Frenchman's Creek by Daphne du Maurier

A totally unashamed adventure/romance story. I can't say it was very well-written, but it was very enjoyable. It's a sort of predecessor to the stereotypical pirate historical/romance novels, except with better writing and no explicit sex. Unlike other things I read by du Maurier, I didn't find the characters particularly compelling (the pirate was especially boring) and the conversations between the two main characters somewhat limp and obvious. I think Jamaica Inn is a far better adventure story, this one is too far-fetched and ridiculous, but it was still a fun and entertaining read. Gender relations are also problematic, but I was impressed that du Maurier chose to make her heroine a very resourceful thirty-year-old mother of two, rather than the usual eighteen-year-old clueless maiden in distress. Overall, somewhat thrilling, but could have been far better.