Carla Kelly is a great writer. She always write about "normal" people. You can really relate to them. She does that again in this book. Once again, I enjoyed this story and wanted to personally know the characters

A Naval Surgeon to Fight For by Carla Kelly is an engaging audiobook that brings both a compelling story and rich historical detail to life. The narration is skillfully done, drawing listeners into the world of Jerusha Langley and Royal Navy Surgeon James Wilson as the work to treated wounded and ill sailors during the Napoleonic War. Kelly sheds light on a lesser-known aspect of naval history—the small number of wives aboard Royal Navy ships who served in various capacities alongside their spouses, unacknowledged and unpaid. The story might appeal to fans of Jane Austen and Patrick O'Brian, offering a lighter, quicker tale of life in the Royal Navy in the early 1800s. The audiobook is an entertaining listen, with well researched medical and nautical history, and poignant moments.

Thanks to Harlequin Audio and NetGally for access to the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

While secretly assisting dashing surgeon Jamie at a naval hospital, Jerusha risks scandal and falls in love. Will the clandestine romance lead to marriage before her reputation is ruined?

I enjoyed this book as well as the audio narration. The story is a bit slow-paced, but the characters move the story forward. There’s a significant focus on the hospital, the patients, and the war—almost to the point that they overshadow the romance, especially since Jamie is at sea much of the time.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I am a sucker for a historical romance and this book had me hooked right away.

When she was a child, Jerusha Langley was rescued from drowning by Jamie Wilson who moved away shortly after. Years later the pair reunite when Jerusha is sent to deliver a basket to naval officers wounded during the Naloleonic wars who are being treated at the hospital where Jamie is a naval surgeon.

Despite being an incredibly sweet story, it was also very emotional. I can easily say that this book made me cry; very well done.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC 🩷

📚 5/5
🌶️ 1/5

This book was really good. It wasn’t just a light and silly book. It had a lot of heavy topics (war injuries, PTSD, medical treatments, etc).
It was written well and obviously researched. It was pretty fascinating to hear some of the conditions for the surgeons aboard ships. The characters were fascinating and relatable.
My only complaint was that there was very slight on page intimacy (although they were married). This is not a book I would let my teen daughter read.
I listened to this one on audio and the narrator was fantastic and I learned a lot by listening to it. There was also a great ending.

A surprisingly intense Regency drama.

Jerusha Langley knows she is destined to be a spinster. After her mother spent her dowry to purchase her brother's commission, she knows no man of her class would ever wed her. So when her aunt mentions the possibility of obtaining Jerusha the position of a lady's companion, Jerusha jumps at the chance.

Too bad the reality is her aunt (Lady Oakshott to her!) is drowning in debt and wants Jerusha as free labor. When a chance encounter with a the boy (now man) who saved her life as a child sets Jerusha on the path of volunteering at a war hospital, she must choose between her status and loneliness...or forging her own path.

While the cover and title suggests a light hearted romance, this was a very intense and realistic historical set in war time. Though the Harlequin line lets you know it will be a HEA, this is the Napoleonic Wars, something the narrative will not let you forget. It is clear the author did her research regarding Navy medicine at the time, as well as little details like some officers' wives accompanied them aboard ship. I only wish there was a historical note at the end to expand on some of it!

Recommended for historical military romance readers who like a little grit with their romance.

The narrator for the audiobook did an excellent job as well. Each character had a distinct voice, which made it easy to listen to. I will check out more books with this narrator!

Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy.

I love a gritty and realistic, historical romance, and this fits the bill perfectly!

Theresa has a spinster down on her luck when her parents decide to send her to Portsmouth to stay with her and and learn to become a ladies companion. She’s told by your parents and by her aunt not to have anything to do with the Navy. A hard task indeed when Napoleon has the troops at war in this port is busy sending out and serving troops.

Intending to do her best, she unwillingly stumbles upon a familiar face from her past, Jamie, who now is a naval surgeon. Not only wanting to help with the poor wounded men, but also get to see Jamie Moore. She starts to use her spare time serving the wounded at the naval hospital.

This is a gritty and realistic portrayal of medical services during the Napoleonic war. Jamie and Jerusha find a bit of happiness and light with each other during this dark time.

I absolutely loved these characters and the adventure in relationship takes them on.

The narration provided by Helen Keeley was absolutely excellent. She’s have a great voice for reading historical romance. She did an amazing job voicing the characters and bringing out their personalities. She really brought the story to life.

This is an excellent audiobook and I highly recommend it.

I enjoyed this book. That said there was a lot of focus on the casualties of war. It was not just there to show that the fmc was compassionate or that the mmc was dedicated and self sacrificing. It went beyond what was needed to show the horrors of war. The two main characters barely angsted over their decision to be together though circumstance forced them together. It was more like it gave them permission. They spent so little time together that no one ever had any chance to doubt their love. All in all it was not your typical historical romance but it was very good and worth a read. Also I loved the narrator she was great.

This review is for the audiobook read by Helen Keeley. The narrator is excellent, very similar to Mary Jane Wells. I googled it to see if they are the same person, but I wasn't able to find the answer. She is a joy to listen to.
As far as the story, it made me cry about 10 times. My goodness, what Jerusha and Jamie went through, and all those men at the hospital. I wouldn't read this book without tissues nearby. Look for the helpers - - - Jamie and Jerusha certainly were the helpers.
Thank you to Harlequin Audio for the book. Opinions are my own.

Internal happy dance, smile.

Genre: Historical Fiction Period Drama

Setting: Regency England During Napoleonic War

It’s a classy Regency period drama about a middle- to upper-class woman. The author masterfully captures the era's complexities, including class distinctions, societal roles, war, honor, love, and a generational knowledge gap.

I pause and stare at the ceiling, trying to find the right words to convey that this is one of the rare finds. The leading female character is refreshingly thoughtful, solidly founded on reason, and untraditionally brave. I want to be more like her. The meet-cute moment is fan-worthy when the Scottish surgeon returns into her life. He’s worthy of her, and that is saying something.

The narration was sublime and intensified the experience. I would highly recommend it in audio book format. Cheers for the narration!
4.6/5 Star Rating

Note: It includes tastefully crafted spice between the duo.

This is an honest review sponsored through NetGalley.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio for a chance to read an arc this book! 🖤

3⭐️ interesting and sweet | tropes: childhood friends to lovers, slow burn, closed door | audio

Overall Thoughts 💭:
Jerusha is the daughter of a vicar who was sent to live with (rather, work for) her widowed aunt after her mother spent her dowry to aid her brother's career. James is a surgeon who struggles with loving her while not being in her social sphere. I love the childhood savior trope. The two of them were sweet and understanding towards each other and I loved their yearning. This book was interesting, and seeing Jerusha struggle thinking about what she wanted her life to be and the options (or lack of options) she has. She exists in society but is the lowest rung and has to live in this purgatory state. I liked the hospital aspect and hearing the stories of different patients. Jerusha helping patients in the hospital was a real highlight. Now for the negatives... I didn't love how much time they spent apart in the middle and I also didn't realize how much naval activity would be front and center in this book. That was my fault entirely. Those parts of the book dragged a lot and couldn't keep my attention at all.

Vicar's daughter Jerusha Langley has no inheritance, and at age 25 is sent to live with her snobbish widowed aunt to train to become a paid lady's companion. Her aunt sleeps until the fashionable hour of noon every day, so in the morning's Jerusha spends her time at a hospital for soldiers injured during the Napoleonic War, often the sailors wounded while on blockade duty. There she meets Jamie Wilson, dashing Scottish naval surgeon, who once rescued her from a lake and taught her to swim when they were children. Jamie is hesitant to give his heart to Jerusha, because he's seen the worst that can happen to sailors at war, but he's falling for her kind heart and patience with the wounded and dying.

This is a great historical romance where neither of the main characters are aristocrats or upper class. It's also got a good dose of history. Set in 1805, Carla Kelly details war at sea in a way I haven't seen since reading Naomi Novik's Temeraire books, and I appreciate the attention to detail with care available, particularly on board a ship. I was surprised that this was a little longer than category length, but I was never bored, because Kelly balances well between the romance and the plot and historical setting. For a mostly closed-door category, this packs in a lot of pining and heartfelt emotion!

Jerusha is a vicar's daughter whose meager dowry was spent on her brother's officer's commission. Now without marriage prospects, Jerush goes to stay with her aunt in Plymouth with the expectation of finding a position as a lady's companion. One day after dropping off a charitable basket at the Naval Hospital, Jerusha runs into Jamie Wilson. She knew him when they were both children, but now he's all grown up as a really hot naval surgeon. Jerush starts volunteering at the hospital, eventually marries Jamie, and ends up at the Battle of Trafalgar with him.

This is both a very researched historical fiction about naval medicine and warfare during the Napoleonic Wars. and it also many be the horniest closed door romance I've ever read. If you like category romance, this is a great example of the best of the genre.

I listened to a copy of the audiobook, and Helen Keeley did a great job of bringing the characters and the era to life. My only issue was with the French (I get that French pronunciation is not easy, but maybe give her a cheat sheet, producers). Everything else, though, including Jamie's Scottish accent, was on point.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the audiobook.