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RECENT READ
Marrying the Captain by Carla Kelly
I know, I’m a day late on this one. But as LMFAO sings, I work out. Bad excuse, I know. Another delay is I only finished my Challenge book last evening.
Why this one: I’ve long heard wonderful things about this author but though I’ve got a number of her books, they still languish in the TBR pile – the very purpose of this challenge, reading them – so who better to choose for this month’s New to Me Author than Ms. Kelly. I picked this particular book as I love the cover, yes shallow I know.
Steam Level: Warm
Blurb: Ever since her father tried to sell her as a mistress to the highest bidder, Eleanor Massie has chosen to live in poverty. Her world changes overnight when Captain Oliver Worthy shows up at her struggling inn.
Despite herself, Nana is drawn to her handsome guest....
Oliver planned to stay in Plymouth only long enough to report back to Lord Ratliffe--about Nana.
But he soon senses that Lord Ratliffe is up to something, and Oliver will do anything to keep this courageous, beautiful woman safe--even marry her!
My thoughts: Ah the curse of the damned with faint praise. I liked this one. It reminded me somewhat of the Marion Chesney books I read many years ago, though it’s been so many years since I read one of hers that I don’t know if they are similar or not. But still it reminded me of the book I read when I first came back to reading romance.
Both Eleanor, or Nana as she is called, and Oliver are very nice people. Oliver is a Navy captain on a short shore leave who was asked by a superior to check in on his illegitimate daughter who helps run a small struggling in with her grandmother. Oliver reluctantly agrees, though he is
instantly smitten when he sees her picture. He thought he was smitten with her picture, but when he gets to the inn, he is even more taken Nana and over times begins to reconsider his resolution to never marry and subject his wife to a life time of worry and sorrow. Oliver is a good guy. He’s not really a standout kind of character like a reformed bad boy or anything. I
did appreciate that he was the son of a parson rather than a member of the
nobility. But he’s honest and noble and honourable.
Nana is equally nice. She falls quickly for Oliver as he does her, but thinks he is above her
because of her illegitimacy. She is quite pragmatic about this. I liked her because, like Oliver, she is honest and forthright. She behaves as regular people do. Though quite straightened in circumstances, she isn’t bitter. She does what she has to do in order to help
and survive even if it includes selling her hair.
This wasn’t a thrill a minute kind of book, but rather a nice comfort read about two good people who work better as a whole than without each other. I’m glad I finally got around to reading a book by Carla Kelly. I can see why she is so popular even though my socks weren’t knocked off.
Grade: 3.5 out of 5
10 comments:
I just bought one of her books!
I've never read her either, but I think this book, In Love and War, was on one of the sales lists at DA or SBTB. So we'll see what we shall see. ;-)
Thank you for reminding me.
Yay, Kristie!! I'm so happy to hear from you!! How are you doing?!?
Okie dokie... First, you're not late :) Because TBR day is next Wednesday! So you're actually early! Ain't that something? LOL. And by the way, the "new author to me" theme is actually April... This month is a series you need to catch up on LOL :P See, that's what happens when you stay away from blogland too long! :)
Sounds like a nice book with regular people :) This kind of books is nice from time to time :) I've only read one Carla Kelly before and I thought her style was nice.
I'm at the point where I'm hoping to get my TBR Challenge read and done by next week. AND I'M THE HOST! Arghhhh! Luckily I have a lot of category romance in the TBR that applies to this month's theme (I try to adhere to the themes since I'm hosting, but certainly the rest of you don't have too *g*).
What I like about Kelly is her feel for history. Also she writes a lot of "normal" characters for the Regency period. In other words, it's not all Devil Dukes and Lords of Sin.
I adore Kelly, so this was one I really liked. I have to say, when your post showed up in my feed reader it gave me a start, because I was sure I had a week yet to get mine done. Whew!
I have most of Carla Kelly's work. What I like about her is that her character seem real. I think I would like to know them. I would recommend any of her earlier Signet books.
LOL Kristie, I rushed to read my TBR book thinking that it was due this Wednesday! I checked the schedule before posting though... *g* At least the book is read already (if not reviewed).
Kelly's an author that has been recommended to me over and over again, but I STILL have not read. She is on my list... but for some reason every time I'm going to pick up one of her books I leave it for later. One of these days... :D
Hilcia - so you are like me ;) You've heard good things about her but haven't tried her yet. I should change the title of the post I think as it's probably got a number of people thinking "Oh SHIT!"
Sandy - I have quite a few of her books. Odd since I've been getting them and not reading them so far. And a number are the early Signet ones too. And her characters do seem real don't they?
Phyl: I don't know why I got totally mixed up. I checked at the beginning of March to see what and when - and then promptly got both wrong *head shake*. Hope I didn't scare you too bad there *g*
Wendy - LOL - as the hostess, you should try and complete it - but I know it can hard sometimes with slumps or RL getting in the way. Now of course I'm going to have to come up with another book, but I have one in mind.
And yes, Ms Kelly's characters are refreshingly normal, not a lot of angst - at least in this one. There is a bit of course, you have to have conflict to have a story, but it's not overdone.
Nath, yes her style is nice. As a said, she's a bit of a throwback to my early rereading romance days and it was nice to read something familiar.
Carolyn, well you have a week - something I didn't realize when I posted this review obviously. Although now that I know, I will get it done on the day of next week. And while this didn't blow me away as I know she does many a reader, it was still a nice and cozy type read.
I'm sure I've read a Carla Kelly book...and it was lovely. Might have to keep an eye out for this :)
It reminded me somewhat of the Marion Chesney books I read many years ago...
I remember those :)
Thanks for the review. Nice is good.
Orannia: I didn't know there were other Marion Chesney fans out there! She's an author we don't hear much about who wrote some pretty enjoyable historicals for the Signet line didn't she?
Kwana: Yes *g* nice is good. Sometimes nice is just what we are needing.
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