Friday, January 16, 2015

Becoming Lady Lockwood

By Jennifer Moore

Amelia Beckett is delighted to be a widow. Married by proxy to a man she’d never met, Amelia recognizes that a fortuitous entry into widowhood frees her from meddlesome chaperones and matchmakers. Heiress to her mother’s sugar plantation in Jamaica, she happily anticipates working I a man’s world, with the additional credibility of her new title: Lady Lockwood. But with the arrival of Captain Sir William Drake, her plans quickly go awry…
William has traversed the Atlantic with one purpose. If he cannot prove that Amelia’s marriage to his brother was a fraud, she will be entitled to a sizeable portion of his family’s estate. He is determined to return this duplicitous “Lady” to London for an official hearing, and he carries with him a letter that will ensure her cooperation…
Left with no choice, Amelia joins the captain on his return voyage to England, and the two quickly find that ship life does not allow for evasion. Amelia and William are ceaselessly thrown together, and amidst fierce storms and ocean battles, what began as antipathy seems to be evolving quite unexpectedly. But as they draw ever closer to their destination, will the impossibility of their circumstances shatter any hope of a future together?

I happened to overhear a conversation where this book was mentioned in tandem with Sarah Eden and of course I had to see what was up. Another proper romance? Yes indeedy. If you’re looking for a fun adventure with a warm fuzzy romance and a few laughs, then you’ll love Becoming Lady Lockwood. Amelia is an honest person, having been raised in Jamaica and away from the false faces and courts of London. She’s not afraid of work and she genuinely likes people and wants to be useful. When she meets Captain William Drake, she thinks he’s a horrible and mean sort of man, but when they are thrown together out of necessity on a ship sailing for London, she quickly sees that the Captain is the best sort of man there is. Captain William Drake tries his best to dislike Amelia, but when he sees what kind of woman she is, he can’t help being drawn to her. With sea battles, court battles, and family issues galore, will William and Amelia find a way to be together? This was a lovely addition to the genre of proper romances, and taking place on a ship was a creative endeavor and fun trip for this reader. I enjoyed nearly every moment (minus a few harrowing moments of death and mayhem). I am excited to add another author in my go-to for a fluffy romance when needed. Well written and well-researched.
Content warning: There is some violence in this book. It takes place in wartime and the ship is boarded and many people die. It’s not overly gory but the death toll and resulting nightmares on Amelia’s part had me a little discomforted. If you don’t mind violence then you should be fine.

I give it a 3.5 out of 5 

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