I read this over two days. What a delightful story. At first, I wasn't sure if I would like as much as the previous book I read by Julie Wright. But I think I may love this one a little more. Even the kissing scenes were delightfully written! I do wish I hadn't let this one sit in my TBR pile for as long as I did.


I'm really grateful for the ARC copy I received from Shadow Mountain (despite my delay in posting a review.) Keep up with the wonderful clean stories.

This was a nice, clean historical romance. The main character, Caroline Gray, is a woman who has had trouble finding a match in the London marriage mart because of her intelligence and her inability to keep her opinions to herself. She sets off for India, hoping to find a match there where women are few but finds love along the way.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. Highly recommend. The cover is beautiful.

Fun, enchanting and filled with adventure . . . Sometimes too much adventure for some of the characters. I adored Caroline and Thomas. We can't forget about Tom (little Tom) either as he holds his own anchoring spot in this story. To have the courage to leave everything you know behind in order to secure a future is something that Caroline has in spades. Thomas loves the sea but it's not his deepest dream. I enjoyed reading about all the wonderful characters and to watch those characters bring this story as a whole together.

After three unsuccessful seasons Caroline Gray is forced to consider engagement with a man she's never met in India. But on her journey she meets a man who admires and appreciates the qualities that have turned away suitors in the past. But does their newfound love have a chance?

Caroline is a intelligent, independent, and compassionate woman who is is happily herself, though that has left her without a husband after a number of seasons. I liked how she stands up for herself and others while on the ship, befriending a young boy named Tom.

Captain Scott is drawn to Miss Gray, a woman unlike any that he has ever met. She isn't afraid to challenge him, yet is full of compassion and fire. He is used to transporting single women to India who are in search of husbands, and he knows that the Englishmen in India have much to be desired by way of character.

This was a quick read, Caroline is a likeable heroine from the start and I liked how she doesn't let herself be bullied by the other women. I thought that this book had a unique premise, and I liked the setting. An enjoyable period romance, though I wondered if the ending could have sorted itself out quicker.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I apologize for my late review of this book.

This was a fun and unique regency in that most of it took place on a ship headed for India. Caroline is a bluestocking, which was often termed as something negative. But really she is just incredibly curious and smart and also has a huge heart and a desire to be loved. Thomas is a good and honest man and their attraction is pretty instant with certain obstacles to overcome. I enjoyed the story but must admit it was a little too predictable for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the eARC. All reviews are my own.

A Captain for Caroline Gray is a well written book with strong lead characters placed in a different and interesting setting that I could not have loved more.

In this novel we are introduced to Caroline Gray, a witty young woman who takes interest in many things that are not usually discussed among society ladies. This characteristic makes her a bluestocking in the eyes of society, and after several seasons without any success in attracting a man who is not afraid or disgusted with her intellect, she is faced with a terrible situation. Her late fathers estate is entailed to a distant cousin who has recently married, which means both she and her mother need to vacate their home. Without anywhere to go, or relatives able to assist both her and her mother, she accepts a proposal made to her by an acquaintance. She will pay for Caroline’s trip to India if Caroline accepts to have dinner with her son who is stationed there. The purpose is obviously for Caroline to marry him, but she is not obliged to do so if she doesn’t like the gentleman. This is not a prospect that pleases an independent mind like Caroline, but without any other options in front of her, she has to accept that travelling to India may be the only chance she has to get married and not be a burden to her family.

Aboard the HMS Persistence, Caroline Gray meets several ladies who are also travelling to India with hopes of finding husbands, and many different crew members, but the most memorable one is Captain Scott.

Captain Scott is the perfect romantic hero. He is strong, intelligent, honorable and is not afraid of a lady who can think and speak her mind, so when Miss Caroline Gray starts speaking, unlike the other man she has met until that moment, he is fascinated by her.

When the growing attraction and affection between Caroline Gray and Captain Scott can no longer be denied, what will she do about the Captain waiting for her in India?

I loved everything about this book, but I believe I can sum it up to : the writing; the characters and the setting.

The writing of this book is enticing and addictive. Once I started reading this story I could not put it down. The pace of the novel is ideal with a perfect balance of page time between the secondary characters and the main ones, with some adventure and small problems being intertwined with romantic scenes, and the intensity of the romance and dialogues between Caroline and Captain Gray is prodigious. I kept highlighting passages of this book, and during chapter 17 I literally held my breath because I was afraid that even my own breathing would interfere with the intense and overwhelming moment I was witnessing. I felt transported into Persistence and even if for a long time the story takes place in a ship, I never felt the narrative was taking place in a confined space. There were always different things happening in the ship and many different places inside it to where the author takes us to making it always an adventure. I kept imagining where Caroline would go next to make her drawings. This was the first book I’ve read from Julie Wright, but I am now convinced I must read more of her works.

The main characters are both perfect! If you love Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, you will love Caroline Gray and Captain Thomas Scott. She is intelligent, interesting and outspoken, and he is honorable, blunt and with a strength of character that is charming. I loved them both and they seem to me like the perfect romantic couple. The secondary characters were also very interesting and definitely a plus to the story. From the ladies travelling on the Persistence to Lieutenant Peterson, Black and young Tom, I never felt they were less important in the progression of the story, and they all played important parts in it.

The setting was also something I adored because this ship is not the usual military ship I am used to seeing in regency stories, so we are able to see different interactions between characters during the dinner time and to visit many places we don’t usually see in ships. But the story also moves along to India, and it was also very nice to see the author characterize Mumbai and its inhabitants. That was something completely new to me and I loved it very much, even if it was not a big part of the book.

Summing up, A Captain for Caroline Gray is a novel that should not be missed! Its characters are unforgettable, the romance is intense and captivating, and the plot is full of adventures. The only quibble I had with this book was that the ending scene seemed a bit abrupt and I would have liked to either see it extended or to have an epilogue giving us more insight into the lives of Caroline, Captain Scott and even young Tom. Nevertheless, this is a book I highly recommend to everyone!

I have so much love for this wonderful romance! It was simple, sweet, and purely enjoyable from start to finish and encompassed everything great about regency romances! A loveable heroine and compelling characters, a lighthearted, engaging plot, and that addicting regency vibe. It really was the perfect romance and I loved the themes along with it of courage and being true to/embracing exactly who you are.

Surprisingly enough, one of my favorite things about the story was its setting. I really enjoyed how most of it took place on a ship and the unique dynamic and perspective that added to the story. It all felt fresh and original, which was a huge win in my book (no pun intended).

A Captain for Caroline Gray gets all the stars from me and is one I highly recommend for any and all romance lovers!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for the gifted e-copy!

This is the first book by this author and I was impressed. The book is captivating because of a woman being sassy and speaks her mind at a time when it was not polite. A man looking for a woman who is different than the regular polite woman. This book takes off and keeps your interest. This well-written, historical romance novel held my attention from start to finish, largely due to Caroline, an intelligent, plucky, young woman who finds herself in need of a husband and unable to live within society’s expectations for women. I loved her passion and wit as well as her personal journey throughout the story Caroline is a bluestocking. That just means that she was not the normal Regency period woman, who just wanted to gossip and talk about clothes and hair. She was interested in science and in keeping herself knowledgeable about the world around her. But…that made it hard for her to find a man who would accept her. And as she gets to the end of her third season, her cousin gets engaged. The laws of the time saying that only men could inherit must have seemed so confining. They left women like Caroline no options, but to get married to support themselves. That’s why she headed for India. The ship captain was Thomas Scott. He knew the reputation of most of the English men in India. And he tried to warn the ladies that were headed there. But his warnings fell on deaf ears. I really liked him. He worked to keep his crew and passengers safe from the crazy sea. He was human, like everyone else, and sometimes he made mistakes. But he was an inherently good man.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC

I really enjoyed this story. It showed an interesting insight into what a "spinster" might be up against. The characters were well drawn, the story was unique (or, as unique as a romance can be) and the ending was worth getting to. A fun read!

I thought this was an enjoyable (albeit predictable) proper romance. This is my first book of Wright's to read, and I certainly want to read future works of hers. I appreciate the characters being well-developed, the clean and good writing, the setting, and the "bow on top" ending. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read and review it!

Caroline has had three very unsuccessful seasons and is left with no choice but to sail to India in hopes that she’ll snag a husband there. She doesn’t want this but being a woman in those times often had them doing things they didn’t want.

Thomas has been saving for his own fleet and in doing so he makes this three month trip to India every year. He sees all type of women who hope to find a better life and it makes him sad to think that this is a last resort for many of them. India is not a safe place for gentle bred women. But the money is good, so he continues to do so.

This trip is different however. Thomas meets Caroline and his world is flipped. He’s never felt anything for the girls he’s traveled with before but there’s something about her spirit that draws him. He has a plan for his life and she doesn’t fit in it so he tries to stay away and force himself to stick to the job. But life has a funny way of messing things up.

Caroline isn’t your typical genteel woman which is why she’s here and why she has a harder time making friends. So she sticks by the captain. Even if it kills him.

Soon innocent feelings start to blossom and they both know what her plans are once she arrives in India but again, life happens...

This was a sweet romance to watch unfold. I get so bad for those girls who were made to travel in hopes of finding their HEAs. You know that some didn’t work out for the better but thankfully this one did.

This was a first Regency novel from Julie Wright for me and I really enjoyed it, just like all her other books. With a good portion of the story being on a ship you wonder where it can really go, but Wright did such a wonderful job writing a story that was interesting, heartwarming and all together a great story.

The characters were so different, yet complimented each other so well. Caroline is a woman I think we've all related to at times, especially where she gets uncertain about life, and what she is meant to do. But also who we aspire to be. Captain Scott is all the gruff and kind one could want in a guy. They both have a lot to work through personally, but that helps them to grow even more. In many ways it helps them build a stronger relationship.

This was a delightful story, loved the setting, characters and lessons learned. Great read when you want to just sit, relax and read a proper romance.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own

I love Julie’s book. Let talk about her beautiful cover on this book. It’s it great? It would be so hard to be a woman during this time I history. It would be hard to have to live on a boat as well. I really en this book.

Carolyn Gray has had three London Seasons, all of which ended without a marriage proposal or even a request to be courted. She's a well educated young woman who has her own opinions, and isn't shy about sharing them. Her family can't afford another Season so she boards the ship HMS Persistenceto go to India to meet the son of a family friend, a Captain Barritt. Carolyn is told by his mother that she only has to have dinner with him.

Thomas Scott is the captain of the HMS Persistence, a Fishing Fleet ship, that takes young women to India to find husbands. Captain Scott loves the sea but not the trips transporting these young women to India. He doesn't understand how families can allow their young ladies to go so far away to marry men they've never met. Thomas likes that Carolyn is different than the other young women, and they become friends when her outspokenness causes the other women on the ship to shun her.

Captain Scott isn't the only one who doesn't understand how a family could let their daughters take a 3 month journey to marry someone they don't know, knowing they would probably never see their daughter again. I'd never heard of such a thing as a Fishing Fleet until I read about this book and how the author got the idea for it.

I liked that Carolyn's parents raised her to be inquisitive and think for herself, although it's those qualities that made it hard for her to find suitors. No man wants a wife who challenges his opinion or who may be smarter than himself. I liked that her drawing/sketching helped her make friends on the ship, and that she befriended the people that ladies of Society wouldn't have.

I loved the banter between Carolyn and Captain Gray--some of it made me laugh out loud. There were a couple of twists and turns in the story that had me worried if Carolyn and Thomas would get together. This was quite the enjoyable read with most of it taking place on the ship as it journeyed to India.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher Shadow Mountain via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I read books like this and my heart really goes out to the women of history. The struggles they faced, especially in relation to their finances and living arrangements and not marrying right away. Wow!

Caroline finds herself with no finances, a cousin inheriting, her father dead, her mother with no other options except to send her to India to try and find a husband. With a small arrangement she sets off with trepidation. But she's smart and curious and full of life that I loved her tenacity.

She finds many adventures on board the ship and interacts with several other ladies setting out for the same fate. Although these ladies definitely added some less than stellar interactions on their journey.

She finds her heart turning towards the captain but there are plenty of ups and downs for them. My heart ached again for her and hoped that she would find her happiness and some sort of security for the future.

It was an enjoyable read and definitely had me feeling very grateful for my circumstances. If you're looking for a great read with plenty of history, especially in regards to the ship voyages to India and matchmaking, take a chance on this one.

Content: Clean.

I received a copy from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

I enjoyed this book! As a proper romance I knew it would check my clean box but it was so much more!

Caroline Gray, beautiful, intelligent and out spoken, has had 3 unsuccessful seasons when she and her mother must leave their home in order to allow her cousin, who inherited it when her father died, to move in with his wife. With no one to take her in and an offer of courtship from a doting Mother- Caroline boards a ship and heads to India to meet an army captain who could become her husband. Several other women and men are also on board, hoping to find marriage and work in India.

The Captain of the ship, Thomas Scott, makes no pretense to agree with women seeking marriages in India. He views most men there as ungentlmanly. Through the course of the voyage, he comes to know all the passengers but finds himself drawn to the obviously intelligent Caroline. But when he discovers she has previous arrangements of courtship in India he shuns those feelings and the lady he has come to know.

The many characters kept the story interesting! The end did feel a little rushed but overall this story was fantastic! Highly recommend for any who enjoy a proper romance...on the high seas.

I received a complementary ebook from netgalle and the publisher. All thoughts are my own.

Romance, clean, period; adventure
Caroline Gray's journey to India muddles her emotions as she gets to know the captain of the ship she is traveling on, Captain Thomas Scott. Her emotions start to engage with him, instead of waiting to meet the Captain Barritt in India who she is traveling to meet. The society and drama onboard the ship, the society, expectations, and new culture in India along with the subterfuge, made for a wonderful read.
She and Captain Scott engage each other's hearts as they get to know one another on the journey, and interact and see and get to know their characters and dispositions. The side characters only emphasize their character and integrity. The sweet romance between them, not quite knowing exactly how it is, and not recognizing it until they are separated, was well written. Just the every day that lets you see someones character and disposition, and the simple moments in contrast with those who are on board the ship, and some who they meet in India.
A lovely, sweet romance, with a dash of intrigue and excitement at the end.

This story was of a refreshing romance set at sea. I really liked the independent Caroline and thought her to be very spirited. It was enjoyable to see her relationship withCaptain Scott develop.
Many thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’ve read and enjoyed all of Julie Wright’s contemporary novels, so a historical romance was a must-read. And a delightful escape, it was.

Caroline is intelligent and inquisitive—two things society looks down upon in a woman, but that a Captain Scott can’t help but admire. Most of the journey to India takes place with the captain and Caroline either misunderstanding or avoiding the other, but things do come together.
And then they fall apart on their approach to India. But the story doesn’t end there. Nope, instead, the plot ramps up with some danger.

For all of the hardships the two had to reach their HEA, I would have liked to spend more time with them in that phase, but overall A Captain for Caroline Gray was another great read from Wright with a different setting for a regency romance.


Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.