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Marrying the Royal Marine (Channel Fleet #3)

4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 · rating details · 349 ratings · 58 reviews

Illegitimate Polly Brandon has never felt like more than an ugly duckling. So she's amazed when Hugh Philippe Junot pays her such close attention as they sail for Portugal.
Under ordinary circumstances she knows this distinguished lieutenant colonel of marines would never have looked at her, but having his protection for the journey is comforting--and something more that s...more

ebook, 288 pages

Published June 1st 2010 by Harlequin Special Releases (first published May 19th 2010)

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Jun 20, 2010 willaful rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of Mary Balogh and Edith Layton

Recommended to willaful by: Sherron

Shelves: bye, on-the-road-on-the-run, historical-ninety-nine-percent

In some historical romances, the Napoleonic Wars seem to exist primarily as an excuse for dashing aristocrats to play spy. Kelly's series, of which this is the third, is a very different kettle of fish. Her heroes and heroines are ordinary people living extraordinary lives of bravery and honor in wartime.

This story is about Polly and Hugh, who meet and fall in love while traveling to serve the war effort in Portugal. Both feel there's no chance of a relationship between them: he's twice her age...more

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Feb 03, 2013 Kathleen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, historical-rom, regency

4.5 stars for this absorbing May-December romance (she turns 19 to his 37), set during the Napoleonic Wars, mainly in Spain. I have read all three books in the Channel Fleet series. This is the last and the best, but I enjoyed book 1, Marrying The Captain, too.

Warning! Marrying the Royal Marine has some dark but historically accurate portrayals of the kind of villainy and madness that descends in war time. But it's also got such a tender, brave, and protective hero in the endearingly vain Roy...more 4.5 stars for this absorbing May-December romance (she turns 19 to his 37), set during the Napoleonic Wars, mainly in Spain. I have read all three books in the Channel Fleet series. This is the last and the best, but I enjoyed book 1, Marrying The Captain, too.

Warning! Marrying the Royal Marine has some dark but historically accurate portrayals of the kind of villainy and madness that descends in war time. But it's also got such a tender, brave, and protective hero in the endearingly vain Royal Marine (Hugh, Colonel Junot). He is charmed by Polly from the first, as he tends her seasick soul on the ship, but the rather lonely -- yet quite dashing -- colonel fears she'll think him much too old.

Polly Brandon (he calls her Brandon) may be small and bespectacled, but she's strong, stubborn, and fiercely protective of him. There is a period of separation when they each miss the other, but then he comes back into her life. (About time, too! It went on a bit too long.)

They complement each other nicely. Hugh is wealthy -- castled even -- and of good repute, but Polly is illegitimate and poor. Hugh is old and seasoned; Polly is like a chick newly sprung from the nest. This is her first excursion from home. But she's no airhead; she saves Hugh's life at least once. But he first saved hers...so on they go, constantly watching each other's back. Employing action, dialogue, and some mental musings, the talented Carla Kelly SHOWS how they gradually bond in captivity, while enduring constant fear and near starvation.

I enjoyed the lovemaking scenes, too, but I don't read Kelly for sexual sizzle. That's just not her strength. However, she outdid herself in this book. Hugh and Polly had to pretend they were married to stay alive and together in French captivity. Eventually, not wanting to die without experiencing love -- death seemed imminent -- Polly gives Hugh the green light. There are a few sexy scenes, but they are sweet, and not very explicit. Love scenes begin at about 75% into the story.

Loved the playful love scenes towards the end, after they escape the French. In one fun scene, Polly puts a new twist on an old children's finger song as she sits beside Hugh on the ship:

"'There was an old bee..."'

'Brandon, you scamp,' he exclaimed, even as he made no effort to stop her pointing finger, which was more of a caress than a circle, and targeted south of his stomach. 'No one's ever done the bee like that before. No, don't stop.'

"'Who lived in a barn,"' she began to undo the buttons of his trousers, touching him where she knew it would do the most good... "'He carried a bagpipe..."' she began, but he stood up then.

"'...under his arm,'" he continued, as he kept the cloak around both of them and started for the gangway."

Interesting side-story about how the Spanish warriors (called guerrilleros) demonstrated guerilla warfare tactics to our Royal Marine, who then conveyed the battle strategy to the British.

Also, an interesting historical character makes an appearance: James, from a prominent banking family that secretly worked to depose Napoleon. Who knew? James Rothschild. Nicely done!

I was moved by the believable -- but certainly not predictable -- acts of redemption and cross-fire friendship that developed between our lovers and a certain French soldier.

Recommended! My only gripe is that Hugh treats Polly in an avuncular manner -- kissing her forehead, etc. -- for too long. But he is nearly 20 years older than her, and plus, Polly's sister had warned him off.
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Jun 05, 2012 Baba ♥♥♥ Marcus, Tyler, Tate, Dan, Ty, & Hunter rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dnf, historicals, bored-out-of-my-mind

DNF when I was 67 % done. My time is too precious to waste on a boring book. I'm really disappointed. Marrying the Royal Marine started off very promising--I really liked it. The story kept me interested up to about 30 % and then it started to seriously bore me. The heroine is pale, uptight and…boring. While we're on it, Hugh didn't shine either. Frankly, throughout the story I couldn't find any chemistry between Hugh and Polly. Gosh, how many times did Hugh kiss Polly on her head, huh? There w...more

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Oct 06, 2011 Jacqueline rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: peninsular-war, regency, older-man, historical-romance, harlequin, from-the-library, portugal, get-copy

Very well done Peninsular War story. Not really a Regency although set in that time of course. Instead of just having the hero home from the war, this story takes place mainly in Portugal and gives a clear picture of the trials that the Portuguese and Spanish people had to deal with during those war years. The love story was very believable. I loved the older hero who, while being an honorable Royal Marine, was a dandy and knew it, who was too old for the heroine and knew it and also knew that h...more

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Jun 08, 2010 Janga rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Those who complain about a lack of realism in romance fiction should give Carla Kelly's books a try. Marrying the Royal Marine is the third in her series about a trio of sisters, illegitimate daughters of the villain in book #1. Kelly has long excelled in creating atypical heroes and heroines who seem drawn from the unwritten history of ordinary people who have extraordinary experiences. Polly Brandon, the nineteen-year-old, pragmatic, tender-hearted, spectacle-wearing heroine of MTRM, and the r...more

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May 26, 2012 Zumbagirl rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: angsty, hero-protective-of-heroine, sisters, older-man-younger-woman, napoleonic-wars, captain-colonel-soldier-hero, 2012, spies, captured-or-kidnapped

4.5 stars
My first book by Carla Kelly - and she can write! Very well done - and a lot more history than the average HR out there. There were a few things that made it a more somber read than I realized going into it - 1. The Napoleonic Wars is the backdrop to this story and what goes on is heart wrenching. It made me very sad to read about even though I realize this is part of history and really did happen. (view spoiler)...more

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Oct 12, 2012 Patti rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I decided to try this Regency England historical romantic drama based on the many outstanding reviews, it’s the time and place I love, and the plot seemed loaded with intrigue, and I have read the author, Carla Kelly before.

The story starts out rather tame (kinda funny with the sea-sickness scenes), then launches you into the midst of the Napoleonic War of the early 1800s. It read like a roller coaster going slowly up the first incline – then the high-speed drop into a story that I must admit wa...more

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Sep 09, 2012 P. Aaron Potter rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: history-and-historicals

Michele handed me this one as an intersection between my interest in nautical history novel (Dudley Pope, Dewey Lambdin, etc.) and our shared enjoyment of historical romances.

However: as a nautical, this book takes place almost entirely on land. And as a romance, this one wasn't, much.

Make no mistake, this is a quite harsh book. It deals with the realities of war in more detail than,say,the Horatio Hornblower novels. Naval fiction of this era often skirts around the very worst of military histo...more

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Feb 24, 2012 Carolyn F. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library-book, historical-romance

I should keep better track of book recommendations. Someone in one of my groups said this was a good book and it was. It's a romance between an 18 year old and 37(?) year old. Hugh has been promoted which means lots of meetings. In talking with some injured Marines, he thinks he can be some help if he goes to Portugal/Spain to see what they really need at the war lines against France/Napoleon. He's on the same ship as Polly, who is going to help her sister out, that is she can survive the trip -...more

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May 20, 2010 Lynn Calvin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Third of the group of Napoleonic era Harlequin Historicals. Setup - 3 illegimate daughters of a terrible father who attempted to sell them. This is the third daughter who wears glasses.

I love Carla Kelly passionately. I was thrilled that Harlequin picked her up. This book shows her at her best. The heroine is vilely seasick.

No dukes and ton life here. It takes place on a ship and in a war torn Portugal when they have been captured by the French.

But in Kelly's books a hero is someone who holds...more

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Mar 27, 2012 Amanda Caswell rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: journey, part-of-series, regency

An exciting tale starring the third sister in the "Channel Fleet" series. Polly Brandon has always considered herself ugly in comparison to her two older half-sisters, all illegitimate daughters of an unscrupulous lord who is finally dead and can't ruin their lives anymore. Feeling useless after finishing school, she writes to her sister at a satellite hospital in Portugal, who makes arrangements for her to come help out teaching the village children and writing letters home for the injured sold...more

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Jun 24, 2010 Gail rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-book, historical-romance

I just love Carla Kelly's books. Regular people--aka, those not earls, barons, dukes or marquesses--need romance too, even in historical times. And Kelly gives us what we want.

Somewhere in the midden of my office I have MARRYING THE CAPTAIN by Kelly. I bought it, but didn't get around to reading it right away, and now--who knows where it is? But it is the first book about the three bastard daughters of an evil viscount, or marquess or some such. I read THE SURGEON'S LADY, the second book, and lo...more

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Oct 28, 2010 Joy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, historical-fiction

WOOT! Kelly is back and this one is better IMO than the previous 2 in the series. Polly Brandon, half-sister of the heroines of the previous books, travels by ship to Oporto to help her sister and surgeon brother-in-law at the hospital there. She suffers horribly from seasickness and requires personal care--and the Royal Marine on a fact-and-opinion-finding mission, Lt. Col. Hugh Philippe Junot (a Scot with a French name which comes in handy later), is delegated to her personal care en route. Al...more

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Jan 03, 2011 Trewen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: carla-kelly, historical

I love Carla Kelly.
This book ended the Channel Fleet series. I recommend this series to anyone who wants a sweet love story without misunderstandings and two people just falling in love. The heroines are not missish or haughty and the heros are honest and kind. A nice break if you've had a run of angsty novels.

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Jun 15, 2010 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: keeper, own, part-of-series

I absolutely loved this book. The Surgeon's Lady was the first book I read by Carla Kelly and I thought she'd have a hard time topping that. This book did. What a tender, touching, emotional ADVENTURE of a book. I had no idea that there was so much action (Polly and Hugh are pretty much prisoners for about half the book) and that their love would evolve throughout that ordeal. They were absolutely fantastic together. Polly was insecure without being woe-is-me, and Hugh was the perfect hero for h...more

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Jun 02, 2010 Ruth rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: captain-naval-pirate, regency-victorian, series, non-classical-beauty-heroine, all-time-favorites, historical-romance, non-aristo-historical-romance, covers-that-are-gorgeous

This is just a great story. I loved every page of it, and read it more-or-less straight through. It starts off so wonderfully that I just melted while I was reading it, after all what's more romantic than a gorgeous marine cleaning up a lady's vomit?.. OK, seriously. It's a great story, well-written, with just enough description of the desperation and cruelty of war to give it meaning and depth beyond the romance, but not enough to prevent the reader from really enjoying watching the love develo...more

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Jan 02, 2012 Susannah Carleton rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Hugh Philippe d'Anvers Junot, a lieutenant-colonel in the Royal Marines, is lonely. His recent promotion took him from deep water to the conference table at Plymouth, where he attends meeting after meeting. During a visit to the Stonehouse Navel Hospital, he comforts a dying Marine and learns that, while the Marine contingent about each ship is a well-honed fighting machine, groups from several ships do not work together as well as they could. Hugh suggests to his Admiral that he should talk to...more

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May 23, 2012 Steelwhisper rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: regency

This was a so-so read.

It appeared to be well-researched regarding the time period, partly, and partly way too modern in a way. The trope of (view spoiler) is so old and worn it embarrassed me the way it was executed. The romance was too easy, too pat, the characters somehow too enlightened to be believable enough.

Carla Kelly came well-recommended, so I probably had expectations far too high. I'd hoped for something more so...more

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May 03, 2011 TJ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: clean, historical-romance, kindle-archives

4.5/5.0

Just wonderful! Especially recommended for those who enjoy an older man/younger woman relationship (he is 38, she is 18) and those who are interested in the Military aspect of the Napoleonic wars as a backdrop.

In this story, Miss Polly Brandon is en-route to assist her sister and brother-in-law who work at a military hospital in Portugal while England is fighting Napoleons armies. While on board, she meets Lt. Colonel Hugh Junot. Suffering from a massive case of sea-sickness, Polly is for...more

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Aug 30, 2010 Erica Anderson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: regency-era-romance, 2010-reads, keeper

Whew! Just finished a whirlwind read of Carla Kelly's lastest romance set during the Napoleonic Wars. Stayed up until 3AM to finish it and then reread snippets the next day.

Marrying the Royal Marine is definitely my favorite of Kelly's last three character-linked Harlequin books. It is set on board a Navy ship and in war-torn Portugal during the Peninsular conflict and it has all the grit and guts I've grown to expect from Kelly. She doesn't gloss over either the dangers or the horrors of war an...more Whew! Just finished a whirlwind read of Carla Kelly's lastest romance set during the Napoleonic Wars. Stayed up until 3AM to finish it and then reread snippets the next day.

Marrying the Royal Marine is definitely my favorite of Kelly's last three character-linked Harlequin books. It is set on board a Navy ship and in war-torn Portugal during the Peninsular conflict and it has all the grit and guts I've grown to expect from Kelly. She doesn't gloss over either the dangers or the horrors of war and I found myself shocked by one scene, in particular, which is quite graphic (albeit factual, unfortunately). So be prepared for some unpleasantness...

...which only serves to make the romance that much sweeter. Our hero is Lt. Colonel Hugh Junot, of the Royal Marines, a man of "mature" years who is stalwart, unflappable, and completely swoon-worthy. His lady love-to-be is Polly Brandon, the plain, earnest and practical natural child of an English nobleman.

Polly is en route to Portugal to be helpful, though she doesn't quite know how. She believes herself to be the ugly duckling when compared to her two sisters and she is burdened with spectacles. As well as a nasty bout of seasickness, which is what initially brings her and the colonel together.

At thirty-seven, the colonel believes himself unsuitable for nineteen-year-old Polly. She, however, is oblivious to the age difference. Although I know some readers have problems with romances like this, I don't. They're historically accurate and, to my mind, Polly probably wouldn't have survived their adventures had the colonel been younger and callower.

The plot revolves around the capture of Polly and the colonel by French troops and their subsequent attempt to reach French lines. Relying on each other and through a series of challenges, they fall in love. And their journey is tough, dangerous, and none too pretty. I realize that's not much of a plot description, but the story is in the emotional impact of their experiences, rather than in the events per se. You just have to read it.

The colonel has become one of my all-time favorite romance heros. And Marrying the Royal Marine is destined for my keeper shelf. (less)

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Oct 31, 2010 Ridley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: regency, 5-star, read-2010, ebook, category-romance, hqn-historical

Hugh Philippe Junot is restless. At 37 and a Lt. Colonel in the Royal Marines in 1812, he's dedicated much of his young life to King and Country. Lamenting the grey creeping into his hair at the temples and his single state, he's resigned himself to never having a family of his own, much to his dismay. In an attempt to settle his restlessness and serve his country, he convinces his superior officer to let him travel to the Portuguese front on a fact-finding mission.

On her way to live and work wi...more Hugh Philippe Junot is restless. At 37 and a Lt. Colonel in the Royal Marines in 1812, he's dedicated much of his young life to King and Country. Lamenting the grey creeping into his hair at the temples and his single state, he's resigned himself to never having a family of his own, much to his dismay. In an attempt to settle his restlessness and serve his country, he convinces his superior officer to let him travel to the Portuguese front on a fact-finding mission.

On her way to live and work with her sister Laura at a military hospital in Oporto, Polly Brandon happens to be on the Navy vessel Hugh is taking to the Peninsula. Though he finds her charming and is instantly attracted to her, he is certain he is far too old for a mere girl of 19. They end up thrown together, however, when a particularly vicious case of seasickness leaves Polly completely at his mercy. A mutual friendship and attraction forms - Hugh is drawn to her poise and strength and Polly to his kindness and command - and both are sad to part once they reach Oporto, though neither admits it to the other.

When an impulsive decision to join Polly on an errand upriver lands the two of them smack in the middle of a French ambush, they find themselves relying on each other for the strength to survive their ordeal.

The book's strength is in its characterization. Both hero and heroine are a well-balanced mix of strengths and weaknesses. Kelly shows us how badly Hugh wants Polly as his wife and the mother of his children, but feels too old for her at the same time. You can feel his anguish as he forces himself to leave her in Oporto without declaring himself, and his weakness as he flouts decorum and writes her a letter from Lisbon. Polly is attracted to Hugh's aura of dignity and authority, but is sure he sees nothing in her, the 19 year old, bespectacled, illegitimate daughter of a nobleman. She throws herself into helping the women hurt by pillaging French soldiers in an attempt to show herself that she is worthy, that she has something to offer the world than a man like Hugh can appreciate.

This strong base of attraction makes their romance more than just a matter of desperation induced by pretending to be a married couple to survive their captivity. Their reliance on each other feels natural in the face of their unexpressed feelings. They're able to cry on each other's shoulders - and Kelly is the master of letting a man cry and remain a strong hero - without it feeling forced or convenient. There were some moments where they coaxed each other through some extremely tense moments of abject fear, and their regard for each other just made me weepy. Hugh was a veritable well of strength and comfort, and Polly was an admirable blend of courage and humility. Despite their age difference, they make one of my favorite couples in terms of compatibility.

It's a character-focused book, but the high-action plot is spellbinding as well. The French captors are given full personalities, and this richness lends the captivity sequence an ambiguity that ratchets up the suspense. I had a hard time putting it down as a result, staying up until 4am, when my eyes just refused to stay open.

I'd suggest this for fans of road romance, vulnerable heroes and high-emotion reads. (less)

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Jun 23, 2010 Rane rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: regency-romance-napoleonic-era, keeper

The last of the trilogy of three illegitimate daughters and sisters finding love in a time of war, Carla Kelly ends this series of books with a total bang, that brought tears to me eyes. Kelly writes some moving scenes through this series, and shows the readers different aspects of war, from the families soldiers leave behind, to those whom heal and save their lives, and last the innocence lost through war but the bright light of hope that is never lost through the darkness.

The youngest Polly...more The last of the trilogy of three illegitimate daughters and sisters finding love in a time of war, Carla Kelly ends this series of books with a total bang, that brought tears to me eyes. Kelly writes some moving scenes through this series, and shows the readers different aspects of war, from the families soldiers leave behind, to those whom heal and save their lives, and last the innocence lost through war but the bright light of hope that is never lost through the darkness.

The youngest Polly Brandon is on a voyage to meet with her oldest sister Laura across the sea in order to do all she can in this war. Always knowing she plain cast off from her father because of this, Polly is very direct toward people, and her kindness and light shown through, even when she becomes very seasick, and is in care of a kind Royal Marine, whom she strikes up a deep friendship with, and later falls deeply in love with, it’s through this friendship and love, Polly is able to help others in need around her, from the young women victims of war and french soldiers and their children, and it’s this strength that will help her through when she is captured by the french and must use her wits for herself and her beloved Royal Marine Hugh Philippe Junot in order for them to stay alive and find their love for one another.

Polly and her sisters are some of the strongest leads I’ve ever read about, and through their trials they go through, they don’t buckle down or cry, but grow stronger and keep fighting and for me, Polly showed and found her own strength, while she helped the young rape victims and the children in a war torn land. CK really shined and torn at my heart as she told not only a romance, but how war hurts the innocence, in war there is never any winners. Polly does what she can, and as she falls in love with Hugh and how he helped her, she grows from this. Polly doesn’t think Hugh would look at her twice, being the handsome, kind man he is, (plus feeling plain and him being her nurse through her first sea voyage.) Hugh makes Polly feel like the beautiful person she truly is, and it’s her inner strength that really draws Hugh to her that he can’t forget about.

Hugh is a doll, there’s not much to say about how much I love him. He cares deeply and will risk just as much. He nurses Polly through her seasickness, watches over her, can’t get her out of his head, and will risk everything to be with her in the end, even his life. Hugh may be complex, but he’s very simple in his duty of wanting to help. Hugh is tried of sitting behind a desk, and after the death of a marine, he wants to go out there on the field and get the marines take on what could be done better. Even as he goes on his duty and leaves Polly with her sister, he can’t forget about her, and knows even through she’s young and feels like an old man, he adores and loves her and when he meets up with her again and finds out she maybe in danger, doesn’t even think twice of going with her to protect her. And when their capture, Hugh just shines brighter and he uses his mind in order to keep Polly safe (says she’s his wife so she doesn’t get raped) and even when he is shown as witness to a woman’s death/suicide Hugh isn’t all macho and cries tears of grief for the senseless lost. This made Hugh more of a man I love in my hearts and hearts because he cared even for his foe’s families.

Hugh and Polly go through hell, but this only bound them together through their love. This felt like a adventure romance toward the end with both Polly and Hugh as they fight their way out of french capture, but CK doesn’t just show the French as the bad guys, but one French Colonel as a family man, doing just his duty. This brought home that war tears up a lot of families on both sides, and it’s through love and hope that keeps up going and heals the wounds.

Overall: CK is one of my all-time favorite authors for a reason, and many authors can’t fit an amazing story in short format , but CK can and Marrying a Royal Marine showed this and more. She fit in two amazing characters with a wide range story that at times tears at your heart, while healing it with a beautiful romance. (less)

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Jun 23, 2010 Sherri *The Lady Hillindale* rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, historical-romance, best-of-2010, keepers, hero-hall-of-fame, heroine-i-loved, made-me-cry, may-december-romance, military-romance

This is an absolutely fabulous ending to the trilogy of three sisters by Carla Kelly, and in my opinion, outshines the other two in droves. Had Carla Kelly not already been an auto-buy for me, she definitely would have become one with this story.

Polly Brandon, youngest of the three illegitimate sisters of a horrible man, is on a ship bound for Portugal. She is going to be with her sister and brother-in-law to do what she can in the hospital there, during the Napoleonic war. While on board she is...more This is an absolutely fabulous ending to the trilogy of three sisters by Carla Kelly, and in my opinion, outshines the other two in droves. Had Carla Kelly not already been an auto-buy for me, she definitely would have become one with this story.

Polly Brandon, youngest of the three illegitimate sisters of a horrible man, is on a ship bound for Portugal. She is going to be with her sister and brother-in-law to do what she can in the hospital there, during the Napoleonic war. While on board she is overcome by horrendous bouts of seasickness. While certainly no one can "die from seasickness" as the ships doctor so eloquently puts is, Polly is about as close as you can come to doing such. Royal Marine Lt. Colonel Hugh Junot (pronounced Junnit by his Scottish family) takes her in hand and helps her to recover until they are once again on shore in Portugal. During the remainder of the trip, Hugh falls a little more endeared to his bespectacled charge every day, but "knows" nothing can come of it. Polly is just 18. Hugh is 37.

Once in Portugal, they have a rather bittersweet goodbye. Polly sets about helping her sister and eventually ends up aiding a Portuguese nun who gives comfort to the young women who have been raped and tortured by Boney's armies. Its a sad, distressing job for anyone but Polly feels called to this. Just before leaving on one trip upriver to bring back a young woman who has been brutalized by soldiers, Hugh appears at the dock. He had been in port but didn't want to see Polly because he felt it would hurt too much. That and Polly's sister Laura has already warned him to keep his distance, telling him that Polly has not begun to live yet. But seeing her in a small boat about to depart is more than his conscience can take and he decides he cannot go another day without talking to her one last time. Finding out what she is about to do, both dangerous and a bit foolhardy, Hugh makes a split second decision and goes with her. Its a decision that ultimately saves Polly's life. When they arrive at the village where the young girl is at, they are taken hostage and almost killed by French soldiers.

What follows is two people thrust together in a frightening, arduous, kill or be killed adventure through Portugal and Spain at the hands of the French. Its scary, but its also a beautiful story of two people falling fully in love during a trial no one should have to face. Hugh is the ultimate protector. Polly is 18 but never acts like a child. She matures beyond her years in the short time they are captive and marched across country. It was easy to love them both and equally easy to love watching them come together. One particular scene in which Polly awakens to find Hugh gone from her (he was really just out of her sight)brought tears.

Absolutely 5 stars.

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Apr 26, 2013 Loren rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance

This is one of my favorite Carla Kelly books, even though it's one of her darker stories. Or perhaps I enjoy it so much because it's one of her darker stories. Ms. Kelly doesn't whitewash the horrors of war and the toll it takes on both the soldiers fighting in it and the civilians trying to live through it.

The relationship between Polly and Hugh starts off slowly, but it steadily builds throughout the book, and by the end I just knew they would continue to be happy together, having already suff...more

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Jan 26, 2012 Babyfishmouth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, kindle

Refreshing change from the usual romance fare. No Insta-Lust. No dukes or waltzes. No Big Misunderstandings. No TSTL heroines. Just a sweet romance where two seemingly mismatched people get to know each other (in VERY trying circumstances) and eventually fall in love.

If you're looking for nice romantic tension, this book has it. Not a lot of sexual tension, though, but that seems fitting for the overall plot and feeling of the book.

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Aug 31, 2012 Lynne Tull rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: regency-romance

I loved this series! Beware...it is intense. Thank goodness for the Romance Genre. I know all along that all would be well, but I was still anxious for the H/H. Ms. Kelly's writing way superb. However...I love Epilogs! I wanted to know the details of how all fared after the book's ending. I still feel as if I am in limbo. I am going to search Ms. Kelly's books to see if perhaps one of the later ones with tell me all!

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Aug 04, 2010 Patsyann rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Loved this book!! Last of the trilogy - not my favorite - but still a great read!!
Hugh was the best of the three brother-in-laws and Polly was the strongest of the three sisters.
The age difference could have been an "ick" factor but Polly never acted immature and Hugh had moments of immaturity -this hero actually cries - and he is a MARINE!!
But it was well worth the read. This book had more graphic violence and more sex then the other two.
BEST USE OF: Rope!!
ALPHA MALE 8
SPUNKY HEROINE 10
RUNNING...more

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Nov 09, 2012 Cherish rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, favorites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 17, 2012 Nancy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoy Carla Kelly's writing style. She successfully blends the historical with a modern feel. The characters are easy to relate to, are lively, and their speech patterns aren't stilted-yet Carla Kelly still imbues the novel with the basics of the genre. This book is fast paced, a page turner from start to finish. I recommend it to all lovers of Historical novels.

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Dec 28, 2010 Minh rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance

Putting the truly tragic title aside, THIS is what a romance novel should be like. I only skimmed the blurb quickly before starting and had assumed it would be a quickie 5 day romance novel, but instead got pulled into this vividly lush world where our Heroine really was a Heroine, bodily functions *gasp* exist and read a love story that I actually believed in.

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About Carla Kelly

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Although Carla Kelly is well known among her readers as a writer of Regency romance, her main interest (and first writing success) is Western American fiction—more specifically, writing about America's Indian Wars. Although she had sold some of her work before, it was not until Carla began work in the National P...more Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Although Carla Kelly is well known among her readers as a writer of Regency romance, her main interest (and first writing success) is Western American fiction—more specifically, writing about America's Indian Wars. Although she had sold some of her work before, it was not until Carla began work in the National Park Service as a ranger/historian at Fort Laramie National Historic Site did she get serious about her writing career. (Or as she would be the first to admit, as serious as it gets.)

Carla wrote a series of what she now refers to as the "Fort Laramie stories," which are tales of the men, women and children of the Indian Wars era in Western history. Two of her stories, A Season for Heroes and Kathleen Flaherty's Long Winter, earned her Spur Awards from the Western Writers of America. She was the second woman to earn two Spurs from WWA (which, as everyone knows, is all you need to ride a horse). Her entire Indian Wars collection was published in 2003 as Here's to the Ladies: Stories of the Frontier Army. It remains her favorite work.

The mother of five children, Carla has always allowed her kids to earn their keep by appearing in her Regencies, most notably Marian's Christmas Wish, which is peopled by all kinds of relatives. Grown now, the Kelly kids are scattered here and there across the U.S. They continue to provide feedback, furnish fodder for stories and make frantic phone calls home during the holidays for recipes. (Carla Kelly is some cook.)

Carla's husband, Martin, is Director of Theatre at Valley City State University, in Valley City, North Dakota. Carla is currently overworked as a staff writer at the local daily newspaper. She also writes a weekly, award-winning column, "Prairie Lite."

Carla only started writing Regencies because of her interest in the Napoleonic Wars, which figures in many of her Regency novels and short stories. She specializes in writing about warfare at sea, and about the ordinary people of the British Isles who were, let's face it, far more numerous than lords and ladies.

Hobbies? She likes to crochet afghans, and read British crime fiction and history, principally military history. She's never happier than talking about the fur trade or Indian Wars with Park Service cronies. Her most recent gig with the National Park Service was at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site on the Montana/North Dakota border.

Here's another side to this somewhat prosaic woman: She recently edited the fur trade journal of Swiss artist Rudolf F. Kurz (the 1851-1852 portion), and is gratified now and then to be asked to speak on scholarly subjects. She has also worked for the State Historical Society of North Dakota as a contract researcher. This has taken her to glamorous drudgery in several national archives and military history repositories. Gray archives boxes and old documents make her salivate.

Her mantra for writing comes from the subject of her thesis, Robert Utley, that dean of Indian Wars history. He told her the secret to writing is "to put your ass in the chair and keep it there until you're done." He's right, of course.

Her three favorite fictional works have remained constant through the years, although their rankings tend to shift: War and Peace, The Lawrenceville Stories, and A Town Like Alice. Favorite historical works are One Vast Winter Count, On the Border with Mackenzie and Crossing the Line. Favorite crime fiction authors are Michael Connelly, John Harvey and Peter Robinson.

And that's all she can think of that would interest anyone. Carla Kelly is quite ordinary, except when she is sometimes prevailed upon to sing a scurrilous song about lumberjacks, or warble "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" in Latin. Then you m(less)

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Marrying the Royal Marine (Channel Fleet #3)

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