A proper romance set in the 1800s.
Rating: 5/5
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.
I was given a copy of this book through Shadow Mountain Publishing asking that I read it and feature it on my page. I couldn't have been happier for this opportunity! Thank you!
Oh, I simply just loved reading this from start to finish. I wish I had gotten to this one so much sooner, as I had hoped I would. I’ve been trying to read this for a few months now. But once I finally did start it, I didn’t want to put it down! I was mad at all my distractions keeping me from continuing. Like sleep, who needs sleep? Just let me read!
Oh, I simply just loved reading this from start to finish.
But in all seriousness, I truly loved everything about this book. I felt like I was right there experiencing what the characters were going through with them. Both of our main characters felt so real. I loved them both. More so with Caroline, than with our Captain, Thomas Scott. He was a bit of a love-hate type of guy until the end. He was so infuriating, but you couldn’t help but also fall in love with him. I also rolled my eyes at the number of times he mentally said the word “Blast.”
I loved following Caroline though. She was such a strong woman born at the wrong time. Wanting to be headstrong and vocal where she was expected to be just a quiet pretty face. It’s because of her personality that we got to see this story unfold in the first place.
We bounce between the perspective of Caroline and Thomas, as Thomas is the Captain of a ship that takes young ladies to India in hopes of finding a husband. These women are often seen as unmarriable in England, so their only hope is to leave the world they know and go to a different country and test their luck there to find a man willing to marry them. Caroline is in this same boat, but unlike the other ladies on this journey, she has a potential suitor waiting for her in India. During the long months at sea, Caroline becomes close with the Captain and must decide what she should choose.
From the title alone, it was obvious to me how the story would play out. However, even though I found the general story a little predictable I enjoyed seeing all the details around it unfold. There were some shocking twists that I didn’t expect. And I just loved every minute of it. I was sad when I finally got to the end, I wanted it to keep going.
I just loved every minute of it. I was sad when I finally got to the end, I wanted it to keep going.
This book truly took me through all the feels. I enjoyed being able to see both perspectives of Caroline and Thomas. It was great to see the inner thoughts of both especially when their feelings for each other started to grow. I found this to be such a unique love story. One that I simply didn’t want to end. From start to finish, I found it captivating and the pacing was incredible. I breezed right through. This easily has become one of my favorite reads of the year. I highly recommend this for anyone interested in romance and historical fiction, and especially a proper romance set in the 1800s.