on Nov 28th, 2010 Our fellow Spice author, the fabulous Victoria Janssen, is here to share her hot pirates with us! (Don’t we wish!). But we can certainly pretend…and we will-that’s why they call it fiction, darlings.
Sexy Pirates with Victoria Janssen
The Duke and the Pirate Queen is set in the same world as The Duchess, Her Maid, The Groom and Their Lover and features characters who appeared in that novel, Duke Maxime and Captain Imena Leung. Captain Leung is forced to abduct Duke Maxime, who is her employer, to thwart an assassination plot against him. He wants her. She wants him. Unfortunately, issues of birth, rank, and their own pasts are in conflict with their desires. And then there are the pirates, the storm, the hostile islanders…not to mention the sharks.
So, why did I want to write about pirates? Well, because they’re sexy. It’s the outfits, you know. All that silk and tattered finery! The amazing tattoos. The cutlasses. The way they grab hostages and lock them in cabins for their own pleasure. And finally, the isolation. Being stuck on a ship together is like the traditional “trapped in a lonely cabin” story, only with the possibility of being eaten by sharks. It’s just plain fun.
I was never the biggest fan of pirates before. I enjoyed reading the classic Captain Blood in high school and, more recently, saw the Pirates of the Caribbean movie. I’d read some pirate and sea adventure romances. I researched Asian pirates, particularly Japanese pirates in conflict with China and Korea, which was really fascinating. But my true loves so far as ocean novels goes are the Napoleonic sea adventure novels by C.S. Forester (the Hornblower series) and Patrick O’Brian (the Aubrey-Maturin series).
Since my novel was set in a fantasy world, I decided to combine these two sub-genres, pirate romances and sea adventures, for The Duke and the Pirate Queen. I took elements from my reading on Asian pirates and combined them with Napoleonic-era European ships and the tropes of sea adventure novels. The heroine, Imena Leung, is the daughter of an Imperial admiral who married one of her barbarian captives. Imena fought pirates, so really she’s a privateer, but the world doesn’t see her that way, and now pirates are after her again, when she thought she’d put it all behind her. And now she isn’t just protecting herself, but her lover.
CONTEST!
Comment about your favorite pirate story to be entered in a random drawing to win a copy of The Duke and the Pirate Queen! (Everyone is eligible, no matter where you live.)
A winner will be announced in the comments section here on Friday, December 3rd!
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Excerpt:
She swung the door open a bit too hard, and it slammed against the temporary bulkhead. Maxime sat crosslegged on the deck, eating an orange. The tart scent perfumed the cabin. His lips and fingers were shiny with the sticky juice, forcibly reminding her of how he’d looked, smiling at her with her juices on his mouth.
“Keep your hands off my crew,” she said.
“Even if they ask nicely?” He rose slowly, effortlessly, and held out a crescent of fruit. “Orange?”
“Chetri didn’t ask.”
“He was certainly looking. I know that’s mostly frowned upon in the Empire, but surely you–”
“I should leave you locked in here.”
“That won’t be much fun,” Maxime said, and popped the slice of orange into his mouth. Hypnotized, she watched him chew and swallow.
She said, “I would leave you down here, but we need to shift the cargo. We stowed it hastily, and–never mind. Get your things. I’ll put you in my cabin.”
Maxime smiled and bowed. “Thank you. I’m at your command.”
“Hurry up, I have things to do.”
As they ascended the stairs, Imena first, Maxime said, “You really didn’t need to go to all this trouble. But if you enjoy games–”
Outraged, she exclaimed, “Is that what you think?” She’d left port with her ship barely provisioned and still bristling with barnacles, for his sake, to save him from potential murder, and all he could think about was making the tide. She bit back a longer retort.
“I must admit, the carpet was novel. Being carried off by two muscular young men–I assume they must have been muscular–the solitary confinement to think it over–”
She whirled on him. “I never realized you could be so utterly infuriating.” She would not fight with him now. She would not.
“It’s a talent I spent my entire childhood honing. If I had to live with Camille’s father after he’d killed my parents, I wasn’t about to make it easy for him.” He paused. “So, did I make you jealous? With Chetri? I’d be willing to go farther with him, if he’d consent, if that would make you jealous. Or if you’d like it.”
If he didn’t shut his mouth, she was going to have to kill him. Perhaps she’d better shut it for him. “In,” she said, swinging wide her cabin door.
“I’m to be a prisoner in your cabin now, am I?” He grinned and swept through the doorway. “I feel a flutter of virginal apprehension. I’ve always wondered what went on in the cabins of privateers. Though I did do it in a hammock once. That was terribly awkward, but it came out all right in the end.”
“Sit.” She pointed at one of her two trunks that doubled as seats; they were spread with folded layerings of cloth, to pad the hardware fittings. Maxime did her bidding, but he sat straddle-legged, lewdly on display through the cloth of his trousers. Idly, he stroked himself.
“Stop that,” she said. “I need to speak with you.”
“Oh, I can speak and do this at the same time,” he said, grinning at her. “You’ve really made me wait quite a long time. I’m not sure I can wait much longer. I might have to ask Chetri to ease my pain–”
Imena’s hand closed over the coil of line Norris had left behind. It was fairly soft, chosen so it wouldn’t snag silk clothing. “You were less asinine before I let you bathe me,” she said.
His grin faded. “That was before you locked me up and left me, then sailed me out into the ocean without so much as a please or a thank you. I think that entitles me to be as asinine as I like.”
Imena strode over to him. “Give me your hands,” she said.
“Oh, no, you don’t,” he said. His irritation sounded genuine, and she felt a glimmer of triumph.
She said, “You won’t fight me.”
“Won’t I?”
Imena grabbed his wrists and, in a few swift movements, lashed them together with a series of hurricane knots.
Maxime stared down at his forearms, now wrapped in hempen line. “I didn’t think you truly would do it.”
Imena grinned at him. Suddenly, she felt much better.
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Visit Victoria’s website for more info about her and her books:
www.victoriajanssen.com
The Duke and the Pirate Queen
The Moonlight Mistress
The Duchess, Her Maid, The Groom and Their Lover
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Be sure to stay tuned to the Smutketeers for an amazing lineup of guests December 4th-6th: Vivi Arend, Jess Dee, Moira Rogers and Vivi Andrews! And as if that’s not enough, our 12 Dirty Days of X-mas are coming beginning December 7th, with a HUGE special announcement, followed by a truly spectacular array of guest authors you’ll have to see to believe, including Jaci Burton, Larissa Ione, Lakota Phillips, Robin L. Rotham, Ashlyn Chase, Kate Pearce, Shelli Steverns, Melissa Schroeder and of course, the Smutketeers ourselves. There will be excerpts! There will be prizes! There will be dirty X-mas caroles!
All For Smut, and Smut For All!
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That is deffinately a twist on the pirate story and the cover I had to look twice to see she was covered by tattoos. I hate to say it but my favorite pirate movies go way back to The Crimson Pirate with Burt Lancaster and I also loved the Sinbad movies growing up too but the ones that make me sigh are the Pirates of the Caribean, surely there is someone out there to love Jack.
by Zina November 29th, 2010 at 5:39 amZina
Oh, I think some folks who love Jack will come along!
by Victoria Janssen November 29th, 2010 at 7:01 amI have not yet read a pirate story but am really excited to. I have just been waiting to find the right one. This could be my chance to get my hands on great sounding pirate story!!! Great contest :)
by Leagh November 29th, 2010 at 8:24 amI’m reading this sexy pirate story now! I have an autographed copy, hee!
Thanks for coming to hang out with us, Victoria!
by Crystal Jordan November 29th, 2010 at 8:33 amOoh, pirates! Victoria, I LOVE that this is about pirates, and apparently Asian ones at that! And it’s connected a little to your previous story? Must. HAVE! As for favorite pirate story? Jennifer Ashley and Marsha Canham each have several that have been fun to read, and I loved Sylvia Day’s in her anthology Bad Boys Ahoy ;) And Christine d’Abo has some futuristic pirates that are yummy :) And of course, the Smuketeers themselves have some delicious takes on pirates :D
by Fedora November 29th, 2010 at 9:31 amOkay, I hate to say this, but Fabio’s Pirate was the one and only pirate type romance novel I’ve ever read.
What? I was young. What did I know? LOL. I’ve never been a huge POTC fan, though I do have an appreciation for Johnny Depp. I loved the excerpt for this one. Gotta love a heroine who can give as good as she gets!!!
by Liz0753 November 29th, 2010 at 10:10 amI cannot recal at the moment if I have read a pirate story (so sad I know) but I LOVE the POTC series too! I can’t wait for th enext one I just love Jack Sparrow and all his sillyness :) This book sounds like lots of hot smexy fun I’m going to have to check it out for sure! :)
by Kelly Thrash November 29th, 2010 at 10:38 amFavorite pirate story toss up between Crystal Jordan’s Treasured and Lilli Feisty’s The Whore, it’s hard (haha) to pick between those two (maybe I can have a CJ and LF sandwich lol). BTW Victoria I am really loving the cover. Thanks for the excerpt, I love a women that can bring a man down
@ Eden – what a great line-up for December, I have recently won some great books from a lot of those ladies.
by Ivelisse November 29th, 2010 at 11:24 amMy favorite pirate has to be Captain Jack Sparrow. Seriously, I haven’t found one yet who can hold a candle to him. And er…I just had a flash of Crystal’s book TREASURED with the whole candle reference-lol! I crack myself up! *G*
by Eden Bradley November 29th, 2010 at 11:32 amThanks for visiting with us today, Victoria. :)
I’m actually in the middle of reading Crystal’s Treasured story. It’s satisfying my craving for pirates and a historical/time travel. I love it so far!
Victoria – congrats on your impending release! I wish you many sales (especially with a cover as sexy as that)!
by Eskimo November 29th, 2010 at 12:33 pmDecember is here! I’ve been waiting for this one! No need to enter me, I’m grabbing my own copy.
Why am I not surprised that Eden’s favorite pirate is the one played by Johnny?
I’ve always loved pirate romances.There’s one I read way back when that I’ve been trying to find. The plot is similar to the Raider by Jude Devereaux where the hero abducts the heroine while he’s disguised as a dashing pirate…or was it highwayman? LOL. I also loved Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey – does that count as pirate? Crystal Jordan’s Treasured was super HOT.
by Jeannie Lin November 29th, 2010 at 12:49 pmI’m so looking forward to reading this book!
I’m a fellow Hornblower fan, both the books and the T.V. series with my lovely Welsh actor Ioan Gruffudd-yum :)
by Kate Pearce November 29th, 2010 at 12:52 pmI LOVE a good pirate story, and I absolutely can’t wait to read this book! Thank you, Victoria!
by Feisty November 29th, 2010 at 1:19 pmI’m making a list of all these pirate books people are suggesting…a couple of them are even in my TBR already!
I think the Jennifer Ashley that was mentioned might be PERILS OF THE HEART.
I also have Julie Garwood’s GUARDIAN ANGEL, which I’m told is one of those classics everyone should read.
by Victoria Janssen November 29th, 2010 at 1:56 pmThe last pirate book I read was Ravenous by Abigail Barnett. There is just something very sexy and mysterious about pirates. I loved the Horatio Hornblower series too…yummy Ioan Gruffudd and Johnny Depp as Captain Jack.
gigi
by gigi staub November 29th, 2010 at 7:05 pmI guess I will have to go with Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey (yes, Jeannie, It counts. He is a pirate all the way through! Even if he is living in England for half of the story, he does get the girl on his ship and all that!)
As for movies (everyone keeps talking about POTC after all), does anyone remember Space Pirates (I think that was the name). A little camp-y, b-grade movie, but funny and def had a great lead man! What can I say, my step-dad has a thing for b- movies…
Thanks for the giveaway! And good luck on your release!
vickykerr[at]sbcglobal.net
by Victoria November 30th, 2010 at 5:00 amHonrblower! Yes! I read that series over and over when in high school, and again years later.
by Victoria Janssen November 30th, 2010 at 8:49 amI remember Space Pirates-it was pretty bad-lol! Also, there was Yellowbeard, which was *really* bad-and I can say that without prejudice because my dad worked on it and even he thought it was crap-lol!
by Eden Bradley November 30th, 2010 at 10:37 amI’m with Zena when it comes to the pirate movies my favs go to the oldies – luv Errol Flynn n Burt Lancaster as well :) BUT Johnny is HOT! as far as the last pirate book I just read Jennifer Ashley’s Pirate series. The first Pirate book I read though was Crystal’s Treasured and that book is just so yummy – Thanks Crystal :) I look forward to reading your book Victoria -
by Dawn November 30th, 2010 at 10:54 amOh, wow, I remember Yellowbeard!
How come nobody’s mentioned Geena Davis in Cutthroat Island?
by Victoria Janssen December 1st, 2010 at 9:16 amOur winner is Ivelisse, comment #8. Congratulations!
Ivelisse, can you send me an email with your mailing address?
by Victoria Janssen December 3rd, 2010 at 3:02 pmYeah IVE!!!!
Taking over the world baby! 
by Kelly Thrash December 3rd, 2010 at 4:30 pmWooHoo, this is awesome. Kelly heck yeah, well at least the contest world haha.
Victoria – thanks for the win. I don’t know if I am looking at the right place, but can’t find your email. You can email me at marilyn915@msn.com and we can go from there.
by Ivelisse December 3rd, 2010 at 9:24 pmThanks again.
Congrats Ive! You are on a roll – lol
by Dawn December 4th, 2010 at 12:38 amIvelisse, I’m emailing you now!
by Victoria Janssen December 4th, 2010 at 9:54 am[...] a guest of The Smutketeers all this week talking about “Sexy Pirates” – and am also giving away a print copy [...]
by "Sexy Pirates" at The Smutketeers :: Victoria Janssen December 7th, 2010 at 11:46 am