Legacy Series by Nicole Margot Spencer

American privateer Richard Tetrault arrives in March 1814 at his family's plantation on the Rappahannock River in Virginia to find his home in ashes, a sister dead and his mother kidnapped by Denis Delonde, an opportunist willing to commit any act, any immorality in his quest for legendary gold. Despite ominous feelings and his need to sail, he stays with a sick Tara Kendall, only for him to find in the quiet of that parlor night a woman that is enough to steal a man away from the sea... moreAmerican privateer Richard Tetrault arrives in March 1814 at his family's plantation on the Rappahannock River in Virginia to find his home in ashes, a sister dead and his mother kidnapped by Denis Delonde, an opportunist willing to commit any act, any immorality in his quest for legendary gold. Despite ominous feelings and his need to sail, he stays with a sick Tara Kendall, only for him to find in the quiet of that parlor night a woman that is enough to steal a man away from the sea. This woman, this overwhelming tide within him, isn't supposed to happen. Richard sails on the next tide, an overriding need for vengeance driving him. But the privateer has roused something wild and unmanageable within Tara Kendall and, disowned by her father, she stows away on Richard's ship. Will Richard save his mother and catch Denis Delonde? Dare he ignore this legend that has hounded him since his childhood? His mother's life, and unknown to him, Tara's life, may hang in the balance should he ignore the warning in his dreams. less

Smuggler’s Haven is the second novel of the Legacy trilogy. In the fall of 1814, Captain Richard Tetrault finds himself trapped in New Orleans between the predatory schemes of Denis Delonde and the consuming lust of a woman who holds his loved ones hostage. His ship is confiscated and his crew imprisoned or scattered. In the household where she and Tara Kendall are well-kept prisoners, the privateer’s mother discovers an alarming face out of her past... moreSmuggler’s Haven is the second novel of the Legacy trilogy. In the fall of 1814, Captain Richard Tetrault finds himself trapped in New Orleans between the predatory schemes of Denis Delonde and the consuming lust of a woman who holds his loved ones hostage. His ship is confiscated and his crew imprisoned or scattered. In the household where she and Tara Kendall are well-kept prisoners, the privateer’s mother discovers an alarming face out of her past. Wounded, cornered, and angry, Richard is confronted with a pistol whose existence stuns him, for it lands him squarely in the midst of an old legend he has long rejected as nonsense. The Legacy trilogy: The Lady in the Locket Smuggler’s Haven Devil's Elbow less

Abducted off the Chalmette battlefield outside New Orleans, privateer Richard Tetrault escapes from a chilling empire agent, who unknowingly convinces Richard of his deadly legacy by identifying the figures in a childhood memory. Richard overpowers the implacable Napoleonic monster, only to walk into the drawn pistols of Denis Delonde and his minions. Denis claims Richard’s legacy and so Richard must die... moreAbducted off the Chalmette battlefield outside New Orleans, privateer Richard Tetrault escapes from a chilling empire agent, who unknowingly convinces Richard of his deadly legacy by identifying the figures in a childhood memory. Richard overpowers the implacable Napoleonic monster, only to walk into the drawn pistols of Denis Delonde and his minions. Denis claims Richard’s legacy and so Richard must die. Meanwhile, Tara Kendall and Richard’s mother, Francine, are rescued by Richard’s loyal Indian comrade from a trapper’s slave den deep in the swamps, but not before Tara is brutally raped. Heart broken and certain Richard will not want her, Tara remains determined to carve out a life for herself. A sudden storm pounces on them as they head into the gulf in a leaky yawl. As the yawl sinks, they are consigned to a raging sea. After surviving so much, will they drown within sight of their destination, within sight of Richard and freedom? Can Richard overcome Denis’ savagery, redeem his identity and the life he envisions for himself and Tara? less