Title:
Knights of the
Ruby Order: Lock
Author:
Kate Hill
Publisher:
Ellora's Cave
ISBN:
1-84360-790-5
Copyright Date:
February 2004
Format:
Electronic
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Lock or Lock the White, as he was known throughout the seas, had dreams of a horrid lashing he felt sure was in his future. Although he prepared for the torment that was sure to come, he never let it stop his pirating. After his ship sank during a ferocious storm, Lock woke to find himself captured by bounty hunters. He knew what was to come. At Blue Hollow square Lock faced his punishment, lashing until he fainted. Being as proud as he was known to be, he would never let himself be humiliated by fainting easily. As he struggled to remain conscious, he would not know there was a woman in the crowd who could not take watching him being beaten this way. She would give up her family jewels to rescue the pirate.
Sparrow could not help but feel compassion for the prisoner being lashed up on the stage. She saw the whole man being brought up on stage, and as he was weakened by his punishment, she knew she had to stop it. Her closest friend Shee-Ann felt she was making a mistake buying this prisoner, but Sparrow had to help him. Knowing he had been captured for his acts of piracy, murder and thievery and possible rape and child molesting, Shee-Ann tried to urge Sparrow to leave and not place a bid on such an evil man. Sparrow did not listen, therefore buying herself a slave. The guards who delivered the slave to her house made sure to chain him down for her, so Lock would not escape and do any harm to her, because as everyone knew if he was to escape Sparrow would have to endure his punishment.
Lock would be no one's slave, and he despised Sparrow for ever buying him. He would have rather known death than slavery. Day after day he tried to torment her, but she was not easily distressed by his actions. It was her strong personality and pride that slowly made Lock change his feelings toward her. On the day her house was broken into and Sparrow was almost raped, Lock saved her. This day would change their lives forever. No longer could they deny the feelings they came to have for one another. Love would not come easily for them though. Can Lock ever be the type of man Sparrow needs? Can Sparrow put up with the wild pirate? Will pride separate them?
In Knight of the Ruby Order: Lock, Kate Hill gives her fans the story of Sparrow and Lock the White. Lock is the bad boy every woman dreams of. He is full of pride and self-assurance, but will Sparrow be able to tame him? Sparrow is no run of the mill heroine. She is a very strong character and does not fall prey to being seduced easily. Ms. Hill has brought two very intriguing characters to this series.
Shee-Ann and Lock's comical spats add a bit of humor to the tale. Shee-Ann is Sparrow's closest friend and she wants to make sure this Pirate will not hurt her friend, whether it be her heart or physically. She does not put up with Lock's antics and likes to agitate him. This is another character Kate Hill does a great job of creating.
Kate Hill fans will definitely want to read Knight of the Ruby Order: Lock. This story is full of adventure and passion. From the first page readers are drawn into the story and are not disappointed by the ending; not to mention the steamy scenes she gives us between Lock and Sparrow. Those in themselves will have readers not wanting to put the book down. Passion, adventure and a "bad boy" absolutely make this book worth reading!
Reviewed by: JoAnn
