Marrying the Captain by Carla Kelly
I love Carla Kelly's books and always buy them new. I'm sure she's as delightful and nice as her books. She has a picture of herself in the back of the book and it's refreshing. I don't think she's wearing any makeup, her eyebrows aren't plucked to a fare-thee-well, and she isn't wearing glamour clothes. She looks like the mom-next-door, someone secure enough to have a Real Picture of herself in her books. Someone sweet and delightful to have lunch with.
This is the story of Oliver Worthy, the captain of a ship during the Napoleonic wars. After reporting in after his last trip, he is asked by his superior in London, Lord Ratliffe, to stay at the Mulberry Inn while his ship is being repaired. Ratliffe's bastard daughter is living tthere and he hasn't heard from her in years since she inexplicably ran away from school. He wants a report on her welfare.
The Mulberry Inn hasn't had a customer in 6 months and their financial situation is dire. They're down to eating toast for their only meal, so the Captain's patronage is a godsend. Captain Worthy becomes sick on his way from London to Portsmouth, and in spite of being very sick, is attracted to Nana, the bastard daughter.
They reluctantly fall in love. He's vowed never to marry because he does not want his wife to suffer his absences or to endure grief if he dies. She knows that as a bastard, she's unworthy of being the wife of a "gentleman". Of course, there's a bit more to the plot (spies! trickery! betrayal!) but that's not the point of the book. The romance is and there are many satisfying scenes between the two.
Definitely Recommended.
This is the story of Oliver Worthy, the captain of a ship during the Napoleonic wars. After reporting in after his last trip, he is asked by his superior in London, Lord Ratliffe, to stay at the Mulberry Inn while his ship is being repaired. Ratliffe's bastard daughter is living tthere and he hasn't heard from her in years since she inexplicably ran away from school. He wants a report on her welfare.
The Mulberry Inn hasn't had a customer in 6 months and their financial situation is dire. They're down to eating toast for their only meal, so the Captain's patronage is a godsend. Captain Worthy becomes sick on his way from London to Portsmouth, and in spite of being very sick, is attracted to Nana, the bastard daughter.
They reluctantly fall in love. He's vowed never to marry because he does not want his wife to suffer his absences or to endure grief if he dies. She knows that as a bastard, she's unworthy of being the wife of a "gentleman". Of course, there's a bit more to the plot (spies! trickery! betrayal!) but that's not the point of the book. The romance is and there are many satisfying scenes between the two.
Definitely Recommended.