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The Colonel's Lady

4.15 of 5 stars 4.15 · rating details · 950 ratings · 160 reviews

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 hi...more

Paperback, 406 pages

Published August 1st 2011 by Fleming H. Revell Company (first published 2011)

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Jul 21, 2011 Amanda rated it 5 of 5 stars

BEAUTIFUL book!!! Wish there were more stars to give!!!
Review to come soon :)

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Jul 17, 2011 Renee rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-christian-fiction

Nobody writes frontier romance like Laura Frantz! The Colonel's Lady is yet another example of Christian fiction at it's finest. This book is not simply a historical romance but a story of loss, hope, and the resilience of the human spirit. The beautiful and dangerous Kentucke territory has never been more alive to me and characters have never spoken to me more in any Christian book I've read. From the first shocking accident of an on edge militia to the tender ministrations and care of a lover...more

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Aug 17, 2011 Katie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Once again, Laura Frantz has brought the breathtakingly foreboding land of 1779 Kentucky into vivid life. Don’t let this cover fool you—inside is filled with a realistic view of frontier life during the war. The Colonel’s Lady is an intense story of two people caught up in not only a war against a nation, but also a war against their hearts.

At the opening of the book we meet Roxanna Rowan who, after months of traveling to the isolated Kentucky fort to surprise her father, is heartbroken to learn...more

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Dec 31, 2011 Gwen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: top-favorites

"The Colonel's Lady" is, without a doubt, the best book I've read all year. Laura Frantz is an exceptional author.

The plot gripped me from the beginning, and the author lost no time revealing the book's theme of love, forgiveness, and war-time intrigue. Colonel McLinn has accidentally shot his scrivener while on campaign in the Kentucke wilderness during the American Revolution. His scrivener's dying request is for McLinn to take care of his only daughter, Roxie. Imagine McLinn's surprise and he...more "The Colonel's Lady" is, without a doubt, the best book I've read all year. Laura Frantz is an exceptional author.

The plot gripped me from the beginning, and the author lost no time revealing the book's theme of love, forgiveness, and war-time intrigue. Colonel McLinn has accidentally shot his scrivener while on campaign in the Kentucke wilderness during the American Revolution. His scrivener's dying request is for McLinn to take care of his only daughter, Roxie. Imagine McLinn's surprise and heartache when he returns to his post at Fort Endeavour and finds Roxie there -- penniless, destitute and teetering on the edge of spinsterhood despite her beauty. Her father was her only hope of a future. What will happen to her now?

The characters came alive, causing me to care about what happened to them. Even the main character, Roxie, had a refreshing personality! I have read so many books spotlighting "cookie-cutter" heroines, where the writing focuses on her reactions to the hero and her circumstances, leaving her uniqueness as an individual in shadows. Roxie is anything but "cookie-cutter", and by the time I turned the last page, I felt as if I knew her personally. And the hero, McLinn! He's more than the gruff but gentlemanly soldier. He's haunted by his secrets, and an evil twin brother. What I loved about him (besides his Irish heritage and good looks) is that even in the face of rejection, he allows himself to be vulnerable.

The pace was a bit slower that what I usually like, but never once did the story lose my attention, demonstrating the author's skill. The day-in and day-out aspects of the story made it more real and life-like. I was transported to the Kentucke territory during the time of the American Revolution, and I learned so much about how they lived. What they ate. What they did to pass the time in a lonely wilderness fort hemmed in by the danger of war.

I was blown away by the beauty of Frantz's writing voice, and her eye-opening descriptions. How many times have I read a book and lost track of what the scene looked like during fast-paced action or dialogue? Never happened in "The Colonel's Lady". Just as I began to lose the scene in my mind's eye, Frantz would bring it back in riveting clarity.

My favorite parts of the story were "Fort Smitty" and "The Cribbage Game". (That was for Laura and those who have read the book -- I'm not saying anything further. :-)

Five stars (if that wasn't already obvious). I'm a new fan of Laura Frantz, and will be collecting all of her books. She currently has two others out there: "The Frontiersman's Daughter" and "Courting Morrow Little", and she's currently working on a series entitled "The Ballantyne Legacy". I can't wait to read them! (less)

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Dec 10, 2012 Jamie rated it 5 of 5 stars

In October, I discovered a fall scavenger hunt (The Fall Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt). Y’all, best.idea.ever. It was a scavenger hunt through the web that involved 31 authors. Each one linked to the next author/blog, with a clue and introduction to another author. Not only did each blog have a giveaway, but the grand prize was a Kindle Fire and signed copies of 31 books. Not only was it fun, but I enjoyed “meeting” new authors and added about 3,000 books to my must read list. Thank the heav...more

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Oct 12, 2012 Rachel Mcelwey added it

I loved the way this book brought out so much history about Kentucky back during the war in the frontier.

I love how she tells this powerful story of love, faith and forgiveness. I also enjoy reading her struggles with accepting that this is where she was suppose to be, even without her father. She keeps running away from God and Cassius, but keeps ending up right back with them. The struggle that Cassius goes through is also interesting. He is given the duty by Roxanna’s father to take care of...more

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Aug 21, 2012 Yellow Rose rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a highly enjoyable Christian romance read. Like other commentators have already said and I will repeat it that the whole story was so beautifully written. The prose could not have been better. It is obvious the author took her time by writing this heartwarming little romance book. Therefore I highly recommend this story it literally takes you back to the time of the American Revolution. And you can learn a lot from the main characters especially Roxie, I found her to be a woman near perf...more This is a highly enjoyable Christian romance read. Like other commentators have already said and I will repeat it that the whole story was so beautifully written. The prose could not have been better. It is obvious the author took her time by writing this heartwarming little romance book. Therefore I highly recommend this story it literally takes you back to the time of the American Revolution. And you can learn a lot from the main characters especially Roxie, I found her to be a woman near perfection. A truly inspiring love story about forgiveness, faith, and love. And the romance was so cute although nothing sexual happened but the tension was exhilarating. And the love between the main characters ever so true. Definitely if you can get your hands on this beautiful story read it, this story will not disappoint you.

Our story starts out with Roxie who has lost everything and she has no one in her world to protect her, except for Colonel Cassius who had made a promise to her father to take care of her. So in a sense he becomes her guardian and in time he begins to fall in love with her. Which you cannot fault him with because our Roxie is a woman near perfection, although she did some silly things like not trust him and run off after him when he is preparing for battle. Overall she was gentle, beautiful,generous and feminine. Her ability to love and forgive is so great. Our hero himself was a great man he definitely cared what happens to her and loved her truly.

Due to her circumstances Roxie is forced to stay at the Fort under the protection of our hero. She begins working as a scrivener for the Colonel, which brings them even closer together. Their relationship develops at a slow pace however the love and attraction to each other is undeniable. One of the negative reviews for the book mentioned that Roxie was weak and kept crying all the time. Yes she was crying a lot, but for a woman in her situation out in a strange Fort with no close family. Of course the girl will cry, but I also though our heroine was a strong person as well eventually she persevered. That is why I thought she was almost perfect because she was strong yet she was genteel and feminine at the same time.

On top of just being stuck in different waters our Roxie encounters other drama in the Fort. Among them there is a spy, who wants to harm the Colonel and the American cause. (Hint you will not guess who the spy is). Also the drama with the loose women at the Fort. How Roxie helped the whore who had slept with a man she was not married too. I found that distasteful. Just my opinion these women made a bed for themselves I do not think it should have been Roxie's duty to help them. The ending is a happily ever after tale. Roxie gets all that she wanted she was married and she lived happily ever after with the Colonel and their beautiful family. A wonderful read you will not be disappointed.(less)

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Aug 05, 2012 Aimee rated it 5 of 5 stars

I've been a fan of Laura Frant's work, but this is her best novel yet! The plot is very unique and well developed. After her mother dies, Roxanna (Roxie) leaves her life of comfort to be with her dad, who works as a scrivener at a fort in the wild territory of Kentucke. When she arrives at the fort, she finds that her father has been killed. She has no choice but to take her father's position by working for the handsome Colonel Cassius (Cass) and save her wages until she can leave in the spring....more

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Oct 29, 2011 Carrie Pagels rated it 5 of 5 stars

Laura is my favorite Christian fiction writer. Her debut novel “The Frontiersman’s Daughter” deserves to be a classic. She puts out one fiction title a year and all her fans, myself included, wait with bated breath for our next delivery of a LFF book. And oh how I was rewarded this year because this book could have been written just for me (I wonder how many other readers feel just the same way!). Forgiveness is a huge theme in these first three books of hers, set in frontier Kentucky at the tra...more Laura is my favorite Christian fiction writer. Her debut novel “The Frontiersman’s Daughter” deserves to be a classic. She puts out one fiction title a year and all her fans, myself included, wait with bated breath for our next delivery of a LFF book. And oh how I was rewarded this year because this book could have been written just for me (I wonder how many other readers feel just the same way!). Forgiveness is a huge theme in these first three books of hers, set in frontier Kentucky at the transition between colonial and young America. I write in the same subgenre and have researched and read many of the same books as Laura and The Colonel’s Lady seems to me to be the closest to reality of the three books so far, which makes it that much more chilling in some ways and able to suck me right into her storyworld. For me to accept her Colonel McLinn as a hero, Laura had to write in a way that I could put aside my distaste for this imperfect man and his behavior. She had to make me see how her heroine could love him.
Roxanna, at almost nine and twenty, is a full grown woman and the oldest of Laura’s heroines thus far. She sees through a woman’s eyes and as someone who has experienced loss but can still reach out to love others, included a little girl who has lost her voice. This mute child, similar to the daughter in the movie “The Patriot” is believably continually mute for she experiences one horror after another.
Roxanna’s father was a scrivener for the colonel but she must take his place after he is killed. Laura does a nice job of incorporating her work into the storyline and of explaining what is involved without fussing over it (no easy feat).
While Christian readers who do not partake of alcohol may be surprised at finding this included in The Colonel’s Lady, this was a very real problem in Kentucky, especially, through the 19th century. I cannot address beyond that as I have not read, but quite likely given the history of turning to spirits for many reasons including difficulty at times with ensuring drinkable water. And imbibing is not glamorized nor sugar coated in this book. Similarly, Ms. Frantz introduces some of the more tragic ladies of the time, many of whom experience devastating outcomes for their immoral behavior. And while it is not “on the page”, some of the severe punishments given to soldiers are also mentioned. So, gentle reader be advised that this is not a “glossification” (my word) of the times nor does TCL whack you over the head with the gory details such as some recent Christian fictions I have read.
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Oct 27, 2011 Elise Wilson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Let me start by confessing that I'm a huge fan Laura Frantz, having now read all three of her books. Even so I am an objective reader, who can write an objective review. Having said that I will offer that Courting Morrow Little remains my favorite.

This book can be classified as historical inspirational romance. The Colonel's Lady is another of Frantz's stories set in Kentucky and her research, as usual, is on target and lends credence to the story. All of her books include the theme of forgivene...more

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Aug 24, 2011 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have a new favourite author and her name is Laura Frantz. The Colonel's Lady, her latest novel set in 1779 is in a word - breathtaking.

Roxanna Rowan is determined to visit her father who is a scrivener for Colonel Cassius McLinn. The only problem is his location - a remote fort in Kentucky. Unfortunately, once she arrives at the fort she discovers her father has been killed on a campaign. Penniless and having no where else to go, Roxanna is forced to remain at the fort. However, the longer she...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Ibjoy1953 rated it 5 of 5 stars

My Review

This is my first book by Laura Frantz, and though it took me a while to get into the book, it turned out to be a wonderful read. And I am looking forward to reading more books from this author.

Roxanna Rowan makes a dangerous journey from Virginia to the Kentucky frontier to suprise her father, serving under Colonel McLinn. Upon arriving, she sadly finds out that her dad died in battle not long before her arrival. Just before his death, her father ask the Colonel to take care of his daug...more

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Aug 18, 2011 April rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: inspirational-historical-romance

THE COLONEL'S LADY by Laura Frants is an exciting inspriational historical romance set in 1779 Kentucke Territory.This is an exciting and engaging story of an Irish American Colonel,Cassius McLinn and a genteel,brave Virginia woman,Roxanna ,whose father served under the Colonel. It has everything you would want in a historcial romance. It has romance,love,faith,deception,
secrets,intrigue,forgiveness,a spy,healing,danger,hardships,the Kentucky wilderness,Indian raids,and the tumultuous frontier o...more

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Aug 17, 2011 Victor Gentile rated it 5 of 5 stars

Laura Franz in her new book, "The Colonel's Lady" published by Revell takes us back to Kentucky in 1779.

Yes, it is true I like Westerns. When I was growing up most of the Television shows were Westerns and I enjoyed watching them and the stories that they told. The good guys were really good and the bad guys were really bad and the women were worth fighting for even if they weren't so good because everyone was redeemable except the really bad guys. In "The Colonel's Lady" Laura Franz has given u...more Laura Franz in her new book, "The Colonel's Lady" published by Revell takes us back to Kentucky in 1779.

Yes, it is true I like Westerns. When I was growing up most of the Television shows were Westerns and I enjoyed watching them and the stories that they told. The good guys were really good and the bad guys were really bad and the women were worth fighting for even if they weren't so good because everyone was redeemable except the really bad guys. In "The Colonel's Lady" Laura Franz has given us an old-fashioned Western that will really get the blood going.

Roxanna Rowan has left her home in Virginia to travel to a remote Kentucky fort, hoping to be reunited with her beloved father. When she arrives, Roxanna is devastated to find her father has been killed on a mission, she cannot leave for she is penniless and it is too dangerous to leave the fort. Roxanna is hired to take her father's place as Colonel Cassius McLinn's scrivener.

It wouldn't be a romance unless their was an interest between these two characters however there are secrets that threaten their romance. Outside the walls are hostile Indians and Redcoats and inside there is a spy and the forces seem to be against them except there is God.

Laura Frantz has written a truly intriguing story in "The Colonel's Lady" Ms. Franz has woven in History, Romance and grand Western adventure on the Kentucky Frontier all in one story. Get ready for a thrilling ride in Ms. Franz's best to date. I recommend this book highly.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

“Available August 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”(less)

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Aug 16, 2011 Linda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Laura Frantz’s book, The Colonel’s Lady, has to be one of the best historical fiction romance books, set in the 1779 frontier territories, I’ve ever read! The dangers surrounding Fort Endeavor, with the Indian raids, the British attacks, court-marshals, spies, campaigns, and food shortages are just the tip of the iceberg. The romantic tension between Roxanna Rowan and Colonel Cassius McLinn is palpable throughout all the whole book and is superbly written!

Being forced to remain at Fort Endeaver,...more

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Aug 16, 2011 Melanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, christian-historical-fiction, kentucky, 1700-s, frontier

The Colonel’s Lady
Laura Frantz
Published by Revell
Source: Review Copy

At the recent loss of her mother, Roxanna Rowan sets out into the 1779 frontier to Kentucky to surprise her father. She gets there to find he has been killed in the line of duty and she suddenly is a 29 year old orphan with nowhere to go. She settles into frontier life helping in the kitchen, despite her status. She becomes the scrivener for Colonel McLinn, taking over where her father had left off until spring allows her to mov...more

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Aug 14, 2011 Brenda Casto rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

All Roxanna Rowan has left is her father. After the death of her mother, and the betrayal of her fiance she decides to surprise her father and leaves her home in Va and travel to Fort Endeavor in Kentucky where her father is stationed. The surprise is on her though because when she gets to the fort she is devastated to learn that her father is dead, killed while on a mission for the fort. What will she do?
Colonel McClinn was known as ''the gentleman colonel" by many, but the Shawnee had another...more All Roxanna Rowan has left is her father. After the death of her mother, and the betrayal of her fiance she decides to surprise her father and leaves her home in Va and travel to Fort Endeavor in Kentucky where her father is stationed. The surprise is on her though because when she gets to the fort she is devastated to learn that her father is dead, killed while on a mission for the fort. What will she do?
Colonel McClinn was known as ''the gentleman colonel" by many, but the Shawnee had another name for him the Bluecoat town burner. While out on a mission he sends his scrivener Richard Rowan, someone whom he thought of as a father figure,out to look for an escaped enemy. When an accident occurs the colonel makes a promise to the dying Richard to take care of his daughter Roxie. When Roxanna replaces her father as the scrivener, she soon starts to have feelings for the colonel, but he holds a secret that could destroy their budding romance.
When I read the authors note at the beginning of the book revealing that the character of Colonel McClinn was loosely based on the real character of George Rogers Clark, I became totally excited to read it. I love a fictional story that is based on real people, its like getting a bit of a history lesson while reading.
This was one of those books I couldn't put down,it was like taking a trip back in time. From fort life to the dangers that surrounded the fort.From the beginning we see Roxanna as a strong person, someone who endeavors to travel from Va. to Kentucky, who was willing to put her reputation on the line to travel with four fallen women, who were looking for a better life at the fort. The unfolding love story between Roxanna and the colonel was amazing.
If your a fan of historical fiction where the story is inspired by a real hero, or just love romance with a bit of mystery woven in, that has a positive christian message woven in then you should certainly read this one. Not only is this book a keeper for me, but I also intend to read the book "Long Knife" which is the story of George Rogers Clark.
On a scale of one to five I would give this book a six because it's just that good!
Available August 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
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Aug 14, 2011 Jill Kemerer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, inspirational

Laura Frantz does it again! I loved The Colonel’s Lady. Ms. Frantz excels at building deep conflicts, layering plot twists, and simmering the romance to a roiling boil, all against an exciting 1780’s Kentucky backdrop. I did not want this book to end!

Mild-mannered, moral Roxanna bravely journeys from Virginia to Kentucky’s Fort Endeavor, where her father works as a scrivener for the American army. Charismatic, lapsed-faith Cass is the colonel in charge of the fort and is honor bound to protect R...more

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Aug 13, 2011 Maggie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have to admit that I was not thrilled with this book at first. I was struggling to get through the pages and kept putting it aside for other books. However, after about a quarter of the way in, I became hooked!

While this is touted as Christian fiction, I am not so sure about that. I have never read such tales of such thick sexual tension between two people in a Christian novel. Of course, I'm probably just totally misreading what the author meant to convey. The best way I can describe this is...more I have to admit that I was not thrilled with this book at first. I was struggling to get through the pages and kept putting it aside for other books. However, after about a quarter of the way in, I became hooked!

While this is touted as Christian fiction, I am not so sure about that. I have never read such tales of such thick sexual tension between two people in a Christian novel. Of course, I'm probably just totally misreading what the author meant to convey. The best way I can describe this is like Twilight - the tension is thick and you just keep urging the couple to kiss already! This tension is so well-crafted and described, I was on seat's edge the entire time. I really have to commend Frantz on this aspect of the novel.

While this is one of those books where you'll know exactly how it ends, it's still a very enjoyable read. There aren't many historical romance set in the 18th century in America so this was a nice new take on the genre. I was able to learn about more General Washington and the Revolutionary War. I also liked reading about the kinds of food the people of that time ate and what life was like in a military fort during that era.

Again, while this is billed as Christian fiction, I don't find the Christian aspect to be overwhelming at all. I think it is inserted skillfully and not annoying at all. It's refreshing to read a novel where the main characters aren't pawing at each. That being said, I did enjoy the interaction between the characters - the looks, the brief touches, the conversation. Let me put it this way - while my mom enjoys erotic novels, I think she probably would like this book a lot. It seems to bridge a number of genres and do it well.

As you can probably tell, I relished The Colonel's Lady. I will probably go back and hunt down Frantz's backlist so I can learn about American history while still having fun.

Thank you to Revell for supplying this book for review. This did not influence my opinion in any way. All thoughts are 100% my own. (less)

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Aug 11, 2011 Cindy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Laura Frantz once again reveals her expertise in sharing a story from the 18th century with such historical accuracy. Set in Kentucke, the story of beautiful Roxanne Rowan unfolds. Traveling from her home in Virginia after being cast aside by her fiance, her only thought is to get to her father at Fort Endeavor. His service in the military was nearing an end and she hoped to surprise him, by arriving unannounced. Instead she is devastated to find he is not there, but out on a winter campaign. Th...more

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Jul 27, 2011 Virginia Campbell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, suspense, mystery

I appreciate fine craftsmanship, and never more so than in the creation and presentation of the books that I read. The name Laura Frantz on the cover of a book guarantees exquisite wordsmithing, rich historical detail, and the subtly shaded story art of a gifted author. In "The Colonel's Lady", Ms. Frantz again opens wide the American Colonial Frontier, reminding us of the exciting and turbulent world of 1700's America. Colonel Cassius McLinn is the commander of a sparingly outfitted, rugged Ken...more

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Jul 21, 2011 Anita Huckleberry rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone

A fantastic, larger-than-life, bittersweet, beautifully written historical romance

Mrs. Frantz takes us, the reader, through an accurately portrayed voyage in the course of an important moment within our own history in The Colonel’s Lady. This is a story of love, sorrow, hope, and struggles of our brave men and women faced daily in the late 1700’s in Kentucky. This is Roxanna Rowan and Cass McLinn’s story. I don’t want to give too much of the story and plot away but….

Roxanna travels to Kentucky...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Crystal rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, read-aug-2011

Beautifully written, The Colonel's Lady is a mesmerizing tale of life in the harsh world of the Kentucky settlement during the Revolutionary War period in our country's history. It's a tale of love, of loss, of war, fighting, duplicity and forgiveness. So much is packed into this book and it is so hard to put down while reading it.

The Colonel's Lady is the tale of Roxanna (Roxie) and Colonel Cassius McLinn (Cass) and how they fall for each other despite the problems they face in the harsh elemen...more Beautifully written, The Colonel's Lady is a mesmerizing tale of life in the harsh world of the Kentucky settlement during the Revolutionary War period in our country's history. It's a tale of love, of loss, of war, fighting, duplicity and forgiveness. So much is packed into this book and it is so hard to put down while reading it.

The Colonel's Lady is the tale of Roxanna (Roxie) and Colonel Cassius McLinn (Cass) and how they fall for each other despite the problems they face in the harsh elements and the things that stand between them both literally and in their minds. It's also a tale of others in the fort and of the war itself as it is going on in the territory around the Ohio River. This was an area I was completely unfamiliar with during the Revolutionary War so I found the history element fascinating.

Roxie was a great character, she adapted easily. Even though life was hard, and hers was even harder with the loss of her father, she kept going and started cooking in the kitchen, started working in the garden and just did whatever was needed of her. She wasn't one to be lazy and wait for others to wait on her. She's also a strong women, she carried on despite the pain she had in her heart. Yet she was vulnerable to Cass' charms and she does fall for him. I liked her soft side too. I really thought she was a well-developed character and I liked watching her grow and change during the book.

Cass was also a great character. From the beginning of the book we learn about him from Bella and what we learn is he is stern and one does not cross him. He also is not one of many kind words. But as he is around Roxie more, he starts to change. Roxie is good for him and the whole fort too. I loved watching him evolve as a man. The change was wonderful even if Roxie couldn't fully see it. Being privy to it as the reader was really interesting. Ms. Frantz has a real way with character development that makes reading her books a real pleasure.

The plot pacing is wonderful, the characters are wonderful. All-in-all, The Colonel's Lady is a 5-star book all the way. I went in not knowing what to expect from this author. I came out knowing I will grab up the next book she writes no matter what time frame or genre, Ms. Frantz has a true gift for writing and it shows in The Colonel's Lady.(less)

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Feb 07, 2012 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars

When Roxanna Rowan flees to the wild frontier of Kentucky to be reunited with her father, she is shocked to find he has passed away. His dying wish was for Colonel Cassius McLinn to protect Roxanna. Offering Roxanna a job, Cassius is determined to keep her safe and to keep his secret safe from her. Will they find love or will the past come back to ruin their chance at happiness?

I had heard from several people what a great writer Laura Frantz is. I was told she brought history alive, and I found...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Ruth rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Fleeing the heartbreak of her mother's death and the shattered promises of a broken engagement, Roxanna Rowan is resigned to a life of spinsterhood. In a time of war she undertakes the dangerous journey west to join her father at Fort Endeavor in the Kentucke territory, where he serves as scrivener to the legendary commander Cassius McLinn. When she arrives at the fort, Roxanna's hopes for her future are dashed when she discovers that her father has been killed. Alone and penniless, surrounded b...more Fleeing the heartbreak of her mother's death and the shattered promises of a broken engagement, Roxanna Rowan is resigned to a life of spinsterhood. In a time of war she undertakes the dangerous journey west to join her father at Fort Endeavor in the Kentucke territory, where he serves as scrivener to the legendary commander Cassius McLinn. When she arrives at the fort, Roxanna's hopes for her future are dashed when she discovers that her father has been killed. Alone and penniless, surrounded by hostile forces, Roxanna finds herself completely at the mercy of the fort's commander, Colonel McLinn - a man as much renowned for his quick temper as his prowess in battle. Drawn to McLinn like a moth to flame, Roxanna's bruised heart melts under the colonel's unexpectedly kind attentions, and in spite of warnings about his reputation the Bluecoat commander, force of nature that he is, threatens to steal her heart. But the enigmatic colonel hides secrets of his own, secrets that if confessed threaten to destroy any hope of happiness that could bloom between the hardened soldier and the scrivener's beautiful daughter. With their lives threatened by enemies without and within, Roxanna and Cassius must decide if the hope of love can overcome the fear of taking that first step into the unknown wild, brimming with promise - if faith is worth the risk.

When Laura Frantz's sophomore effort Courting Morrow Little released, I thought she'd outdone herself, but I was wrong. The Colonel's Lady is one of those rare novels that's so good, it took my breath away. As was the case with her first two novels, Frantz's third is replete with her love for 18th-century history and her appreciation of the astonishing men and women who sought to carve lives for themselves from the Kentucky wilderness. But this novel has a little extra something that captivated me - a heart and a passion for the characters and their experiences that wove its way into my heart and kept me eagerly turning the pages, even as I dreaded reaching "the end" of Cassius and Roxie's journey. Frantz's trademark lyrical prose brings the Kentucky frontier to vibrant life, an intoxicating mix of beauty and danger that serves as a refining fire for the carefully-crafted characters that leap with vibrant life from the page, wrapping you up in their heartaches and triumphs.

And oh, what characters. The colonel of the title is loosely based on real-life legend George Rogers Clark and his heart-breaking life. With her own creation in McLinn, Frantz doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of an 18th-century soldier's life - from the tension, filth, and disciplinary issues to an over-reliance on alcohol due to polluted water, easily transitioning to crutch to dull the pain and loneliness of such a life. With his devastatingly handsome features and a mercurial charm reminiscent of Rochester in Jane Eyre, McLinn is a character whose struggles and passion will captivate your heart, as they do Roxie's. And Roxanna, every inch the lady, is a heroine with unbelievable reservoirs of inner strength and faith that do credit to the countless real-life women who braved the uncertainty of frontier and soldiering lives, risking life and limb to follow their menfolk into the wild of the untamed territory of the west. Whether or not this was the author's intent, on this one level The Colonel's Lady serves as a heartfelt tribute to the strength of those who've served, past and present, and the resilience of those who love them.

Part frontier story, part war story, and all romance, Frantz weaves a heady spell with passages of gorgeous prose, breath-taking suspense, and a heart-stopping romance that will capture your imagination and wend its way into your heart. Seriously, you can cut the romantic tension with a knife, people. These are characters who promise to stay with you long after finishing the novel's final pages. The Colonel's Lady is an exquisite triumph from start to finish, one I anticipate revisiting even while I eagerly look forward to where Laura Frantz will take her readers next. (less)

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Aug 16, 2011 Carly rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read Laura Frantz’s first book, The Frontiersman’s Daughter and it didn’t do much for me. Then I read her second book, Courting Morrow Little, and it was a better experience for me, but I have been wanting to really love one of Laura’s books. Well, she finally got me with The Colonel’s Lady! I absolutely loved this book. I don’t know what changed for me with this book. Perhaps I have grown as a reader or perhaps Laura has grown as a writer or a combination of the two. Whatever it is that happe...more

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Jan 23, 2012 Susan Snodgrass rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have read everyone of Laura Frantz's books and they are all absolutely wonderful! She does her research well and truly writes a historicla Christian fiction book like no other.
Her books are so well written that I felt as if I was on the Kentucky trail with Colonel McLinn and his party.
Roxanna Rowen comes to Virginia to be with her father, only to find him dead at the fort when she arrives. Owning nothing, no way to support herself, she falls on the mercy of the colonel of the fort.
I will give...more

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Mar 04, 2012 Holly rated it 1 of 5 stars

I ....... dont...... get it. The Colonel's lady looked to be so promising. The summary of this book promised Mystery and intrigue. Then i read the first page, and it was all down hill from there. From The get go the sentences and there structures were so confusing, there were times i had to read the same paragraph 4 or 5 times to understand who was talking or what was being talked about.
This was a tiresome read, i had to force myself to pick this up and continue on. I made it to page 165 which...more

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Jul 27, 2011 Kelli rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

Ok, I give this author gold stars for her obvious passion for Kentucky and for history. Her research is good. However, reading this, I cannot get into it as believability. I don't think Roxanna would just pick up and follow her father to his fort (and I think Frantz is sort of copying from The Last of the Mohicans with that one). Especially at the beginning of the book, the characters are stiff and very one dimensional. The conversations the two main characters have, are so convenient and formal...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Holly (2 Kids and Tired) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Anxious to be reunited with her soldier father, Roxanna arrives at a rugged frontier fort in Kentucky and is devastated to learn of his death. Having no where else to go, Roxanna stays at the fort, taking her father's job as scribe and working with Colonel McLinn. As she comes to know Cass, she begins to fall in love, but the path to true love isn't always smooth. Danger lurks not only outside the fort walls, but inside as well, as Roxie discovers evidence that a British spy is among them.

Laura...more

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About Laura Frantz

Christ-follower, history lover, wife, mom, author. Felt called to write since age 7 and have been writing ever since. My first love is 18th-century fiction, especially colonial history. I feel blessed beyond measure to write books. I hope you are doubly blessed reading them!

More about Laura Frantz...

Books by Laura Frantz

Love's Reckoning (The Ballantyne Legacy, #1)

Love's Awakening (The Ballantyne Legacy, #2)

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Quotes from The Colonel's Lady

“I've been thinking of something your father said - that the true measure of love is what one is willing to give up for it. He was talking about freedom - fighting for liberty. But I believe 'tis the same for love as war.” — 24 people liked it

“She could no longer remember what Ambrose looked like, or smelled like, or was like. All she knew was Cassius Clayton McLinn. All she wanted began and ended with him.” — 12 people liked it

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