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 in 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?
Jennifer Moore is a passionate reader and writer of all things romance due to the need to balance the rest of her world, which includes a perpetually traveling husband and four active sons, who create heaps of laundry that are anything but romantic. Jennifer has a BA in linguistics from the University of Utah and is a Guitar Hero champion. She lives in northern Utah with her family.
From the beautiful cover to the Epilogue - I loved this novel. I was sad to read the last page! It was full of romance, intrigue, battles, vulnerability and well, more romance! All my favorite parts of a really great novel. I was impressed with Amelia, a strong, independent woman, who just wants to have a real family. I felt compassion and honesty from her from the beginning. I enjoyed getting to know this brave woman, Amelia Beckett. William, what can I say? I love a man in command! I felt that he showed the true meaning of the word gentlemen throughout this book, even when I wanted to jump in the book and kick him! Ms. Moore did a great job showing how bringing these two characters together early in the book began a great friendship which grew into adoration - on both sides. Bless my soul, her "moments" between the two of them were breathtaking. Thank you Ms. Moore for your awesome historical research in making this more than a "fluff" book - it was a fantastic way to learn more about the British Warfare in the early 1800's. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more from this author!
It is a truth universally acknowledged that the average regency novel would be much improved with the addition of a sword fight or a naval battle.
OK, I’m probably the only one who thinks that, but I’ve always been a little disappointed in the regency genre. Why focus on the color of the heroine’s ball gown when far more interesting things are happening, such as Napoleon taking over Europe and the British burning down Washington, DC?
Moore’s novel has a ball, but it also has naval action and most of the events take place on a British war ship rather than in London. I would have liked more about Still, kudos to Moore for writing outside the regency box. Overall, this was a fun read with enjoyable characters. Recommended for readers who enjoy a good mix of adventure and clean romance.
I absolutely loved the ship aspects of this novel... most of it takes place on a ship, and Amelia is just the woman to show us around. William Drake is a great hero as well. I enjoyed the multi-dimensions of the other characters and their interactions with Amelia. I really think this book could have been twice as long, and I still would have kept reading. And... more battles! Next book, keep the battles going, cut more French mustaches, and add in a few pirates as well :-)
If this book had been written by Jane Austen it would have been titled, "Humility and Understanding," or "Benevolence and Cliche'." Of course, if it had been written by Jane Austen, it might not have turned out so drab.
The characters were unbelievably perfect in all they did and any misunderstanding only lasted for a brief moment. Everybody loved Amelia. Even though she comes onto a military vessel (which is seen as bad luck), she quickly earns the love and praise of all hardened sailors aboard. She masters every skill she attempts on the ship and not a single man of the 800 man crew has any negative thoughts toward her. It was so saccharine it made my stomach a little seasick at times. i honestly wish life were this simple sometimes, but in a novel, perfect people make for boring stories. I finished it only because I had been on the wait list for a long time, but the ending was completely predictable and the story was full of eye-rolling unbelievable situations. The fact that it is so popular at my local library makes me wonder what people have heard about it and if this is actually what they are seeking.
Beautifully written and fairly historically accurate, this was a delightful tale of a likable young lady and a crusty but soft-hearted captain who find one another during a sea voyage fraught with witty dialogue and a sprinkling of danger and adventure. The secondary characters were fun and well developed and the plot was well paced and had just enough twists to keep me guessing. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to other stories by Ms. Moore.
First sentence: "Amelia would recommend widowhood to anyone who inquired about it, though she supposed it would perhaps be more difficult on women who had actually formed an acquaintance with and felt some affection toward their husbands."
The idea of regency romance to me portends of bodice ripping, balls, trite conversation, rakey dukes and faux ladies peering out from under their eyelashes. But I was pleasantly surprised here. Give me some seafaring adventure, an interesting variety of endearing characters, a feisty intelligent heroine and a clean romantic story and maybe you can get me. Moore got me. This is a sweet fun humorous story with some tense adventure aboard ship and I really enjoyed it. Could have had a little more emotion in the ending but still satisfying.
There were no linguistic gymnastics here but absolutely nothing I can complain about - good solid writing. I will read more by this author. 3.5-4
It looks like Lady Emma's Campaign is is tied into this book as it involves two of the characters from this one - loved Sidney so I will be tempted to read it.
How have I not reviewed this book? I LOVE this book. I wasn't sure what I would think about this book. It's been a long time since I've read a high sea adventure/romance book, so I can only claim that my mommy brain has muddled my thoughts, but after reading this book I remember that this is one of my FAVORITE genres! I think it all started in sixth grade with The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle.
Anyway, Jennifer Moore is amazing. The lady did her research on this one, both of the time period and how to write a book. The pacing is quick, but slows for those oh so important romantic moments, the characters are likable (even when they're being unlikeable), and everything just seems to flow together.
From page one I was invested. I literally stayed up half the night reading this book. I highly recommend this new author. I will buy whatever she writes next.
I've heard a lot of "clean regency romance" hype about this one. I had high expectations. I was a bit disappointed. It felt a lot like insta-love and the romance wasn't satisfying. I kept waiting for that big moment at the end where it all works out and my heart is about to burst and the corny smile creeps into my expression. I WANTED that. It didn't happen. Ever. If you want that, go read Blackmoore or Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson. It was definitely clean. I did like the characters. It's a solid 3 stars for me.
The writing itself was good and the book was well-researched. I liked how it was light and easy to read, that most of the story took place on a ship and that Amelia wasn't a damsel-in-distress. That said, if this book had been any longer or not for book club I would not have finished it. Important scenes were glossed over and the problems too easily resolved by Amelia, who seemed to be able to do anything well at a moment's notice. The inconsistent characterization of her and the captain and the lack of conflict and development in the plot was frustrating and made the story unbelievable and boring. This kind of light historical fiction is not for me.
The only problem with this book is that it is too short. This was a quick fun read. It reminded me of a Carla Kelly mixed with a Sarah Eden:} There was a great love story, great characters and a great supporting cast. It was a serious story that was kept fun and light. It was a fun read and I will be looking forward to more from this author. This was clean and sweet with no religion.
What a great read! Amelia Becket's father, Admiral Becket, pushed her into marriage with Lord Lockwood. She never had a chance to meet him before he died. His brother, Captain William Drake, is determined to prove their marriage was a fraud so she won't inherit anything. Amelia is happily living on her sugar plantation in Jamaica when Captain Drake takes her to London to prove her marriage was a sham. On the trip, they each learn things about the other that they weren't expecting and, once they arrive in London, there are complications that might be too much to overcome.
Amelia is lovable from the beginning! She is kind and resourceful. While on the ship, she exhibits bravery and is tougher than the men initially gave her credit for. She forms some great relationships with some of the men and they become loyal to her. I especially enjoyed her relationships with Tobias, as she helped him repair the sails and Riley, the cabin boy.
I loved her relationship with William. I liked William from the beginning, even though he was a bit grumpy. They started off on the wrong foot, mostly because he made a lot of assumptions about her that she just didn't live up to. It was funny to read what he thought about her and then to see what she was really like. It took him a while to figure her out. Most of the story takes place on the ship, but there is still some drama waiting to unfold once they reach London.
We don't really get to know her father, Admiral Becket, but from what we do learn about him, he's not very likable and hasn't treated her well. It took a while to find out what he was really after and it wasn't his daughter's love. I felt sad about the way he treated her, especially since her mother died when she was still quite young.
If you enjoy clean regency romance, then this is the book for you! This is Ms. Moore's first book and I look forward to reading more from her in the future!
I received a copy of this book to review. My opinion is 100% my own.
This is a cute historical fiction romp that labels itself a "Regency Romance"... so of course I found it at Barnes & Noble in the Religion section.
???
I assume it found its way there because Moore is LDS (Mormon) and the book is published by an LDS publishing house. Because honestly, other than the fact that Captain Drake took out a Bible twice to bury his fallen sailors at sea, this book has absolutely nothing to do with religion. It doesn't even contain the word "God."
Overall, I had fun. It's a quick, relaxing read. The romance is clean and Sunday School teacher-approved (my mom pointed out at book club that the heroine's bodice does get ripped in a knife fight... but only in the literal sense).
Where Moore really strikes gold is in her depiction of day-to-day life on a vessel in Her Majesty's navy of the early nineteenth century. The history is fascinating! You can tell Moore did her research, yet she doesn't club you to death with it. Kudos for both the detail and the restraint.
Where Moore strikes not-quite-gold (maybe pyrite?) is in the lack of significant conflict. The protagonist is brilliant at everything and everyone loves her. Sure she faces a couple moments of discomfort, but they are quickly overcome.
The romance gave me a few thrills, but once again the lovers conquered their initial aversion, as well as any other obstacles, with little adjustment or inconvenience. Basically, other than the brief climax featuring battle with a French vessel, there just isn't enough going WRONG in this book.
(And the French captain kept twirling his mustache. TWIRLING HIS MUSTACHE. Poor man. I wanted to punch him right in the middle of his cliched face.)
Overall, when it comes to the proven recipes for great dramatic tension, this one's just more than a little heavy on the sugar. So eat up, if that's your kind of thing. It's cute and sweet - and goes down easy.
Oh my gosh 10 out of 10! There is nothing like an amazing historical romance to get you out of a slump. This wonderful book had me squealing and laughing with delight! Highly recommended!!
I had been hearing lots of good things about Becoming Lady Lockwood and was not disappointed when I read it!
Amelia Beckett is actually happy to be a widow. She had never met Lawrence Drake, the Earl of Lockwood, and was married to him by proxy. Shortly after their marriage, he unexpectedly passed away. She is now Lady Lockwood and no longer has to worry about the scrutiny the single women are subjected too.
Captain Sir William Drake is now the Earl of Lockwood and is determined to expose Amelia and her father as a fraud and have the "marriage" to his brother dissolved. He is sure that Amelia and her father tricked his brother into the marriage and they did it so that they can obtain his wealth and property.
William has to take Amelia back to London to meet with the magistrates to have the issue cleared up. She is not looking forward to it but she has no other choice.
While on the journey William is determined to not like her or have anything to do with her but quickly finds that it is not going to happen. Amelia is not like any woman he has ever met before. She is not only kind, caring, friendly and loyal but she is a very strong, hard working woman who pulls her own weight on the ship. Rather than sitting back and doing absolutely nothing, she can be seen in the galley helping the cook, in the surgery room helping the doctor, on deck helping to mend the sails. She helps to bring light and laughter to everyone around her.
Watching William and Amelia fall in love was adorable! I really enjoyed their story! The only thing that I did not like is the fact that while Amelia is so strong in almost everything in life, she is not strong when it comes to her own self esteem. While she and William have shared quite a few memories, happy times and even a couple of kisses, she doubts that he feels anything for her. Everyone could see his feelings plain as day but she didn't and doubted her own worth. I don't know why but that just bugs me!
And what good story lacks adventure and trials?! Can I just tell you how much I enjoyed watching Amelia rescue the entire ship and crew?! That was just awesome! I loved how she considered every single one of the men her shipmates and how close she grew to the crew. She really is an amazing heroine!
I wasn't too shocked to find out who the bad guy was. I kinda saw that one coming. But to me it seems like something is missing there.. like there is more to that story.
All in all this was a cute, fun read full of adventure, friendship, loyalty and of course a HEA! What a great first novel by Jennifer Moore! Can't wait to read more by her!
While I’m in the middle of writing my own seafaring adventure, I wanted to experience another author’s, and Becoming Lady Lockwood perfectly satisfied that craving. It was fun to experience a Regency romance on a ship setting, and I enjoyed reading about the various adventures our characters went through while sailing the high seas. Most of the story takes place on the voyage between Jamaica and England. I thoroughly enjoyed this setting, seeing what life was like on the ship, and reading about all of the sailing details. It was a wonderful backdrop for the deepening friendship and then romance between the captain and Amelia.
From the beginning, William and Amelia have interesting circumstances keeping them from being together. William resents Amelia’s marriage-by-proxy to his deceased brother robbing him of a portion of his inheritance. His assumptions she’s a gold digger initially keep him from forming a favorable impression of her, but he quickly finds himself softening as she continuously proves him wrong in his assumptions. Soon he finds himself losing his heart to her…only to realize their relationship is forbidden due to his being her brother in law, forcing him to find a way to dissolve her marriage to his brother so he’s free to pursue a relationship with her. It was an interesting circumstance that left me continuously wondering how everything would work out.
I loved William; he was a man of kindness, loyalty, and integrity. I loved watching him soften throughout the story as his feelings for Amelia slowly blossom. I also adored Amelia’s character; she was such a sweet, unselfish person, always willing to make the best of things and help those around her. She and William were the perfect match.
As with many sea-faring plots, this one was filled with action, scenes I didn’t enjoy as much as the unfolding relationship considering I’m quite sensitive to violence. While the ship battles weren’t overly graphic, I still struggled with them. Luckily they were only a small part of the story, and the aftermath of them provided some fantastic twists and turns that had me thoroughly engaged.
Overall, I found the plot interesting, the sea setting delightful, the characters likable, and the romance adorable, making Becoming Lady Lockwood an overall pleasant read.
Amelia Beckett is newly a widow, and honestly, feels a freedom she never had before. Her father forced to marry a business associate of his by proxy. She shuddered to think what type of man her husband would be, if he was a friend of her father's, but there was no way out of the deal, so she did it. She signed her name to the document and dreaded her husband's return. Except that he never did return. She inherited her mother's Jamaican sugar plantation and is quite happy to settle down there and run it for the forseeable future.
Than Captain Sir William Drake walks into her parlor. Amelia's late husband was his brother, and Drake is certain that the whole marriage was a sham just to get her hands on some of his family's estate. He has come all the way to Jamaica to bring her back to England and to court, to prove that the marriage was all a fraud. She goes, albeit unwillingly.
While on the ship, Amelia is surprised to find friends amongst the crew, and even learns how to repair sails and does some cooking. In fact, she lends a hand in all sorts of unusual places, including the ship's surgery. As the Captain and Amelia get to know one another better, a friendship reluctantly sparks to life, which over time may deepen into something more. Unfortunately, neither one of them can afford to forget the court date looming over them once they get to England. In fact, the ruling becomes more important than ever, but for entirely different reasons than either would have guessed at the beginning of the voyage.
* * * * * Like many in this genre, this one was a bit predictable. OF COURSE Amelia and the good Captain Drake were going to fall for each other. How could it be any different? Seeing their friendship and then relationship develop was enjoyable, though.
Reread: October 2-3, 2016 I loved it just as much or more this time through. It was fun to remember Anna's storyline after I read her story in the book "Simply Anna". Great characters and a perfect regency HEA!!! --------------------------------------
I really enjoyed this novel set in the regency era and on the seas during the Napoleonic War. Not too many battle scenes on the water but enough to fit in perfectly with the story.
The regency era is one of my favorite time periods to read about. I find it very fascinating all the rules and lifestyle etiquettes. It would have been very hard to be a female then.
Jennifer Moore did great for her debut novel. I have been eyeing this book since it first came out and my husband recently surprised me with it. I was not disappointed at all in my expectations of the storyline.
It does have the typical regency storyline, well let's be honest-typical romance storyline. :-) Girl meets guy, she thinks he's mean and conceited, they are thrown together in circumstances that force them to reconcile and draw closer to each other. I enjoy happily ever afters!!
If you like clean Regency romance novels I don't think you will be disappointed by this one and there is a sequel about the main character William's sister Emma and William's first mate from his ship. Can't wait to read that one too!!!
I absolutely loved this book! I don't write spoiler reviews. So here goes. I loved the characters in this book. Amelia shows her compassion for everyone she meets. She is a strong woman who knows what she wants, I love that about her. William is the perfect hero in this book. He is a man of character. The friction and energy between these two characters drives this story forward. I love the waltzing scenes.
I have recommended this book to all of my friends. I have already read it twice. I cannot wait for another book from this author!
I had the opportunity to be a beta reader for this book and loved seeing it come to life. The finished product is a fabulous romance set upon the high seas with characters you root for and a setting that feels very true to life. I loved that it was a Regency, but in an entirely new place. I loved the history weaved into the story and the realness it lent to the story. That this is Moore's first published novel is hard to believe. I can't wait to read what comes next from her.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 All I have to say is that these regency romance authors need to find a different style for cover art because we most certainly do judge books by their covers and lots more romantics such as myself would read these if the covers weren’t so bad okay I’m done thanks and goodnight
An okay, short regency romance. Amelia took the Mary Sue stereotype to superhero levels, that was a bit annoying. Keeping it short worked in this story's favor.
I was hesitant to read this one, because I had heard so many great things about it and I’m not familiar at ALL with anything nautical.
BUT I did enjoy this book so much, despite shedding a few tears. I loved how Jennifer helped explain all the words and doings of a historical naval ship. It was the perfect amount of history and facts woven into a sweet romance story. And who doesn’t love an “enemies” to lovers trope?
It was enjoyable to see the relationship between Amelia and William grow and change. Moore has a great way of allowing the events in the story to help these two develop as individuals and as a couple. With and without knowing it they help push each other to become better people.
Overall this was a really enjoyable read with humor, suspense, and of course romance.
Obsessed with Amelia! She inspires me to be a better friend and serve those around me more. I loved her courage and bravery throughout the story. William was also dreamy and I loved his strong and protective character.
There's something very fun about a romance aboard a ship. The typical Regency romance takes place in England and it was refreshing to read about another place during this time period.
William is convinced that Amelia is a gold digger and isn't happy to have to retrieve her from her plantation in Jamaica to return her to England. He has an idea of what she's like and she proves him wrong at every turn. Amelia's marriage to William's brother is on paper and by proxy only. She has her plantation and doesn't want or need more.
Basically forced to leave her home, Amelia shows that she is willing to make the best of things. She is more than willing to help out aboard the ship--sewing sails, caring for the sick and injured, showing the cook new recipes, etc. She is completely unselfish and such a sweet character. I love the way Amelia is able to find common ground with those around her. She becomes dear friends with so many of the crew and is very personable. I love her strength and grit, especially in tough times.
I enjoyed watching William soften up. He's so used to ordering a crew around and being tough, yet kind and having a woman on board is a whole new experience. I loved watching the romance slowly blossom.
I experienced a lot of different emotions throughout the story and was engaged throughout. I thought it was a great story, especially for a debut novel!
Content: no language; some war-type violence/fighting with mild descriptions of death, blood, and injuries; mild kissing. I would consider it clean for an adult.
*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review*