Search - The Charm School (Calhoun, Bk 1)

Interesting story but a bit longwinded. Boston spinster Isadora is withdrawn, invisible & miserable in her life. In a pique of revolution, she signs on a ship bound to Rio as a translator, and her transformation from ugly duckling to beautiful swan is what the story is all about. The substory of slavery & redemption is a plus, but I found myself skipping through the book just to finish it.

A very likable heroine - an intelligent, well read, badly dressed woman, completely out of her element at home but blooming during the long sail to Rio. The hero, however, though handsome and charming, was harder to like. Ah, well - to err is human. And he is very human.

I enjoyed the details about sailing. The author did her research well and also fit it into the story in an interesting way.

This was just a good book. It made me smile to see the pirates on this ship in a different light. It's also always fun to read about a girl transforming herself into a better version of herself. I really enjoyed this book.