And our love will cling forever between the ivy and the thorns…
He left soon after they shared their first kiss. She waited for his return. Can two lost souls find their way to love each other?
Ivy Mallory spent the past seven years patiently waiting for Marcus Thornhill to return. He took her heart with him when he rejected her love. Over the years, Ivy played the part of the perfect lady enjoying the London seasons. However, when she overheard a treason plot threatening her brother, Ivy got herself kidnapped. When she awakened on the ship of the man who broke her heart, Marcus tempted Ivy with a passion she cannot deny. With her life in danger and the need to save her brother, Ivy must put her trust in Marcus’s hands. When Ivy fell more deeply for him, she wondered if Marcus would refuse her love. Can Ivy risk her heart to loving Marcus again?
On his journey home Captain Marcus Thornhill discovered a lady floating unconscious in a lifeboat out in the middle of the open sea. Not just any lady, but the one who captured his heart. While Marcus nursed her back to health, he tried to uncover her secrets. When he unraveled the treason plot that would bring war to their beloved shores of England, Marcus cannot deny his love for Ivy. Can Marcus protect Ivy from harm and convince her of his love?
Rescued By the Captain is the first book in Laura A. Barnes’s historical romantic suspense series. If you like intrigue, sensual, drama filled scenes set in Regency England then you’ll love the reuniting of Ivy and Thorn’s love in the Romancing the Spies Series.
Unlock Rescued By the Captain to begin reading the historical romance series today!
Romancing the Spies Series
Rescued By the Captain - Book #1
Rescued By the Spy - Book #2
Rescued By the Scot - Book #3
Romancing the Spies Box Set contains all three books in the series
International bestselling author Laura A. Barnes fell in love with writing in the second grade. After her first creative writing assignment, she dreamt of becoming an author. Many years went by with Laura filling her head full of story ideas and some funny fish songs she wrote while fishing with her family. In 2017, she made her dreams a reality. With her debut novel Rescued By the Captain, she has set out on the path of a published author.
When not writing, Laura can be found devouring her favorite romance books. Laura is married to her own Prince Charming (who for some reason or another thinks the heroes in her books are about him) who she enjoys traveling with and binging shows on streaming services. You can usually find her spending time with her children and grandchildren. Besides her love of reading and writing, Laura loves to travel. With her passport stamped in England, Scotland, and Ireland; she hopes to add more countries to her list soon.
While Laura isn’t very good on the social media front, she loves to hear from her readers. You can find her on the following platforms:
Oof, the writing is awful, and most of the love scenes came off as dubcon\noncon as the male lead strongly cajoles or overpowers the female lead. Yikes. Not good.
My Rating: 3.5 Stars A swashbuckling sea captain, a lady from his past, unconscious and adrift in a lifeboat, and treason against the crown, Captain Marcus Thornhill’s life was about to become part of a deadly game where both his heart and his life could be forfeit.
Marcus left the woman he loved behind after breaking her heart and now she is back, half-alive and on a mission to help her brother, an agent for the queen caught when an undercover mission goes wrong. Ivy is determined to find her brother and save him, unaware of who he is and she needs Marcus’ help. Neither has ever forgotten the other and this is Marcus’ chance to let Ivy know how he has always felt, but his best friend is missing and he may be the only person who knows where is can be found, if he is still alive. Ivy is so tempting, can he resist the innocent charms of this fiery and headstrong woman? She is not the young girl he once knew, and he knows he cannot walk away again, especially if he tastes the pleasures of her charms.
RESCUED BY THE CAPTAIN by Laura A. Barnes brings steam and passion to the high seas, as well as intrigue and the constant need for Marcus to attempt to keep Ivy safe, from others, as well as herself. Even as their passions flare, they seem to lack the ability to actually communicate their feelings for each other. A quick read, filled with constant sexual tension and a seemingly impossible quest, but I just never connected with all of the characters and found their verbal interaction to become a bit tedious, but one must remember, this is historical fiction and plain, open talk was certainly not the norm!
I received this copy from Laura A. Barnes in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.
Publisher: Lulu.com (January 10, 2017) Publication Date: January 10, 2017 Genre: Historical Fiction Number of Pages: 300 Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
2.5 stars. This started off slow and I have read better in terms of "captain rescues girl from the water and there's true love". It was okay writing but I was just not enthused about it. Others starting out in historical fiction may enjoy this more.
Goes down as another off my 2017 Bookworm Bingo Challenge – A book set in an era you would love to travel to. Love a good period historical romance read and this one had a sexy captain of the high seas in it too. Adventure, romance, danger and intrigue – what’s not to love!
We follow Marcus and Ivy – his Hedera and name of his ship – on one hell of a crazy journey. Love when we find out what Hedera really stands for. He might be a Captain and love the life of the sea but there is someone from back home he loves more, Ivy. Fate has intertwined their paths and this time nothing is going to tear them apart again. Well let’s hope so anyway.
We start out at sea where Captain Marcus Thornhill gets a bit of a shock when his ship comes across a lifeboat floating out at sea. More so when it becomes clear that the passenger – unconscious passenger mind you – is none other than Ivy Mallory. The girl turned women he left behind seven years ago before he started his life at sea. Right from the start you know there is going to be quite a story as to how she got left out at sea in the first place but for the moment all Marcus can think about is trying to make sure she doesn’t die from her ordeal. Its almost like his heart stopped the moment he saw her, fearing she was already lost to him, and that it won’t start again until she opens her eyes. She gets a bit of a shock when she does open her eyes as she fears she is dreaming. It’s the only reason she can come up with as to how Marcus – love of her life – could be before her. Dream becomes reality very fast though when she realizes the position she has found herself in. Namely being alone in a cabin with Marcus being her sole carer. I think you may be able to guess where that situation might lead. Seems distance has made the heart grow fonder and passions soon come into play. Land is far away so they have time to reconnect but danger is never far behind. Sometimes said danger comes from them when they just won’t listen. These two are the king and queen of misunderstandings I feel. Just talk to each other and stop jumping to conclusions! Rant over but they do need to listen because once they do start talking they get the answers and love they have both been missing all these years spent apart.
Seems Ivy has found herself in the middle of some kind of treason plot that could mean war for her land. Her brother Charles is missing and all she can think of is finding him. Doing so only leads her to more danger and there are only so many times Marcus can save her. The reason for her being found out at sea soon becomes linked to the plot as well after she caught the eye of a pirate; one that seems to be connected to more than first appears. A plot is afoot and you are never quite sure what angle people are playing. Zane – friend or foe, whose side is he on? More to his story than meets the eye. The same goes for who has Charles. Missing, hiding out or kidnapped? You are never quite sure. Sammy was a sweet character, always looking out for his Captain and Ivy soon after meeting/rescuing her.
There are a few grammar issues throughout but not enough to take away from enjoying the story itself. Action packed romance adventure read. You know it’s just the start of what’s to come for Marcus and Ivy. Nothing will ever be smooth sailing, fun at times, danger at others, but as long as they are together they will get through.
*I received a copy from the author in exchange for my honest review
Scandal, threats, and pirates will keep you on your toes in this one. I loved how it started because it was different and hooked me into the mystery of what was happening. It’s clear that they have always loved each other, but there were reasons they were kept apart for so long. I wasn’t for sure what was going to happen when they found her brother and liked the little twist there with the girl. I did really love the ending and the scene with Tommy.
Ivy will do anything to save her brother but jumps before thinking at times. I didn’t really start to like her until over halfway through when she stopped running and started thinking about things first. I did like that she didn’t shrink away in battle.
Marcus has loved her for so long and will do anything to keep her safe. I loved him from the start because he kept his word and didn’t beat around the bush when it comes to anything. I loved what he did in the end with Tommy.
This is the first book in this series and I loved it from the first word to the last. It took me on a roller coaster ride that made me laugh and feel compassion. I love the characters in this book. They are connectable and relatable. They made me feel as if I was right there with them. I loved the chemistry between them. I found myself hoping Ivy and Marcus would find their happily ever after. I highly recommend this book, a must read.
This is an intriguing and entertaining story, but the writing is not great. At times it reads like it's an outline, not a story. There's also a bit of repetition, the two say the same thing, but different ways. I liked the characters and the storyline, just not how it's written. I will be reading the next book in the series, I have to know if Zane is a good guy or not.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
To a degree, Rescued by the Captain by Laura Barnes is a straightforward romance. Captain Thorn finds Ivy in a lifeboat at sea. But there is more going on here than at first glance. The plot has plenty of intrigue, both romantic and otherwise, but it’s Barnes’ writing that carries this novel. Her descriptions are well-paced and flowing, making Rescued by the Captain an emotionally satisfying read that’s perfect for any romance lovers out there!
Rescued By the Captain By: Laura A. Barnes 5 out of 5 stars
The story Rescued By the Captain by Laura A. Barnes is an amazing romance book the I loved reading. It is a book that grabbed my attention from the very beginning and I found myself getting lost in the pages. The story does also include a bit of mystery and action. I loved reading about the two main characters. Ivy Mallory has been rescued from a lifeboat by a ship at sea. She is beautiful, young, loyal, and stubborn. She finds herself caught in events in which her brother is also involved. She loves her brother and is trying to save him. She can’t believe who it is that has saved her. Captain Marcus Thornhill left to work for the Crown and left Ivy behind as well. Marcus is handsome and charming. Much to his surprise, he finds Ivy aboard the life raft that his ship has rescued. When reading about Ivy and Marcus I felt the deep emotions that they have for each other. The desire and passion that passes between them is undeniable. Even after so long a time Ivy still feels a love for Marcus. He knows that he is still in love with her. With Ivy guarding her heart against further pain will Marcus be able to get her to trust him? Will they find themselves back in each other’s arms? Will they get an HEA? Their story also includes a treason plot. How much danger is Ivy in and will Marcus be able to protect her from harm? There are moments that are heartwarming when reading about Ivy and Marcus. You can feel how right they are together and I wanted them to find happiness. There are other characters that you are introduced to in the book. I enjoyed reading about many of them, the part that they play in the story, and their interactions with Ivy and Marcus. There are also those who have their own agenda and don’t worry or care about who they hurt. Will their plans be stopped? This is a well-written book that I would recommend reading. It is the first story that I have read by the author and look forward to reading more.
Rescued by the Captain by Laura A. Barnes is the first book in her new series, Romancing the Spies Series, and what a great kick off. Following the story of Thorn and Ivy, this story is one that will take you back to a time when there were pirates, seasons and scandal for all young ladies who fall for the bad man of the seas. Ivy is a beautiful, young and stubborn girl who draws the eye of many men around town but she only has eye for the captain, Marcus Thornhill, known to his friends and female companions, Thorn. There is something about her that draws him in, but his duties to the Crown pull him away before he can get too close to her. Months go by and with no word from Thorn about his feelings toward her, Ivy goes back out on Season in an attempt to forget him. When she is caught up in bad deals that surround her brother she will have to turn to the man that took her heart with him out to sea. Her love for her brother makes her willing to risk anything, even if he means getting close again to Thorn. When Thorn finds Ivy aboard his ship, he falls for her all over again. Walking away the first time wasn’t easy, but his duty to the crown propelled him forward. Walking away a second time isn’t an option for him. Making Ivy see that they are meant to be together is his main focus now, and Thorn is a very focused man when he sees something that he wants. There are several moving parts in this story, from treason, lies, threats to the crown and so much more that surround this love story. Getting to see the inside of Marcus and Ivy’s story as well as a trip into history really made this a great book to read. Several characters are introduced in this one who will be starring in other books so it is good to read this series in order. Barnes is a new to me author, but based on this book alone I can’t wait to see where she takes this series. If you are looking for a great historical romance than this is the series and author for you!
Rescued by the Captain is the first book in the Romancing the Spies series by Laura A. Barnes. This is an intriguing historical romance that has mystery, suspense, kidnapping, being in the right place at the right time, passion, love, spice, unrest, plots, treason, action, adventure, and some drama. This is my first book by Ms. Barnes and this is also her debut novel- although she has written a couple more in the time since this one was released. I think this is a great debut story, and I look forward to reading more of her books. As the story starts, I was drawn into an adventure on the high seas- meeting Captain Marcus Thornhill (Thorn) who is a 29-year-old commissioned officer, entrusted with special missions on behalf of the government. He had just plucked a young woman out of the ocean, barely alive- and is shocked to see a face from his past. Ivy had never been far from his mind these past 7 years. Now that fate had cast her into his life once more, he was determined to find a way to prove himself to her and win her trust and love, again. But these are dangerous times and he knows she’s hiding something from him. What happens when everything is revealed? Ivy Mallory has been through quite an ordeal before finally being plucked out of the ocean, unconscious and on the brink of death. Little does she expect that when she finally opens her eyes, it would be to see the man she’s loved since she was 16- the same man who rejected her and broke her heart. But, she can’t allow him to hurt her again- she will have to remain strong and guarded. Not to mention that she can’t let anything distract her from her mission to save her brother. What ensues makes for some really great reading, and if this story is anything to go by- the rest of the series loos set to be fantastic!
Rescued By the Captain (Romancing the Spies #1) by Laura A. Barnes was a steamy, romantic, up down, rollercoaster that had me wanting to smack both MC's up side the head.
My first read by this author and I didn't know what I was getting into. I do have some mix feelings about this book, but at the same time, I oddly enjoyed ev-er-y-th-ing...
Okay lets start with what I had mix feels about. It was all the surgery sweet love confessions. Holy hell I don't think I've ever read a book with so many heart felt, cavity inducing love confessions in my life. It wasn't just that, after a few pages, of even a few paragraphs later, something simple came a lone and then they doubt it their "love".....That got old really fast. And made me what to slap a b#$%@.
Other then that, I did have some issues with pacing and filler, but like I sad, I oddly enjoyed it.. I guess it has to do with the fact I have a weird weakness for cheesy, smutty romance.
Ivy was a frustrating character, I mean, she was the type that didn't know when to sit and be safe. "I don't need no man to save me"... Okay for one... you did and two.... why the hell are you putting yourself in epic danger when you are defenceless? Other then that, I did like her. Once she got over herself and started acting like the adult, she developed into a well rounded fierce character.
Marcus...... Other then being hot and sulkily, and brewing over Ivy... I got nothing. I mean he's a good character, but he was pretty generic.. but again.. I oddly loved it.
Overall this was a pretty great read, it's you're classic romance on the high seas, with a dainty damsel in distress, sword fights, cheesy love confessions and a pillaging, treasonous pirate. I give this book my high recommendation and my stamp of approval.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Great story, just didn’t like the lengthy descriptions of the sex, don’t get me wrong the sex parts are great parts in any story but for them to extend over the chapters before is a quick finish is a down fall for me, one chapter from their POV fine but 4 chapters, nope. I actually skips all this sex parts get get this story finished.
Adventures, funny with roller coaster of passion. With 6 year age gap between Marquis and Captain Marcus Thornhill and Ivy Mallery, their father’s best of friends, their mothers were best of friends before her mother passed away when she was 6, his mother became her adoptive mother in a way. Thron is an only child and his best friend is Ivy’s older brother. Thron was sent away to the war to ‘sow is oats’ as his father said and to left a young Ivy experience Athe Season of the ton and to have other gentlemen woo and court her, all stated by his father Earl of Thornhill to separate the two before anything should happen behind the parents back. It’s took Thornhill 7 some years and a near death Ivy to have him take control of his love for her and to do what needs to be done to have her for eternity but love will take second place when he learns how Ivy was drifting near dead in a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean, her beloved brother’s possible death and how she was kidnapped. All the here will lead into the people behind the French and turning English natives into treason against their own county, government and people. But will Thorn and Ivy’s love prevail?
Normally I would have never even picked up this book just based off of the cover. I tend to avoid the covers that look like a Harlequin romance novel, simply because they do not keep my attention. However, I am glad that I chose to read some of the reviews and then give it a chance. It was a pretty decent read for a rainy day.
There is a lot of intrigue, action, drama, and of course pirates that will keep you reading till the very end in one sitting. It may not have been my typical choice of novel but the author, Laura Barnes, made sure to keep things relevant and interesting. I found myself relating to Ivy even though historically she is far different from myself.
Ivy is determined to save her brother. She is a strong willed woman and believes in jumping right away to accomplish what you wish to do. This does pose as a benefit as much as a deterrent. Something I too struggle with. She means well and eventually figures out her way, which is what really made me appreciate her character.
Marcus is madly in love with Ivy. His determination lies in protecting her. He never wavered in his love and devotion which made me love him. Too often guys are the jerks that have to evolve in a lot of romances. But this guy was consistent and I loved that about him.
Overall this was a great historical romantic read, with realistic problems to overcome before the characters can get that happily ever after they so desire. I was pleasantly surprised and look forward to reading the next book in the series, Rescued by the Spy.
I give Rescued By the Captain by Laura A. Barnes, 4 stars.
Captain Marcus Thornhill finds a woman virtually dead floating in a raft near his ship. When he does the right thing and rescues her, he has no idea just how much his life will change. He decides this is the chance he has been waiting for and will never let her go. Ivy Mallory wakes up on a strange ship, having no idea just whose ship she is on. When she finally does find out, she cannot believe her bad luck! This is the man who ran away from her years ago. She wants nothing to do with him, he has already broken her heart once. But the more she has to deal with him, the more the walls around her heart break. Should she give in? Can her heart afford it?
This book harkens back to the romances of old -- hunky ship captain, damsel in distress, set back in time. But it is written so well and so much going on within the story, that you will love it no matter what kind of romance you generally like. The characters themselves are fun and engaging, making it so much better. Besides the possible romance to the main characters, there is also action going on throughout the whole book to make it even more entertaining. The author has done such a wonderful job with this book, I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!
For lovers of traditional romance, this book is definitely for you. In fact, I recommend this to all of those who like romance.
Sigh. This is a sweet story set in the early 1800’s. There’s no texting or phones calls. Information was passed by word of mouth. The major way of transportation was by sea or horseback. Simple injuries and sickness could easily turn to death. Reputations were easily ruined and virtues could just as easily be preserved. There were pirates and unscrupulous people everywhere. These people add to the mystery and adventure of this story.
I enjoyed this story. The main characters, Thorn and Ivy, seemed in tuned with each other. Even in their love confused state. Thorn and Ivy are perfect for each other even if there are a few years between them. Thorn and Ivy are characters that learn not everyone is honest and true. This story was easy to read and with minor characters like Sammy, this story is complete.
This is my first book by Barnes but will not be my last as I am looking forward to Maxwell’s and Charles’ I stories. I hope to read that Thorn and Ivy have more adventures together as well. Barnes makes “being rescued” something we all should want!
Rescued By The Captain by Laura A. Barnes is a book that will keep you reading right to the end. When Ivy is found, lost at sea, she never expected her that her rescuer would be her old lover - the one who had rejected her and her love years before. And yet she must except his help in order to help her brother. Caught up in a treasonous plot Ivy must race to find a way to help him. Marcus never expected he would see Ivy again. So to find her floating in the sea was a shock to say the least. And when he gets swept away by her mission he finds his old feelings for her beginning to stir once again. But can he prove to her that it isn’t too late for them?
I really enjoyed this book. I liked that the story had more to it than woman rescued by man, they fall in love. There was a great story to back up the characters and more action than I had been expecting. The story flowed well and kept you engaged in what was going on. Ivy was a strong character to read about, never one to just sit back and let Marcus take over. This was, overall, a good book.
I received a review copy of this book from the author through Voracious Readers. This book falls squarely in my favourite genre - historical romance. I really enjoyed this story. It is a thrilling adventure chock full of swashbuckling heroes, damsels in distress, pirates, treachery and sizzling romance. Thorn is a larger than life hero and totally swoon worthy. Ivy is beautiful, kind and charmingly headstrong. The supporting characters were all well developed and believable. The storyline not only deals with the steamy romance between Thorn and Ivy but also weaves a suspenseful and complex tale of spies, intrigue, treason and treachery. I was hooked!
The only downside for me had nothing to do with the story itself but was the poor editing throughout - there were many grammatical errors and editing errors and as a result at times the writing did not flow as well as it should.
Having said that, this story is a very entertaining read and I will be looking to read the next book in the series (hopefully with better editing).
Rescued By the Captain (Romancing the Spies #1) By Laura A Barnes 5 stars
I loved this story – really loved it!! I thought it was really well written and I loved the characters. Got to be honest Marcus was a little, ok a lot hot! I wouldn’t mind being rescued by him!! I loved the innocence of Ivy but also could feel the feelings and passion that she had towards Marcus (not that I blamed her *wink wink*) I knew from the beginning that Marcus was going to be a likeable character even though he had a rough exterior and that tenderness certainly came through as he tended to Ivy after her rescued her. I loved the twists and turns in the story, the blossoming relationship and the secrets that were ever present. The way in which the author wrote the story enabled to me to see exactly what I was reading in my mind. A great story and I can’t wait to read more from this author in the future.
Rescued By the Captain By Laura A. Barnes. While I’m not a huge fan of historical romance this was an very exciting and interesting story. The author has a way of drawing readers into the story from page one and you find yourself unable to put it down until the end. It’s got a little bit of everything adventure, suspense and romance. With characters that have a chemistry that jumps off the pages it’s a well written and well rounded story that makes for an enjoyable way to pass the time in the story world. The author writes with great attention to detail and has characters that readers can connect with. This is the first book I’ve read by this author but it definitely won’t be my last as I can’t wait to read others. It’s a well written and thought out story with a nice pace never feeling rushed or sluggish. I’m giving this book a four star review and recommend it to anyone.
I really love period romances and I love pirate based ones the most. This is a brand new author to me and I found myself pulled into the book in the past feeling like I was swept away by the adventures on the highs seas.
The whole air around Ivy and Thorn is very electrifying and unique. I love the bad boy plays hard to get but deep down is totally smitten with the lady. I was drawn in by the adventure and the drama that was happening and was most intrigued how everyone sort of fell into place. The whole adventure on the high seas while trying to solve a mystery kept me glued to the pages and I very much look forward to reading more from this author as well as this series as I just know the adventure is only just begun and there is whole lot more to be learned.
Rescued by the Captain is a historical romance by Laura A. Barnes, an i the first book in the Romancing the Spies series. This book will hook you from the first page and make you want to read it in one sitting. Ivy is rescued from near death at sea by the man who rejected her years before. Captain Marcus Thornhill chose life at sea over Ivy, but now he needs to help her rescue her brother. Will these two be able to finally get their happily ever after? Although this isn’t my usual genre, I found myself enjoying it immensely! There is so much going on in this story; pirates, mystery, scandal and action. I loved Ivy’s character, she was strong, determined and capable and I was cheering for her the whole way through. I would definitely recommend this book to all romance fans and I look forward to reading the next book in the series!
Laura A. Barnes' Rescued by the Captain is the first book within the Romancing the Spies series. This historical themed romance was a refreshing read from the contemporary romances I tend to read. I enjoyed the locales and the sequences of being at sea with the captain aboard a ship. Add in pirates and/or devious characters with less than stellar motives, it creates a climatic story that will explode at one point casting all characters in one direction or another - leaving the question, who will succumb and who will succeed. Both the lead and secondary characters were all well written/received, nothing lacked within the story line or character development. Truly a very well written novel.
Rescued By the Captain by Laura K Barnes. This is a romantic historical novel that will pull you in like no other. Its the story of Ivy Mallory and Captain Marcus Thornhill. Thorn left Ivy 7 years earlier to work for the London Crown and she tried to forget him. She gets rescued at sea by none other than Thorn's ship, neither of them can believe it. Ivy's a strong willed, hard headed, independent lady and Thorn is a sexy, hard working, hunk! Throw in Ivy's brother's treason plot and Ivy is pulled back into trusting Thorn, Can she trust him without losing her heart? Be prepared to read this novel from the minute you sit down with it. I can't wait to read the next book! Laura A. Barnes is a new favorite author!
Rescued by the Captain written by Laura A Barnes. I liked the story more than I thought I would, this is not my normal genre. Ivy and Thorn have a unique relationship, you get flashbacks from when they were younger growing up together that shows how their relationship was and the closeness that had even when they were younger. Thorn is a stubborn “manly man” he’s the captain he was in the military and he is full of secrets, including his feelings for Ivy that he has kept to himself. When friends become possible enemies, secrets get revealed and lives are at stake can Thorn over come it all and move forward with Ivy.
Honestly, I did not enjoy this one at all. The awful grammatical errors throughout the beginning chapters almost made me put the book down. These include switching point of view in the middle of a paragraph, using present tense when actually discussing past events, and many points where there were errors in the sequence of events that were distracting. As the text went on, it improved slightly, but was still a distraction. Also, the main characters are both extremely predictable and easily swayed by jealousy. Over all, it was a very contrived novel, and I am sorry to say that I will not be reading any more in the series.
The heroine, especially in the first quarter of the book, is an idiot. The hero is devoted to her, but has his flaws. That makes him the more realistic of the two. Throughout the story, the reader is told what the characters think and feel; we are not shown. The heroine is constantly described as the epitome of sweetness, intelligence, and, of course, beauty, but gives little evidence of anything beyond X-Ray that only because she's coveted by various men. Forms of address and figures of speech are incorrect for the period. More research into the British aristocracy, manners, titles, and forms of address are needed.
Authors really know how to mess with your feelings. I love stories that have a man comfortable in his emotions and not afraid to show his sensitive side. What woman wouldn’t want a man to confess his unwavering love for you. Thorn is a ship Captain. Ivy a burdened young woman scared and alone. The story is smooth. There isn’t a lot of drama which is a plus in my opinion. Ivy wasn’t a hysterical female looking for a man to sweep her off her feet and care for her.