Even as the times and protective nature of her male relatives dictate that she should be submissive, she (and the women of her family) are strong and independent. I really liked her own sense of self and her active nature. Ultimately, she navigates respect and care for her father and brother with her own self-determination. While she has a different sensibility, she refuses to be shamed or deterred by her male family members. She is determined, and takes all the autonomy that her brother does. Jack is a woman who takes the reigns of her sexuality. But those heroines of the past are not Jack Malory. In a prior book, the heroine would be a woman to which the action happens. The book also contains threats of rape, adventure and exotic locations. Scenario: heroine kidnapped and taken on the high seas as part of revenge against her father, hero is attracted to her and she is reluctantly attracted to him.

Her books began in the time of bodice rippers and I found this book to be an interesting flip of many of those books. Johanna has been writing for a long time (and I've been reading her for most of that time!). As good as James and George's book? No, but this book is filled with adventure and strong active characters - including Jack who seizes her own destiny.

My concerns: Will Jack's book be as compelling as her parents? How will the characters of James and George be presented? Will this book diminish my enjoyment of the original? I'm glad to report that I was completely satisfied by this book. Whenever an author extends the story of characters there is always the possibility of a letdown. GENTLE ROGUE (the story of Jack's parents) is my all time favorite romance book. OPINION: This is a book that I approached with trepidation. But this time, things are different between them. Instead of capturing him, Jack once again ends up in his clutches at sea. When a mysterious man approaches her at a masquerade ball, she is intrigued but realizes that he might actually be her kidnapper. Jack is angry that her father has left her in London while he confronts the man that kidnapped her. When Jack returns from escaping her kidnapper, James and his family are determined to take care of their enemy and sail for the West Indies to confront an old enemy. THE STORY: Jacqueline Malory is the darling daughter of James Malory. Instead, this book went in a different direction than I expected, but I loved these characters and their adventurous romance. I love, love, love the book about Jack's father and I feared that this book wouldn't live up to my expectations. FINAL DECISION: I completely satisfying book that I approached with trepidation.

Beautiful Tempest by Johanna Lindsey