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Fairbournes of Cape Cod #1
The Captain's Bride
While trading in London, American sea captain Joshua Fairbourne takes on the heart's business as he seeks a soft-spoken, genteel wife to bring honor and elegance to his Massachusetts home. Miss Anabelle Crosbie may be English gentry, but her headstrong, refreshingly spirited ways turn Joshua's vision of the ideal lady-wife upside down. When he learns she has been promised to a foppish fortune hunter, Joshua vows to win her -- and contrives a daring plan to make her his stolen bride. Caught kissing Joashua Fairbourne, Anabelle risks scandal to discover a genuine, heartfelt passion, so unlike the loveless betrothal she faces. Then Joshua unexpectedly sweeps her away on an ocean crossing aboard his magnificent ship, the Swiftsure, and their exciting life together begins. But the kind, gentle man she adored on dry land has become a brash, gruff stranger at sea. And just as Anabelle navigates among the secrets of her captain's past, a treacherous storm tests the strength of their newfound love -- and Anabelle's dream of a triumphant life in a new land.
- GenresHistorical
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 1997
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February 21, 2018Captain Joshua Fairbourne of Massachusetts and his ship, the Swiftsure, was in London to ask for the hand of Mary Holmes. He was waiting for her in a garden when Annabelle Crosbie came running toward him. She was being chased by Henry Banbrook. He was drunk and looking for intimate repayment for loaning Annabelle money that she lost at a gaming table. Joshua knocked him out and then she heard someone approaching. Not knowing who it was, she kissed Joshua thinking that whoever it was would keep walking by. But, it was Mary who left angry at catching Joshua kissing someone.
Annabelle apologized to Joshua and was determined to help him. Her grandmother heard about the incident when Henry was found knocked out and proceeded to lecture Annabelle regarding her behavior. Annabelle found Joshua and they talked. She told Joshua where Mary would be the next evening and Joshua found Mary and asked her to marry him. He was disappointed in her acceptance since she seemed to be more concerned about wrinkling her dress and lied about her age being 17 when he knew she was closer to 20. He had worked with her father and had known her for most of her life. He also couldn't seem to get Annabelle off his mind. They were to be married in a week since he had to set sail to return home.
He met Annabelle again when he went to pick up a painting of Mary and found Annabelle there getting her picture painted by the same artist. They ended up talking and kissing once again. This time it was Joshua who initiated the kiss. She were seen by Annabelle's grandmother and she was taken home and left in her room while her grandmother went to see Henry's family to discuss the incident. It had been arranged for Annabelle to become betrothed to Henry. Annabelle was 16 and from a wealthy family. Henry was marrying her for the money she would bring to him.
Joshua knew that Annabelle would be punished and went to visit her that evening while her grandmother was away. He told Annabelle that he had broken things off with Mary and that he couldn't get her out of his mind. She was who he wanted to marry and she agreed that she wanted to marry him too. She couldn't believe that he wanted her and they arranged for him to come take her away in the middle of the night. Joshua and some of his sailors came to take her from her room at 1 in the morning to take her to his ship where they would be married.
They got into a fight with some drunk sailors while waiting for the boat to take them to his ship. Joshua ended up with a black eye and some cracked ribs. He was ashamed to admit that he wasn't able to fight the 3 men off alone and Annabelle had to take care of one of the men herself. She tipped a cradle that she insisted on bringing to hit the man in his crotch and then hit him over the head with a log she picked up on the shore. They boarded the ship and he was too sore to help while he watched her climb up the ladder on her own power. She was put in a small cabin and came to see him once the winds had calmed after some days. He showed her how beautiful the night stars were while at sea and they kissed again. He desired her but knew that he needed to wait until they were married to do anything more with her. The sea grew rough once again and he became occupied with sailing the ship. He thought she was in her cabin keeping out of trouble until the seas became calm once again. He found out that she had been spending her time dealing with the injuries of various crew men and reading to them. He was furious when he found out and she got mad right back. She calmed down once she realized that he was jealous of the time she was spending with the crew rather than himself. They talked some and were getting to know each other. Both had lost parents when they were young. Joshua had lost his father to the sea when he was 8 and he was taken to sea as payment for the debts of his father. His mother was 25 and she had her 4 other children taken from her and was left with only the baby. She died of sickness a year later. Annabelle's mother had died after having 4 children in a loveless, arranged marriage. Joshua had thought that Annabelle had lived a privileged life until he found out that her father cared little for her. He cared more for his dogs and whiskey. She hadn't had a happy childhood. Annabelle knew that she loved Joshua and he was in love with her but not fully committed to telling her just yet. He knew that he wanted to give her a better life and to make her happy.
Neither of them realized that Henry was determined to have Annabelle for the money she would bring to him and Mary's father was determined to make Joshua pay for not marrying his daughter. They were working together to capture Joshua's ship to take possession of his smuggled cargo and to take Annabelle back to London as Henry's wife. Henry's best friend's ship had caught up to the Swiftsure when they were a week out of their American port.
The wind came up again and Annabelle was thrown overboard. She was hanging onto the cradle she had brought with her. Joshua jumped in the ocean to save her. They ended up alone on an island not too far from their destination. The used a sail to make a shelter and found a fresh water pond and blueberries to eat. They ended up admitting to each other that they loved each other and made love.
The next day Annabelle was climbing on rocks near the beach and Joshua told her to be careful. He ended up trying to climb up to where Annabelle was and fell and sprained an ankle. Annabelle used Joshua's knife to cut strips of her petticoat to make a wrap for his ankle. It was later that they noticed a small sailboat coming toward the shore. Annabelle had left to get some blueberries while they hid from those arriving. She mentioned to Joshua running into some cute black cats with a white stripe. She had never seen skunks before. Joshua then noticed that his knife was missing and made a comment to Annabelle and she left to fetch it. He couldn't stop her with his bad ankle. She ended up being on the shore when the men arrived and she met Henry's cousin, Edward Palmer of the English navy. She persuaded Edward to have his men put her cradle on board the sailboat and then persuaded them to spend the night on the island trusting that Joshua would find a way to steal the boat. Joshua was hiding and trying to figure out how to get Annabelle away from the men and take the boat. Then the skunks arrived looking for blueberries. Joshua threw berries in the midst of the men who had settled in for night. The guard startled the skunks and the men were all sprayed and running around. Annabelle snuck off but Edward caught her. Joshua hit him in the back of his head and they fought until Annabelle hit Edward over the head with a piece of wood and knocked him out. They headed for the sailboat and headed toward home in Appledore, Mass.
They arrived around noon the next day to a crowd gathered around the dock. They were pleasantly surprised to see the Swiftsure in the dock. Joshua was afraid his ship had been destroyed in the storm that had tossed Annabelle off the ship. It was damaged but not beyond repair. Joshua had thought himself a strong independent man and Annabelle a woman who he had to take care of an protect. He learned that she was stronger than he was in some ways and a help to him. They were a good match.
Annabelle apologized to Joshua and was determined to help him. Her grandmother heard about the incident when Henry was found knocked out and proceeded to lecture Annabelle regarding her behavior. Annabelle found Joshua and they talked. She told Joshua where Mary would be the next evening and Joshua found Mary and asked her to marry him. He was disappointed in her acceptance since she seemed to be more concerned about wrinkling her dress and lied about her age being 17 when he knew she was closer to 20. He had worked with her father and had known her for most of her life. He also couldn't seem to get Annabelle off his mind. They were to be married in a week since he had to set sail to return home.
He met Annabelle again when he went to pick up a painting of Mary and found Annabelle there getting her picture painted by the same artist. They ended up talking and kissing once again. This time it was Joshua who initiated the kiss. She were seen by Annabelle's grandmother and she was taken home and left in her room while her grandmother went to see Henry's family to discuss the incident. It had been arranged for Annabelle to become betrothed to Henry. Annabelle was 16 and from a wealthy family. Henry was marrying her for the money she would bring to him.
Joshua knew that Annabelle would be punished and went to visit her that evening while her grandmother was away. He told Annabelle that he had broken things off with Mary and that he couldn't get her out of his mind. She was who he wanted to marry and she agreed that she wanted to marry him too. She couldn't believe that he wanted her and they arranged for him to come take her away in the middle of the night. Joshua and some of his sailors came to take her from her room at 1 in the morning to take her to his ship where they would be married.
They got into a fight with some drunk sailors while waiting for the boat to take them to his ship. Joshua ended up with a black eye and some cracked ribs. He was ashamed to admit that he wasn't able to fight the 3 men off alone and Annabelle had to take care of one of the men herself. She tipped a cradle that she insisted on bringing to hit the man in his crotch and then hit him over the head with a log she picked up on the shore. They boarded the ship and he was too sore to help while he watched her climb up the ladder on her own power. She was put in a small cabin and came to see him once the winds had calmed after some days. He showed her how beautiful the night stars were while at sea and they kissed again. He desired her but knew that he needed to wait until they were married to do anything more with her. The sea grew rough once again and he became occupied with sailing the ship. He thought she was in her cabin keeping out of trouble until the seas became calm once again. He found out that she had been spending her time dealing with the injuries of various crew men and reading to them. He was furious when he found out and she got mad right back. She calmed down once she realized that he was jealous of the time she was spending with the crew rather than himself. They talked some and were getting to know each other. Both had lost parents when they were young. Joshua had lost his father to the sea when he was 8 and he was taken to sea as payment for the debts of his father. His mother was 25 and she had her 4 other children taken from her and was left with only the baby. She died of sickness a year later. Annabelle's mother had died after having 4 children in a loveless, arranged marriage. Joshua had thought that Annabelle had lived a privileged life until he found out that her father cared little for her. He cared more for his dogs and whiskey. She hadn't had a happy childhood. Annabelle knew that she loved Joshua and he was in love with her but not fully committed to telling her just yet. He knew that he wanted to give her a better life and to make her happy.
Neither of them realized that Henry was determined to have Annabelle for the money she would bring to him and Mary's father was determined to make Joshua pay for not marrying his daughter. They were working together to capture Joshua's ship to take possession of his smuggled cargo and to take Annabelle back to London as Henry's wife. Henry's best friend's ship had caught up to the Swiftsure when they were a week out of their American port.
The wind came up again and Annabelle was thrown overboard. She was hanging onto the cradle she had brought with her. Joshua jumped in the ocean to save her. They ended up alone on an island not too far from their destination. The used a sail to make a shelter and found a fresh water pond and blueberries to eat. They ended up admitting to each other that they loved each other and made love.
The next day Annabelle was climbing on rocks near the beach and Joshua told her to be careful. He ended up trying to climb up to where Annabelle was and fell and sprained an ankle. Annabelle used Joshua's knife to cut strips of her petticoat to make a wrap for his ankle. It was later that they noticed a small sailboat coming toward the shore. Annabelle had left to get some blueberries while they hid from those arriving. She mentioned to Joshua running into some cute black cats with a white stripe. She had never seen skunks before. Joshua then noticed that his knife was missing and made a comment to Annabelle and she left to fetch it. He couldn't stop her with his bad ankle. She ended up being on the shore when the men arrived and she met Henry's cousin, Edward Palmer of the English navy. She persuaded Edward to have his men put her cradle on board the sailboat and then persuaded them to spend the night on the island trusting that Joshua would find a way to steal the boat. Joshua was hiding and trying to figure out how to get Annabelle away from the men and take the boat. Then the skunks arrived looking for blueberries. Joshua threw berries in the midst of the men who had settled in for night. The guard startled the skunks and the men were all sprayed and running around. Annabelle snuck off but Edward caught her. Joshua hit him in the back of his head and they fought until Annabelle hit Edward over the head with a piece of wood and knocked him out. They headed for the sailboat and headed toward home in Appledore, Mass.
They arrived around noon the next day to a crowd gathered around the dock. They were pleasantly surprised to see the Swiftsure in the dock. Joshua was afraid his ship had been destroyed in the storm that had tossed Annabelle off the ship. It was damaged but not beyond repair. Joshua had thought himself a strong independent man and Annabelle a woman who he had to take care of an protect. He learned that she was stronger than he was in some ways and a help to him. They were a good match.
August 9, 2019
American sea captain Joshua Fairbourne is determined to find a bride while in London. She's picked out, but on the night he plans to propose, he runs into Anabelle Crosbie. The two are attracted, but wanted someone different. However, the fates combine to throw them together and they elope onto his ship. Pursued by her ex-fiance, they go overboard in a storm but survive to return to Massachusetts.
December 8, 2021
Read Dec 2021
August 7, 2011
2 1/2 stars - enjoyed the setting - had a lot of potential - but drrrryyyyy
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews