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The Notorious Briarwoods #16
The Widow's Absolutely Wild Captain
Captain Calchas Briarwood has come home from years of war at sea. He’s ready for a wild Briarwood life, brimming with good family, good fun, and good friends. When Hester Floyd asks for his help, he’s ready to oblige but he’s shocked to find that the widow awakens a protective streak in him so intense that it steals his breath and his senses. But he soon finds a landlocked life is no easy thing. Calchas may have to choose between the siren call of the sea and the woman who calls to his heart.
After marrying far beneath her station for love, Hester Floyd is now a widow. Though she chose a life away from the ton, with little income and no family, she knows she must now turn to those in power for help. Who better than the man her husband spoke so respectfully of, Captain Calchas Briarwood? Surely, he will back her small tea shop if she can show him that she can be a success. For as a child, her only joy was helping the cook bake her beloved pastries. But he is far more beautiful and fascinating than she ever could have imagined, tempting her heart to love once more. Can his wild spirit be tamed by the humble dreams of her tea shop or will the call of adventure part them forever?
After marrying far beneath her station for love, Hester Floyd is now a widow. Though she chose a life away from the ton, with little income and no family, she knows she must now turn to those in power for help. Who better than the man her husband spoke so respectfully of, Captain Calchas Briarwood? Surely, he will back her small tea shop if she can show him that she can be a success. For as a child, her only joy was helping the cook bake her beloved pastries. But he is far more beautiful and fascinating than she ever could have imagined, tempting her heart to love once more. Can his wild spirit be tamed by the humble dreams of her tea shop or will the call of adventure part them forever?
- GenresRomance
161 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 14, 2025
73 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 24, 2025
Of all the Briarwood's Calchas is most like his father, with his slightly wild, needing to be doing attitude to life for the last year's containing his shop in the wars has fed both sides of his character, but now war is over and he's struggling to settle back into the ton lifestyle, it's all so pointless.
But as life would have it Lady Hester, disowned by her family when she left to marry, us now widowed and living in the rough East End of London, and is down to her !l set pennies, so decides to ask a colleague of her husband's Captain Briarwood if he'd lend her the money for a teahouse. Calchas sees this as a way out of his doldrums and and jumps into help her.
But even when the tea house is up and running, and he and Hester are married Calchas is unsettled and it's getting worse, and Hester and his Whole family can see it.
But as life would have it Lady Hester, disowned by her family when she left to marry, us now widowed and living in the rough East End of London, and is down to her !l set pennies, so decides to ask a colleague of her husband's Captain Briarwood if he'd lend her the money for a teahouse. Calchas sees this as a way out of his doldrums and and jumps into help her.
But even when the tea house is up and running, and he and Hester are married Calchas is unsettled and it's getting worse, and Hester and his Whole family can see it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2025
Another good Briarwood love story……..
This was another good addition to the Briarwood family. This was a story about two lost souls that found one another and then found the acceptance they both had desired. Calchas, a captain returned from the sea after the war, couldn’t find a purpose until he met Hester, the widow of another captain. She needed help and the Briarwood family offered it along with love and comfort. This story was about love, romance, friendship, family, self acceptance, mental issues (probably bipolar disorder), and support from family. As usual the Briarwood family is like no other in the town, and they always offer humor, moments of deep conversation, acceptance and insights, as well as love. This was a love story with no villains and a definite HEA.
This was another good addition to the Briarwood family. This was a story about two lost souls that found one another and then found the acceptance they both had desired. Calchas, a captain returned from the sea after the war, couldn’t find a purpose until he met Hester, the widow of another captain. She needed help and the Briarwood family offered it along with love and comfort. This story was about love, romance, friendship, family, self acceptance, mental issues (probably bipolar disorder), and support from family. As usual the Briarwood family is like no other in the town, and they always offer humor, moments of deep conversation, acceptance and insights, as well as love. This was a love story with no villains and a definite HEA.
November 14, 2025
The Latest of the Briarwood has arrived!
And it's as beautiful as the 15 before it! You can read Hester and Calchas' story as a standalone, but I wouldn't recommend that at all. You really need to meet the entire family! Ms. Devon's characters are full and rich and fun to meet and get to know. Sometimes you worry that this could be a romance without a happily together ever after ending, but lo! It happens and it's wonderful. Get to know Hester, and Ellen, too, and catch up with all your Briarwood favorites!
And it's as beautiful as the 15 before it! You can read Hester and Calchas' story as a standalone, but I wouldn't recommend that at all. You really need to meet the entire family! Ms. Devon's characters are full and rich and fun to meet and get to know. Sometimes you worry that this could be a romance without a happily together ever after ending, but lo! It happens and it's wonderful. Get to know Hester, and Ellen, too, and catch up with all your Briarwood favorites!
November 10, 2025
I love this series of the loving and caring Briarwood family!
Calchas, a sea captain has come home after being at sea for years.
Hester, a widow, whose husband had spoken highly of Calchas, asks him if he would finance a bakery for her.
After her companion is attacked, she turns to Calchas, and they move in with the Briarwoods.
The chemistry was fun and loving between Calchas and Hester. The secondary characters are wonderful and entertaining, and the resolution to Calchas' restlessness for the sea was satisfying.
I can't wait for the next book in the series.
Calchas, a sea captain has come home after being at sea for years.
Hester, a widow, whose husband had spoken highly of Calchas, asks him if he would finance a bakery for her.
After her companion is attacked, she turns to Calchas, and they move in with the Briarwoods.
The chemistry was fun and loving between Calchas and Hester. The secondary characters are wonderful and entertaining, and the resolution to Calchas' restlessness for the sea was satisfying.
I can't wait for the next book in the series.
November 12, 2025
The Briarwoods bring joy and adventure to many people. Calchas and Hester have an instant love but it's not all smooth sailing (pun intended) until it is. A wonderful story and romance and a happily ever after that ends up suiting them perfectly. A call for adventure that heals hearts and brings fulfilment.
November 18, 2025
Lovely read so moving he's so sweet
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January 2, 2026Calchas Briarwood meets his perfect mate and finds out that being married doesn't mean giving up the sea.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews