Captain’s Surrender by Alex Beecroft is a homoerotic historical romance set in the time of sailing ships and empires.

Joshua Andrews is serving on the English sailing ship the Nomrod, but the crew isn’t, how can you say, very satisfied with Captain Walker who is a sadistic tyrant. Captain Walker takes pleasure in punishing his crew for any real or imagined slights that his lieutenants bring to his attention with incredible enjoyment, especially the sin of homosexuality. Josh is very afraid that someone will find out about his feelings, and he will be the next one tortured and killed. At dock, the ship picks up a few passengers and Lieutenant Peter Kenyon, an unusual and flamboyant man. Josh can’t take his eyes off of Peter, but when the captain decides to have Josh share his room with Peter, things begin to get interesting. Peter has always done what was expected of him, but what he finds on the Nimrod goes against everything that he was ever taught. Peter finds himself working to protect the crew while he fights his growing feelings for Josh. As the individuals on board align themselves, Peter and Josh find themselves fighting to save not only their lives while they fight their feelings towards each other as life on board the Nomrod becomes more and more dangerous. Will they recognize their feelings for each other or will they loose themselves in the growing struggle?

Ms. Beecroft has created a wonderful story based in the time of the great sailing ships. The descriptions of life on board ship brought to life the by-gone days and difficulties that the crew dealt with. The intolerance of the culture of that time was easily seen by the way Captain Walker's treatment of anyone he considered to be a homosexual. Josh never expected to be happy and was willing to accept what ever scraps of pleasure he could get. Peter had everything he ever wanted and was never exposed to the harsh realities of life. Together Peter and Josh have to overcome seemingly impossible situations to, in the end decide what they truly what they want from life. Thanks go to Ms. Beecroft for a very creative and fascinating look back in time.

Reviewed by: Teresa