The Captain and Miss Winter

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The Captain and Miss Winter

by Sally Briton

Edition: kindle, 2019

Synopsis: A captain seeking to repair the past and the daughter of a fallen gentleman, searching for a treasure that will change their lives forever.

The end of the Napoleonic wars comes as a relief to Caspar Graysmark, but before he can settle into the comfortable life of an English lord he has a duty to the people of France. A treasure lies hidden in the heart of the forest, stolen gold that would save the lives of many who lost everything during the war. In his quest, Caspar stumbles across a hidden cottage in the woods, and a different sort of treasure altogether.

Scarlett, living with her sister and grandmother, belongs nowhere. Her father’s mistakes led to their exile from England and their banishment into the forest. The cold winter months have taken their toll on Scarlett’s spirits and her grandmother’s health. The Englishman who arrives at Scarlett’s door, looking more like a bear than a captain of the British army, reminds her of all she lost to the war.

With winter drawing to a close, Caspar must find the missing gold, but his quest to right the wrongs of war has changed. Can Scarlett let him rescue her, too?

The Captain and Miss Winter is based on the story of Snow White and Rose Red, as recorded by the Brothers Grimm.

Caspar Graysmark has set himself on a mission to recover a lost treasure to return it to the war ravaged residents of the French countryside. Scarlett Winter has lived in exile for many years, now with only her younger sister and her grandmother. A blustery cold day in winter brings these two together and love begins to blossom.

This was somewhere between a novella and full fledged novel. It was an enjoyable read for a cold afternoon. Both of our main characters were interesting. While Caspar was in France, his older brother died and now Caspar is the new earl. He is unsure about how he will take on his new responsibilities, but he is determined to do one last task in France.

Scarlett’s father had sympathy for France and so took his family to France. He soon came to regret supporting Napoleon and the family loses everything. Scarlett and her sister Blanche make the best of their reduced circumstances. When Caspar comes into their life, they give him what help they can.

I can’t remember reading the fairy tale this is a retelling of, so I can’t say what is a nod to the original story or not. Still, it is well written and the plot progresses at a nice pace.

For readers looking for an easy, sweet Regency romance, I would recommend this one.