Una noche de luna, el príncipe Lazar di Fiori regresa a la isla de Ascensión para vengar la muerte de su familia y la usurpación de su reino.Allegra Monteverdi, la hija de su enemigo, demuestra ser una valiente adversaria y le implora para que no mate a su familia. Su belleza y valor impresionan a Lazar, por lo que accede a perdonarles la vida a condición de que se convierta en su prisionera. Sola en el mar, confundida entre el miedo y la seducción, Allegra descubre que el misterioso y vengativo hombre es el príncipe Lazar, aquél con el que soñaba cuando era niña. Pero hará falta mucho más que su creciente amor para conseguir que el príncipe pirata se enfrente a los fantasmas del pasado y consiga apaciguar su atormentado corazón.

I guess I just don't get romance books and why people like them. It was well written, I suppose, if you like the genre. Every once in a while I feel the need to research these types of books and figure out what I like and don't like about romance, and how to incorporate it into a story. And also, I felt the time was right to read another pirate book ;). What I love are the novels in which the romantic suspense continues through the entire book, and when they finally touch it's electric, and when they finally have their first kiss, that kiss is amazing. I never get a sense of that delayed gratification when I read a romance novel. But I guess some people like cutting right to the chase ;). ( )

The Pirate Prince was Gaelen Foley's first published romance sixteen years ago, and what a debut it was. I absolutely loved this story of a lost prince turned pirate, finally returning to his island nation to take up the throne that is his birthright. The country in question is the fictional island of Ascension located in the Mediterranean off the coast of Italy (yes, there is a real Ascension Island, but it's located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean). The story has a fairy tale quality to it, what with all the legends of the lost boy prince who the locals believe will one day return to make their land prosperous again. At the same time though, there is plenty of angst, drama, conflict, high seas adventure, and exotic locales. It's also a moving tale of redemption, enemies turned to lovers, and the power of love to overcome the pain of the past. Everything just came together to make this a wonderful book, and I enjoyed every minute of reading it.

Allegra is the daughter of the governor of Ascension who took over rulership of the country after the murders of its entire royal family fifteen years earlier. Little does she know though, that her father and the council were responsible for the killings, and when her mother found out and tried to do something about it, they silenced her as well. Allegra grew up in Paris under the guardianship of an aunt, but now she's back on Ascension and engaged to a nobleman. Unfortunately, neither her fiancé nor her father truly appreciate her for the gentle, intelligent, and kindhearted woman that she is. She's very much a progressive, independent thinker who forms her own opinions on political matters. She's also a very charitable person who makes a habit of going out among the poor to bring them food and medicine. It was so sweet that all her life, Allegra has been enthralled by the legends of the lost prince, Lazar, and has harbored a huge crush on him. Of course, when she meets the man in the flesh, she can't believe it's truly him at first, mainly because his dark and dangerous pirate persona is nothing like her fairy tale fantasy. Lazar's kidnapping of Allegra doesn't do much for his case either, but it was utterly adorable how she kind of enjoyed being kidnapped, at least until he started to use her as a pawn in his scheme to exact revenge on her father for his treachery. In spite of everything that happens between them in those opening chapters, Allegra eventually sees the truth of the situation and exhibits a level of trust in her pirate prince that is very sweet and heartfelt. Even when he threatens her, she instinctively knows he won't hurt her. She's so selfless that she almost always puts everyone else's needs above her own, and her love for Lazar is deep and true, a once in a lifetime love that she never thought to find. Allegra is also quite stubborn, and it's her love for him that causes her to push Lazar to do what she knows in her heart is right even when it angers him. She's incredibly supportive of him and wants him to succeed in what she sees as the most important mission of his life, namely retaking his throne.

Lazar only returned to Ascension with the intention of exacting revenge on the Monteverdi's for the murders of his entire family to which he bore witness, and also for the tortured existence he's led since then. Lazar's plan is to kill Allegra in front of her father to give him a taste of the horror he experienced, before killing him and the entire Monteverdi family. Admittedly though, his stomach quails at the thought of killing a woman, and an innocent one at that, which is something his conscience has never allowed him to do before. In fact, he's so much of a gentleman, he won't even kill in front of a woman. Lazar is attracted to Allegra from the moment he meets her, and after kidnapping her, he begins to like her as a person too, especially when he realizes her allegiance to his dead father. Still, he repeatedly tries to convince himself that killing her is the only way to truly get the revenge he's seeking. However, from the moment he laid eyes on her, I could see the wheels turning in his head. Allegra is nothing like what he expected her to be, so when she throws herself on his mercy, begging him not to execute her family, he's helpless to resist her. Instead, Lazar takes her as his captive in payment for their lives, and despite being upset with him for his treachery, Allegra can't help but respect him, especially as she gets to know the man inside. After spending two years as the slave and plaything of an Arab prince in North Africa, Lazar is a deeply tortured soul. In fact, he's so tormented, he's prepared to die by his own hand as soon as his revenge is complete. He feels he has nothing to live for until a slip of a girl unwittingly throws a lifeline of hope to his blackened soul, making him want something he didn't even know he needed. His simple heartfelt plea of “Love me” was achingly beautiful. By offering him her unconditional love and pushing him to accept his birthright, she gives him something to fight for. I love that even when Lazar initially intends to be cruel to Allegra, he simply cannot bring himself to do it and always ends up being gentle instead. The only time he hurts her, and then only with his words, is when he's trying to drive her away, because he feels he's cursed and would only bring about her death if she stayed with him. Otherwise, he was a wonderful hero, who has definitely earned a spot on my favorite heroes list.

The Pirate Prince had a number of notable secondary characters, but the only one I know will continue on in the series is Darius, a young boy who suffered the same fate as Lazar but was rescued by Lazar and Allegra. Darius has the heart of a lion and will become the hero of Princess, the next book in The Ascension Trilogy, where I suspect he may be paired with Lazar and Allegra's daughter. The Pirate Prince was a deeply emotional and swoon-worthy romance that has everything I look for in a love story: relatable characters I could root for, adventure, steamy love scenes, and best of all a truly romantic and passionate story that made me feel what the characters were feeling and made me believe in their HEA. Oftentimes an author's earlier works show their greenness as a writer, but that certainly wasn't the case for Gaelen Foley. This debut book was just as good as some of her later ones. and I can't wait to continue the series. ( )

One of the things that I have always like about Ms. Foley is that she doesn’t write pathetic characters are eaten up with self-doubt. While both these characters do suffer from a little indecision, they are both confident and at times fearless. Lazar di Fiore has survived terrible abuse and humiliation but he has become an honorable and compassionate man. He would like the world to believe that he is a ruthless pirate but he has a code that he sticks to no matter the circumstances. Lazar is also a superstitious man as so many sailors and pirates were at this time. He believes he is cursed to lose all those that he loves. It is understandable how he has come to believe this. He watched as his father, mother, brother and sister were killed. He lost his kingdom. He lost the man that freed him from slavery and he loses the man that became a father to him near the end of the book. He also loses his dog during a storm at sea. Lazar makes some questionable decisions because of this superstition and it almost loses him Allegra Monteverdi.

Allegra is a shrew at times. I don’t think that she means to be she is just enthusiastic about reform and justice. She is also determined to get Lazar to claim his throne. I am surprised that Lazar resisted her for as long as he did. She can be relentless. She also can’t follow orders and almost gets herself and Lazar killed because of this. Allegra is intelligent and compassionate. She cares about the people less fortunate than she is. She has worked tirelessly to provide for the poor and orphans of Ascencion. She even agrees to marry the next Governor in the hopes of reforming some of the laws and taxes that are driving the people to revolt.

The last few chapters of this book are some of the saddest that I have read in a long time. These two are so good together but Lazar is determined that he can’t have anyone that makes him happy close to him. He is so stubborn. Things do work out and it is a wonderful ending but there are some rocky moments. There are also some wonderful secondary characters in this story. I was heartbroken when Vicar dies. I would love to have Darius’s story. Then there are the pirates that follow Lazar they are a rowdy bunch and they make the story enjoyable. This is a very good book and I highly recommend it to those that love historical romance. ( )

I have been eyeing Gaelan Foley's books for years but never had bothered to read her books. This is her first book apparently, surprisingly very weirdly realist in a certain way. The hero are very very flawed in this book (for someone that have his name on its title). Should be renamed with less deceiving title. Twilight fans beware. ( )