and America in the 18th century.

3.5 ⭐️
A pirate tale of adventure, kidnapping, bribes, slave trade, death, and my favorite, romance. An easy read with a full story of events that I just mentioned. I enjoyed it, but didn’t care for the title or the cover. 
In some places it felt one dimensional and I longed for more interaction with the h and H. I also had a hard time believing the insta love. Having said that, there was quite a tale being told. 
This would be a fun, summer read in my opinion. As my husband always says, “a mental bag of potato chips.” 

Thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for this copy in exchange for my honest review.

Loved it! Maura Brent is being forced to marry Harold Mansbry, a very manipulative and power-hungry man. He wants to send her father to prison if she will not marry him. Her father has been fighting against this man for a year or more. Her father is now broke and not sure what to do about it. Maura loathes him but agreed, she could not let anything happen to her father. on the night before her wedding, there is a ball to celebrate and she meets two men one is Alexander Steele. The other is Shane Christian, he dances with her, goes into her father's office and talks for a few minutes. Then he leaves. 
Shane Christian AKA "The Falcon" is a pirate and made a deal with her father to get her out of there before the wedding. He came to get her the night of the marriage. He was very notorious and had been a pirate since he was fairly young. He loved the sea, it kept him calm, it made him rich as well. He was very successful.

Pirate's Prey was a little hard to follow. Not that it was confusing, but that it almost seemed like a rough draft. The writing was quick and jumpy.
The characters were hard to get to know. Maura had no introduction. It just jumped right in to the story. And when faces with a fiance her father hated all he said was "i need a drink" and let her go.
Overall the story was a good story and once it got going it was not a bad story.

3-1/2 stars rounded up to 4.

I didn't love this book, but I didn't hate it, either. I found the pace to be somewhat uneven and didn't really connect with any of the characters. I think part of the reason for that was because I never got a clear picture of what they looked like. I know that sounds superficial, but I like to get a clear vision in my head of their features. I know that Falcon had dark hair, was tall, but other than that, I didn't "see" him. I didn't get a description of Maura at all...at least not one that I remember. It made it hard for me to care about them. In my opinion, you can get away with that in thrillers or mysteries, but not romances. That's just me. It may not bother others.

As for the story, it was pretty darn good. Shane Christian (Falcon) and Maura met in a pretty unique way and after that, he wanted her forever. I appreciated that part. But she had to marry another man who was a master manipulator and just an overall jerk. It worked for everything. I grasped that David Trent, who was some sort of police officer, and her husband were trying to apprehend Falcon and David Trent seemed to make it his life's work. I wasn't sure just how Maura's husband fit into the equation other than financially. But he is an important part of the story and not to be minimized.

There were some super feel-good scenes toward the end that had me choked up and the end had me jumping for joy. The last quarter of the book was the best part of the whole thing. I wasn't bored with the what led up to it necessarily, but if this book was an ice cream sundae, the end would be the cherry on top. I'll probably remember it for a long time. 

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Pirate’s Prey by Colleen O’Connell captured my attention from the first page.  I haven’t read anything by her, but will be checking this author out.  We start by meeting Maura Brent and her father meeting Harold Mansbry who now owns her father’s bank note and is forcing (blackmailing) her into a marriage that she doesn’t want.  Harold is not a nice fellow, but Maura feels she has no choice so she signs the contract.  Several days, at her “engagement” part she goes off by herself and Shane Christian finds her in the garden alone.  He is intrigued by her, but finds that she is the person the party is for.  That doesn’t stop him from dancing the waltz with her (which is scandalous!). Fast forward to the wedding and it happens even though someone is to kidnap Maura BEFORE the nuptials. Then the wedding night. Unfortunately for Harold, he drinks a glass of wine and then passes out. Hmm, something doesn’t seem right. Maura is then kidnapped by, you guessed it, Shane.  But he isn’t who she thinks he is.  He is actually the pirate Falcon.  What happens after all of this is an adventure for both Shane and Maura. But remember, Maura is married. Will they get her out of the marriage? Who is David Trent? These and other adventures are answered by the end.  Very good story and well written.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Enjoyed the story.  It is well written, entertaining and full of action.  In order to save his daughter from a disastrous marriage, James planned for her to be kidnapped and taken to America.  Things do not go as planned and she is not taken until after the wedding has ended but she is finally on her way to America on board a pirate ship. As the trip proceeds, Mauren and Shane fall in love and he takes her to his home. Because Shane is a pirate life is full of danger, especially when he is captured and stands trial.  There is a lot going on in this story and it makes for a great story.  There is a HEA but a lot happens first.

Pirate's Prey is a great story if you love pirates, insta love, and an overall sweet romance. Shane and Maura meet at her engagement ball to another man. They share a kiss and then he kidnaps her soon after. From there, it's one adventure after another. Sadly though, for as deeply in love as they are, they can can never marry until an enemy has been dealt with.

My thanks to NetGalley and The Wild Rose Press, Inc for the opportunity to read and review Pirate's Prey by Colleen O'Connell.

Oh my goodness! This book was a whirlwind of action, adventure, kidnapping, violence and romance. Shane is a pirate who whisks Maura away on the night of her wedding to save her from what would have been a very unpleasant marriage to a scheming manipulative man. I loved Maura's spunky personality and Shane is the perfect pirate. I just wish there had been a little more of their relationship revealed (more feels, conversations, etc) since so much of the book they spent apart. All the swashbuckling adventure in between their time together definitely kept me on the edge of my seat! I definitely wish there had been a epilogue with a glimpse of their life together in the future. Overall, a really good pirate book that is full of nail biting action!

*I was given a copy of this book through netgalley and this is my honest review.

Oh my, this is a tear jerker. Forced marriage, kidnappings, pirates, deaths, hanging, it never stops even when you think it ends. Who can you trust? Always the pirate known as Falcon. A new author for me. Fast paced and never a dull moment.

I received a free copy of Pirates Prey in exchange for an honest review.  I always prefer a good pirate romance over a stuffy English ton novel, and this book definitely delivered. It was a quick and easy read, and kept me entertained throughout.  I thought it was a fresh twist to the plot when Maura couldn't be saved from marrying her husband before Shane could save her.  Overall, this was a great read and I would recommend to friends and family.

***REVIEW WRITTEN FOR NETGALLEY IN RETURN FOR GETTING TO READ THE NOVEL***

‘Pirate’s Prey’ is one of those books you just need to keep reading to find out what happens next. It focuses on an Irish noble girl called Maura Brent who is being forced to marry a gentleman (if you could even call him that) Harold Masbry who is threatening to throw her father in debtors gaol. To escape this, Maura’s father plots with the notorious pirate ‘Falcon’ to get Maura away from Harold. On their wedding night, Maura is taken and shipped off to Charles Towne, America. However Falcon is being pursued by London sheriff David Trent, who arrested and almost had Falcon hung, 5 years previously. 

I am desperate to find out more about Shane (Falcon) and Maura’s story! The novel ended on such a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to find out more!

I got this book from NetGalley and the publisher for a honest review
I loved this book. More than I expected. I don’t know what I expected from a pirate love story, but it was not this. Nor did I expect to love this so much. I will definitely read more pirate stories in the future. This story went places where I did not expect it to go as well. We start the book out as the main character is being forced into a marriage. Then the pirate Falcon, also known as Shane, comes to the rescue and brings her to America. Drama follows from there. I loved Shawn. A lot. I would totally fall for him if I was in Maura’s shoes. I did think that the pacing was a bit off. The romance could be dragged out a bit more in my opinion. I wanted them to be together for more of the book as well, because they were apart most of the time they were a couple. It also got really dark at times. Especially with the selling of women. That part came as a total surprise, and I am glad that it’s addressed. It’s an important topic to discuss in my opinion. I did not expect there to be as much death as there was. I expected maybe 1 death, but there were a lot of them. Way more then expected. Those parts were dark. But that made this book better, as it was not just the romance.

I love a steamy pirate story and Pirate's Prey delivered! Maura is rescued from an unwanted marriage by the Falcon pirate. The book is full of witty banter, desire, constant excitement, and exotic locations. The author did a fantastic job of keeping the momentum high throughout the story. I highly enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down until finished. You won't be disappointed!

He took what he pleased and he pleased what he took.

Who doesn’t love a good pirate story? I enjoyed Shane’s confidence and fierceness. I loved Maura’s stubborn spirit. Being on the wrong side of the law never seemed so good. That ending! Wow! My heart was in my stomach the entire time. It was so intense and detailed. I couldn’t help but love Shane.

The cover is gorgeous. The characters enjoyable. I never knew what was going to happen next, especially as Mansbry and Shane kept trying to best each other. I definitely recommend this book if you love a good pirate romance.

Very soft pirate romance story. The book kept me entertained enough to investigate the author and read some more from her collection.

Maura is forced into a marriage to protect her father and to save him from debtors prison. Her father arranges to have Simon Christian aka The Falcoln to rescue her before the marriage takes place.  Unfortunately, he arrives too late and kidnaps her after the marriage.  Maura is fiesty, independant and sassy she learns to adapt to life aboard ship learning ropes and swordplay; and over time she slowly she falls in love with Simon. There are sea battles, and a few ships that Simon decides not to engage in battle with. Aboard ship, Simon will face many challenges to his authority and he is brutal in exacting revenge upon those that dare to defy him.  When they reach land, they are happy for a while, until Simon is being hunted by the only man who can identify him both as Falcoln and Simon Christian. This is such an amazing story, the research that has been done is thorough in the visual descriptiveness of the story; a reader can imagine being in that time and space!  I found that this pirate story is realistic in what happened with pirates in the era and this detail added to the authenticity of the story.  There is a HEA where love really does conquer all.