Fifty Dates with Captain Cavedweller

by Shanna Hatfield

Waking up one day to discover they’d gone from perpetual honeymooners to a boring, predictable couple, author Shanna Hatfield and her beloved husband, Captain Cavedweller, set out on a yearlong adventure to add a little zing to their relationship. This G-rated journey through fifty of their dates provides an insightful, humorous look at the effort they made to infuse their marriage with laughter, love, and gratitude while reconnecting on a new, heartfelt level.

Genres: Romance, Nonfiction

114 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 5, 2014

About the author

A hopeless romantic with a bit of sarcasm thrown in for good measure, Shanna Hatfield is a best-selling author of clean romantic fiction written with a healthy dose of humor.

In addition to blogging and eating too much chocolate, she is completely smitten with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.

Shanna creates character-driven romances with realistic heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”

She is a member of Western Writers of America, Women Writing the West, and Romance Writers of America.

To learn more about Shanna or the books she writes, visit her blog http://shannahatfield.com
or find out news at her facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/shanna.hatfield

Reviews

[Glenda Kinard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I throughly loved the insightful look through a years worth of date nights with a very favorite author of mine and her husband. Needing a few ideas to maybe instill a little spark back into my own 31 year marriage I thought maybe I find something in between the pages of this delightful read. Well whether any ideas will actually work on my hubs I must say I did enjoy this book immensely and once again because it was written by Shanna Hatfield it was delightfully entertaining. Never read a book yet by this Wonderful Author I haven’t loved.

[Kelly Glenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the idea that the author wanted to spend more time with her husband and date him 50 times since they've been married for 20 years. I also love that she got more laughter and engagement out of their marriage.
For me, this book just seemed like a diary of their weekends. It was mostly about going to the movies, cooking dinner or going to a football game. Seems like just a regular weekend rather than a thoughtful date. A few times they were shopping separately on their dates.
I did something similar a few years ago for my husband for Christmas. I gave him the "12 Dates of Christmas" and I had planned and paid for 12 dates over the next year (one per month). I made a real effort to not do things we typically do. It was fun!

I was glad that I could read through this book in about 30 minutes. It was a bit too repetitive and lacking in imagination for me.

[Judy Esposito · Rating 5 out of 5]

True Life Story of Love and Romance.

I always enjoy Shanna Hatfields books and this one was a lot of fun to read. Shanna and Captain Cavedweller found what they were looking for when they started their fifty dates and I so enjoyed reading about their journey. Now I'm thinking it would be fun to do this with my sweetheart of thirty five years. Thank you for sharing and letting me know the dates do not have to expensive, just shared with love, caring and thoughtfulness.

[Tonya Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fifty Dates With Captain Cavedweller was spectacular!!!!
Shanna Hatfield is one amazingly talented story teller.
This book had me smiling, crying (laughter induced), and thinking about my amazingly wonderful husband and the adventures we have embarked on, these last 18 years.
Everyone needs to read this book, it’s truly inspiring, comical, and delivered with heartfelt compassion.
Enjoy each and every date, you will walk away with a new perspective on love and romance.

[Jerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reconnect Your Love


Shanna takes us through the year long journey of reconnecting the joy and love in her marriage with her Captain Cavedweller (CC). My best take away is it is not where you are but how you arrived. The journey is the why you are together. Keep the journey moving forward. Life is full of circles. Best answer to what was most romantic we ever did: Everything I''ve ever done with you (from CC). Now that man is a romantic!

[Soleil Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

How I enjoyed this book!

It's a non fiction. The author explains how she decided, after 20 years of a wonderful marriage, to rekindle the sparks of the first times with her husband by imagining a date per week to take quality time together despite the years and routine.

It was a short and fun read. The author doesn't hesitate to make fun of herself and it feels so genuine.

I enjoyed reading it: I really appreciate this author, I liked every book I've read by her and this book helps to understand how she can write so wonderful romances: she has a muse in her Captain Cavedweller!

[Adpa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book about a real life couple trying to put an effort into their marriage to keep it interesting by making a conscious effort to set aside time for each other each week. Some times an exciting trip, some times a more mundane "event", but the goal was to spend time talking, learning, and being together. A great idea for couples --- or even parents/children, or friendships!

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good ideas to try

I couldn't figure out if this was fiction or non fiction. I didn't see anything that said. I'm writing this as I listen to the about the author page. Now I think I know.

[Jeannette Harbottle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A timely reminder

This novella is a good reminder to stop taking one's spouse for granted and to begin to put some effort into reviving the romance in one's marriage. A healthy dose of humor really helps.

[Ginni Selby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Stays in the Air

Shanna and Captain Cavedweller have taken the time and energy to re-infuse their marriage with the original feelings and have not only found what a blessing they have, but are ready and willing to suggest ways to help others make it happen.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun book with great date ideas!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun. Heartwarming. Quick to read.

[Vickie Raynor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun way to get to know one of my favorite authors and offer some inspiration to add some fun to my marriage. I love the ideas and challenge.

[Dixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is broken down into mostly two or three paste recaps of date nights the author and her husband shared, each easily readable when you just have a couple of minutes to fill. These are mostly simple things they chose to do together, like movie and a meal (I loved Hawaiian night) or a shopping trip to a particular town, but each one served as an opportunity to focus on each other, to talk and really connect. I enjoyed the reminder that dates don't have to be expensive or uber-romantic or all that out of the ordinary. They are just two people choosing to share an experience, grow closer together, and make a memory.

[Renate Deutsche Oma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This avid reader enjoys Shanna Hatfield's writing. Especially chuckles over her antics with Captain Cavedweller, her husband. After almost a year of Covid, this reader was tired of reading romance. Doesn't seem realistic while wearing masks and social distancing. Therefore when this book was offered free and today was a Snow Day, I jumped at the chance. I enjoyed the backstory and research excursions for some of Hatfield's books. While the book became repetitive, dates fell into the following categories: shopping, road trip, movies, eating, with a few chuckles along the way. A reminder: Some of the most memorable moments arrived wrapped in love, right from the heart.

[Maki ⌒☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute idea, although it was a bit repetitive in practice.

Most of the dates ended up falling into one of five categories:

- movie night
- football game
- go for a drive
- shopping
- something touristy

There were a few outliers, sure, but pretty much every date night was one of the above activities.

I'd love to try something like this with my husband, except that we both hate going outside, into the terrible humidity that comes with living in the South, and we're both habitual procrastinators.

[Linda R · Rating 5 out of 5]

After being married for 20 years, Shanna Hatfield realized her relationship with Captain Cavedweller had become routine. Hoping to regain the feeling from when they first wed, Ms. Hatfield made a plan. Before their next anniversary, they would go on 50 dates, taking turns planning a night or day filled with something out of the ordinary.

Fifty Dates With Captain Cavedweller is the author's journal of those sweet and romantic moments and the loving and humorous events that occurred along the way.

I purchased a Kindle and paperback copy of this book.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Fifty Dates with Captain Cavedweller was a unique take on a marriage book. Written in almost a blog/diary style, the author's complete and total honesty was refreshing. A lot of the dates were interesting and gave some good ideas, but when the author got in a "dinner & a movie rut", unfortunately so did the reader. Cute, witty book, and a quick read with good marriage insights.

[Julie Jobe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This made me smile! To Shanna Hatfield, I would just like to say thank you for the glimpse into your lives and relationship and the examples to follow in taking the time to know each other and just be together! I loved reading about Shanna and Captain Cavedweller's dates together and what they gleaned from the intentional time spent together.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely delightful little read! Anyone who is married or is in a long-term relationship has no doubt felt the pull of being in a rut. Shanna Hatfield chronicles a renewed commitment to her nearly 20 year marriage and her charming Captain Cavedweller with 50 date nights. While not always unique and inspiring, the journey they go on together is the real reward!

[Colleen Ray · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yawn. This is simply a list of what the author and her husband did on their weekly date night. I never saw any humor, just run of the mill dinner and movie activities. The good thing is, you can read through the whole thing in about 30 minutes.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was short, sweet, and fun. The author basically chronicles a year's worth of weekly dates with her husband. It gave me some great ideas about how to spend our date nights when we get them.

[LaRee Sutherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Joy in Marriage

A great book about creating more fun in marriage. Rather than call it quits, make a plan to bring communication, enjoyment, and opportunity to learn to grow happiness in marriage. It's worth it.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fun story about the author's attempts to bring some fun back to her marriage. I actually got some ideas to try myself. A short read.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hoped that I would like this book and get some inspiration for date ideas, but this was repetitive and boring. I don't care that they went to the movies again or went for a drive.

[Debra Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it. Will get more books by Shanna

[elizabeth Hendricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun reading

Really enjoyed the way the author wrote the book and love the way they were doing whatever to spark up their marriage

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and helpful

This book gave me tons of ideas for date nights. Even if my husband doesn’t cooperate with the challenge, I can use the ideas here to make suggestions.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is showing how to spice up your marriage when you reach that plateau after so many years. It works for after 50 years too.

Loved it.

[Michal Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet book about their many dates over the years!