When a young woman from a renowned Boston family takes her chance at freedom by signing on as the intepreter for the Silver Swan she blossoms into a beautiful young lady. Can the captain contain his fiery feelings?'
The Charm School (The Calhoun Chronicles - Book 1)
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
The Charm School is the first book that I've read by Susan Wiggs, and I must comment that she is an wonderful author.
Isadora Peabody is a brilliant spinster with dreams of marrying a certain young man who doesn't even know she exists. Overweight, wearing spectales, shy and smarter than any man Isadora has little chance of ever marrying or fitting into society. When she hears of a ship leaving for Rio that is owned by the father of the man she is infatuated with, she jumps at the chance to go on board and learn the ways of the shipping business.
Captain Ryan Calhoun isn't happy about Isadora's appearance on board his ship. He'll do anything (and does!) to make her miserable. He's surprised when he finds himself attracted to dowdy Isadora.
A wonderfully written novel, The Charm School is one of those romances that must be read over and over again!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
In 1851 Boston, Isadora Peabody feels like the ugly duckling amidst her beautiful and graceful family. When the opportunity arises for her to become a translator on the Silver Swan, a trading ship, she pulls strings with the owner, Mr. Easterbrooke. She obtains the job over the objection of the ships captain Ryan Calhoun.
On the voyage to Brazil, Isadora steals the hearts of all the crew, even the captain, as her open-eyed innocence hooks everyone. Her voyage to self-awareness and confidence turns successful as her own personal crew of instructor-sailors making up THE CHARM SCHOOL teaches her that she is a beautiful swan. In Rio, Ryan and Isadora fall in love, but sadly they have no future together because Ryan has a personal commitment to complete that could cost him his life.
Award winning Susan Wiggs is the author of over ten well-received historical romances that keep readers wanting more works from this awesome talent. Her latest novel THE CHARM SCHOOL is an excellent retelling of the classic Ugly Duckling. The exciting story line is entertaining as the decade prior to the Civil War is brought to life. The lead characters are a charming pair, but it is the support cast, especially the sailors, who will provide Ms. Wiggs with more awards and another best seller.
Harriet Klausner
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Helen Hancox
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
"The Charm School" is the first book that I have read by Susan Wiggs and I enjoyed it so much that I will look out for some of her others.
Isadora Peabody is the ugly duckling of the Peabody family and she's so used to being overlooked and misunderstood (she's very intelligent and well-read) that she had turned in on herself and become a dull person. Her family don't understand her and the only person in whom she has any interest is Chad, a friend of her brothers', but Chad doesn't seem to notice her.
Then Isadora has a chance to escape - to take a sea voyage as translator on the Silver Swan, a trading ship. Unfortunately her first introduction to the captain Ryan Calhoun wasn't optimal but she manages to persuade the ship's owner to let her come aboard, against Captain Calhoun's wishes.
When they set sail the book really takes off - the description of sailing in the mid-nineteenth century are excellent. I'm a bit of a sailor myself and I found it fascinating to read about how all the crew worked together on the boat and the different tasks they had. There's a very strong theme throughout the book about the slave trade in America and the way that so many people were slave owners without ever really thinking about it. There is some wonderful description when the ship docks in Rio and the way that Isadora slowly unfurls from the ugly duckling into the swan is beautifully written. The ending is satisfying and overall it was a very enjoyable book and I recommend it very highly.
Isadora Peabody is the ugly duckling of the Peabody family and she's so used to being overlooked and misunderstood (she's very intelligent and well-read) that she had turned in on herself and become a dull person. Her family don't understand her and the only person in whom she has any interest is Chad, a friend of her brothers', but Chad doesn't seem to notice her.
Then Isadora has a chance to escape - to take a sea voyage as translator on the Silver Swan, a trading ship. Unfortunately her first introduction to the captain Ryan Calhoun wasn't optimal but she manages to persuade the ship's owner to let her come aboard, against Captain Calhoun's wishes.
When they set sail the book really takes off - the description of sailing in the mid-nineteenth century are excellent. I'm a bit of a sailor myself and I found it fascinating to read about how all the crew worked together on the boat and the different tasks they had. There's a very strong theme throughout the book about the slave trade in America and the way that so many people were slave owners without ever really thinking about it. There is some wonderful description when the ship docks in Rio and the way that Isadora slowly unfurls from the ugly duckling into the swan is beautifully written. The ending is satisfying and overall it was a very enjoyable book and I recommend it very highly.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Isadora Peabody was an awkward misfit in her beautiful & accomplished family. Always the wallflower at the tedious parties she was forced to attend, she seized the chance to travel to an exciting new world.
Fiery sea captain Ryan Calhoun had walked away from his family's wealth & reputation. Driven by a quest to right an old wrong, he had little time for the plain, meek young woman who had come aboard his ship.
But then Ryan's crew took Isadora in hand. They became her own personal charm school & transformed her into a woman no man could resist. And gave her the confidence to belive in a startling new love....
Fiery sea captain Ryan Calhoun had walked away from his family's wealth & reputation. Driven by a quest to right an old wrong, he had little time for the plain, meek young woman who had come aboard his ship.
But then Ryan's crew took Isadora in hand. They became her own personal charm school & transformed her into a woman no man could resist. And gave her the confidence to belive in a startling new love....
I have been a fan of Susan Wiggs for a long time now & have read alot of her contemporary books, but this was a first for me. I love historical's, but not all author's who change from one genre to another to it well, but Ms. Wiggs, has succeeded with this wonderful story.
I really loved the charactor of Isadora, a woman who really was born in the wrong era, she can read, write, speak in various different language's and make a man look foolish with her knowledge, but it is not a womans place to be better than a man, after all a womans role in life is to breed and look witty - this set's Isadora apart from everyone else. I felt so sorry for her, she wasn't clasically beautiful, nor was she quite so slim, but she that charm about her that you just love.
Ryan Calhoun, is a man on the run from who he is or who he thinks he should be, Ms. Wiggs, has painted a picture of a man trying to be bad, but who really has a gentle nature & who wants to be loved.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Nothing special about this book
I am very surprised that this book got 5 stars from other readers, there really is nothing special about this book, there are a lot of cliche's written and no great writing at all. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Rosie
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent book
perfect cinderella story, i wished the book would never end. kept thinking there should be a sequel to this. one of the best susan wiggs books i have read.
Published on 6 Nov 2009 by P. Ramesh
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unexpected good read
Isadora is awkward and teased by her siblings and a bit of a bookworm when it was not fasionable for women to be smarter than a man.. Read more
Published on 15 July 2005 by Marie Gawley
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is what a book should be!!!
It had everything. Wonderful characters, strong plot, touching momments. It is probably the best romance book I have read this year! Read more
Published on 28 Aug 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
AND THE UGLY DUCKLING TURNED INTO A SWAN
Another great story from Susan Wiggs. Isadora a shy insecured spinster finds courage and love when she sets sail on the ship "The Swan" I recommend this book for anyone... Read more
Published on 4 Aug 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is one of those special, easy to read,stay up all night
this is a story that delighted me. It is about a girl who did not fit the social pattern and was ridiculed all her life because she was not as beautiful as the other members of... Read more
Published on 2 Aug 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wow!
This book blew me away. The writing was superb, the characters have incredible emotional resonance together, and the author's exquisite use of detail was like entering a time... Read more
Published on 21 July 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
Susan Wiggs' characters are unforgetable...
This book that was passed to me by the office book club has captured my daydreams. The characters in The Charm School are so likable I want to know them, have them live on... Read more
Published on 2 July 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
Truly a gem!
I love Susan Wiggs's books. They are, without fail, touching and funny and smart. But The Charm School, with its wonderful characters and exotic setting, is my new all-time... Read more
Published on 29 Jun 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic!!!
I can't put Susan Wiggs' books down!! And then, have to reread because I loved the characters so much. Can't wait for her next one.
Published on 12 Jun 1999
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