REVIEW: Navy Captain’s Convenient Wife by Carla Kelly
A Regency marriage of convenience, romance in uniform story
A favor for the Captain…
A new life as wife and mother?
Battle-worn Captain John Beattie is dealt another blow on his return from Trafalgar. His motherless young son, Allan, has been heartlessly abandoned by those hired to care for him. Required to return immediately to active duty, John throws himself at the mercy of his late friend’s sister, Anna Fontaine…
Anna can’t say no—the Captain’s desperate struggle to protect his son and his country touches her gentle heart. But temporarily caring for Allan backfires when rumors threaten unwed Anna’s reputation. Honorable John insists on marriage—but will Anna’s place in his family ever be more than convenient?
Dear Ms. Kelly,
What can I say? I went into “Navy Captain’s Convenient Wife” knowing that I would probably read typical CK characters doing typical CK character things. The heroine and hero will have something brings them together, they’ll see each other’s goodness and eventually fall in love. The End. Well, yes but also no. I didn’t think I’d get a dose of a spy thriller (okay, slight thriller) as well. Thanks for that!
The first time RN Captain John Beattie sees Anna Fontaine, she’s just a face at the dock there to greet her returning RN Lt brother. The second time Anna Fontaine and John Beattie are together, it’s when John tells Anna that her beloved brother has died of his wounds from the Battle of Trafalgar. The third time they’re face to face, John arrives at her doorstep, desperate for her help.
Later, with her reputation smeared, John “does the right thing” because he is an officer and a gentleman. But John loved his first wife and Anna wonders if there will ever be room in his heart for another. Oh, and there is something fishy going on in Menorca that the two of them, along with several other characters, will need to figure out and counter as the Napoleonic Wars bring danger to their doorstep.
Poor Anna is capable and kind but never thought that doing a favor for a man trying to provide for his son – and the young foundling, Pru, who’d stayed with Allan to take care of the younger boy – would wreck her reputation. Busybodies gossiping causes a prissy curate to condemn Anna and from there, she has to rely on the kindness of a wonderful character whom I would love to be real. CK novels abound with these kind souls. Anna’s life has been fairly quiet and normal but boy is she in for some changes.
John thinks he’s fixed everything until letters, sent via a fast boat, reach him. After a spontaneous outpouring of his problems to Admiral Collingwood (love this character!), and John’s on his way back to Plymouth with an offer of marriage and new life in Menorca! Hmmm, that makes it sound as if Anna has won a game show prize. Yay that John is open with Anna about how his first wife Cathy is still in his heart and how he might occasionally talk about her. Anna, who at the ancient age of 28 thought she’d never get married, decides that being a convenient wife – which will allow her to stay with the two young children she’s come to love – isn’t such a bad thing. Marriages have eventually thrived on less.
John and Anna are such wonderful people but as they know they’re Kelly characters, they can hardly have believed they’d be villains, right? We also get a sea battle and an American ship and crew added to the plot mix. The British aren’t too sure of these distant cousins and decide to keep an eye on them which, of course, turns out to have benefits. Then there are the Menorcans. Friend or foe?
Anna discovers that she can plot and plan some crafty strategies in between deliberately being a soothing presence who wields a mean darning needle. She’s also touched when Allan and then Pru start to use the term “Mama” with her. John takes a little bit longer to confess his feelings than does Anna but he does quickly see that he’s married a winner who can also charm British and American sailors and Marines while staying at the bedside of a dying man to hold his hand.
Allan and Pru are realistic children who have faced danger, known fear, and need the comfort of people to love and look after them. They’re also a bit daring and more than willing to help in small roles, though Anna ensures that not too much is asked of them.
Things come together nicely and All’s Well that Ends Well. Be nice to people and you will reap the rewards and maybe thwart the bad players. Open your heart to possibilities and perhaps you’ll discover that love can bloom where you never expected it. B
~Jayne
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Jayne. I look forward to reading this!
@Kareni: It’s a nice, soothing Carla Kelly special. I hope we get at least one more from her through Harlequin before they pull the plug on the Historical line.
Perhaps she will switch to self-publishing. I’ll miss her books set in England if she doesn’t.
@LML ~ a goodly number of Carla Kelly’s books are now published by Camel Press.
https://camelpress.com/index-by-author/
A Carla Kelly book is a guaranteed feel-good read for me. In these times, I truly value that. I’m tucking this one away for when I really need it.
@Kareni, thank you!