Finding her life on a tobacco plantation in colonial Maryland unbearably dull, Caroline sneaks down to the local inn to see a display of treasures brought by sailors from far off lands. Before she knows it, she’s on their ship headed for those far off lands herself.
From her unadorned, isolated plantation in an obscure corner of the American colonies, Caroline Carter dreams of seeing the world. But in her fantasies, she travels as a lady of fashion and high society, not as a pauper in boys’ clothing forced to slave away as a deckhand on a privateer vessel.
Recently arrived from England, Josiah Throckmorton, is not exactly thrilled to hear the news that his intended bride is on a ship full of men bound for unknown waters. But he’s also not thrilled with the prospect of joining Caroline’s brother on a rescue mission that will be dangerous, expensive, and terribly inconvenient. He came to Maryland to make his fortune, and instead he’s just made a mess.
But the adventure of a lifetime–and its disastrous aftermath–may be just what Caroline and Josiah need to show them the world is a much bigger place than their own worries would have them believe. And maybe they’re not as helpless as they think…
Excerpt
When Josiah saw that arrangements were being made to accommodate his luggage he should have felt soothed, but found he did not.
“Well, man!” he yelled at Ellis. “Do you plan to sit on the dock until my return? Get on home with you and attend to your responsibilities.” He stared angrily at his servant as the man headed back to the skiff, cast off his short line and began to row toward Hanset.
Josiah felt himself growing hot, as though he were literally seething. He paced a few steps to calm himself and looked up to see Charles Carter coming toward him, hand outstretched in greeting.
"Good day to you, sir. We are well ready for this voyage, I think."
Josiah remembered that at their last parting Charles said something about being afraid and dismayed, so he must show no sign of fear or dismay or it would be taken as a weakness. His resolve to appear calm actually did calm him a little.
“Good day, Mr. Carter. I trust all of your family were well when you took your leave?”
“Yes, all well except for Caroline; she has been indisposed these last several days.”
Josiah simply nodded. The pretense of Miss Carter's illness was easily maintained, although thoroughly unnecessary. He imagined everyone on the ship and, indeed, everyone in Elkridge Landing knew they were setting off to rescue Miss Carter from pirates. He probably should have said something expressing his concern for Miss Carter's state of health, but it seemed absurd to continue to inquire after an imaginary ailment.
Frankly, he was annoyed with Miss Carter and rather hoped she was in an uncomfortable state of health. Her recklessness was going to cost him everything, and her family as well. What had she been thinking? Sneaking into a tavern dressed like a boy. Was this the behavior of a lady? The lady who would be mistress of his plantation? Josiah was surprised to find he really did not care whether they brought her back or not.
Professional Reviews
Lighthouse Literary Reviews - 5 Beacons
Set in 1713, this book tells the story of Caroline
Carter, and her search for adventure. It tells us all
she loses in the process, and all she eventually gains.
It is also the story of her fiance, Josiah
Shrockmorton, as he struggles to become his own man.
I really enjoyed the book, finding the characters and
plot engaging and interesting. The story felt genuine,
as did the setting. The dialogue was superbly written
to the time period. I especially enjoyed the way the
younger sister so routinely made up her own words to
sound more "worldly" and sophisticated. The story
succeeded so brilliantly in pointing out the often
ridiculous rules and mores society places on
individuals. I am at a loss in finding a single
negative comment to make regarding this book as it was
perfectly crafted. Well done!
Reviewed by: Ramona
Romance at Heart
Linked to one of the first families in Maryland, Miss Caroline Carter regards herself as a true lady. Accomplished in the arts of intricate needlework, music and languages, she does
not have the time to worry about running a household – she has
servants to take care of that. Becoming engaged to the most
eligible bachelor in the district, she enjoys a newfound
freedom in her changed status. She can be found leading her
sisters on visits to her aunt, planning memorable dinner menus
with her mother, or entertaining her betrothed with her
family. It is at these times that she does not always show
the proper respect due towards her fiancé, much to his dismay.
Now is the time to start preparations for married life – she
should be working on the fancy embroidery that would trim her
trousseau. But where is she? The slightly spoilt
twenty-year-old has gone missing and nobody has a clue as to
where she could have disappeared. How is her father to keep
this shocking news secret from her husband-to-be?
Dressed in men’s clothing, Caroline is unwittingly pressed
into service aboard the sloop Osprey. Her tiny frame leads
the crew to believe she is a lad of fourteen; her voice they
likened to a squeak, and as a result dubbed her “the little
mouse”. Working as hard as the other seamen, she begins to
like her new life out on the open sea. She missed the
comforts of home at times, but never her sisters. An accident
leads to the discovery of her gender, forcing the captain of
the Osprey to take her ashore to Charles Town. It is there
that her brother and fiancé rescue her. Taken back home
against her will, Caroline must deal with the guilt of tragedy
and the knowledge that her actions have all but ruined her
family. With all the servants sold, she must now take
responsibility of the household and her family during her
father’s absence. Swallowing her pride, she asks a slave and
a tenant farmer to teach her how to survive. Without money,
her family no longer belonged in society, but with money,
would polite society still accept her after all her escapades?
Very sensible, very serious, very shy, Mr Josiah Throckmorton
bought Langley’s Choice sight unseen. Arriving from London
less than a year ago, he promptly renamed his plantation
Hanset House after an estate of his mother’s family. A
qualified barrister, his very polite and articulate nature is
out of place in the colonies, where people had to adjust to
the clime in order to survive. Having a somewhat pessimistic
and anxious outlook, and no sense of humour to ease the worry,
he needs to bring in a good tobacco crop this year to keep his
debts in check. Either that or he would need to sell his
legal expertise at the next assizes, which he finds very
undesirable. Becoming engaged to the eldest daughter of the
Hill Crest plantation, Josiah learns that his standing in
society is dependant on the shaky financial status of his
plantation. Status is everything to him. His sensibilities
are severely shocked when he learns that pirates have taken
his bride-to-be. What is he going to do now?
Dragged most reluctantly into a quest to rescue his fiancée,
Josiah constantly questions his unwillingness to speak up for
himself. He just can’t believe that he left his plantation to
sail off blindly in search of a woman whom society will reject
on her return. Somehow he felt obliged to see this thing
through. Having found and returned the disgraced girl to the
fold of her family, he can’t seem to distance himself from the
residents of Hill Crest plantation. Travelling to the assizes
with the man who would have been his father-in-law if his
engagement were not postponed indefinitely, Josiah tries to
think of a way to successfully defend against a debt action
raised against the man. He doesn’t understand the need to
save the family from ruin, only that it felt the right thing
to do. He doesn’t understand the need to ensure his
ex-fiancée’s acceptance into society, only that it felt the
right thing to do. Why is he doing this for a family that no
longer has any claims on him?
When the world of civilised England meets the world of the
not-so-civilized colonies, the resultant clash reveals who
will survive and who returns back to Queen and country, with
their tails between their legs. A stickler for routine and
schedules, Josiah adapts to the unexpected rigours that face
him without knowing it. A man who is used to observing life,
he is constantly second-guessing his abilities to cope with
lashings of anxiety thrown in for good measure. Slowly but
surely he learns not to take himself or his environs too
seriously, and in the process makes himself more attractive as
a person. Bored with her life, Caroline learns the hard way
the repercussions of thinking only of herself. Bearing her
burden and self-imposed punishment with as much poise and
dignity she can muster, Caroline begins to learn there is more
to life than that of a pampered lady. Enforced humility opens
her eyes to what a real gentlewoman should know and do, and as
a result, her altered perceptions subtly change her demeanour,
making her more acceptable.
The colonies is a country where gentlemen, servants and slaves
alike can make a new future for themselves. A place where
fortunes are made and where fortunes are lost. Langley’s
Choice is about making decisions and the repercussions of
those decisions. It’s about choosing to ride life, or letting
life ride you. Kate Dolan throws us off the scent with the
introduction of another possible hero, leaving us to ponder
who will Caroline choose? Will she grow up and make the right
choice? Kate’s ability to allow us a snapshot of what
colonial life was like is a tribute to her research and
writing abilities. She demonstrates that some people are
beyond learning life’s lessons. Langley’s Choice is full of
subtle humour and subtle romance as we watch within our mind
how Josiah and Caroline evolve into much better people.
Though not filled with lashings of romance and sexual angst as
some of the more popular romance novels offer, this
contribution from Zumaya Publications is a wonderful book. It
gives you a sense that everything will work out for the better
if you trust in yourself and in God.
The Six Bells of Madame Lin is the first book in The Witch of Marigold Hall Trilogy, a fictionalized account of the struggles of Lin Mang, a blind woman who manages to navigate the world during the Mongol conquest of China in the 13th Century. Withou
Available Now! Rated 5 ***** by readers and listeners.
Sweet Revenge is a romantic tale of a spirited woman and a lusty bloke. However, can they both fight against their bitterness for each other to free up their passions?
