From Publishers Weekly
The author of After Innocence creates a smoldering, if uneven, novel with all the pomp, pageantry and quite a few of the personages of the Elizabethan era. Heading home to Ireland from the Norman convent where she has spent six years, Katherine FitzGerald is abducted on the high seas by notorious pirate Liam O'Neill, bastard son of a barbaric clan chieftain. From her kidnapper Katherine learns that her father is languishing in London under house arrest, deposed by his cousin FitzMaurice. If the pirate's report is true, Katherine's fortune and any hopes for a fitting marriage are lost, leaving her the pirate's prize. Given the stakes, she demands proof of the story in exchange for her pliancy. The pair's covert journey to London is interrupted when they are captured and brought before a furious Queen Elizabeth. Lord Leicester and William Cecil urge the queen to keep Katherine under close watch as a Lady in Waiting?an uncomfortable situation as the vain and petulant queen brooks no rivals for her favorites' affections, especially Liam's. If Joyce abuses the game motif (in part no doubt to push a Game contest aimed at retailers and distributors), this is nonetheless a lusty narrative that will appeal to her fans. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Book Description
The Players
Released from the sanctuarv of a French convent, highborn, tempestuous Katherine FitzGerald sets sail for her beloved Ireland -- only to find herself prisoner of the infamous pirate known to the Elizabethans as the Master of the Seas.

The Moves
The pirate captain is Liam O'Neill, favored by Elizabeth the Queen. A hardened court player, he is determined to win the willful Katherine while advancing his own secret causes. But now he must risk evervthing he cherishes in order to triumph at a very treacherous game -- through heartbreaking deception ... and by breaking all the rules.

The Game
has begun...

About the Author
Brenda Joyce is the bestselling, award-winning author of Promise of the Rose,Scandalous Love and The Fires of Paradise. All nine of her historical romances have been highly acclaimed, and four of them, including the first three novels in the "Bragg" saga Innpocent Fire, Firestorm, and Violet Fire have won six awards from Romantic Times and Affaire de Coeur. She has also won three industry awards for her trendsetting promotional bookmarks from Affaire de Coeur. Brenda Joyce is currently working on her next novel.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The Players Released from the sanctuarv of a French convent, highborn, tempestuous Katherine FitzGerald sets sail for her beloved Ireland — only to find herself prisoner of the infamous pirate known to the Elizabethans as the Master of the Seas.

The MovesThe pirate captain is Liam O'Neill, favored by Elizabeth the Queen. A hardened court player, he is determined to win the willful Katherine while advancing his own secret causes. But now he must risk evervthing he cherishes in order to triumph at a very treacherous game — through heartbreaking deception ... and by breaking all the rules.

The Game has begun...

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly - Cahners\\Publishers_Weekly

The author of After Innocence creates a smoldering, if uneven, novel with all the pomp, pageantry and quite a few of the personages of the Elizabethan era. Heading home to Ireland from the Norman convent where she has spent six years, Katherine FitzGerald is abducted on the high seas by notorious pirate Liam O'Neill, bastard son of a barbaric clan chieftain. From her kidnapper Katherine learns that her father is languishing in London under house arrest, deposed by his cousin FitzMaurice. If the pirate's report is true, Katherine's fortune and any hopes for a fitting marriage are lost, leaving her the pirate's prize. Given the stakes, she demands proof of the story in exchange for her pliancy. The pair's covert journey to London is interrupted when they are captured and brought before a furious Queen Elizabeth. Lord Leicester and William Cecil urge the queen to keep Katherine under close watch as a Lady in Waiting-an uncomfortable situation as the vain and petulant queen brooks no rivals for her favorites' affections, especially Liam's. If Joyce abuses the game motif (in part no doubt to push a Game contest aimed at retailers and distributors), this is nonetheless a lusty narrative that will appeal to her fans.

Publishers Weekly

The author of After Innocence creates a smoldering, if uneven, novel with all the pomp, pageantry and quite a few of the personages of the Elizabethan era. Heading home to Ireland from the Norman convent where she has spent six years, Katherine FitzGerald is abducted on the high seas by notorious pirate Liam O'Neill, bastard son of a barbaric clan chieftain. From her kidnapper Katherine learns that her father is languishing in London under house arrest, deposed by his cousin FitzMaurice. If the pirate's report is true, Katherine's fortune and any hopes for a fitting marriage are lost, leaving her the pirate's prize. Given the stakes, she demands proof of the story in exchange for her pliancy. The pair's covert journey to London is interrupted when they are captured and brought before a furious Queen Elizabeth. Lord Leicester and William Cecil urge the queen to keep Katherine under close watch as a Lady in Waiting-an uncomfortable situation as the vain and petulant queen brooks no rivals for her favorites' affections, especially Liam's. If Joyce abuses the game motif (in part no doubt to push a Game contest aimed at retailers and distributors), this is nonetheless a lusty narrative that will appeal to her fans. (Mar.)

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING