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Miss Whittier Makes a List
She's making a list and she's checking it twice for the perfect man. The number of lords in London's marriage mart is sorrowfully short, so when Miss Whittier meets the perfect match, it's only a matter of checking off her list to find an eternal love.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 1994
40 people are currently reading
473 people want to read
About the author
Carla Kelly
137 books806 followersLibrarian 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
August 17, 2009
Having read poor reviews of this book, I feel compelled to leap to its defense. Yes, Hannah Whittier is young-- but it's a historical, folks, seventeen is normal for the era-- but I disagree heartily with those who found her naive and idiotish. She's not naive, she's young and hell, I'm nearly twice her age and I'd be just as lost if someone dropped me on a ship. I found Hannah to be gutsy and pragmatic, someone who tackles a problem head-on and without complaint.
I found Spark's transformation (more a revelation, really, since it was his true character, just buried beneath the guise of what he himself refers to as "grumpy sea captain") heartwarming; the way he slides easily from gruff commander (the repeated threats to chum Hannah for sharks made me smile) to gruffly tender (I love the image of him standing near a seated Hannah, barking orders to his crew while he silently offers her comfort). And I greatly respect Carla Kelly for not bowing to the "I-love-you-the-end" convention so popular in the genre. In this book, I love you isn't the solution... it's the conflict. Both Hannah and the captain have to confront the great sacrifices she's asked to make-- her home, her family, her faith, and most notably, the sacrifice of Daniel himself, who will be absent for the duration of the war.
This book is a treasure, and every time I reread it, I love it a little bit more.
I found Spark's transformation (more a revelation, really, since it was his true character, just buried beneath the guise of what he himself refers to as "grumpy sea captain") heartwarming; the way he slides easily from gruff commander (the repeated threats to chum Hannah for sharks made me smile) to gruffly tender (I love the image of him standing near a seated Hannah, barking orders to his crew while he silently offers her comfort). And I greatly respect Carla Kelly for not bowing to the "I-love-you-the-end" convention so popular in the genre. In this book, I love you isn't the solution... it's the conflict. Both Hannah and the captain have to confront the great sacrifices she's asked to make-- her home, her family, her faith, and most notably, the sacrifice of Daniel himself, who will be absent for the duration of the war.
This book is a treasure, and every time I reread it, I love it a little bit more.
January 4, 2016
Loved it. Of course, you have to leave "reality" at the door before you enter, but still a very engaging read. It had all the elements I love in a traditional regency romance:
√ Swashbuckling hero
√ Feisty, yet lovable heroine
√ Laugh out loud moments
I enjoyed the conflict between the two. That aspect felt very real to me. Her faith, versus his; her struggle with having to leave her faith and family behind to begin a life with him. All true issues back then and even now.
A delightful surprise. I highly recommend.
√ Swashbuckling hero
√ Feisty, yet lovable heroine
√ Laugh out loud moments
I enjoyed the conflict between the two. That aspect felt very real to me. Her faith, versus his; her struggle with having to leave her faith and family behind to begin a life with him. All true issues back then and even now.
A delightful surprise. I highly recommend.
July 5, 2017
This story was a tough one to rate. I finished it days ago and I am still thinking about it. On the one hand, it is a refreshing look at Napoleon's War from a side I haven't read before with two very unusual characters. On the other, the plot creaks and tilts the last quarter of the book. Regardless, MISS WHITTIER MAKES A LIST was a wonderfully written book of truly memorable characters. You will find it on my keeper shelf.
I love that Ms. Kelly's world does not center on balls and the ton. Captain Sir Daniel Spark is a very complex character. He has been at sea since the age of ten; he knows very little else. And Hannah Whittier, what a sweetheart! She was just 17 at the start of the story and, to be fair to the captain, he thinks she is older. She was a Quaker and it literally pours from her personality.
This story was first and foremost an adventure. It begins when Hannah was sailing from Boston to Charleston to assist her brother's wife. She had a gut feeling that her brother planned on finding her a husband while she was there. It was what to be expected. With some extra time on her hands, she started a list of those things she was looking for in a husband. Little does she know......
I won't go into all the details of how these two met. That is for you to read if you decide to try this story. Suffice-to say, they don't get along at the start. Daniel is used to people listening and obeying his commands. Yes, Hannah is naive but she has gumption. It shows.
My comfort came from the decency of the characters as well as the story. You feel their human dignity. Wartime brings out both the best and worse in everyone. The captain shows it for Hannah in some very odd and gruff ways.
Would I have loved for Ms. Kelly to have changed a few things? Yes, but it doesn't diminish the fact that I really enjoyed (most) of this story.
I love that Ms. Kelly's world does not center on balls and the ton. Captain Sir Daniel Spark is a very complex character. He has been at sea since the age of ten; he knows very little else. And Hannah Whittier, what a sweetheart! She was just 17 at the start of the story and, to be fair to the captain, he thinks she is older. She was a Quaker and it literally pours from her personality.
This story was first and foremost an adventure. It begins when Hannah was sailing from Boston to Charleston to assist her brother's wife. She had a gut feeling that her brother planned on finding her a husband while she was there. It was what to be expected. With some extra time on her hands, she started a list of those things she was looking for in a husband. Little does she know......
I won't go into all the details of how these two met. That is for you to read if you decide to try this story. Suffice-to say, they don't get along at the start. Daniel is used to people listening and obeying his commands. Yes, Hannah is naive but she has gumption. It shows.
My comfort came from the decency of the characters as well as the story. You feel their human dignity. Wartime brings out both the best and worse in everyone. The captain shows it for Hannah in some very odd and gruff ways.
Would I have loved for Ms. Kelly to have changed a few things? Yes, but it doesn't diminish the fact that I really enjoyed (most) of this story.
May 8, 2015
This one started off well. In fact, I liked the book the entire time our couple was at sea, which is more than half the book, despite Hannah's immaturity and Daniel's gruffness. I liked the way their relationship developed and I thought their time aboard ship was realistically depicted. But it started to fall apart for me when Daniel told Hannah he was "in serious like with her." I thought it a more modern expression and an odd thing for a gruff sea captain to say. And it got worse from there. When our couple was back on dry land they both began acting like idiots, to the point where I was ready to throw the book across the room and quit it altogether 200 pages into a 250-page story. Daniel became a chauvinist pig and Hannah a weeping ninny. But I wanted to see how our couple could possibly manage to get past the idiocy corners they'd been painted into. Well, the answer was with more idiocy. Ugh. Sorry, y'all, but this one was just not for me.
June 16, 2010
Miss Whittier Makes a List was my Holy Grail of Carla Kelly books--despite my best efforts, I could never seem to track down a copy. So when I got this in a lot of ten Regency novels, I couldn't wait to read it.
And ultimately, while I was interested by the premise (American Quaker heroine! On a British war ship! I love Napoleonic naval stories), I was left feeling uneasy at the end. I'd compare it to my sense of dissatisfaction with some of the Mary Stewart books I read last summer; while there technically was a happy ending, I couldn't help wondering about how long that would last.
I mean, just look at the facts: by marrying a non-Quaker, Hannah has essentially lost the support of the community she was raised in. Also, she'll be living in another country, right around the time that the War of 1812 starts. So I don't see her being able to visit her family (who seemed like a fairly loving bunch) for some time.
Plus, going off my admittedly incomplete knowledge of Napoleonic naval battles, there's a good chance that something bad will happen to Sparks's ship. Again. What I mean to say is that the chance of any naval officer surviving to the end of that war is very dangerously iffy.
So I have spent the past week worrying about the possibility of future happiness for a fictional character! (But on a side note, the age difference was the one thing that didn't really bother me about the book. I know, I'm strange like that.)
And ultimately, while I was interested by the premise (American Quaker heroine! On a British war ship! I love Napoleonic naval stories), I was left feeling uneasy at the end. I'd compare it to my sense of dissatisfaction with some of the Mary Stewart books I read last summer; while there technically was a happy ending, I couldn't help wondering about how long that would last.
I mean, just look at the facts: by marrying a non-Quaker, Hannah has essentially lost the support of the community she was raised in. Also, she'll be living in another country, right around the time that the War of 1812 starts. So I don't see her being able to visit her family (who seemed like a fairly loving bunch) for some time.
Plus, going off my admittedly incomplete knowledge of Napoleonic naval battles, there's a good chance that something bad will happen to Sparks's ship. Again. What I mean to say is that the chance of any naval officer surviving to the end of that war is very dangerously iffy.
So I have spent the past week worrying about the possibility of future happiness for a fictional character! (But on a side note, the age difference was the one thing that didn't really bother me about the book. I know, I'm strange like that.)
May 5, 2013
Cute and sweet - heroine is very young but not annoyingly immature. Hero is abrasive but not cold-hearted. The wartime setting and the human cost of war are at times moving, but do not drag the book down too much.
My main complaint (and some might think it's nothing, but it's throughout the book and drove me nuts) is that the Quaker heroine had no concept of the subjective form of the second person. She used the objective form ("thee") for everything. "Thee is sitting" and "Is thee cold?" kind of things. It's like saying "Him are sitting" and "Am her cold?" Wrong form of the pronoun, wrong form of the verb. Totally inexplicable mistake.
My main complaint (and some might think it's nothing, but it's throughout the book and drove me nuts) is that the Quaker heroine had no concept of the subjective form of the second person. She used the objective form ("thee") for everything. "Thee is sitting" and "Is thee cold?" kind of things. It's like saying "Him are sitting" and "Am her cold?" Wrong form of the pronoun, wrong form of the verb. Totally inexplicable mistake.
June 29, 2014
So while I'm aware that in the time period this book takes place in it was not unusual for a 30-year-old man to marry a 17-year-old girl, it still was a major ick factor for me, and one that try as I might, I just couldn't get past. But it wasn't the age difference in and of itself that bugged me. I've read books with that kind of age difference before and been fine. It's more that I felt like Captain Spark was steamrolling Hannah into marrying him. While I like male leads who speak their minds rather than brooding, I felt like he was putting unfair pressure on a naive, sheltered teenager who didn't know any better. Plus, she's the one who has to give up everything for them to be together. There's no compromise, because Captain Spark doesn't have to change anything and gets Hannah with a minimum of effort on his part. So while I enjoyed the plot, I just couldn't get past the age difference because the relationship felt so manipulative.
June 23, 2013
If you love regencies/historical romance even a fraction as much as I do, you're supposed to love Carla Kelly. And I very much WANT to love Carla Kelly. I've tried to love Carla Kelly. I can even readily see why nearly all of my fellow bookworms DO love Carla Kelly. For whatever combination of reasons, though, I just haven't been able to fully enjoy and connect with her books. I can objectively see why they're considered high quality, but they just don't happen to click with me. Maybe it's the general writing style, which is something that will never work for everyone no matter how technically skilled the author. Maybe it's that I'm at a stage where I look for books that elicit more happy smiles than depressed tears, and while ultimately hopeful, some of Kelly's stuff tends to be a bit maudlin and tearjerker-y for my personal taste. She also seems to focus quite frequently on people's battles with alcoholism, and while a worthy and important subject, it's not one that I personally enjoy reading about in my beloved mood-lifting fiction (for reasons that would bore you and are beyond the scope of this review!)
This book sounded as if it would be less maudlin and more of a lighthearted mood boost than the other Carla Kelly books I've read. And, for the most part, it was. Only here's the problem: I just didn't care for the H or h. I found the H to be a rather flat, commonly found 'gruff and distant until he not-so-shockingly isn't' hero. And while I'm usually fine with innocent, plucky heroines, I fully agree with the reviewers who notes that this particular innocent and plucky heroine was quite annoying. Of all the CK books I've read, I felt this one did the poorest job of convincing me that the H and h had a genuinely deep connection. And, as other reviews have alluded to, some of their actions in the second half are just eyeroll-inducing. Honestly, it felt like the writer just wasn't sure how to move the plot along organically and at a smooth, natural pace.
So far I'm making this sound like a one-star book, but I'm giving it three. (Well, really 2.5...but since Goodreads doesn't allow that, I'll generously round up, if only to avoid alienating CK's fans even more than I have already!) Parts are well written, and there are splashes of insight, warmth and depth that made me think, "Ah, right, so THIS is why people love Carla Kelly!"
Overall, though, I was disappointed, perhaps in part because my expectations of this author are high. I'm trying one more CK book before I sadly resign myself to the fact that this highly acclaimed fan favorite is just not for me.
This book sounded as if it would be less maudlin and more of a lighthearted mood boost than the other Carla Kelly books I've read. And, for the most part, it was. Only here's the problem: I just didn't care for the H or h. I found the H to be a rather flat, commonly found 'gruff and distant until he not-so-shockingly isn't' hero. And while I'm usually fine with innocent, plucky heroines, I fully agree with the reviewers who notes that this particular innocent and plucky heroine was quite annoying. Of all the CK books I've read, I felt this one did the poorest job of convincing me that the H and h had a genuinely deep connection. And, as other reviews have alluded to, some of their actions in the second half are just eyeroll-inducing. Honestly, it felt like the writer just wasn't sure how to move the plot along organically and at a smooth, natural pace.
So far I'm making this sound like a one-star book, but I'm giving it three. (Well, really 2.5...but since Goodreads doesn't allow that, I'll generously round up, if only to avoid alienating CK's fans even more than I have already!) Parts are well written, and there are splashes of insight, warmth and depth that made me think, "Ah, right, so THIS is why people love Carla Kelly!"
Overall, though, I was disappointed, perhaps in part because my expectations of this author are high. I'm trying one more CK book before I sadly resign myself to the fact that this highly acclaimed fan favorite is just not for me.
July 20, 2015
This is my first Carla Kelly book. I've had this on my wish list forever.
I finally got it and had the urge to read a historical romance. I really enjoyed the writing. The story is set in the early 1800's. The language is somewhat modernized, which I appreciated. A couple of words didn't seem to fit: "picky" and "bored".I noticed very few other out of place words/phrases. I don't think that it was a big problem.
I got into the story very quickly. The terms describing the ships and the crew was fascinating.
Hannah is a passenger on an American ship sailing from Boston to Charleston. On the way, they first encounter a British naval ship, then are attacked by a French naval ship.
Hannah is only 17 years old at the start of the book. She has a wide-eyed innocence about her. She's from a Quaker family in Nantucket. The disciplined and cynical Captain, Daniel Spark of the British Navy thinks of her as a nuisance. She's very young and has no experience in the world. The Captain is very harsh with her. She eventually begins to soften up his gruff exterior. Hannah begins to make herself useful on the ship.
The sea battles were very realistic. There's some political intrigue that began in the 2nd half of the book. Hannah plays a big part in aiding Daniel and the British government. I thought that the plot arched early. The book had more story left. The last 2-3 chapters was spent on their relationship. Would they be together? Were they so different? Would the sea always come first for Daniel? Could Hannah give up her Quaker way of life?
I give 4.75 stars since there's no epilogue. I liked how the ending wasn't rushed. This was a "clean" romance.
I finally got it and had the urge to read a historical romance. I really enjoyed the writing. The story is set in the early 1800's. The language is somewhat modernized, which I appreciated. A couple of words didn't seem to fit: "picky" and "bored".I noticed very few other out of place words/phrases. I don't think that it was a big problem.
I got into the story very quickly. The terms describing the ships and the crew was fascinating.
Hannah is a passenger on an American ship sailing from Boston to Charleston. On the way, they first encounter a British naval ship, then are attacked by a French naval ship.
Hannah is only 17 years old at the start of the book. She has a wide-eyed innocence about her. She's from a Quaker family in Nantucket. The disciplined and cynical Captain, Daniel Spark of the British Navy thinks of her as a nuisance. She's very young and has no experience in the world. The Captain is very harsh with her. She eventually begins to soften up his gruff exterior. Hannah begins to make herself useful on the ship.
The sea battles were very realistic. There's some political intrigue that began in the 2nd half of the book. Hannah plays a big part in aiding Daniel and the British government. I thought that the plot arched early. The book had more story left. The last 2-3 chapters was spent on their relationship. Would they be together? Were they so different? Would the sea always come first for Daniel? Could Hannah give up her Quaker way of life?
I give 4.75 stars since there's no epilogue. I liked how the ending wasn't rushed. This was a "clean" romance.
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October 15, 2017
My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts... for more, visit Punya Reviews...
The latest Carla Kelly that I read, Miss Whittier Makes a List, was one of those I was finishing up from her “Miss” series. Well, there’s no series titled like that but she’s got quite a few older Regency romances having titles with a “Miss this or that does this or that” (if this even makes any sense to anyone ;P). *facepalm* Sooo, I liked how it was, the storyline, the characters too. However, not as mind-blowing as I had hoped it would be after reading the first few chapters. As a result, it took me a while to finish it because I wasn’t sure what to write in my review or how to structure it; my feelings were that ambivalent. I don’t want anyone to dislike the story, but there are things that need to be mentioned.
Miss Whittier Makes a List isn’t a badly written novel. Not at all! I mean I keep saying this, and it’s true. I love Ms. Kelly’s writing and I loved most of her backlist thus far. This one begins with a h with a little different background. Hannah is a Quaker, a background not often explored in the arena of HR that I generally read. But even though she’s meant to be lived under strict rules of the ‘type’ of Christianity they followed, Hannah was anything but meek and biddable. Oh she gives that impression quite well, but inside Hannah something... different. Something preferably more exciting. Things that she won’t even acknowledge to herself, let alone to anyone else among her Quaker Friends. I mean, they don’t even call each-other anything but ‘thee’ and ‘thy’. :/
But, though, she had a different future as a biddable daughter, then wife, planned out for her, Hannah’s life will be turned completely upside down on her first voyage to the ocean in a ship called Molly Claridge. She was called away to Charleston, to help one of her brother’s wife who was about to give birth to her niece or nephew. However, on the way, an English ship called Dissuade waylays them. They were looking for deserters, or people who jumped ships; left His Majesties Royal Navy’s fabulous ships to work in a much friendlier environment. They often sought work on American ships. The captain of the ship was quite rude and remarkably arrogant. Not only does he claim the few men he recognized as Englishmen, but also takes the son of the Captain of Molly Claridge, Adam. Hannah knew the Captain’s family and Adam was her childhood friend. One she had often dreamt of being married to as they were of the same age. It was well known that people who were forced to work on English ships wouldn’t often return home, which got Hannah worried.
But this Daniel Spark, the Captain of Dissuade was a type of man Hannah had never met in her life. Well, one of her older brothers, Matthew, is sea bound being a whale hunter. But he’s nothing like Captain Spark, who stood as straight and tall as he was, oozing command from every pore of his body, his stance and his intense gaze. Hannah couldn’t stop looking at his curly dark hair, though quite arresting but not-so-classically handsome face which weathered quite a bit from years of wind and the sun. But the most hypnotic was his light colored eyes that glowed from that darker face. He didn’t seem to smile much, even then Hannah was quite struck by him. I’d say, totally dizzy by him on spot. But when they’re taking away Adam, knowing how much it’s gonna hurt his family, Hannah can’t stop but protest. When everyone around stood there with bated breath, knowing something bad may happen to Hannah, his face splits into something called a smile. Then he kisses her thoroughly and sails away, hinting they’d meet again. I thought that scene was super HOT! I mean WOW! If only Hannah was a little older than 17, It’d be legit scorching IMO.
Captain Daniel Spark was every bit of the man who liked showing off what he owned; his rank and his capabilities to hold up that position. For which he worked hard since he was a boy. He was around 30, almost retiring age for a man who has been at sea since 10 or 12 yrs. old. He’s also the second son of a peer but he hated being in England with his dysfunctional family. There was nothing exciting there for him to stay more than a few weeks in every few years. In the years he’d been worked super hard, and climbed ranks, Daniel has seen and heard horrible things. It shaped everything about him and his life until now. He’s very commanding, expecting to be obeyed. He’s extremely serious about his job and did a splendid one too by running Dissuade like a well-oiled machine. His subordinates respected him. I’d go as far as to say most of them were very fond and proud of their Captain.
When Daniel saw Hannah, he liked her instantly. She wasn’t extremely attractive or anything but she wasn’t too plain looking either. In his dreary life, she seemed like the much needed breath of fresh air. The innocence that was lost to him and his mates a long time ago. He had hoped to see her again, not knowing it’d happen quite soon. A few days later, they rescue Hannah, dehydrated and on the verge death, on a floating crate. Apparently the French ship he’d alerted the Captain of Molly Claridge about, done its deed. It was obvious that the Captain chose not to take his advice. It was also apparent that by sheer luck, Hannah was the only one alive.
The next few days, Daniel spends time taking care of Hannah who was also severely sunburned. And in this long voyage, where Dissuade was already England-bound, would be the most exciting, excruciating, yet the most exhilarating months of Hannah’s life. Probably the adventure she’d sought unknowingly all her life. She’d learn the life in a ship first hand, where no other woman was allowed in. She’d learn to become a ‘mate’ herself, living and dressing like one as that was the most convenient and she’d lost all her possession in the shipwreck. She’d learn the ‘vocabulary’ of a sailor, words her mother would faint if she ever heard herself, and would often be joked around by the sailors as the ‘shark chum’. She’d learn to oakum, to climb the rigging to spy for other ships. She’d earn the trust and affection of the sailors whom she would’ve thought perfectly unmanageable beasts otherwise. She’d also experience gruesome deaths when Dissuade is attacked, witnessing unimaginable pain and suffering on a surgeon’s table as the ship’s only doctor Andrew Lansing needed help. And Hannah would help no matter how horrible and unpalatable it was.
But most of all, Hannah would find herself falling for a light-eyed Captain who took life too seriously. Hannah couldn’t blame him anymore seeing what she’d seen, knowing he’d experienced it thousands of times worse than her. She’d come to realize that she was the one Daniel wanted to have close, because she brought those sudden whisper of smiles on his face. While still on board of Molly Claridge, Hannah made a list of ‘virtues’ in a would-be husband when she was sheltered and didn’t know anything of the world. She was bored, and ironically, was thinking of the ‘rude Captain’ when she made the list. Daniel later found it and read it, which remains a joke between them. However, now Hannah knew better. By now she knew that life works in the most mysterious of ways. Daniel Spark would’ve failed miserably to capture her interest if she had to go by virtue of that list. After all, she made that list thinking how unsuitable he was as a ‘husband material’. Now she couldn’t imagine being with anyone else but him.
That’s not it though. At one point, no thanks to an enemy ship, there’s also another shipwreck and Dissuade is lost to them, alongside many of their trusty mates. As they’re deserted in another enemy country and more adventures for Hannah; some good, other not so much as Daniel is arrested, then beaten to bloody pulp. By then, they’d sort of managed to acknowledge their feelings for each-other, knowing they’d marry as soon as they’re in England. Hannah had made peace with the fact that she may not be seeing her family again. At least, not anytime soon. Things do go wrong when Daniel is send to England separately. Hannah knew nothing of it as she and Adam were waiting to aboard an American ship.
But somehow, with Daniel’s remaining crew, they manage to escape, sadly with the sacrifice of their doctor Lansing. Hannah also meets the Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, who helps her and Adam to get to England. There were some funny scenes here, as Hannah still as innocent as ever, asks the Great Wellington to cut his toe nails often so his socks stay in better shape. :P In England, Hannah proves her mettle by helping Daniel out of a court marshal. Daniel was over the moon when reunited by his beloved. He takes her straight to his home, planning a wedding ASAP.
In England, life would be different for Hannah. Much more different than her quaint life in Nantucket. So far away from her family to live in an enemy country to be with the man she loved. She often questioned herself, could she do it? But one look at Daniel’s smiling face and his eagerness to love her, Hannah knew she’d remain in England for the rest of her life as long as she can be Daniel’s wife, bear his children and grow old with him. IF she can grow old with him because Daniel would not give up his duty for his country. The war with Nepoleon was still raging, and that was Daniel’s first priority. Even before Hannah, as he’d made it quite clear to her. Hannah won’t come between him and his duty. Still, Hannah persevered, knowing she can’t blame him for choosing his country over her. After all, wasn’t his integrity one of those things that drew her to him? What if it means she maybe a widow long before her time? Hannah was trained to be a biddable wife and she’d be the best wife Daniel would ever have.
But then, suddenly one day, after planning his latest voyage, Daniel changes his mind. He refuses to marry Hannah and breaks off the engagement before going away to serve his King and his country. That has to be one of the most difficult moments of Hannah’s life because he refused to acknowledge his feelings any longer. He wanted her gone to America but without any explanation as to why. ‘What now Hannah?’ was all she could ask herself. She’d be ship-bound to sail to America in a few days but would she be able to live with a broken heart? Could she forget her errant Captain and move on?
Fear not, there is a HEA for us despondent readers. I enjoyed reading Hannah’s superb adventures of life that taught her so many things; things she never thought to ever experience in her sheltered life.
Now I’d like to point out the things that bugged me the most, and why Miss Whittier Makes a List couldn’t make it more than a 3.5 stars, even though I LOVED many aspects in this story. By all means, it could’ve been 5 stars for me. But, sadly, it wasn’t.
# The first and foremost would be Hannah and Daniel’s age difference. Don’t get me wrong though. Generally in the historical romance perspective, I’m quite okay with a h of 17 who has a 12yrs. age difference with the H. After all, that was quite common in those days. I’ve read stories like that and enjoyed thoroughly. And if the h is older and matured, then a 12yrs age difference with a much older H isn’t a problem at all. In here, I loved Hannah for her innocence, her fresh outlook of life. Her curiosity and a deep abiding need to experience ‘life’ in it’s full glory even when she was scared. It was all great, but she’d have been better paired with someone like Adam or even that sailor in his early 20s that she came to like in the story. Daniel was simply too experienced of life, too matured for her. She was just not of his league. Which is why I constantly felt she had little to no idea of what she exactly wanted in her life. She was always confused and hesitant, sometimes weepy as well. She didn’t know what to do with the love of this much older, experienced man until she sort of got used to with the idea of being with him. I don’t blame her for it but it was just... wrong in so many levels.
# Which brings me to my second issue. Because of how I saw Daniel, I never felt their pairing was correct. He could’ve been a better big brother to Hannah than her beau. He basically treated her as a child until he realized that’s not gonna help with the already palpable attraction. Even though I never questioned the affection between them, the chemistry was thoroughly missing. I refused to even imagine anything between them for reasons I already explained above. It was not because of their age difference, but because they were not meant to be a couple anyway IMO. A more matured lady, who knew what she wanted and went after it, was needed to be Daniel’s equal. I adored him and this simply made me weep in frustration. :(
And so, even though I loved the story, I was very disappointed in the Romance part. I’d still recommend it if you’re into clean romance and would like to read a sweeping tale of adventure as long as the above doesn’t bug you as much as it has bugged me.
The latest Carla Kelly that I read, Miss Whittier Makes a List, was one of those I was finishing up from her “Miss” series. Well, there’s no series titled like that but she’s got quite a few older Regency romances having titles with a “Miss this or that does this or that” (if this even makes any sense to anyone ;P). *facepalm* Sooo, I liked how it was, the storyline, the characters too. However, not as mind-blowing as I had hoped it would be after reading the first few chapters. As a result, it took me a while to finish it because I wasn’t sure what to write in my review or how to structure it; my feelings were that ambivalent. I don’t want anyone to dislike the story, but there are things that need to be mentioned.
Miss Whittier Makes a List isn’t a badly written novel. Not at all! I mean I keep saying this, and it’s true. I love Ms. Kelly’s writing and I loved most of her backlist thus far. This one begins with a h with a little different background. Hannah is a Quaker, a background not often explored in the arena of HR that I generally read. But even though she’s meant to be lived under strict rules of the ‘type’ of Christianity they followed, Hannah was anything but meek and biddable. Oh she gives that impression quite well, but inside Hannah something... different. Something preferably more exciting. Things that she won’t even acknowledge to herself, let alone to anyone else among her Quaker Friends. I mean, they don’t even call each-other anything but ‘thee’ and ‘thy’. :/
But, though, she had a different future as a biddable daughter, then wife, planned out for her, Hannah’s life will be turned completely upside down on her first voyage to the ocean in a ship called Molly Claridge. She was called away to Charleston, to help one of her brother’s wife who was about to give birth to her niece or nephew. However, on the way, an English ship called Dissuade waylays them. They were looking for deserters, or people who jumped ships; left His Majesties Royal Navy’s fabulous ships to work in a much friendlier environment. They often sought work on American ships. The captain of the ship was quite rude and remarkably arrogant. Not only does he claim the few men he recognized as Englishmen, but also takes the son of the Captain of Molly Claridge, Adam. Hannah knew the Captain’s family and Adam was her childhood friend. One she had often dreamt of being married to as they were of the same age. It was well known that people who were forced to work on English ships wouldn’t often return home, which got Hannah worried.
But this Daniel Spark, the Captain of Dissuade was a type of man Hannah had never met in her life. Well, one of her older brothers, Matthew, is sea bound being a whale hunter. But he’s nothing like Captain Spark, who stood as straight and tall as he was, oozing command from every pore of his body, his stance and his intense gaze. Hannah couldn’t stop looking at his curly dark hair, though quite arresting but not-so-classically handsome face which weathered quite a bit from years of wind and the sun. But the most hypnotic was his light colored eyes that glowed from that darker face. He didn’t seem to smile much, even then Hannah was quite struck by him. I’d say, totally dizzy by him on spot. But when they’re taking away Adam, knowing how much it’s gonna hurt his family, Hannah can’t stop but protest. When everyone around stood there with bated breath, knowing something bad may happen to Hannah, his face splits into something called a smile. Then he kisses her thoroughly and sails away, hinting they’d meet again. I thought that scene was super HOT! I mean WOW! If only Hannah was a little older than 17, It’d be legit scorching IMO.
Captain Daniel Spark was every bit of the man who liked showing off what he owned; his rank and his capabilities to hold up that position. For which he worked hard since he was a boy. He was around 30, almost retiring age for a man who has been at sea since 10 or 12 yrs. old. He’s also the second son of a peer but he hated being in England with his dysfunctional family. There was nothing exciting there for him to stay more than a few weeks in every few years. In the years he’d been worked super hard, and climbed ranks, Daniel has seen and heard horrible things. It shaped everything about him and his life until now. He’s very commanding, expecting to be obeyed. He’s extremely serious about his job and did a splendid one too by running Dissuade like a well-oiled machine. His subordinates respected him. I’d go as far as to say most of them were very fond and proud of their Captain.
When Daniel saw Hannah, he liked her instantly. She wasn’t extremely attractive or anything but she wasn’t too plain looking either. In his dreary life, she seemed like the much needed breath of fresh air. The innocence that was lost to him and his mates a long time ago. He had hoped to see her again, not knowing it’d happen quite soon. A few days later, they rescue Hannah, dehydrated and on the verge death, on a floating crate. Apparently the French ship he’d alerted the Captain of Molly Claridge about, done its deed. It was obvious that the Captain chose not to take his advice. It was also apparent that by sheer luck, Hannah was the only one alive.
The next few days, Daniel spends time taking care of Hannah who was also severely sunburned. And in this long voyage, where Dissuade was already England-bound, would be the most exciting, excruciating, yet the most exhilarating months of Hannah’s life. Probably the adventure she’d sought unknowingly all her life. She’d learn the life in a ship first hand, where no other woman was allowed in. She’d learn to become a ‘mate’ herself, living and dressing like one as that was the most convenient and she’d lost all her possession in the shipwreck. She’d learn the ‘vocabulary’ of a sailor, words her mother would faint if she ever heard herself, and would often be joked around by the sailors as the ‘shark chum’. She’d learn to oakum, to climb the rigging to spy for other ships. She’d earn the trust and affection of the sailors whom she would’ve thought perfectly unmanageable beasts otherwise. She’d also experience gruesome deaths when Dissuade is attacked, witnessing unimaginable pain and suffering on a surgeon’s table as the ship’s only doctor Andrew Lansing needed help. And Hannah would help no matter how horrible and unpalatable it was.
But most of all, Hannah would find herself falling for a light-eyed Captain who took life too seriously. Hannah couldn’t blame him anymore seeing what she’d seen, knowing he’d experienced it thousands of times worse than her. She’d come to realize that she was the one Daniel wanted to have close, because she brought those sudden whisper of smiles on his face. While still on board of Molly Claridge, Hannah made a list of ‘virtues’ in a would-be husband when she was sheltered and didn’t know anything of the world. She was bored, and ironically, was thinking of the ‘rude Captain’ when she made the list. Daniel later found it and read it, which remains a joke between them. However, now Hannah knew better. By now she knew that life works in the most mysterious of ways. Daniel Spark would’ve failed miserably to capture her interest if she had to go by virtue of that list. After all, she made that list thinking how unsuitable he was as a ‘husband material’. Now she couldn’t imagine being with anyone else but him.
That’s not it though. At one point, no thanks to an enemy ship, there’s also another shipwreck and Dissuade is lost to them, alongside many of their trusty mates. As they’re deserted in another enemy country and more adventures for Hannah; some good, other not so much as Daniel is arrested, then beaten to bloody pulp. By then, they’d sort of managed to acknowledge their feelings for each-other, knowing they’d marry as soon as they’re in England. Hannah had made peace with the fact that she may not be seeing her family again. At least, not anytime soon. Things do go wrong when Daniel is send to England separately. Hannah knew nothing of it as she and Adam were waiting to aboard an American ship.
But somehow, with Daniel’s remaining crew, they manage to escape, sadly with the sacrifice of their doctor Lansing. Hannah also meets the Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, who helps her and Adam to get to England. There were some funny scenes here, as Hannah still as innocent as ever, asks the Great Wellington to cut his toe nails often so his socks stay in better shape. :P In England, Hannah proves her mettle by helping Daniel out of a court marshal. Daniel was over the moon when reunited by his beloved. He takes her straight to his home, planning a wedding ASAP.
In England, life would be different for Hannah. Much more different than her quaint life in Nantucket. So far away from her family to live in an enemy country to be with the man she loved. She often questioned herself, could she do it? But one look at Daniel’s smiling face and his eagerness to love her, Hannah knew she’d remain in England for the rest of her life as long as she can be Daniel’s wife, bear his children and grow old with him. IF she can grow old with him because Daniel would not give up his duty for his country. The war with Nepoleon was still raging, and that was Daniel’s first priority. Even before Hannah, as he’d made it quite clear to her. Hannah won’t come between him and his duty. Still, Hannah persevered, knowing she can’t blame him for choosing his country over her. After all, wasn’t his integrity one of those things that drew her to him? What if it means she maybe a widow long before her time? Hannah was trained to be a biddable wife and she’d be the best wife Daniel would ever have.
But then, suddenly one day, after planning his latest voyage, Daniel changes his mind. He refuses to marry Hannah and breaks off the engagement before going away to serve his King and his country. That has to be one of the most difficult moments of Hannah’s life because he refused to acknowledge his feelings any longer. He wanted her gone to America but without any explanation as to why. ‘What now Hannah?’ was all she could ask herself. She’d be ship-bound to sail to America in a few days but would she be able to live with a broken heart? Could she forget her errant Captain and move on?
Fear not, there is a HEA for us despondent readers. I enjoyed reading Hannah’s superb adventures of life that taught her so many things; things she never thought to ever experience in her sheltered life.
Now I’d like to point out the things that bugged me the most, and why Miss Whittier Makes a List couldn’t make it more than a 3.5 stars, even though I LOVED many aspects in this story. By all means, it could’ve been 5 stars for me. But, sadly, it wasn’t.
# The first and foremost would be Hannah and Daniel’s age difference. Don’t get me wrong though. Generally in the historical romance perspective, I’m quite okay with a h of 17 who has a 12yrs. age difference with the H. After all, that was quite common in those days. I’ve read stories like that and enjoyed thoroughly. And if the h is older and matured, then a 12yrs age difference with a much older H isn’t a problem at all. In here, I loved Hannah for her innocence, her fresh outlook of life. Her curiosity and a deep abiding need to experience ‘life’ in it’s full glory even when she was scared. It was all great, but she’d have been better paired with someone like Adam or even that sailor in his early 20s that she came to like in the story. Daniel was simply too experienced of life, too matured for her. She was just not of his league. Which is why I constantly felt she had little to no idea of what she exactly wanted in her life. She was always confused and hesitant, sometimes weepy as well. She didn’t know what to do with the love of this much older, experienced man until she sort of got used to with the idea of being with him. I don’t blame her for it but it was just... wrong in so many levels.
# Which brings me to my second issue. Because of how I saw Daniel, I never felt their pairing was correct. He could’ve been a better big brother to Hannah than her beau. He basically treated her as a child until he realized that’s not gonna help with the already palpable attraction. Even though I never questioned the affection between them, the chemistry was thoroughly missing. I refused to even imagine anything between them for reasons I already explained above. It was not because of their age difference, but because they were not meant to be a couple anyway IMO. A more matured lady, who knew what she wanted and went after it, was needed to be Daniel’s equal. I adored him and this simply made me weep in frustration. :(
And so, even though I loved the story, I was very disappointed in the Romance part. I’d still recommend it if you’re into clean romance and would like to read a sweeping tale of adventure as long as the above doesn’t bug you as much as it has bugged me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2021
[image error] Miss Whitttier Makes a List https://amzn.to/36S2wBs Really good details about the sea. Young heroine (17) and older hero (30). Very slow burn; only kisses; nice couple. Could have been a good story to me, but the ending just wasn't worth it. That captain needed to have done some serious groveling, and Miss Whittier needed to have made him do it. Yes, the HEA is there, but, given what happened beforehand, it came too haphazardly and ruined the story for me.
September 30, 2015
LOVED IT! It was so good. WOW! I could not put it down. Yes, I read, or rather listened to it on kindle and finished it in 2 days. I loved it. There were a couple taking the Lords name in vain, however it was sailors and she had a WAY toned down. The story was intriguing, and I loved the love story. The sacrifice and the end. OH how I LOVED THE END!
March 8, 2017
synopsis:
hannah is on her way to her brother's place incharlotte charleston to help once her niece or nephew is born. the ship that she is on is borded and some of the men are pressed by the english captain. hannah doesn't like it, and speaks her mind. as he is leaving, the captain kisses her, and warns the captain of hannah's ship that the french are on the waters, and are not asking questions about what country the ship belongs to. later that night, hannah's ship is attacked, and she is the only survivor. she is picked up by the captain a couple of days later, badly burned. after she recovers, hannah is put to work doing different things on the ship. she slowly gets to know the captain, and realizes that he's not such a bad fellow. the ship survives a battle, but barely, and they surrender to the french.
what i liked: i'll be honest; i liked everything. once i was done this book, i wanted to tell everyone i know about how good it was. hannah and daniel were two amazing characters who came to see the other very clearly. the battle description was very strong. i liked how the author didn't have hannah fall into daniel's arms once he said that he loved her, but rather let her figure it out in her own time. and when daniel sent hannah away, the hurt and pain that hannah felt...i've got tears coming to my eyes just thinking about it.
what i didn't like: nothing. not a thing. one of my all time favourite books on a very short list.
hannah is on her way to her brother's place in
what i liked: i'll be honest; i liked everything. once i was done this book, i wanted to tell everyone i know about how good it was. hannah and daniel were two amazing characters who came to see the other very clearly. the battle description was very strong. i liked how the author didn't have hannah fall into daniel's arms once he said that he loved her, but rather let her figure it out in her own time. and when daniel sent hannah away, the hurt and pain that hannah felt...i've got tears coming to my eyes just thinking about it.
what i didn't like: nothing. not a thing. one of my all time favourite books on a very short list.
May 7, 2013
“Miss Whittier Makes a List” is one of Carla Kelly’s older books, now reprinted with a stunning new cover. I like Kelly’s books so I bought it hoping it would be up there with so many of hers that I have really enjoyed. It was her other stories of Regency England that introduced me to the important historic Napoleonic wars and their significance affecting Europe and beyond.
I liked the book, but it is not one of my favorites of hers. A major con for the story was the annoyance of Quaker Hannah always using “thee” instead of “you”. Yes, I realize that is an important part of her character so that particular problem is squarely in my court. Just made it harder reading that jabbed my fluidity. I repeat - my problem. (It’s my first Quaker character book - and my last.)
A couple other cons for me were how fast the rescue scene unfolded. Didn’t understand just when all that planning could have possibly happened to have it all come out so perfectly. Also, why Daniel left Hannah wasn’t as clear as I thought it should have been. Then all of a sudden she’s back in America and all turns out well in a flash. But logically that flash would have to have taken months and months at the very least.
I liked “Miss Whittier…” but I won’t keep it in my personal library to read again. I’ll choose one of my past favorites of Carla Kelly’s to read again.
I liked the book, but it is not one of my favorites of hers. A major con for the story was the annoyance of Quaker Hannah always using “thee” instead of “you”. Yes, I realize that is an important part of her character so that particular problem is squarely in my court. Just made it harder reading that jabbed my fluidity. I repeat - my problem. (It’s my first Quaker character book - and my last.)
A couple other cons for me were how fast the rescue scene unfolded. Didn’t understand just when all that planning could have possibly happened to have it all come out so perfectly. Also, why Daniel left Hannah wasn’t as clear as I thought it should have been. Then all of a sudden she’s back in America and all turns out well in a flash. But logically that flash would have to have taken months and months at the very least.
I liked “Miss Whittier…” but I won’t keep it in my personal library to read again. I’ll choose one of my past favorites of Carla Kelly’s to read again.
October 24, 2022
So fun! Carla Kelly often manages to take these short romances and make them something more. In this case the more is humor and adventure on the high seas for a young Quaker woman. I loved all of it, except right at the end. Oh, the MCs get their HEA, I just didn't like how it came about. It didn't fit the rest of the story for me. And there's the little detail of their ages, which is historically correct but always makes me uncomfortable. Fortunately the emphasis in this story is on the adventure, not the romance. Throw in some great details of sailing ships in the Napoleonic era, and you have a fun, quick read.
June 27, 2022
More than a little unbelievable, but still enjoyable in a horrific romance way. So many things to dislike...huge age difference (with a 17-year-old!), very first encounter involves a ridiculous forced kiss, even more ridiculous circumstances (only survivor of a shipwreck, escape from the French through a suicide bomber, encounter with Wellington at the perfect moment, last minute sweeping entry into a courtroom), the hero pushes and pushes heroine into marriage then suddenly declares he doesn't love her and she inexplicably believes him, the hero's mother tries to talk the heroine into cheating (what!)...but whatever. It's all good fun.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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June 6, 2020I was not finding this one captivating enough to hold my attention for long. It wasn't essentially a Carla Kelly signature book for me. Couldn't get further.
April 28, 2023
Sweet romance, but just too many unlikely twists—particularly with the British Admiralty, though I loved the seafaring strategy and nomenclature
June 27, 2023
A Gem
There is something special in this Carla Kelly keeper. It is an adventure, wrapped up with a love story in the beginning chapter of US history. President Madison is accused of political ignorance by hero Captain Sir Daniel Sparks for not understanding that any neutral shipping was fair game to French and British alike with the Napoleonic War on. Our h- Quaker miss is feisty from the start and calls the captain a despicable beast for his raid on the Molly C... for her crew. She demands US rights but the Captain refuses as you are ....an impertinent nation and a soon failed experiment. Wow.... some still think of us in that way too. So the British raid the tiny ship and the French blow her up leaving Hannah hanging on grating fighting for her life. Then there is a rescue by our curt Captain and then game begins. Life at sea for a woman, sea battles, treason, and diplomatic side stepping , while miy o found encouraging the couple ....Captain and Hannah must make their own decisions and it is a gallup to the finish.
There is something special in this Carla Kelly keeper. It is an adventure, wrapped up with a love story in the beginning chapter of US history. President Madison is accused of political ignorance by hero Captain Sir Daniel Sparks for not understanding that any neutral shipping was fair game to French and British alike with the Napoleonic War on. Our h- Quaker miss is feisty from the start and calls the captain a despicable beast for his raid on the Molly C... for her crew. She demands US rights but the Captain refuses as you are ....an impertinent nation and a soon failed experiment. Wow.... some still think of us in that way too. So the British raid the tiny ship and the French blow her up leaving Hannah hanging on grating fighting for her life. Then there is a rescue by our curt Captain and then game begins. Life at sea for a woman, sea battles, treason, and diplomatic side stepping , while miy o found encouraging the couple ....Captain and Hannah must make their own decisions and it is a gallup to the finish.
March 4, 2013
2.5/5; 3 stars; C+
I enjoy a swashbuckling historical romance and this one had some great moments. Unfortunately, although I liked many of the character I couldn't quite suspend belief to the point that I could buy into the HEA. A 17 year old Quaker girl and a lifetime career Navy man just couldn't work for me to that extent. I didn't dislike the story but it didn't resonate with me the way most of Ms. Kelly's stories do. For a fun, fantastical swashbuckling tale (that also requires suspension of belief) I'd prefer
or
I enjoy a swashbuckling historical romance and this one had some great moments. Unfortunately, although I liked many of the character I couldn't quite suspend belief to the point that I could buy into the HEA. A 17 year old Quaker girl and a lifetime career Navy man just couldn't work for me to that extent. I didn't dislike the story but it didn't resonate with me the way most of Ms. Kelly's stories do. For a fun, fantastical swashbuckling tale (that also requires suspension of belief) I'd prefer
or
May 26, 2011
Yet another proof of Carla Kelly's ability to tell a story with superior plot and historical authenticity. The main characters were a surprise and delight. I laughed so many times as the Quaker girl Hannah had to learn through mishap how to survive on a British fighting ship and I loved reading the growing feelings between her and the captain. A hardened lonely sailor who breathed duty and honor met his match in a feisty young girl with a strong moral compass. Their adventures were exciting and their romance gives me a little smile even now.
My only disappointment was the feeling that the end was hurried after all their angst in being parted for good. I guess I just wanted the joy drawn out as much as the disappointment.
Terrific read!
My only disappointment was the feeling that the end was hurried after all their angst in being parted for good. I guess I just wanted the joy drawn out as much as the disappointment.
Terrific read!
June 13, 2013
A Quaker miss ends up on a ship of the British Navy, plaguing the captain with her good cheer. A delightful read, it contains one of my favorite moments of comfort in a romance I think the book could have been better if it actually dwelt on the happenings after the captain wins his lady, instead of only the lady's justified fears, but who am I to quibble overmuch with a good book?
January 15, 2016
3.5 stars
A regency era storyline. An enjoyable read if you consider this book as a fantasy regency romance novel. She is an American Quaker girl from Nantucket; he is the younger brother to a Baron and a British navy captain. She was on a ship on her way through Charleston to help with her brother's first baby; he needed few crewman to replace the ones he lost on his last battle with a French war ship....
The second storyline, the brother in law who happen to be the ship surgeon, his character and his dark morbid sense of humor fascinated me.
A regency era storyline. An enjoyable read if you consider this book as a fantasy regency romance novel. She is an American Quaker girl from Nantucket; he is the younger brother to a Baron and a British navy captain. She was on a ship on her way through Charleston to help with her brother's first baby; he needed few crewman to replace the ones he lost on his last battle with a French war ship....
The second storyline, the brother in law who happen to be the ship surgeon, his character and his dark morbid sense of humor fascinated me.
August 8, 2015
This was a touching story full of adventure, peril, and romance; kind of in that order.
I loved the historical detail and the author's obvious knowledge of the workings and life on a tall masted wooden ship of yesteryear.
I also liked that the romance wasn't rushed and the propriety of the day wasn't violated (mostly).
The heroine was sweet and innocent, though strong and spirited; rising the to challenges that faced her.
This was my first Carla Kelly novel and it was a winner for me.
I loved the historical detail and the author's obvious knowledge of the workings and life on a tall masted wooden ship of yesteryear.
I also liked that the romance wasn't rushed and the propriety of the day wasn't violated (mostly).
The heroine was sweet and innocent, though strong and spirited; rising the to challenges that faced her.
This was my first Carla Kelly novel and it was a winner for me.
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January 10, 2008The only Carla Kelly novel I've ever disliked.
April 21, 2013
Good, especially the ship life experience. But ending was silly, out of character, and pretty much a downer overall.
July 9, 2018
This was a fun and wonderful slow adventure-filled slow simmer of a romance, although the last quarter dragged a bit.
December 30, 2021
A enjoyable read, but not up to the standards I have learned to expect from a Carla Kelly book.
A Carla Kelly book usually lets me slightly dazed, with a happy warm fuzzy feeling inside, as if the world was somehow a better place. Not this one, though. It's nice adventure, with a swashbuckling captain, naval battles, heroic feats, but nothing much lingers once the book is closed, except the harrowing question : why is the American heroin so bent on exposing the traitor in the Royal Navy? This is an enemy nation! They treat you like shit, conscript your citizens by force... who cares if they have traitors in their ranks? Not you!
Scratch that : why does the English Captain, when faced with the prospect of treason, turn to two American citizens for help? one of those being the one he illegally conscripted, and thus not especially inclined to help? This just does not make any sense!😣
And the ending does not make any sense either :
A Carla Kelly book usually lets me slightly dazed, with a happy warm fuzzy feeling inside, as if the world was somehow a better place. Not this one, though. It's nice adventure, with a swashbuckling captain, naval battles, heroic feats, but nothing much lingers once the book is closed, except the harrowing question : why is the American heroin so bent on exposing the traitor in the Royal Navy? This is an enemy nation! They treat you like shit, conscript your citizens by force... who cares if they have traitors in their ranks? Not you!
Scratch that : why does the English Captain, when faced with the prospect of treason, turn to two American citizens for help? one of those being the one he illegally conscripted, and thus not especially inclined to help? This just does not make any sense!😣
And the ending does not make any sense either :
October 24, 2023
Carla Kellly always packs her books with a lot of surprises and usually seems to have characters who stay true to basic moral codes. As this book drew to a close, I wondered had she had the two main characters slipping into bad things. Captain Daniel Spark was ready for love yet his potential lover, Hannah Whittier so passionately in love as well, wanted to wait for marriage. She of a Quaker upbringing was holding out, and this thin protective moral code and benevolence from above prevailed. Sparks respected her enough with all this in place that he didn't force her over the edge that she was holding onto with three fingers.
She was faced to live in his sumptious estates for maybe a year or more as he was on the Blockade to keep Boney away from the British Isles. Fortuitously, he feigned that he no longer loved her so she could sail for Nantucket and her parents' home there. The big surprise was he landed in America and then was able to seal the deal with permission of Hannah's mother. As the book ended, they had permission and the necessary licenses to get married in the United States. She was going back to England with her husband Daniel, but happiness was not guaranteed BUT THEY WERE IN LOVE and that is the core to any successful marriage. Captain Sparks made an additional positive contribution: I WILL GIVE UP THE SEA ONCE Boniparte is defeated. I don't think Miss Whitier included to have PASSION in her marriage as part of her list BUT I AM SURE SHE BELIEVED IT NOw !!!
Good book, Carla, you didn't disappoint after all.
She was faced to live in his sumptious estates for maybe a year or more as he was on the Blockade to keep Boney away from the British Isles. Fortuitously, he feigned that he no longer loved her so she could sail for Nantucket and her parents' home there. The big surprise was he landed in America and then was able to seal the deal with permission of Hannah's mother. As the book ended, they had permission and the necessary licenses to get married in the United States. She was going back to England with her husband Daniel, but happiness was not guaranteed BUT THEY WERE IN LOVE and that is the core to any successful marriage. Captain Sparks made an additional positive contribution: I WILL GIVE UP THE SEA ONCE Boniparte is defeated. I don't think Miss Whitier included to have PASSION in her marriage as part of her list BUT I AM SURE SHE BELIEVED IT NOw !!!
Good book, Carla, you didn't disappoint after all.
December 20, 2018
I read this back in the mid '90s when it first came out and it's been sitting on my keeper shelf ever since, waiting for a re-read. So many romances are devoured and forgotten, but Carla Kelly's are different enough that they stick with me, and this one was pretty sharp in my memory for the last two-plus decades. There are little details that I don't love (her young age being primary), but their relationship is so sweet, and the love and affection between them is shown so well. My favorite scene is when he stands on deck, giving orders to his crew while Hannah huddles right next to him, gathering strength and comfort from his presence.
The scenes on the ship are atmospheric, and we get to see aspects of the regency times not typically showcased in books in this genre. Carla Kelly does internal dialog so well. The reader gets to know the characters completely. We stay in the head of Hannah this entire book. I would have liked to see Daniel's point-of-view, too, but his character is not a mystery even without that benefit.
This is going back on my keeper shelf.
The scenes on the ship are atmospheric, and we get to see aspects of the regency times not typically showcased in books in this genre. Carla Kelly does internal dialog so well. The reader gets to know the characters completely. We stay in the head of Hannah this entire book. I would have liked to see Daniel's point-of-view, too, but his character is not a mystery even without that benefit.
This is going back on my keeper shelf.
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