Blurb: Jane has been many things in her life. A wife. A widow. A thief. A prostitute. Most recently, a woman seeking any means of escape from Grand Port.
Flying no colors and desperate for crew, Sneaky Lass is a damaged brig in no position to look too closely at any volunteers, no matter how ill-suited to sea life they may be.
After a series of decisions Jane can’t turn back from, she commits one final act of desperation; she dons stolen boots, shorn hair, and the name Dixon Ables to take up with the crew of Sneaky Lass. Now she finds herself in a position where she must keep up her boyish disguise or be thrown into the briny deep.
Concrete plans to leave the ship at the next port turn fluid as Jane becomes enamored by the mystery of the ropes, the lullaby of waves against the hull, and the wind in the sails.
That the crewmen are far from the salty rogues she expected doesn't help her resolve. Among the filthy men, the roar of cannons, the critical eye of a whip-wielding quartermaster, and beneath the weight of her own lies, Jane finds something she long believed a fantasy—Family.
Even the frequent gaze of the fine and fair-minded captain isn't enough to send her towards shore… yet. She doesn't want to sacrifice everything until she is sure he knows her secret, or perhaps his attentions are something else, something more.
The problem is her new life belongs to the man called Dixon, not the woman called Jane.
The longer she stays aboard Sneaky Lass, the closer she grows to losing everything she's come to value; new friends, the only home she's ever known, her life.
Deceptions are difficult on land, but in the close quarters of a pirate ship, they can be deadly.
Review: Jane will do anything to escape her bleak life as a thief and prostitute in Grand Port. She takes on the guise of a young man, Dixon Ables, and joins the crew of the ship, the Sneaky Lass. She has no experience as a sailor, but she's a fast learner and becomes part of the family as well as enamored with the Captain. She loathes keeping secrets, but she must maintain her deception lest she be marooned and alone once again. The life of a pirate is a dangerous one, and it might kill her faster than her secret does.
This is the first book in the fantastic historical fantasy series, The Silver Locket. The story starts in a dark place with Jane. Be aware of the trigger warnings. She's had a terrible life and longs to escape to the sea. When she's Dixon Ables, she has a clean slate, but the past still haunts her. Her PTSD is realistic, and her determination to make a new life for herself is immense. I loved seeing her learn how to be a sailor and the crew's life on the ship. They're pirates, but with honor, and the hot captain, wow! I love the tension between the two of them. It's a very slow burn, so be prepared. The whole crew was awesome, and I especially liked Mickey and James. Most of the conflict in this book is internal, but I do so love those sorts of struggles.
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