“We are credited with a fleet that Edward Teach himself would have given his black beard and liver to assemble. You are depicted with sea snakes in your hair and a voice like Circe’s, that has drawn me to a thousand crimes. And when we couple it is on the ocean bed, amongst Spanish bullion strewn with the skulls of the drowned, their eye sockets bulging with emeralds and rubies.”
Such is Jean Laffite’s ironical warning to privateer Léonore Roncival. But the danger is real, and more intimate than either dares to admit.
They are drawn together by a blazing affair of the heart, yet they stand opposed in a dramatic struggle when the United States take on Britain in the War of 1812. This breathtaking novel sweeps from the coral cays of the Caribbean to wealthy and extravagant New Orleans. It is the story of freebooter Léonore Roncival and the legendary pirate, Jean Laffite. A story of desire and possession, of warships and islands, and the treacherous reefs that lie between.
A story where the most dangerous battle of all is fought within the stronghold of the heart.
I started researching Jean Laffite back in 1998, and from that moment I couldn’t resist writing SIREN. What could be more dramatic, when he’s a pirate, she’s a pirate and they have to decide whether to fight each other or the English? The turbulent years from 1809 to 1815 were an extraordinary time in the story of America, culminating in the Battle of New Orleans, one of America’s most glorious victories. Jean Laffite (yes, that’s how he spelled his name) was an amazing man—tall, dark, handsome, and dangerous to cross. I wanted his passionate rival to be a much stronger woman than the pale and powerless creatures the movie makers have depicted in films about Jean—and I hope you’ll find Léonore Roncival lives up to that promise!
Click on the cover above for an excerpt in English, or the cover on the left for an excerpt in German.
Cheryl Sawyer's sensual and romantic historical epics will captivate readers. Sawyer creates lush tapestries woven with vivid images, rich prose, and historic authenticity.
Beatrice Small
SIREN is a gloriously textured and crafted tale of history as well as a timeless, seductive love story. An absolute must read!
Booklist
John Charles
American Library Association
“With its lavish use of history, boldly passionate story and vividly detailed settings, Australian author Sawyer's American debut is a grand and glorious delight.”
Barnes & Noble.com
Vicky
5 stars
Drop Everything and Buy This Book!!
“There is nothing more romantic than pirate lore—especially when it is written in brilliant fiction with historical overtones. I read SIREN in one day, and then—something I've never done—re-read it again the next day. One of the best books I’ve ever read! I can’t praise it enough! Unforgettable!!”
Harriet Klausner
Amazon.com, Best Reviews etc
5 stars
“This is a terrific historical romance … Jean Lafitte is a fascinating protagonist and Léonore makes his perfect counterpoint in Cheryl Sawyer’s sweeping epic tale.”
Amazon.com
A reader from New Jersey
5 stars
Utterly Captivating
“I stayed up until almost 3:00 AM to finish this book. This is a wonderful novel rich with vibrant characters and a vivid historical setting. The hero and heroine are perfectly matched and each of their encounters is flawlessly written; by turns humorous, sensual, poignant and tender.”
Historical Romance Writers
Marilyn Rondeau
Highly Entertaining Swashbuckler Historical
“From the very first pages of this impressive novel the reader is treated to a colorful tapestry of sights and impressions set amongst the vivid streets of New Orleans to the colorful beaches of the Caribbean as the author takes you on a high-seas adventure blending fiction with actual historical fact.”
All About Romance
Lynn Spencer
“I loved sinking into this rich and complex novel … Sawyer’s historical descriptions and rich prose are compulsively readable and readers who like historical fiction with a romantic twist or who long to see an author who does not adhere firmly to the ‘rules’ of romance would do well to give SIREN a try.”
Romantic Times Book Club
Kathe Robin
Top Pick!
“Sawyer makes the appealing Lafitte even more attractive and gives him a woman who is his equal. She infuses historical events with color, passion and thrilling escapades. With impeccable detail and larger-than-life characters, this debut will be on historical fiction readers’ must-have list.”
Romance Reviews Today
Astrid Kinn
“The romance between Jean Lafitte and Léonore Roncival—one a real personage from the past, the other fictional— is intense; in fact, all the scenes in this marvelous epic tale are intense … SIREN is a fabulous historical read. Cheryl Sawyer has crafted a superbly intriguing story in SIREN, and one that I highly recommend. Historical romance fans will be more than pleased with this one, and will look forward to Ms. Sawyer's future novels.”
Romance Junkies
Billie Jo
“SIREN is laced with sexual tension, history and intrigue. The research that Ms. Sawyer did for this book is incredible! Cheryl Sawyer did a wonderful job with combining factual history and romance in this captivating book. There were so many twists and turns that I had to keep turning the next page to find out what would happen next, and it was never what I expected it to be. Not only does Ms. Sawyer give you a piece of history, but she created a heroine just as strong and intimidating as the hero. I laughed at the antics and cried when true love had to be denied again. I was completely enthralled with this story.”
