I'm not a big fan of the Regency; not enamoured of the manners and the parties and the society. However, Miss Whittier Makes a List has been sitting on my shelf for, uh, eight (eek!) years now, and I figured it was finally time to give it a read.

I purchased the book because of its cover and the promise that it would take place aboard ship. I adore novels which feature pirates, ships, anything having to do with the sea. Miss Whittier Makes a List more than came through on that end--and every other end as well.

Hannah Whittier, a proper young Quaker, intends to travel from her home in Nantucket to that of her brother in Charleston. Her sister-in-law is expecting a child and Hannah wants to be there to help. Hannah loves being on the sea, but when a British man-of-war overtakes them and impresses several of the crew, Hannah isn't very sure the sea is the place for her.

The French attack her ship next, and leave her to sink. Hannah is fished from the sea by Captain Sir Daniel Spark, the very same captain who earlier took men from her ship. Hannah finds herself the only woman aboard his ship, and finds her place very easily. She's curious about ship life, enjoys cooking, and watching for attacking ships. She's happy about most everything, which perplexes Daniel. He is overbearing and quite arrogant, yet Hannah quietly breeches his every defense.

It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a romance this much. The characters are wholly real, as are their situations; minor characters are a delight, making me wish for sequel books featuring them. The atmosphere and settings are realistic--I never had to wonder where I was, for I always knew. Carla Kelly anchored me firmly and I could feel the gentle sea air in my own sails.

Kelly deals with difficult subjects carefully: Hannah and Daniel have opposite viewpoints on a good many things, including the way a married life between them would work. She wants a husband who is utterly devoted to her, and Daniel refuses to give up that which he is already utterly devoted to--the sea.