| Title | : | A Captain for Caroline Gray |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1629728462 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781629728469 |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 336 |
| Publication | : | First published March 2, 2021 |
Captain Thomas Scott loves the open sea as much as he despises the three-month, twice-yearly trip his ship makes as he ferries young English girls across the ocean. He can’t imagine what family would allow an innocent young woman to be matched up with the Englishmen of questionable reputation who work and live in India.
But when Miss Gray boards the HMS Persistence, all of Captain Scott’s plans are upended. Miss Gray’s fiery spirit can’t be contained, and he is shocked and secretly delighted at her boldness—and her beauty. But the rest of his passengers aren’t so kind.
Caroline finds herself an outcast among her peers, but Captain Scott becomes an unlikely ally. They share the same passions and interests, creating an undeniable attraction. But they both know any relationship between them is impossible. After all, Caroline has obligations to fulfill in India.
Caroline has until the end of the voyage to decide if she is going to marry a man she has never met or be brave enough to love a sea captain who just might break her heart.
A Captain for Caroline Gray Reviews
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A CAPTAIN FOR CAROLINE GRAY is a sweet and simple romance that's told in the style of those old Candelight Regency romances-- it's a very clean, very spare story that focuses mostly around the romance with some plot dressing, and an attempt to deepen the characterization of both primary and secondary characters. I was actually impressed because it's been a while since I read a straightforward romance and it was much more substantial than I was expecting.
Caroline Gray is a bluestocking. She and her mother are about to be ousted from the family home because her father has passed and the property is about to transfer to the next male relative, a cousin, who is getting married. Caroline is such a nerd (and so outspoken) that she's put off most of her would-be suitors and her mother is going to be companion to yet another distant relative with no room for Caroline, so she's contracted for Caroline to go abroad to India to make a marriage match abroad.
Most of the story takes place on the ship where Caroline is making her journey, so we meet several other women and men who are venturing to India for various reasons, as well as the Captain, Thomas, who is Caroline's love interest. I didn't realize when I got this book that this was a grumpy/sunshine romance, and since I love those, my interest was immediately piqued. Thomas is a bit surly but never outright mean and I thought he had really great chemistry with Caroline, especially since he found her strong personality so compelling.
Obviously there's a big misunderstanding in the third act but it wasn't so bad and it ended up being that neither character was totally in the right, which kind of ended up making it feel like they were both on even ground. The ending was totally satisfactory and there was even a bit of action I wasn't prepared for, so overall this ended up being a pretty sweet romance. It's a little forgettable, which is probably its only flaw, but after a slew of heavier reads, A CAPTAIN FOR CAROLINE GRAY ended up being just the thing I needed to cleanse my literary palate. If you like clean romances with strong protagonists and grumpy/sunshine pairings, this is your book.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!
3.5 stars -
A Captain for Caroline Gray is the standalone novel by Julie Wright, published by Shadow Mountain Publishing and we get to follow Caroline Gray as she reluctantly boards the Perseverance bound for Mumbai, India. As a gentlewoman encouraged by her parents to be outspoken beyond what is acceptable to Society, she has not received any offers of marriage. Caroline’s childhood home is inherited by her cousin following her father’s death and she has nowhere to go. A deal is made for Caroline to travel to India to meet Captain Barritt, without a promise to marry him. Aboard the ship she loses her heart to a different Captain and is totally unprepared for what awaits her in Mumbai.
Gentlewoman Caroline Gray is knowledgeable and outspoken. She pretty much resembles a woman of the 21st century, having a determined and strong willed attitude which puts men of her time off. I feel for her as she thinks there is something wrong with her. She cannot seem to find someone who likes her the way she is. She seems very human, which makes her my favorite of this story. I find it easy to relate to her thoughts and feelings.
Captain Thomas Scott seems grumpy and disillusioned at the beginning of the story. He transports women to India for business reasons and is convinced they will not meet their happy ever after there. He has no plans to marry, but I enjoyed how he starts to show more of his relatable and kind sides during the voyage to India.
The plot stood out as a fresh, new addition to historical romance stories set at sea. I have not read about women unable to find matches in England who travelled to India to marry. I was surprised this story even had a woman serving as cabin cleaner and chaperone to the female passengers even though crew thought that would bring bad luck. The writing had an amusing vibe and I particularly enjoyed the dialogues between Caroline and Captain Scott. Descriptions of the relationship slowly developing between Caroline and Captain Scott were my favorite part of the plot. My least favorite part was descriptions of the catty behavior of one particular female passenger. Her character seemed to have perfected every female trick of the Ton to fight for male attention and her run-ins with Caroline added excellent drama to the plot.
Readers who enjoy historical romance, particularly those set at sea, will enjoy this one. As will fans of Julie Wright. Similar authors to explore might be # Arlem Hawks or #Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen.
Thank you to #Shadow Mountain Publishing, #Julie Wright and #NetGalley for this opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
Conclusion: A Captain for Caroline Gray is the fresh, new addition to historical romance stories set at sea. Outspoken and assertive Caroline reluctantly travels to India in hopes of someone to marry, because she puts off male members of Society. Captain Scott is busy building his business and has no plans to marry, but gets new perspectives in this entertaining story about their voyage to India. -
While there were moments of promise in this book, it ultimately didn’t work for me. The romance was very weak. The story was drawn out, and there were moments of plot craziness.
Caroline is a bluestocking, which was treated like leprosy in this book. It apparently made her unmarriable, so when her prospects are grim, she decides to take a chance to meet a suitor in India after his mother saw her beauty across a ball. She doesn’t have to marry the suitor but meet him, however, if either of them find they don’t suit, she will not have the funds to return to England. This seemed like a big risk and presented as an only option, which felt implausible to me. When she was about to disembark, her cousin heard the intended-suitor’s name, and he seemed concerned because he heard a story once. Oh well, off she goes, along with several other women, who are hoping to find husbands in India.
Most of the story takes place on the journey over, and there is some romantic interest between the Captain and Caroline. Mostly, though, it’s the Captain convincing himself that he can have no interest in women that seek their future by finding husbands in India. Caroline mostly thinks he doesn’t like her. The romantic tension waffles between cool and (at most) tepid. It was mostly non-existent. This being a kisses-only story, I didn’t expect scorching, but I did hope to be convinced theirs was a romance worth rooting for. I was not convinced.
Toward the end, there were some plot craziness that didn’t make sense, with resolutions too neatly wrapped up. The historical context was somewhat interesting. The author obviously put thought and research into this book, and the writing was decent. I did struggle with characterizations. For example, Caroline seemed like she was presented as the only informed, intelligent female in all of England and India. But, I think my biggest issues were with pacing and plotting. That is what zapped any enjoyment I began to feel in reading this.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book. Views are my own. -
What an adventure! I admired Caroline's curiosity and intelligence, and the way she stayed true to herself. The struggle to concede to society's expectations or let her voice be heard is one that she lived every day on the ship. She butts heads with Captain Scott several times, and over their journey they each learn to look past their initial assumptions to see the deeper person within. They are both such strong personalities, and have their own hidden issues influencing their actions and decisions. Miscommunication, pride, and self-doubt derail their tender and fragile love before it even has a chance to fully blossom, and I wish there were more pages of their happiness together. Rather, it was a thin layer between their animosity and emotional separation. I was glad that the story continued as they landed in India, and the plot thickened as other dangerous elements came into play. Overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to fans who like Regency stories with an unusual setting.
Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own. -
I've read a few books in the last little while set on a ship during this time period. It's amazing to me that authors can take a setting with so little diversity and make it into a full length novel. This one does eventually end up in India but not until the end.
Caroline is an interesting character because she doesn't really in with "society". She is beautiful and brainy too. It's a great combo but not for her forced society. Watching her constantly question herself and force herself to be someone she was not was hard. It made me sad just like it made her sad. It makes me really grateful for those kind of women who didn't conform but forged ahead to pave a new path for women in society.
This story progresses slowly and gently. The bit of excitement at the end was a nice change from the more placid pace of the rest of the book. I wish there would have been more to the ending or maybe an epilogue. I felt like it cut off pretty quickly once the final resolution came. Overall, I liked it. 3.5 stars, rounding up
Content: mild peril, kissing
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own. -
Caroline has been put in a hard situation. Either go to India and try to make a match or be passed from relative to relative. For a woman with strong opinions and an active mind, it is a difficult decision.
I loved Caroline. She has so much compassion and looks out for others. The title leaves the ending open. Caroline has two captains, Captain Barrit or Captain Scott. One she has promised to think about making a match with and the other finds his way into her mind and heart.
The majority of this novel is set on the high seas. I enjoyed Caroline's fascination with the ship and crew. Her artistic talents help her make friends with people who really matter. The people that high society would not look at twice.
This book is a keeper. It is interesting and entertaining. Caroline and Captain Scott are the kind of people that I would love to associate with.
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. -
A ship leaving England sets sail for India, carrying six women who hope to find a suitable husband. They’ve been sent because they have no other choice. Can you imagine?? ((Shudder)). Have you ever seen the movie, “Mean Girls”? Well.... this was something like that but better.
I’d never heard about the “Fishing Fleet” until now. It sounded like a very difficult thing. I really enjoyed this clean historical romance and highly recommend it. The writing was good. The only part I struggled with was the tiger. But besides that it checked off all the boxes for me.
Thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing via Netgalley for this ebook. I’ve voluntarily given my honest review. -
Find Love But Don’t Lose Yourself
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Source: Review Copy from Blog Tour
TYPE OF NOVEL: Regency Romance
SETTING: London, England ➡️ Mumbai, India, 1820
THE PREMISE: Carolina Gray spent her seasons engaging in stimulating debates of politics and the state of the world instead of enticing flirtations, and now she is out of options. Sailing to India and meeting a virtual stranger in an arranged marriage-like situation is the only hope for a future that includes marriage and children of her own, or is it…?
WHAT I LOVED:
- The Adventure: Yes!!! A bluestocking heroine that travels with other unmarried women on board a ship to India where she meets a disdainful yet compassionate sea captain promises to be an exhilarating adventure! And I am here for it! I am thrilled to read another Proper Romance story about a sea voyage and journey to a foreign land. (Talk about the right time to read books that take you to faraway places!) And I am continuing to love any book that takes place on board a ship (I am enamored with all things related to the sea – the beach, pirates, travel, navy-life!), and unlike other sea-related stories I’ve read it is a merchant ship that has nothing to do with the Royal Navy or the Napoleonic Wars.
- The Education: I thoroughly enjoyed witnessing what this voyage meant for these women – how they were hopeful yet uncertain and bravely seizing their futures in a strange new land. I also loved that this story illustrated some unpleasant truths about Regency attitudes towards other cultures and the realities of life for those living in India (both natives and settlers). I appreciated the authenticity of representing both the good and the bad.
- The Heroine: I want to be Caroline Gray when I grow up! I admire her so very much! I am inspired by her curiosity with the world around her and her thirst to learn more. I especially admired her progressive interest in subjects not commonly taught to young Regency ladies such as science and politics. I loved that she was low-maintenance and ready for life’s adventures, but also romantic and loyal to those she loves. And I love that she was happy to make friends with laborers and people of all walks of life and share her talent for drawing with them.
- The Hero: Captain Thomas Scott is indeed swoon-worthy! I loved his combatting feelings of disapproval and concern for the women on board his ship. And I thoroughly enjoyed every encounter he had with Caroline – their debates, their banters, and their quiet stolen moments alone. I loved being inside Captain Scott’s head to witness him feeling flustered, captivated, challenged, and confused by Caroline. And I loved that he was so attentive to her habits and behaviors and that he appreciated the qualities in her that no one else did.
- The Important Takeaways: Both Caroline and Captain Scott grow and learn as individuals in this story. And I appreciated how Julie Wright wove some pertinent lessons about being true to yourself and the importance of forgiveness and trust into the rich fabric of her story. I think these lessons are timeless and apt reminders to us all.
WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:
Just that it felt like a perfect situation for an epilogue and there wasn’t one.
CONCLUSION:
A Captain for Caroline Gray is a stirring and captivating Regency romance that is sure to delight readers who adore stories with progressive heroines, conflicted heroes, and adventure! Julie Wright delivers a sweeping romance full of tension and action that will take you on a most thrilling sojourn! I highly recommend!
Austenesque Reviews -
I thoroughly enjoyed this regency novel about an outspoken young lady who is offered a trip to India to find a marriage match. The characters are well drawn and vibrant. I loved the heroine’s curiosity and love of learning. I enjoyed all the little mentions of scientific discoveries of the time. The conflict was a little forced and cliché. I didn’t feel it became excessive or overly dramatic, however.
My main sense of disappointment was relating to astronomy. At the beginning of her voyage, the heroine briefly talks about astronomy with the captain, which constellations she knows. She says that, of course, she doesn’t know them all because she has always lived in the northern hemisphere and hasn’t seen the ones in the south. Astronomy is never mentioned again through the whole rest of the novel, which I thought was an unfortunate missed opportunity. During this voyage to India, they would have passed into the southern hemisphere. This character, being who she is, would have been fascinated by seeing different constellations plus the Magellanic clouds, which could have offered some fun, cute scenes. But, whatever… There’s my silly little disappointment that probably no other reader would be bothered by in the least.
Anyway, I think this is a fantastic regency novel that will quite thoroughly satisfy fans of historic romance. -
4.5 Stars
I adore Regency stories and this one had a few unique twists that made it stand out. Caroline is at the end of her options in England and a plan is hatched to send her to India to see if a match can be made there. I've always found these times in this country to be slightly mysterious and fascinating, and this story was no different, especially as most of the story took place on a ship in the middle of the sea.
Caroline is a very outspoken, opinionated young lady who has cultivated her interests in topics more than her interest in a match and that fire is exactly what captures Captain Scott's attention. I absolutely loved him and the way he would react to and engage with Caroline. The supporting cast of characters was equally charming.
The whole plot was fresh and fun. You'd think because it takes place in such close confines it would get a little stale, but that was definitely not the case. I was hooked from start to finish, but...the story felt like it just suddenly ended and I wanted a little bit more. An epilogue or just one more chapter would have made it perfection.
Content: mild romance; mild moments of peril/violence
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.* -
I have read about Bride Ships to Canada and Colonial American Tobacco Brides but I didn’t know about the women who chose to venture to India to seek a husband from the English officers and merchants there. Most of this book was set on the ship Persistence whose Captain is Thomas Scott. He is a bachelor seeking to change his vocation from ship captain to investing in cargo and settling down. Caroline Gray books passage to India in search of a possible marriage match after a cousin takes over the family estate. She is willing to stay in India but has promised her mother she would marry for love.
The ship voyage was realistic and interesting with moments of dangerous excitement in a storm. The real peril awaits them on land. The author captured the essence of English conversation and class distinction and aptly portrayed the inner conflict of both Caroline and Thomas. She showed their softer side in their concern for young Tom, a cook apprentice.
Check out this book for a clean, historical read.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.* -
A heartwarming and fascinating nautical romance. I loved everything about this story!
Sometimes life is more about the journey than the destination.
Caroline Gray was always encouraged to learn and discuss anything. Her bluestocking ways were not what gentleman in London's society were looking for in a bride.
Caroline's father died, and her entailed home went to a cousin. When said cousin decided to marry and consequently take possession of his home, Caroline saw herself in a difficult situation.
Without a place to live, she agreed to travel to India to meet the son of one of society's matrons.
Although she only agreed to meet the man and then decide if she would marry him, Caroline had no money for the trip back, so she knew she did not have a real choice in the matter.
Desolated, she started a journey into the unknown, having little in common with the other passengers and feeling more than ever her inability to be ladylike and keep up with their superficial interests.
Only one person, for good or bad, stirred Caroline's emotions, Captain Thomas Scott.
Her love for Captain Scott grew slowly and ran deep. They first dislike each other, then judge one another, and only after they get really close their feelings start to change.
Caroline was remarkable. She had the quiet strength of Elinor Dashwood and the resilience of Anne Elliot. Being smart when it was considered a flaw for a woman, she did her best to try to hide her brilliance and fit in.
Captain Thomas Scott was lovely, honorable, and dissatisfied with the world's many injustices.
He felt for these women who were uprooted and sent to unknown lands to marry men they knew nothing about.
He was not perfect, and it made it easier to relate to him. I was smitten after the first chapters.
The side characters were fascinating - Arnav and his wood carvings, loyal Black and his wife Claire, and the sweet cabin boy Thomas.
I loved everything about this story! I wish there was an epilogue to keep reading about their kids and grandkids.
This was my first book by this author, but it will not be the last.
Highly Recommended!
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
*For more reviews, book art, and book-related articles, please visit
https://lureviewsbooks.com * -
4 1/2 stars (it needs an epilogue!).
I really enjoyed reading this story set primarily during a sea voyage to India. Such a refreshing setting!
Caroline Gray is an intelligent young woman who doesn't shy away from speaking her mind. Unfortunately, men of the ton are not fans of outspoken girls and she doesn't have any prospects of marriage. With her father's death, her cousin inherits the house and the situation gets worse.
When an acquaintance of her mother offers to pay for half of a passage to India for Caroline to meet her son who lives there, Caroline takes the chance since it's the only one she has.
I really liked the narrative of life in the ship and the characters' interactions. Caroline is not the only young woman going to India in search of a husband, but they don't all become friends.
Thomas is the captain of the ship and he's immediately attracted to Caroline's intellect and outspokenness during the first dinner aboard. During the voyage, they form a friendship, despite the obstacles.
Caroline is a great character to follow on her journey (figurative and literal) as she learns her place in society while keeping true to herself. I liked how Thomas tries to take care of everyone and although he has his faults, he also makes amends.
The ending came too quickly and left me partly unsatisfied at the abruptness. An epilogue with and update would be perfect.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion. -
I read books like this and my heart really goes out to the women of history. The struggles they faced, especially in relation to their finances and living arrangements and not marrying right away. Wow!
Caroline finds herself with no finances, a cousin inheriting, her father dead, her mother with no other options except to send her to India to try and find a husband. With a small arrangement she sets off with trepidation. But she's smart and curious and full of life that I loved her tenacity.
She finds many adventures on board the ship and interacts with several other ladies setting out for the same fate. Although these ladies definitely added some less than stellar interactions on their journey.
She finds her heart turning towards the captain but there are plenty of ups and downs for them. My heart ached again for her and hoped that she would find her happiness and some sort of security for the future.
It was an enjoyable read and definitely had me feeling very grateful for my circumstances. If you're looking for a great read with plenty of history, especially in regards to the ship voyages to India and matchmaking, take a chance on this one.
Content: Clean.
I received a copy from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!! -
An unexpected ship-board romance between an outspoken bluestocking on her way to India for a possible arranged marriage and the blunt, but caring ship captain who never plans to marry. I've spotted this one about and I loved what I saw of the blurb and the cover. I enjoy trying new to me authors and discovering new reading gems along the way.
Caroline is in a fix. Her father passed away with his estate entailed away to a male relation and she and her mother are left financially precarious. Three seasons in society have not produced a single proposal and mostly because Caroline struggles with society's rules for ladylike conduct. An offer to journey to India to consider a marriage to Captain Barritt is her best chance. Or is it?
Captain Scott has been taking potential brides out to India and can't see these arrangements working out well. He's a good captain and under his gruff exterior and blunt speech; he cares. He sees Caroline's outspoken notions getting her ostracized among the other passengers, but he personally finds her refreshing and interesting. But, she's going to India to marry, right?
I was not surprised that I slipped right into the story and the writing and lost myself for long periods at a time. Caroline was a bit more modern, but nothing too much to believe. She's smart and doesn't bother to hide it. I enjoyed her strong spirit even as she had to grow. Thomas Scott was a wonderful match for her and I fell in love with him and the crew members. Though yes, they didn't make it easy and things had to get interesting after the ship made port.
Beyond the characters, the portrayal of life for the women of the "Fishing Fleet" and the life they found in India was truly fascinating. It is the sort of adventure that is driven by desperation and need much like a mail order bride situation.
The end came quickly and I would have liked a bit more after the big moment, but all in all, it was lovely and I hope the author writes more. I've noticed that there are other Proper Romance Regency titles so I'll have to check those out, too. Regency Romance lovers should definitely give this one a chance.
I rec'd the book from the Amazon Vine program to read in exchange for an honest review. -
I really enjoyed this book and seeing the Regency setting aboard a ship and then in India, as well. I liked both Caroline and Captain Scott. Caroline was in a difficult situation, being forced to head to India to see if she could make a match with a certain man there. I did not understand why Captain Scott was so reluctant to try to court Caroline when the book began. However, I loved the point when the two of them did admit their feelings to each other and began walking out together.
Problems arose, however, and the Captain's unwillingness to listen to Caroline's explanation and even the withholding of his forgiveness added more trouble to Caroline's situation. These complications put a new twist in the story and followed Caroline on her journey into India's society.
For those other reviewers who have mentioned that the book needed an epilogue. Well, my copy had an epilogue and I feel that it tied things up nicely.
(4.5 stars)
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. -
After a few seasons, Caroline still hasn't found a husband at least suitable for the way her parents raised her, which was to think for herself and to have an opinion that might be different. So with little choice, and not wanting to be a spinster, Caroline boards Persistence to have dinner with Captain Barritt in Mumbai, India.
Captain Thomas Scott isn't looking for a wife, and so when he meets Caroline he tries really hard to not fall for Caroline, but it turns out she is exactly what he is looking for, a woman who knows her own mind and isn't afraid of speaking up when she feels it is right to do so. But he finds out she is so much more so than just intelligent.
Both Thomas and Caroline were likable characters though they made some annoying decisions until Caroline decides she can't marry Captain Barritt, not when she realizes she can't be who she really is and wants to be, and she remembers her Mom told her to look for love, and that love in question, she has found with Captain Thomas Scott. -
I'm feeling very conflicted about this one and I'll explain why.
I know I'm not supposed to judge a book by it's cover, but most genres have a distinct style to their covers. This looks like a historical fiction cover. So I was expecting historical fiction that contained a romantic storyline (based on the synopsis). However by the time Thomas and Caroline first meet, I experienced an unhappy realization.
The last four or five books I've picked up I basically had to immediately abandon because they were all very over the top on the physical attraction, with the characters developing an exaggerated preoccupation with each other within minutes. This always feels very insta to me, and kind of a little lazy. I want to see a relationship grow and for feelings to develop based on mutual appreciation and attraction for all of MC's attributes. And with a book about a bluestocking, the expectation is that the MMC will fall in love with the FMM because of her personality. So I was incredibly disappointed that Thomas becomes preoccupied with Caroline just from seeing her across the ship (even though he's transported dozens of women over the years and never paid any lady any attention before). He fixates on her long before they ever speak. And frankly this all tainted a lot of the rest of the book for me because I couldn't really get past this.
However, things did turn around a bit after this initial section. Throughout the book, the characters strictly adhered to the societal norms of the period, which was a refreshing change of pace from many other historical romances. There were no modern references or anything that pulled me out of the time period or anything, so I REALLY appreciated that and it made up for a lot of my disappointment from the beginning.
I really liked Caroline and her struggle to live in a world that scorned her for being herself, while forced to adhere to society's rules in order to actually survive in it. However, I wasn't a huge fan of Thomas, who did not seem to know how to manage his emotions despite his age and experience with the world, and ended up pulling Caroline back and forth depending on his mercurial mood.
And then the ending. After spending the entire book dealing with ordinary people, living their ordinary lives, we suddenly get this all in like the last 5% of the book. I don't know why the author needed to add in something so fantastical all of a sudden when the entire book was devoid of stuff like this. And then I felt a little deprived of the Caroline and Thomas reunion/reconciliation. It didn't work for me for a few reasons. And then the book ends. No epilogue. It was very abrupt.
So as you can see I'm very conflicted on this. Which was disappointing because I wrote my senior thesis on the British Raj and the role of women, like those in the fishing fleet, so my expectations were high.
...I guess I'll just split the difference and give this 3 stars.
I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review. -
Wow, to think so much could happen on a boat from England to India. I loved this book, the two main characters were both flawed and fabulous. Caroline and Thomas had great chemistry and were both exceedingly stubborn.
I will say that the set up of the book left me uneasy about what would happen when they reached their destination. There were seeds that were perfectly planted in the story to add just enough to keep me hooked. I read this in one sitting and regret nothing.
It wouldn't be a proper romance without a happily ever after that added just enough of a twist to be more than satisfying. I look forward to more from this author and will definitely purchase this one once it is released.
I received a complimentary e-copy and this is my honest review. -
This Regency romance has a unique setting aboard a “Fishing Fleet” bound for India. The unmarried ladies on board are fishing for husbands in a British colony because they failed to make a match in England. In the case of our heroine Caroline Gray, she has an arranged marriage waiting for her there. Placing the two protagonists together in a small space opens up all sorts of possibilities for conflict and resolution. I enjoyed the heroine's fiery spirit and her voyage of self-discovery and love.
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I enjoyed this. It was a nice break from the ballroom and the ton while still providing a similar vibe. I’ve always been a fan of the ocean and ships so the setting here was my cup of tea. The plight of unmarriageable women having to leave London to find husbands in India is one that I had not encountered before (at least, in this time and place – I am familiar with the mail order brides of the American west) and, while the story doesn’t dwell too much on dark subjects, it made me cringe to think that these women were going to goodness knows what type of man and fate simply because they hadn’t been able to secure husbands in Society at home. Caroline Gray is sent away, not because she is physically unattractive, but because she could never master the proper social norms of flirting and submissiveness that men expected of a woman – she is too intelligent and outspoken (think Elizabeth Bennett). Of course, Captain Scott is a true gentleman, upstanding and intellectual (and he appreciates a woman’s intellect, too—glory be!) and he’s also remarkably good looking (of course!) Somehow, though, he never really appealed to me much. He and Caroline butt heads at first but soon come to respect one anther on an intellectual level, not to mention the (G-rated) physical attraction, as they spend three months crossing the seas to deposit Caroline and the other young women in India. At times, the writing style got a bit melodramatic and I also never really felt the swoon-factor, despite the fact that I love a romance in which the couple fall in love with minds and well as hearts. But, that aside, I appreciated the relative novelty of the story (including the third act in India, albeit that felt too short) and would look for another Regency from Julie Write if she pens one.
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Sometimes a sweet romance is all that we need to bring a little light to our lives. Or at least to brave the cold front that is headed my way up in the Hudson Valley.
Unfortunately for my TBR and my Leio book tracker/timer, I have started oh…7 books in the past week. I had yet to finish one, but happily I report that I started and finished A Captain for Caroline Gray in just one sitting.
There has been a recent uptick in books that take place aboard a ship, I’ve noticed. Let’s dig into this one.SYNOPSIS
Caroline Gray would rather be daring and intelligent than demure and insipid, which is why she is still unmatched after her third season in London. Her family’s threadbare finances leave Caroline with only one choice to secure her future: sail with the Fishing Fleet to India, where the son of a family friend is willing to consider an engagement to her.
Captain Thomas Scott loves the open sea as much as he despises the three-month, twice-yearly trip his ship makes as he ferries young English girls across the ocean. He can’t imagine what family would allow an innocent young woman to be matched up with the Englishmen of questionable reputation who work and live in India.
But when Miss Gray boards the HMS Persistence, all of Captain Scott’s plans are upended. Miss Gray’s fiery spirit can’t be contained, and he is shocked and secretly delighted at her boldness—and her beauty. But the rest of his passengers aren’t so kind. Caroline finds herself an outcast among her peers, but Captain Scott becomes an unlikely ally. They share the same passions and interests, creating an undeniable attraction. But they both know any relationship between them is impossible. After all, Caroline has obligations to fulfill in India.
Caroline has until the end of the voyage to decide if she is going to marry a man she has never met or be brave enough to love a sea captain who just might break her heart.
Well you likely know, dear reader (#Bridgerton), that if I have started and finished a book in one sitting, I probably loved it. And my did I.
This has the perfect amount of romance, will-they-won’t-they, a mild villain, and a horrid villain, all with grand escapes and brilliant locales.
This gets a 4/5 from me and I look forward to all of the reviews I will see.
Thank you to the publishers over at ShadowMountain for sending me an ARC for review! -
This book was a very slow burn, but interesting. Almost the entire book took place on a ship traveling from England to India. I didn't mind the slow burn, but the ending was somewhat rushed and in serious need of an epilogue because inquiring minds want to know! Haha This was an advance reader copy, so maybe since the book will not be released until March, an epilogue will be added. *fingers crossed*
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Carolyn Gray has had three London Seasons, all of which ended without a marriage proposal or even a request to be courted. She's a well educated young woman who has her own opinions, and isn't shy about sharing them. Her family can't afford another Season so she boards the ship HMS Persistenceto go to India to meet the son of a family friend, a Captain Barritt. Carolyn is told by his mother that she only has to have dinner with him.
Thomas Scott is the captain of the HMS Persistence, a Fishing Fleet ship, that takes young women to India to find husbands. Captain Scott loves the sea but not the trips transporting these young women to India. He doesn't understand how families can allow their young ladies to go so far away to marry men they've never met. Thomas likes that Carolyn is different than the other young women, and they become friends when her outspokenness causes the other women on the ship to shun her.
Captain Scott isn't the only one who doesn't understand how a family could let their daughters take a 3 month journey to marry someone they don't know, knowing they would probably never see their daughter again. I'd never heard of such a thing as a Fishing Fleet until I read about this book and how the author got the idea for it.
I liked that Carolyn's parents raised her to be inquisitive and think for herself, although it's those qualities that made it hard for her to find suitors. No man wants a wife who challenges his opinion or who may be smarter than himself. I liked that her drawing/sketching helped her make friends on the ship, and that she befriended the people that ladies of Society wouldn't have.
I loved the banter between Carolyn and Captain Gray--some of it made me laugh out loud. There were a couple of twists and turns in the story that had me worried if Carolyn and Thomas would get together. This was quite the enjoyable read with most of it taking place on the ship as it journeyed to India.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher Shadow Mountain via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. -
I really enjoyed this book! There are so many little things that made me not want to put it down. I think that the biggest thing was probably the fact that Caroline in this book travels to India to find a man to marry. This is the first time I’ve seen that kind of plot in a Regency romance. And it was great. I also loved the way the author included the historical notes about this in the back of the book. Wow, that really happened to some people. It’s not something I’ve ever considered.
Caroline is a bluestocking. That just means that she was not the normal Regency period woman, who just wanted to gossip and talk about clothes and hair. She was interested in science and in keeping herself knowledgeable about the world around her. But…that made it hard for her to find a man who would accept her. And as she gets to the end of her third season, her cousin gets engaged. The laws of the time saying that only men could inherit must have seemed so confining. They left women like Caroline no options, but to get married to support themselves. That’s why she headed for India.
The ship captain was Thomas Scott. He knew the reputation of most of the English men in India. And he tried to warn the ladies that were headed there. But his warnings fell on deaf ears. I really liked him. He worked to keep his crew and passengers safe from the crazy sea. He was human, like everyone else, and sometimes he made mistakes. But he was an inherently good man.
I liked that the love story in this one seemed impossible at times. Just like life, there were twists and turns. Caroline and Thomas couldn’t see the way things would turn out from the beginning. This book was one I didn’t want to stop reading. And I was sad when I finished.
I was sent a copy of A Captain for Caroline Gray by the publisher. All opinions are my own. -
I am a huge fan of Proper Romance and this new book is another winner! Caroline Gray is an intelligent, outspoken young woman who can’t seem to find a husband because the gentlemen of London aren’t interested in a woman with a strong mind. So Caroline is offered an opportunity to sail to India to find a husband. In this Foe to Friends story, Caroline meets Captain Thomas Scott and immediately dislikes him. Her keen mind and wit doesn’t put him off quite like other gentlemen though. Unfortunately, Captain Scott is not the captain she is intended for.
Along this sea voyage you’ll love learning more of Caroline Gray and you’ll be rooting for her and other characters. There is a bit of mystery that adds to the page-turning elements of this story. I didn’t want the story to end, but it did so I’ll have to find another of Julie Wright’s books to read! -
A fun story set on the high seas with characters who are real—which means they make mistakes and jump to conclusions and need forgiveness.
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A Captain for Caroline Gray
Proper Romance
Julie Wright
https://shadowmountain.com/author-boo...
Release Date 03/02/2021
Publisher Shadow Mountain Publishing
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯
Caroline Gray would rather be daring and intelligent than demure and insipid, which is why she is still unmatched after her third season in London. Her family’s threadbare finances leave Caroline with only one choice to secure her future: sail with the Fishing Fleet to India, where the son of a family friend is willing to consider an engagement to her.
Captain Thomas Scott loves the open sea as much as he despises the three-month, twice-yearly trip his ship makes as he ferries young English girls across the ocean. He can’t imagine what family would allow an innocent young woman to be matched up with the Englishmen of questionable reputation who work and live in India.
But when Miss Gray boards the HMS Persistence, all of Captain Scott’s plans are upended. Miss Gray’s fiery spirit can’t be contained, and he is shocked and secretly delighted at her boldness—and her beauty. But the rest of his passengers aren’t so kind.
Caroline finds herself an outcast among her peers, but Captain Scott becomes an unlikely ally. They share the same passions and interests, creating an undeniable attraction. But they both know any relationship between them is impossible. After all, Caroline has obligations to fulfill in India.
Caroline has until the end of the voyage to decide if she is going to marry a man she has never met or be brave enough to love a sea captain who just might break her heart.
𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
Will her independent streak lead her to doom or happiness...
It was the blurb they caught my eyes, I am a sucker for a bluestocking who must fight her way in.
And what a lovely story it is, with a heroine who has to battle to be accepted for whom she is.
Caroline grew up in a progressist household, she was educated and encouraged to learn more. But now it is her doom as she is seen as a harridan, unfit to be a proper spouse. Thus she finds herself shipped to the end of the world in hope her prospective maybe husband will accept her.
Thomas like many men, is first intrigued by her beauty, then he feels threatened by her sharp tongue, as she does not shy away when it is to express her opinion or to share her knowledge.
Why caught between duty and his desires, he prefers first to avoid her, recognizing she is trouble.
It is fun how even in a closed space, the microcosm of English society rebuilt itself, with the wallflowers on one side, the means girls on the others, the men caught in between in the fire of a petticoat war.
Caroline struggles to be herself, if she is, she is shunned for being to outspoken and educated, if she adapts, she looses the light that makes her to be her. Why she goes from period of exaltation to blues. She is a being full of empathy but her feisty temper tends to lead to some outbursts which ineluctably back fire. Yet she is unable to compromise. She tries but her personality does not stay long locked even under tight control.
She refuses to cover, even under threat. And she follows always her heart and her thirst of justice.
Thomas is a prideful man, why his relationship with Caroline is full of ups and downs. She shakes his certitudes, and blurs the lines, catching him unaware and as a man in need of control, it unsettles him. Why he reacts strongly, too strongly.
4.5 stars
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 some kisses
I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher Shadow Mountain, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272... -
Caroline is a lady with very strong opinions and few (exactly zero) marriage prospects. This wouldn't be such a problem if her cousin didn't fall in love so soon, just about forcing her out of her home which he's destined to inherit after getting married.
Luckily for Caroline, when one door closes, another opens. The mother of a wealthy gentleman spies Caroline at a ball and offers to pay half of her voyage to India just to meet her son, no marriage obligations necessary.
Having no other choice, Caroline decides to embark on a three month long trip, unaware she may find love in an unlikely place during the journey.
The first thing I want to say is that Caroline's cousin isn't as bad as I made him sound. In fact, he's just shy of perfect. But we needed to have a reason to push Caroline to travel and he was it.
A good chunk of the book takes place on a ship. This I love. Love, love, love. If they would've stayed on the ship for the entirety of the novel it would've been fine with me! It's described so well and made me long for open skies, the gentle (and not so gentle) rocking of a ship, the delightfully salty smell of the sea...and the endless supply of fish.
In the beginning I wasn't sure if I liked that there were only six ladies aboard, I thought there'd be more considering how "often" they sail from one port to another, but as the story went on I grew to like the choice. It succeeded in creating an intimate atmosphere.
I ever did so (those of you who read it will appreciate this reference) enjoy the relationship between Caroline and her Captain. The actual Captain. Not the other one.
I got so annoyed when they avoided each other. JUST KISS ALREADY, KISS AND GET MARRIED AND SAIL THE SEAS FOREVER.
And I didn't want them to dock in India. I really didn't. Still, that part was fun too.
The last bit was full of adventure which made the ending so much more disappointing. For all their talk of settling down that was what I expected to see. And yet we didn't get an epilogue.
I spied with my little eye a comment that said the final print version will have an epilogue. What that means is that I need to get my hands on a copy ASAP. I will not be satisfied until I read it.
Anyway, five stars for the stress and emotional pain.
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
