The Captain's Woman [Mass Market Paperback]

Victoria obtains the chance to attain her other goal by covering the Spanish-American War when she joins the newly formed Army corps of nurses. Like her journalist peers, Victoria reports the war from the front and gains quite a reputation throughout her community. Sam sees Victoria in a different light, as he now loves the woman he previously thought was a kid. However, while he remains in the post war Cuba, the deadliest adventures of Victoria are just beginning.

Merline Lovelace provides readers with an intriguing military historical romance that is headlined by a delightful lead couple complemented by real persona who make 1898 come alive. The plot look at a key moment in American history that encompasses the global implications of war and victory with Spain, the impact of the media on the international scene, and the beginning of the formal role of women in the military. Fans of vividly descriptive novels will want to read THE CAPTAIN'S WOMAN and Ms. Lovelace's two previous military historical romances (see THE HORSE SOLDIER and the COLONEL'S DAUGHTER) while wondering if All's Quiet on the Western Front is next.

Harriet Klausner

Before they can marry, the Spanish American war takes Sam away to Florida to join Teddy Roosevelt, but Victoria follows to report on the war, achieving her second dream, to be a serious writer. However, once there, she is plunged amidst the ugly reality of war, disease, and death, and even worse, must face her rival once more in a contest for the man she loves.

* Ms. Lovelace brings this little written about time to vivid life, intermingling true events and real people skillfully with her own vibrant characters and realistic plot. Fans of sheer history will find this a winning book, as well as romance lovers. Victoria is an ideal representative of the time of women beginning to become more independent, while Sam is an honorable and dignified hero, whose calm exterior conceals a seethingly passionate hunk. *

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore

Sounds like a typical romance doesn't it - well, that's when things start happening in fast mode. Sam took leave from the army due to his father's health & family needs. But the desire to serve is still there and grows stronger until one day war breaks out in Cuba (the Spanish/American War) and Sam finds himself an officer of Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders, in Tampa, FL to be dispatched to Cuba. This is where Sam takes for granted that Victoria will sit back in Cheyenne, WY planning their wedding while awaiting Sam's return. Boy, is he surprised when she shows up as a war reporter along way from home. He is furious and decides to change their relationship to make Victoria realize she is now responsible to him (and can't just have her way with her parents every time she wants to do something). Before he can put her on a train back home the riders are ordered to leave for Cuba. Victoria is head strong but actually plans on going back to Cheyenne as told to be Sam until the excitment of war gets in her blood along with seeing Mary P. and learning that she is going on to Cuba as a nurse. Victoria finds herself on a boat sailing to Cuba as well. What better way than to get the news first hand. She experiences war first hand alright! - wounded soldiers, disease, death, the unknown of where and how Sam is. And then there's Mary and the feelings Sam has for her keeps showing up.

Well, Victoria once a fiesty, young, foolish girl grows up in a hurry into a mature, respected, and loved woman. She leaves home her writing confined to the society page and the captain's heart belonging to another to return as a respected war-correspondent journalist with the captain's heart in her hands. But it wasn't easy - she had to work for it ALL!

It's a good book to be enjoyed- there's history for the history romance reader, too. The only criticism I would have is that I wish there had been more to Sam and Victoria's romance. Don't get me wrong. What was there was GOOD. I would just have liked more. And I did get frustrated with Sam turning to Mary- my heart felt went to Victoria when she experienced disappointment. Of course that was the purpose. And the ending is great! Definitely a good read!