The Captain's Daughter

Rosalyn Bernay and her young sisters grew up in an orphanage after their mother died and their father was lost at sea.  Leaving the orphanage at age 17 to strike out on her own, Rosalyn is fortunate to be the companion of a young widow until that young widow chooses to remarry a man who will destroy Rosalyn's reputation to protect his own.  Fleeing from the situation, Rosalyn finds herself in London, innocent, penniless, and taken in by several members of the theater district. 

I really enjoyed The Captain's Daughter by Jennifer Delamere.  While London wasn't in Rosalyn's plans, the author does a beautiful job of reminding the reader that God is working out all things for our good even when it seems as if nothing is going our way.  I was a bit frustrated by how vulnerable and ignorant of the city life Rosalyn seemed to be in the very beginning but circumstances allowed her to wise up very quickly and I appreciated that the author didn't permit her ignorance to ruin her life.  She simply used the experience of being penniless and alone to demonstrate how we all need to rely on one another and be discerning.  I think part of the appeal of this story for me is that it is a sweet and innocent one and I think I needed that right now.  Very little was said about Rosalyn's father even though the beginning of the book eluded to the fact that he may still be alive.  Perhaps that is something the author may choose to reveal in the other sister's stories in future installments of the London Beginnings series?

Surprisingly, the story also allowed us a glimpse into the history of Gilbert and Sullivan.  Loving both theater and historical fiction, I enjoyed this historical "bonus".   I do hope the author continues Rosalyn's story in the rest of the series even in a behind the scenes kind of way.  Overall, the book is an easy, simple read, not necessarily one that will keep you turning pages into the night, but a story I thoroughly enjoyed and will look forward to sequels.

I did receive this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and am in no way obligated to write a positive one.  The views stated here are my own.