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Beau Crusoe
Shipwrecked! Stranded alone on a desert island, he had lived to tell the tale. A triumphant return to the ton saw James Trevenen hailed as Beau Crusoe--a gentleman of spirit, verve and action. But only he knew the true cost of his survival!
Susannah Park had been shunned by Society. She lived content with her calm existence--until Beau Crusoe determinedly cut up her peace! The beautiful widow wanted to help him heal the wounds of the past--but what secrets was this glorious man hiding?
Susannah Park had been shunned by Society. She lived content with her calm existence--until Beau Crusoe determinedly cut up her peace! The beautiful widow wanted to help him heal the wounds of the past--but what secrets was this glorious man hiding?
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 2007
About the author
Carla Kelly
141 books807 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 131 reviews
November 29, 2017
She smiled, and James felt his heart turn.
Lt. James Trevenen spent 5yrs marooned on an island.
Susannah Park married below her station, had her husband die before she even gave birth, and has been ostracized ever since.
Maybe because I recently read one of her books, this felt like a Balogh with some Milan. Y'all, the tongue-in-cheek humor and wit is top notch here. This is also told mostly from the hero's pov, which helped to give it a fresh spin.
"Maybe it's this way, son---when we have no choice, we may as well be brave."
James has PTSD from what he had to do to survive and thinks he is haunted by another survivor of the original shipwreck. James' story of survival is spread out throughout the story until we get the ultimate grizzly details of how he became the lone survivor. It's rough, disturbing, and courageous stuff to read and I enjoyed how the author didn't shy away from James' emotions. He was a hero who was witty, courageous, strong, utterly capable, and kind; he's a sexy one.
Susannah plays a little bit of second fiddle to James but her calm, vulnerable, and solid demeanor made her a perfect complement to him. Her family dynamics were a secondary character that wonderfully filled this story with even more emotions and relationship nuances. I'm also not the biggest fan of children in stories but Susannah's son Noah was a fun character and their relationship and the one that develops between Noah and James was delightful.
The romance between James and Susannah started off as smoke that slowly but surely was tended into a sparking burning pleasing fire. They were such a lovely engaging couple to follow along with. The wit provides a lighter tone while James feeling haunted and Susannah coming back from scandal with society and her family (Susannah and her sister's relationship brought a tear to my eye at the end) provide the heavier emotional load. The secondary characters here add a lot and show how much a story can be enhanced when giving attention to the details. This was a refreshing, engaging, and just plain lovely story.
As she stood watching, he turned and blew her a kiss. You're a rascal, she thought.
Lt. James Trevenen spent 5yrs marooned on an island.
Susannah Park married below her station, had her husband die before she even gave birth, and has been ostracized ever since.
Maybe because I recently read one of her books, this felt like a Balogh with some Milan. Y'all, the tongue-in-cheek humor and wit is top notch here. This is also told mostly from the hero's pov, which helped to give it a fresh spin.
"Maybe it's this way, son---when we have no choice, we may as well be brave."
James has PTSD from what he had to do to survive and thinks he is haunted by another survivor of the original shipwreck. James' story of survival is spread out throughout the story until we get the ultimate grizzly details of how he became the lone survivor. It's rough, disturbing, and courageous stuff to read and I enjoyed how the author didn't shy away from James' emotions. He was a hero who was witty, courageous, strong, utterly capable, and kind; he's a sexy one.
Susannah plays a little bit of second fiddle to James but her calm, vulnerable, and solid demeanor made her a perfect complement to him. Her family dynamics were a secondary character that wonderfully filled this story with even more emotions and relationship nuances. I'm also not the biggest fan of children in stories but Susannah's son Noah was a fun character and their relationship and the one that develops between Noah and James was delightful.
The romance between James and Susannah started off as smoke that slowly but surely was tended into a sparking burning pleasing fire. They were such a lovely engaging couple to follow along with. The wit provides a lighter tone while James feeling haunted and Susannah coming back from scandal with society and her family (Susannah and her sister's relationship brought a tear to my eye at the end) provide the heavier emotional load. The secondary characters here add a lot and show how much a story can be enhanced when giving attention to the details. This was a refreshing, engaging, and just plain lovely story.
As she stood watching, he turned and blew her a kiss. You're a rascal, she thought.
January 29, 2017
3.5 stars
James Trevenen, a naval officer, spent 5 years as a castaway on a tiny, uninhabited island after a shipwreck. As a means of staying sane, he studied a unique species of crab and wrote a treatise on his findings. Now, back in England, James is about to be presented a medal by the Royal Society for his work.Susannah, a widow with a young son, endures a reclusive life on her parents' estate, until Mr. Trevenen, is foist upon the family by a friend.
If you are a Carla Kelly fan, beware it’s not her usual story. It’s both funnier and more disturbing than the ones I read. And for these who care, it’s not a clean regency.
There are many humorous moments at the beginning that left me laughing out loud but the mood became more serious and unsettling as the hero's tale of survival is slowly revealed. His sufferings didn’t end with his rescue from the island but continued with a full blown PTSD -irrational fears, panic attacks, and an inability to function at times. I thought this was well and realistically done.
James is a true star of the story. Despite his harrowing experience and dark secrets, his sense of humor shines through. He is clever, mischievous but kind when dealing with some secondary characters. His blossoming romance with Susannah is rewarding. Their delightful banter and playfulness at the beginning turns into a great deal of courage and loyalty they both needed towards the end.
Although I liked the story, there were some aspects that I found problematic. The portrayal of secondary characters was often too grotesque, some of the plot lines were resolved way to easily and convenient.
Overall, a good story - funny but disturbing.
February 5, 2017
I have such mixed feelings towards this book. There were parts in the story which were remarkable while at times I was bothered about a few incidents and their treatment. Nevertheless I am going with 3.5 stars for sheer ingenuity and novelty of the plot.
January 21, 2015
Another great Carla Kelly love story! And unlike many romances, the story is told primarily from the hero's point of view. James is haunted by his experiences after being shipwrecked and stranded five years on a deserted island. He studied the native crabs on the island, wrote a treatise, and now has returned to London to be awarded a medal by the royal society.
Through a series of humorous adventures, he becomes known in society as Beau Crusoe, and all of London wants his company. He, however, would rather spend time with Susannah Park, his London host's goddaughter. That host is in ill health and has fobbed off James on Susannah's family. (And here the real-life renowned botanist Sir Joseph Banks plays a major role.)
Both James and Susannah are damaged, yet both are brave, resilient, and full of good humor. The secondary characters are deftly drawn, and each one serves a definite purpose in the overall plot.
This is a beautiful love story between two very real people. Highly recommended.
Through a series of humorous adventures, he becomes known in society as Beau Crusoe, and all of London wants his company. He, however, would rather spend time with Susannah Park, his London host's goddaughter. That host is in ill health and has fobbed off James on Susannah's family. (And here the real-life renowned botanist Sir Joseph Banks plays a major role.)
Both James and Susannah are damaged, yet both are brave, resilient, and full of good humor. The secondary characters are deftly drawn, and each one serves a definite purpose in the overall plot.
This is a beautiful love story between two very real people. Highly recommended.
November 8, 2020
11/8/20 - Just finished rereading this and raised the rating to 5 stars. This book is such a pleasure to read, so full of characters you want to spend time with. There is also real humor here, along with serious subjects and situations without easy answers. I highly recommend it.
Beau Crusoe surprised me by being a serious look at PTSD. James had been shipwrecked on a deserted island for 5 years after being set adrift in a lifeboat with four other men after their ship sank. As the book progresses, the story of what happened to James and the other men is slowly revealed. We do know fairly early on that James is a troubled man, with several idiosyncrasies due to his trauma. There is humor in the book, as well as gentleness, but the book is not a lighthearted historical romance. Susannah makes a wonderful counterpoint to James, and has quiet strength without seeming too perfect.
Beau Crusoe surprised me by being a serious look at PTSD. James had been shipwrecked on a deserted island for 5 years after being set adrift in a lifeboat with four other men after their ship sank. As the book progresses, the story of what happened to James and the other men is slowly revealed. We do know fairly early on that James is a troubled man, with several idiosyncrasies due to his trauma. There is humor in the book, as well as gentleness, but the book is not a lighthearted historical romance. Susannah makes a wonderful counterpoint to James, and has quiet strength without seeming too perfect.
December 30, 2010
I actually really enjoyed the beginning of this book, but it seriously went south about two thirds of the way through. The following things ruined it for me:
- I was actually rolling with the implied cannibalism because, well, that's something that probably would have happened during a shipwreck. It's also unique, and I like unique elements in my romance novels. What I really couldn't deal with was the fairly graphic flashback to the actual cannibalism. That's not what I read romance for.
- The characterization of of the villainess. I should have known it would not go well from her first mention, where the hero compared her genitals to roast beef. Then she showed up and it was just all slut-shaming, all the time. Lady Audley was a caricature with no redeeming qualities; she was simply defined by her hunger for cock and revenge. Defining a female romance novel antagonist by her rampant sexuality is a cop-out and is frankly disgusting to those of us who admire sexually confident women.
- This seems like nitpicking compared to the other two, but the way that the heroine found out the hero's big secret seemed like a betrayal of trust. When one party in my romance has a big secret, I want them to become comfortable enough to share it with the other party. I don't want the other party to go dig up the answer themselves.
- As the book got closer and closer to the end, each plot point seemed more and more ludicrous. What started as a lovely, if someone odd, romance novel had ended as a farce.
Carla Kelly's other books for Harlequin are some of my favorite romance novels, and I was really disappointed to read this older title. It left such a bad taste in my mouth that I might not be picking up another of her books for a while.
- I was actually rolling with the implied cannibalism because, well, that's something that probably would have happened during a shipwreck. It's also unique, and I like unique elements in my romance novels. What I really couldn't deal with was the fairly graphic flashback to the actual cannibalism. That's not what I read romance for.
- The characterization of of the villainess. I should have known it would not go well from her first mention, where the hero compared her genitals to roast beef. Then she showed up and it was just all slut-shaming, all the time. Lady Audley was a caricature with no redeeming qualities; she was simply defined by her hunger for cock and revenge. Defining a female romance novel antagonist by her rampant sexuality is a cop-out and is frankly disgusting to those of us who admire sexually confident women.
- This seems like nitpicking compared to the other two, but the way that the heroine found out the hero's big secret seemed like a betrayal of trust. When one party in my romance has a big secret, I want them to become comfortable enough to share it with the other party. I don't want the other party to go dig up the answer themselves.
- As the book got closer and closer to the end, each plot point seemed more and more ludicrous. What started as a lovely, if someone odd, romance novel had ended as a farce.
Carla Kelly's other books for Harlequin are some of my favorite romance novels, and I was really disappointed to read this older title. It left such a bad taste in my mouth that I might not be picking up another of her books for a while.
December 12, 2017
Oh... oh... what a lovely, lovely, lovely story!!!
I loved everything about this little gem! The writing, the humor, the characters!!!
The hero, James, was shipwrecked and survived alone on a deserted island and after five years save by missionaries. Now returned to England he's awaded a medal and he comes to London to receive it.
What makes the hero a wonderful man is his disposition! He's a man of action: nothing is impossible for him! Even if it is ridding a household of tucans, or saving cats from the tree-tops!
The heroine, Susannah, is also very lovable. At the beginning she's a "ruined" Gretna Green runaway. She's withdrawn, shunned by the ton and living in a disorganized household where the father is completly absent (he's a brid watcher/breeder/collector), the mather is empty headed, the sister is a hateful harpy...
And in that household James is given room....
You can all immagine all the wonderful, funny and not so much things that can happen there! :)
A little gem is what this story is! Wonderfully written with non stop action and endearing characters both main and secondary!
If you have a change to get your hands on it, I'm sure you'll love it too!
I loved everything about this little gem! The writing, the humor, the characters!!!
The hero, James, was shipwrecked and survived alone on a deserted island and after five years save by missionaries. Now returned to England he's awaded a medal and he comes to London to receive it.
What makes the hero a wonderful man is his disposition! He's a man of action: nothing is impossible for him! Even if it is ridding a household of tucans, or saving cats from the tree-tops!
The heroine, Susannah, is also very lovable. At the beginning she's a "ruined" Gretna Green runaway. She's withdrawn, shunned by the ton and living in a disorganized household where the father is completly absent (he's a brid watcher/breeder/collector), the mather is empty headed, the sister is a hateful harpy...
And in that household James is given room....
You can all immagine all the wonderful, funny and not so much things that can happen there! :)
A little gem is what this story is! Wonderfully written with non stop action and endearing characters both main and secondary!
If you have a change to get your hands on it, I'm sure you'll love it too!
Read
March 14, 2019DNF @ page 58. I don’t think I’ll like this one. Thought I’d give it a try, but I have a feeling that OW are going to feature too prominently in this one. After perusing some one star reviews, it turns out that I’m right. The H thought about her too much and there are later scenes where . I don't care how witty the banter is or how sweet the slow burn romance between the MCs. The strong presence of the OW ruins it all for me. Just personal preference.
See review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
See review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
February 22, 2025
I enjoyed this plot, but didn't like the writing enough that I think this will be my first and last Kelly. It felt really really old-fashioned, even given that it was written in 2007. I came to this book in the usual way -- my carefully constructed libby holds/tbr gets upended, from someone's IG story. The story is at least different! Navel officer is shipwrecked for five years and writes treatise on crabs and comes to London to accept scientific prize, falls in love with the widow who is supposed to shepherd him around. There's his Big Secret (not a secret, it's cannibalism), he's haunted, and he made some Poor Choices on the journey home after being rescued. OK, let the record show I am not ACTUALLY endorsing cannibalism, but the book does make it fairly clear that it's an accepted course of action in a shipwreck situation.
Anyhoo, he's a bold actor "I'm not one to wait around for the perfect moment...if you want to solve a problem, do it." who just starts making changes for the better and rescuing people in danger right and left. Susannah's godfather is the one who suggested they marry, and initially they both agree his two week visit is too short to fall in love, by like day four he's thinking about "walking beside this lady for the rest of his life" and "he knew he was in love." DAY FOUR. Of course he can't marry because of the PTSD that has him hoarding food, the nightmares, and the ghost that haunts him every night (James: "No woman wants to share a bed with two men." Me: Errr, the popularity of why choose books would beg to differ?).
There's a whole side plot with the Poor Choices he made on his journey home, and his apparent lack of control even today over his bodily reactions which felt super yucky, and was supposed to be a major dealbreaker, but Susannah was basically, bygones! about the whole thing. IDK, I came to this book with no expectations apart from the accidental cannibal of it all, and those expectations were met.
Anyhoo, he's a bold actor "I'm not one to wait around for the perfect moment...if you want to solve a problem, do it." who just starts making changes for the better and rescuing people in danger right and left. Susannah's godfather is the one who suggested they marry, and initially they both agree his two week visit is too short to fall in love, by like day four he's thinking about "walking beside this lady for the rest of his life" and "he knew he was in love." DAY FOUR. Of course he can't marry because of the PTSD that has him hoarding food, the nightmares, and the ghost that haunts him every night (James: "No woman wants to share a bed with two men." Me: Errr, the popularity of why choose books would beg to differ?).
There's a whole side plot with the Poor Choices he made on his journey home, and his apparent lack of control even today over his bodily reactions which felt super yucky, and was supposed to be a major dealbreaker, but Susannah was basically, bygones! about the whole thing. IDK, I came to this book with no expectations apart from the accidental cannibal of it all, and those expectations were met.
October 3, 2019
Beau Crusoe is a very interesting story of a man that spent five years alone in a island after his ship sank and spent his time studying a new species of small crustaceans.
When he was finally rescued and returned to England, his treatise on the new animals got him a medal from the Royal Society.
Traumatized by memories and nightmares, he ends up staying as a guest in the house of Mrs. Suzanna Park and her parents while waiting for the medal ceremony.
His practical nature helps her family build some bridges between themselves and society, and in the meantime, Suzanna’s sweetness and friendship helps him face his demons and find peace.
Unlike other CK books, this book has a moderate level of steam and some explicit content.
When he was finally rescued and returned to England, his treatise on the new animals got him a medal from the Royal Society.
Traumatized by memories and nightmares, he ends up staying as a guest in the house of Mrs. Suzanna Park and her parents while waiting for the medal ceremony.
His practical nature helps her family build some bridges between themselves and society, and in the meantime, Suzanna’s sweetness and friendship helps him face his demons and find peace.
Unlike other CK books, this book has a moderate level of steam and some explicit content.
October 16, 2018
4.25 stars
May 20, 2013
I don’t normally read romance novels, let alone “historical” ones supposedly set in the Regency period, but when a friend sent me this one (thanks Melissa!) and described it as being a hysterical hot mess full of OMG and WTF moments, I knew I had to make an exception!
Oh yes, this lived up fully to its billing! I actually received my copy a year ago, but devoured it (pun intended) over the cold winter break. I agree with my friend’s original review that this must’ve been written on a bet, and add that it must’ve been published on a dare too! Holy crap, what a mish-mash of concepts and words!
I knew I was in for a treat when the second chapter practically opened with:
and that’s the ultimate summary of this book: a mix of horror and humor, against a background of romance, with so many OMG and WTF elements that, like a celebrity car wreck on a major highway, you simply can’t look away.
Oh yes, this lived up fully to its billing! I actually received my copy a year ago, but devoured it (pun intended) over the cold winter break. I agree with my friend’s original review that this must’ve been written on a bet, and add that it must’ve been published on a dare too! Holy crap, what a mish-mash of concepts and words!
I knew I was in for a treat when the second chapter practically opened with:
“He looked around to see the innkeeper bringing out a roast of beef, all steaming and cunningly sliced so the tender, moist pink interior winked at him like… Oh, God, and now he was thinking of Artemesia, Lady Audley, with her legs spread wide, eager to seduce him after they left the miserable fever harbor of Batavia, prepared to cross the Indian Ocean.”
and that’s the ultimate summary of this book: a mix of horror and humor, against a background of romance, with so many OMG and WTF elements that, like a celebrity car wreck on a major highway, you simply can’t look away.
May 5, 2012
3 ½ stars. Sweet romance story. Kept my interest. Secrets are eventually brought forward.
STORY BRIEF:
James was in the British Navy. The ship hit coral and sunk. James was the sole survivor and lived on a small island for five years. For something to do he studied the crabs. Missionaries discovered him and brought him back to England. He published a book about the crabs and will receive a medal for this scientific work. James is invited to stay with Lord and Lady Watchmere in London for two weeks while waiting for the award ceremony. Susannah is also living with the Watchmeres, her parents. She eloped seven years earlier with someone inappropriate (her social inferior) and has been shunned by society ever since. Her husband died. Now she is raising her son Noah alone.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This is a pleasant experience. The best parts were James’s lies. When interacting with silly people or people with odd problems, James tells lies which have good results. James is haunted/tormented by things from his five-year episode (PTSD). He keeps those things secret from Susannah. This is the overall mystery which eventually gets resolved. I liked that he never lied to Susannah but simply told her there were secrets he intended to keep private.
In most romance stories the heroine is the main character. But here it is James. He needs healing. Susannah’s role is more of the kind and understanding person who helps James. Not much is done with her character.
The sex scenes are more about showing character and story than being sensual.
DATA:
Story length: 288 pages. Swearing language: moderate. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 6. Total number of sex scene pages: 4. Setting: early 1800s England. Copyright: 2007. Genre: regency romance.
STORY BRIEF:
James was in the British Navy. The ship hit coral and sunk. James was the sole survivor and lived on a small island for five years. For something to do he studied the crabs. Missionaries discovered him and brought him back to England. He published a book about the crabs and will receive a medal for this scientific work. James is invited to stay with Lord and Lady Watchmere in London for two weeks while waiting for the award ceremony. Susannah is also living with the Watchmeres, her parents. She eloped seven years earlier with someone inappropriate (her social inferior) and has been shunned by society ever since. Her husband died. Now she is raising her son Noah alone.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This is a pleasant experience. The best parts were James’s lies. When interacting with silly people or people with odd problems, James tells lies which have good results. James is haunted/tormented by things from his five-year episode (PTSD). He keeps those things secret from Susannah. This is the overall mystery which eventually gets resolved. I liked that he never lied to Susannah but simply told her there were secrets he intended to keep private.
In most romance stories the heroine is the main character. But here it is James. He needs healing. Susannah’s role is more of the kind and understanding person who helps James. Not much is done with her character.
The sex scenes are more about showing character and story than being sensual.
DATA:
Story length: 288 pages. Swearing language: moderate. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 6. Total number of sex scene pages: 4. Setting: early 1800s England. Copyright: 2007. Genre: regency romance.
November 27, 2017
James Trevenen es un ex teniente de la armada real que sufrió un naufragio hace seis años y tuvo que vivir en una isla desierta varios años. Los recuerdos de lo acontecido lo atormentan. A su regreso a Londres, será premiado por un trabajo que publicó respecto a la vida de los cangrejos en la isla.
Susannah Park es una joven y bella viuda con un hijo, ahijada de un brillante científico, que se relaciona con James por su padrino para que lo acompañe en la ciudad hasta recibir el premio. Ella es hija de un vizconde, pero la sociedad la condenó al ostracismo por un escándalo en su juventud.
Aquí tenemos una novela muy tierna con protagonistas con pasado difícil, que empiezan a conocerse. James va resolviendo problemas cotidianos de ella y de su familia y Suzannah descubrirá de a poco, los fantasmas que lo persiguen e intentará ahuyentarlos.
Tiene una primera mitad muy tranquila y, hacia el final cuando todo ya estaba bien, explota todo el pasado de James haciendo peligrar la felicidad de la pareja.
Me gustó mucho. James es un protagonista diferente, un ex marino no aristócrata, con mucha personalidad a pesar de sus traumas. Ella muy decidida. Los conflictos me parecieron buenos e impactantes. Un par de escenas hot entre ellos (más unos recuerditos de relaciones pasadas). Leído en seis horas.
Susannah Park es una joven y bella viuda con un hijo, ahijada de un brillante científico, que se relaciona con James por su padrino para que lo acompañe en la ciudad hasta recibir el premio. Ella es hija de un vizconde, pero la sociedad la condenó al ostracismo por un escándalo en su juventud.
Aquí tenemos una novela muy tierna con protagonistas con pasado difícil, que empiezan a conocerse. James va resolviendo problemas cotidianos de ella y de su familia y Suzannah descubrirá de a poco, los fantasmas que lo persiguen e intentará ahuyentarlos.
Tiene una primera mitad muy tranquila y, hacia el final cuando todo ya estaba bien, explota todo el pasado de James haciendo peligrar la felicidad de la pareja.
Me gustó mucho. James es un protagonista diferente, un ex marino no aristócrata, con mucha personalidad a pesar de sus traumas. Ella muy decidida. Los conflictos me parecieron buenos e impactantes. Un par de escenas hot entre ellos (más unos recuerditos de relaciones pasadas). Leído en seis horas.
December 11, 2025
3.5 stars.
Some really interesting and unique parts, some baffling and frustrating parts.
Some really interesting and unique parts, some baffling and frustrating parts.
May 16, 2008
Shipwrecked!
Stranded alone on a desert island, he had lived to tell the tale. A triumphant return to the ton saw James Trevenen hailed as Beau Crusoe--a gentleman of spirit, verve and action. But only he knew the true cost of his survival! Scandalous!
Susannah Park had been shunned by Society. She lived content with her calm existence--until Beau Crusoe determinedly cut up her peace! The beautiful widow wanted to help him heal the wounds of the past--but what secrets was this glorious man hiding?
This was my second book by Carla Kelly. My first one was The Wedding Journey. I found that the two are similar because they both deal with very different subjects from what we are used to in regencies. The Wedding Journey approached the problems of the army during the Peninsular Wars and this one deals with surviving a trauma (a shipwreck and having to survive on a desert island).
In fact both the hero and the heroine have some problems to overcame. The heroine has run away to marry as so the whole family has been shunned by society and her sister hates her now that she is back home, a widow with a young son.
James Trevenen, or Beau Crusoe, meets Susannah Park when he is invited to stay at her parent's house by her grandfather when he arrives in London to receive an award. Susannah's grandfather wants to match make the two of them which he doesn't hide from Trevenen and that Trevenen tells Susannah. They immediately decide they will not fall in love during the two weeks they will spend together but in truth a bit of an attraction starts showing when the idea is planted.
At the same time Trevenen is busy changing the live of every other of Susannah's relatives. Her parents get closer, her sister falls for one of his acquaintances that she nurses to health. In fact this part of the story was quite light with Trevenen lying to everyone so he can do good deeds.
The story also has a serious side as Trevenen seems to be suffering from something like post-traumatic stress disorder in which he sees ghosts and has nightmares constantly. It will take Susannah's strength who finds out what really happened after the shipwreck and tries to heal him.
The story was really well written and the plot was really interesting and original. My only problem with it was that I felt the was some lack of magic, it wasn't as light and witty as the light moments promised and it wasn't as serious and complex as the serious parts demanded.
Grade: B
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Stranded alone on a desert island, he had lived to tell the tale. A triumphant return to the ton saw James Trevenen hailed as Beau Crusoe--a gentleman of spirit, verve and action. But only he knew the true cost of his survival! Scandalous!
Susannah Park had been shunned by Society. She lived content with her calm existence--until Beau Crusoe determinedly cut up her peace! The beautiful widow wanted to help him heal the wounds of the past--but what secrets was this glorious man hiding?
This was my second book by Carla Kelly. My first one was The Wedding Journey. I found that the two are similar because they both deal with very different subjects from what we are used to in regencies. The Wedding Journey approached the problems of the army during the Peninsular Wars and this one deals with surviving a trauma (a shipwreck and having to survive on a desert island).
In fact both the hero and the heroine have some problems to overcame. The heroine has run away to marry as so the whole family has been shunned by society and her sister hates her now that she is back home, a widow with a young son.
James Trevenen, or Beau Crusoe, meets Susannah Park when he is invited to stay at her parent's house by her grandfather when he arrives in London to receive an award. Susannah's grandfather wants to match make the two of them which he doesn't hide from Trevenen and that Trevenen tells Susannah. They immediately decide they will not fall in love during the two weeks they will spend together but in truth a bit of an attraction starts showing when the idea is planted.
At the same time Trevenen is busy changing the live of every other of Susannah's relatives. Her parents get closer, her sister falls for one of his acquaintances that she nurses to health. In fact this part of the story was quite light with Trevenen lying to everyone so he can do good deeds.
The story also has a serious side as Trevenen seems to be suffering from something like post-traumatic stress disorder in which he sees ghosts and has nightmares constantly. It will take Susannah's strength who finds out what really happened after the shipwreck and tries to heal him.
The story was really well written and the plot was really interesting and original. My only problem with it was that I felt the was some lack of magic, it wasn't as light and witty as the light moments promised and it wasn't as serious and complex as the serious parts demanded.
Grade: B
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February 10, 2012
Wow, I really loved this book! One of the best I've read in a long time -- so original, and I love the light tone the author has taken to deal with some pretty serious subjects. This is a totally wonky, charming, convincing, compelling read. Everything a historical romance should be.
February 6, 2013
Not my very favorite Carla Kelly book, but I still really loved this unusual little story.
I wrote a DIK review over at AAR back in 2007. Here's the link: http://likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookRev...
I wrote a DIK review over at AAR back in 2007. Here's the link: http://likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookRev...
September 26, 2008
While I'm all for reading about cannibalism in most contexts, it turns out there is a distinct limit to how much I am willing to tolerate in my romance novels.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2022
With each novel Carla Kelly's technical abilities shine like a bright jewel. Most of her regencies pick one problem area and explore it within the confines and tropes of a romance. In this book the hero is haunted by an old trauma that he finds hard to exorcise. I admit I don't like him as some.of.her other heroes but I like the pacing of the book and some scenes are just so well etched such as the scenes between the two sisters, especially when they go to the Admiralty office. One plot device I did not like was the use of the other woman to create mischief so tired and boring and something you don't expect from Carla Kelly
June 15, 2024
Even though I greatly enjoyed the author’s St. Brendan Series, this one is a close competitor for “Best Carla Kelly Novel.” South Sea adventures, a shipwreck, a lone survivor who is cast ashore on a deserted island, five years of solitude before rescue, a clear cut case of what would now be recognized as survivor’s guilt and PTSD, how family, friends, and the Admiralty Office deal with the main character’s “resurrection”from his presumptive death—all these narrative elements keep the reader deeply involved in the story. Brava! Good job!
March 14, 2026
I can't remember when I read it, but I read it at least twice before 2020.
It stuck with me - the FMC is smart and not cringeworthy as so many in newer books (or maybe I'm just getting older), the MMC is interesting, the PTSD he's burdened with after his ordeal is more than understandable.
I've got to find the book in my stacked shelves to re-read it again.
I'm pretty sure it's been recommended to me by the wonderful Hirondelle who made me try quite a number of books that I'd never ever thought I'd like but which I ended up LOVING.
It stuck with me - the FMC is smart and not cringeworthy as so many in newer books (or maybe I'm just getting older), the MMC is interesting, the PTSD he's burdened with after his ordeal is more than understandable.
I've got to find the book in my stacked shelves to re-read it again.
I'm pretty sure it's been recommended to me by the wonderful Hirondelle who made me try quite a number of books that I'd never ever thought I'd like but which I ended up LOVING.
May 8, 2021
Probably the best book I’ve read this year. Every time I read a Carla Kelly book I feel like I’ve been totally transported. The stories are so unique and so powerful. And a lot of the story is from HIS POV which makes it even more interesting.
May 7, 2018
Lots of angst. An insipid heroine. A hero whose got bats in his belfrey but has an amazing aptitude to solve other people's problems. A grossly disgusting ghost. Plus the real and imagined cannibalism made for an unpleasant read. Not what I expected from a Carla Kelly book. Dissappointed.
April 12, 2026
The idea behind this historical romance was solid, but the execution was weak. It was a struggle to finish it.
January 17, 2023
Es-pec-ta-cu-lar!!!
August 3, 2019
DNFed at 69% at this insight into how the hero feels about a woman he had enthusiastically and consensually slept with multiple times and who he knows next to nothing else about: “When he thought of her, he felt disgust boil up from deep inside him, like a pot of reeking bilge left unwatched on Satan’s stove.”
I’ve been a Carla Kelly fan for years. But. This is slut shaming. It’s misogyny. And it’s not ok.
As I reflected on it, I began to realize this book, like many of Kelly’s is essentially a battle between good kindly, empathetic people (who are invariably humble though) and mean, selfish people who are often self-righteous and vain to boot. I’m not totally against that, otherwise I would not have read as many of the author’s books for entertainment over the years. However in this book the battle lines are drawn particularly unpleasantly because ...
... all the ‘bad’ people are overtly described as being physically unpleasant. They are unusually fat, losing their hair, have eyes that pop out, etc. One foppish gentleman is described as being fine boned in a manner that makes it clear the author thinks it’s unpleasantly unmanly, and frankly his whole portrayal feels homophobic.
I’ve always thought of this author as being intelligent and decent minded, as well as a good historical researcher. I’ve recommended her books to others.
That stops now.
I’ve been a Carla Kelly fan for years. But. This is slut shaming. It’s misogyny. And it’s not ok.
As I reflected on it, I began to realize this book, like many of Kelly’s is essentially a battle between good kindly, empathetic people (who are invariably humble though) and mean, selfish people who are often self-righteous and vain to boot. I’m not totally against that, otherwise I would not have read as many of the author’s books for entertainment over the years. However in this book the battle lines are drawn particularly unpleasantly because ...
... all the ‘bad’ people are overtly described as being physically unpleasant. They are unusually fat, losing their hair, have eyes that pop out, etc. One foppish gentleman is described as being fine boned in a manner that makes it clear the author thinks it’s unpleasantly unmanly, and frankly his whole portrayal feels homophobic.
I’ve always thought of this author as being intelligent and decent minded, as well as a good historical researcher. I’ve recommended her books to others.
That stops now.
December 22, 2012
Shipwrecked James Trevenen survives five years of isolation on a south seas island before being finally rescued. Unfortunately the ghost of one of his dead shipwrecked mates follows him all the way back to England where he finds himself rescuing so many from distress he becomes known as Beau Crusoe.
Widowed seven years Susannah Park lost her husband to cholera in India. Her embittered sister blames her for her being on the shelf instead of her own looks. (It is a great disaster for a plain sister to have a beautiful sister but the beautiful one, Susannah is no longer being received)
Having written a treatise on crabs and asked to give a speech in London, Beau Crusoe finds himself putting up at Alderson House where Susannah also resides. Susannnah's godfather asks James to do him three favors. Then the fun begins.Either Susannah or her sister intend to fall in love. The other characters also finds themselves doing things they didn't intend to do except Lady Audley who bears a grudge. (I wonder where the author thought of that name anyway!!! Did she ever see the play???)
The ghost continues to follow James around and give him nightmares.
Susannah's small son, Noah also adds more glee to this book.
Highly recommended!
Widowed seven years Susannah Park lost her husband to cholera in India. Her embittered sister blames her for her being on the shelf instead of her own looks. (It is a great disaster for a plain sister to have a beautiful sister but the beautiful one, Susannah is no longer being received)
Having written a treatise on crabs and asked to give a speech in London, Beau Crusoe finds himself putting up at Alderson House where Susannah also resides. Susannnah's godfather asks James to do him three favors. Then the fun begins.Either Susannah or her sister intend to fall in love. The other characters also finds themselves doing things they didn't intend to do except Lady Audley who bears a grudge. (I wonder where the author thought of that name anyway!!! Did she ever see the play???)
The ghost continues to follow James around and give him nightmares.
Susannah's small son, Noah also adds more glee to this book.
Highly recommended!
May 23, 2013
This is my first book by this author and I decided to check out some of her books after the amazing review of one of this author's other books, The Wedding Journey, on SBTB. My library didn't have that one so I gave this one a shot. I really was taken aback when I realized this was so much more than a mere romance. The author has saddled our poor hero James with PTSD and survivor guilt from a most horrific shipwreck, 3 weeks at sea adrift in a longboat with 4 other men, and then 5 years on a deserted island. Susannah is a beautiful mother, widowed when her husband died in India, she is trying to hold her own and make her own money to support her son. She is kindness and gentleness and safety to James and he cannot help but fall in love. Poor James refuses to tell the entire story of what happened once the men on the longboat start to die, in spite of the fact that he sees their ghosts and has night terrors as well. At times sweet and funny, then heart wrenchingly horrid, I can see why some reviewers didn't care for this book. This is no fantasy about Dukes and ladies in beautiful ball gowns. I couldn't stop reading this book, even when I knew what James' horrible secret was. I enjoyed the differences in this book. For me it was a B -.
June 25, 2014
I'm never a fan of anything Robinson Crusoe. Fortunately Slow Me didn't realize the implication of the title at first. Otherwise, I might not have picked up the book.
The first part earned more than a few chuckles from me and once or twice LOLs as well. Then things went dark and I hit one of those unputdownable hills and read it all in one swoop. Carla Kelly's books always shine the light on life's harsh reality, which is not typical in Regency Romance. Do not mistake this one as light historical by any chance. The romance is believable and the PTSD mystery well-explained. However, I felt that the book could have been a lot better. But it lacks the something that distinguish a good book from a great book. I wish could have been ...heavier? or lighter? I can't decide. But it didn't hit the nail on the head squarely enough for both aspects.
3.5 stars
The first part earned more than a few chuckles from me and once or twice LOLs as well. Then things went dark and I hit one of those unputdownable hills and read it all in one swoop. Carla Kelly's books always shine the light on life's harsh reality, which is not typical in Regency Romance. Do not mistake this one as light historical by any chance. The romance is believable and the PTSD mystery well-explained. However, I felt that the book could have been a lot better. But it lacks the something that distinguish a good book from a great book. I wish could have been ...heavier? or lighter? I can't decide. But it didn't hit the nail on the head squarely enough for both aspects.
3.5 stars
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