Proper Attire

A Regency Romance (Clean & Wholesome)

By: Danielle Thorne

Narrated by: Jacq Ainsworth

A wicked stepmother, a sea of pirates, and a hero in disguise...

Julia Scott flees an arranged marriage and a cruel stepmother to live with her uncle in the West Indies. Attacked by pirates and desired by island natives, the only person she can trust is John Smith, if that's his true name.

Reaching her uncle's station in Antigua, Julia must face her feelings about her traitorous family, a dashing new suitor, and the guardian angel John Smith, who has no qualms sporting counterfeit names and less than what is proper attire.

This book is a clean regency adventure set in the West Indies.

©2014 Danielle Thorne (P)2020 Danielle Thorne

Adventure romance

I listened to the audio book and enjoyed the narrator. She had some good differences from speaker to speaker. I particularly liked Julia's voice. She made Julia sound vibrant and adorable.

The beginning of this book is high adventure/danger, moving from one bad situation to another, then back in civilization the story slowed a lot. It seemed a huge contrast to the first part and almost like nothing happened to move the story along, especially by comparison. And then it suddenly moved to "Really?" plot twists and finally the resolve. The book left me feeling like it was an over the top adventure not unlike Pirates of the Caribbean. Enjoyable but over the top.

Though there is a love triangle of sorts, it is obvious where that is going to lead. I rather enjoyed the banter between John and Julia. Definitely the most interesting characters in the book. Others weren't developed enough to really care about.

Most interesting part to me was John Smith talking about proper attire and how everything is a costume for whatever role we play. For him that changed a lot over the course of the story from pirate to nearly naked to dressed for society. Julia didn't seem very shocked over the near nakedness or being around nearly naked natives. She noted it but then just kind of shrugged it off as whatever. As sheltered as she had been, in that time period, it seems like she might have been more bothered by it.

It was satisfying to see the good guys get the happily ever after and the bad guys get what is coming to them.

Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: yes
*I received a complimentary audio-book and voluntarily chose to review it.

A great adventure

My thoughts about this book:

• The opening scene of this story with pirates attacking Julia's ship captured my attention immediately.  My interest was held from the very beginning of this story until the very end.

• There were many twists and turns to this plot and that helped to keep the intrigue and suspense going.

• Julia seemed to have lived a very sheltered life. She was stubborn and made poor decisions because of her brashness and naivete. She seemed to find herself in stuck in many dangerous situations.

• George Greenway was a character full of mystery and intrique. He was constantly rescuing Julia from her life threatening dilemmas.

• The author did an amazing job of describing emotions and scenes. From the author's descriptions, I could feel the sea breezes on my face and smell the sea water and tropical flowers.

• I loved the witty banter between Julia and Greenway. These characters were delightful.

• The narrator did a satisfactory job.

• At my request, I was given a complimentary copy of this audiobook from the author. I have voluntarily left my review and my opinions were my own. I enjoyed this historical romance, filled with intrigue and humor, set in the West Indies and highly recommend it.

The Rolling Seas of love

This was a great story and a good narrator. Julia Scott must get away from her mean stepmother and the old Mr. Carver that she wants her to marry. She leaves to go live with her Uncle the Admiral in the West Indies. While traveling her ship is attacked by pirates, but luckily for her, John Smith is there to save her. Who is he? They continue on to get to Antigua, so he can go on with his life. Of course, trouble seems to follow Julia. Eventually, they arrive, but her Uncle is out at Sea. John Smith takes Julia to his cousins, until she can be reunited with him. While there, she learns John's real name is George Greenway. Again trouble follows Julia, by an unwanted suitor and the arrival of her hated stepmother. Will Mr. Greenway come to her rescue again?

Everything you want in a romantic, adventure!!!

I love this story! It is exciting, romantic and full of enough twists and turns to give you motion sickness! The dashing hero is swoon-worthy indeed!

Fun story!

Loved the adventures of Julia!!! A smart and fun book about the beauty and peril of the West Indies in the early 1800’s! Enjoy!

I did receive this fir free from the author! Thank you!!!