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Lord Ratliffe's Daughters
The Surgeon's Lady
As a surgeon in the Royal Navy, Lieutenant Philemon Brittle has proved his bravery countless times. But he's never known the thrill that comes with falling in love. Until he meets the beautiful Lady Laura Taunton, who has turned to nursing the wounded as solace from her unhappy past.
Philemon will need to draw upon every bit of his strength and determination to convince the marriage-shy Laura that establishing a life together is the truest path to love and happiness….
Philemon will need to draw upon every bit of his strength and determination to convince the marriage-shy Laura that establishing a life together is the truest path to love and happiness….
277 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
53 people are currently reading
729 people want to read
About the author
Carla Kelly
145 books798 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 111 reviews
August 30, 2010
The 2nd book in the Channel Fleet series, The Surgeon's Lady starts a few months after Marrying The Captain ended. The Napoleonic Wars are still playing havoc with everyone's lives, and that's the setting of this book. You don't have to read the 1st book to understand the 2nd, but you might want to do that if you don't like spoilers because some events that took place at the end of the previous book are mentioned in this one.
Lady Laura Taunton is one of Lord Ratliffe's illegitimate daughters - the others are Nana, the heroine in the previous book Marrying The Captain, and Polly, the heroine in the next book Marrying the Royal Marine. Unlike Nana, Laura caved to her father's demands and agreed to marry one of her father's "friends" so he could pay his gaming debts. Her marriage to Lord Taunton, who was 30 years older than her, turned out to be a nightmare and she was glad when he died 5 years later. Now, one year after his death, Laura is finally ready to get acquainted with her recently-discovered half-sister Nana.
While visiting Nana, Laura meets Lieutenant Philemon Brittle, a Royal Navy surgeon who happens to be the son of Daniel Brittle, sailing master of Nana's husband Captain Oliver Worth's ship. (Yes, this is a small, small world.) Laura and Philemon become friends, then co-workers (when she ends up working with him as a hospital matron) and finally lovers (in the emotional sense). Unfortunately, some obstacles must be overcome: war times aren't conducive to courtship, Philemon is a commoner while Laura is a Lady (by marriage, but still a Lady) and she's still too traumatized by her late husband's behavior to deal with the physical prospect of lovemaking. Luckily for Laura, Philemon is a very understanding - and patient! - man.
I wanted to love this book so much, but alas, that didn't happen. There was nothing wrong with the writing - Ms. Kelly definitely knows how to do it without resorting to misunderstandings, betrayals and other contrived plot devices - but I didn't connect with Philemon and Laura. It's hard to buy a romance when I can't connect with the H/h.
Laura grated on my nerves: first, with her crying and babbling her life story to every single person who showed her a minimum of affection; then, with her indecision about the consummation of her marriage to Philemon. Okay, I know she had reasons to fear the marriage bed considering what she had gone through with her late husband, but she should have also believed Philemon and Nana when they told her that having marital relations with someone you loved would be different - I mean, she knew it was possible to enjoy it because she had been close to feeling some pleasure with her horrible husband a few times.
As for Philemon, he was a saint: caring, dependable, funny, strong and patient. Too patient. He was no pushover, but the way he waited for months for Laura to come to her senses and to their marriage bed made me want to shake him and tell him to go after what he wanted. I like beta heroes, but that was pushing it.
Overall, this was an OK read to me, saved mostly by Ms. Kelly's writing. I liked how she set up the story, inserting historical facts without taking the focus away from the main plot. I loved revisiting Oliver and Nana: they're still going strong despite the hardships of war and they have the most sigh-worthy scene in the whole book. I liked the realistic tone of the story, even though following Philemon's medical activities was too detailed for my taste sometimes. All that I missed was a strong H/h I could love.
Lady Laura Taunton is one of Lord Ratliffe's illegitimate daughters - the others are Nana, the heroine in the previous book Marrying The Captain, and Polly, the heroine in the next book Marrying the Royal Marine. Unlike Nana, Laura caved to her father's demands and agreed to marry one of her father's "friends" so he could pay his gaming debts. Her marriage to Lord Taunton, who was 30 years older than her, turned out to be a nightmare and she was glad when he died 5 years later. Now, one year after his death, Laura is finally ready to get acquainted with her recently-discovered half-sister Nana.
While visiting Nana, Laura meets Lieutenant Philemon Brittle, a Royal Navy surgeon who happens to be the son of Daniel Brittle, sailing master of Nana's husband Captain Oliver Worth's ship. (Yes, this is a small, small world.) Laura and Philemon become friends, then co-workers (when she ends up working with him as a hospital matron) and finally lovers (in the emotional sense). Unfortunately, some obstacles must be overcome: war times aren't conducive to courtship, Philemon is a commoner while Laura is a Lady (by marriage, but still a Lady) and she's still too traumatized by her late husband's behavior to deal with the physical prospect of lovemaking. Luckily for Laura, Philemon is a very understanding - and patient! - man.
I wanted to love this book so much, but alas, that didn't happen. There was nothing wrong with the writing - Ms. Kelly definitely knows how to do it without resorting to misunderstandings, betrayals and other contrived plot devices - but I didn't connect with Philemon and Laura. It's hard to buy a romance when I can't connect with the H/h.
Laura grated on my nerves: first, with her crying and babbling her life story to every single person who showed her a minimum of affection; then, with her indecision about the consummation of her marriage to Philemon. Okay, I know she had reasons to fear the marriage bed considering what she had gone through with her late husband, but she should have also believed Philemon and Nana when they told her that having marital relations with someone you loved would be different - I mean, she knew it was possible to enjoy it because she had been close to feeling some pleasure with her horrible husband a few times.
As for Philemon, he was a saint: caring, dependable, funny, strong and patient. Too patient. He was no pushover, but the way he waited for months for Laura to come to her senses and to their marriage bed made me want to shake him and tell him to go after what he wanted. I like beta heroes, but that was pushing it.
Overall, this was an OK read to me, saved mostly by Ms. Kelly's writing. I liked how she set up the story, inserting historical facts without taking the focus away from the main plot. I loved revisiting Oliver and Nana: they're still going strong despite the hardships of war and they have the most sigh-worthy scene in the whole book. I liked the realistic tone of the story, even though following Philemon's medical activities was too detailed for my taste sometimes. All that I missed was a strong H/h I could love.
December 1, 2016
I have such an affection for this novel. It was the first Carla Kelly I read and I was entirely caught up by the writing and the story. I've re-read it a couple of times and it holds up. The romance is lovely and the story is interesting and well paced. Every time I read it I'm taken away by it again, even though I know precisely what's going to happen.
Laura, sister to Nana from the first book in the series [seriously, read the first book, it's also so lovely and sets up the backstory which is important to get the most out of this one]. Sold by her father into an awful first marriage. Derided for her inability to have children (because, of course, it’s always the woman’s fault). Eventually her husband has a stroke and she nurses him through his final years. His death sets her free, only she finds she doesn’t have anything except his money, she’s damaged by the marriage and has no sense of what to do with herself. Opportune then, that Nana should have sought her out. She goes to her sister and starts a new life. This brings her into contact with the navy and the surgeon at the nearby naval hospital, Philemon Brittle.
I can even get on board with that name. Philemon has become as much a romance hero's name as Sebastian. He is practical and sensible and not very handsome, every inch the CK doctor (or, as in this case, surgeon) hero. After Laura comes to his hospital to see a patient he impulsively finds himself asking her to come and work for him as a nurse of sorts [nurses didn’t really exist yet, but, you know what I mean]. And in the spirit of trying to find who she is and in the wake of her attraction to Philemon and his conviction that she can do anything, she says yes.
So this is a romance which develops over sickbeds and in the midst of gruesome operations. There’s death and sadness and an awful naval officer and Laura is subjected to an attempted rape which is pretty bloody awful. Eventually Laura is faced with the Father who damaged her so much.
This is not a romantic setting. These are not romantic themes. But gosh, because CK is a genius, it’s romantic any way.
Philemon falls head over heels for Laura and gives her exactly what she needs, in that he’s both comforting and demanding. That’s true also in his proposal of marriage. Laura doesn’t know if she’s going to be able be a wife in every sense given the continuing trauma from her first marriage. With patience and gentle encouragement from Philemon they get there together. The sex is about as explicit as Kelly gets and it’s very sweet and sexy.
What can I say? I just love this novel and it's five stars all day long for me.
Laura, sister to Nana from the first book in the series [seriously, read the first book, it's also so lovely and sets up the backstory which is important to get the most out of this one]. Sold by her father into an awful first marriage. Derided for her inability to have children (because, of course, it’s always the woman’s fault). Eventually her husband has a stroke and she nurses him through his final years. His death sets her free, only she finds she doesn’t have anything except his money, she’s damaged by the marriage and has no sense of what to do with herself. Opportune then, that Nana should have sought her out. She goes to her sister and starts a new life. This brings her into contact with the navy and the surgeon at the nearby naval hospital, Philemon Brittle.
I can even get on board with that name. Philemon has become as much a romance hero's name as Sebastian. He is practical and sensible and not very handsome, every inch the CK doctor (or, as in this case, surgeon) hero. After Laura comes to his hospital to see a patient he impulsively finds himself asking her to come and work for him as a nurse of sorts [nurses didn’t really exist yet, but, you know what I mean]. And in the spirit of trying to find who she is and in the wake of her attraction to Philemon and his conviction that she can do anything, she says yes.
So this is a romance which develops over sickbeds and in the midst of gruesome operations. There’s death and sadness and an awful naval officer and Laura is subjected to an attempted rape which is pretty bloody awful. Eventually Laura is faced with the Father who damaged her so much.
This is not a romantic setting. These are not romantic themes. But gosh, because CK is a genius, it’s romantic any way.
Philemon falls head over heels for Laura and gives her exactly what she needs, in that he’s both comforting and demanding. That’s true also in his proposal of marriage. Laura doesn’t know if she’s going to be able be a wife in every sense given the continuing trauma from her first marriage. With patience and gentle encouragement from Philemon they get there together. The sex is about as explicit as Kelly gets and it’s very sweet and sexy.
What can I say? I just love this novel and it's five stars all day long for me.
July 22, 2023
This was my first book by this author and I look forward to reading more.
The writing style is perfunctory, straightforward, even business-like. You won’t find lyrical descriptions or elegant phrasing here. What you will find is charm, warmth, courage, touches of humor, keenly observed human behavior, and deep emotion. I was quickly pulled into the story and stayed there. I liked the characters, although I did have a problem with how Laura left Philemon alone for so long after their marriage. The author left a blank hole there, without showing us Laura’s struggle, and I needed that to better understand her actions…and forgive her. Knowing she still didn’t trust, and hearing another woman’s explanation to Philemon, didn’t quite cover it for me. But that was only a tiny quibble with a richly engaging story.
The writing style is perfunctory, straightforward, even business-like. You won’t find lyrical descriptions or elegant phrasing here. What you will find is charm, warmth, courage, touches of humor, keenly observed human behavior, and deep emotion. I was quickly pulled into the story and stayed there. I liked the characters, although I did have a problem with how Laura left Philemon alone for so long after their marriage. The author left a blank hole there, without showing us Laura’s struggle, and I needed that to better understand her actions…and forgive her. Knowing she still didn’t trust, and hearing another woman’s explanation to Philemon, didn’t quite cover it for me. But that was only a tiny quibble with a richly engaging story.
July 23, 2014
Three months after MARRYING THE CAPTAIN ended, Lady Laura Thornton visited her younger half-sister Nana. They didn't know of their relationship until recently and Laura is unsure of what is going to happen when they meet for the first time. She need not have worried because she is welcomed with love.
A widow, she was forced into a loveless marriage to Sir John Taunton, a man 30 years her senior. All for the sake of producing an heir; a child that was never born. She is lonely now. She wonders what she is going to do.
Soon, she becomes friends with Captain Worthy's surgeon, Lt. Phil Brittle. A no-nonsense man but with a warm spot, he lacks the good looks of the hero that is found in most romances. He is educated, courtesy of Captain Worthy, but his background is the working class. He is quick to point out to Laura that he is a surgeon which includes giving men a shave and removing slop jars. Nothing is too low for him to do if it provides comfort for his patients. This redeeming quality, along with his kindness, attracts Laura to this serious but gentle man.
Before too long he approaches her to come work for him at the hospital he is stationed at. She was going to say no; after all, this was not proper for a lady of her means. She had every intention to go back to Nana's home but the need of these brave men had her changing her mind.
"Are you..."
"Serious? Staying? Of unsound mind? I am, indeed, sir," she told him. "All three. And know this- I intend to fight Boney in my own way, too."
This story continues the adventures within the Captain's Fleet trilogy. Somewhat darker than MARRYING THE CAPTAIN, men are wounded and die. Laura thinks she has seen it all and then something else happens. And Lt. Brittle is a man to reckon with. He is the epitome of the working class and someone proud of his roots. In this book, Laura has the wealth: something she doesn't mind sharing. And Phil has no problems using it if it will help others.
The reason for four stars? It felt a little too long. I didn't think every situation had to be concluded since I was aware of the third book. Still, I enjoyed this most unusual couple and learned quite a bit about what kind of 'doctoring' was done back then.
A widow, she was forced into a loveless marriage to Sir John Taunton, a man 30 years her senior. All for the sake of producing an heir; a child that was never born. She is lonely now. She wonders what she is going to do.
Soon, she becomes friends with Captain Worthy's surgeon, Lt. Phil Brittle. A no-nonsense man but with a warm spot, he lacks the good looks of the hero that is found in most romances. He is educated, courtesy of Captain Worthy, but his background is the working class. He is quick to point out to Laura that he is a surgeon which includes giving men a shave and removing slop jars. Nothing is too low for him to do if it provides comfort for his patients. This redeeming quality, along with his kindness, attracts Laura to this serious but gentle man.
Before too long he approaches her to come work for him at the hospital he is stationed at. She was going to say no; after all, this was not proper for a lady of her means. She had every intention to go back to Nana's home but the need of these brave men had her changing her mind.
"Are you..."
"Serious? Staying? Of unsound mind? I am, indeed, sir," she told him. "All three. And know this- I intend to fight Boney in my own way, too."
This story continues the adventures within the Captain's Fleet trilogy. Somewhat darker than MARRYING THE CAPTAIN, men are wounded and die. Laura thinks she has seen it all and then something else happens. And Lt. Brittle is a man to reckon with. He is the epitome of the working class and someone proud of his roots. In this book, Laura has the wealth: something she doesn't mind sharing. And Phil has no problems using it if it will help others.
The reason for four stars? It felt a little too long. I didn't think every situation had to be concluded since I was aware of the third book. Still, I enjoyed this most unusual couple and learned quite a bit about what kind of 'doctoring' was done back then.
March 28, 2019
The sweetest of heroes! Strong and brave heroine!
Philemore is a competent surgeon, a dedicated friend, trustworthy, intelligent and sweet. In midst of war, his time is totally consumed by his dying patients. He is so terribly exhausted he falls asleep anywhere but never manages to catch up.
Laura is an illegitimate daughter turned into a lady by a marriage to a man 30 years her senior who’s sole goal in life was producing an heir. Widowed and traumatized, she is looking for new path for her life. The sweetest thing about this story is to witness their companionship, how together they faced the horrors of war and of the military hospital, supporting and loving each other.
Great read!
Philemore is a competent surgeon, a dedicated friend, trustworthy, intelligent and sweet. In midst of war, his time is totally consumed by his dying patients. He is so terribly exhausted he falls asleep anywhere but never manages to catch up.
Laura is an illegitimate daughter turned into a lady by a marriage to a man 30 years her senior who’s sole goal in life was producing an heir. Widowed and traumatized, she is looking for new path for her life. The sweetest thing about this story is to witness their companionship, how together they faced the horrors of war and of the military hospital, supporting and loving each other.
Great read!
February 9, 2019
This was a cute book to read. I can't say that it is my favorite Carla Kelly book, because I adore her writing. This book did not stick out to me, but I enjoyed my time reading it. It is not one of her clean romance books.
July 27, 2023
A lonely widow with inner scars finds not just a long lost sister, but a real chance at happiness against the backdrop of a naval hospital during the height of the Napoleonic War. Carla Kelly’s historical romances give a strong nod to historical authenticity, the importance of situation and character background, but above all is the tender slow burn romance.
This second book in the Channel Fleet series continues a loose story arc begun in the first book about the second of three illegitimate half-sisters all sharing a dreadful father and a connection to the naval-side of the Napoleonic War.
The Surgeon’s Lady has something of a grim and desperate setting- an understaffed naval hospital. The romance seems like a typical class difference romance with the hero a slightly rough common surgeon and the heroine being a baronet’s widow. However, she is also illegitimate and was abused by her late husband and neglected as an orphan before that and he earned his place as a naval officer. Philemon was good and patient with Laura as she went through such a struggle when it came to intimacy and beating back the demons of her memories.
Between crises at the hospital and tender moments shared by Phil and Laura in the rare down times, their early spark of interest grows. I loved Phil’s witty banter he employed to get through the tough moments. They are a wonderful medical team as Laura learns she is stronger than she thought and Philemon sees what his hardworking life has been missing.
There are brief moments when the pair from the previous book have their story continue in the background so they do work best when read in order.
I was really into all the historical medical procedures that were described so I was able to really get into the desperate struggles of the romance pair and the sailors they were tending. How ironic that even back then there was an annoying administrator who seemed more interested in his status than actually aiding those wounded men who served.
I can’t wait to get the youngest sister’s story next in this exciting trilogy of historicals showing the author’s knowledge and love for the navy backdrop during the Napoleonic War. Definitely recommend to historical fans who want the excitement and challenge of war to the romance which is a little spicy though mostly sweet.
My full review will post at The Reading Frenzy July 12th.
This second book in the Channel Fleet series continues a loose story arc begun in the first book about the second of three illegitimate half-sisters all sharing a dreadful father and a connection to the naval-side of the Napoleonic War.
The Surgeon’s Lady has something of a grim and desperate setting- an understaffed naval hospital. The romance seems like a typical class difference romance with the hero a slightly rough common surgeon and the heroine being a baronet’s widow. However, she is also illegitimate and was abused by her late husband and neglected as an orphan before that and he earned his place as a naval officer. Philemon was good and patient with Laura as she went through such a struggle when it came to intimacy and beating back the demons of her memories.
Between crises at the hospital and tender moments shared by Phil and Laura in the rare down times, their early spark of interest grows. I loved Phil’s witty banter he employed to get through the tough moments. They are a wonderful medical team as Laura learns she is stronger than she thought and Philemon sees what his hardworking life has been missing.
There are brief moments when the pair from the previous book have their story continue in the background so they do work best when read in order.
I was really into all the historical medical procedures that were described so I was able to really get into the desperate struggles of the romance pair and the sailors they were tending. How ironic that even back then there was an annoying administrator who seemed more interested in his status than actually aiding those wounded men who served.
I can’t wait to get the youngest sister’s story next in this exciting trilogy of historicals showing the author’s knowledge and love for the navy backdrop during the Napoleonic War. Definitely recommend to historical fans who want the excitement and challenge of war to the romance which is a little spicy though mostly sweet.
My full review will post at The Reading Frenzy July 12th.
December 24, 2009
@ 18 y/o, Laura’s father sold her to the highest bidder to pay off his creditors. As a result, Laura’s body & self-worth have taken a lotta abuse. She had nowhere to go & noone to turn to. Her hubby (30 yrs her senior) treated her as if she served only 1 purpose, as a vessel, to crank out his heir, ‘cuz his 1st late wife had failed. Then he suffered from apoplexy & turned into an invalid. Laura got the thankless job of being his caretaker for 3 years. Now that he’s expired, she’s finally getting a chance to live her life. She’s reuniting w/ her long-lost younger sis, Nana (heroine from the prequel = Marrying the captain) & meets Lt. Philemon Brittle, a surgeon in the Royal Navy. For the 1st time in her sad life, she feels like she’s needed & she’s given options, that she’s worth more than just being the mental punching bag for failing to produce an offspring. Impressed w/ her quick-thinking, reaction & compassionate nature in saving a patient from the verge of death, Philemon offers her a low-paying job (peanuts compared to her wardrobe) w/ accommodation, as his P.A. & hospital matron, to oversee Block 4’s sanitation, laundry, victuals etc. Philemon falls deeper in luv w/ her, as they work side by side, but he has his doubts & insecurities. He’s a common, she’s a Lady. He has cwazy hours, snatches naps anytime, anywhere he can afford to, sitting up on a chair @ dinners / waiting room, ‘cuz he has to up & leave @ a moment’s notice. He’s not a great catch. Plus, he knows how traumatized she is by past experience, he’ll face an uphill battle in convincing Laura that marriage & intimacy don’t have to be painful, if only she’ll take a chance on him & trust him. His grueling profession during wartime isn’t really conducive to a romantic courtship. What kind of life can he really offer her ?
I gotta admit that I'm partial to doctor heroes in historicals (not so much in contemps). CK’s heroes always make the book for me. Philemon is honorable, warm, caring, courageous, admirable, passionate ‘bout his job, stands up for his principles, protective, stern when necessary, has a subtle sense of humor & incomparable work ethics & moral. He teases & makes Laura laugh, she comes alive being around him, when her life so far has been grim & colorless & vice versa. Amidst bonding time w/ Nana, Laura learns the ropes from Philemon. He knows just how & when to boost her low morale. He knows how terrified & inexperienced she is, but he patiently brings the best outta her, surprising herself that she’s capable of more than her limitations. Laura also impresses him w/ her backbone, fiercely fighting her own battles against the administrator who’s too much of a chicken to lift a finger, whose bark is worse than his bite. CK portrays deeper layers of H/H in a way that endears them to us, w/out sugar-coating the harsh realities of war. It’s bleak, messy, bloody, the body count is high, Philemon & Laura win some & lose some. There’s only so much they can do, in the face of overwhelming obstacles to save the lives of the brave men. CK makes you appreciate the sacrifice the Veterans have made for all of us & curse the ugliness of unnecessary evil. She reminds us all that surgeons & nurses also fight the enemies in their own way, not just @t he frontline. Laura epitomizes Florence Nightingale, even though she lacks the medical background, she makes up for what she lacks, w/ her essentially overabundant loving nature. Just being there & holding the patient’s hand is a balm to their soul. She takes the initiative to do the unthinkable when the dire circumstances call for the inner strength she didn’t even know she possessed. Philemon instills the belief in herself & gives her back her self-worth & a true sense of purpose, that there’s more to life than being a dutiful wife. She gives her preggers sis a prop when Nana needs Laura the most, esp whenever Oliver (Nana’s hubby) is away in the line of duty. Laura transfers her own money & household reinforcement to help out w/ the myriad of tasks of running the hospital. She’s vulnerable & insecure, Philemon doesn’t browbeat her into doing anything she doesn’t like to do. Tho’ she initially resists, Philemon forces her to dig deeper to find forgiveness when her despicable dad returns after being incarcerated. What goes around, comes around. He gets his comeuppance & she learns that it ain’t worth it to nurture hatred for the man who’s ruined & scarred her for life. CK just knows to inject the right amount of horrors & inner struggle that human beings experience in their day-to-day lives. Underneath the sea of red & ravages of war, the sweet romance between H/H unfurls like spring blossoms. The premise of this book is similar to “The wedding journey” (which I luved w/ every fiber of my being, esp 'cuz I luv road romance), both heroines’ fathers sold ‘em to pay off debts & they regret their irreversible actions in the end., tho' in this case he doesn’t totally redeem himself ‘cuz he’s an invalid. Everything comes back in full circle. I hope Polly’s (3rd sister) book will be as memorable as this 1. Can’t wait to get my grubby paws on it.
Twin covers separated @ birth ?
August 5, 2021
Me encanta esta serie...la autora no perdió el encantó que tenía el primer libro.
Es un libro ágil y aditivo
Es un libro ágil y aditivo
September 10, 2009
I think Carla Kelly may be my favorite historical romance novelist who is still writing. I love that her heroes are just average men who actually have occupations other than sitting around and pretending to be rakes. I really liked the hospital setting in The Surgeon’s Lady. The romance was also sweet without being sappy. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
October 6, 2022
this hero is fantastic.
March 26, 2019
2.5 stars.
The beginning of this reminded me a bit of another Carla Kelly book, With This Ring. Since I read that one last week, I found it a little unoriginal. I do like that there was no OP drama in this one, but it might've just been that the h was too traumatized by her first marriage and that the H was too busy. It's hardly a convincing set of circumstances, if you ask me. And then there were the H's thoughts of all the willing native women in Jamaica that he slept with, and this romance was officially less than great for me. If Carla Kelly had only take away that one paragraph, I would've been a lot happier. The H's gentle willingness to wait was very sweet, and the explicit details of the medical care given to injured Navy men were disturbing yet interesting. However since I read this book for romance, it fell short of the mark.
The beginning of this reminded me a bit of another Carla Kelly book, With This Ring. Since I read that one last week, I found it a little unoriginal. I do like that there was no OP drama in this one, but it might've just been that the h was too traumatized by her first marriage and that the H was too busy. It's hardly a convincing set of circumstances, if you ask me. And then there were the H's thoughts of all the willing native women in Jamaica that he slept with, and this romance was officially less than great for me. If Carla Kelly had only take away that one paragraph, I would've been a lot happier. The H's gentle willingness to wait was very sweet, and the explicit details of the medical care given to injured Navy men were disturbing yet interesting. However since I read this book for romance, it fell short of the mark.
September 19, 2017
You can find this review in English below.
3.5 stars.
Menos al que casi siempre puedo confiar en la señora Kelly para salir de una mala racha de lecturas.
Tengo debilidad por los héroes que dibuja esta autora; aunque podrían caer en la definición de beta-héroes, yo prefiero pensar en ellos como hombres sensatos, prudentes, respetuosos, inteligentemente paritarios y entregados a sus mujeres. *swoon*
En este caso, Philemon Brittle es todo lo anterior y más. Un hombre entregado a su oficio y que ha sacrificado su vida personal por las vidas de los demás.
He tenido más problemas para conectar con la protagonista, Lady Laura Taunton. No me malinterpreten, me ha encantado, ella también ha pasado por lo suyo y está intentando rehacer su vida, lo que me ha chocado es lo bien que se ha desenvuelto una dama en el ambiente de sangre y tremendo dolor en el que, literalmente, Mr. Kelly la ha arrojado. Ha sido poco creíble. Quizás si hubiese habido una transición más suave hubiese podido entenderlo, pero todo ha pasado en cuestión de días. O casi horas. Esto me ha dejado un poco fría.
Aunque ha sido impresionante leer sobre los procedimientos médico-quirúrgicos de la época. Muy interesante. Uno de los puntos fuertes de la historia.
Y el romance, como siempre, exquisito. Lento, bonito y con obstáculos realistas que salvar. Aunque hubiese sido más interesante si Lady Tenton no hubiese remoloneado tanto antes de aclarase las ideas.
Una nota: no he leído el primer libro de la serie y ahora sé que hubiese sido una buena idea. Hay un par de asuntos que seguramente hubiese entendido mejor si lo hubiese hecho.
***
3.5 stars.
Thank goodness I almost always can trust Mrs. Kelly to get me out of a bad streak of readings.
I have a weakness for heroes drawn by this author; although they may fall into the definition of beta-heroes, I prefer to think of them as sensible, prudent, respectful, intelligently defenders of the gender equity and devoted to their women men. *swoon*
In this case, Philemon Brittle is all of the above and more. A man committed to his job and who has sacrificed his personal life for the lives of others.
However, I've had more trouble connecting with the heroine, Lady Laura Taunton. Do not get me wrong, I have loved her, she has also gone through her own hell and is trying to redo her life, what has shocked me is how quickly Lady Taunton behaves at ease in the environment of blood and tremendous pain at which, Mr. Kelly, literally, had thrown her. It has been quite unrealistic. Maybe if there had been a softer transition I would have been able to understand it, but it all has happened in a matter of days. Or almost hours. So it has thrown me off a bit.
Although it has been impressive to read about the medical-surgical procedures of the time. Very interesting. One of the story´s strong points.
And the romance, as always, is exquisite. Slow, beautiful and with some realistic obstacles to save. Although it could have been even better if only Lady Tanton hadn´t delayed her change of heart so much.
One note: I have not read the first book in the series and now I know it would have been a good idea. There are a couple of things I would have probably understood better if I had.
3.5 stars.
Menos al que casi siempre puedo confiar en la señora Kelly para salir de una mala racha de lecturas.
Tengo debilidad por los héroes que dibuja esta autora; aunque podrían caer en la definición de beta-héroes, yo prefiero pensar en ellos como hombres sensatos, prudentes, respetuosos, inteligentemente paritarios y entregados a sus mujeres. *swoon*
En este caso, Philemon Brittle es todo lo anterior y más. Un hombre entregado a su oficio y que ha sacrificado su vida personal por las vidas de los demás.
He tenido más problemas para conectar con la protagonista, Lady Laura Taunton. No me malinterpreten, me ha encantado, ella también ha pasado por lo suyo y está intentando rehacer su vida, lo que me ha chocado es lo bien que se ha desenvuelto una dama en el ambiente de sangre y tremendo dolor en el que, literalmente, Mr. Kelly la ha arrojado. Ha sido poco creíble. Quizás si hubiese habido una transición más suave hubiese podido entenderlo, pero todo ha pasado en cuestión de días. O casi horas. Esto me ha dejado un poco fría.
Aunque ha sido impresionante leer sobre los procedimientos médico-quirúrgicos de la época. Muy interesante. Uno de los puntos fuertes de la historia.
Y el romance, como siempre, exquisito. Lento, bonito y con obstáculos realistas que salvar. Aunque hubiese sido más interesante si Lady Tenton no hubiese remoloneado tanto antes de aclarase las ideas.
Una nota: no he leído el primer libro de la serie y ahora sé que hubiese sido una buena idea. Hay un par de asuntos que seguramente hubiese entendido mejor si lo hubiese hecho.
***
3.5 stars.
Thank goodness I almost always can trust Mrs. Kelly to get me out of a bad streak of readings.
I have a weakness for heroes drawn by this author; although they may fall into the definition of beta-heroes, I prefer to think of them as sensible, prudent, respectful, intelligently defenders of the gender equity and devoted to their women men. *swoon*
In this case, Philemon Brittle is all of the above and more. A man committed to his job and who has sacrificed his personal life for the lives of others.
However, I've had more trouble connecting with the heroine, Lady Laura Taunton. Do not get me wrong, I have loved her, she has also gone through her own hell and is trying to redo her life, what has shocked me is how quickly Lady Taunton behaves at ease in the environment of blood and tremendous pain at which, Mr. Kelly, literally, had thrown her. It has been quite unrealistic. Maybe if there had been a softer transition I would have been able to understand it, but it all has happened in a matter of days. Or almost hours. So it has thrown me off a bit.
Although it has been impressive to read about the medical-surgical procedures of the time. Very interesting. One of the story´s strong points.
And the romance, as always, is exquisite. Slow, beautiful and with some realistic obstacles to save. Although it could have been even better if only Lady Tanton hadn´t delayed her change of heart so much.
One note: I have not read the first book in the series and now I know it would have been a good idea. There are a couple of things I would have probably understood better if I had.
June 23, 2018
I should probably give this one 3 stars because the prose is good and it is a nicely crafted story...
But I just didn't enjoy it, especially towards the end.
Lieutenant Philemon Brittle.. oddest H name yet, but I like it!
I didn't realize these were the sister and husband from "I married a Royal Marine". I didn't like Laura in that book, she was so judgemental. But here she is pretty cool except with a bit of a low self-esteem problem. Nothing OTT.
There's not really any hindrance to their romance except that she's technically a lady because she was married to a loathsome Baron. The story is mostly about her being lost after the death of her scummy husband that her father had sold her to.
Phil is a surgeon at a naval hospital where everyone is sorely overworked in the middle of the Napoleonic War. Little by little Laura finds her new path in life helping him there and learning to be a nurse.
It gets pretty descriptive of the surgeries etc and is not for the fainthearted, yet wasn't particularly gory either. It was always clinical. But there is spraying blood from time to time.
So while the romance was sweet it was only a smaller part of the story. Mostly the story was about Laura finding herself with Phil's help.
The part that removed the 3rd star was the preachy bit at the end when her disgusting father shows up again.
So for me that really tarnished Phil in my eyes, giving her an ultimatum like that.
But I just didn't enjoy it, especially towards the end.
Lieutenant Philemon Brittle.. oddest H name yet, but I like it!
I didn't realize these were the sister and husband from "I married a Royal Marine". I didn't like Laura in that book, she was so judgemental. But here she is pretty cool except with a bit of a low self-esteem problem. Nothing OTT.
There's not really any hindrance to their romance except that she's technically a lady because she was married to a loathsome Baron. The story is mostly about her being lost after the death of her scummy husband that her father had sold her to.
Phil is a surgeon at a naval hospital where everyone is sorely overworked in the middle of the Napoleonic War. Little by little Laura finds her new path in life helping him there and learning to be a nurse.
It gets pretty descriptive of the surgeries etc and is not for the fainthearted, yet wasn't particularly gory either. It was always clinical. But there is spraying blood from time to time.
So while the romance was sweet it was only a smaller part of the story. Mostly the story was about Laura finding herself with Phil's help.
The part that removed the 3rd star was the preachy bit at the end when her disgusting father shows up again.
So for me that really tarnished Phil in my eyes, giving her an ultimatum like that.
June 27, 2009
I really liked this story which is the sequel to Marrying the Captain. Carla Kelly is a wonderful author in that she draws you into the story in such a way that you don't want to put the book down. Philemon Brittle is a terrific romantic hero and I was glad to see him be "common"....i.e. not a Lord or Admiral or other titled gentleman. There's much to be said for the everyday man.
October 23, 2014
I did not realize when I picked this one up that it was a sequel to Marrying The Captain. OOPS.
Lady Laura Taunton has many hats: she's the base-born daughter of Viscount Ratcliffe; she's happily widowed after a pretty shitty marriage; and she's plagued by guilt! Lt. Philemon Brittle has one hat: sexy surgeon extraordinaire! SOUNDS LIKE A RECIPE FOR FEELINGS SOUP.
1. Here's the thing, though: Philemon is just...too much. He's SO perfect that his only flaw appears to be the fact that he's working ALL THE TIME. Which raises the question: is it really a flaw if you've signed on with the royal navy and therefore can't choose not to work? I mean, it's not like he's choosing to go haring off after wounded sailors instead of ~wooing Laura.
So he's patient and kind and "understands a woman's body better than she does" and is just awkwardly Jesus in many ways. Only the deluxe package also includes the ability to make sweet sweet love many times even while running on 20 minutes of sleep.
2. Here's the other thing, though: Laura is just...too little. She has this History that she drags out and beats to death at every excuse. Obviously, it's meant to portray her guilt and shame or something, but it reads too much as a convenient Tragic Backstory for it to do any good. And then that Tragic Backstory is cheapened when there is no time spent on how Laura deals with it.
[trigger warning: rape]
3. I was enjoying this story until the end, basically; that's when I checked out and got frustrated. There are 2 obstacles standing in the way of their HEA, and Laura's fears are dealt with off page. The other is the ongoing war. Which, okay: yay for honestly portraying the fear and terror and heartache that goes with it, but boo for leaving my couple right smack dab in the middle of it--actually, that's not true because the end of the book has them moving closer to the front! JUST FOR FUNZIES.
(Seriously: I get dedication to the Cause, but when you also realistically portray casualties of war and the toll that takes on families--it makes closing the book with a sappy smile that much more difficult. I know their suffering isn't close to over, and I know that there's so much worse to be seen. Do I believe they'll face it together? Sure. Do I believe they'll be happy old people surrounded by fourteen gazillion grand-babies? Maaaaybe not so much.)
3.5 FORGOT TO MENTION THE RETURN OF MY LEAST FAVORITE PLOT BIT EVER: FORGIVENESS EXPLOSIONS!!! Basically Philemon alienates Laura by telling her she needs to forgive her dad ASAP because he says so! And also because if she does it, then her sister Nana will too! And also here he is on the dock, injured and nonsensical and TIME TO FORGIVE HIM, LAURA!! (Philemon literally stands over her until she caves and starts taking care of the man who SOLD HER TO HER FIRST HUSBAND.)
SOMETIMES IT'S OKAY NOT TO RE-ENGAGE WITH SHITTY PEOPLE FROM YOUR PAST! SOMETIMES FORCING YOUR SO INTO SITUATIONS LIKE THAT IS ASSHOLE BEHAVIOR! WHICH IS HARD TO DO WHEN YOU'RE ALSO NOT-SO-SECRETLY JESUS!!
Lady Laura Taunton has many hats: she's the base-born daughter of Viscount Ratcliffe; she's happily widowed after a pretty shitty marriage; and she's plagued by guilt! Lt. Philemon Brittle has one hat: sexy surgeon extraordinaire! SOUNDS LIKE A RECIPE FOR FEELINGS SOUP.
1. Here's the thing, though: Philemon is just...too much. He's SO perfect that his only flaw appears to be the fact that he's working ALL THE TIME. Which raises the question: is it really a flaw if you've signed on with the royal navy and therefore can't choose not to work? I mean, it's not like he's choosing to go haring off after wounded sailors instead of ~wooing Laura.
So he's patient and kind and "understands a woman's body better than she does" and is just awkwardly Jesus in many ways. Only the deluxe package also includes the ability to make sweet sweet love many times even while running on 20 minutes of sleep.
2. Here's the other thing, though: Laura is just...too little. She has this History that she drags out and beats to death at every excuse. Obviously, it's meant to portray her guilt and shame or something, but it reads too much as a convenient Tragic Backstory for it to do any good. And then that Tragic Backstory is cheapened when there is no time spent on how Laura deals with it.
[trigger warning: rape]
3. I was enjoying this story until the end, basically; that's when I checked out and got frustrated. There are 2 obstacles standing in the way of their HEA, and Laura's fears are dealt with off page. The other is the ongoing war. Which, okay: yay for honestly portraying the fear and terror and heartache that goes with it, but boo for leaving my couple right smack dab in the middle of it--actually, that's not true because the end of the book has them moving closer to the front! JUST FOR FUNZIES.
(Seriously: I get dedication to the Cause, but when you also realistically portray casualties of war and the toll that takes on families--it makes closing the book with a sappy smile that much more difficult. I know their suffering isn't close to over, and I know that there's so much worse to be seen. Do I believe they'll face it together? Sure. Do I believe they'll be happy old people surrounded by fourteen gazillion grand-babies? Maaaaybe not so much.)
3.5 FORGOT TO MENTION THE RETURN OF MY LEAST FAVORITE PLOT BIT EVER: FORGIVENESS EXPLOSIONS!!! Basically Philemon alienates Laura by telling her she needs to forgive her dad ASAP because he says so! And also because if she does it, then her sister Nana will too! And also here he is on the dock, injured and nonsensical and TIME TO FORGIVE HIM, LAURA!! (Philemon literally stands over her until she caves and starts taking care of the man who SOLD HER TO HER FIRST HUSBAND.)
SOMETIMES IT'S OKAY NOT TO RE-ENGAGE WITH SHITTY PEOPLE FROM YOUR PAST! SOMETIMES FORCING YOUR SO INTO SITUATIONS LIKE THAT IS ASSHOLE BEHAVIOR! WHICH IS HARD TO DO WHEN YOU'RE ALSO NOT-SO-SECRETLY JESUS!!
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October 19, 2024The hospital scene were harrowing! I'm still shocked and super impressed Kelly "went there" in these books (and Beau Crusoe.) I love that Laura and Nana became such good friends, they needed one another in ways that a romantic partner couldn't fill. I actually loved how Kelly introduced MCs from other books in the series - often this does get on my nerves because when books are too self-referential I roll my eyes at how superficial the interactions can feel. Laura's transition into lady of the ward read very authentic - she has skills and resources that would help the hospital and she is willing to learn to do the work needed to care for wounded soldiers.
I think the third book has the best pacing and tightest story but this book is my second favorite of the series. I could read these Channel Fleet stories forever!
I think the third book has the best pacing and tightest story but this book is my second favorite of the series. I could read these Channel Fleet stories forever!
September 27, 2016
Thank goodness medical science as come a long way! Good lord I was repelled and riveted by what surgeons had to do with people then. I felt it was well done without being too graphic.
Loved both Philemon & Laura. He's a dedicated, hard-working surgeon and she's a Lady trying to figure out what to do with herself (and recover) after her jerk husband dies. I was rooting for her.
Loved both Philemon & Laura. He's a dedicated, hard-working surgeon and she's a Lady trying to figure out what to do with herself (and recover) after her jerk husband dies. I was rooting for her.
November 1, 2024
Outstanding! A lovely tale of two unlikely people, a baron's widow and an overworked naval surgeon, who fall in love under trying circumstances in a most unromantic place.
May 29, 2020
De verdad que todo me pareció magnífico.
Hace casi un año que leí Marrying the Captain y me quedé con muchas ganas de leer más de esta autora. Agradecí que existieran otros dos libros con la misma temática que el primero y pues aquí estoy, a nada de haber terminado la segunda parte.
Pues bien, no tenía idea de qué trataba esta historia pero ya agarré la onda y este libro es la historia de amor de la hermana de Nana (la protagonista del libro anterior). El siguiente y último libro es de la hermana menor llamada Polly.
Estos libros son sensacionales pero pueden llegar a poner muy sentimental dependiendo de quién lo lea, habla de romances en tiempos de Guerras Napoleónicas y de verdad se sufre como si se estuviera presente porque se logra ver y sentir lo difícil que es mantenerte con tu pareja y simplemente disfrutar de la vida.
En el libro anterior, Nana sufría porque su marido se iba a luchar y esperaba por meses a su regreso, en este caso, Philemon, no era navegante pero era un cirujano y su tiempo en el hospital era constante y sin descanso por lo que Laura sufre lo mismo que su hermana; no poder ver tanto a su marido como le gustaría. Algo que la autora logra dejar muy en claro es que TODOS apoyan a su manera, TODOS son afectados en tiempos de guerra y TODOS buscan la paz.
Sinceramente creo que este libro me puso más sentimental que el anterior porque la guerra la sentí más de cerca, el que este se basara en un hospital donde se atendían a todos los heridos me hacía sentir muy mal porque de alguna forma son cosas que en realidad pasaron, esta guerra fue algo que en verdad ocurrió y de verdad la gente sufrió incluso más de lo que se narra en este libro, porque, a final de cuentas este libro está más enfocado a una relación entre dos personas que en la guerra en sí. Me pone demasiado triste saber lo que el ser humano hace por simple hambre de poder, y sinceramente me pongo de rodillas por todas aquellas personas que les tocó vivir en momentos tan difíciles.
Para finalizar solo me queda decir que la pareja entre Philemon Daniel Brittle y Laura Taunton ha sido espectacular, el amor igual de puro y hermoso que el de la historia anterior.
Hace casi un año que leí Marrying the Captain y me quedé con muchas ganas de leer más de esta autora. Agradecí que existieran otros dos libros con la misma temática que el primero y pues aquí estoy, a nada de haber terminado la segunda parte.
Pues bien, no tenía idea de qué trataba esta historia pero ya agarré la onda y este libro es la historia de amor de la hermana de Nana (la protagonista del libro anterior). El siguiente y último libro es de la hermana menor llamada Polly.
Estos libros son sensacionales pero pueden llegar a poner muy sentimental dependiendo de quién lo lea, habla de romances en tiempos de Guerras Napoleónicas y de verdad se sufre como si se estuviera presente porque se logra ver y sentir lo difícil que es mantenerte con tu pareja y simplemente disfrutar de la vida.
En el libro anterior, Nana sufría porque su marido se iba a luchar y esperaba por meses a su regreso, en este caso, Philemon, no era navegante pero era un cirujano y su tiempo en el hospital era constante y sin descanso por lo que Laura sufre lo mismo que su hermana; no poder ver tanto a su marido como le gustaría. Algo que la autora logra dejar muy en claro es que TODOS apoyan a su manera, TODOS son afectados en tiempos de guerra y TODOS buscan la paz.
Sinceramente creo que este libro me puso más sentimental que el anterior porque la guerra la sentí más de cerca, el que este se basara en un hospital donde se atendían a todos los heridos me hacía sentir muy mal porque de alguna forma son cosas que en realidad pasaron, esta guerra fue algo que en verdad ocurrió y de verdad la gente sufrió incluso más de lo que se narra en este libro, porque, a final de cuentas este libro está más enfocado a una relación entre dos personas que en la guerra en sí. Me pone demasiado triste saber lo que el ser humano hace por simple hambre de poder, y sinceramente me pongo de rodillas por todas aquellas personas que les tocó vivir en momentos tan difíciles.
Para finalizar solo me queda decir que la pareja entre Philemon Daniel Brittle y Laura Taunton ha sido espectacular, el amor igual de puro y hermoso que el de la historia anterior.
March 7, 2020
A pretty good book. I liked the historical setting and era. Written well, interesting tidbits, emotions, a little suspense, strength and courage, diverse personalities and characters, sweetness and a perfect HEA. I'd definitely want to read more in this series and get to know the other characters more. Great for the lazy-day read or something to snuggle up with. Enjoy!
September 28, 2010
This story blew me away. It's the best romance I've read in a while, and definitely the best Harlequin I ever read. It manages to be equally sad and distressing and hopeful at the same time. It's a story about war and love, but mostly about healing.
Laura Taunton is a bastard sold by her father to the highest bidder, which landed her in a very abusive marriage with an older man. After he falls sick, she nurses him until he dies 3 years later. A Lady and a widow, she's discovered by her unknown half sister (another bastard of Lord Ratcliffe, and the heroine of Marrying The Captain), and when she finally gathers enough courage to meet Nana, she meets Lt. Blittle, a Royal Naval Surgeon.
Circumstances lead her to a matron position at the Naval hospital Blittle works, where they care for the wounded soldiers and sailors of the Napoleontic War.
War is always ugly, and Carla Kelly excells in showing how it's ugly for everyone involved, the soldiers, but also the people at home. Never did I so fully grasp how the Royal Navy (but I'm assuming every army) really owns the people enlisted.
The hospital is a sad and dreary setting for a romance, and Laura is obviously traumatized in more than one way, but it was incredibly powerful to watch her find her own strength and worth. I loved how Phil Blitlle saw her for who she was and could be from the start, but had the patience to let her find herself. Too often in romances the hero is the magic healing factor, and while I believe it's true love can heal many a thing, I loved how Phil wasn't a force of healing, but more a little nudge here and there.
Philemon blitlle is truly and admirable hero, even if his job will always come first, and he never has enough time for Laura, (and isn't quite up to par with romancing someone either), and yet he's so caring and gentle and kind that you wish the man a through night sleep halfway through the story. And even though I really wanted to smack his head in the whole showdown with Lord Ratcliffe, it's possible he understood what Laura needed than I did. Isn't there a saying about gentle healers and stinking wounds?
In the end I think they were quite perfect for one another, both strong characters with a hard life, who deserve someone warm to hold them, and loving mirth to lighten the heavy days.
A very moving read, and highly recommended.
I cannot wait for Marrying the Royal Marine
Laura Taunton is a bastard sold by her father to the highest bidder, which landed her in a very abusive marriage with an older man. After he falls sick, she nurses him until he dies 3 years later. A Lady and a widow, she's discovered by her unknown half sister (another bastard of Lord Ratcliffe, and the heroine of Marrying The Captain), and when she finally gathers enough courage to meet Nana, she meets Lt. Blittle, a Royal Naval Surgeon.
Circumstances lead her to a matron position at the Naval hospital Blittle works, where they care for the wounded soldiers and sailors of the Napoleontic War.
War is always ugly, and Carla Kelly excells in showing how it's ugly for everyone involved, the soldiers, but also the people at home. Never did I so fully grasp how the Royal Navy (but I'm assuming every army) really owns the people enlisted.
The hospital is a sad and dreary setting for a romance, and Laura is obviously traumatized in more than one way, but it was incredibly powerful to watch her find her own strength and worth. I loved how Phil Blitlle saw her for who she was and could be from the start, but had the patience to let her find herself. Too often in romances the hero is the magic healing factor, and while I believe it's true love can heal many a thing, I loved how Phil wasn't a force of healing, but more a little nudge here and there.
Philemon blitlle is truly and admirable hero, even if his job will always come first, and he never has enough time for Laura, (and isn't quite up to par with romancing someone either), and yet he's so caring and gentle and kind that you wish the man a through night sleep halfway through the story. And even though I really wanted to smack his head in the whole showdown with Lord Ratcliffe, it's possible he understood what Laura needed than I did. Isn't there a saying about gentle healers and stinking wounds?
In the end I think they were quite perfect for one another, both strong characters with a hard life, who deserve someone warm to hold them, and loving mirth to lighten the heavy days.
A very moving read, and highly recommended.
I cannot wait for Marrying the Royal Marine
June 4, 2011
Very nice story, very noble and self-sacrificing characters, but the book didn't really draw me into the story emotionally. Too much "telling", not enough "showing".
IMHO, there were too many subplots for a story of this length:
- Laura and Philemon's story, which should have been the main story but almost got relegated to the background
- Laura's backstory with her father, the school and her first marriage
- the whole jumble of the medical, hospital and war subplots
- the continuation of Oliver and Nana's story from "Married to the Captain"
- the subplot of Laura's father.
All these plots got jumbled together in my mind and it was hard to keep them straight, especially the hospital subplot and the characters in it. Besides which, I never could remember what exactly "Stonehouse" meant when it was mentioned in the story, and why it was different from "Torquay" - and I don't regard having to retrace the parts I've already read so that I can figure out what's going on to be a good thing in a novel. Because of all this I actually felt stupid at times while I was reading the book. I have to wonder who the intended audience for this book is since I consider myself to be fairly intelligent and well-read.
I would have much preferred to read the hero and heroine's love story and especially Laura's growth and recovery from her sexually traumatic marriage into love for Philemon. The other subplots should have been considerably decreased in volume and complexity.
Too much plot, character and location confusion do not make for a great read. Finally, if one hasn't already read the previous book in the series (Married to the Captain) things would be even more confusing: Nana and Oliver would be strangers and the chapters at the end with Laura's father would leave the reader completely in the dark.
IMHO, there were too many subplots for a story of this length:
- Laura and Philemon's story, which should have been the main story but almost got relegated to the background
- Laura's backstory with her father, the school and her first marriage
- the whole jumble of the medical, hospital and war subplots
- the continuation of Oliver and Nana's story from "Married to the Captain"
- the subplot of Laura's father.
All these plots got jumbled together in my mind and it was hard to keep them straight, especially the hospital subplot and the characters in it. Besides which, I never could remember what exactly "Stonehouse" meant when it was mentioned in the story, and why it was different from "Torquay" - and I don't regard having to retrace the parts I've already read so that I can figure out what's going on to be a good thing in a novel. Because of all this I actually felt stupid at times while I was reading the book. I have to wonder who the intended audience for this book is since I consider myself to be fairly intelligent and well-read.
I would have much preferred to read the hero and heroine's love story and especially Laura's growth and recovery from her sexually traumatic marriage into love for Philemon. The other subplots should have been considerably decreased in volume and complexity.
Too much plot, character and location confusion do not make for a great read. Finally, if one hasn't already read the previous book in the series (Married to the Captain) things would be even more confusing: Nana and Oliver would be strangers and the chapters at the end with Laura's father would leave the reader completely in the dark.
May 21, 2016
Not the perfect book but exactly my favourite kind of historical romance : not so much steam (do not expect wild and steamy sex) but a thoroughly researched historical background (as usual in Carla Kelly's novels) and a nice romance with two main characters that truly match. I'm a real sucker for Regency novels with a real & realistic military or naval background, especially well-written ones as Carla Kelly's always are :)
I didn't read the first book of the series but it didn't matter at all.
I really appreciated that the medical background wasn't super-anachronistic (as it happens in some historical novels with doctors & nurses) : there is a high death-rate, a lot of them from various infections and not all of them anonymous, the surgery is done without real sanitization (the bistouries & scalpels are wiped on the surgeon's apron) and the main character himself professes that surgeons & physicians hardly know a thing, even if he keeps trying. Also, he hasn't a moment to himself and, when ill, doesn't magically recover to have wonderful sex with the heroin.
The hero is not supersexy nor super-handsome, he's just a regular nice guy with real empathy but oh my... I LOVED him and I loved the scenes from his point of view. I loved him as much as I loved the heroin, who really struggled with her past issues and didn't magically recover on her wedding night. The end was quite satisfying as well : happy but not unrealistically so : it's wartime and we can feel it.
Speaking of which, the book was REALLY jingoistic, with the "evil Boney" mentioned nearly every other page,
but it made the background all the more realistic (after all, we are in a Navy hospital in Plymouth in 1809-1810). And it is very funny to read when one is French ;)
I didn't read the first book of the series but it didn't matter at all.
I really appreciated that the medical background wasn't super-anachronistic (as it happens in some historical novels with doctors & nurses) : there is a high death-rate, a lot of them from various infections and not all of them anonymous, the surgery is done without real sanitization (the bistouries & scalpels are wiped on the surgeon's apron) and the main character himself professes that surgeons & physicians hardly know a thing, even if he keeps trying. Also, he hasn't a moment to himself and, when ill, doesn't magically recover to have wonderful sex with the heroin.
The hero is not supersexy nor super-handsome, he's just a regular nice guy with real empathy but oh my... I LOVED him and I loved the scenes from his point of view. I loved him as much as I loved the heroin, who really struggled with her past issues and didn't magically recover on her wedding night. The end was quite satisfying as well : happy but not unrealistically so : it's wartime and we can feel it.
Speaking of which, the book was REALLY jingoistic, with the "evil Boney" mentioned nearly every other page,
but it made the background all the more realistic (after all, we are in a Navy hospital in Plymouth in 1809-1810). And it is very funny to read when one is French ;)
August 30, 2009
I loved Laura and Phil even more than Nana and Oliver, and that's pretty impressive. Laura's life was harder than Nana's because she had no one looking out for her, and she was very screwed up emotionally as a result. I loved how Phil supported her so well, and seeing them doing doctoring together was very cool. My only quibble is that they were awfully blunt with each other from the start - I'd have thought Laura would have been at least uncomfortable with some of the conversations for quite awhile. Also, she kept unloading her story on everyone she met, and that felt kind of weird. But the writing and characterization were top notch once again. My guess is that we'll get a book about Polly next, which will be great.
Originally: I've had this on my shelf for weeks, unread. I don't know why I forgot how awesome Carla Kelly is, but I already don't want to put it down. Also, as an added bonus, it's a sequel to Marrying the Captain! Brilliant.
Originally: I've had this on my shelf for weeks, unread. I don't know why I forgot how awesome Carla Kelly is, but I already don't want to put it down. Also, as an added bonus, it's a sequel to Marrying the Captain! Brilliant.
March 9, 2011
I read these books out of order, but it didn't matter. Carla Kelly is one of those amazing rare finds who treats her readers as if they have brains, and gives us beautiful stories populated by wonderful people who we end up wishing (or pretending) were real.
I wish I wasn't making this review a condensation of all her books, but I am a lazy reader/reviewer. Suffice it to say that ALL the books I've been able to get on my kindle by this author have been AMAZING. And I will keep looking, for older publications and for anything new she may write. Carla Kelly is officially on my perpetual "watch list", and anyone who loves a beautiful, REAL love story with wonderful characters, would be well advised to add her to his/her own.
I wish I wasn't making this review a condensation of all her books, but I am a lazy reader/reviewer. Suffice it to say that ALL the books I've been able to get on my kindle by this author have been AMAZING. And I will keep looking, for older publications and for anything new she may write. Carla Kelly is officially on my perpetual "watch list", and anyone who loves a beautiful, REAL love story with wonderful characters, would be well advised to add her to his/her own.
August 27, 2016
I really liked this story. An emotionally damaged heroine - PTSD levels of emotional damage - and a naval surgeon during the Napoleonic Wars with a heart of gold. I really liked this story. It's a sweet romance with no manipulations or misunderstandings. The conflict in the story comes from dealing with her past and the horrible situation of being in an war hospital receiving troops on a daily basis coming from the front lines. Her ability to grow and forgive and his patience and love are inspiring.
June 27, 2015
I really liked this one. Both of the MCs were great and the historic details were so interesting to me. Loved the romance. The only bad I can see is that Philemon works ALL THE TIME. I hope that Laura can be the understanding wife he will need. Because even after the war ends he is still going to be working ALL THE TIME.
July 24, 2009
I liked the romance AND the picture of the state of medicine in the British navy during the Napoleonic wars. Very good read.
May 22, 2010
Not quite as good as Marrying the Captain, but still a wonderful story with a heroine who finds her inner practical self and a to-die-for surgeon hero. Very enjoyable.
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