Ransome's Honor (The Ransome Trilogy) [Kindle Edition]

At approximately 350 pages, the author packs in a lot of plot twists, and descriptive detail of life in the mid-1800s of British Navy personnel values and tradition focusing on the daughter of an Admiral who is not the traditional simpering beauty. Others have summarized the plot, so I will just say that I found all the characters appealing yet realistic, and even though we all know there will be a happy ending, the tension was well maintained by the author as to what will happen until the finale.

As other reviewers have pointed out, the author incorporates a component of the character's lives usually omitted from novels: a religious/spiritual component. When I heard this, I was a bit cautious approaching this novel. Yet after reading the novel, I think the author reflected a more realistic portrayal of life than most every other novel I've ever read which is scrubbed free of anything hinting of prayer or religious belief. Like many real people throughout the world of many religious faiths, these characters "speak" to God when troubled or when feeling grateful. I did not find this offensive or prosletizing, as it was usually quite brief and seemed natural to the circumstances---actually quite realistic. Fearful of making the wrong decision, one of the characters might think "God, please help me make the right decision, one that protects me from future regret, but one I can live with today." The character then may feel "relieved, having turned her worries over to God." That would be a representative example (although totally made up by me). So if that type of thought bothers you, you may not like this book.

Otherwise, this is a great romance, with happiness throughout the book, and you can't help cheering for the main character, who truly is a good person.

RANSOME'S HONOR is the first in the Ransome trilogy by Kaye Dacus. At the onset, we watch as Julia Witherington anxiously awaits a proposal from William Ransome, a prodigy of her father, Admiral Sir Edward Witherington. When her dreams are dashed, she vows never to forgive William. She leaves England for her family's sugar plantation in Jamaica. It becomes her home and the love of her life.
Skip ahead twelve years. Julia is visiting England at the same time Captain William Ransome has come to port for reassignment and to see to the repairs to his ship the Alexandra. Their paths cross on several occasions and try as she might, Julia finds herself once again drawn to the dashing William Ransome, while William's decision of twelve years prior continues to haunts him. His feelings for Julia were always strong, but without wealth or title to offer her, he felt he had no right to her hand.
When Julia finds herself being pressured into a betrothal to her unscrupulous cousin so that he can inherit her substantial dowry and her family's wealth, she turns to William and offers him a business agreement. A marriage of convenience. If he will agree to marry her, she will give him her dowry and consent to an annulment in one year's time. Then, she will be free to return to Tierra Dulce, and live out her life in Jamaica.
I enjoyed RANSOME'S HONOR, though I felt the first half of the book moved a little slower than I would've liked. I continued reading because of the conflict the back cover promised. I'm glad I did. I breezed through the second half of the book, the momentum of the story carrying me quickly to the end. Of course, the formula of the book was typical of any true romance novel, but Kaye Dacus delivered it in a fresh new way. While most Regency novels speak with the voice of society's elite, Ms. Dacus chose instead to write with the voice of those who's lives and loves made up the Royal Navy. A refreshing read. I look forward to the rest of the series.

I won't go into too much detail to the book since there are so many reviews.

I found the idea of the trilogy interesting so I bought the book.

Set during the Regency period, Miss Julia Witherington was expecting a marriage proposal from Lieutenant William Ransome. It never came to happen so tweleve years later, she is now spinster at the age of twenty-nine. Soon someone tries to steal her inheritence so Julia turns to the man her father treats as a son, Captain William Ransome.

It was a little slow at times and I also felt the romance and chemistry a little lacking.

I haven't given up on this author, I still plan read the second book in the trilogy.
Clean Christian romance with an interesting cast.

--3.5 Stars--