4.5 stars

Jane has lived a very sheltered and quiet life but she also lives a shocking secret, she is the mind behind J.E. Burkes the renowned conchologist, not her father. When an opportunity to go on a 2yr expedition comes up and her father declines, she decides to go in his place. Even with her voice and hands shaking Jane is able to convince the other members of the expedition to accept her presence, with the subtle support of Lt. Charles Dance. Dance has been a sailor without a ship since the ending of the war has decreased many opportunities so when he is assigned as First Lieutenant to the Tenacious he is ready to go, the ship and her crew not so much. Battling the forces of a drunken captain, lazy crew, mutinous under dealings from the Bosun, and surprising attraction to a shy bluestocking with a spine of steel, Dance may just be on his most dangerous post yet.

First off, I loved both Jane and Dance separately and together, which doesn't always happen for me in romance books. Jane's first appearance to the reader and Dance is one of a shy, bumbling, petite spinster but with a strong backbone. Jane's determination to be recognized for her talent and thirst to live and experience life will have many women hoping and cheering her on. Dance's calm, strength, leadership, and support for Jane will make you sigh wistfully. The man has a lot on his plate with making sure the ship runs smoothly and yet, he is always there and present with Jane when he needs to be. Their courtship is slower moving with the outer story details moving the story along but when they are together, they are felt. Their back and forth teasing and charmingly realness make Jane and Dance such a heart melting pleasure to read about.

The beginning of the book and for a lot of it, the story focuses more on the dancing around ship politics and Dance having to deal with the disgruntled crew. I'm a big fan of nautical stories, you're going to have to be somewhat of a fan to enjoy this, so I didn't mind but there is a heavy focus on Dance's work and responsibilities for running the ship. I enjoyed how Dance was basically the captain but had to be ever weary of not being accused of mutiny, the mini focuses on crew members titles and their responsibilities, how life is lived on a ship, and how a ship is its own world when out to sea. Each descriptive detail the author provided created a world and scenery that I not only felt but was wholly engrossed in. Dance and Jane definitely have their moments of growing closer but it wasn't until the second half of the story that the focus on their relationship ramped up.

I did feel that the ending wrapped up a little too quickly and the main villain was given a weaker reason for all the problems he caused, he fell flat at the end. Also, the cursing in this book was definitely over the top for what you typically see in a historical, Dance's favorite word seems to be "fuck" and he is not shy about using it, so if that bothers you, beware. Ultimately, this story's strength was the gentle and sweet romance between Dance and Jane. For the responsibility Dance takes on and how he gives Jane due respect, how he is weighed down with responsibility but still lighthearted and for Jane's shyness, awkwardness, but ability to snap her spine straight, I adored this book. Elizabeth Essex has become an author on my radar and I can't wait to read the other books in this series.
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4 STARS!
ABOUT THE BOOK:

For too long, Miss Jane Burke’s father has taken advantage of her painstaking research. Heading to the South Seas to make her own name as a scientist despite the crew’s insistence that a woman aboard is bad luck, she isn't prepared to be championed by a handsome ship’s officer who rouses longings inside her as wild as any storm…

For Lieutenant Charles Dance, a post on His Majesty’s survey ship Tenacious is just one more dutiful rung on the ladder of his career. Even a headstrong bluestocking on board is less troubling than the ship’s drunken captain—and the ferocious gales that drive the ship off course. Stranded on a remote island, passion blazes between them as hot as the sun, but it’s Jane’s love Charles wants forever…

MY REVIEW:

Falling in love on the sea is challenging. Falling in love when you’re pretending is next to impossible, but Ms. Essex makes it happen!

Our heroine, Jane, deceives her way aboard a ship where everyone is already suspicious of things that have happened. Toss in the Captain dying an untimely death, and that death being covered up, a new Captain taking over (who really isn’t a Captain), and the old wives tale of bad luck = women aboard a ship and what do you get? Action packed love story with a twist.

This read was engaging and full of suspense. The longing and conflict between the hero and heroine made the pages turn. It was a great read, and one many readers will eat up faster than any ship can move.

Review can be found on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Romantic Romp, and LibraryThing. ( )

A Scandal to Remember
By: Elizabeth Essex Historical Romance
St Martin’s Press. Pages. 375 September 2014
Copy Courtesy of Goodreads First Read
Reviewed by: tk

Scandal is a light description of this story…Absolutely scandalous and brilliant would be more accurate.

J.E. Burke is on a journey of a lifetime. An educated Chonchologist along with a group of others from the Royal Philosophical Society are going on an expedition to the south seas aboard the ship HMS Tenacious. A story of action, and suspense amid a ship with a crew of very few men to perform the required duties to keep it afloat. A captain that never leaves his cabin. A woman on board with an all man crew, and unattended can only spell trouble.

Lieutenant Charles Dance is assigned to the HMS Tenacious. He is knowledgeable, brave, courageous, and extremely handsome. Jane Elizabeth Burke is extremely beautiful, head strong, and has a bitter sweet disposition. Lt. Dance will maintain order on the ship, barely, while trying to keep Jane’s status as a fellow scientist, and just another member of the team intact.

A wonderful mix of what society in England 1814 thinks is acceptable behavior of a woman, and how a head strong woman feels should be acceptable. Jane is all about the science. The crew is beside themselves with superstition and wonder. It is all carried on the shoulders of Lt. Dance. His focus is on survival of the ship, and all that are aboard.

An absolute pleasure to read. I must say my jaw dropped on a couple of occasions at the antics of Jane and Dance. The characters were so realistic that you felt like a member of the crew. The incredible tragic events that take place will have your heartbeat increasing, and all you can do for them…is keep turning the pages. You’re a helpless reader after all. A have to have addition to your library. Highly recommended. 4/5 ( )