#Historical Romance Blog Tour & #Review: #A Captain for Caroline Gray by #Julie Wright

 

My Rating: 5 stars / 5 It Was Amazing

Summary of A Captain for Caroline Gray by Julie Wright

Regency London

Caroline Gray's third season in London society ends as badly as her first two—no marriage proposal, no suitor, not even a glimmer of an interested prospect. She suspects it's because she is far too quick to speak her mind to men who are put off by her forthright opinions, her eager intellect backed by a formal education, and her unconventional ideas about the future. She is far more daring than demure to suit the taste of her class. Besides, Caroline thinks there will always be next season to find a husband.

However, her family's dwindling income leaves Caroline with only one choice to secure her future: a one-way ticket to sail with the Fishing Fleet to India, where the son of a family friend waits. If the match doesn't work, Caroline cannot return home.

Captain Thomas Scott loves the thrill of the open sea, and as commander of one of the ships of the Fishing Fleet, he ferries scores of young English girls to the shores of India to find husbands. The voyages pay well, but he struggles to understand why families would allow young women to be matched with total strangers so far away.

The trips have always been routine and uneventful—until this trip's first night's dinner with one Miss Caroline Gray. She engages in a lively political conversation, presenting opposing viewpoints to the conventionally opinionated gentlemen at her table. Captain Scott is secretly amused and delighted at her boldness, not to mention quite drawn to her beauty.

The rest of the passengers are shocked by her behavior and Caroline finds herself an outcast, suffering harsh judgments from the other passengers. However, she finds an unlikely ally in Captain Scott which quickly draws them closer.

Both know an arranged marriage awaits Caroline at the end of their voyage, yet the attraction between them is undeniable. Caroline will have to decide if she will honor her mother's wishes and marry a man in India whom she has never met, thus securing a future for her and her mother, or be brave enough to throw convention to the wind and commit to love a sea captain. He may be enchanted by her bold and unconventional ways, but will his love and admiration last?

My review of this entertaining historical romance

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.

Where to get your copy

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSHOP

| DESERET BOOK | GOODREADS

Book Details

Title: A Captain for Caroline Gray (Proper Romance Regency)
Author: Julie Wright
Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance, Inspirational Fiction
Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing (March 2, 2021)
Length: (336) pages
Format: Trade Paperback, eBook, & audiobook
Tour Dates: March 1 – 28, 2021

 

Advance Praise

·         "A charming historical romance in which smarts and sass are vindicated."— Foreword Reviews

·         "…a delightful, not exactly traditional Regency romance. Teen readers will enjoy this adventurous journey with its proactive heroine and exotic settings."— Booklist, starred review

·         "An unconventional woman finds herself at home at sea in this stirring Regency from Julie Wright…This adventure is sure to entice fans of historical romance."— Publishers Weekly

 

Author's Bio

Julie Wright wrote her first book when she was fifteen and has written over twenty novels since then. She is a Whitney Awards winner for best romance with her books Cross My Heart and Lies Jane Austen Told Me, and she is a Crown Heart recipient for the novel The Fortune Café.

She has one husband, three kids, one dog, and a varying amount of fish, frogs, and salamanders (depending on attrition). She loves writing, reading, hiking, playing with her kids, and watching her husband make dinner. She hates mayonnaise.

 WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | BOOKBUB | GOODREADS

Here's the Blog Tour Schedule for you to follow

March 01        My Jane Austen Book Club (Excerpt)

March 01        Austenprose — A Jane Austen Blog (Review)

March 02        Storeybook Reviews (Review)

March 02        Lu Reviews Books    (Review)

March 02        Bookworm Lisa (Review)

March 03        Probably at the Library (Excerpt)

March 03        Our Book Confessions (Review)

March 03        Lady with a Quill (Review)

March 04        The Caffeinated Bibliophile (Review)

March 04        Fire & Ice (Review)

March 05        Literary Time Out (Review)

March 05        Among the Reads (Review)

March 06        Books and Socks Rock (Review)

March 07        Encouraging Words (Excerpt)

March 08        So Little Time… (Review)

March 09        For Where Your Treasure Is (Review)

March 10        Laura's Reviews (Review)

March 10        My Bookish Bliss (Review)

March 11        Heidi Reads (Review)

March 12        Reading with Emily (Review)

March 13        The Christian Fiction Girl (Review)

March 14        Silver Petticoat Reviews (Excerpt)

March 15        Austenesque Reviews (Review)

March 16        The Lit Bitch (Excerpt)

March 16        Greenish Bookself (Review)

March 17        Inkwell Inspirations (Review)

March 18        A Darn Good Read (Review)

March 19        Relz Reviewz (Review)

March 20        Book Confessions of an Ex-Ballerina (Review)

March 20        Christian Chick's Thoughts (Review)

March 21        Jorie Loves a Story (Review)

March 22        From Pemberley to Milton (Review)

March 23        Gwendalyn's Books (Review)

March 23        Historical Fiction with Spirit (Review)

March 24        Captivated Reading (Review)

March 24        Books, Teacups, & Reviews (Excerpt)

March 25        Roseanne E. Lortz (Review)

March 26        Cup of Tea with that Book, Please (Review)

March 26        Randi Loves 2 Read (Review)

March 27        Library of Clean Reads (Review)

March 28        The Bibliophile Files (Review)

#Historical Romance Book Review: #Winning the Gentleman #Kristi Ann Hunter

My Rating: 5 stars / 5 It Was Amazing

Summary: Winning the Gentleman (Hearts on the Heath book 2) by Kristi Ann Hunter

Aaron Whitworth hasn't had control over most aspects of his life, but he's always taken pride in being an honorable businessman and better-than-average horseman. When both of those claims are threatened, he makes the desperate decision to hire the horse trainer of a traveling circus as a temporary jockey for his racehorses.

Sophia Fitzroy knows that most horsemen don't take her seriously because she's a woman, but she can't pass up the opportunity to get away from the tumultuous world of travel and performing. As she fights for the right to do the work she was hired for, she learns the fight for Aaron's guarded heart might be an even more worthwhile challenge.

As secrets come to light and past vulnerabilities are confronted, will Aaron and Sophia sacrifice their former dreams and forge a new one together--against all odds? (from Goodreads)

My review of this captivating historical romance

Winning the Gentleman is book 2 in the Hearts on the Heath series by Kristi Ann Hunter, published by Bethany House Publishers. The story is set in Newmarket, England 1817 and is about stable manager Aaron Whitworth as he tries to find a jockey to enter a horse race. He is shocked when Sophia Fitzroy turns up as she is a trainer and circus artist with superb skills on horseback. Aaron has dedicated his life to maintaining a low-key position on the outskirts of Society, but Sophia’s presence makes him rethink his attitude towards that life. Sophia has a dream of starting her own riding school. They both make every effort to stay away from each other.  But feelings change while they are not looking. 

Stable manager Aaron Whitworth is sensitive about his background as a Lord’s illegitimate son, but he is well educated and has loyal friends. His view of women’s inferiority seems typical for his time but he seems kind and emphatic.  

Circus artist and jockey Sophia Fitzroy was orphaned at 17 and has lived a hard life on the move with her twin brother. She is a super skilled equestrian, but is full of self doubt. I find her a human, relatable and well rounded character very easy to like. She is my favorite of this story. Descriptions of Sophia’s struggle to be a female jockey in a male equestrian world added descriptions of some heart wrenching consequences she had to endure which made an excellent dramatic element to the story. 

The signature lighthearted and beautifully skilled writing has made Kristi Ann Hunter one of my go-to authors for years. This plot stands out as it is set in English Society’s horse racing community, which I have not read as a specific plot before. Descriptions of the competitive horse racing feels expertly done; like I was in the horse race myself. Fans of the author may be happy to recognize characters from her other books and while I’m pretty sure you would want to read other of her books, this plot easily reads as a standalone. I eagerly await the release of Hearts on the Heath book 3. 

My favorite part of the story was the surprising and utterly touching twist towards the end. I can’t tell you much about it, only that it made the story stand out as captivatingly entertaining and memorable. 

Both Aaron and Sophia were on spiritual journeys. Sophia constantly prayed for a better life while she struggled in the most difficult of conditions. Aaron started reading the Bible as he became increasingly confused about his future and felt unsure about what changes to make. 

Thank you to #Bethany House Publishers, #Kristi Ann Hunter and #NetGalley for this opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own. 

Conclusion: Winning the Gentleman is the captivating and thoroughly entertaining story about how illegitimate son Aaron desperately tries to fit into Society while super skilled female equestrian Sophie turns his world upside down and makes him question his life decisions.

Rating: 5 stars / 5

Your can get your copy here

Amazon Kindle

Barnes & Noble Hardcover

Barnes & Noble Paperback

Barnes & Noble NOOK book (ebook)

Book Details

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers 

Publishing date: April 20th 2021
ISBN: 0764235265 (ISBN13: 9780764235269)

Author Bio

Kristi Ann Hunter graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Computer Science but always knew she wanted to write. In addition to several pre-published contests, Kristi is a Rita award winner and has also been a finalist in the INSPY, Christy, and GRW Maggie Award of Excellence. She lives with her husband and three children in Georgia. Find her online at www.kristiannhunter.com.