Review: The Noble Pirates by Rima Jean

Title: The Noble Pirates

Author: Rima Jean

My Rating: ★ ★ ★★ ★ 

Genres: Historical Fiction, Time Travel, Adventure, Romance

Format Read: Kindle, 443 pages

Description from Goodreads

A vacation in the Bahamas goes awry, and a woman from 2009 unexpectedly finds herself in 1718 - amidst pirates. Sabrina is so consumed with her present-day problems that the last thing she expects is to suddenly end up face to face with real pirates. The notorious bad boys of the Golden Age of Piracy, Edward England, Howel Davis, and "Black Bart" Roberts, become Sabrina's means of survival in the past, and ultimately, her key to returning to the future.The catch? Sabrina happens to be carrying a book about pirates when she is swept into the past, and that book contains biographies of the very men she meets. She forms relationships with them and learns that, contrary to what she previously thought, they are sailors, servants, and slaves who were pressed into service, victims of social and historical circumstances of the era. When Sabrina finds herself falling in love with Howel Davis, a sailor who becomes a pirate out of desperation, she begins to wonder: Can she use her knowledge to change the past?

My Review:

Firstly, I must say that I didn't know anything about this book when I dived into it. Well, except for the fact that it's about pirates. I didn't even look through the blurb because I knew I would love this book! Needless to say that I wasn't disappointed. I love historical stories, and if you add pirates, time travel and a bit of romance in the equation? Simply perfect. 

Our protagonist is Sabrina, a 31 years old lawyer from the 21st century. Due to a storm she's transported back to 1718 where she's rescued by a troop of pirates. While she tries to survive and find a way back to her family, Sabrina dresses like a man and meets several pirates: most of them are really cruel and barbaric, but there are some who are good and honorable, hence the title "The Noble Pirates". 

It's fun to read how Sabrina reacts to the weird events in her life. She has to cope with the old ways of the 18th century where women have no freedom and can't survive without being under the protection of men.

I like how the romance builds up gradually and unhurriedly. At first I thought there was something going on between Sabrina and Captain Edward, but as I learn more about Howel and his hazardous journey to becoming a pirate, I realized that Howel and Sabrina make a good match. Howel makes a great love interest and I think the author did an amazing job on portraying the righteous and caring aspects in his personality. 

There's a bit of mystery going on, and I was really curious to see if Sabrina would be able to change the inevitable. I truly hope there is a sequel because I got emotionally invested in the characters.

Overall this book is full of adventure and piracy. It's a quick read and if you love pirates and need your pirate fix then this book is for you.

Review: Kiss Me, I'm Irish by Bella Street

Title: Kiss Me, I'm Irish (Tennessee Waltz, #1)
Author: Bella Street
Rating: ★ ★ ★☆☆ (3.5)
Genres: YA, Fantasy, Time Travel
Format read: Kindle, Won

Synopsis from Goodreads

Emily Musgrave is heading a direction she never wanted to go in Regency England--namely a convent to turn her from her waywardness. But it's more loneliness than rebellion that motivates her to escape her certain fate. Liam Jackson is going nowhere fast in modern-day Tennessee. Playing his Dobro in seedy bars and backward dives along with his fiddling sister, Tinker, is doing nothing for his music career--and even less for the dark places in his soul. Pixie mischief can not only change time-lines, it can change hearts. Because sometimes a girl just needs a little magic in her life.

My Review:

I won this book from the author and was really excited to read it because the cover and the title were so attractive. And I actually started reading it on St Patrick's day, how cool is that?

So Emily Musgrave is from 1890 and she was unwillingly being sent to pass the rest of her life in a convent. But thankfully she is able to escape and somehow find herself in the future (in 2011 to be precise). She'll then meet two musicians Liam and Tinker who'll help her adjust and get used to the 21st century's life style.

Bella Street created some really realistic characters and I think she's done a great job on writing how a girl, from a previous century, would react to things we have in the present and that for us are ordinary and normal; like how Emily thought that the TV was a box with little people in it.

This book has got me laughing out loud because the dialogues were just so funny. Emily seems so naive and sometimes has no clue of what she's saying.

I liked that there is a mix of magic, piskeys and music in this book. What I didn't like though, was Liam's behaviour. He is Emily's love interest and he acts as if he were incapable to accomplish anything even though I know he has great potential. He is afraid of failing, but it's good that in the end he didn't disappoint me.

Overall the first half of the book was truly amazing, the second half not so much, but the ending was great.