The Ransome Trilogy from exciting new author Kaye Dacus combines the wit, romance, and social commentary of Jane Austen with the sea-faring adventure of Horatio Hornblower.
July 1814. The war with France has ended, and Captain William Ransome, known for never letting women aboard his ship, has returned to Portsmouth, England. Julia Witherington, considered an old-maid at 29, discovers that she must marry immediately to receive a large dowry. Julia knows that the only man she doesn’t want to marry is William Ransome. And the only man her father will approve of is…William Ransome.
When the couple strikes a financial deal to feign marriage for one year, the adventure begins. These stubborn people face humorous and hard situations that reveal what else they have in common—a growing affection for one another. This intriguing tale of faith and loyalty is a wonderful new offering for readers of all genres.
This first volume in Dacus’s Ransome Trilogy combines an engaging period story with charming characters, and likely will leave Christian romance fans wanting more. In 1802, William Ransome, a young lieutenant in the Royal Navy, is presumably on the verge of marrying his captain’s daughter, Julia Witherington, when, concerned he would be doing so for financial security, he dashes her hopes by deciding not to propose. Dacus picks up the story 12 years later when Julia is 29 and still single and Ransome is a captain returned from the war with France. Circumstances throw them together again in Portsmouth, England, and what follows is a predictably Austenesque romance between two people obviously meant for each other, but fighting the inevitable. Adding to the tension are conspiring relatives who want Julia to marry a fortune-hunting cousin in need of her money. Dacus’s descriptions of navy life and her character sketches are most appealing, but her references to prayer and the Bible that provide Christian elements in the novel sometimes seem forced and more like frosting than essential leaven. (July) Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars(4.5 out of 5 stars)
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4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Michelle Sutton (Arizona), December 13, 2009
I really enjoyed reading Ransome's Honor. The title fit the story perfectly. It was like a blend of Marylu Tyndall's pirate stories as well as Linore Rose Burkard's novels. I've never read Jane Austen (oh the shame...) but I hear it has a similar feel to it. Ransome's Honor was filled with culture and details about the mid 1800s that gave it an authentic feel. Plus the use of language from that day in age made it seem like I was part of the era as I read along. I found William to be quite the gentleman and an exciting hero as well.
The story had just enough romantic tension to make me smile when things got tense between them. Julie was a likeable heroine and I found her feelings and responses to be authentic. I loved that she didn't wuss out and that she cared about other people more than herself, especially toward the end. It was interesting, too, how this book contained the other man's POV on occasion as well as a few other characters. It wasn't distracting like it often is when you get just a snapshot from one character's POV. In Ransome's Honor it added to the story rather than distracting from it.
All in all, I found this story delightful and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys Regency era novels.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Shannon McNear (Goose Creek, SC), November 29, 2009
Ransome’s Honor by Kaye Dacus is Regency a la "Georgette Heyer meets Horatio Hornblower"—only better. The characters’ honor is not merely based on social convention, but springs from their own deep devotion to the Lord and His word. But this is not some dry tale of two people primly doing what is right. Julia is a spirited bit who struggles not to hold a grudge against the man who broke her heart years before. William, though he strives to be courteous and proper, does not want to face the one girl he’d loved above all other—but could not offer for because of his circumstances.
How God brings them back together—and how they find the path to mending their hurt and disappointment—is a tale truly worth the read!
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Rebecca Abel (Rocky Mount, NC), November 26, 2009
As much as I enjoyed reading Kaye Dacus' first two books in her Bonneterre Brides series and have recommended them frequently to friends, I must say I think Ransome's Honor is her best yet. You quickly find yourself loathing Ransome's rival and want to read just one more chapter before you turn the light out at night. It's a balance of romance mixed with a bit of suspense. I can't wait for the next book in this series to come out.
3.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by J. M. Hochstetler (Nashville, TN), September 30, 2009
In the first book of her Ransome Trilogy Series, Ransome’s Honor, Kaye Dacus brings the English Regency period to vivid life in the tradition of Jane Austen, but in her own distinctive voice and style. The plot is engaging and the hero and heroine sympathetic and believable, as is the entire cast of well-drawn characters who populate this book— including the delightfully villainous villain. You quickly begin to care about William and Julia and root for them to cast their past aside and finally give in to their love for each other.
One of the best things about this story is how Dacus incorporates extensive research in an unobtrusive and involving way. Readers learn a great deal about the world of 1814 England, the town of Portsmouth, and the Royal Navy without feeling as though they’re being given a history lesson. The element of faith is also exceptionally well integrated and central to the main characters’ lives. Delightfully, the crisis is just hair-raising enough to keep the reader turning pages without becoming overwhelmed. My kudos to Ms. Dacus for another excellent read! I'm looking forward to the second book in this series!
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Mary Drewry (Franklin, TN), September 14, 2009
I enjoyed this book. It is a very light read, with less historic detail than I would have liked
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Bethany Welch (Marinette, WI), August 25, 2009
Very good Regency-era novel; I am looking forward to the next two in the series!
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Keli Gwyn (California), August 23, 2009
Wow! Ransome's Honor by Kaye Dacus is a winner. From first page to last, I was swept into the world of Regency England, brought to life through her vivid descriptions. I could visualize the bustling town of Portsmouth, smell the salty sea air and hear the lap of waves against the hulls of the Royal Navy's magnificent sailing ships.
Amidst the spectacular setting, we encounter a wonderful cast of characters. I liked both Captain William Ransome, the epitome of a distinguished naval officer, and Julia Witherington, a bright, determined, resourceful admiral's daughter. The secondary characters, from Julia's garrulous best friend to William's unrefined but well-intentioned steward-cum-valet, are engaging, although Dacus crafted a set of scheming scoundrels sure to raise your hackles, especially the blackguard Sir Drake Pembroke.
Dacus is a talented author. I read her contemporaries, Stand-in Groom and Menu for Romance, and enjoyed both. I wondered, however, if her voice would lend itself to historical romance. Indeed, it does. Her research and attention to detail are remarkable, as are her command of the fashions, furnishings and dialogue of the period. She does a fine job incorporating the faith element into Ransome's Honor and has produced an inspirational Regency I enthusiastically recommend.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Christine Howard (Ridgecrest, CA), July 24, 2009
This is a lovely, entertaining, and genuinely enjoyable read. The characters are as presetned - Jane Austen and C S Forester quality. I read this in one setting and found myself anxious for the second installment. How refreshing to turn the pages of something other than the deluge of modern [adultery and child molestation] Christian fiction. Thank you, Kaye!
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