Wednesday, March 10, 2021

A Captain for Caroline Gray by Julie Wright (Blog Tour)



Join the virtual blog tour of A CAPTAIN FOR CAROLINE GRAY (Proper Romance Regency), Julie Wright’s highly acclaimed historical romance novel March 1 – 28, 2021. Over forty popular blogs specializing in historical romance, inspirational fiction, and Austenesque fiction will join in the celebration of its release with excerpts, spotlights, and reviews of this new Regency-era novel set aboard an English ship bound for India.

Caroline Gray is an educated woman with a lot of opinions.  Although her parents raised her this way, it is not appreciated in regency England.  Caroline has been out for many seasons but has not been able to find a match.  With her father’s death, her male cousin has inherited the estate.  He is now taking possession with his new bride and Caroline will be homeless.  At this time, she meets Mrs. Barritt who feels she will be a perfect bride for her son, Captain Barritt.  She pays for half a ticket for Caroline to sail to India to meet her son to see if they will suit.  If the match does not work, Caroline will not afford to be able to return to England.

Captain Thomas Scott does not like ferrying young English women to India to find husbands.  He feels that often the women do not know what they are getting into and end up with morally corrupt husbands.  He tries to keep his distance from these women, but he is surprised to find that he is captivated by Miss Gray.  Her wit and lively conversation intrigue him. He does not want a wilting lily for a wife.  Will Captain Scott propose to Miss Gray?  What about Captain Barritt?

I enjoyed this novel and read it quickly.  I really enjoyed the unique regency setting of having it mostly take place on the journey to India.  Jane Austen’s aunt was a “Fishing Fleet” member herself; she went to India to find herself a husband.  In a time where finding a husband was the only way for a woman to economically survive, it makes sense, although it is sad to think about.  I enjoyed the chemistry between Captain Scott and Miss Gray.  I also liked the theme of forgiveness and of telling the truth.  I thought the time in India was interesting as well, especially the exploration into the prejudices of the time.  My only complaint is that I thought the ending was a bit rushed and wish there could have been more explanation of the climax. 

Favorite Quotes:

“But that does not mean that all the skies of a country are void of clouds just because on person happens to be blind to them.  A world of absolutes would be a colorless dreary place, would it not?”

“Why should I not invite a well-informed woman to a conversation where her intelligence would be appreciated?”

Overall, A Captain for Caroline Gray is a unique regency romance that was truly enjoyable.  I highly recommend this novel.

Book Source:  Review Copy from Shadow Mountain Press for being a part of the Blog Tour.  Thank-you!


QUICK FACTS

·       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

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

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?

 

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 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


BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE  

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)

 

PURCHASE LINKS

 

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSHOP

| DESERET BOOK | GOODREADS


1 comment:

  1. Romance and Regency, whats not to like? Thanks for the post.

    ReplyDelete