The tale of a daring (and dashing) privateer determined to seek out his lady-love in the heart of enemy Spain is superbly written and expertly narrated. But then he captures a Spanish galleon with the lovely and spirited Dona Dominica de Rada y Sylva on board. One night they to the local cinema in Kratovo, not to see a movie, but instead to see it burn down after the owner, having insured the building for a handsome sum, announced to the town that he would set it on fire and invited everyone to come and watch. A wonderful thing about Beauvallet is that when El Beauvallet falls in love with Dominica, he does not claim her as his “love” or as his “mistress” or, in our culture, his “girlfriend,” he claims her as his bride.

As with some of her Regencies, the addition of "real" characters such as Philip II and Sir Francis Drake, adds another enjoyable element, as does the threat of the Spanish Inquisition should Nick be apprehended by his enemies. In the middle of the book, Dominica is mostly off-screen, and the story is swashbuckling and adventure as Nick gallavants about, merrily murdering people and laughing in the face of danger. I think it would have been more interesting and funnier if Sir Nicholas had had to woo Dominica in Spain.In it she offered her readers such entertaining tidbits as ‘Simon died of the Stone, which he Suffered with Great Fortitude’ and that he was ‘frequently heard to Deplore the Effeminacy of the Younger Generation’. e., not 21st-century-modern-fiesty but rebellious in ways a woman might be in that era--at least to my romance-educated eyes! Front inside flap has a 1" diagonal crease across the lower right corner; back inside flap has a 1 5/8" diagonal crease in the upper left corner. Georgette enjoyed many aspects of her life in Macedonia: it was simpler and free of the demands of her extended family; she and Ronald were happy in each other’s company and they took walks together and sometimes went horseback riding around the district.

Dialogues were funny as usual, secondary characters quirky, the basic plot rather simple but nonetheless effective. Ronald’s practical support when she was writing books such as Beauvallet and later The Conqueror also meant that he had a legitimate stake in his wife’s work. Far worse is her discovery that their captor isn't just any pirate -- he is the notorious Sir Nicholas Beauvallet, an Englishman with a scandalous reputation for plundering Spanish ships. It was a little hard to get inside the character’s heads at first, but once I learned who they were It was very easy to relate to them.Orange publisher's cloth hardcover is clean save for some residue on the back and features red embossed titles on the front and spine. The main part of the book tells of Beauvallet's journey into Spain and his adventures to carry Dominica away with him.

The scene where she defies the villain at the hunting lodge, she fairly crackles with dignity and courage. Dominica is spirited, fiesty and intelligent, quick-witted and interesting - it is not hard to see why Beauvallet would fall for her so quickly.Brave deeds of derring-do, espionage and love in the Elizabethan Golden age (prior to Elizabeth's war with Spain) set our English pirate Nick Beauvallet and our Spanish heroine Dona Dominica on a wild, romantic ride. Joshua brings a needed comic touch into the suspense; he is quite garrulous, by turns complainer and braggart.