Review: The Bastard by Brenda Novak

Publisher: Self-published by Brenda Novak
Received: eGalley from Author/Publisher

Release Date: November 1, 2011

Goodreads Synopsis:

To some men honor is just a word….

Jeannette Boucher, a young French beauty from a family left penniless by the revolution, must marry against her will to save them all from ruin. But almost immediately after the vows are spoken, she learns that her old English husband is impotent—and in his desire for an heir, he plans to compromise her in the worst way.

Determined to escape such a fate, she stows away on one of His Majesty’s frigates. But a woman alone is in constant danger.

To Lieutenant Treynor, honor means everything….

Born a bastard to a wayward marquise, Lieutenant Crawford Treynor was given to a poor farmer to raise and was maltreated until he ran away to join the Royal Navy. Treynor is determined to prove he’s as good as any other man and rise to captain his own frigate. But once he finds Jeannette aboard The Tempest he must decide whether to return her to the man he knows would abuse her—or risk everything, even his life, to keep her safe.

My Review:*POSSIBLE SPOILERS*

So this is my first romance novel, and the words I have are "Oh My" (continuously). I thought I would try out a romance novel and this one peaked my interest, being classified as a historical romance. I am sorry I did not delve into romance novels earlier. I admit, I could not put this book down! This novel had romance, action, and crime.

Lieutenant Treynor... can I just say yum!! Who wouldn't want a handsome, yet rugged sailor to be their 'knight in shining armour'. I'll take him. And his fiery attitude just draws you in deeper. I can barely come up with words, the book just left me breathless. I just want to keep reading it (but I have a feeling all romances are like this).

The one thing that I thought Brenda Novak did really well was the teasing of the readers. I found myself expecting the romance to come but it was over as soon as it started, and I had to keep coming back. The heat and passion between Jeannette and Treynor is to die for.

I'm definitely glad I started with this book for my first romance novel! I will come back for more from Brenda Novak if they are all along these lines (the historical aspect of it is what really grips me).