By: Stephanie Wyatt
To Catch A Pirate by Jade Parker is a young adult novel that tells the story of Annalisa Townsend, who was on a trip with her father to the Americas when pirates ambushed their ship. Annalisa is corned by one of the pirates, James Sterling, and thinks her life is finished. He lets her live only by taking a ring off of her finger and a kiss. Annalisa returns to the seas a year later with her letter of marque to search for the pirates responsible for her family’s ruin.
She gets more than she bargained for during her adventures on the seven seas. It’s an enemies to lovers and a quick read. There is love, betrayal, surprises, and fun pirate nicknames. Annalisa is a fiery young woman who can hold her own in society and is a quick learner in swordplay and negotiating with pirates. The pacing is consistent, so you never are bored. Most books do not show the heroine training. There is plenty of action and pirate folklore. The point of view is third person close, and it helps you get to know the characters well. I reread it every few years.
The book has Pirates of the Caribbean vibes. I honestly thought the movie was based on the book until I realized it was based on the ride at Disneyland.
Overall, I think this book is fantastic. It has something for everyone. The only downside is that it is a standalone. I want to know what happens to everyone after the book ends. I also think it needs more recognition. It’s a clean romance that opened my heart to the world of pirate novels. I have read a lot of adult romances lately. The novel was an excellent pallet cleanser. It has plenty of classic tropes you know and love. The most prevalent theme is not judging people by their first impressions. You can find it on Amazon.
Functionally Fictional 
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