Idolizing In: The Reckless Brides Series, Book 1

- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Paperback - Pages: 353; Kindle Edition - File Size: 638 KB | Expected Release Date: July 31, 2012 | Publisher: St. Martin's Press | Obtained: NetGalley

"Almost a Scandal" [The Reckless Brides Series, Book 1] by Elizabeth Essex

My Book Summary : Sarah (Sally) has never been what you would call a typical girl since she loves the sea. Being from an old navy family---with her father and two of her older brother's already Royal Navy captains, and her other two older brothers on their way to being captains themselves---you could say it's in her blood. Therefore, when her younger brother, Richard, decides to run away from his duty of becoming a midshipman Sally chooses to don his clothes and pose as him instead. This way she can keep her family's honor in tacked and be able to experience a freedom, she would never be able to have as herself, a girl.

However, in doing so she will need to be able to live and correctly/purposefully lie to the Captain of her ship and about two hundred and sixty-odd men. Will her charade work? Will she experience and enjoy the freedom she earns and has never had before?

In addition, while Sally's at it will she be able to keep her heart in check when it comes to First Lieutenant Colyear a family friend and the only man who knows of her secret on the ship...

My Book Review : 5 out of 5 stars, this fun, courageous, and delightful novel will take you on an intriguing ride through the life of a British sailor in the 1800s. I loved how this novel evolves--from Sally boarding the ship trying to hide her identity, to her being in the thick of the crew, getting into fights about shipmates treatment, to the growing love affair between Sally and Col all the while being right in the middle of a war. I could not get enough of this novel! I especially enjoy how Sally wasn't a wuss when it came to her duty and the action on deck or that she wasn't impervious to any causalities of her own, no matter how small. Definitely, a fast-paced and action-packed novel keeps you on your toes.

Now I cannot wait until book 2 of this series, "A Breath of Scandal" with the hero being William Jellicoe, comes out in December 2012!! I also hope that it'll either have Sally & Col play secondary parts or at least update you of them in that novel. =0)

I HIGHLY recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys historical romance!!! I hope you'll enjoy it as much (if not more but that's unlikely) as I do! *hahaa*

Book Teaser(s) :

Teaser #1 ~ within Chapter 1

"Mr. Kent, you are an abominable liar."
The desperation of wanting something so uncertain was a physical thing, a pain that added to the cat's-paw of misery coiled deep in her gut. She could only answer with the truth.
"Thank you, sir. For I have no wish to be a good one. I only wanted to make sure we're to sail immediately."
"Outrunning creditors, are you, Mr. Kent? Or some young lady's family?"
Sally would have laughed if she hadn't suddenly felt so near tears. She was definitely outrunning some lady's family---her own. Be he must be teasing her---the cool green of his eyes had warmed to a luminous jade. "No, sir," she assured him as firmly as she could. "Nothing of the kind." ~ within Chapter 4

There wasn't much vanity in that, but it bothered him, for not the first time, to think of her living so intimately with other men. Most women only ever saw their own husbands shave themselves, if even that. In the cockpit, and even in the gunroom, she had been in the company of men routinely stripped to their waists. Perhaps even naked in front of her. Every day for weeks.
And what about her?
His curiosity got the best of him. ~ within Chapter 15

For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Elizabeth, then please check out her website.