Customer Reviews

The Colonel's Daughter (Super Historical Romance)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I guess I should have read THE HORSE SOLDIER before THE COLONEL'S DAUGHTER but this story can stand on its own. My first Merline Lovelace book, and it was an enjoyable experience. I read this book in one day. Somewhat of a western-lite, but gritty enough to earn 4 stars from me. The heroine and hero actually get dirty in this one! A spunky heroine and a tough as nails hero. . .you know the formula. You either like 'em or you don't. I do. Good character development and ML makes you actually see the west with her descriptions. Maybe not a keeper but worth your time.

Two years at the Academy for Select Young Ladies may have stiffened her back, but failed to remove Suzanne Bonneaux's abilities to ride and shoot as good as a man. When she learns about the forced relocation of the Arapaho including her friend Bright Water, Suzanne ignores her mother's advice to wait for the return of her stepfather Colonel Garrett. Instead she rides the coach without escort from Cheyenne heading through the dangerous Wyoming and Dakota Territories to help Bright Water.

However, a notorious gang holds up the coach and only the appearance of legendary outlaw Black Jack Sloan saves Suzanne from a nasty fate. Jack takes Suzanne with him to keep her safe as he ventures across the Territories, but soon THE COLONEL'S DAUGHTER and the famous outlaw fall in love. However, he has a price on his head and a quest to avenge the murders of his family making the future together impossible.

This late nineteenth century western romance is a powerful look at the times through the varying perspectives of the lead couple and several support players. The story line is fast-paced while the cast feels genuine adding to a taste of the era. Known for her robust contemporary and historical military romances, Merline Lovelace provides western readers and Americana romance fans an appealing cross genre tale worth reading.

Harriet Klausner

This is the first of Ms. Lovelace's historicals that I've read and I'm looking forward to more. She does an excellent job in depicting the place and time so that the reader truly thinks she's there w/ the characters. Her research in the background is solid and along w/ a well-written, engaging love story, this is a hit.

I wasn't quite sure if I would like Major Andrew Garrett and his wife, Julia getting older.

1879 - Suzanne Bonneaux is 12 years older and ready for her own adventure in life - Being raised at the many military Forts that the Colonel and her mother have lived at has not tamed her down very much. With the Colonel training her in self defense she seems to think she can handle any situation.

We also learn that she has a 9 year old half-brother, Sam Garrett [the subject of the 3rd book]- now come on, she has only 1 half-sibling with her mother being as young as she was when she rejoined the Major? [I don't think that the conception rate was that bad in those days.]

Suzanne is very indignant with Black Jack Sloan, a notorious gunslinger [not an outlaw] when the stage is held up by Big Nose George Parrott and she get slung to the ground. She almost blew him away with her pearl handled Remington.

Mathias Butts, a large built farmer's son, decided to follow Suzanne and Jack Sloan four miles back to the way station.

The sparks start flying, the humor slowly becomes ingrained in the story and the most unlikely characters hang together.

Black Jack faces many tribulations as he reluctantly escorts Suzanne to Fort Meade in the Dakota Territory. Not the least is his developing lust for this prissy Miss.

The excitement develops more when Big Nose and his gang catches up with Jack and Suzanne. Is there really a hideout as described in the Badlands? - It truly makes you want to see the place.

Did I mention that Suzanne is desperate to catch up with her Native American girl friend, "Little Hen" now named "Bright Water". She wants her to train in medicine with Prendergast in the east.

The story gets better and better - especially a half-Chinese wedding with its customs, for Ying Li and her "all the same, no matter."

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED -m - this is a keeper trilogy. A wonderful frontier military story with great characters.

Suzanne is my kind of gal! She can ride and shoot like a man, while still retaining her finishing-school polish. I liked her for her absolute devotion to her friend, an Arapaho, and her commitment to that friendship. She meets her match in Black Jack Sloan, an outlaw out for revenge. Realistic battle action paired with heartwarming romance make this the perfect winter read.

Having read the horse soldier, which I enjoyed, I eagerly looked forward to this one. The characters of Jack Sloan and Suzanne Beannet were enjoyable. thier dialogue lively but the story itself was not. I kept reading, hoping it would get better, but it never did. Couldn't wait for it to end. Fortunately it did.
I especially disliked the Ling Yi character and saw no purpose in that whole ling yi-matt relationship. There are too many wonderful books to waste your time on this one. I read all of Harriet Klausner's reviews as they are very credible but I sure don't agree on this one.