Product Description

Catherine

Born to a prominent Boston family, Catherine Markham is a bit of a hellion despite her gentle upbringing. Stifled by the rules imposed by society, Catherine yearns for adventure. When her beloved brother is kidnapped, she decides to deliver the ransom herself -- with the help of a young man few others might turn to.

Derrick St. John lives on the edge. The memory of his dead father tainted by treason, Derrick's life has been spent at sea in both legal and not-so-legal pursuits. Determined to clear his father's name, the last thing this young pirate wants is to embark on a voyage to Savannah in the midst of a war with the British, much less with a young lady who spells trouble at every turn.

An emotion stronger than caution takes hold of Derrick, and he finds himself unable to refuse Catherine's pleas for assistance, even though the journey promises peril for them both. And so the headstrong girl and the daring sea captain sail into an exhilarating adventure that fast becomes a journey of the heart.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #201421 in Books
• Published on: 2002-08-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 264 pages

About the Author
Karen Hawkins won multiple pre-published awards for The Abduction of Julia including the prestigious Maggie Award from the Georgia Romance Writers. She lives in Tennessee.

Customer Reviews

A wonderful historical romance for teens.
When seventeen-year-old Catherine Markham's parents died four years ago, it was her brother Royce who kept her going. Although Royce was twelve years older than Catherine, he became more than just her brother, he became her best friend. When Catherine learns that Royce has been lost at sea in the American Revolution, she is devastated -- until a ransom note arrives, stating that Royce is still alive and demanding money for his safe return. Determined to get from Boston to Savannah to deliver the ransom herself, Catherine convinces Royce's best friend, Derrick St. John, to take her on his ship. Just twenty-one years old, Derrick already has a past as a pirate, a past he was able to abandon with Royce's help. But he still lives with the memories of what he has done, and the knowledge that it was partly his fault his late father was falsely accused of treason. On the journey to Savannah, Catherine and Derrick fall in love, but hide their feelings from each other -- he because of his past, she because she despairs of ever becoming more than his best friend's little sister. I highly recommend this new Avon True Romance. Like the rest of the books in the series, it's a wonderful historical romance for teens. I also really loved the setting, as the colonial period has always been one of my favorites.

An Adventurous Romance
When Catherine Markham finds a randsom note that tells she must pay 50 gold pieces to get her brother, Royce, back and her uncle refuses to send money, she goes to Derrick St. John for help.

Derrick immediately says yes to finding Royce, his best friend because Royce was the only one to allow Derrick to be a sea captain with his well-known past. However, he is reluctant to take Catherine along.

Catherine makes friends with the crew, helps a cabin boy named Lucas recover after their ship is attacked by a pirate ship headed up by DeGardineau, the man Derrick has sworn to find so he can clear his father's brand as a traitor. They get all the way to Savannah, but when they reach the Red Rooster Inn where Royce was supposedly being help early, DeGardineau's men capture them and take the gold. Now, they must find a way to get more gold for the kidnappers and try to avenge Derrick's father all before the deadline meets. Although they are close to death many times and are always disagreeing about one thing or the other, Catherine and Derrick still find time to fall in love.

This was a great read!!!!
Karen Hawkins has written a truely wonderful book. Derrick and Catherine are wonderful and the romantic tension between the two kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through the book. I have been recommending this to all my friends. Great job Karen, I can't wait until the next one.