Customer Reviews

Marrying The Captain (Harlequin Historical)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I hesitated to get this book because I did not like Carla's last one, but I'm glad I bought it because it is definitely a keeper! Nana is the poor, illegitimate offspring of a cowardly Lord of the Admiralty. She feels that marrying an honorable man is out of her reach and has been brought up to distrust all Naval men. Nana struggles to make a living helping her grandmother run an old inn. Captain Oliver Worthy is an honorable Naval officer who has vowed never to marry and risk leaving his wife a widow. When they meet, their long-held views are challenged as they fall in love even though the match is "unsuitable." Carla Kelly excells at depicting true love that survives hardship, and is an expert at showing how friendship can become romance over time. The story takes place during the Napoleonic Wars and she has clearly done a lot of research to make the story accurate and interesting. There is an underlying theme of mystery and adventure to move the story along, yet the author takes care to flesh out the secondary characters. The secondary characters are likeable, with the exception of the truly horrible villain, Nana's father. I would describe this as generally a traditional regency, although it doesn't take place in the social world of the "ton." As far as sensuality is concerned, it is "warm," but in the context of marriage, and tastefully done. Carla's best books can be re-read time and again without growing old and this is one of her best!

I was pretty excited in August to see that Carla Kelly was coming out with another book, and of course ordered it staight away. Like Cilla, "Beau Crusoe" is not my favorite CK book (that would be either "Libby's London Merchant" or "Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand"). However, any book by CK is so much better than most of the Regencies out there. "Marrying the Captain" is wonderful, reminds me a little of "The Wedding Journey", though the story of Nana and Oliver does not feel old or "recycled" in any way. I think it is just the feel of the the story, where the characters are realistically drawn, with both flaws and admirable characteristics. This story does a good job of accurately portraying the sacrifices we make when we get married - which is to willingly tie ourselves to someone else. And clearly there is a huge benefit, to love and be loved by someone so incredible. To have a relationship like Nana and Oliver develop over time is rare and valuable. But not impossible ;) The only thing better than getting Carla Kelly's new book in the mail today and devouring it is finding out that she has another new book coming out in May! "The Surgeon's Lady", I've already ordered it.....

Like the other reviewers, I couldn't be more pleased that Carla Kelly has found a publisher and is writing again. I've read everything she's written and am a big fan. I even enjoyed 'Beau Crusoe', her last book. Kelly is the queen of the early nineteenth century British lower and middle classes as Mary Balogh is of the aristocracy. Kelly's characters are wholly unique in the Regency genre. I loved that Oliver Worthy struggled with the reconciliation of his love for Nana with his love of the sea...so realistic. Kelly's nautical detail and knowledge are astounding as are her facts about the difficult era of war in England. You can feel the female characters' agony as the men are home for a day or two at a time and then shipped off again for another mission. The tension lasts throughout the novel. But, Kelly never ignores the love story. Nana and Oliver's romance is the heart of the novel. Their story never drags, and the ending is thoroughly satisfying. This is Kelly at her best.

Synopsis: Eleanor "Nana" Massie's father, Lord Ratliffe, recruits Captain Oliver Worthy to spy on Nana at the small inn she runs with her grandmother. As soon as he meets Nana, he realizes Ratliffe is up to no good.

What I liked: I am a fan of Carla Kelly. I have read some of her older traditional Regencies and I LOVED them. I liked this one but not quite as much. The characters are likable, the plot is believable and the historical detail is just enough to put you in the time period without making you wonder if you'd purchased a history text by mistake. :o)

What I disliked: So there was one love scene in this book I skipped that contained a little more detail than I personally care for. I was disappointed that this scene was even in the book. Carla Kelly writes a wonderful, moving tale without detailed love scenes. I don't know if this was something she was told to do to get this story published or if she honestly felt it was necessary to the plot. (Traditional Regencies do not seem to have quite the following they once had.) The other thing that annoyed me was--and yes, I know this will sound nitpicky--the nickname "Nana" for the heroine. I'm sorry. When I hear Nana, I think grandma. It was distracting at times. My opinion.

Overall: 4.4 stars. This is probably a book I'll read again.

This was an enjoyable read that got better as the story progressed. It is very slow paced, and initially I didn't like it so much. However, after I got into the story and into the characters, I found it a more pleasant read. I think it could have been even better if written with a little more emotion for the hero and heroine. One thing I liked about the book a lot was the development of the relationship without an initial jump into bed immediately. The romance scenes, though not very hot, were probably much more realistic for the time period for which it was written - Even though I love a hot romance scene as much as the next, I am a little tired of reading the novels that have the hero licking the heroine's entire body up and down and giving her 10 orgasms on her first time within 2 days of meeting her. We all love fantasy but it seems like lately they've been playing all the cards on the first hand and not allowing the reader to savor the romance. As I said, especially in the beginning, there were some areas that dragged a little. Had it been written with a little more angst and a little more sensory description so the reader could feel more of the story, and not just see, it would have been great.

After seeing all the 5 star reviews for Carla Kelly books, I thought I had missed out on a great author. Sadly, that's not the case. So bad, in fact, I gave up and skimmed the last few chapters.

Nana (I winced every time I read this - made her seem like a 3-year-old) and her captain were too perfect. I didn't find them believable or very interesting. I found them, their relationship, and the secondary characters tiresome. The dialog was stilted and silly. The elements for a much better book were there, (interesting back stories for the characters, good pacing) but the author just didn't deliver on the promise.

This romance has the most relentlessly nice protagonists I think I've ever seen, and Nana is the belle of Plymouth. She really has no faults, everyone loves her soon after meeting her, and it is only testament to Carla Kelly's writing that the story is as effective and heart-touching as it is. The character of Oliver Worthy reminded me of a squishy Jack Aubrey, which made it a great read for me. I thoroughly enjoyed it and liked the mix of social commentary, action, intrigue, and romance. 4 out of 5.

I can't say enough how much I loved this book by Carla Kelly. The characters were fantastic, the story was engaging and I can't wait to read more in the series! If you enjoy books by Carla Kelly, you will LOVE "Marrying the Captain."

Marrying the Captain is my first Carla Kelly novel, and I must say, I am very pleased to discover such a wonderful author. The story of two common people (not lords and ladies) in regency England is very refreshing. Nana is an illegitimate child of a lord, and Oliver is a Navy Captain. Nana lives with her grandmother, and works for her at the Mulberry Inn in Plymouth. The captain happens to stay at the inn, and the pair fall in love. It is a very refreshing romance, as there is no spoiled debutante or arrogant lord. It's two everyday people falling in love and having to deal with the difficulties their feelings for each other present to their personal goals. I loved it, and I felt the characters were very well developed. Nana is a great heroine, plucky, not cowardly, wholly likable. The girl next door type, a la 1808. She's not annoying at all (Seems writers often think having the heroine be incredibly bossy, stubborn or difficult makes for a stronger character, but often, it just really irritates me.) Nana is someone I would love to have as a friend. I also enjoyed Oliver's character, the stolid, steady captain, married to his ship and his career, feeling angst at the thought of marrying some poor female and making her a widow (as England is at war with France and he's a Naval captain). Oliver has had to break the news to numerous women of their husband's demise over the years, and has vowed never to do that to a woman himself. Thus, he'll never marry--so he thinks--until he meets Nana. All of a sudden, his careful philosophy just doesn't work anymore because he's found the one woman he can't bear to be without. The author has created a very sweet, compelling, believable story of two sensible characters in a very intriguing time period, with spies and villians to spice up the plot.
I intend to put this on my Desert Island Keeper Shelf, and will definately be buying her other works! Thanks, Carla Kelly, you're a great author!

Because of the good buzz surrounding Carla Kelly's involvement with Harlequin Historicals, I hurried to get my copy of MARRYING THE CAPTAIN. (Target lesson: Kelly's previous offering, BEAU CRUSOE - I didn't get in time! Now, short of selling the family farm, finding a copy of this "keeper" is proving difficult). Nevertheless, I did hurry and I can gladly report Carla Kelly hasn't lost anything under her new publisher, Harlequin. The woman can still write a superb Regency romance. Ms. Kelly totally captivated me; MARRYING THE CAPTAIN is a wonderful story.

Mini Synopsis:
From the moment Nana and Oliver meet attraction flares. As they spend more time in each other's company, that attraction grows steadily into forbidden love. Nana Massie is Viscount Ratliffe's illegitimate daughter, she lives in poverty with her Gran and she would never, never make Oliver a laughingstock in the Royal Navy. Gentlemen simply did not marry illicit women! For Captain Oliver Worthy, he did what he said he would never do! Now, the enormity of that decision settles around him. His whole life has been built around duty - duty to his family, duty to his country, and now duty to his wife. Yet, this time his duty only relieves him. For Captain Oliver Worthy has chosen a woman who loves him; a woman who can let him go; a woman who will let him perform the duties his country inflicts upon him.

Reviewer's Comments:
To sell this story, Carla Kelly delivers a sweet, gentle love story, without relying on a heap of sexual commotion (so prevalent in many "romance" books). All I ever ask of an author is to entertain me. Carla Kelley went far beyond that service. Deservingly, MARRYING THE CAPTAIN is fully recommended, even with one troublesome plot blemish: old Pete was described as an experienced sailor with a wooden leg (page 17), but when Nana dressed in Pete's clothes for the deception switch, she wore Pete's two shoes (page 259). I might be wrong, but in 1808, I don't think wooden legs permitted shoes!

Grade: A-
Status: a beautiful love story
Sensuality: warm

MaryGrace Meloche.