The Bastard    by Brenda Novak Order:  USA  Can , 2011 (2011) e-Book     Reviewed by Wanda Plourde Jeannette Boucher is to marry Lord St Ives, a man nearly twice her age and not very nice to look at. She is doing her duty so that her family (exiled from France by the Revolution and impoverished) can live comfortably in the years to come. Then her younger brother Henri overhears Lord St Ives plotting with other men to get the beautiful Jeannette with child, even though the Lord is impotent. After hearing this Jeannette runs away, steals men's clothing and boards the ship, The Tempest, posing as a young boy. She plans to get to London and have her marriage annulled. What she didn't expect was handsome Lieutenant Crawford Treynor. After he finds out that he is a she, and needs his protection aboard the vessel, their attraction builds. Treynor has issues with his birth, his mother, and his very violent childhood. He has no room in his life for a wife or for love. But every time he turns around, there Jeannette is and she is becoming very hard to ignore. This is one of these novels to read on the beach with a drink in one hand and the book in the other, wishing reality away. It is an excellent escape for a few hours, laced with adventure, witty dialogue and a love story that will fill your heart. The passion between the two main characters makes you feel connected for the whole ride. Pick it up and enjoy. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Romance books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews