Helpful Score: 4
This book was lots of fun. It was smart, good dialogue, fantastic premise, and overall fabulous. You'll see I like a lot of her books, but I don't think I've ever read anything else like this by her. This wasn't "paranormal" per se, just a really good romance. Amy's a workaholic single mom to a teenage daughter who introduces to a concept...play time. It's when Amy STOPS working and focuses on NON work things. Specifically, the game her daughter wants to play that Amy will no longer pay for...a multi player online RPG. The game designers have sent the daughter the beta test for the virtual reality version and Amy promises to give it a try. Fairly tame and believable plotline. The fun begins when Amy gets trapped in the game and meets up with the game designer and his best friend. From then on, it's a battle of wits to find a way out of the game and into each other's real lives.
I absolutely LOVED this book.
I absolutely LOVED this book.
Helpful Score: 3
When I started reading this I was like: Yes! A romance involving talk about RPGs and MMORPGs! And then it also included pirates and swordplay. Yay!
This book is modernly original and a fun read for anyone who likes the above. The blurb on the cover didn't do it justice because it really didn't let you know that the lead character was going to be stuck in a video game. It was just such a fun read that I couldn't put it down and I think was even "gamey" enough to get my husband to read, what is, a wonderful comedy-romance story.
There's just a lot of humor in this one. I think the only annoying thing I found was the lead character's daughter, who was a bit too obnoxious for a 16-year-old (at the end of the story). Otherwise, you will get a lot of laughs out of this one.
This book is modernly original and a fun read for anyone who likes the above. The blurb on the cover didn't do it justice because it really didn't let you know that the lead character was going to be stuck in a video game. It was just such a fun read that I couldn't put it down and I think was even "gamey" enough to get my husband to read, what is, a wonderful comedy-romance story.
There's just a lot of humor in this one. I think the only annoying thing I found was the lead character's daughter, who was a bit too obnoxious for a 16-year-old (at the end of the story). Otherwise, you will get a lot of laughs out of this one.
Helpful Score: 3
I honestly did not think I would like this book after the first couple of chapters but I stuck it out and am so glad I did! It was hilarious! Katie MacAlister comes through once again with a book I would be happy to re-read!
Helpful Score: 2
If you are creeped out by the concept of cyber sex, as I am, don't read this book. Very little character development while requiring significant suspension of disbelief from the reader. I skipped pages/chapters at a time because of lurid/unbelievable sexual content and gave up 1/2 way through...
Helpful Score: 1
An interesting mix of romance, the love of pirates and video games. If you have a passion for pirates (ahhhh, my first love in romance books) and video games... this book will tickle your fancy.
Helpful Score: 1
Amy is an A personality that loves working but her teenage daughter thinks she needs to slow down and have some fun, so she signs her on to her new Virtual Reality Pirate game. Suddenly Amy was sucked into the game, falling in love, and fighting for her life. It's a cute story if you let your imagination run.
Helpful Score: 1
In spite of my being skeptical in the beginning about being "trapped" in a virtual reality game, the author came through with a plausible explanation for that that probably couldn't have been worked in any sooner than it was. Aside from being just a tad long for my taste (there were moments in the middle when I did want the story to move along just a little faster), I enjoyed the story. Katie McK doesn't write down to her audience which makes her a worthwhile romance author in my book. The characters here are enjoyable, the dialog is witty, and the sex is hot. What's not to like?
Helpful Score: 1
I love Katie MacAlister- always steamy, funny, touching and a great read too.
This novel shows that our romantic heros.. don't ways have to be a Fabio and our heroines don't always have to be a wilting violet. Hooray for the Pirates of Blow me Down!
This novel shows that our romantic heros.. don't ways have to be a Fabio and our heroines don't always have to be a wilting violet. Hooray for the Pirates of Blow me Down!
Helpful Score: 1
What a surprise! From the beginning to the end I was entranced! Not often do I come across a book that totally engrosses me in the story line so much!
I hate to review in detail- but - an overworked mom gets talked into a role playing virtual reality game by her teenage daughter. For whatever reason (a program bug, the lightning,?) she gets sucked into the game, and finds more adventure than she counted on.
Adventure, love, a lil sex, intrigue...then back to real life. LOVE IT!
I hate to review in detail- but - an overworked mom gets talked into a role playing virtual reality game by her teenage daughter. For whatever reason (a program bug, the lightning,?) she gets sucked into the game, and finds more adventure than she counted on.
Adventure, love, a lil sex, intrigue...then back to real life. LOVE IT!
Helpful Score: 1
Katie MacAlister makes me laugh. She can come up with a plot that normally would have no interest for me whatsoever (in this case a contemporary romance involving a virtual reality computer game about pirates) and have me enjoying every page. She has a keen ear for hilarious dialogue. Her books are pure brain candy in the best sense of the phrase.
Helpful Score: 1
This was an okay read. The author often went a little too heavy on the quips and trite phrases, which she openly admitted to in the afterword, but it had me gagging at times. I remember her doing this in her vampire books too. I liked the idea of the virtual reality game based on pirates, but wish there was a little less love and romance in the book overall. This book reminded me why I don't like romances that much. I think were it not for the pirate VR aspect of it, I'd have put it aside without finishing it... I've got a huge stack of other stuff to read and almost felt this wasn't worth my time, but like I said, the pirate VR aspect made it more interesting and kept me reading.
BTW, the quiz on the web site said I was most like Joy from the Vampire series. Hmmmm... I always thought she was super annoying. I guess I'll have to watch myself to make sure I really *don't* become like her!
BTW, the quiz on the web site said I was most like Joy from the Vampire series. Hmmmm... I always thought she was super annoying. I guess I'll have to watch myself to make sure I really *don't* become like her!
Helpful Score: 1
A very funny and sexy read. By the end of the book I wanted to find a pirate and an island..Katie MacAlister never fails to entertain and always ensures her reader an adventure. You leave reality and journey into Katie's world! Thanks Katie for another great book!
Great book! Easy escape!
Helpful Score: 1
One of my least favorite of her books. Light, easy read but rather to cutesy for me. Her paranormals are much better than her contemps,and this is her weakest one. If you are new to Katie MacAlister don't start with this one, you probably won't give her other books a chance. If you are already a fan its worth a read.
Amy is a workaholic financial analyst who is asked by her daughter to play this new VR game. There she meets Black Corbin AKA PC Monroe (the game's creator). Corbin's impressed with her abilities. They get stuck in the game (literally) and have to work together to get back out.
This was more annoying than anything. I was bored and couldn't get into the romance. I also thought the storyline was just weird (trapped in a VR game). Skip this one.
This was more annoying than anything. I was bored and couldn't get into the romance. I also thought the storyline was just weird (trapped in a VR game). Skip this one.
This is a great romantic tale, even for those who are not into video gaming.
When Amy is informed by her daughter that she does not know how to have fun, the single mother/financial analyst accepts the challenge that accompanies this statement. She will play the Virtual Reality game, Buckling Swashes, and prove she can have fun. However, something goes wrong. When she wakes on Black Corbin's pirate ship, Amy can't feel the VR glasses that are her link to reality. Though disconcerted, she still manages to defeat Corbin in a duel and win a ship of her own. This is all well and good, but this world is too real, and Amy can't find her way back to her life. There is simply no way to escape, a fact confirmed when Corbin comes to her, introducing himself as the game's creator. He can't get back to the real world either they discover. Someone has taken over the game, trapping both of them inside it. Their only link to the outside world is Holden, an amiable sometimes leper, sometimes another character. Besides trying to find the traitor, Amy and Corbin need to stay alive, Amy wants to enact social justice for the characters, and they discover a very real passion that both would like to continue in the real world, if they can get back to it. ............................ **** No, this is not a romantic version of Tron. It's far more amusing and fun. You never really know exactly what twist or turn it will take next, but you can be sure wherever it goes, you will laugh out loud. ****
When Amy is informed by her daughter that she does not know how to have fun, the single mother/financial analyst accepts the challenge that accompanies this statement. She will play the Virtual Reality game, Buckling Swashes, and prove she can have fun. However, something goes wrong. When she wakes on Black Corbin's pirate ship, Amy can't feel the VR glasses that are her link to reality. Though disconcerted, she still manages to defeat Corbin in a duel and win a ship of her own. This is all well and good, but this world is too real, and Amy can't find her way back to her life. There is simply no way to escape, a fact confirmed when Corbin comes to her, introducing himself as the game's creator. He can't get back to the real world either they discover. Someone has taken over the game, trapping both of them inside it. Their only link to the outside world is Holden, an amiable sometimes leper, sometimes another character. Besides trying to find the traitor, Amy and Corbin need to stay alive, Amy wants to enact social justice for the characters, and they discover a very real passion that both would like to continue in the real world, if they can get back to it. ............................ **** No, this is not a romantic version of Tron. It's far more amusing and fun. You never really know exactly what twist or turn it will take next, but you can be sure wherever it goes, you will laugh out loud. ****
On a virtual ride of the high seas, Corbin and Amy seem fated for each other as they take on a mutual enemy. Full of humor, danger, and saucy pirate jargon that will keep you captivated to the end. AARR Matey!
such a cute book. I have read this book twice and will probably read it again. It combines humor, virtual reality, mystery and suspense, spicy sex, and the fun of piracy all in one book. Every katie mac fan needs to read this book. It is awesome!
There's no escaping video games when our children are playing them day and night and then our favorite authors works them into a romantic story. The pirate onthe cover looking like Johnny Depp was a nice touch, and the story is quite unbelieveable, FUNNY, but MacAlister gave it a big try.
Very interesting story! The alternate reality mind set of the 'game' made for many laughs. The sex scenes were semi-steamy! I LOVE Pirates, so this was a great book to take on my honeymoon to the Bahamas! I highly recommend this book, especially if your taking a island vacation.
This is a cute book. It took awhile for me to get into it, but once I did the story held my attention. It is a lighthearted romance- great for relaxing reading.
In the internet virtual reality game Buckling Swashes. Earless Erika and Black Corbin are 2 of the most deadly pirates to sail the online seas. And now they've met their matches: each other. But fearless Earless Erika is really just Amy-- A financial analyst with little time in her life for anything but work. And Corbin is none other than the man behind the game---The programmer and owner of the company He's intrigues by Amy and she just wants to take him down a peg. But soon the 2 of them find themselves comrades in arms against a rival bent on Corbin's destruction, both on the high seas and in reality. Amy and Corbin find love on the virtual high seas .
Katie Macalister has written another great book!
I would recommend this to anyone that loves a good romance with a little pirates thrown in to give it some spice.
I would recommend this to anyone that loves a good romance with a little pirates thrown in to give it some spice.
I spent alot of time laughing out load!! I love Katie MacAlister Books.
I have to admit I like Macalister's Aisling Gray series better, but this was a nice, light read while I wait for the next in the series!
A really cute story. Makes you want to live a virtual reality life. Enjoyed
A little slow for me but otherwise good romance book
I love Katie MacAlister in general, so her books are always charming.
I enjoyed reading this book. It was fun to read. I do have a hard time reading Katie MacAlisters books outside of her "dragon" series. (the name escapes me). But it was good for a quick, lighthearted read.
Fantasy & fun combine in this breezy yet very original chick-lit. ****
found the main characters dialog a bit annoying as they say a lot of cute blips but not a lot of indepth conversation. quick read.
this was a really cute book. I read it all in one sitting.
financial analyst Amy spends online time as Earless Erika, battling Black Corbin on the virtual reality game Buckling Swashes.
GREAT contemporary romance with some mystery and suspense rolled in!
GREAT contemporary romance with some mystery and suspense rolled in!
While I've become a huge fan of Katie Macalister, this one wasn't as good as either Corset Diaries or Hard Day's Knight. The pirate angle is clever, but the fact that the pirates were a video game just didn't sit well with me. I'd rather the pirates were the reality and not a virtual reality... However, both the female and male leads were funny, quick-witted, and wonderful to read.
If you like her work you will like this book
Anybody who is interested in virtual reality on your computer will love this book, it's about pirates and romance..loved it! Black Corbin..........woo-hoo!
Not one of her better books. I didn't enjoy it as much as the Corset Diaries. This books seemed to drag on and just plain hard to get into
Yet another fun romp by master-of-fun writer Katie MacAlister. I almost wish this had been a pure pirate romp instead of one based in a virtual world as I thought the explanations of on-line gaming a bit draggy in parts. However, it does work and work well. As always, the characters are wonderful, the sexy scenes hot, and the story fun.
Good story. Took me a bit to get through it.
Wonderful lighthearted romance set in a virtual reality game.
Goofy off beat romance. Really lots of fun to read! A smart mouthed workaholic mom is pulled into a virtual reality computer game and gets stuck there. Along with a sexy pirate captain, assorted villains and did I mention the sexy pirate captain? Not actually her best, but a fun,worthwhile read, especially considering the price here at paperbackswap.com
Love to play Video Games?? Amy didn't...but her daughter challenges her to play and she gets stuck in it and it's for real!!! Only she's in a pirate game!!! Earless Erika battles Black Corbin!!
Great and very funny!!
Great and very funny!!
I *did not heart* MacAlister in this lackluster work. The plot was flat and extremely unbelievable. It takes a lot to get me to say that. The characters were boring and so was the story. I just keep reading in hope that MacAlister's usual wit would shine through. While there were a few lines that made me laugh, this book, overall, was not worth the read. I was disappointed. I just wish she had written a pirate novel set in the usual pirate times. Turning it into a video game world doomed the story from the start. All the modern storylines just made me want to gag. They were useless, poorly devised, and poorly written.
As a RPG fan, this book was fantastically funny. I loved it!
Clever little romp - loved the pirate stuff. Not my favorite of MacAlister's works, but a quick, light read nonetheless.
In the internet virtual reality game, Buckling washes, Earless Erika and Black Corbin are two of the most deadly pirates to sail the online seas. And now they've met their matches: each other!
I didn't really get into the story until the very end but it was a humorous light read.
I LOVE KATIE!! She writes brilliant, witty dialogue and has a genuinely funny sense of humor. Her characters are realistic both physically and emotionally. This particular title takes the cake as far as I'm concerned. And the research the author undertook made the story so much more believable. Note to Katie: Doesn't matter if you took literary license with the pirate theme. Game designers in real life would have done the same.
Very funny! :)
Oh Man this is a GREAT book! Not as good a "Hard Days Knight" but excellent nevertheless. The comic moments are pricelss and the heat level is blazing!
Another really fun read by MacAlister. You find yourself wanting to dig out an eyepatch and rapier and join Corbin and Amy in their battle to save themselves and the game.
The quote from Booklist is true --"Wickedly sensual and irresistibly amusing."
The quote from Booklist is true --"Wickedly sensual and irresistibly amusing."
Though this book is really out there in a lot of ways- I really enjoyed it and found myself not being able to put it down.
Not your typical romantic fare!
Not your typical romantic fare!
I love my computers and laptop so this story was truly a fun read and for over 300 pages this book was read within a day with plenty of time to spare. You can't help but root for the good guy in this story and hate the bad guy. It took a while for me to figure out who the bad guy was and that made the book a fun read.
I had heard raves about this author, but I just could not read this book to the end... I was disappointed with the dialogue, didn't care for the characters (possibly because the story seemed flat to me).
In the Internet game of "Buckling Swashes," two die-hard enemies find themselves comrades at arms against a merciless rival, and discover that-on the virtual high seas and in real life-love can tame the most fearsome of pirates.
I thought this book was quite cute and thought it was an easier read than the Corset Diaries. Actually I think it was more fun and can see myself playing the part of a pirate especially with someone so sexy.
Hmmmm..... Shiver me timbers!
Slow start on this one but it ended up a good read, though not one of her best.
Basically, Amy get's stuck in a virtual reality game that her daughter talked her into trying. It sends her back into pirate times and she somehow gets stuck. Now all she has to do it try not to fall in love with the charming Corbin while she tries to help him find the one who got them stuck. This is an awesome book and I think that anyone who reads it will absolutely love it.
don't like this particular author. I find her writing very immature-hope someone else will enjoy it.
An overall, fun and compelling read that has me anxious to read more by this author!
It took me a while to get over my annoyance that the heroine on the story stubbornly tried to force real-life concepts to apply in a totally fantastic and made up virtual reality game (and seemed honestly surprised that they didn't seem to work... go figure!) Once I did, however, I really began to enjoy the book.
At first, her dogged persistence was cute and funny but after a while it was like "How about you stop trying to make everything go according to your strict regime and actually follow the rules of the game???"
The hero seemed to find this inflexible personality quirk endearing and with a little more of Mrs. MacAlister's masterful, yet gentle persuasion, what could I do but feel the same?
It took me a while to get over my annoyance that the heroine on the story stubbornly tried to force real-life concepts to apply in a totally fantastic and made up virtual reality game (and seemed honestly surprised that they didn't seem to work... go figure!) Once I did, however, I really began to enjoy the book.
At first, her dogged persistence was cute and funny but after a while it was like "How about you stop trying to make everything go according to your strict regime and actually follow the rules of the game???"
The hero seemed to find this inflexible personality quirk endearing and with a little more of Mrs. MacAlister's masterful, yet gentle persuasion, what could I do but feel the same?
I love most of her other stuff but I really couldn't get into this one. I couldn't get through the first chapter. For some reason, I couldn't get into the premise or the characters. But definitely read her other stuff. They are great.
Can I say how bored & disappointed I was with this book! I love her Aisling/Drake series & her vamp series but somehow the magic doesn't hit this story.
Typical lighthearted romance
Found the book funny. Wasn't her usual subject, I enjoyed it
In the Internet virtual reality game Buckling Swashes, Earless Erika and Black Corbin are two of the most deadly pirates to sail the online seas. And now they,ve met their matchs: each other
But fearless Earless Erika is really Amy-a finanical analyst with little time in her life for anything but work. And Corbin is none other then the man behind the game- the programmer and the owner of the company. He's intrigued by Amy, the only buccaneer to best him in this test of digtal testosterone, while she just wants to take his arrogance down peg. But soon the two find themselves comrades in arms against a merciless rival bent on Corbin's destruction-both on the virtual high seas and in real life. Only setting aside their differences can they locate the actual people behind the swaggering swashbucklers-and along the way find that love can tame even the most fearsome of pirates.
Shiver me timbers...
But fearless Earless Erika is really Amy-a finanical analyst with little time in her life for anything but work. And Corbin is none other then the man behind the game- the programmer and the owner of the company. He's intrigued by Amy, the only buccaneer to best him in this test of digtal testosterone, while she just wants to take his arrogance down peg. But soon the two find themselves comrades in arms against a merciless rival bent on Corbin's destruction-both on the virtual high seas and in real life. Only setting aside their differences can they locate the actual people behind the swaggering swashbucklers-and along the way find that love can tame even the most fearsome of pirates.
Shiver me timbers...
