What do you think?
Rate this book
The Admiral's Penniless Bride
Sally Paul is down to her last penny. As she spends it on a cup of tea - to stave off being at the mercy of the workhouse - the last thing she expects is an offer of marriage... from a complete stranger!
Admiral Sir Charles Bright's seafaring days are over - and according to society, that must mean he's in need of a wife! Discovering Sally is in need of a home, he offers a solution... They marry in haste - but will they enjoy their wedding night at leisure?
Admiral Sir Charles Bright's seafaring days are over - and according to society, that must mean he's in need of a wife! Discovering Sally is in need of a home, he offers a solution... They marry in haste - but will they enjoy their wedding night at leisure?
288 pages, Paperback
First published December 21, 2010
About the author
Carla Kelly
127 books766 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Although Carla Kelly is well known among her readers as a writer of Regency romance, her main interest (and first writing success) is Western American fiction—more specifically, writing about America's Indian Wars. Although she had sold some of her work before, it was not until Carla began work in the National Park Service as a ranger/historian at Fort Laramie National Historic Site did she get serious about her writing career. (Or as she would be the first to admit, as serious as it gets.)
Carla wrote a series of what she now refers to as the "Fort Laramie stories," which are tales of the men, women and children of the Indian Wars era in Western history. Two of her stories, A Season for Heroes and Kathleen Flaherty's Long Winter, earned her Spur Awards from the Western Writers of America. She was the second woman to earn two Spurs from WWA (which, as everyone knows, is all you need to ride a horse). Her entire Indian Wars collection was published in 2003 as Here's to the Ladies: Stories of the Frontier Army. It remains her favorite work.
The mother of five children, Carla has always allowed her kids to earn their keep by appearing in her Regencies, most notably Marian's Christmas Wish, which is peopled by all kinds of relatives. Grown now, the Kelly kids are scattered here and there across the U.S. They continue to provide feedback, furnish fodder for stories and make frantic phone calls home during the holidays for recipes. (Carla Kelly is some cook.)
Carla's husband, Martin, is Director of Theatre at Valley City State University, in Valley City, North Dakota. Carla is currently overworked as a staff writer at the local daily newspaper. She also writes a weekly, award-winning column, "Prairie Lite."
Carla only started writing Regencies because of her interest in the Napoleonic Wars, which figures in many of her Regency novels and short stories. She specializes in writing about warfare at sea, and about the ordinary people of the British Isles who were, let's face it, far more numerous than lords and ladies.
Hobbies? She likes to crochet afghans, and read British crime fiction and history, principally military history. She's never happier than talking about the fur trade or Indian Wars with Park Service cronies. Her most recent gig with the National Park Service was at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site on the Montana/North Dakota border.
Here's another side to this somewhat prosaic woman: She recently edited the fur trade journal of Swiss artist Rudolf F. Kurz (the 1851-1852 portion), and is gratified now and then to be asked to speak on scholarly subjects. She has also worked for the State Historical Society of North Dakota as a contract researcher. This has taken her to glamorous drudgery in several national archives and military history repositories. Gray archives boxes and old documents make her salivate.
Her mantra for writing comes from the subject of her thesis, Robert Utley, that dean of Indian Wars history. He told her the secret to writing is "to put your ass in the chair and keep it there until you're done." He's right, of course.
Her three favorite fictional works have remained constant through the years, although their rankings tend to shift: War and Peace, The Lawrenceville Stories, and A Town Like Alice. Favorite historical works are One Vast Winter Count, On the Border with Mackenzie and Crossing the Line. Favorite crime fiction authors are Michael Connelly, John Harvey and Peter Robinson.
And that's all she can think of that would interest anyone. Carla Kelly is quite ordinary, except when she is sometimes prevailed upon to sing a scurrilous song about lumberjacks, or warble "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" in Latin. Then you m
Although Carla Kelly is well known among her readers as a writer of Regency romance, her main interest (and first writing success) is Western American fiction—more specifically, writing about America's Indian Wars. Although she had sold some of her work before, it was not until Carla began work in the National Park Service as a ranger/historian at Fort Laramie National Historic Site did she get serious about her writing career. (Or as she would be the first to admit, as serious as it gets.)
Carla wrote a series of what she now refers to as the "Fort Laramie stories," which are tales of the men, women and children of the Indian Wars era in Western history. Two of her stories, A Season for Heroes and Kathleen Flaherty's Long Winter, earned her Spur Awards from the Western Writers of America. She was the second woman to earn two Spurs from WWA (which, as everyone knows, is all you need to ride a horse). Her entire Indian Wars collection was published in 2003 as Here's to the Ladies: Stories of the Frontier Army. It remains her favorite work.
The mother of five children, Carla has always allowed her kids to earn their keep by appearing in her Regencies, most notably Marian's Christmas Wish, which is peopled by all kinds of relatives. Grown now, the Kelly kids are scattered here and there across the U.S. They continue to provide feedback, furnish fodder for stories and make frantic phone calls home during the holidays for recipes. (Carla Kelly is some cook.)
Carla's husband, Martin, is Director of Theatre at Valley City State University, in Valley City, North Dakota. Carla is currently overworked as a staff writer at the local daily newspaper. She also writes a weekly, award-winning column, "Prairie Lite."
Carla only started writing Regencies because of her interest in the Napoleonic Wars, which figures in many of her Regency novels and short stories. She specializes in writing about warfare at sea, and about the ordinary people of the British Isles who were, let's face it, far more numerous than lords and ladies.
Hobbies? She likes to crochet afghans, and read British crime fiction and history, principally military history. She's never happier than talking about the fur trade or Indian Wars with Park Service cronies. Her most recent gig with the National Park Service was at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site on the Montana/North Dakota border.
Here's another side to this somewhat prosaic woman: She recently edited the fur trade journal of Swiss artist Rudolf F. Kurz (the 1851-1852 portion), and is gratified now and then to be asked to speak on scholarly subjects. She has also worked for the State Historical Society of North Dakota as a contract researcher. This has taken her to glamorous drudgery in several national archives and military history repositories. Gray archives boxes and old documents make her salivate.
Her mantra for writing comes from the subject of her thesis, Robert Utley, that dean of Indian Wars history. He told her the secret to writing is "to put your ass in the chair and keep it there until you're done." He's right, of course.
Her three favorite fictional works have remained constant through the years, although their rankings tend to shift: War and Peace, The Lawrenceville Stories, and A Town Like Alice. Favorite historical works are One Vast Winter Count, On the Border with Mackenzie and Crossing the Line. Favorite crime fiction authors are Michael Connelly, John Harvey and Peter Robinson.
And that's all she can think of that would interest anyone. Carla Kelly is quite ordinary, except when she is sometimes prevailed upon to sing a scurrilous song about lumberjacks, or warble "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" in Latin. Then you m
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 358 reviews
October 17, 2019
It's marriage of convenience time in Regencyland again, but you know what? I really liked this one, and I think it's unusually good for a romance, so if you're a romance reader, read on.
Carla Kelly writes thoughtful romance novels about solid, honest characters with actual problems that are often pretty heavy, and who aren't necessarily drop-dead gorgeous or part of upper-crust society. Here we have Admiral Charles Bright, home in England after 30 years of serving in the navy. He's a little at loose ends, and his overbearing sisters have decided that, at age 45, it's high time for him to get married ... to a woman of their choosing. Bright just wants to make his own choice of wife, and figures a marriage of convenience is the way to go. (I know, but just roll with it.)
When his first choice (whom he barely knew and didn't like much anyway) stands him up, he runs across Sally Sophia Paul, a 32 year old widow who's been working as a lady's companion after falling into deepest poverty, and is now jobless and one very small step away from the workhouse. It takes a little doing, but Admiral Bright talks Sally into his marriage of convenience idea.
What Bright doesn't know, and Sally doesn't know how to confess to him, is that her first husband committed suicide because he was accused by the navy of graft and manslaughter, buying cheap, tainted food for navy ships and pocketing the difference. His superior officer was actually at fault, but he had doctored documents to make it look like Sally's husband was entirely to blame, and the superior was a nobleman whom no one would question.
So: a marriage of convenience, which stays about as convenient and hands off as these things normally do in romance novels, and two older, intelligent, sympathetic main characters. And a deep, dark secret.
I originally gave this 3 stars but it's stuck with me, enough to get me to reread it a couple of times. So I'm upping my rating to 4 romance novel stars. It's a cut above the typical novel in the genre, and a keeper for me.
Carla Kelly writes thoughtful romance novels about solid, honest characters with actual problems that are often pretty heavy, and who aren't necessarily drop-dead gorgeous or part of upper-crust society. Here we have Admiral Charles Bright, home in England after 30 years of serving in the navy. He's a little at loose ends, and his overbearing sisters have decided that, at age 45, it's high time for him to get married ... to a woman of their choosing. Bright just wants to make his own choice of wife, and figures a marriage of convenience is the way to go. (I know, but just roll with it.)
When his first choice (whom he barely knew and didn't like much anyway) stands him up, he runs across Sally Sophia Paul, a 32 year old widow who's been working as a lady's companion after falling into deepest poverty, and is now jobless and one very small step away from the workhouse. It takes a little doing, but Admiral Bright talks Sally into his marriage of convenience idea.
What Bright doesn't know, and Sally doesn't know how to confess to him, is that her first husband committed suicide because he was accused by the navy of graft and manslaughter, buying cheap, tainted food for navy ships and pocketing the difference. His superior officer was actually at fault, but he had doctored documents to make it look like Sally's husband was entirely to blame, and the superior was a nobleman whom no one would question.
So: a marriage of convenience, which stays about as convenient and hands off as these things normally do in romance novels, and two older, intelligent, sympathetic main characters. And a deep, dark secret.
I originally gave this 3 stars but it's stuck with me, enough to get me to reread it a couple of times. So I'm upping my rating to 4 romance novel stars. It's a cut above the typical novel in the genre, and a keeper for me.
March 22, 2015
3.5 STARS
This was sweet, a slow and lovely development of feelings between two people in need of something. Sally was destitute and suffering for the sins of her deceased ex-husband. Charles Bright wanted peace from meddlesome sisters. While it may have started out as a marriage of convenience, it sure didn't end that way.
Charles' reaction to Sally's secret was so heartbreaking. For her! He was so angry, so sure of her deception that he didn't give her a chance to explain until there's was no more chances. But his repentance was perfect and well deserving. The pain he suffered as a consequence of his rash actions was lesson enough. I loved how he and Sally reunited. Sally was a wonderful heroine, so caring and selfless. Anyways, it wasn't out of this world good, kinda slow at times and not much else happening other than two people getting to know each other, and although the ending was rushed it was still satisfying.
This was sweet, a slow and lovely development of feelings between two people in need of something. Sally was destitute and suffering for the sins of her deceased ex-husband. Charles Bright wanted peace from meddlesome sisters. While it may have started out as a marriage of convenience, it sure didn't end that way.
Charles' reaction to Sally's secret was so heartbreaking. For her! He was so angry, so sure of her deception that he didn't give her a chance to explain until there's was no more chances. But his repentance was perfect and well deserving. The pain he suffered as a consequence of his rash actions was lesson enough. I loved how he and Sally reunited. Sally was a wonderful heroine, so caring and selfless. Anyways, it wasn't out of this world good, kinda slow at times and not much else happening other than two people getting to know each other, and although the ending was rushed it was still satisfying.
August 16, 2015
Good story, with some heartbreak. It's a fairly clean romance set in Plymouth, England in 1816, during a postwar depression, when jobs are scarce and England does little for her wounded soldiers, handicapped by Napoleon's war machine. Kelly writes with a strong historical grounding. This book is a stand-alone, yet I've also seen it listed as part of THE CHANNEL FLEET series involving the Royal British Navy or Marines. I liked that entire series, especially Marrying The Royal Marine.
This book features a widow (age 32-ish) and a retired admiral (about 45), a naval war hero with a hook for a hand. Sally Paul is penniless, homeless, and literally starving when she meets the lonely bachelor, Admiral (retired) Sir Charles Bright.
Soon enough, he asks her to accept his hook in a marriage of mutual respect. The wedding quickly ensues. She brightens his lonely life, turns his newly-purchased monstrosity into a comfortable home, helps him find a new vocation, and helps some of the countless wounded soldiers.
Life is promising. Paradise almost.
But the serpents are swarming in paradise. The admiral's snooty sisters make mischief. Then the wretched Lords of the Admiralty pour on the spite — the corrupt, pompous, self-serving Lords of the Admiralty, an über-power. (As also described in British naval fiction by Patrick O'Brian and Naomi Novik).
Charles jumps to a hasty — and ugly — conclusion. There is a terribly angsty and intense scene or two towards the end. Charles breaks Sally's heart, and mine, too. Paradise Lost.
I hated him. Then I felt sorry for him. I felt she could have been more upfront. She kept an important secret from him (but I understood why it would be hard to talk about it, especially at first).
Finally, the two found a happy ever after, hard-won but credible. The newly weds were nearly broken asunder on the stony shoals of the Royal Navy, but they held tightly to their love, and helped others beside. Paradise regained.
As with many of CK's historical romances, the ending was abrupt. I'd have liked an epilogue, a few years in the future.
As I said, it's a fairly clean romance, with most (not all) of the hanky-panky going on under the sheets and behind closed doors. I like that about CK. I doubt she'd be able to write the best love scenes.
This book features a widow (age 32-ish) and a retired admiral (about 45), a naval war hero with a hook for a hand. Sally Paul is penniless, homeless, and literally starving when she meets the lonely bachelor, Admiral (retired) Sir Charles Bright.
"He didn’t know if he possessed a gentle side, but perhaps this was the time to find one, if it lurked somewhere. ‘Mrs Paul, you have a complication before you,’ he said, his voice soft but firm. ‘I am going to eat because I am hungry. Please believe me when I say I have no motive beyond hoping that you will eat, too.’ She didn’t say anything. He picked up his spoon and began with the soup, a meaty affair with broth just the way he liked it. He glanced at her, only to see tears fall into her soup. He held his breath, making no comment, as she picked up her soup spoon."
Soon enough, he asks her to accept his hook in a marriage of mutual respect. The wedding quickly ensues. She brightens his lonely life, turns his newly-purchased monstrosity into a comfortable home, helps him find a new vocation, and helps some of the countless wounded soldiers.
Life is promising. Paradise almost.
But the serpents are swarming in paradise. The admiral's snooty sisters make mischief. Then the wretched Lords of the Admiralty pour on the spite — the corrupt, pompous, self-serving Lords of the Admiralty, an über-power. (As also described in British naval fiction by Patrick O'Brian and Naomi Novik).
Charles jumps to a hasty — and ugly — conclusion. There is a terribly angsty and intense scene or two towards the end. Charles breaks Sally's heart, and mine, too. Paradise Lost.
I hated him. Then I felt sorry for him. I felt she could have been more upfront. She kept an important secret from him (but I understood why it would be hard to talk about it, especially at first).
Finally, the two found a happy ever after, hard-won but credible. The newly weds were nearly broken asunder on the stony shoals of the Royal Navy, but they held tightly to their love, and helped others beside. Paradise regained.
As with many of CK's historical romances, the ending was abrupt. I'd have liked an epilogue, a few years in the future.
As I said, it's a fairly clean romance, with most (not all) of the hanky-panky going on under the sheets and behind closed doors. I like that about CK. I doubt she'd be able to write the best love scenes.
November 17, 2015
Sally/Sophia Paul/Daviess is money-poor. Admiral Sir Charles Bright is wife-poor. They strike a bargain, get married, and develop inconvenient boners for each other. Except then the ~secret of Sally's first husband comes to light and shit hits the fan doing 98.
1. WOW PACING. The first 80% of this thing is a sleeper: everything is talked about twice, thrice, and again; the heroine isn't sure she wants sex but she wants sex; the hero wants sex but also wants sex; it's all very humanly messy.
BUT THAT ENDING. Wow was that ending a disaster.
a) Kelly doesn't split her narrative so there's no idea what Sally/Sophia is thinking after Charles nearly kills her with a glass paperweight and throws her out of his house. She writes a letter and MOVES ON WITH HER PREGNANT LIFE.
b) NEARLY KILLING THE HEROINE WITH A GLASS PAPERWEIGHT and THROWING HER OUT OF THE HOUSE is a shitty thing to do.
c) IT'S ALL WRAPPED UP IN LIKE 3 CHAPTERS??? HOW??
2. I just didn't like Charles very much? He opens disparaging the woman he has engaged to be married (Prunella Batchthorpe) by calling her 'The Mouse' and grimacing at her "pop eyes". Like, jog on, Admiral Sir Asshole. I don't read romances to get a front row seat to Guys Being Jerks?? Especially when they don't get the SEVERAL CROTCH-KICKS THEY DESERVE??? (SEE: that ending.)
PS: rooting for Prunella ALWAYS.
3. THE METAPHORS. WHY, KELLY, WHY? In one scene (that climaxes when the hero tries to ... climax the heroine), there are AT LEAST FOUR "like a child" similes. THIS SHIT NEEDS TO STOP IT IS SO DISGUSTING. If your heroine is meant to be a Sexual Being unto herself, STOP LIKENING HER TO A LITTLE GIRL. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S THE HERO'S POV. STOP IT. STOP IT. STOP IT.
4. This just came together in such a way that it rubbed me badly: the writing, the (horrible) hero, the (too-saintly-for-this-world) heroine, the horrifying plot: it left me feeling rage-y and grumpy.
1. WOW PACING. The first 80% of this thing is a sleeper: everything is talked about twice, thrice, and again; the heroine isn't sure she wants sex but she wants sex; the hero wants sex but also wants sex; it's all very humanly messy.
BUT THAT ENDING. Wow was that ending a disaster.
a) Kelly doesn't split her narrative so there's no idea what Sally/Sophia is thinking after Charles nearly kills her with a glass paperweight and throws her out of his house. She writes a letter and MOVES ON WITH HER PREGNANT LIFE.
b) NEARLY KILLING THE HEROINE WITH A GLASS PAPERWEIGHT and THROWING HER OUT OF THE HOUSE is a shitty thing to do.
c) IT'S ALL WRAPPED UP IN LIKE 3 CHAPTERS??? HOW??
2. I just didn't like Charles very much? He opens disparaging the woman he has engaged to be married (Prunella Batchthorpe) by calling her 'The Mouse' and grimacing at her "pop eyes". Like, jog on, Admiral Sir Asshole. I don't read romances to get a front row seat to Guys Being Jerks?? Especially when they don't get the SEVERAL CROTCH-KICKS THEY DESERVE??? (SEE: that ending.)
PS: rooting for Prunella ALWAYS.
3. THE METAPHORS. WHY, KELLY, WHY? In one scene (that climaxes when the hero tries to ... climax the heroine), there are AT LEAST FOUR "like a child" similes. THIS SHIT NEEDS TO STOP IT IS SO DISGUSTING. If your heroine is meant to be a Sexual Being unto herself, STOP LIKENING HER TO A LITTLE GIRL. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S THE HERO'S POV. STOP IT. STOP IT. STOP IT.
4. This just came together in such a way that it rubbed me badly: the writing, the (horrible) hero, the (too-saintly-for-this-world) heroine, the horrifying plot: it left me feeling rage-y and grumpy.
June 12, 2024
I adored this so much!!
Admiral Sir Charles Bright sees a down-on-her-luck lady's companion in a restaurant and impulsively offers her a marriage of convenience. He says that he wants to get his meddling older sisters off of his back, but in reality he's a bit at sea (ha!) since the war is over and he has to face retirement. Sally Paul (whom he calls Sophia) is completely out of money and facing the workhouse, so she accepts his offer.
So much of this is them navigating their relationship through body language. Before Charles tells Sophia he loves her he touches arm, her hair, puts his arm around her and thinks to himself that he wants to keep doing this. They find solace and joy in each other and can't keep away, and I was making dumb little heart-eyes at them for the whole book. I would read a few chapters of them just hanging out.
There is a big storm brewing, and oof it's a doozy at the end. Love!
Admiral Sir Charles Bright sees a down-on-her-luck lady's companion in a restaurant and impulsively offers her a marriage of convenience. He says that he wants to get his meddling older sisters off of his back, but in reality he's a bit at sea (ha!) since the war is over and he has to face retirement. Sally Paul (whom he calls Sophia) is completely out of money and facing the workhouse, so she accepts his offer.
So much of this is them navigating their relationship through body language. Before Charles tells Sophia he loves her he touches arm, her hair, puts his arm around her and thinks to himself that he wants to keep doing this. They find solace and joy in each other and can't keep away, and I was making dumb little heart-eyes at them for the whole book. I would read a few chapters of them just hanging out.
There is a big storm brewing, and oof it's a doozy at the end. Love!
April 1, 2018
I expected this book to be as good as the other books by this author. I was disappointed.
But, I read it to the end, as is my habit.
But, I read it to the end, as is my habit.
March 27, 2018
I hate being the big bummer reviewer when I simply just don't care for a well-written book.
Huge case of It's me, not you here I suspect.
I lost my patience with the hero for insisting on maintaining the MOC when there was no need. He was a great hero and she was a strong heroine, but I simply could notably into it as a romance.
Huge case of It's me, not you here I suspect.
I lost my patience with the hero for insisting on maintaining the MOC when there was no need. He was a great hero and she was a strong heroine, but I simply could notably into it as a romance.
July 11, 2011
Nice regency somewhat spoiled by insufficient grovelling at the end. This was a nice different type of story about a 45 year old retired admiral who impulsively marries a destitute woman. Full of lovely dialog and good scenes of them getting to know each other. It was ruined for me by the ending, where the hero, who owes the heroine a massive apology gets off basically scot free.
January 3, 2011
Not since Leo Hathaway has a hero so THOROUGHLY enchanted me from page one! I will endeavor to do this story justice in the following review, but all I can say is this: READ IT!
Newly retired from the fleet, Admiral Sir Charles Bright finds himself in a quandary no man wishes to find himself in: his well meaning sisters mean to find him a wife. In a bid to circumvent what he knows will be a disaster of epic proportions, he decides to find a respectable woman and have a marriage of convenience. Surely this will solve all his problems, providing him with companionship, a hostess for his new life on land (he's been at sea since he was 10) and will keep his sisters off his back. While he's waiting to meet his intended in a coffee shop, he spots a lovely but lonely looking woman sitting by herself. He is intrigued and watches her as he awaits "The Mouse", as he has dubbed the contracted wife of convenience.
Sophia "Sally" Paul is numb. Having lost her husband and young son a few years ago to tragedy, she has worked as a ladies companion to have a roof over her head. Her newest employment has gone down in flames. Upon arrival she learns that her new mistress has passed away and the family has no need of her. Having used her last shilling to make the trip from out of town, Sally sits in a cafe, sipping her lukewarm tea and desperately searching for any position which would keep her from certain starvation or worse, the workhouse. It is while she terrifyingly contemplates her fate that the Admiral makes her acquaintance.
Without giving away too much of the story, Sally agrees to marry Charles "in convenience" for them both: he to stave off his bulldog sisters and she to avoid starvation or worse, and this is where the story really turns meaty.
Charles is 45. He's been at sea since he was 10. He has never had a wife or "a life" as most people would know it. He also only has one hand, having lost it in a bizarre accident aboard ship, and now wears a hook. (Let me just say right here that his hook is as much a character as he is.) He is dry of wit and utterly charming. I lost my heart to him before chapter 1 was over! He is enchanted with Sophia (he refuses to call her Sally) and realizes this marriage of convenience is not going to last very long. ;-)
Sophia has led a rough life. Her first husband committed suicide and her young son died when she was unable to provide for him, dying of pneumonia in her arms. She has worked and gotten by on her wits until now. Unable to believe such as man as The Admiral would come into her life, she makes a promise to herself to make the most of the situation, not give him any reason to regret his rash decision to ask for her hand in marriage, and to be a good companion to her new husband. To say she is a survivor would be an understatement. She is a very likable person and I found myself rooting for her and Charles almost instantly.
I honestly lost count of the number of times this story made me cry. I'm tearing up even now thinking back on some of the touching scenes between them, and between them and other characters. Ms. Kelly absolutely has outdone herself with this book. The dialog is witty, emotional and yet I found myself smiling through my tears. The characters are vivid and unique - I love how she gives us rich, meaty, emotion filled storyline while using "everyday" people.
Of course any good book, and especially a CK involves a heart wrenching series of events from which you think the hero and heroine cannot recover from. This one is no exception. The scene in which Charles reads Sophia's goodbye letter, and his reaction, absolutely broke my heart. I won't even begin to explain as it is one of the best portions of the story, other than to say I cried my heart out.
If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would in a heartbeat. A+++++
Newly retired from the fleet, Admiral Sir Charles Bright finds himself in a quandary no man wishes to find himself in: his well meaning sisters mean to find him a wife. In a bid to circumvent what he knows will be a disaster of epic proportions, he decides to find a respectable woman and have a marriage of convenience. Surely this will solve all his problems, providing him with companionship, a hostess for his new life on land (he's been at sea since he was 10) and will keep his sisters off his back. While he's waiting to meet his intended in a coffee shop, he spots a lovely but lonely looking woman sitting by herself. He is intrigued and watches her as he awaits "The Mouse", as he has dubbed the contracted wife of convenience.
Sophia "Sally" Paul is numb. Having lost her husband and young son a few years ago to tragedy, she has worked as a ladies companion to have a roof over her head. Her newest employment has gone down in flames. Upon arrival she learns that her new mistress has passed away and the family has no need of her. Having used her last shilling to make the trip from out of town, Sally sits in a cafe, sipping her lukewarm tea and desperately searching for any position which would keep her from certain starvation or worse, the workhouse. It is while she terrifyingly contemplates her fate that the Admiral makes her acquaintance.
Without giving away too much of the story, Sally agrees to marry Charles "in convenience" for them both: he to stave off his bulldog sisters and she to avoid starvation or worse, and this is where the story really turns meaty.
Charles is 45. He's been at sea since he was 10. He has never had a wife or "a life" as most people would know it. He also only has one hand, having lost it in a bizarre accident aboard ship, and now wears a hook. (Let me just say right here that his hook is as much a character as he is.) He is dry of wit and utterly charming. I lost my heart to him before chapter 1 was over! He is enchanted with Sophia (he refuses to call her Sally) and realizes this marriage of convenience is not going to last very long. ;-)
Sophia has led a rough life. Her first husband committed suicide and her young son died when she was unable to provide for him, dying of pneumonia in her arms. She has worked and gotten by on her wits until now. Unable to believe such as man as The Admiral would come into her life, she makes a promise to herself to make the most of the situation, not give him any reason to regret his rash decision to ask for her hand in marriage, and to be a good companion to her new husband. To say she is a survivor would be an understatement. She is a very likable person and I found myself rooting for her and Charles almost instantly.
I honestly lost count of the number of times this story made me cry. I'm tearing up even now thinking back on some of the touching scenes between them, and between them and other characters. Ms. Kelly absolutely has outdone herself with this book. The dialog is witty, emotional and yet I found myself smiling through my tears. The characters are vivid and unique - I love how she gives us rich, meaty, emotion filled storyline while using "everyday" people.
Of course any good book, and especially a CK involves a heart wrenching series of events from which you think the hero and heroine cannot recover from. This one is no exception. The scene in which Charles reads Sophia's goodbye letter, and his reaction, absolutely broke my heart. I won't even begin to explain as it is one of the best portions of the story, other than to say I cried my heart out.
If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would in a heartbeat. A+++++
November 19, 2021
Carla Kelly is a new-to-me author and I feel that this probably wasn't the best book of hers to start. It started out well enough. The meet cute was interesting, but everything fell apart after they got married because that's when the CRYING started.
Every single thing seemed to set these people off. Even the hero wasn't immune to it and him being a 45 year old ex-Navy. For heaven's sake, you are an army man. I don't believe you can take the army out of a man. Did he win the war by crying? It was just ridiculous. Oh, don't even start on the heroine. She was worst. And the side characters had the same malady as well. It was unbelievable. I pretty much skimmed read after the first 40%. Thank goodness this book was a quick read.
And the paperweight scene. That was just the icing on the cake. The hero threw the glass paperweight at the heroine and it could have hit her head but missed the mark. She could have been seriously hurt. He should have given her the benefit of the doubt and listened to her explanation instead of throwing a potentially hazardous object at her. Yeah, really mature. I actually read until the end because I was totally hoping for a good grovel scene. Well, lo and behold, no grovelling. The heroine just forgave him.
I can see that Ms. Kelly is a talented author but I just couldn't recommend this book. I'm hoping that her other books would be better. I'll probably try another one of her books that has good reviews. If that doesn't pan out, I think Ms. Kelly and I are just not meant to be.
Every single thing seemed to set these people off. Even the hero wasn't immune to it and him being a 45 year old ex-Navy. For heaven's sake, you are an army man. I don't believe you can take the army out of a man. Did he win the war by crying? It was just ridiculous. Oh, don't even start on the heroine. She was worst. And the side characters had the same malady as well. It was unbelievable. I pretty much skimmed read after the first 40%. Thank goodness this book was a quick read.
And the paperweight scene. That was just the icing on the cake. The hero threw the glass paperweight at the heroine and it could have hit her head but missed the mark. She could have been seriously hurt. He should have given her the benefit of the doubt and listened to her explanation instead of throwing a potentially hazardous object at her. Yeah, really mature. I actually read until the end because I was totally hoping for a good grovel scene. Well, lo and behold, no grovelling. The heroine just forgave him.
I can see that Ms. Kelly is a talented author but I just couldn't recommend this book. I'm hoping that her other books would be better. I'll probably try another one of her books that has good reviews. If that doesn't pan out, I think Ms. Kelly and I are just not meant to be.
August 4, 2020
This was one of the first romances I read last year (pre-active use of goodreads account) and I've just re-read. It was every bit as lovely as the first time around. First we have Charles - injured hero but with no chip on his shoulder and over a decade older than the heroine (injured hero and slight May/December - double catnip!). I like his practicality about everything other than the impetuous decision to marry Sally. His difficulties with re-entering society after a long naval career are also very nicely handled by CK. Sally was great. Very typical as CK heroines go - down on her luck, a little sad but ultimately optimistic. It's hard to dislike this kind of heroine. As ever, CK creates a gently fizzing chemistry between the h/h made up of flowing dialogue and gentle touches. I was carried away by the two of them. There's an interesting selection of secondary characters although none of them sparkled in the way you might hope with a CK novel. And there's sex! It's CK, so it's not particularly explicit or particularly realistic (by which I mean Sally orgasms really easily - twice - during their first time, but perhaps Charles is just that dreamy) but at least there is sex and it's very nicely done. The book doesn't quite get to five stars because I don't like the way it ends, the last minute drama didn't feel very in character for either Sally or Charles. And, I'm grading on a CK curve - she's written better books than this. Still wonderful though and worth the read.
October 18, 2019
Carla Kelly's Regency romance, The Admiral's Penniless Bride, is an enthralling story. I thought it was extremely well written, and I read it whenever I had free time. I have to admit to being shocked that it wasn't what I deem a clean romance. I didn't read enough reviews to discover this, apparently. I've since learned that Carla Kelly has written OTHER Regencies that are chaste. In this book, there are scenes within marriage in which I would have preferred a fade-out approach.
Sally Paul is an out-of-work lady's companion. While looking for a position, she becomes absolutely destitute. Retired Admiral Charles Bright, according to his sisters, is in need of a wife, and doesn't want to deal with a parade of females recommended by his sisters. He'd like to choose for himself. They meet each other while dining at an inn, and the beginnings of a marriage of convenience is born.
What I liked:
*The hero and heroine are both such likable characters who truly care about others.
*One of my favorite plot devices - a marriage of convenience
*It wasn't your typical Regency - no marriage mart to be seen
*The look into the lives of military men, servants, and poverty-stricken people
What I didn't like:
*There was a loose end I would have liked to see wrapped up, and a couple of characters I would have liked to see again. An epilogue would've been nice.
*The bedroom scenes
I'd recommend The Admiral's Penniless Bride to fans of Regency fiction who don't mind bedroom scenes. I would not recommend this for young adults.
(update 11/17/18): I've really gone back and forth on whether or not to read Carla Kelly books. I strongly prefer not to read books by authors who do not write exclusively chaste books for two reasons: 1) I like to feel I can read anything by one of my authors, and 2) I like to support authors who write exclusively clean reads.
However, I don't feel ready to boot Carla Kelly off my "to-read" list. I will, however, hopefully remember to double check everything that has her name attached to it.
Sally Paul is an out-of-work lady's companion. While looking for a position, she becomes absolutely destitute. Retired Admiral Charles Bright, according to his sisters, is in need of a wife, and doesn't want to deal with a parade of females recommended by his sisters. He'd like to choose for himself. They meet each other while dining at an inn, and the beginnings of a marriage of convenience is born.
What I liked:
*The hero and heroine are both such likable characters who truly care about others.
*One of my favorite plot devices - a marriage of convenience
*It wasn't your typical Regency - no marriage mart to be seen
*The look into the lives of military men, servants, and poverty-stricken people
What I didn't like:
*There was a loose end I would have liked to see wrapped up, and a couple of characters I would have liked to see again. An epilogue would've been nice.
*The bedroom scenes
I'd recommend The Admiral's Penniless Bride to fans of Regency fiction who don't mind bedroom scenes. I would not recommend this for young adults.
(update 11/17/18): I've really gone back and forth on whether or not to read Carla Kelly books. I strongly prefer not to read books by authors who do not write exclusively chaste books for two reasons: 1) I like to feel I can read anything by one of my authors, and 2) I like to support authors who write exclusively clean reads.
However, I don't feel ready to boot Carla Kelly off my "to-read" list. I will, however, hopefully remember to double check everything that has her name attached to it.
May 8, 2012
So I'm not going to lie: I picked up this book because the male romantic hero has a hook for a hand AND he lost a tooth (while off the Barbary Coast, I think). I also had low expectations about how the author was going to pull this off without looking silly, so my motives were slightly cynical. But mostly it was the sheer novelty: usually if the main romantic lead has a physical flaw it's an old wound that gives him a bit of a limp or a rakish scar (that of course the lady in question doesn't notice as a flaw, per se).
So: HOOK FOR A HAND! MISSING TOOTH! I was crossing into a brave new world of romance here, people.
I'll also freely admit I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the story.
Sure, there are moments when the prose is a bit forced, and example being the bit telling the story about the old lady who died saying something like "I told you I was sick!" Come on, now. That was old when our great-grandparents were kids. So there are a few moments like that, but all in all, it's a pretty good read.
There's a rather colourful cast of characters who drop in and out -- the house the Admiral bought is one of them, having previously belonged to a now-deceased but legendary and rather debauched member of nobility.
I suppose if anything about this story made me slightly incredulous it was just how *good* these two people are supposed to be. I wasn't sure if they're over-the-top or if I'm just a bitter, bitter product of my times. But while their sheer do-goodery (in a totally non-Ned Flanders kind of way) racked up to slightly unlikely levels, it's somewhat tempered by somewhat unforgivable and jerk-ass (re)actions later on in the book when The Great Misunderstanding explodes in everyone's face.
Quick read, funny moments, though you'll probably want to set some people on fire at certain points in the novel.
So: HOOK FOR A HAND! MISSING TOOTH! I was crossing into a brave new world of romance here, people.
I'll also freely admit I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the story.
Sure, there are moments when the prose is a bit forced, and example being the bit telling the story about the old lady who died saying something like "I told you I was sick!" Come on, now. That was old when our great-grandparents were kids. So there are a few moments like that, but all in all, it's a pretty good read.
There's a rather colourful cast of characters who drop in and out -- the house the Admiral bought is one of them, having previously belonged to a now-deceased but legendary and rather debauched member of nobility.
I suppose if anything about this story made me slightly incredulous it was just how *good* these two people are supposed to be. I wasn't sure if they're over-the-top or if I'm just a bitter, bitter product of my times. But while their sheer do-goodery (in a totally non-Ned Flanders kind of way) racked up to slightly unlikely levels, it's somewhat tempered by somewhat unforgivable and jerk-ass (re)actions later on in the book when The Great Misunderstanding explodes in everyone's face.
Quick read, funny moments, though you'll probably want to set some people on fire at certain points in the novel.
August 27, 2021
All the stars for a wonderful story about 2 lonely people who agree to MOC. She's desperate, he's lonely and they are very careful with each other. Still, they make mistakes and it damages their budding relationship. The story and characters had depth, their situation was complex and there were some surprisingly steamy moments. Loved it. Perhaps my favourite book by this author.
March 3, 2019
A hasty MOC between 2 complete strangers, 45 yo recently retired Admiral and 32 yo impoverished widow, who lost her son and husband in tragic circumstances 5 years earlier. They were sweet (a bit too saccharine at times) and I do like the slowburn of their growing affection for one another. But the constant maudlin scenes! It was most wearisome after a while. He cries, she cries, staff cry, neighbours cry, most moved by the generosity of the newly wedded couple. The author then does a complete turnabout towards the end of the book. The Admiral went from placid, wise and affectionate husband to a raging, illogical and volatile monster after finding out the truth about her background, nearly killing her in his uncharacteristic moment of madness. Where the hell did that come from? He did realise his mistake very soon after and was ready to grovel afterwards. Hell, I was ready for a real good, satisfying grovel of the highest order, but unfortunately, the heroine didn't really give him any opportunity to do so. They just fell into each other's arms with a few words of professed love and then The End. I felt cheated!
"
And can we just settle on one name for the heroine? The author referred to her as Sally, then Sophia, then Sally, then Sophie while the hero called her Sophia, then Sophie. (Her real name was Sophia although she adopted the name Sally after her first husband's passing. ) The hero was quite disparaging towards his sisters and his initial planned MOC bride to be (who was a no-show) - not gentleman-like conduct. He also described her physical appearance to Leaky when she went missing but the two of them have already met face to face.
" And can we just settle on one name for the heroine? The author referred to her as Sally, then Sophia, then Sally, then Sophie while the hero called her Sophia, then Sophie. (Her real name was Sophia although she adopted the name Sally after her first husband's passing. ) The hero was quite disparaging towards his sisters and his initial planned MOC bride to be (who was a no-show) - not gentleman-like conduct. He also described her physical appearance to Leaky when she went missing but the two of them have already met face to face.
January 6, 2011
It's hard to write a review and do justice to this lovely, sweet story.
The hero and heroine are both wonderful people. They both deserve happiness and contentment. Neither of them is young, which i particularly appreciate, and they are both adrift, more-or-less outcasts, granted that the hero is a relatively wealthy outcast.
It would have been so easy to write a sickly sweet story, but it's so beautifully and simply written, that it just flows. Parts of it made me chuckle, parts of it made me sigh, parts of it even nearly made me cry a bit (that NEVER happens when I'm reading), but mainly it just made me read on The story unfolds at a measured, but not slow, pace, and, well, it's just a great book.
I love Carla Kelly's books. I like the way she writes about people who have had to work for a living, and do more than sipping tea and going for dress fittings in a historical setting. I particularly like her simple writing style.
5 stars, all-time-favorites list.
The hero and heroine are both wonderful people. They both deserve happiness and contentment. Neither of them is young, which i particularly appreciate, and they are both adrift, more-or-less outcasts, granted that the hero is a relatively wealthy outcast.
It would have been so easy to write a sickly sweet story, but it's so beautifully and simply written, that it just flows. Parts of it made me chuckle, parts of it made me sigh, parts of it even nearly made me cry a bit (that NEVER happens when I'm reading), but mainly it just made me read on The story unfolds at a measured, but not slow, pace, and, well, it's just a great book.
I love Carla Kelly's books. I like the way she writes about people who have had to work for a living, and do more than sipping tea and going for dress fittings in a historical setting. I particularly like her simple writing style.
5 stars, all-time-favorites list.
December 21, 2010
I loved this one. Very simple and sweet, but there is a lot of emotion. I was in tears different places in the book. I'm usually not a fan of the older hero, but this story worked out well.
July 26, 2024
wonderful marriage of convenience story, CK writes people falling in love so sweetly, I loved the physicality of the relationship, resting cheek to cheek, the way the admiral blew a kiss from his hook hand or “kissed the corners of her eyes where tears began to form”
October 5, 2011
This is a first read of this author for me, and what a pleasant surprise it was! This book broke out of the typical historical romance theme by giving us a slightly older (45 year old) hero who is also an upstanding Englishman, rather than the usual rake. We also see the heroine as slightly older than the norm at 32, but she was also a widow who was happily married with a child and not out looking for a man to save her although she was in desperate straits.
Admiral Sir Charles Bright sees Sally Paul, aka Sophia Daviess, while sitting in a tavern/restaurant waiting for the "mouse" who is to be his wife. The "mouse" is hours late and he realizes that he is relieved that she has gotten cold feet. He does believe though that he really needs a wife to stop his meddling older sisters who are trying to find a bride for him and decorating his new home. As he watches Sally, he can see that she is broke and probably desperate. Which in fact she is. She has just been turned from her new position as companion due to the fact the the old lady had died before she arrived there. The family of the woman turned her away without funds to travel back to Bath.
He finds a way to approach her and they have a nice long chat and seem to be very comfortable with each other. He is surprised that she is not repelled by his hook for his hand. He explains his situation and asks her to marry him.
I won't give more of this story away, it does have some of the usual blah blah in it, with Sally keeping a big stupid secret. But I loved the way they came to get to know each other and fall in love. I just LOVED the Admiral, he was just so darn sweet. They had this CRAZY house that was previously owned by some old pervert whose lecherous old friends and acquaintances would just pop in. I loved how they handled many of the situations they found themselves in. Sally was a bit too much of a weeper for me, but I was able to overlook that as her life was just so sad before she met Charles. Defiantly a keeper, re-read worthy for me!
Admiral Sir Charles Bright sees Sally Paul, aka Sophia Daviess, while sitting in a tavern/restaurant waiting for the "mouse" who is to be his wife. The "mouse" is hours late and he realizes that he is relieved that she has gotten cold feet. He does believe though that he really needs a wife to stop his meddling older sisters who are trying to find a bride for him and decorating his new home. As he watches Sally, he can see that she is broke and probably desperate. Which in fact she is. She has just been turned from her new position as companion due to the fact the the old lady had died before she arrived there. The family of the woman turned her away without funds to travel back to Bath.
He finds a way to approach her and they have a nice long chat and seem to be very comfortable with each other. He is surprised that she is not repelled by his hook for his hand. He explains his situation and asks her to marry him.
I won't give more of this story away, it does have some of the usual blah blah in it, with Sally keeping a big stupid secret. But I loved the way they came to get to know each other and fall in love. I just LOVED the Admiral, he was just so darn sweet. They had this CRAZY house that was previously owned by some old pervert whose lecherous old friends and acquaintances would just pop in. I loved how they handled many of the situations they found themselves in. Sally was a bit too much of a weeper for me, but I was able to overlook that as her life was just so sad before she met Charles. Defiantly a keeper, re-read worthy for me!
March 16, 2019
I enjoyed this one with a few, minor quibbles.
What worked for me:
1) An H who wasn't an amazingly beautiful and handsome specimen. The H of this story was not terribly tall, and he wasn't all that handsome to begin with.
2) Slightly older MCs. The H was in his 40s, 45, I think, and the h was in her mid-30s. They were immature, silly things, but were pretty good at communicating (until the black moment, that is).
3) The h didn't say yes to the H's proposal right away. I know that sounds strange, but I liked that she wasn't falling over herself with gratitude.
4) No OP drama. I could've done without the references to the H's shore leaves and whatnot. I had to keep in mind that he was in the Navy for over three decades. That thought doesn't make me happy, though, so I will try to avoid Carla Kelly's books that feature military/naval men.
5) The every day things that caused the MCs to fall in love slowly were lovely to read. There wasn't any insta-lust/love/attraction that made me scoff at their connection.
6) How hard the H .
7) How the MCs both tried to help out others. The people they chose to employ really warmed my heart.
Now onto the things that didn't work for me:
1) This story really needed a good grovel. The h really forgave the H far too easily.
2) There was no epilogue and I wanted to have a glimpse into their HEA.
Overall, I liked this book. The pacing was good and the MCs were both admirable and likable. As a general rule, I like Carla Kelly's books. I just need to scour the reviews and be a picky pooh about the ones I decide to read. :)
What worked for me:
1) An H who wasn't an amazingly beautiful and handsome specimen. The H of this story was not terribly tall, and he wasn't all that handsome to begin with.
2) Slightly older MCs. The H was in his 40s, 45, I think, and the h was in her mid-30s. They were immature, silly things, but were pretty good at communicating (until the black moment, that is).
3) The h didn't say yes to the H's proposal right away. I know that sounds strange, but I liked that she wasn't falling over herself with gratitude.
4) No OP drama. I could've done without the references to the H's shore leaves and whatnot. I had to keep in mind that he was in the Navy for over three decades. That thought doesn't make me happy, though, so I will try to avoid Carla Kelly's books that feature military/naval men.
5) The every day things that caused the MCs to fall in love slowly were lovely to read. There wasn't any insta-lust/love/attraction that made me scoff at their connection.
6) How hard the H .
7) How the MCs both tried to help out others. The people they chose to employ really warmed my heart.
Now onto the things that didn't work for me:
1) This story really needed a good grovel. The h really forgave the H far too easily.
2) There was no epilogue and I wanted to have a glimpse into their HEA.
Overall, I liked this book. The pacing was good and the MCs were both admirable and likable. As a general rule, I like Carla Kelly's books. I just need to scour the reviews and be a picky pooh about the ones I decide to read. :)
October 5, 2014
Okay, I have to write this review in two parts. (Both parts get five stars.)
The first, say, 75% of this book is just LOVELY. It's one of those marriage of conveniences, where both characters go in not really expecting it to be anything more, but are delighted to discover it IS more. Both characters are just WONDERFUL people. Caring and incredibly likable. I want to know them. I want to be like them.
And then the big thing that's kind of been lurking in the background is revealed and this book becomes painful to read. One of the most painful reading experiences I've had in a long time. And this is the one part of the book that I was a little unsure of it at first. I hadn't fully understand just how and why the thing was so bad, so when it was revealed, I wasn't prepared for the characters' intense reactions. But that was just a momentary reaction because I was so drawn into what was happening, it didn't matter.
And the ending was great, so, yes, a very solid five stars. You should all read this and I'm eager to read much, much more of the author. (Also, this is currently $2.99 for Kindle and, probably, the eBook retailer of your choice.)
One content/trigger warning:
The first, say, 75% of this book is just LOVELY. It's one of those marriage of conveniences, where both characters go in not really expecting it to be anything more, but are delighted to discover it IS more. Both characters are just WONDERFUL people. Caring and incredibly likable. I want to know them. I want to be like them.
And then the big thing that's kind of been lurking in the background is revealed and this book becomes painful to read. One of the most painful reading experiences I've had in a long time. And this is the one part of the book that I was a little unsure of it at first. I hadn't fully understand just how and why the thing was so bad, so when it was revealed, I wasn't prepared for the characters' intense reactions. But that was just a momentary reaction because I was so drawn into what was happening, it didn't matter.
And the ending was great, so, yes, a very solid five stars. You should all read this and I'm eager to read much, much more of the author. (Also, this is currently $2.99 for Kindle and, probably, the eBook retailer of your choice.)
One content/trigger warning:
July 4, 2021
So good. A lovely story.
May 16, 2023
This is one of the nicest, warmest romances I've read in a long while - the characters aren't perfect and have to come to terms with their decisions over the course of the book, but there's a good heart keeping everything moving forward. Was the conflict resolved a little too quickly? Yes, but I don't read romance novels for the conflict. I read them for the happy endings, which this amply provides.
Bonus points for including a Jewish family in a book set in 1816. We were there, and it's nice to see that acknowledged.
Bonus points for including a Jewish family in a book set in 1816. We were there, and it's nice to see that acknowledged.
August 27, 2020
Un matrimonio de conveniencia y dos personajes tan nobles y tiernos que me llegaron al corazón 💓. Este libro fue una historia muy dulce y ligera, ver como Charles y Sophia se van enamorando poco a poco de los detalles que el otro tiene, siempre tan respetuosos y lindos ❤️.
January 15, 2011
I can't believe there aren't more people raving about Carla Kelly; promoting her books to anyone who will listen. Since the very first Carla Kelly book I read (The Wedding Journey), I've never been disappointed. This book is no exception. I think the title is a bit hokey but I wonder if that is not the influence of the publisher.
What is it about Carla Kelly's books that puts most of them in my 5 star category? I think it is the fact that her books don't have pretensions, they don't generally have rich, handsome, beautiful, shallow people floating around, having useless, meaningless lives. There isn't usually a manufactured mystery, no evil villains lurking around waiting to create a thrill ride. Her books are real. Her heroes are men who have lived, suffered, persevered and usually turned out to be salt of the earth, compassionate, courageous, and humble. Pretty much everything I admire. Her heroines usually steady, mature and courageous. There are no simpering virgins swooning and waiting for some man to rescue them.
When I put picked the shelves for this book I included 'the human condition' because, first and foremost, what drives the story is humans and the human condition.
In this story a destitute woman enters into an alliance with a retired admiral in order to save them both from, what is to each of them, a different, but equally horrible fate. The story is about their journey into love. The evil villain of the piece is really the government and corruption in the Royal Navy. At the end of the day, they are powerless to change the wrongdoings of this powerful force in their lives but they manage to save each other and quite a few others beside.
What is it about Carla Kelly's books that puts most of them in my 5 star category? I think it is the fact that her books don't have pretensions, they don't generally have rich, handsome, beautiful, shallow people floating around, having useless, meaningless lives. There isn't usually a manufactured mystery, no evil villains lurking around waiting to create a thrill ride. Her books are real. Her heroes are men who have lived, suffered, persevered and usually turned out to be salt of the earth, compassionate, courageous, and humble. Pretty much everything I admire. Her heroines usually steady, mature and courageous. There are no simpering virgins swooning and waiting for some man to rescue them.
When I put picked the shelves for this book I included 'the human condition' because, first and foremost, what drives the story is humans and the human condition.
In this story a destitute woman enters into an alliance with a retired admiral in order to save them both from, what is to each of them, a different, but equally horrible fate. The story is about their journey into love. The evil villain of the piece is really the government and corruption in the Royal Navy. At the end of the day, they are powerless to change the wrongdoings of this powerful force in their lives but they manage to save each other and quite a few others beside.
March 2, 2011
3.5 rounded up for goodreads.
Carla Kelly's writing is fun to get lost in, which is saying something since I rarely read historical romances. She has an easy, flowing style that drew me in and held my interest. Her writing has a light touch, including enough detail without getting wordy and the right amount of dry humor in her characters. Charles and Sophie weren't perfect in form or character, but were warm and believable.
What holds this book back from being great is a weak plot. The outlines of a conflict are there, but most of the book concerns itself with events that illuminate the characters of our hero and heroine, but don't advance the plot in any significant way. The first third of the book deals with them meeting (which is marvelous) and the last third deals with the conflict (which is emotional and well-written). In the middle third we get somewhat disjointed, albeit interesting, vignettes involving neighbors, servants, and memoirs.
I'll definitely be searching for more books by this author based on the strength of her writing and her characters.
Carla Kelly's writing is fun to get lost in, which is saying something since I rarely read historical romances. She has an easy, flowing style that drew me in and held my interest. Her writing has a light touch, including enough detail without getting wordy and the right amount of dry humor in her characters. Charles and Sophie weren't perfect in form or character, but were warm and believable.
What holds this book back from being great is a weak plot. The outlines of a conflict are there, but most of the book concerns itself with events that illuminate the characters of our hero and heroine, but don't advance the plot in any significant way. The first third of the book deals with them meeting (which is marvelous) and the last third deals with the conflict (which is emotional and well-written). In the middle third we get somewhat disjointed, albeit interesting, vignettes involving neighbors, servants, and memoirs.
I'll definitely be searching for more books by this author based on the strength of her writing and her characters.
September 6, 2015
This book is compelling in its characterization and plot but the love story is like watching a flower unfurl in slow motions--utterly stunning.
Kelly, always, writes with such finesse and historical truth while never losing sight of the utter humanity of the individual lives of the smallest of characters in her book.
Here we have a heroine who knows what it is to hungry, a plain hero whose soul is large and a happily ever after we can believe in.
This is simply a stellar read. Heartbreaking and heartwarming but always clear sighted and filled with empathy.
I love it and hope you will as well.
Kelly, always, writes with such finesse and historical truth while never losing sight of the utter humanity of the individual lives of the smallest of characters in her book.
Here we have a heroine who knows what it is to hungry, a plain hero whose soul is large and a happily ever after we can believe in.
This is simply a stellar read. Heartbreaking and heartwarming but always clear sighted and filled with empathy.
I love it and hope you will as well.
November 20, 2016
I didn't dislike the book, but can't say I liked it very much... I feel Charles and Sophie both fell in love with each other very quickly. Without the paperweight scene, Overall book was ok. There are two things I didn't like about this book. Firstly, Charles was angry ok, I get it, but throwing paperweight is not a good idea. Maybe the paperweight was not meant for Sophie but it could have hurt Sophie cause it was close. Secondly, I felt bad cause the truth never came out. But I Also liked the fact that at the end, Sophie and Charles both didn't care about the past, truth and what society would think of themselves all that matter is they are together.
November 11, 2021
Posso dire con assoluta certezza che questo libro farà parte della mia collezione di coperte di Linus, uno di quelli che non mi stancherò mai di leggere e rileggere, soprattutto dopo aver infilato una serie negativa di letture.
Scritto bene e molto scorrevole, con una buona caratterizzazione dei protagonisti, a mio avviso molto realistica rispetto a tanti altri romance. Una coppia un po' fuori dai soliti schemi del genere, e per questo ancora di più apprezzata.
Assolutamente promosso.
Scritto bene e molto scorrevole, con una buona caratterizzazione dei protagonisti, a mio avviso molto realistica rispetto a tanti altri romance. Una coppia un po' fuori dai soliti schemi del genere, e per questo ancora di più apprezzata.
Assolutamente promosso.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 358 reviews