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The Official Blurb
“Poppy St George’s sharp tongue has done nothing for her except find trouble. When her dearest friend and childhood companion marries, she is suddenly alone and adrift in a society that prefers ladies to be meek and mild. Poppy seizes a chance to escape her melancholy by summering on the Cornish coast, never dreaming she will come face-to-face with a particular gentleman from her past, a man she secretly loved before he broke her heart.
Carlos de la Guerra is a man who has always chosen duty over desire. He always knew Poppy was special, but he lost his chance to court her when he had to defend his family’s interests abroad. Now he has returned to England, and Carlos is determined to correct his mistake, if only Poppy will let him.
Just as the two are brought together again, they are drawn into an intriguing and dangerous mystery that threatens them both. Caught between smugglers and social climbers, Carlos and Poppy discover that the course of true love never runs smooth ….”
Poppy and the Pirate by Elizabeth Cole | Book Review
When I found out August is officially Pirate Month (Arr-gust!), I was stoked and had the perfect pair of books for the podcast episodes. I scored Poppy and the Pirate by Elizabeth Cole at last year’s From Milwaukee with Love and purchased a signed copy directly from Cole — who, by the way, is an absolutely wonderful human being. The book has been sitting in my TBR pile ever since and I am absolutely delighted to have finally read it.
This was the perfect blend of historical romance, murder mystery, a little smuggling, a slow-burn love story and just enough swashbuckling adventure and spice to keep me thoroughly entertained.
Book Details
Title: Poppy and the Pirate
Author: Elizabeth Cole
Published: 2022
Sub-Genre: Historical Romance
Main Characters
Poppy St. George
Poppy is a spirited young Englishwoman who has earned a reputation as a wallflower in London society. Her stepfather is a successful textile merchant, giving her a comfortable life, but after an unsuccessful debut season, most of her friends have married while she remains single.
Carlos de la Guerra
Carlos is a ship captain who trades throughout the Caribbean. Technically, he’s a pirate … sort of.
He prefers avoiding tariffs and customs duties whenever possible but he’s far from the ruthless pirates most of us picture. In fact, he’s welcomed into respectable society and considered perfectly suitable husband material.
I’d probably describe him as more of a privateer than a pirate.
Plot
Poppy and Carlos met during the previous London season and immediately hit it off.
Then Carlos disappeared.
Called home to Santo Domingo, he never wrote, never sent word and never explained his absence. So while Poppy has secretly continued crushing on him for the past year, she’s also more than a little angry.
Hoping for a change of scenery, Poppy decides to spend the summer on the Cornish coast with one of her mother’s friends.
Naturally, Carlos is there too.
He’s investigating the murder of one of his closest friends and, before long, the two find themselves tangled in a mystery involving smugglers, secrets and murder.
As they work together to uncover the truth, their unresolved feelings slowly begin resurfacing.
I’ll leave the rest there because I don’t want to spoil the fun.
Spice Level
🌶️🌶️🌶️ Jalapeño
This is definitely a slow burn but I appreciated the pacing. The romance unfolded naturally and when the intimate moments finally arrived, they felt earned and believable within the historical setting.
Things I Loved
One of my favorite little details involved Poppy’s wardrobe.
She only packed a limited number of dresses, yet every time one became torn, muddy or otherwise destroyed while chasing smugglers around the Cornish countryside, she’d creatively alter it into something that looked completely different. I loved how resourceful she was.
I also have to admit something: I’m usually not a huge fan of either slow-burn romances or murder mysteries.
Yet somehow Elizabeth Cole combined both in a way that completely worked for me. Nothing felt rushed, nothing dragged and the relationship developed exactly when it should have.
Challenges
Honestly … none.
This was simply a charming historical romance that knew exactly what it wanted to be.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for an over-the-top pirate romance filled with nonstop sword fights and high-seas adventure, this probably isn’t it.
But if you’re looking for a charming historical romance with memorable characters, a fun mystery, a little smuggling, a little danger and a satisfying slow-burn romance, I think you’ll really enjoy Poppy and the Pirate.
If you’re already a fan of authors like Lisa Kleypas or Julie Garwood, Elizabeth Cole should definitely be on your reading list.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5 Stars — I really liked it!
Where to Find Poppy and the Pirate
If you want to hear more of my thoughts on the book, you can listen to the podcast episode on your favorite podcast streaming service. Or click here for our in-house podcast player.
Have you read Poppy and the Pirate? Let me know your thoughts on this book in the comments!
