Finding the Rogue

The Sky Pirate Trilogy #1

by Angela Sanders, Anna Applegate

One proper Lady, an infuriating sky pirate, and an adventure that will change the course of their lives.

Lady Lilstrum’s fate was sealed long before she ever admitted her dreams of journeys into the unknown, flying the skies, and feeling the wind on her face.

Danger sweeping through her world and life in a way she never expected gives her the chance to finally jump on an adventure. Armed with only a small amount of information, Ainsley must embark on a journey unlike any other.

Killian Flynn is the Captain of the Phantom Saber. He looks out for himself, for his crew, and uses his charm to get what he needs. When Ainsley sweeps him off his feet by blasting him into a concrete wall, he decides to help her… For a price.

With danger around every corner and on every ship they encounter, Ainsley must give this swashbuckling pirate a chance to prove himself. Not only that, but she must trust in her growing abilities and power in order to embrace a destiny written in the stars. If she can't, the danger in the skies will destroy more than just her life.

Don’t miss this exciting new Pirates of the Caribbean meets Stardust series that will have you begging for more steampunk, slow-burn paranormal romance!

One-Click now for the adventure of a lifetime!

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Pirates

275 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 2, 2021

About the author

Angela Sanders is a USA Today bestselling author. She's a multi-genre author of all things romance, fantasy, as well as supernatural and psychological thrillers (the sky's the limit!).

As a retired Navy Chief, wife, and mother, Angela lives in Kentucky where she enjoys writing, editing, reading, or all three. She's a known coffee addict and audiobook hoarder.


Email: books@angelasandersbooks.com

Visit my website: https://angelasandersbooks.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angelasander...

Twitter: https://twitter.com/angelacarwile

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelasande...

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/angel...

Reviews

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

✴️✴️ONE ENTHRALLING ADVENTURE✴️✴️
Gaping gremlins gizmo! This extremely talented, uniquely gifted and immensely impressive duo unleashes one incredibly tumultuous, skillfully compelling, sinfully fascinating, delectably delicious, rock-our-world tsunami, bursting through on gale force winds, raising the stakes and knocking down walls, launching this gem to new heights. One action packed, heart pounding, pulse racing, adrenaline pumping, block busting bombshell, cranking up the exuberance and vigor, secrets are shared, revelations are disclosed and vows are pledged, wrapping this jewel, up sleek shiny and tight. Treacherous events and astonishing occurrences run rampant, brimming with the riveting drama, gripping intrigue, spiraling danger, electrifying suspense and nailbiting situations ensue in epic proportions, tugging those heartstrings and catapulting all those churning emotions into play front and center, kicking this bad boy into a frenzy with mind-blowing results, blasting this baby to life spectacularly. The characters interactions and charged atmosphere along with relatable qualities and individual traits add depth and diversity, transforming into amazing personalities. The scenes are abundantly descriptive with colorful details that blend and flow, creating a majestic backdrop that's so rich and lively it feels as though you're part of the story instead of on the sidelines, feeling everything the characters feel. Fabulous job guys, thanks for sharing this little treasure with us.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Finding the Rogue" tantalizes with steampunk sky pirates, magic and romance!

Read full review in the 2021 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Bea J. Syer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't normally go for fantasy or steampunk, but this was advertised as Stardust meets Pirates of the Caribbean and like...how am I supposed to say no to that, you guys? And I was absolutely not disappointed.

Lady Ainsley Listrum has always chafed against the restrictions placed on her by society. Expected to be polite, force herself into uncomfortable corsets, take up ladylike pursuits and marry well, all she longs for is an adventure.

When her father dies, she gets exactly that. Her father's dying wish was for her to find a legendary pirate rogue and, with her own life in danger, she flees her home in the hopes of finally getting some answers about who she is. She employs the service of Captain Killian Flynn to help her find Silverthorne and oh boy, do they have a rocky road—or flight path!—getting there.

I really loved the worldbuilding in Finding the Rogue; it's a wonderful mix of historical and steampunk influences, and pretty easy to get to grips with. I'm really curious about the character of Gretta, and hopeful that future books will explain a little more about how the mechanical-human fusion actually works. I also thought it was a neat detail that the pirates are registered, and there's a directory of their personal seals. It's a little different to most takes on pirates I see and I would love it if future novels included an outline of the history and politics that led to that happening.

I did find that Killian and Ainsley fell for each other very quickly. Their initial chemistry was great, don't get me wrong, but the development of deeper emotions was a little rushed for me. In particular, I felt that Ainsley's journey to falling in love with Killian didn't get quite enough page time to be fully fleshed out. However, this is entirely personal preference as insta-love has never been my thing, so other people might not have the same concerns and might even enjoy it!

The plot twists and reveals in Finding the Rogue, on the other hand, were excellent, with just the right amount of foreshadowing for them to make sense without giving the game away. I don't want to give too much away, but there's so many brilliant twists that don't ever make the story confusing or hard to follow. The end, in particular, is excellent, and the perfect set-up for book two.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Richard Goodrum · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful introduction to Ainsley and Killian. A full story in and of itself, but clearly part of a larger plot.

Action-packed. Entertaining. Great world building. Haunting. Romantic. Scary. Tragic. Twisted. Unpredictable. Wonderful characters.

Part of "Airship Legends: Adventures of the Phantom Saber: A Limited Edition Steampunk Anthology"

I received a review copy of this book from a third party. This is my honest review.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has an interesting mix of steam punk and historical romance. This is well written and engrossing read. Ainsley, Killian and Silverthorne are intriguing characters that are well developed. Very exciting adventure and slow burn romance.

[Amber K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding the Rogue is a great steampunk pirate adventure.
Danger and twists had me on the edge of my seat. Great audio narration.
Looking forward to more!!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been a fantastic journey, Airships, steampunk, adventure, fantasy, magic casters, pirates.
I am looking forward to the next episode in this series!!!!

[Meg Gruber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t express how much I love this book! A young daughter of a Duke wants a life different from her parents. The Duke on his deathbed surprises his daughter with an unbelievable secret that shakes her life. She must find a Rouge named Silverthorne. To find him she must find a pirate with an airship to help her. Once Killian agrees to her contract, they become involved in battles. Can she trust her pirate? Will she find Silverthorne? What will happen if she does? What an enjoyable fun read!

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a lot of fun reading this book, it was a great pirate adventure that delivers what I was looking for in this type of book. The characters were great and I enjoyed going on this journey.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Teresa Bahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, characters developed quickly. Curious what happens next!

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read one of these authors before but not the other, so I thought I’d give this a go, even if steampunk isn’t one of favorites. Right away, I was drawn into the story. It starts as a more historical, and then it progresses into a little steampunk. While at places the plot progresses a little too easily and quickly, I was still entranced in the well-written story of Ainsley, Killian, and Silverthorne and the events that took place. That ending was an intriguing one, and I can’t wait to see what happens next! Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Sky Pirate Trilogy. I have never read this style of book (steampunk?) or these authors but I am really glad that I gave it a try. There is mystery, adventure, and romance that keeps you turning the pages. I couldn’t put it down. It pulled me in from beginning to end and held my attention. Well-developed story line and characters. The world building is detailed and imaginative. I really liked how the authors built up the relationship between the two main characters. I recommend this book and would read more books by these authors. Enjoyable and worth the time.

[Christinaraven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Ainsley, a Lady from a respectable household who ends up on an adventure of a lifetime. There was action, danger, surprises, and secrets revealed and to be revealed. It hooked me from the beginning and kept me glued to the end. I loved the story, characters and what is to come next in the series. I laughed and laughed as I read the quick read. I loved Ainsley. I also liked the setup to the next book and the secrets revealed at the end made me scream and say I need more.

[Blanche Maze · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing and fast-paced pirate fantasy book

-Big thanks to Hidden Gems books and the authors for this eARC-

When Ainsley's father, the Duke, dies abruptly, he tells her to go find a man named Silverthorne. Having always dreamed of adventure, Ainsley takes this opportunity to set sail on an unexpected journey. Meeting a charming and cunning pirate called Killian on the way, she will have to learn things about herself in order to accomplish her father's dying request.

I dug into this book really excited because I love pirate stories. Let me tell you, I finished it even more excited and I can't wait to read book 2! First of all, Ainsley is a really cool character. She's headstrong, clever and incredibly badass and I absolutely love her. I was hooked from the first few pages and the short chapters are really a plus. The story was really fast-paced and I liked it, not a second to get bored. Because of that, the romance did feel a bit rushed, something that I don't really like, but in this book it didn't bother me that much. Killian is everything I love in a male love interest and I am totally in love! He's funny, charming, calls her love AND a pirate. Jackpot! As for the plot in itself, it was intriguing and surprising, with plottwists I did NOT see coming and revelations that left me gaping. The ending was glorious, an infuriating cliffhanger that makes me want to read the sequel IMMEDIATELY! The writing was addictive, clever, and really cool too. The world is rather simple but still pretty interesting and I can't wait to know more about Ainsley's past and future and how it will all unfold!

If you like pirate fantasy, well just go ahead and jump in, this one is glorious!

"It was now or never, consequences be damned."

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Royals, pirates and magic, can they mix well?

I enjoyed this quick read. The book is supposed to have a slow-burn romance but I would not think to call it that. The story is written to cover just a few days in all with Ainsley and Kilian having chemistry pretty quickly.

This book is clean enough for any age to read. There is pirate fights and magic. The highest level of romance is kissing which I find is kind of comical for how many times that happens during certain parts of the book.

Ainsley was raise by a Duke and Duchess as their own child. On they day of a party to introduce her to society as being of age for marriage, the Duke collapses. He tells her to find Silverthorne the rogue just before he passes away. Strange things start to happen at the memorial for the Duke. The Duchess then tells Ainsley that she is not her birth parent and that she has her mother's magic. She is told she needs to find Silverthorne to about who she is and that he may be able to help her with her magic.

This is just the start of her adventure which I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The daughter of a pirate and a magic caster adventure.
When Ainslsey's father is murder by poison and she finds out she is a magic casters and a few other truths. W now have the beginning of one captivating story but dear reader it is a cliffhanger! On her father's death bed, he gave her the name Silverthorne and tells her that she must find this rogue of a pirate. So off she goes on an adventure and is joined by Killian Flynn is the Captain of the Phantom Saber. When she said goodbye to Jackson, it torn me up it is not too far into the book so I will not know if he a good guy or bad but at the moment he is my favorite character. I enjoyed the book, the dialogue was great, the twists were fun, and now I cannot wait for the next book. I am happy to recommend this adventure it is steampunk at its best. I did receive a free copy of this book from Hidden Gem and voluntarily chose to review it.

[Linda McKay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story — a rich heiress who learns at her father’s death that her life isn’t what she thought it was. His dying breath sends her on a mission to “find the rogue Silverthorne,” and so her adventures begin. She’s always harbored (yes, I know, it’s a bad pun, but totally applicable) a fascination with flying steamships, yearning for the free-spirited life of pirates. Dark alleys, robbers, rough pirates, handsome pirates, and her lifelong dream of soaring through the clouds, pursued by the Royal Navy, with flashing swords and flying cannonballs amidst a roaring battle. Arghhhh, what more could she want? If you enjoy “a slip of a girl” proving that she’s totally capable of swashbuckling and solving a mystery, you’ll love this book, too.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Douglas Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our heroine has always longed for adventure. But once she gets her wish, is she going to regret it?

This is book one of the series. Enough said.

This is a pirate story with a steampunk setting. Sky pirates indeed! The story is well written and comes with a well detailed and festinating setting. I always enjoy exploring new steampunk worlds and this one does not disappoint. Neither do the characters for that matter as they are also well developed a fun. I love watching them navigate the various challenges they face while learning to work together. Overall, it was a fast paced story which was a lot of fun. I am definitely looking forward to the next book.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.

[Mary Brannian · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Who would want to harm my father, and why?" - Ainsley

Lady Ainsley Lilstrum of Rookhallow Proper was discontent; why, she wasn't sure. Having been raised as the beloved daughter of the Duke, Ainsley had every privilege of her station, and was loved. And yet... And yet...

On the eve of her coming out ball, her world imploded. The unexpected death, the discovery of who she was, what she was, left her gasping... and grasping for the elusive answers to her past and her true destiny...

A steam punk fantasy filled with action, adventure and unexpected twists and turns; a very enjoyable read!

[Judy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, this author has never written a book I didn't love, and this book is no exception. If you are looking for action, thrills, and fast-paced, edge of your seat, hang on for your life story, you've got it here! I was never a steampunk type of story fan before I started reading Angela's books. Without giving away anything, the plot has twists and turns that keep your interest but are not farfetched as to take you in the wrong direction, and a romance that ignites the sparks as one would hope. Pirates, steampunk, romance, great story, what more could you ask for except bring on the next book in the series!

[Leigh Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book of what is clearly going to be a phenomenal steampunk adventure trilogy! Ainsley finds herself thrust into a world full of adventure that she’s always dreamed about living. What she wasn’t prepared for… or more like who… is Killian. The connection between them is instantaneous. Filled with tons of pirates, rogues, magic wielders, mystery, adventure, humor, romance and tons of action, this book is guaranteed to entertain you! I was sucked in from the beginning and couldn’t put it down! I can’t wait to read the next book!!

[Megan (lost among the stacks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stardust pirates. It was the only image that ran through my mind the entire book. Coupled with the main male character looking like Hook from OUAT. A quick short read fun read but there isn't much to it. The writing felt very juvenile, like a high school/college creative writing class essay. I didn't connect with the main female character, she had the normal lead female downfall of being too powerful too quick. Insta-Love is an automatic turn off for me. They barely knew each other, there were too many secrets, they had not even really shared a high octane situation but "my agreement has changed".

The premise is great, sky pirates and magic? Absolutely! With some writing growth this story could be stellar. All in and all a good quick read that is worth the grab from Kindle Unlimited.

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steampunk and pirates and magic and a female lead who is anything but a staid respectable heiress. This was a fun adventure full of action, mystery, shady pubs and even a dusty library. It is a light, easy read that delivers exactly the book it promises with some surprisingly good twists. Book 1 in the Sky Pirate series and it ends with a HUGE reveal that will leave you needed the next book stat!

[Appi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite an interesting steampunk/historical romance. I enjoyed the character development and how the story played out. Ainsley, Killian and Silverthorne are great characters and it has me hooked enough to look for the next one.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cary · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG I loved this book! I love steampunk and I love pirates so it wasn´t a hard choice to decide to read it and I am so happy I did. I loved the characters and how they interact with each other, plus the action packed in the book delivers a good punch! Anna is one of my favorite writers and she and Angela form a power duo that I really want to keep reading! Hats off girls!!!

[Andrea Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to wait until July 6th?!?

So good and I hate that I have to wait until July to get more of this story. Ainsley and Killian are so good together. This is a great story full of adventure.

[tburbr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great series starter. The characters were well written and entertaining while the story line was engaging and kept me reading the book in one sitting.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle VanDaley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the world the author created for the series, the steampunk vibes are great. The main characters immature naivety choices grated on my nerves and I am defintely not an insta-love fan. The overall story was predictable but I really enjoyed it and look forward to book 2

[Roxanne Glawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review by Roxanne

Ainsley world is about to be shattered. Everything she knew is not what is. She will have to make a new destiny with knowledge that will blow her world wide open. A must read.

[Mandie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great! I read it in one sitting! It was exciting and adventurous! The characters were great.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.