This book was incredible! I absolutely loved delving into this story of Captain Scott and Caroline. Julie is one of my favorite authors and I absolutely loved this!

Sometimes life is more about the journey than the destination.

A Captain for Caroline Gray by Julie Wright is a heartwarming and fascinating nautical romance.

Caroline Gray was always encouraged to learn and discuss anything. Her bluestocking ways were not what gentleman in London's society were looking for in a bride.

Caroline's father died, and her entailed home went to a cousin. When said cousin decided to marry and consequently take possession of his home, Caroline saw herself in a difficult situation.

Without a place to live, she agreed to travel to India to meet the son of one of society's matrons.

Although she only agreed to meet the man and then decide if she would marry him, Caroline had no money for the trip back, so she knew she did not have a real choice in the matter.

Desolated, she started a journey into the unknown, having little in common with the other passengers and feeling more than ever her inability to be ladylike and keep up with their superficial interests.

Only one person, for good or bad, stirred Caroline's emotions, Captain Thomas Scott.

Her love for Captain Scott grew slowly and ran deep. They first dislike each other, then judge one another, and only after they get really close their feelings start to change.

Caroline was remarkable. She had the quiet strength of Elinor Dashwood and the resilience of Anne Elliot. Being smart when it was considered a flaw for a woman, she did her best to try to hide her brilliance and fit in.

Captain Thomas Scott was lovely, honorable, and dissatisfied with the world's many injustices.

He felt for these women who were uprooted and sent to unknown lands to marry men they knew nothing about.

He was not perfect, and it made it easier to relate to him. I was smitten after the first chapters.

The side characters were fascinating - Arnav and his wood carvings, loyal Black and his wife Claire, and the sweet cabin boy Thomas.

I loved everything about this story! I wish there was an epilogue to keep reading about their kids and grandkids.

This was my first book by this author, but it will not be the last.

Highly Recommended!

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*This review will be posted on https://lureviewsbooks.com on 03/02/2021*

Caroline’s three London seasons have all ended the same: no marriage proposal, no hint of a suitor, no security for the future. She is faced with only one choice: a one-way ticket to India on the chance she might find a husband there. The journey is long, and she determines she must mend her outspoken ways before she arrives. The handsome Captain Scott makes this an impossible determination.

The premise for this was fascinating, and I wanted to love it. However, I found Caroline difficult to like. In a time when wit was celebrated, I found it hard to believe that Caroline never found a way to share her intelligence in a way that would be appreciated by others. Instead, she came across as blunt and argumentative. She wanted to be true to herself but in doing so, denied that she could better herself.

Captain Scott also behaved distantly because he was determined not to fall for any o the women in his care. So it was difficult to see why Caroline was attracted to him when he would behave coldly. He fell for her intelligence. But there is the inevitable misunderstanding that drives them away.

The story does end rather abruptly, making the slow build of their relationship frustrating. When she got to India, I found that an interesting setting, and it was well described. The supporting cast of characters were enjoyable, and I would very much like to learn more about Caroline’s kind cousin.

For readers looking for a clean, out of the norm, Regency romance, you won't go wrong with this one.

I really enjoyed this cook. Caroline was such a likable character that I found myself immediately rooting for her. The plot kept me interested throughout and I really enjoyed the other characters as well.

Miss Caroline Gray has just finished her third London season with no proposal. She finds out the next morning that the heir to her father's estate is engaged, which means she will be without a home and income. While beautiful, her outspokenness has a habit of turning society against her, they see her as a bluestocking. Her mother had been approached the night before by the mother of a Captain in India. The two of them come up with a plan to send Miss Gray to India to meet the Captain, she is only obligated to have dinner with him, and then 3 more meetings if the Captain agrees to it. With no other options Miss Gray departs for India.
Captain Thomas is captain of the ship that Miss Gray travels on, he only puts up with the 'Fishing Fleet' because it's good for business and helps his reputation as a gentleman. He detests that any woman would feel the need to chase after a potential husband, seeing it as below their potential. But he is also determined to be politely aloof to the female passengers aboard his ship, until he see's Miss Gray.
This is a sweet story of adventure, romance, and being true to ones-self. I loved the character development that I saw in Caroline and Captain Thomas. Caroline truly struggles with societies expectations of her and who she wants to be, it is a great testament to the importance of being yourself, no matter what other people may think. Appropriate for any reader 16 and up as there are a few mentions of child abuse and 'ladies of the night'.

Oh my heart! This romance will make you swoon. Julie Wright is a fantastic author who delivers not only romance but heartfelt characters and breathtaking character arcs. Please read this book and everything else this author has ever written.

This was my first experience with Julie Wright and I loved every moment of this book! Her writing is dynamic and interesting. I had a hard time putting the book down. Caroline Grey is a woman on the brink of spinsterhood. She has had multiple seasons and while she is a beauty, she is outspoken, something that is looked down on by polite society. With her father passed and the cousin who inherited on the brink of marriage, there is nothing left for Caroline. She must make a choice, spinsterhood and living off the kindness of others or travel to India and marry someone she does not know, someone, a Captain in the Army, who's mother picked her out at a ball and made an arrangement with her mother. Desperate to not be a burden and with the guarantee that she is not bound to marry this gentleman if she does not want to after meeting him, Caroline boards a ship to India. Little does she know, the captain she will fall for is not the one in India, but the one taking her to India. Her fast paced whit and the dynamics between Caroline and Captain Thomas Scott make this a must read!

If the plot is changed, the first half of this book makes me feel like I am getting a dual POV of Pride and Prejudice. Caroline's attitude and sentiments seem similar to those of Elizabeth and how I imagine Mr. Darcy to feel is what I see in Thomas.
Caroline is an outspoken bluestocking through and through. She's unsuccessful in obtaining a match year after year. Her father's dead and the cousin who inherits can no longer support Caroline. Her mother suggests that Caroline basically become a mail order bride to India.
I have read - and adored - Julie's contemporary novels in the Proper Romance series. While I found the setting and concept of A Captain for Caroline Gray vastly appealing, I also struggle with the on again/off again romantic progression. I don't know if that's because of Julie's modern voice coming through in a historical setting or if it's just the relationship trope that's hard for me. Either way, I'm very interested to see what Julie does next.
Thank you to Shadow Mountain and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

An outspoken bluestocking lady in Regency England, unless independently wealthy, was most likely to be shunned by Society into involuntary spinsterhood and poverty. Suitable husbands were difficult enough to come by, but for a lady with a clever mind and vibrant opinions, her options were fewer still. Desperation led many a spurned lady onto a ship bound for India in search of Englishmen with lower standards and plentiful wealth. That long and arduous journey is depicted in author Julie Wright’s latest Proper Romance, A Captain for Caroline Gray.
Miss Caroline Gray’s unconventional education at the behest of her well-meaning parents had included “politics, science, and literature” (99) and none of the silly arts of flirtation that might have secured her future. Consequently, she had endured three London Seasons where the gentlemen “all liked her well enough before she opened her mouth. Conversation with her led them from interest to wariness. And when they’d discovered that she was often found at public lecture courses on physics, their wariness turned to outright disdain.” (182)
Living with her widowed mother on the family estate, Caroline is not prepared for the sudden news that her cousin—her father’s heir—has decided to marry and claim his inheritance, thus displacing Caroline and her mother. Her future looks bleak indeed as her mother asks if she wishes to see herself passed around by their relations like an unwanted parcel, a perpetual nursemaid or caregiver, husbandless and childless. The reality of their economic situation was that “all of her prospects hinged on marrying. Without marrying, she had no possibilities. No prospects. No choices.” (168) Caroline berates herself for her inability to make a match, but quickly realizes that she could have been nobody but herself. And “did she truly want to cheat some man out of genuine happiness by making him believe her to be what she was not?” (210)
An opportunity arises in the form of an offer from her mother’s acquaintance. Mrs. Barritt’s third son has a purchased commission as a captain in the army, is making his own fortune in India, and is looking for a pretty and proper English wife. She will pay half of Caroline’s passage to India in exchange for Caroline’s obligation to spend some time with her son, Captain Nicholas Barritt. Caroline is determined “to pretend she felt some excitement. She would pretend to thrill at the adventure of it all. She would pretend that her heart was not breaking at the thought of leaving her family and her beloved England.” (192)
And so it is that determined Miss Caroline Gray steps onto the ship named Persistence, bound for a foreign land and an uncertain future. “She knew all about seasickness but now wondered if perhaps it wasn’t the voyage that made people ill. Perhaps illness stemmed from the reasons that necessitated the voyage.” (242)
Ever the inquisitive scholar and conversationalist, Caroline quickly makes her mark on the crew and other passengers, drawing the attention of the ship’s captain, Thomas Scott, and the ire of the other husband-hunting ladies. Captain Scott is intrigued by the fact that she is “not a silly woman lacking in wit or wisdom” (397), and the ladies feel “she could be a threat. A woman of position, mind, and beauty.” (411). Literal and figurative storms are brewing as they sail across the vast sea in search of elusive dreams.
The dangerous journey that unmarried Englishwomen made to India did not end when the ship finally docked in port. Their trials were only just beginning. I found the historical details of the voyage quite interesting, and the stark reality once they arrived was just as fascinating. The gently bred women—vastly outnumbered and with limited knowledge of the world—were being thrown to the tigers, not only real ones but also those in the form of the often cruel and corrupt Englishmen they were destined to wed. It took immense courage for those ladies to endure all they did, especially when all they had to live on was hope.
The pace of the story was a bit uneven, starting slowly and then racing to the finish. I found myself easily able to put it down for the first half, then suddenly I was staying awake into the wee hours. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next to the admirable heroine, who was bright and brave, but also relatable in her self-recriminations.
A Captain for Caroline Gray is a tale about courageously facing formidable foes, both real and imagined, without losing one’s soul in the battle.
4 out of 5 Regency Stars

I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved Caroline. She was a great character. She loved people and loved learning. She tried to make the best of hard situations. I wavered on liking Captain Scott. He was wise sometimes and totally clueless others. His saving grace was that he surrounded himself with good people who are loyal to him.

A Captain for Caroline Gray
by Julie Wright
Shadow Mountain Publishing
You Are Auto-Approved
Shadow Mountain
Romance
Pub Date 02 Mar 2021 | Archive Date 16 Mar 2021

Loved this great book! I enjoyed the naval history and story. Thanks to Shadow Mountain and NetGALLEY FOR THE ARc. I will recommend it to our readers.

5 star

**I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions about this book are my own.**

Well, I read it straight through in a day. I feel bad about that when I know it takes authors and editors a very long time to write and fine-tune a book.

The storyline kept me wondering what would happen next, even though I read this genre because I know what will happen finally—just not how it will all come about or what side stories will play a part.

Caroline is a bright young woman whose parents have encouraged her studies. She is unmarried and after several years, a father’s passing and estate entailed away to a cousin (thank you for making him kind—also, can we please have his story?) from her family of females, has no residence hopes that would allow her to further her romantic options in England. She receives an offer for a possibility in India and so she—well, that’s as far as my reviewing the plot goes. I’d miss too much in an attempt to do more.

Side characters are always a favorite with me. I thoroughly enjoyed several here such as young Tom, Mr. Black, Clara, and the small glimpse of her bodyguard, assigned by Mrs. Williams, and his wife. (A story about them would be fascinating as well.) Carbeau was terrifying. That scene with him and Captain Scott between the iron bars was well-written.

I often want to smack characters for believing truth from those they’ve deemed untrustworthy before, but it’s also typical. I think that happens in real life too. Too often people can give credit to naysayers who have no desire to do someone good, rather than those whom they love and have positive experiences with. Critics criticisms get more weight than encouraging words from those who truly care. Why is that?

Tangent. Sorry.

It was an enjoyable book but I completely agree with other reviewers that it needs an epilogue! The story is just beginning.

This was a fun journey to India. I loved Caroline Gray, I relate to her so much. I would have been her had I been born then. I love her curiosity and genuine caring for those around her. Captain Scott is a great character, with dreams and values. What a wonderful story full of adventure, misunderstanding, vicious women and cads!

Up from 4.5, needs epologue.

If the marrage mart won't come to you, go to it. A cute take on the need of a regency woman's need to be married. I loved the details and fair handling of differnt cultures. I loved how Caroline followed her concicence even when it got her in trouble. As the title suggests the romance is with the Captain who is almost too honorable and nearly misses love becuase of it.
The ending was a bit quick and I would have enjoed an epilogue.
Overall nice read with a uniuqe setting.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Opening line:
"The ball had been a disaster."

Thus begins the tale of poor Caroline Gray and her uncertain future, thanks to her thirst for knowledge, outspoken opinions (especially in men's company) and her male cousin becoming engaged.
With no where to go, no home to call hers, Caroline takes her mother's pleas and heads to India to have dinner with a man who might become her husband.
The only problem is she meets Captain Thomas Scott, the captain of the ship and who Caroline has to eat dinner with, along with other passengers, every night.
Thomas has seen his fair share of women running off to India to find a husband with disastrous results. Not everyone keeps to their religious upbringing so far from Mother England and Thomas has seen too much dereliction to last him a life time. He tries to talk the women into something better, but most are eager to find a man and are docile enough to be a perfection example of prime and proper. And blast, are they dull.
Not Miss Gray. She speaks her mind and is very knowledgeable and she finds in the captain someone who truly wants to hear her thoughts. They become close and soon Thomas is on the verge of proposing to Caroline.
Until he finds out she's promised to another. He doesn't ask her any questions, just pushes her out of his life.
Heartbroken, Caroline moves forward with the plan to meet the man in India and find if they are compatible. She decides she will become the perfect model of a society woman and keep her thoughts locked up. She determines she will wed.
But she's not happy.
What will happen??

Thanks to netgalley and Shadow Mountain for the early read!

A Captain for Caroline Gray had it all! If I could sum up all of the elements for the perfect novel this would be it. I love ship stories and colonial India and this book had all of that and more. The romance was perfect and Caroline was so intelligent and likable. There were even "land pirate" type characters which is always an additional bonus. This is a book I could read over and over again. I recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Interesting concept for a regency romance, something I was unaware of previously -- young, single British women sailing to India in search of British husbands living overseas. Caroline is a strong, modern-in-the-wrong-era young woman past her coming out in society and needing a husband after her father's death and his successor to the family fortune finding love and (not unkindly) casting Caroline's family out of their family home. Captain Scott is also a strong character, who appreciates Caroline's free thinking and outspoken manner. There are a lot of lively characters in this book on the ship during Caroline's journey across the ocean. I was surprised when the author chose to redeem a few characters' previous negative qualities by the end of the book. There is a lot that goes on in trying to get Caroline together with her captain. We have three different settings - England (for a brief period of time), the ship, and then in India. There is a lot of research that had to have gone into this book to deal with all the varied aspects of those settings and the time period itself, including the nautical aspects and India itself. The other books I have read by this author are all contemporary, so it was interesting and a change of pace to see how she dealt with this time period. I appreciate this author's writing style for the humor she weaves into her stories. She brings some humor into this one as well, just not to the same degree as she does in her contemporary books (all I mean is that it's just different, not that that's a bad thing). Very entertaining and a great, clean read.

The penniless Caroline Gray, an outspoken bluestocking, cannot find a husband in the marriage mart. As a last resort, her mother sends her to India to meet Captain Barritt, a man she must consider for marriage. On board she meets and begins to fall in love with Captain Thomas Scott. But when they arrive in India, with her all but betrothed to Barritt, will their love survive?
It was fascinating learning about the Fishing Fleet Women who travelled to India ‘fishing’ for husbands. It is similar to the mail order brides who traveled to the West during the 1800’s. But I never considered that this might go on between India and England. In any case, it was interesting and enlightening. I was also struck by how precarious a position these women were in with regard to the character of their betrothed. Many of them seemed to marry quite quickly without knowing what kind of husbands they were getting.
The characters were very interesting. It was a delight to spend most of the book experiencing the development and budding love of the two main characters. This was possible because most of the book takes place during the sea voyage. However, there was still much excitement during the voyage and quite a bit of action at the end after such a smooth plot.
I would recommend this book to my patrons.

4.5

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. We got off to a bit of a rocky start, with a little too much immediate interest on one side. This gave me a bad taste, assuming things were going to fall into line and play out the same way they had in countless other similar stories. But I was wrong. While there were some over the top moments and a few cliches, Caroline is a steady, interesting character. She is capable of being wrong... and admitting it. And better, she is capable of change. I saw a lot of growth in her, through each of her relationships. I appreciated the realistic depictions of life on a ship (good, bad, and ugly) and that supporting characters had depth and shades of gray to them as well.

I liked this book a lot and I really liked how it delved into the gender inequality that was so prominent back then. I also found the main character relatable to this day of wanting to pretend like you are like everyone else to be liked and accepted, but I loved that she stayed true to herself. It was a fun romance and I enjoyed learning a little more about international travel at that time