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White Sails #1
Discerning Grace
As the first full-length novel in The White Sails Series, DISCERNING GRACE captures the spirit of an independent woman whose feminine lens blows the ordered patriarchal decks of a 19th century tall ship to smithereens.
Wilful Grace Baxter, will not marry old Lord Silverton with his salivary incontinence and dead-mouse stink. Discovering she is a pawn in an arrangement between slobbery Silverton and her calculating father, Grace is devastated when Silverton reveals his true callous nature.
Refusing this fate, Grace resolves to stow away. Heading to the docks, disguised as a lad to ease her escape, she encounters smooth-talking naval recruiter, Gilly, who lures her aboard HMS Discerning with promises of freedom and exploration in South America.
When Grace's big mouth lands her bare-bottomed over a cannon for insubordination, her identity is exposed. The captain wants her back in London but his orders, to chart the icy archipelago of Tierra del Fuego, forbid it. Lieutenant Seamus Fitzwilliam gallantly offers to take Grace off the fretting captain's hands by placing her under his protection.
Grace must now win over the crew she betrayed with her secret, while managing her feelings towards her taciturn protector, whose obstinate chivalry stifles her new-found independence. But when Grace disregards Lieutenant Fitzwilliam's warnings about the dangers of the unexplored archipelago, it costs a friend his life and she realises she is not as free as she believes.
DISCERNING GRACE is historical women's fiction that will appeal to fans of Claire Fraser from Outlander and Demelza Poldark from Poldark—in other words, fans of feisty historical female leads.
Wilful Grace Baxter, will not marry old Lord Silverton with his salivary incontinence and dead-mouse stink. Discovering she is a pawn in an arrangement between slobbery Silverton and her calculating father, Grace is devastated when Silverton reveals his true callous nature.
Refusing this fate, Grace resolves to stow away. Heading to the docks, disguised as a lad to ease her escape, she encounters smooth-talking naval recruiter, Gilly, who lures her aboard HMS Discerning with promises of freedom and exploration in South America.
When Grace's big mouth lands her bare-bottomed over a cannon for insubordination, her identity is exposed. The captain wants her back in London but his orders, to chart the icy archipelago of Tierra del Fuego, forbid it. Lieutenant Seamus Fitzwilliam gallantly offers to take Grace off the fretting captain's hands by placing her under his protection.
Grace must now win over the crew she betrayed with her secret, while managing her feelings towards her taciturn protector, whose obstinate chivalry stifles her new-found independence. But when Grace disregards Lieutenant Fitzwilliam's warnings about the dangers of the unexplored archipelago, it costs a friend his life and she realises she is not as free as she believes.
DISCERNING GRACE is historical women's fiction that will appeal to fans of Claire Fraser from Outlander and Demelza Poldark from Poldark—in other words, fans of feisty historical female leads.
370 pages, ebook
Published February 22, 2021
About the author
Emma Lombard
6 books65 followersEmma Lombard was born in Pontefract in the UK. She grew up in Africa—calling Zimbabwe and South Africa home for a few years—before finally settling in Brisbane Australia, and raising four boys. Before she started writing historical fiction, she was a freelance editor in the corporate world, which was definitely not half as exciting as writing rollicking romantic adventures. Her characters are fearless seafarers, even though in real life Emma gets disastrously sea sick.
DISCERNING GRACE is her debut historical women's fiction:
- 2021 B.R.A.G. Medallion for excellence
- 2021 Bronze Medallist for Historical Romance, Coffee Pot Book Club Book of the Year Award
- 2021 1st Place—Chatelaine Award for Historical Romance, Chanticleer International Book Award
To join the crew—subscribe to Emma's newsletter: www.emmalombardauthor.com
DISCERNING GRACE is her debut historical women's fiction:
- 2021 B.R.A.G. Medallion for excellence
- 2021 Bronze Medallist for Historical Romance, Coffee Pot Book Club Book of the Year Award
- 2021 1st Place—Chatelaine Award for Historical Romance, Chanticleer International Book Award
To join the crew—subscribe to Emma's newsletter: www.emmalombardauthor.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
October 10, 2021
Discerning Grace by Emma Lombard is an absolutely beautiful work of historical fiction! It checked many of the critical boxes I look for in historical-fiction that make it an engrossing and pleasurable read!
This novel boasts a strong female protagonist in nearly impossible situations, but does what she needs do! A cast of interesting characters described to impress upon the reader’s mind with clarity, descriptive backgrounds and places (including the ship itself), smart, witty, sometimes humorous dialogue…. and the cherry top top - a lovely twist at the end that I didn't see coming! These factors and more make it one of my favorite reads of 2021, having been captivated with the main character (Grace), and the storyline from first page to last.
I have not read anything from this author prior to reading this novel, but Emma Lombard is on my radar. I’ll be sure to check out her other works, including books 2 and 3 that follow in this series. I love her writing style - it’s Impeccable. No foul language.
Warning: Rape trigger.
Absolutely 5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My thanks to NetGalley, the Publisher, and Emma Lombard, for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own. #DiscerningGrace
This novel boasts a strong female protagonist in nearly impossible situations, but does what she needs do! A cast of interesting characters described to impress upon the reader’s mind with clarity, descriptive backgrounds and places (including the ship itself), smart, witty, sometimes humorous dialogue…. and the cherry top top - a lovely twist at the end that I didn't see coming! These factors and more make it one of my favorite reads of 2021, having been captivated with the main character (Grace), and the storyline from first page to last.
I have not read anything from this author prior to reading this novel, but Emma Lombard is on my radar. I’ll be sure to check out her other works, including books 2 and 3 that follow in this series. I love her writing style - it’s Impeccable. No foul language.
Warning: Rape trigger.
Absolutely 5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My thanks to NetGalley, the Publisher, and Emma Lombard, for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own. #DiscerningGrace
March 5, 2021
I enjoyed this women's historical fiction/romance novel so much. The plot is fast-moving, with some unanticipated twists, and the main characters, Grace and Seamus, are written complete with the kinds of flaws that make them both likable and irritating; in other words, totally relatable. There were moments when the decisions each made left me aghast, but they always redeemed themselves in ways that made me care about them and their happy ending. The book is very well-researched, from the details of early 1800s London to life aboard a British Navy tall ship, and the dialogue also rings true. Reading this book was something of a time-travel experience for me; I really felt "right there." I learned a lot about the period's British navy, and some of the terminology brought back my own experience of a week aboard an expedition tall ship in the South Pacific, so that was another enjoyable aspect of the book. By the last page, I wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to Grace and Seamus, so I'm happy this is the first book in a series. There are also some plot twists left hanging, and I'm looking forward to seeing how these will be resolved in the next book!
March 8, 2021
In historical fiction give me a solid story, good writing, a shield and sword, or a ship and the sea, and I will be thoroughly happy and satisfied. It has now been nearly a day since I have read the last lines of “Discerning Grace,” and I can still feel HMS Discerning rocking under my feet, smell the salty air of the ocean, and feel the absence of Grace, Seamus, and the crew like a deep void in my delicate reader’s heart. Before talking about my personal opinions, let me explain what you should expect from Discerning Grace. Simply put, if you enjoy Outlander and/or Poldark, you will definitely enjoy this series. There is history, there is adventure, and there is also love.
The plot: We are in London and it is 1826. Grace Baxter, a 19-year-old girl already tired of the restrictions of the patriarchal society she was born into, is being forced into a strategic union with a despicable man. It is, in fact, this man’s actions that will push the already restless and reluctant Grace to make the biggest decision of her life and escape the false safety of her rich family home to save herself. Destiny and circumstances will have Grace ending up aboard Her Majesty’s Ship Discerning disguised as a man. Although Grace enjoys her newfound freedom, she is well aware her disguise will not last forever, yet her consolation lays in the distance she has put between herself and London. As Grace learns to live like a man and a sailor, there are yet more challenges along the way and the looming shadow of the man she despises and fears draws everyday nearer. Grace’s new reality becomes even more complicated when, as expected, her true identity is revealed. Lieutenant Fitzwilliam and the rest of the crew are shocked and unhappy with the circumstances. She has not only lied to many people that she now calls friends, but she is also the physical representation of a sailor’s worst superstition with no way to be returned to the land.
I will stop here, as I don’t wish to unveil too much of the plot. I should probably quote my husband now with “I must tell this author her book stole my wife.” This could not be truer! I was so engrossed with Discerning Grace that I barely wanted to pay attention to anything else around me. Emma Lombard writes with the experience and polish of a writer that has been published for years, yet this is her debut book. I am in awe of her skills. As I often point out in my reviews, I am not one of these extremely cynical readers that sits there hoping to find a tray of mistakes to turn her nose to and then eagerly slap 1 or 2 stars reviews just because I can, but I am an avid reader and my trained eyes usually catch “immersion breaking” errors. I can tell you with confidence this book was spotless. Discerning Grace is the work of a professional, a woman that has clearly honed her skills, done a ton of research, and cared for every detail before sending her book out into the world. You know this from the moment you lay eyes on the captivating and elegant cover of Discerning Grace. I appreciate a book cover that was given thought, for it often also means the author has given the story that much thought and more. This was indeed the case for Discerning Grace. The cover, which promised a tall ship, the sea, and a petite heroine with bravery and dreams twinkling in her eyes, immediately seized my attention, and the content of the book sealed that promise right away. Here I was in the 19th century following this very relatable and stubborn 19-year-old in all of her impetuousness, driven not only by survival but also by dreams of freedom, adventure, and eventually a chance at true love. Emma Lombard’s writing succeeds at doing that little thing I always yearn for when I am reading historical fiction: she allowed me to time travel. I was really there, during the Age of Sails, feeling the hardship and fatigue of working aboard a tall ship, smelling the salty air and the stench of unwashed bodies, watching the sails puff up fiercely with the wind. I especially loved the amount of research poured into the making of the story and its settings. The Age of Sail is one of my favorite historical periods, hence I had high expectations, and surprise surprise, Emma Lombard met them just right! The plot was fast paced, with a few twists very well placed within the story, the writing and descriptions smooth and elegant. Never did I feel like the writer was dumping a cold bucket of information on my head, disrupting the story’s harmonious beat. It was instead all gradually exposed through the events and through the characters’ eyes. The romantic scenes were never over the top or distracting. They perfectly flowed with the story. Lombard’s writing holds the perfect amount of elegance, even in the most intimate or brutal scenes. The writer has also done a marvelous job with the cast of supporting characters and their development. I loved them all, for they were all so realistic and utterly flawed, and I truly cared for them. Most importantly, despite Grace’s fierceness and determination for equality, the author did not turn her petite heroine into a broad shoulders, 6 foot tall seasoned sailor. No. Grace was always Grace, even while disguised as a man. Grace learns to fight, but Grace fights with the strength, experience, and technique of a woman that has spent less than a year on a tall ship, making it even more relatable. I am tired of writers turning their female heroine into something utterly unfeasible. A woman and a man are intellectual equals, of course, but their bodies are different and as such they interact differently with the world around them. Grace thinks, fights, and performs like a woman, and she uses all that she’s learned to her advantage, often failing like any normal human being, male or female. Grace wants to be treated as an equal, but she is also perfectly aware of her size and capability. Bravo Lombard! Thank you for that fine realism. Also thank you for the laughs and the tears (and when I say tears I mean it). Why?? Oh, why Emma??? Why did you do that!? You know what I am talking about. Yes… that. Although I forgive you, for I know these choices were necessary to your successful story and I thank you for satisfying my obsessive need for sea stories and good historical fiction. Now please hurry with book two because I need my mateys back and a ship rocking under my feet. I shall be here waiting very impatiently, in the meantime let me give you my 5 STARS review.
~ Kiki
The plot: We are in London and it is 1826. Grace Baxter, a 19-year-old girl already tired of the restrictions of the patriarchal society she was born into, is being forced into a strategic union with a despicable man. It is, in fact, this man’s actions that will push the already restless and reluctant Grace to make the biggest decision of her life and escape the false safety of her rich family home to save herself. Destiny and circumstances will have Grace ending up aboard Her Majesty’s Ship Discerning disguised as a man. Although Grace enjoys her newfound freedom, she is well aware her disguise will not last forever, yet her consolation lays in the distance she has put between herself and London. As Grace learns to live like a man and a sailor, there are yet more challenges along the way and the looming shadow of the man she despises and fears draws everyday nearer. Grace’s new reality becomes even more complicated when, as expected, her true identity is revealed. Lieutenant Fitzwilliam and the rest of the crew are shocked and unhappy with the circumstances. She has not only lied to many people that she now calls friends, but she is also the physical representation of a sailor’s worst superstition with no way to be returned to the land.
I will stop here, as I don’t wish to unveil too much of the plot. I should probably quote my husband now with “I must tell this author her book stole my wife.” This could not be truer! I was so engrossed with Discerning Grace that I barely wanted to pay attention to anything else around me. Emma Lombard writes with the experience and polish of a writer that has been published for years, yet this is her debut book. I am in awe of her skills. As I often point out in my reviews, I am not one of these extremely cynical readers that sits there hoping to find a tray of mistakes to turn her nose to and then eagerly slap 1 or 2 stars reviews just because I can, but I am an avid reader and my trained eyes usually catch “immersion breaking” errors. I can tell you with confidence this book was spotless. Discerning Grace is the work of a professional, a woman that has clearly honed her skills, done a ton of research, and cared for every detail before sending her book out into the world. You know this from the moment you lay eyes on the captivating and elegant cover of Discerning Grace. I appreciate a book cover that was given thought, for it often also means the author has given the story that much thought and more. This was indeed the case for Discerning Grace. The cover, which promised a tall ship, the sea, and a petite heroine with bravery and dreams twinkling in her eyes, immediately seized my attention, and the content of the book sealed that promise right away. Here I was in the 19th century following this very relatable and stubborn 19-year-old in all of her impetuousness, driven not only by survival but also by dreams of freedom, adventure, and eventually a chance at true love. Emma Lombard’s writing succeeds at doing that little thing I always yearn for when I am reading historical fiction: she allowed me to time travel. I was really there, during the Age of Sails, feeling the hardship and fatigue of working aboard a tall ship, smelling the salty air and the stench of unwashed bodies, watching the sails puff up fiercely with the wind. I especially loved the amount of research poured into the making of the story and its settings. The Age of Sail is one of my favorite historical periods, hence I had high expectations, and surprise surprise, Emma Lombard met them just right! The plot was fast paced, with a few twists very well placed within the story, the writing and descriptions smooth and elegant. Never did I feel like the writer was dumping a cold bucket of information on my head, disrupting the story’s harmonious beat. It was instead all gradually exposed through the events and through the characters’ eyes. The romantic scenes were never over the top or distracting. They perfectly flowed with the story. Lombard’s writing holds the perfect amount of elegance, even in the most intimate or brutal scenes. The writer has also done a marvelous job with the cast of supporting characters and their development. I loved them all, for they were all so realistic and utterly flawed, and I truly cared for them. Most importantly, despite Grace’s fierceness and determination for equality, the author did not turn her petite heroine into a broad shoulders, 6 foot tall seasoned sailor. No. Grace was always Grace, even while disguised as a man. Grace learns to fight, but Grace fights with the strength, experience, and technique of a woman that has spent less than a year on a tall ship, making it even more relatable. I am tired of writers turning their female heroine into something utterly unfeasible. A woman and a man are intellectual equals, of course, but their bodies are different and as such they interact differently with the world around them. Grace thinks, fights, and performs like a woman, and she uses all that she’s learned to her advantage, often failing like any normal human being, male or female. Grace wants to be treated as an equal, but she is also perfectly aware of her size and capability. Bravo Lombard! Thank you for that fine realism. Also thank you for the laughs and the tears (and when I say tears I mean it). Why?? Oh, why Emma??? Why did you do that!? You know what I am talking about. Yes… that. Although I forgive you, for I know these choices were necessary to your successful story and I thank you for satisfying my obsessive need for sea stories and good historical fiction. Now please hurry with book two because I need my mateys back and a ship rocking under my feet. I shall be here waiting very impatiently, in the meantime let me give you my 5 STARS review.
~ Kiki
Read
September 20, 2021A young woman discovers she’s been promised to a disgusting old lecher, and so, she runs away. Not the first time this scenario has started a story, but the young woman in question doesn’t usually end up as a cabin boy on a survey vessel!
But that’s exactly where Grace Baxter’s flight takes her, and the twists and turns of her story (or should I say the ebb and swell, as we’re aboard ship?) as she adapts to life on board, learns the skills of seamanship, and fights for acceptance among the other men make for entertaining reading. We meet an array of characters against whom Grace must pit her wits – and her fists – to take her place as one of the crew, creating an ensemble cast, each of whom adds in their own way to the story.
Emma Lombard’s debut novel is full of detail that helps the reader envision the confined world of the Discerning, the ship on which she’s taken refuge. It’s clearly well researched: the daily tasks of the crew; the fear when Grace must learn to climb rigging; the food served, and the stench of the sleeping quarters all serve to create a believable backdrop to Grace’s tale.
Many conflicts and reversals, big and small, keep the reader’s attention, without feeling forced or added simply to have yet another problem to be solved. Discerning Grace is a romance, too; can you put a determined young woman and an honourable lieutenant together on a ship without one? Discerning Grace is an admirable debut novel, and a beguiling blend of historical fiction and women’s fiction.
But that’s exactly where Grace Baxter’s flight takes her, and the twists and turns of her story (or should I say the ebb and swell, as we’re aboard ship?) as she adapts to life on board, learns the skills of seamanship, and fights for acceptance among the other men make for entertaining reading. We meet an array of characters against whom Grace must pit her wits – and her fists – to take her place as one of the crew, creating an ensemble cast, each of whom adds in their own way to the story.
Emma Lombard’s debut novel is full of detail that helps the reader envision the confined world of the Discerning, the ship on which she’s taken refuge. It’s clearly well researched: the daily tasks of the crew; the fear when Grace must learn to climb rigging; the food served, and the stench of the sleeping quarters all serve to create a believable backdrop to Grace’s tale.
Many conflicts and reversals, big and small, keep the reader’s attention, without feeling forced or added simply to have yet another problem to be solved. Discerning Grace is a romance, too; can you put a determined young woman and an honourable lieutenant together on a ship without one? Discerning Grace is an admirable debut novel, and a beguiling blend of historical fiction and women’s fiction.
May 5, 2021
⛵️ Discerning Grace ⛵️
The White Sails Series #1
✒️ Emma Lombard
https://www.facebook.com/EmmaLombardA...
Release Date 02/22/2021
Publisher Emma Lombard
➪ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08YKDHD9Y/...
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯
As the first full-length novel in The White Sails Series, DISCERNING GRACE captures the spirit of an independent woman whose feminine lens blows the ordered patriarchal decks of a 19th century tall ship to smithereens.
Wilful Grace Baxter, will not marry old Lord Silverton with his salivary incontinence and dead-mouse stink. Discovering she is a pawn in an arrangement between slobbery Silverton and her calculating father, Grace is devastated when Silverton reveals his true callous nature.
Refusing this fate, Grace resolves to stow away. Heading to the docks, disguised as a lad to ease her escape, she encounters smooth-talking naval recruiter, Gilly, who lures her aboard HMS Discerning with promises of freedom and exploration in South America.
When Grace's big mouth lands her bare-bottomed over a cannon for insubordination, her identity is exposed. The captain wants her back in London but his orders, to chart the icy archipelago of Tierra del Fuego, forbid it. Lieutenant Seamus Fitzwilliam gallantly offers to take Grace off the fretting captain's hands by placing her under his protection.
Grace must now win over the crew she betrayed with her secret, while managing her feelings towards her taciturn protector, whose obstinate chivalry stifles her new-found independence. But when Grace disregards Lieutenant Fitzwilliam's warnings about the dangers of the unexplored archipelago, it costs a friend his life and she realises she is not as free as she believes.
𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
Shiver me timbers 🏴☠️
Will their tempers and dire circumstances tear them apart ...
I love historical romances for the simple fact they transport me in times and places no plane would ever been able to. Within the pages, I travel in locations that might not exist any more or have changed a lot since, with means they are no more in use.
And with this first book in a trilogy I really got my dose of adventure.
After a frightening attack, Grace sees no other way to avoid her impending fate but to flee in the dead of the night. Thus how she finds herself recruited on a ship sailing for the other end of the world. Coincidentally, it is the same vessel the man she meets the night prior will have the charge to bring to its new destination.
From here, begins quite a life experience for Grace, disguised as a boy, she makes her way among the crew, making friends but enemies too, learning the harsh life on a ship, this growing out of her fine lady’s skin to become a stronger skilled woman.
Many trials await her with an unexpected love on the journey to her freedom.
Grace is no demure society’s miss, she is outspoken, opinionated and smart too to understand when she must stay silent but when undeserved punishment is applied, she refuses to stay mute. She is the voice for the abused and defenseless and does not cower even when threatened. She is no amazon but it does not make her less weak, she is taught the hard way that one’s action might come with a cost, she will learn the weight of loss but also the trill of being appreciated for herself.
Seamus is the man who could have been when they first meet, but he was on the verge to leave for a new mission. So when they meet again under rather less auspicious circumstances than the first time, while not being a stowaway, she is a much unwanted guest, his honor demands he protects her, and he will, even more when she stirs feelings he did not want until later in his life. Why she will turn everyone life aboard the ship upside down, even more his.
He is a man who made the rank by working hard and following the rules, as harsh as they can be. So he is full of respects for Grace’s strength and courage, still he is a man with a male view of the world, one she does not always understand and made a muddle of when she does not see where it is going.
So hoist the sails matey, and let’s feel the wind !
5 stars
As a trilogy, the story ends with a happily for now. But satisfying in its own way.
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 kisses
𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 attempted assaults.
I have been granted an advance copy by the author and Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tour, here is my true unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
The White Sails Series #1
✒️ Emma Lombard
https://www.facebook.com/EmmaLombardA...
Release Date 02/22/2021
Publisher Emma Lombard
➪ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08YKDHD9Y/...
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯
As the first full-length novel in The White Sails Series, DISCERNING GRACE captures the spirit of an independent woman whose feminine lens blows the ordered patriarchal decks of a 19th century tall ship to smithereens.
Wilful Grace Baxter, will not marry old Lord Silverton with his salivary incontinence and dead-mouse stink. Discovering she is a pawn in an arrangement between slobbery Silverton and her calculating father, Grace is devastated when Silverton reveals his true callous nature.
Refusing this fate, Grace resolves to stow away. Heading to the docks, disguised as a lad to ease her escape, she encounters smooth-talking naval recruiter, Gilly, who lures her aboard HMS Discerning with promises of freedom and exploration in South America.
When Grace's big mouth lands her bare-bottomed over a cannon for insubordination, her identity is exposed. The captain wants her back in London but his orders, to chart the icy archipelago of Tierra del Fuego, forbid it. Lieutenant Seamus Fitzwilliam gallantly offers to take Grace off the fretting captain's hands by placing her under his protection.
Grace must now win over the crew she betrayed with her secret, while managing her feelings towards her taciturn protector, whose obstinate chivalry stifles her new-found independence. But when Grace disregards Lieutenant Fitzwilliam's warnings about the dangers of the unexplored archipelago, it costs a friend his life and she realises she is not as free as she believes.
𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
Shiver me timbers 🏴☠️
Will their tempers and dire circumstances tear them apart ...
I love historical romances for the simple fact they transport me in times and places no plane would ever been able to. Within the pages, I travel in locations that might not exist any more or have changed a lot since, with means they are no more in use.
And with this first book in a trilogy I really got my dose of adventure.
After a frightening attack, Grace sees no other way to avoid her impending fate but to flee in the dead of the night. Thus how she finds herself recruited on a ship sailing for the other end of the world. Coincidentally, it is the same vessel the man she meets the night prior will have the charge to bring to its new destination.
From here, begins quite a life experience for Grace, disguised as a boy, she makes her way among the crew, making friends but enemies too, learning the harsh life on a ship, this growing out of her fine lady’s skin to become a stronger skilled woman.
Many trials await her with an unexpected love on the journey to her freedom.
Grace is no demure society’s miss, she is outspoken, opinionated and smart too to understand when she must stay silent but when undeserved punishment is applied, she refuses to stay mute. She is the voice for the abused and defenseless and does not cower even when threatened. She is no amazon but it does not make her less weak, she is taught the hard way that one’s action might come with a cost, she will learn the weight of loss but also the trill of being appreciated for herself.
Seamus is the man who could have been when they first meet, but he was on the verge to leave for a new mission. So when they meet again under rather less auspicious circumstances than the first time, while not being a stowaway, she is a much unwanted guest, his honor demands he protects her, and he will, even more when she stirs feelings he did not want until later in his life. Why she will turn everyone life aboard the ship upside down, even more his.
He is a man who made the rank by working hard and following the rules, as harsh as they can be. So he is full of respects for Grace’s strength and courage, still he is a man with a male view of the world, one she does not always understand and made a muddle of when she does not see where it is going.
So hoist the sails matey, and let’s feel the wind !
5 stars
As a trilogy, the story ends with a happily for now. But satisfying in its own way.
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 kisses
𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 attempted assaults.
I have been granted an advance copy by the author and Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tour, here is my true unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
March 13, 2021
What a fantastic read! In the past, I haven’t read much historical women’s romance/fiction, but I’ve gained an appetite for it in the recent year or two. ‘Discerning Grace’ is an excellent addition to that list, and it quickly transported me along with Grace aboard the HMS Discerning. For anyone who enjoys strong female leads in a historic setting, Grace’s journey is certain to please them.
As Grace flees her unwanted marriage and attentions of the despicable Lord Silverton, she finds herself signed on as a ship’s boy aboard the HMS Discerning. What follows is a rough life among rough men, except that the ship hides within a cast of some of the most excellent men seen in my historic fiction reads yet.
The handsome Lieutenant Fitzwilliam is easy to like, even when his actions are not always likeable (but justified), but I think where the characters really shine is with the friends Grace makes among her mates. I loved loved loved the supporting characters in this story, and the story took me on a real emotional ride with them. I truly loved some of them… and still find some among the wide cast of the HMS Discerning truly despicable creatures.
Now, that’s the mark of a great writing.
Grace and Lt. Fitzwilliam’s developing closeness and love is a delight to read, and it develops in an understandable way.
And given this is historical fiction, the history of it, you ask? Just brilliant. To my reading eyes, the author has done her research, and while I’m barely knowledgeable on any of this, everything I read seemed authentic and genuine to me: the 1820s’ London, life aboard a sailing ship, the descriptions, the references…
In fact, if I’ve any complaint (well, perhaps read that as preference) about the story, it would have been to keep Grace aboard the Discerning as one of the lads a while longer because I found out I really enjoyed that part of the story, but it’s also not to say what happens after doesn’t have a lot of thrills. (Because it certainly does). I suppose it’s a great balance.
The writing and editing were top-notch, and the story did flow at a nice pace.
Thank you, Emma, for giving me an ARC of this book. I enjoyed it greatly and I look forward to how the story will continue.
(And isn’t that cover art so pretty?!)
As Grace flees her unwanted marriage and attentions of the despicable Lord Silverton, she finds herself signed on as a ship’s boy aboard the HMS Discerning. What follows is a rough life among rough men, except that the ship hides within a cast of some of the most excellent men seen in my historic fiction reads yet.
The handsome Lieutenant Fitzwilliam is easy to like, even when his actions are not always likeable (but justified), but I think where the characters really shine is with the friends Grace makes among her mates. I loved loved loved the supporting characters in this story, and the story took me on a real emotional ride with them. I truly loved some of them… and still find some among the wide cast of the HMS Discerning truly despicable creatures.
Now, that’s the mark of a great writing.
Grace and Lt. Fitzwilliam’s developing closeness and love is a delight to read, and it develops in an understandable way.
And given this is historical fiction, the history of it, you ask? Just brilliant. To my reading eyes, the author has done her research, and while I’m barely knowledgeable on any of this, everything I read seemed authentic and genuine to me: the 1820s’ London, life aboard a sailing ship, the descriptions, the references…
In fact, if I’ve any complaint (well, perhaps read that as preference) about the story, it would have been to keep Grace aboard the Discerning as one of the lads a while longer because I found out I really enjoyed that part of the story, but it’s also not to say what happens after doesn’t have a lot of thrills. (Because it certainly does). I suppose it’s a great balance.
The writing and editing were top-notch, and the story did flow at a nice pace.
Thank you, Emma, for giving me an ARC of this book. I enjoyed it greatly and I look forward to how the story will continue.
(And isn’t that cover art so pretty?!)
April 25, 2021
Historical fiction is such a joy for me as a reader, and I adore being transported through time. This novel is a gem in the genre, and I truly felt I was aboard the ship along with Grace and the rest of the crew.
The relationship between Grace and Seamus, while tense at points because they both have very strong, dynamic personalities, is ultimately built on mutual admiration, affection, and respect. Seamus treats her gently, chivalrously, and has got a gallant charm that makes him a swoon-worthy love interest. Grace herself has got fire inside her. She’s intelligent, determined, and defiant while... Read my full book review on my website by clicking here.
March 9, 2021
If you like spunky protagonists, you’ll love Emma Lombard’s Grace Baxter. Who doesn’t love a stowaway lass disguised as a lad, with all of the rebellion that implies? (She has very good reasons to run away.) Alas, she gets found out. Enter Lieutenant Seamus Fitzwilliam and his offer to “protect” Grace. But is she the one who needs protecting?
Fans of historical fiction, fans of the sea, just fans of good stories in general will find these characters and their sea voyage appealing. And the spark ignited between Grace and Seamus will warm your heart, too. I’m ready for book two!
Fans of historical fiction, fans of the sea, just fans of good stories in general will find these characters and their sea voyage appealing. And the spark ignited between Grace and Seamus will warm your heart, too. I’m ready for book two!
February 18, 2022
Boring and language.
DNF
DNF
Read
June 25, 2021Great premise but the pace was incredibly fast and I know other reviewers are saying this as a compliment but I found the speed at which the plot flicks from point A to Point B detrimental to building a connection with the characters:
*Spoilers*
In the first chapter when Grace meets her love interest ("Lieutenant Fitzwilliam") the meeting is so brief it feels inconsequential. The lack of narrative means I didn't know what Grace felt about him until later. There was no time for foreshadowing. The status Quo isn't established enough. The beginning chapter at the party...is literally MC meets love interest...and...I don't know what she felt as I wasn't told.
(I actually forgot the love interests name despite having read the blurb, and didn't realise that character was important while reading it, because there was no internal narrative for Grace here)
Later on, in the arbour when she is sitting with the Lieutenant after dinner she mentions that he made her blush all evening, but neither in the beginning scene, or in the dinner chapter, did Grace interact with the lieutenant in a way that would make her blush, or mention blushing. No narrative means we don't know what Grace's reactions to him are or how she feels)
So the Party chapter ( Chapter One ) is where the characters meet, there is a brief introduction to Lord Silverton and then chapter is over.
In the Dinner chapter, there is brief discussion about the Captain and Co going on an adventure to exotic places, then the chapter is over.
In the Arbour chapter, where Grace accompanies Far Far and Lieutenant to the garden arbour, she interacts with her love interest, and the chapter is over.
Having only what is necessary for the plot, makes it hard for me to feel transported in a world because it doesn't feel enough like real life. Of course books aren't like real life, and it would be boring if they tried to be, but I need enough peripheral detail and distractions to be tricked into thinking it is.
In the Arbour chapter Grace tags along with her Uncle Far Far to the garden where he then disappears as he forgot his cigar, (and Grace is conveniently stuck with her love interest) then when he returns, the Lieutenant goes home, with no explanation as to why he suddenly leaves. Far Far had invited him to the arbour to enjoy a cigar. Yet he simply served the plot function ( hung out with Grace) then left.
If Grace had felt awkward or suspicious her Uncle was setting her up - if it was a complicated or relatable situation - relayed in internal narrative, I would have been SO INTO THIS but it was just
"Author needs them to interact here, so have them interact here", and then whoosh OK that chapters done, onto next one.
When chapters only do what they need to do to move the plot forward, and nothing more, it prevents suspension of disbelief for the reader. It's too obviously spoon feeding the plot in bites. There wasn't enough detail, ( despite a beautiful description on first page ) in the narrative overall to feel like I was there, or to get a sense of the main character.
I didn't get to experience Grace's world filtered through her unique perspective because the perspective is distant.
Moving on to a clunky plot issue:
When Grace is escaping Lord Silverton she leaves her room and goes down the hall and into a dark cellar , opting to climb a pile of coal and go up through the coal chute to the street, instead of walking through the kitchen, resulting in her dress being blackened with coal dust. This decision made no sense to me. Why she didn't just walk through the kitchen? If she was terrified of the servants seeing her....if her reasoning had been explained it could have worked.
I think the real reason Grace went through the coal chute is because it gave her a reason to wear Billy's clothes in the next chapter...but there was no reason for her to do this, apart from the plot needed it.
I did enjoy the interaction with Billy...And the wandering around London had a closer Point Of View, I think it was impossible not to because there were no other characters to interact with.
When Grace joins the crew on the Discerning, I kept reading to past the chapter in the lieutenants POV, to where Grace recalls her father killing a bird when she was a child. Grace sheds tears while polishing a cannon with a fellow sailor, but there is no narrative, only physical reactions, and this distance leaves me struggling to connect.
A few things feel plucked directly out of Outlander...Grace not knowing what "Parritch" is, and Losing her purse while wandering around London, even the name Fraser.
(The purse being stolen could have been a dramatic moment but felt tacked in, with little speculation from Grace at the deep trouble she is now in. If she had been thinking about the purse more, earlier, it could have been a dramatic moment. {Conversely Grace could have just found a police officer and gotten a lift home...} If she had considered all options and been torn, distressed and the reasoning for her decisions made evident with internal narrative, it would have felt more realistic to join the crew of a ship, rather than "I'm just digesting the cogs in a plot."
I did enjoy the part where she meets the sailors recruiting crewmembers, as it was closer in POV than previous chapters, but still needed more explained.
Having said that it was easy to read, and did amuse me enough, but I did dnf very early on as the execution just wasn't doing it for me.
Discerning Grace has a thriller pace, but this style of storytelling is at odds with it's historical genre. (Even for a thriller it is bare-boned) I hope Emma gets critique partners who read in her own genre next time, and takes the time to really develop her characters so that the intensity in the authors mind, ends up on the page.
There is a lot of blank space where I was expected to "just know" everything and this is a common failing among new writers, who are infused with inspiration but don't realise they have to flesh the characters out, create an illusion of that characters psyche, and filter the experiences through voice in the narrative to transport the reader.
For example there are only two chapters where we could get to know the parents but we don't get to know them at all. This could have been a source of tension but because the relationship wasn't set up, when Grace has to leave her family, there was no inner conflict.
I wish Emma the best in her writing journey...and hope for a revision, because this was such an exciting premise and had so many appealing ingredients. I think pacing came first...above all else and for me there is a lot more work needed to make Discerning Grace not just a great story but an incredible experience.
*Spoilers*
In the first chapter when Grace meets her love interest ("Lieutenant Fitzwilliam") the meeting is so brief it feels inconsequential. The lack of narrative means I didn't know what Grace felt about him until later. There was no time for foreshadowing. The status Quo isn't established enough. The beginning chapter at the party...is literally MC meets love interest...and...I don't know what she felt as I wasn't told.
(I actually forgot the love interests name despite having read the blurb, and didn't realise that character was important while reading it, because there was no internal narrative for Grace here)
Later on, in the arbour when she is sitting with the Lieutenant after dinner she mentions that he made her blush all evening, but neither in the beginning scene, or in the dinner chapter, did Grace interact with the lieutenant in a way that would make her blush, or mention blushing. No narrative means we don't know what Grace's reactions to him are or how she feels)
So the Party chapter ( Chapter One ) is where the characters meet, there is a brief introduction to Lord Silverton and then chapter is over.
In the Dinner chapter, there is brief discussion about the Captain and Co going on an adventure to exotic places, then the chapter is over.
In the Arbour chapter, where Grace accompanies Far Far and Lieutenant to the garden arbour, she interacts with her love interest, and the chapter is over.
Having only what is necessary for the plot, makes it hard for me to feel transported in a world because it doesn't feel enough like real life. Of course books aren't like real life, and it would be boring if they tried to be, but I need enough peripheral detail and distractions to be tricked into thinking it is.
In the Arbour chapter Grace tags along with her Uncle Far Far to the garden where he then disappears as he forgot his cigar, (and Grace is conveniently stuck with her love interest) then when he returns, the Lieutenant goes home, with no explanation as to why he suddenly leaves. Far Far had invited him to the arbour to enjoy a cigar. Yet he simply served the plot function ( hung out with Grace) then left.
If Grace had felt awkward or suspicious her Uncle was setting her up - if it was a complicated or relatable situation - relayed in internal narrative, I would have been SO INTO THIS but it was just
"Author needs them to interact here, so have them interact here", and then whoosh OK that chapters done, onto next one.
When chapters only do what they need to do to move the plot forward, and nothing more, it prevents suspension of disbelief for the reader. It's too obviously spoon feeding the plot in bites. There wasn't enough detail, ( despite a beautiful description on first page ) in the narrative overall to feel like I was there, or to get a sense of the main character.
I didn't get to experience Grace's world filtered through her unique perspective because the perspective is distant.
Moving on to a clunky plot issue:
When Grace is escaping Lord Silverton she leaves her room and goes down the hall and into a dark cellar , opting to climb a pile of coal and go up through the coal chute to the street, instead of walking through the kitchen, resulting in her dress being blackened with coal dust. This decision made no sense to me. Why she didn't just walk through the kitchen? If she was terrified of the servants seeing her....if her reasoning had been explained it could have worked.
I think the real reason Grace went through the coal chute is because it gave her a reason to wear Billy's clothes in the next chapter...but there was no reason for her to do this, apart from the plot needed it.
I did enjoy the interaction with Billy...And the wandering around London had a closer Point Of View, I think it was impossible not to because there were no other characters to interact with.
When Grace joins the crew on the Discerning, I kept reading to past the chapter in the lieutenants POV, to where Grace recalls her father killing a bird when she was a child. Grace sheds tears while polishing a cannon with a fellow sailor, but there is no narrative, only physical reactions, and this distance leaves me struggling to connect.
A few things feel plucked directly out of Outlander...Grace not knowing what "Parritch" is, and Losing her purse while wandering around London, even the name Fraser.
(The purse being stolen could have been a dramatic moment but felt tacked in, with little speculation from Grace at the deep trouble she is now in. If she had been thinking about the purse more, earlier, it could have been a dramatic moment. {Conversely Grace could have just found a police officer and gotten a lift home...} If she had considered all options and been torn, distressed and the reasoning for her decisions made evident with internal narrative, it would have felt more realistic to join the crew of a ship, rather than "I'm just digesting the cogs in a plot."
I did enjoy the part where she meets the sailors recruiting crewmembers, as it was closer in POV than previous chapters, but still needed more explained.
Having said that it was easy to read, and did amuse me enough, but I did dnf very early on as the execution just wasn't doing it for me.
Discerning Grace has a thriller pace, but this style of storytelling is at odds with it's historical genre. (Even for a thriller it is bare-boned) I hope Emma gets critique partners who read in her own genre next time, and takes the time to really develop her characters so that the intensity in the authors mind, ends up on the page.
There is a lot of blank space where I was expected to "just know" everything and this is a common failing among new writers, who are infused with inspiration but don't realise they have to flesh the characters out, create an illusion of that characters psyche, and filter the experiences through voice in the narrative to transport the reader.
For example there are only two chapters where we could get to know the parents but we don't get to know them at all. This could have been a source of tension but because the relationship wasn't set up, when Grace has to leave her family, there was no inner conflict.
I wish Emma the best in her writing journey...and hope for a revision, because this was such an exciting premise and had so many appealing ingredients. I think pacing came first...above all else and for me there is a lot more work needed to make Discerning Grace not just a great story but an incredible experience.
March 3, 2021
A brilliant beginning! For months, I looked forward to the release of Discerning Grace and Ms. Lombard did not disappoint me. This series opener is masterfully designed. I am not one to spoil the fun, so you will have to read it yourself for the many plot details.
The characters are vividly drawn. Ms. Lombard includes flaws and regrets to mirror the human experience. Grace Baxter is a bold heroine scrapping for equality and challenging gender bias. Seamus Fitzwilliam is an intellectual equal, though even he wrestles with society’s status quo. Lord Silverton is a delicious villain.
This novel is more than a simple historical tryst. Ms. Lombard gifted us a wonderful and evolving epic adventure! The wait for the next installment, Grace on the Horizon, will be trying.
The characters are vividly drawn. Ms. Lombard includes flaws and regrets to mirror the human experience. Grace Baxter is a bold heroine scrapping for equality and challenging gender bias. Seamus Fitzwilliam is an intellectual equal, though even he wrestles with society’s status quo. Lord Silverton is a delicious villain.
This novel is more than a simple historical tryst. Ms. Lombard gifted us a wonderful and evolving epic adventure! The wait for the next installment, Grace on the Horizon, will be trying.
March 23, 2022
***I received a PDF copy through Book Review Buzz. I was not urged to leave a positive review in any way. All thoughts and opinions are my own.***
This, by far, is the most difficult review I've written in a long while. There were tons of things I liked and didn't like that leaves me struggling on how to rate this novel. So please bear with me and get comfy, this is gonna be a long one.
Pros:
1)My favorite thing about this story is how captivating it was from the very start and it held all the way to the end. I'm not sure if it was the writing style and flow (more about that later), the fact that I'd recently finished another pirate story and was in the mood, or simply that it was the right time for me to read this, if that makes sense. Because sometimes a book just doesn't sit right and you can't get into it but if you set it aside and come back to it, you find yourself wondering how you had trouble with it before. From the first page I was drawn into the story and it was pure reading pleasure. As I continued, despite the pleasure dimming (more about that later) I was STILL drawn to the story to the fact that I couldn't put it down.
2) The writing was so well done. It was easy to follow. There were some great descriptions and the dialogue, while sometimes cheesy, seemed pretty authentic to the time and the characters themselves.
3) I think some of the best parts were at sea pre-Grace's identity reveal. While the Discerning wasn't a crew of cut-throat pirates, I still enjoyed the day to day rough and tumble life aboard the vessel.
4) Overall the characters seemed well-developed. Some of the minor crew members blended together but as for the main characters, I had no trouble telling one from the other and I believe when it came to relationships and interactions, they were believable.
Cons:
1) The frequent language and the taking of the Lord's name in vain was a huge hinderance for me. To some extent I can see that the crew would realistically have rougher vocabulary and slang HOWEVER, there are other ways to get that across besides using foul language.
2) Grace. What started out as a free-spirited female lead just trying to escape an unsavory match that I could cheer on and side with, slowly became a bossy, hot-tempered toddler. This was when the reading pleasure started dimming. She was selfish and thoughtless in a lot of ways and her actions had serious, life-threatening consequences. I'm not going to give names or spoilers but with a friend like Grace, who needs an enemy? Not to say she wasn't sorry for her actions and tried to make up for some of them but the damage is already done thanks to her.
3)Seamus + Grace. Ugh. Those two deserve each other, lol. They both had their share of shortcomings and frankly they fed off each other's tempers to the extent that it was just annoying. I mean there's lover's quarrels and then there's needless squabbles. Ya know? And while I'm on the topic of Seamus (Mr. Perfect himself) He sometimes came off as a snob when it came to looking out for Grace. Like when he basically said the crew was beneath her social status and she couldn't spend time with them. Period.
4) There was some smut. Not tons and not always descriptive but it was bad enough to make me uncomfortable. There was attempted rape (x3), inappropriate innuendos, and some mild passion between Seamus and Grace.
Overall:
You see my dilemma? There was so much that didn't sit well but despite all this I couldn't put it down. When it came to just who the villain truly was in my opinion- Silverton was just an evil perv who deserved worse than death. Grace's snooty parents are the cause of everything. And poor Billy and Gilly. Those two deserved so much more than what they were dealt. All in all I'm giving this 2 stars. I won't be continuing the series but I will say the author set things up nicely for the next book.
This, by far, is the most difficult review I've written in a long while. There were tons of things I liked and didn't like that leaves me struggling on how to rate this novel. So please bear with me and get comfy, this is gonna be a long one.
Pros:
1)My favorite thing about this story is how captivating it was from the very start and it held all the way to the end. I'm not sure if it was the writing style and flow (more about that later), the fact that I'd recently finished another pirate story and was in the mood, or simply that it was the right time for me to read this, if that makes sense. Because sometimes a book just doesn't sit right and you can't get into it but if you set it aside and come back to it, you find yourself wondering how you had trouble with it before. From the first page I was drawn into the story and it was pure reading pleasure. As I continued, despite the pleasure dimming (more about that later) I was STILL drawn to the story to the fact that I couldn't put it down.
2) The writing was so well done. It was easy to follow. There were some great descriptions and the dialogue, while sometimes cheesy, seemed pretty authentic to the time and the characters themselves.
3) I think some of the best parts were at sea pre-Grace's identity reveal. While the Discerning wasn't a crew of cut-throat pirates, I still enjoyed the day to day rough and tumble life aboard the vessel.
4) Overall the characters seemed well-developed. Some of the minor crew members blended together but as for the main characters, I had no trouble telling one from the other and I believe when it came to relationships and interactions, they were believable.
Cons:
1) The frequent language and the taking of the Lord's name in vain was a huge hinderance for me. To some extent I can see that the crew would realistically have rougher vocabulary and slang HOWEVER, there are other ways to get that across besides using foul language.
2) Grace. What started out as a free-spirited female lead just trying to escape an unsavory match that I could cheer on and side with, slowly became a bossy, hot-tempered toddler. This was when the reading pleasure started dimming. She was selfish and thoughtless in a lot of ways and her actions had serious, life-threatening consequences. I'm not going to give names or spoilers but with a friend like Grace, who needs an enemy? Not to say she wasn't sorry for her actions and tried to make up for some of them but the damage is already done thanks to her.
3)Seamus + Grace. Ugh. Those two deserve each other, lol. They both had their share of shortcomings and frankly they fed off each other's tempers to the extent that it was just annoying. I mean there's lover's quarrels and then there's needless squabbles. Ya know? And while I'm on the topic of Seamus (Mr. Perfect himself) He sometimes came off as a snob when it came to looking out for Grace. Like when he basically said the crew was beneath her social status and she couldn't spend time with them. Period.
4) There was some smut. Not tons and not always descriptive but it was bad enough to make me uncomfortable. There was attempted rape (x3), inappropriate innuendos, and some mild passion between Seamus and Grace.
Overall:
You see my dilemma? There was so much that didn't sit well but despite all this I couldn't put it down. When it came to just who the villain truly was in my opinion- Silverton was just an evil perv who deserved worse than death. Grace's snooty parents are the cause of everything. And poor Billy and Gilly. Those two deserved so much more than what they were dealt. All in all I'm giving this 2 stars. I won't be continuing the series but I will say the author set things up nicely for the next book.
Read
October 31, 2023Thank you author and TheStoryGraph for the opportunity to win this book in a giveaway.
However, this book was not for me. It might be for you if you like romance/erotica with some dry humping.
///
OK įtikino mane fantastiški grybai, kad reikia pykti garsiai. Nemanau, kad pykstu pakankamai, kad kalčiau kuolą, bet pakankamai, kad pridėčiau tris raktinius žodžius į angliško teksto pabaigą, ir nukopijuočiau čia lietuvišką tekstą iš TSG. Kas norės, pasinaudos DeepL ar GoogleTranslate paslaugomis.
Buvau pasirengusi daug atleisti šiai knygai. Savalaidžiams daug atleidžiu. O iš aprašymo atrodė, kad bus knyga grynai man. Bet deja.
Bus spoileriai.
Pabėgimas iš namų: čia labai trūko priešistorės. Ir, atrodo, buvo galima ją lengvai įtupdyti. Žinoma, apimtis būtų padvigubėjusi, bet ir skaitymo malonumo būtų nesulyginamai daugiau. "Oi, niekada nebėgau per anglių rūsį", bet iš pirmo karto užsikabaroja kopėčiomis. "Eisiu pas draugą Bilį" ir tai pirmas kartas, kai Bilį pamini. "Tėvai man tikrai neatleistų ir verstų daryti ko nenoriu", bet mes taip ir nesusipažinome su jos tėvais. "Dėdė irgi man nepadėtų", bet ji net nebandė prašyti dėdės pagalbos. Ir todėl sprendimas nueiti su jūreiviais atrodo atsitikęs tik tam, kad taip autorė norėjo, o ne dėl to, kad veikėjai tikrai nebuvo jokios kitos išeities.
Laive: nepaisant veikėjos elgesio ir vertybių kaip šiuolaikinės paauglės, iš tiesų man patiko tas gabaliukas, kur ji apsimetė berniuku ir rado bendrą kalbą su įgula. Būčiau visai mielai paskaičiusi apie savo vietą laive netikėtai radusią aukštuomenės panelę, įvertintą už gabumus ir pakeitusią smurtu ir aklu paklusnumu grįstą jūreivių kultūrą. Tai būtų žiauriai nerealu, bet tai būtų įdomu ir malonu skaityti. Tačiau knyga nusprendė pasukti visai kitu keliu: išaiškėjo, kad ji - moteris, ją uždarė vieną kajutėje, nes moterims niekas negalima, o tada Grace pamiršo visą brolybę su kitais jūreiviais (rimtai, ją išaiškino dėl to, kad gynė maisto pavogusį badaujantį berniuką, o išaiškinus jai teikė restoraninius pietus ir nei karto jai nešmėkštelėjo mintis, kad hmmm, gal čia biškį neteisinga) ir jos tikslu tapo, atrodo, tik kapitono padėjėjo gundymas.
Taip, žinau, aprašyme parašyta, kad romantika. Bet kad čia ne romantika, čia kažkoks rujojimas. Romantika būtų, jei pastebėtų to jūrininko gerumą, užskaitytų jo humanišką elgesį su kitais įgulos nariais (o buvo priešingai, jis šaltu veidu stebėjo badaujančio berniuko plakimą bizūnu, o po visko ji net neužsiminė apie tai, lyg tai niekad nebūtų atsitikę ir jai visai nebūtų rūpėję), gaudytų atsitiktinius žvilgsnius ir prisilietimus, apie juos svajodama dūsautų. O čia, ūūū gražoliukas, aš nelegalė jo laive, tai biškį prie jo pasitrinsiu (tiesiogine prasme) vienaip kitaip, nes žinoma tai geriausia vieta ir laikas tą daryti! 👍ai ir žinoma niekam nereikalingas antras vyras (kitas padėjėjas), nes kaip čia be beprasmiškų trikampių.
Jaučiu, kad neadekvačiai išsiplėčiau ir išsiliejau. Bet pastebėjau ir anksčiau, kad labiausiai sunervina knygos, kur atrodo, trūksta tiek nedaug iki gerumo. Nors imk ir perrašyk.
However, this book was not for me. It might be for you if you like romance/erotica with some dry humping.
///
OK įtikino mane fantastiški grybai, kad reikia pykti garsiai. Nemanau, kad pykstu pakankamai, kad kalčiau kuolą, bet pakankamai, kad pridėčiau tris raktinius žodžius į angliško teksto pabaigą, ir nukopijuočiau čia lietuvišką tekstą iš TSG. Kas norės, pasinaudos DeepL ar GoogleTranslate paslaugomis.
Buvau pasirengusi daug atleisti šiai knygai. Savalaidžiams daug atleidžiu. O iš aprašymo atrodė, kad bus knyga grynai man. Bet deja.
Bus spoileriai.
Pabėgimas iš namų: čia labai trūko priešistorės. Ir, atrodo, buvo galima ją lengvai įtupdyti. Žinoma, apimtis būtų padvigubėjusi, bet ir skaitymo malonumo būtų nesulyginamai daugiau. "Oi, niekada nebėgau per anglių rūsį", bet iš pirmo karto užsikabaroja kopėčiomis. "Eisiu pas draugą Bilį" ir tai pirmas kartas, kai Bilį pamini. "Tėvai man tikrai neatleistų ir verstų daryti ko nenoriu", bet mes taip ir nesusipažinome su jos tėvais. "Dėdė irgi man nepadėtų", bet ji net nebandė prašyti dėdės pagalbos. Ir todėl sprendimas nueiti su jūreiviais atrodo atsitikęs tik tam, kad taip autorė norėjo, o ne dėl to, kad veikėjai tikrai nebuvo jokios kitos išeities.
Laive: nepaisant veikėjos elgesio ir vertybių kaip šiuolaikinės paauglės, iš tiesų man patiko tas gabaliukas, kur ji apsimetė berniuku ir rado bendrą kalbą su įgula. Būčiau visai mielai paskaičiusi apie savo vietą laive netikėtai radusią aukštuomenės panelę, įvertintą už gabumus ir pakeitusią smurtu ir aklu paklusnumu grįstą jūreivių kultūrą. Tai būtų žiauriai nerealu, bet tai būtų įdomu ir malonu skaityti. Tačiau knyga nusprendė pasukti visai kitu keliu: išaiškėjo, kad ji - moteris, ją uždarė vieną kajutėje, nes moterims niekas negalima, o tada Grace pamiršo visą brolybę su kitais jūreiviais (rimtai, ją išaiškino dėl to, kad gynė maisto pavogusį badaujantį berniuką, o išaiškinus jai teikė restoraninius pietus ir nei karto jai nešmėkštelėjo mintis, kad hmmm, gal čia biškį neteisinga) ir jos tikslu tapo, atrodo, tik kapitono padėjėjo gundymas.
Taip, žinau, aprašyme parašyta, kad romantika. Bet kad čia ne romantika, čia kažkoks rujojimas. Romantika būtų, jei pastebėtų to jūrininko gerumą, užskaitytų jo humanišką elgesį su kitais įgulos nariais (o buvo priešingai, jis šaltu veidu stebėjo badaujančio berniuko plakimą bizūnu, o po visko ji net neužsiminė apie tai, lyg tai niekad nebūtų atsitikę ir jai visai nebūtų rūpėję), gaudytų atsitiktinius žvilgsnius ir prisilietimus, apie juos svajodama dūsautų. O čia, ūūū gražoliukas, aš nelegalė jo laive, tai biškį prie jo pasitrinsiu (tiesiogine prasme) vienaip kitaip, nes žinoma tai geriausia vieta ir laikas tą daryti! 👍ai ir žinoma niekam nereikalingas antras vyras (kitas padėjėjas), nes kaip čia be beprasmiškų trikampių.
Jaučiu, kad neadekvačiai išsiplėčiau ir išsiliejau. Bet pastebėjau ir anksčiau, kad labiausiai sunervina knygos, kur atrodo, trūksta tiek nedaug iki gerumo. Nors imk ir perrašyk.
March 13, 2021
Grace Baxter has a terrible relationship with her rich parents, who have practically abandoned her to be raised by strict governesses. We can’t, however, feel sad for her, as she has the love of Uncle FarFar, a senior and highly respected personage in the Royal Navy, and the friendship of Billy, the son of the stablemaster. Besides, Grace doesn’t feel sorry for herself, at least not until she overhears that she’s be to wed to the gross, slobbery and totally unpleasant Lord Silverton. When Silverton shows just what he’s truly capable of, Grace takes matters into her own hands, and flees. Not just her home and London, but the country, and aboard a naval ship, disguised as a boy. Subsequently, Grace’s strong-minded and impetuous behaviour leads her in and out of all kinds of trouble, which implicates others too, with consequences I wasn’t expecting. Be aware, this story has lots of humour, but there are dark moments also, giving the story a richer emotional depth.
Emma Lombard’s debut novel, and the first in her White Sails’ series, moves at a fast pace and covers a lot of ground, or should I say a lot of ocean. Her research into life aboard a naval ship and into the exotic countries where Grace finds herself, is meticulous, and all the better for being used in a way which brings the reader on board (sorry) naturally, as if we are all as familiar with a foc’sle as the crew of Discerning. I love not having things explained to me.
There’s quite a cast of characters, and each of them is a real person, with backgrounds which we learn about as we go along, and with motivations and ambitions. This is particularly true of the handsome but imperfect Lieutenant Seamus Fitzwilliams, whose ship Grace has joined. We get to see the Lieutenant in two very different guises – one as the ship’s senior officer having to deal with all the problems of an ailing Captain and an unwanted passenger, and the other as a man falling in love with an obstinate young woman. Poor Seamus!
While the book wraps up nicely, there are background strands which I hope/expect Lombard explores in the next books in the series.
Discerning Grace is a book for lovers of adventure and danger on the high seas, of complex, interesting characters, and romance which isn’t all flutters and butterflies. A little touch of Pirates of the Carribean, perhaps?
Emma Lombard’s debut novel, and the first in her White Sails’ series, moves at a fast pace and covers a lot of ground, or should I say a lot of ocean. Her research into life aboard a naval ship and into the exotic countries where Grace finds herself, is meticulous, and all the better for being used in a way which brings the reader on board (sorry) naturally, as if we are all as familiar with a foc’sle as the crew of Discerning. I love not having things explained to me.
There’s quite a cast of characters, and each of them is a real person, with backgrounds which we learn about as we go along, and with motivations and ambitions. This is particularly true of the handsome but imperfect Lieutenant Seamus Fitzwilliams, whose ship Grace has joined. We get to see the Lieutenant in two very different guises – one as the ship’s senior officer having to deal with all the problems of an ailing Captain and an unwanted passenger, and the other as a man falling in love with an obstinate young woman. Poor Seamus!
While the book wraps up nicely, there are background strands which I hope/expect Lombard explores in the next books in the series.
Discerning Grace is a book for lovers of adventure and danger on the high seas, of complex, interesting characters, and romance which isn’t all flutters and butterflies. A little touch of Pirates of the Carribean, perhaps?
March 7, 2021
The plot in brief: (No spoilers) Grace Baxter is surprised, unhappily, to find her unpleasant parents have agreed to her marriage to a rather despicable old man. His behaviour towards her makes it clear that she cannot marry him. So, she does a runner. Where does the well-bred daughter of a Lord run to in 1826? Why to sea, of course. Disguised as a boy, she signs on as a ship’s boy on the HMS Discerning. Adventure, the handsome Lieutenant Seamus Fitzwilliam and love await.
The Characters: Grace Baxter is not your usual 19th century young woman. Educated, outspoken, bold and adventurous, she is far from the compliant and dutiful daughter. Readers will be surprised as she struggles to keep her identity a secret on a ship full of men. Lt. Fitzwilliam is exactly what you’d imagine a British Naval Officer to be. Handsome, intelligent, honourable; he quickly develops a soft spot for Grace. They squabble and irritate each other but it is clear that each is smitten. The ship’s crew is full of interesting characters who round out book. You’ll so find yourself cheering them on.
The History: Author Lombard has done her research, the narrative rings true with the sights and sounds of London, the docks and life aboard a sailing ship. I enjoyed the nautical setting and the descriptions of sailing round Cape Horn and the mapping of the coast of Tierra del Fuego.
The Writing: Well written and well edited this book zips along at a steady pace. Grace and Seamus keep us turning the page as the story escalates in action and suspense.
Overall: I enjoyed this seagoing story. The history is fun and the characters engaging. I look forward to more adventures with Grace and Seamus. I'd like to thank author, Emma Lombard for allowing me to read her wonderful book.
The Characters: Grace Baxter is not your usual 19th century young woman. Educated, outspoken, bold and adventurous, she is far from the compliant and dutiful daughter. Readers will be surprised as she struggles to keep her identity a secret on a ship full of men. Lt. Fitzwilliam is exactly what you’d imagine a British Naval Officer to be. Handsome, intelligent, honourable; he quickly develops a soft spot for Grace. They squabble and irritate each other but it is clear that each is smitten. The ship’s crew is full of interesting characters who round out book. You’ll so find yourself cheering them on.
The History: Author Lombard has done her research, the narrative rings true with the sights and sounds of London, the docks and life aboard a sailing ship. I enjoyed the nautical setting and the descriptions of sailing round Cape Horn and the mapping of the coast of Tierra del Fuego.
The Writing: Well written and well edited this book zips along at a steady pace. Grace and Seamus keep us turning the page as the story escalates in action and suspense.
Overall: I enjoyed this seagoing story. The history is fun and the characters engaging. I look forward to more adventures with Grace and Seamus. I'd like to thank author, Emma Lombard for allowing me to read her wonderful book.
March 13, 2021
I love this book so much! Ms Lombard’s words paint such clear pictures of the characters that they quickly endear themselves to you like old friends, except for a few villains that you will soon love to hate - especially Lord Silverton, who is so vividly described as to be impossible to not be repulsed.
I thoroughly enjoyed being swept up in Grace’s adventure as a co conspirator, keeping secrets and taking sides. With just the right mixture of adventure, action, and a sprinkle of romance I have genuinely laughed out loud at times, and then been so sad at other parts that I needed to make a cup of tea before continuing.
I heartily recommend this book to anyone who enjoys leaving reality behind them for a while to be immersed in another time and place; and am eagerly waiting to find out what happens next.
I thoroughly enjoyed being swept up in Grace’s adventure as a co conspirator, keeping secrets and taking sides. With just the right mixture of adventure, action, and a sprinkle of romance I have genuinely laughed out loud at times, and then been so sad at other parts that I needed to make a cup of tea before continuing.
I heartily recommend this book to anyone who enjoys leaving reality behind them for a while to be immersed in another time and place; and am eagerly waiting to find out what happens next.
August 26, 2021
I had the audiobook version of this book and it was a fantastic book to listen too! If you are a fan of historical fiction then I would definitely recommend giving this one a go!
This book is brilliantly written, the author transports you too the 19th century , Grace Baxter is a fantastic character to get too know , I honestly can't wait to know more about her ! She takes us on a fantastic adventure , I won't say too much about the plot because I don't want to ruin it !
The audiobook version was brilliant ,I don't listen to many of them but I really enjoyed this one! The only warning I would give is that the is an attempted assault so please bear in mind before starting this book !
This is the first book in the White Sails Series and I cannot wait to read more !
This book is brilliantly written, the author transports you too the 19th century , Grace Baxter is a fantastic character to get too know , I honestly can't wait to know more about her ! She takes us on a fantastic adventure , I won't say too much about the plot because I don't want to ruin it !
The audiobook version was brilliant ,I don't listen to many of them but I really enjoyed this one! The only warning I would give is that the is an attempted assault so please bear in mind before starting this book !
This is the first book in the White Sails Series and I cannot wait to read more !
March 11, 2021
As a fan of historical fiction, I was delighted to find this book transported me to a period of time I relish reading about but am thrilled to not have to live in. I loved the spunkiness of the main character, Grace; definitely not a shrinking violet. She manages to get into all sorts of scrapes but has the resolve to deal with them. To add to Grace’s adventures is a dishy lieutenant, Seamus. Of course, what is a good book without a character everyone loves to hate? Silverton’s vileness seeped through the pages to the point I wanted to climb into the book and sort him out myself. The story made me laugh, cry, cringe and giggle. I can’t wait to read the next instalment.
March 10, 2021
What a read! Talented author, Emma Lombard has brought us a wonderful historical and romantic fiction in her debut novel, Discerning Grace, reminiscent of the style of Poldark or Outlander. The main characters, Grace and Seamus are spectacularly written and developed, and the myriad of secondary characters lend depth and interest to the storyline. I laughed and cried as I journeyed with them on this fast-moving adventure across the seas!
A well-researched historical fiction novel I would highly recommend to fans of the genre – I can’t wait for the next instalment, Grace on the Horizon.
A well-researched historical fiction novel I would highly recommend to fans of the genre – I can’t wait for the next instalment, Grace on the Horizon.
February 18, 2024
Had this audiobook on in the background whilst I spent the day sewing. A plucky heroine (Grace) runs away to escape marriage to a horrible man who issues a reward for her recapture. She dresses as a man and stows away on a ship bound for South America. She’s saved (temporarily) by a handsome hero (Seamus) who is neither arrogant nor swaggering.
Totally implausible in places, but cleverly narrated by an English woman (Siobhan Waring) who does all the accents. First in a series and I’ll definitely look for more. The perfect accompaniment to a lazy day!
Totally implausible in places, but cleverly narrated by an English woman (Siobhan Waring) who does all the accents. First in a series and I’ll definitely look for more. The perfect accompaniment to a lazy day!
July 7, 2021
This novel, the first in a series, takes the reader across the high seas, and I have to say straight away that the descriptions of life aboard one of His Majesty's ships in the 1820s is vividly and, I assume, accurately portrayed. Readers who love a romance will enjoy being swept away to uncharted lands and being swept off their feet by the slow-burn of Grace's and Seamus' will-they-won't they, can-they-can't-they relationship.
Ms Lombard has a real talent for writing dialogue which flows naturally, feels realistic, and ensures that each character can be easily distinguished by their speech patterns. She also has a knack for describing physical movement, so that we know exactly how the characters are interacting with each other and we can really see them moving around the scenery.
The plotting is tight, and clever. A few times I found myself thinking 'but surely' or 'what about' only to have it almost immediately explained. Just one example: I thought that the men would surely not like having a woman on board, as they are supposed to be bad luck, and on the very next page, that issue was addressed and set up beautifully for the animosity which was to come. I made a note about the opening scenes which didn't ring quite true for me, and was ready to highlight this in my review, but then it was all cleverly explained, and everything slotted into place. I don't think there was a single plot thread that hadn't been neatly tied up by the end. I got cross with Grace when, almost out of character, she left the ship, with dire consequences, but again, her remorse was real and she learned her lessons.
At one point a sailor uses an expression which only came into being in the 20th century, and there were a few out-of-place words: French doors instead of windows, audaciousness instead of audacity, and loathed instead of loth, loath or even loathe: "He was loathed to do it", for instance, along with "gob-smacked" which really jarred. (I was amazed to discover, when I looked it up, that it dates from the 1930s - I thought it was much more modern!) But the book is otherwise excellently edited and researched. I felt the scenes aboard the ship were perhaps stronger than those on land but ultimately this is an adventure on the high seas and most of the action takes place there and the book is unusual, I think, for being set on board a ship in this era. Readers will be pleased to know that there are more books planned and, presumably more challenges ahead for Grace.
Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds
Ms Lombard has a real talent for writing dialogue which flows naturally, feels realistic, and ensures that each character can be easily distinguished by their speech patterns. She also has a knack for describing physical movement, so that we know exactly how the characters are interacting with each other and we can really see them moving around the scenery.
The plotting is tight, and clever. A few times I found myself thinking 'but surely' or 'what about' only to have it almost immediately explained. Just one example: I thought that the men would surely not like having a woman on board, as they are supposed to be bad luck, and on the very next page, that issue was addressed and set up beautifully for the animosity which was to come. I made a note about the opening scenes which didn't ring quite true for me, and was ready to highlight this in my review, but then it was all cleverly explained, and everything slotted into place. I don't think there was a single plot thread that hadn't been neatly tied up by the end. I got cross with Grace when, almost out of character, she left the ship, with dire consequences, but again, her remorse was real and she learned her lessons.
At one point a sailor uses an expression which only came into being in the 20th century, and there were a few out-of-place words: French doors instead of windows, audaciousness instead of audacity, and loathed instead of loth, loath or even loathe: "He was loathed to do it", for instance, along with "gob-smacked" which really jarred. (I was amazed to discover, when I looked it up, that it dates from the 1930s - I thought it was much more modern!) But the book is otherwise excellently edited and researched. I felt the scenes aboard the ship were perhaps stronger than those on land but ultimately this is an adventure on the high seas and most of the action takes place there and the book is unusual, I think, for being set on board a ship in this era. Readers will be pleased to know that there are more books planned and, presumably more challenges ahead for Grace.
Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds
February 4, 2022
Great read....except
Was a great story line, my type of reading 📚, but I will never read another book by this author. There was deplorable language and the worst yet, took the Lord's name in vain. I cannot and will not recommend this book or author.
Was a great story line, my type of reading 📚, but I will never read another book by this author. There was deplorable language and the worst yet, took the Lord's name in vain. I cannot and will not recommend this book or author.
May 29, 2021
A charming read for those who are dipping their toes into the historical fiction genre or anyone who enjoys books centered around a pirate-esque theme and camaraderie of crew members.
Now just a few constructive criticisms that I hope won't be taken wrong, for that is not my intention.
I personally felt that the pace was quicker than I’m used to with historical fiction but this certainly is a personal preference.
The second thing I want to address is I would’ve loved to have had more time to get to know Grace, what her inner ambitions are, her interests, and so forth. The POV was very distant at times and in my honest opinion, took a bit away from really getting to know the characters more fully.
I do, however, sincerely wish Emma success with her first ever published novel.
Now just a few constructive criticisms that I hope won't be taken wrong, for that is not my intention.
I personally felt that the pace was quicker than I’m used to with historical fiction but this certainly is a personal preference.
The second thing I want to address is I would’ve loved to have had more time to get to know Grace, what her inner ambitions are, her interests, and so forth. The POV was very distant at times and in my honest opinion, took a bit away from really getting to know the characters more fully.
I do, however, sincerely wish Emma success with her first ever published novel.
August 24, 2021
After receiving a complimentary copy from the author via Voracious Readers, I settled down to read this book. I enjoyed the beginning of it, but I don't think this book is for me.
May 3, 2021
This was a novel that I was really looking forward to reading because the blurb really intrigued me. I am glad to report that this novel certainly did not disappoint. Discerning Grace is about a young woman who is so desperate to flee from an arranged marriage to a truly deplorable older man, that she cuts her hair and jumps ship - or jumps onto a ship to be more precise! Disguised as a boy, Grace must do everything she can to ensure that her secret is never found out, because if it is discovered that she is a young woman and not a fifteen-year-old boy, there would be hell to pay, for everyone knows it is bad luck to have a woman on board!
I thought the author portrayed what life was like as a sailor during this era wonderfully. Being a sailor was a dangerous job and therefore demanded every ounce of concentration, not to mention the willingness to rub along with everyone else—how else would everything run shipshape and Bristol fashion?! Life on board the HMS Discerning really did open Grace’s eyes to a life that she could never have imagined. There is a hierarchy to the ship, and she is at the very bottom, which is something she surprisingly takes in her stride. However, Grace, who now goes by the name of Billy, is incredibly feminine (unsurprisingly) and it surprised me how Grace disguised the truth of her sex from the crew for as long as she did.
This novel isn’t so much a romance, as one might think, but it is more about a woman who is desperate to flee from a man who mentally physically and sexually assaults her, so there are some scenes in this novel which some readers may find very upsetting. And despite there being a true-love tender romance in this novel, this story is really about how Grace saves herself.
I thought this novel was very compelling read, and the author did a remarkable job bringing this era to life. Bring on book 2!
*I received a copy of this book from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
I thought the author portrayed what life was like as a sailor during this era wonderfully. Being a sailor was a dangerous job and therefore demanded every ounce of concentration, not to mention the willingness to rub along with everyone else—how else would everything run shipshape and Bristol fashion?! Life on board the HMS Discerning really did open Grace’s eyes to a life that she could never have imagined. There is a hierarchy to the ship, and she is at the very bottom, which is something she surprisingly takes in her stride. However, Grace, who now goes by the name of Billy, is incredibly feminine (unsurprisingly) and it surprised me how Grace disguised the truth of her sex from the crew for as long as she did.
This novel isn’t so much a romance, as one might think, but it is more about a woman who is desperate to flee from a man who mentally physically and sexually assaults her, so there are some scenes in this novel which some readers may find very upsetting. And despite there being a true-love tender romance in this novel, this story is really about how Grace saves herself.
I thought this novel was very compelling read, and the author did a remarkable job bringing this era to life. Bring on book 2!
*I received a copy of this book from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
August 23, 2021
Wilful Grace Baxter, will not marry old Lord Silverton with his salivary incontinence and dead-mouse stink. Discovering she is a pawn in an arrangement between slobbery Silverton and her calculating father, Grace is devastated when Silverton reveals his true callous nature.
Refusing this fate, Grace resolves to stow away. Heading to the docks, disguised as a lad to ease her escape, she encounters smooth-talking naval recruiter, Gilly, who lures her aboard HMS Discerning with promises of freedom and exploration in South America.
When Grace's big mouth lands her bare-bottomed over a cannon for insubordination, her identity is exposed. The captain wants her back in London but his orders, to chart the icy archipelago of Tierra del Fuego, forbid it. Lieutenant Seamus Fitzwilliam gallantly offers to take Grace off the fretting captain's hands by placing her under his protection.
Grace must now win over the crew she betrayed with her secret, while managing her feelings towards her taciturn protector, whose obstinate chivalry stifles her new-found independence. But when Grace disregards Lieutenant Fitzwilliam's warnings about the dangers of the unexplored archipelago, it costs a friend his life and she realises she is not as free as she believes.
Emma Lombard’s debut novel, and the first in her White Sails’ series, moves at a fast pace and covers a lot of ground.
Her research into life aboard a naval ship and into the exotic countries where Grace finds herself, is meticulous.
There’s quite a cast of characters, and each of them is a real person, with backgrounds which we learn about as we go along, and with motivations and ambitions. This is particularly true of the handsome but imperfect Lieutenant Seamus Fitzwilliams, whose ship Grace has joined. We get to see the Lieutenant in two very different guises – one as the ship’s senior officer having to deal with all the problems of an ailing Captain and an unwanted passenger, and the other as a man falling in love with an obstinate young woman.
While the book wraps up nicely, there are background strands which I hope/expect Lombard explores in the next books in the series.
Discerning Grace is a book for lovers of adventure and danger on the high seas, of complex, interesting characters, and romance which isn’t all flutters and butterflies.
Refusing this fate, Grace resolves to stow away. Heading to the docks, disguised as a lad to ease her escape, she encounters smooth-talking naval recruiter, Gilly, who lures her aboard HMS Discerning with promises of freedom and exploration in South America.
When Grace's big mouth lands her bare-bottomed over a cannon for insubordination, her identity is exposed. The captain wants her back in London but his orders, to chart the icy archipelago of Tierra del Fuego, forbid it. Lieutenant Seamus Fitzwilliam gallantly offers to take Grace off the fretting captain's hands by placing her under his protection.
Grace must now win over the crew she betrayed with her secret, while managing her feelings towards her taciturn protector, whose obstinate chivalry stifles her new-found independence. But when Grace disregards Lieutenant Fitzwilliam's warnings about the dangers of the unexplored archipelago, it costs a friend his life and she realises she is not as free as she believes.
Emma Lombard’s debut novel, and the first in her White Sails’ series, moves at a fast pace and covers a lot of ground.
Her research into life aboard a naval ship and into the exotic countries where Grace finds herself, is meticulous.
There’s quite a cast of characters, and each of them is a real person, with backgrounds which we learn about as we go along, and with motivations and ambitions. This is particularly true of the handsome but imperfect Lieutenant Seamus Fitzwilliams, whose ship Grace has joined. We get to see the Lieutenant in two very different guises – one as the ship’s senior officer having to deal with all the problems of an ailing Captain and an unwanted passenger, and the other as a man falling in love with an obstinate young woman.
While the book wraps up nicely, there are background strands which I hope/expect Lombard explores in the next books in the series.
Discerning Grace is a book for lovers of adventure and danger on the high seas, of complex, interesting characters, and romance which isn’t all flutters and butterflies.
March 27, 2021
“Come now, m’lad. ’Tis an honest living with a fair wage.”
How quickly one’s future could change. Was it only a few hours ago that Grace Baxter and Lieutenant Seamus Fitzwilliam had spent a quiet moment on a bench underneath the boughs of a chestnut tree in her father’s garden discussing literature? Now she was contemplating running away to sea. But what other option was there? Grace’s father had agreed to a betrothal between herself and the lecherous Lord Silverton. Lord Silverton had already shown his true colours. Grace was determined he would never get another chance to abuse her again. But she had no money, and nowhere to go. The only way out, or so it seemed to Grace, was to disguise herself as a boy, abandon ship and climb into another—a real one this time, HMS Discerning.
How naive Grace had been. Even though her uncle was the esteemed Admiral Arthur Jameson Baxter, hearing about his adventures on the high sea and being part of the crew, Grace soon realised were two profoundly different things altogether. The sailors on board the Discerning were rough, and when provoked, they could be dangerous adversaries. Grace would do well to keep her head down and get on with the day’s work. But how long can she keep up the pretence? And what would happen when Lieutenant Seamus Fitzwilliam discovered that Admiral Arthur Jameson Baxter's beloved niece had become part of the crew?
Discerning Grace (The White Sails) by Emma Lombard is an immensely readable book that is written with an elegant hand and an understanding of what makes history worth reading.
This novel opens at a relatively sedate dinner party, and there is nothing noteworthy or out of the ordinary about it. But by the end of the evening, the protagonist of this novel is compelled to flee from her home and her parents. She knows only what she is fleeing from and has no notion of where she is fleeing too; she is, pardon the pun, all at sea, adrift in a dangerous and strange world with no money and nowhere to go. When all hope seems lost, she chances upon a meeting with Gilly, and Grace realises that when caught between the Devil and the deep blue sea, the sea is probably the better choice to run towards! I really felt for Grace in those opening chapters. She found herself in an utterly deplorable situation, and having suffered such terrible abuse, and the promise of more, her power to think things through rationally is compromised. Her only thought was to escape. And although the obvious choice would have been to seek out her beloved uncle for help, instead, Grace runs to the only true friend she has, Billy. However, even with Billy, she does not feel safe, and this fear makes her incredibly reckless, not only with her own life but also with Billy’s. Her actions at the beginning of the book did fill me with a moment of dread, for I feared that young Billy would end up swinging from a rope, but I could also understand why Grace did what she did. She was utterly desperate. But her decisions that night change the course of her life forever.
Although Discerning Grace is, at the very heart of it, an adventure story, there is also a tender romance that somehow manages to compliment the dangers of the high seas, and a suitor’s revenge. It is also, in a sense, a coming of age story. By stepping back from what society expects from a young woman of her class, Grace discovers a sense of freedom that she never knew existed, and although a cabin boy’s life is not one she would have necessarily chosen for herself, it does give her time to reflect, as well as gain a certain sense of peace and accomplishment—not in her wildest of imaginations would she have thought she would be capable of climbing the rigging and using a musket like the best of them! But here she was. Grace dared to stir the waters, which started a chain of events that would end in a perfect storm—both literally and emotionally. I enjoyed watching Grace’s character develop as this story progressed. She is a feisty woman, who despite fleeing from her own abusive situation, is not cowed into calling out injustice that she witnesses to other people, despite what that might mean for her. It is only when her true identity is thus revealed that Grace reverts back, be it somewhat reluctantly, into the lady she was brought up to be. However, her independent nature, and her sometimes devil-may-care attitude is never far from the surface. Her time as a cabin boy does impact on her life and the way she sees things.
Lieutenant Seamus Fitzwilliam is the essence of a naval officer—he expects to be obeyed by those under him, but he is answerable to the ship's captain, and even though that captain is indisposed for most of this story, Seamus wields his authority with the utmost of care. His feelings towards Grace are at first one of duty, but the more time he spends with her, the more he begins to care. Grace and Seamus’ courtship was really beautiful to behold.
One of my favourite characters in this novel was Lambert “Gilly” McGilney. Gilly is a hardened sailor, but he is also a fair man, and although he is initially shocked when he discovers Grace’s true identity, he becomes not only her dearest friend but her most loyal defender. I thought Gilly was wonderfully portrayed. He was as rough as they come, but he was also compassionate and kind.
The historical detailing of this novel has to be commended. It is extremely obvious that Lombard has taken a great deal of time to research this era before she set pen to paper. Her depictions of life onboard a ship and her understanding of the society shone through in the crystalline prose.
Discerning Grace (The White Sails) by Emma Lombard is an engaging and utterly compelling novel. At times it reminded me of Jonathan E. Steinberg and Robert Levine’s Black Sails. I am looking forward to Book 2 of what promises to be a an extremely engaging series.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.
September 7, 2021
Firstly I’ve seen this book reviewed a lot as an audio tour so I was lucky enough to get the chance to read it.
Similar to a lot of series with this being the first, it was a really long one and it overwhelmed me. Always in a good way but it took me a bit of time to grow to the plot of the story. However saying that, as soon as I read more I grew really fond of Grace.
The story starts a bit like should marry won’t marry but father demands so but I say stuff it to society and I’ll become a boy and sail off in the the unknown of South America. Which was great. Now you can see why I’m so fond of Grace.
There was a lot of parts of this I laughed to but I’m not sure if the author meant for parts to be put across seriously or funnily. But in my mind I did have a few laugh out loud moments which is always great.
Additionally if you love a book where truth is revealed and who will be hurt by it and who won’t be. How can wrongs make a right. There’s so much depth and detail in this read. It’s a remarkable historical women’s read.
If you’ve not heard of it or read it I’d definitely give it a go. I can’t wait to read more by Emma.
Similar to a lot of series with this being the first, it was a really long one and it overwhelmed me. Always in a good way but it took me a bit of time to grow to the plot of the story. However saying that, as soon as I read more I grew really fond of Grace.
The story starts a bit like should marry won’t marry but father demands so but I say stuff it to society and I’ll become a boy and sail off in the the unknown of South America. Which was great. Now you can see why I’m so fond of Grace.
There was a lot of parts of this I laughed to but I’m not sure if the author meant for parts to be put across seriously or funnily. But in my mind I did have a few laugh out loud moments which is always great.
Additionally if you love a book where truth is revealed and who will be hurt by it and who won’t be. How can wrongs make a right. There’s so much depth and detail in this read. It’s a remarkable historical women’s read.
If you’ve not heard of it or read it I’d definitely give it a go. I can’t wait to read more by Emma.
September 13, 2021
This book is absolutely incredible! I have previously reviewed the book, so, this review will focus on the audiobook. I will link my other review below as well.
The narrator, Siobhan Waring, is absolutely amazing, fantastic, mesmerizing, and so incredibly talented. Everything she does, ranging from the different voices and accents she uses, to her intonations, pacing, and energy, etc., truly made the words spring right off of the page. I think she is the perfect narrator for this story, and I loved the inclusion of music as well. I could really differentiate between the characters, and I hope Ms. Waring continues to narrate this amazing series!
BOOK REVIEW!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thank you so much to the author, Emma Lombard, for the review copy of this audiobook! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The narrator, Siobhan Waring, is absolutely amazing, fantastic, mesmerizing, and so incredibly talented. Everything she does, ranging from the different voices and accents she uses, to her intonations, pacing, and energy, etc., truly made the words spring right off of the page. I think she is the perfect narrator for this story, and I loved the inclusion of music as well. I could really differentiate between the characters, and I hope Ms. Waring continues to narrate this amazing series!
BOOK REVIEW!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thank you so much to the author, Emma Lombard, for the review copy of this audiobook! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
August 10, 2021
This novel is a fun take on the uptight regency romances told by other historical authors. Not that I dislike the average regency stories it just gets difficult to inject a little fun into a time period when women were property and their choices in the stronger sex were not of their choosing..
But Grace has other plans and does just fine for herself till her identity is exposed and along comes her new protector, Seamus.
This is a wonderful refreshing novel for this historical period and Grace is a great role model even to those of us today set in our ways.
I will be looking forward to book two and any other novels by the author, Emma Lombard, as she tells a fast-paced yet informed novel with great characters,
But Grace has other plans and does just fine for herself till her identity is exposed and along comes her new protector, Seamus.
This is a wonderful refreshing novel for this historical period and Grace is a great role model even to those of us today set in our ways.
I will be looking forward to book two and any other novels by the author, Emma Lombard, as she tells a fast-paced yet informed novel with great characters,
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