Book Review: "The Colonel's Lady" by Laura Frantz

Summary from Christianbook.com: In 1779, when genteel Virginia spinster Roxanna Rowan arrives at the Kentucky fort commanded by Colonel Cassius McLinn, she finds that her officer father has died. Penniless and destitute, Roxanna is forced to take her father's place as scrivener. Before long, it's clear that the colonel himself is attracted to her. But she soon realizes the colonel has grave secrets of his own--some of which have to do with her father's sudden death. Can she ever truly love him?

This story takes place during a time when Kentucky didn't end with a y and relationships between the British and Americans equal war. For Roxanna and Cassius, they find themselves being put together in a unique situation because of the circumstances surrounding them. After losing her father, she becomes the colonel's scrivener, a position not normally held by a woman. The two find themselves attracted to each other but secrets come out revealing that there is going to be a long and bumpy road ahead for the both of them.

I hate saying this but I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did Frantz's other books. I'm not really sure what it was but the storyline and characters just didn't really click with me. It actually took me quite a while to read the book, mainly because I just couldn't get into the story. I think my biggest flaw was probably Roxanna's character. I understand her grief and sadness over the death of her father, as well as her insecurities over her disability. However, her constant jumping to conclusions and assumptions drove me up a wall. Also one more small qualm, but at the end of the book, a male character says to a female character that he looks forward to having at least 12 children. Statements like this in romance novels drive me crazy because it makes it sound like the woman is going to be barefoot and pregnant the rest of her life.

This is a good story. I enjoyed Frantz mixing historical fact with her fiction. It's written well and in the right mood, I think most readers will enjoy it. I just haven't been feeling the romance stuff lately so that might have soured my point of view. Either way, I'm still looking forward to when her next book comes out. Also just wanted to mention that I really like this cover.

The Colonel's Lady by Laura Frantz is published by Revell (2011)

This review copy was provided by the publisher