In a time period where it was socially looked down upon to have women hold opinions on topics such politics and business- enter Caroline Gray.
Her character was curious and intelligent without being overbearing. She met her equal in Captain Thomas Scott, who encouraged and challenged her as an equal.
I liked reading about life aboard a ship. About the traditions of the time, and the romance that developed between two people who weren’t looking for it. This was a light and easy read- predictable at times, but overall I enjoyed the book.

I have read several books by Julie Wright and this one did not disappoint. I enjoyed this Regency story with it's interesting twists and turns. It truly showed the snarky side to those uppity women of the time and the influence they had over others. It also showed how opinions of what is going on is skewed by not having all the information. I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Huge thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain.

Too headstrong and opinionated to “take” during her seasons in London, Caroline is doomed to a life of penury. When a gauche couple suggests that they help pay her passage to India so she can be introduced to their son, a military captain, as a potential bride, Caroline agrees out of desperation. While on board the ship, Caroline continues to make enemies among the gentler sex with her forthright conversation.

The ship’s captain, Thomas Scott, despises the fishing fleet of ladies bound for India in search of scoundrels of husbands. Miss Caroline Gray seems…different, however, and he can’t help defending her to the others when she gets into hot water with her bold opinions. As the attraction grows between them, they both must face the question of whether their relationship will continue beyond this one sea voyage.

This unusual Regency had strong and memorable main characters. Caroline’s feminism does get a little grating at times, but her plight is something to sympathize with. The plot does suffer from a misunderstanding that could have been solved by an honest conversation. Instead, the hero is left to languish in mistrust of Caroline until the over-the-top villain plotting a mutiny/revenge serves his purpose by throwing the sundered couple together at the end.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

First Initial Thoughts

We start the novel with Caroline entering her third season. No marriage prospects as of yet and her family just doesn’t know what to do. Caroline is viewed as outspoken and opinionated. Many prospects have disapproved of her behavior. When she can no longer stay with her family she is forced to a decision that will forever change her life. She must board a ship to India to secure a possible husband. On the ship, she meets Captain Thomas Scott. At first, she is attracted but thinks that he will never accept her for who she is - as many men have in the past. I liked Caroline. I felt like she didn’t want to just marry any man. She wanted to marry someone she could love, and have that person love her for who she is.

Captain Thomas Scott is a young captain and loves his life on the sea. He has no desire to marry because he believes that his career is just hitting off and he doesn’t want to marry just yet. Then he meets Caroline. Something about her just catches his eye. He also doesn’t judge Caroline for her opinions. He likes that she is bold and isn’t afraid to speak her opinion.

Will their love be able to overcome the difficulties once ashore in India?

Setting

2/3 Of the book is set on the ship, Persistence. The last few pages are set in Mumbai, India. The one reason I had to give the story 4.5 stars is that the ship felt like it was a little too luxurious. Throughout the book, I felt like it was believed that the people aboard the ship didn’t suffer the typical ailments of riding the seas (for that time period). However, I do have to say that Julie made the boat, Persistence seem very nice! Julie also brought early 19th century Mumbai to life!

Final Thoughts

The romance between Caroline and Thomas was so sweet. I found it funny that both were holding back in their feelings because they both thought the other person didn’t feel that way. I think Caroline needed to meet a person who fully accepted her for who she was. She was not afraid to speak her opinions but always felt that her mouth got her in trouble sometimes. While I do agree that some things are better left unsaid, I do feel like her opinions were worth speaking.

The time on the ship was interesting as well. I found it interesting that women during this time would sail to India to find husbands. I am not sure why this was an ideal place to look. As I imagine was quite remote. Speaking of remote, I felt for Caroline and her family. She had to leave her family and all she knew back in England. She was most likely never going to see them again. I couldn’t imagine saying goodbye to your family knowing that you may never see them again. That must of took a lot of courage on her part!

Most of the book was set aboard the ship. The last few pages took place in India. Now India is on my top 5 list to visit next. I have always wanted to go there to experience all the rich colors, culture, and food. And this book did not disappoint on that front. I was not aware that the English were already occupying India at this time. It was interesting to learn more about India during this time period and all the trading that went on.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it!

A Captain for Caroline Gray is an entertaining Regency romance about a bluestocking and a sea captain. Most of the story takes place on Captain Thomas Scott's ship.

Caroline Gray is a beautiful intelligent woman who scares away potential husbands when she boldly speaks her opinions on politics and most topics that genteel women do not engage in. Because of her family situation, Caroline must marry or be destitute. She, therefore, feels she has no good option but to accept a proposition to meet the son of a family friend in India for the possibility of marriage. However, during her three-month journey, she begins to have feelings for Thomas, the captain of the ship. And he begins to have feelings for her until his pride gets stung over a misunderstanding and threatens to separate the duo for good.

This was a fun quick read. It's a clean romance with adventure and witty dialogue. I liked Caroline and Thomas, but I wanted to shake Thomas a few times for his immature behavior. This was the first time I heard about the Fishing Fleet women who left their homes in hopes of finding a husband among the British officers in India. I thought this made for an interesting backdrop to the story.

I enjoyed this Proper Romance story and recommend it to fans of clean Regency romances who enjoy adventurous stories on the high seas.

Some aspects of Regency life in England baffle me. Well, probably many, but one in particular that comes to mind is the concept of entailment. Which basically leaves an unmarried daughter at the mercy of any relative who might have the means to support her when her father died - the property he owned going instead to a more distant male relative. You can read a little more about it here if you are interested.

When her beloved father died, Caroline was left at the mercy of the cousin who inherited her father's entailed property. Left with no recourse and with no marriage prospects due to her bluestocking tendencies, she accepted an offer to sail to India to meet Captain Barritt, dine with him a few times, and consider an offer of marriage if it was forthcoming. It is hard to imagine the courage it would have taken to get on a ship and sail to an unknown country to start a new life, let alone one with a culture so foreign. And at a time when communication was so poor and the chances of being able to return to your home country were slim to none. Author Julie Wright made these considerations and fears come to light quite clearly as Caroline struggled with this decision.

My heart went out to Caroline for the struggle she faced as she tried to reinvent herself so as not to be shunned by the small society on the ship. And failed miserably! The pain she experienced over not being good enough the way she was naturally was palpable. Making the kindness she returned to those who were not kind to her more admirable. Her daring rescue in dangerous circumstances was only one example. I loved the way she befriended the various members of the crew on the ship as well, and how young Tom (no relation to the captain) sought her out in his time of need.

Captain Thomas Scott - was a fun character. He was so conflicted over the path he had set for himself in life and the attraction he felt for Caroline as he saw her intelligence and ability to speak her mind so clearly. He ended up being his own worst enemy as he tried so hard to not fall for her that he made her feel repulsed.

Mostly a story of the growing relationship between Caroline and Thomas, A Captain for Caroline Gray also presented a picture of a six-month journey at sea (the reading not at all as tedious as the journey would have been!), and some of the difficulties encountered along the way. I greatly enjoyed the glimpses of India as well and would have been found right there with Caroline in the markets, asking question after question of my guide, learning all I could of the fascinating and colorful culture.

If you enjoy historical romance, A Captain for Caroline Gray would make a great addition to your library!

A Captain for Caroline Gray is a historical romance that will rock your boat and sweep you off your feet.
Caroline Gray is a smart, single woman who has to leave London for India to meet her potential husband. Though this is not what she intended for her life, she knows this is the best thing for her mother and ultimately her future.
The voyage to India becomes a rocky one for Caroline between snobbish co-travelers, storms, and the handsome Captain Scott whom she argues with and fights her feelings for. Eventually, the two give in to their feelings and begin to entertain a relationship, yet it becomes cut short after the Captain learns of the reason why Caroline is on his ship.
Once to India, the two go their separate ways only to wonder about the other, and eventually see each other at social gatherings. Unfortunately, their pride and commitments keep them from telling each other their true feelings. Will they ever let go of their foolishness and give in to love?
This book is romantic, action-packed and sweet. Definitely a book that will make your heart skip a beat.
(I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.)

This book has a very creative story. Normally, I do not like stories where the heroine has to travel, but this book was different. The heroine has had many seasons and is close to being on the shelf. Her father passed away and they are living in the house of the heir. The heir has just became engaged and will be moving in. The heroine's mother can live with her sister, but the heroine has no choice but to look to get married. But the heroine and her sister we raised by their father to be smart and study and be able.to hold a political option. Nobody wants a smart wife, it seems. But since the heroine is pretty, a mother is willing to send the heroine to India to see if her son would be interested in an English wife. So our heroine packs up and leaves for India with other young ladies in the same position. The hero has always had a few young ladies to transport to India for 'arranged marriages'. He is the captain of the boat and he is rarely attracted to any of the ladies until he speaks to the heroine.
He tries not to show any interest, but he can't seem to stop himself.
This story was very well written and while it seemed long, the author had to write about a 3 month voyage. I think she did a marvelous job and I read the book. I liked the creativity of the story and the flow of the book. It was informative about the time period and setting. There was action and some danger. I liked that the heroine helped the little boy in the kitchen. It gave another dimension about life of the everyday person. I give this a recommendation to read with 5 stars.

When Caroline Gray finds herself onboard the Persistence bound for India knowing that she will never see her mother and sister again, she wishes she had gone against her nature and flirted, simpered and used other feminine wiles to catch a husband during her many London seasons. However, being a sensible young lady, she knows that would only lead to unhappiness for both parties; it is much better to be one's self.

Although ferrying the Fishing Fleet to India is a very lucrative business, Captain Thomas Scott, commander of the Persistence, has a very low opinion of the families that send their daughters far from home to marry complete strangers. His opinion is even lower of the type of English gentleman that await them.

When Thomas meets Caroline, he is surprised but entertained by her unconventional behaviour. While he finds it refreshing, Caroline is criticised and shunned by the other female passengers. She spends much of her time alone, exploring the ship and endearing herself to the crew by engaging them in conversation and gifting them with sketches of themselves. She also befriends the cook's apprentice, who has a fascination for the ratlines and a head for heights even though he's only eight years old.

Complications arise on the voyage when Caroline realises she has fallen in love with Thomas, but is unsure of his feelings towards her. What she takes as Thomas' rejection is only his means of ensuring she comes under no more criticism from the other passengers. Convinced that her behaviour has alienated him, she tries to be like the other young ladies. This confuses Thomas and causes some heartache as he watches the woman he has come to know and love grow silent and unhappy.

This is a lovely light read that had me entranced from the start. It was easy to champion Caroline, who refused to kowtow to society's expectations, but blames no-one but herself for the future that awaits her in India. Her honesty, bravery, compassion and self-doubt made her very likable. I liked Thomas, too, although I thought he was a little harsh and unreasonable at times, especially when he accused Caroline of deceit without giving her a chance to explain.

The shipboard setting made an interesting change from the usual ones found in Regency romances. I did feel that life on board a 19th century ship would be a little rougher than portrayed, but there were plenty of nautical details to give authenticity.

Caroline's fellow passengers, the officers and crew of the ship were a colourful group, each one fully fleshed so that it was very easy to like or dislike them. There was one particular character I disliked but had a new found respect for by the end of the story.

A Captain for Caroline Gray is a heartwarming and entertaining romance which I'm happy to recommend.

I loved this heartfelt story. The characters were well written and the story was so engaging. I loved it!

I really enjoyed this book by Julie Wright. I liked the characters and I loved their interactions with each other. I loved how perfect for each other Caroline and Thomas are for each other and how neither one of them was looking for love but find it with each other. i also liked that their path to love wasn’t easier. I liked how they had to overcome different feelings and beliefs in order to be together. I also thought it was neat that most of the story was set while they were at sea. Overall, I thought this was a good book.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

4.5 stars! It took a little while for me to get into the story, but once I was in, I couldn't quit it. Oh my word.

Caroline and Thomas are a bit like Elizabeth and Darcy--infuriating when they're bent on misunderstanding one another, but so lovely when they're together. You can't help but root for them, even when they're being ridiculous.

High stakes. High tension. High emotions. It all makes for a fascinating ride and I genuinely enjoyed it. Fans of historical romance with all the sparks will adore this read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All expressed opinions belong to me.

What an adventure! I admired Caroline's curiosity and intelligence, and the way she stayed true to herself. The struggle to concede to society's expectations or let her voice be heard is one that she lived every day on the ship. She butts heads with Captain Scott several times, and over their journey they each learn to look past their initial assumptions to see the deeper person within. They are both such strong personalities, and have their own hidden issues influencing their actions and decisions. Miscommunication, pride, and self-doubt derail their tender and fragile love before it even has a chance to fully blossom, and I wish there were more pages of their happiness together. Rather, it was a thin layer between their animosity and emotional separation. I was glad that the story continued as they landed in India, and the plot thickened as other dangerous elements came into play. Overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to fans who like Regency stories with an unusual setting.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

While I enjoyed the book personally, I teach 7th grade, so it is not a book I think they would enjoy.

Caroline Gray loved learning (science, particularly) and earnest conversation too much, and it cost her dearly. She spent too little effort minding the ton's expectations during her seasons, and she ran out of time. What now? When an opportunity presents itself - to journey to India and seek love there - she relents, but only because she has no other respectable choice.

What a story. Julie Wright has such a way with words and I have immensely enjoyed her contemporary works. This is my first experience reading a Regency-era story authored by her, but I hope it is not my last. Caroline is an original -- a well-learned, well-spoken lady. While this isn't something society respected at the time, it is something the reader can appreciate today. I love the message that you do not need to change your inner self to find love; that the right person will love you for you, not in spite of you. Caroline willingly risks everything for those she loves - both physically and verbally - and she is also unafraid to admit her faults or to apologise. There is a lot to love about Caroline, and much that we can take away from her character.

Thomas Scott comes across as a somewhat distant, aloof captain. Who is he really? Does he care about those he ferries to India, or is he just playing a role? I really enjoyed getting to know this man and seeing what hid behind his mask. Thomas has a very strong moral compass and feels such an urgency in warning those naive women of what they might encounter once reaching India.

This delightful story plays a bit on the "enemies to lovers" trope. At first, Caroline and Captain Thomas glower from a distance - then circle warily. It was fun to watch them finally give in, coming together and appreciating each other's worth. One particularly enjoyable part of this book is the tight set. Most of the book takes place on a ship, allowing a good portion of the story to focus solely on the characters themselves. This results in a robust, character-driven plot with a strong cast of well-developed individuals. I received an advance copy of this title in exchange for a review and wholeheartedly recommend it to others!

Some non-graphic violence, including child abuse and an animal attack.
Romance kept to chaste kisses, nothing more.
Squeaky clean language.

I genuinely loved this one. It was such a different take on a Regency romance- it takes place mainly on a ship bound for India. Out of options, Caroline travels to India for her last chance at marriage. She did not expect to fall in love with the ship’s captain instead. One of my favorite parts about this book was being inside the characters’ heads. It was narrated from each character’s point of view, and each had such a witty, snarky way of thinking that I laughed out loud several times. The main characters had great banter, as did many of the background characters. Once they arrive in India, the exciting conclusion to the story had me hooked! This is such a lovely romance! Thank you to the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review- all opinions expressed are my own.

A Captain For Caroline Gray by @scatteredjules was a delightful weekend read! I am loving all the nautical based regency books lately. I learn so much from them! Actually I got kinda sucked down a rabbit hole after reading some of the author notes and research that went into this book! 🚢
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I loved Caroline’s character and her attitude. The first half of the book had me gasping and laughing out loud at parts and the second half of the book I could not put down! I would love to see some of her drawings and a continuation of their story! As always, @properromanceseries never disappoints. I highly recommend this new addition to their family! #properromance

I absolutely LOVED A Captain for Caroline Gray by Julie Wright. What a fun and highly engaging read. Personally, I found this story unputdownable from page one. My favorite aspect of this novel is the characters. They’re well-written, highly endearing, and quite relatable. I loved Captain Scott’s crewmates, especially Peterson, Abramson, and Tom. The camaraderie amongst the crew of the Persistence is well developed and very believable. My favorite character is Caroline. She is AMAZING! She is SO smart, quick-witted, compassionate, and capable. She is not afraid to act even when Society tells her that her only place is to be nothing more than a quiet, pretty thing. What I love the most about Caroline is that she stands up for herself and she always stands for what is right. Regardless of mean words and judgmental glances, Caroline does what needs to be done and kowtows to no one. She is a truly remarkable heroine, and I loved seeing how she maneuvered through her strict, stifling social world.

I am an individual and I highly value individualism. I do not believe in group-think. I do not believe society is the boss of anyone. I do think friends and family are super important and bring necessary love and vitality and helpful criticism to our lives, BUT we are all unique individuals and it’s totally OK to act that way. Society, unfortunately, does not agree with me. It thinks it has the right to tell me what to think, what to say, what to call myself, what to believe, and whom I should love. Society today is exhausting, and I do all I can to ignore it. Caroline, however, lives during a time and within a class setting where she is not afforded the luxury of ignoring her seriously stifling and tedious British society. Personally, her society would have killed my very soul. What I enjoyed so much was watching HOW Caroline kept her individuality all while navigating the sharks and dictates of her class. I love how she sees all humans as valuable including those her class would say are beneath her. I love that she is willing to risk her life to save another. And, I love how she enjoys learning new things and is always willing to speak her mind. Caroline, to me, is the best kind of heroine, and she is my favorite part of this wonderful story!

A Captain for Caroline Gray is a wonderful, enjoyable Historical Romance and I highly recommend this read. If you are a fan of engaging, well-written Historical Romances, then you are definitely going to want to check this book out ASAP!

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishers, via NetGalley. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Captain Thomas Scott doesn’t enjoy hauling brides to be on his ship to India. He feels they are not properly prepared for not only the environment, but the type of men they may end up with. Not all the men there are of quality character.

Caroline Gray has no other choice except to travel to meet a prospective husband, but nothing is finalized.
Captain Scott and Miss Gray are oil and water and the sparks seem to fly between the two individuals.
This book is full of fun moments, but it also focuses on some touchy issues.

I definitely would recommend this book.
I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

A ship leaving England sets sail for India, carrying six women who hope to find a suitable husband. They’ve been sent because they have no other choice. Can you imagine?? ((Shudder)). Have you ever seen the movie, “Mean Girls”? Well.... this was something like that but better.
I’d never heard about the “Fishing Fleet” until now. It sounded like a very difficult thing. I really enjoyed this clean historical romance and highly recommend it. The writing was good. The only part I struggled with was the tiger. But besides that it checked off all the boxes for me.
Thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing via Netgalley for this ebook. I’ve voluntarily given my honest review.