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Gabriel Sisters #1
Her Captain's Heart
Nothing is impossible—as far as idealistic schoolteacher Verity Hardy is concerned. The lovely widow is certain teaching freed slaves in a Virginia town torn apart by the Civil War will help heal bitterness and old wounds. But she's finding that the school's cynical builder, Matthew Ritter, has little reason to have faith in her—or anything else.
An ex-Union captain, Matt has seen more than his share of destruction. And the threats he's getting about the school are almost enough to make him give up. But Verity's spirit and courage inspire him to fight once again for what he believes in—and to show her they can reach their dreams together….
277 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
11 people are currently reading
310 people want to read
About the author
Lyn Cote
121 books589 followersLyn grew up loving books. Her favorite night of the week was Friday night, when the Bookmobile came to her neighborhood in Illinois. She’d spend those two hours chatting with the driver of the Bookmobile and the librarian and making the big decision of the week — which books to check out! In those distant days, children were limited in how many books they could check out. Lyn could only take home six a week — and there were so many to choose from. Her favorites were Cotton in my Sack by Lois Lenski, The Little House series and the One of a Kind Family series. Later, she discovered Georgette Heyer’s Regency romances!
This love of books led to a desire to write. Lyn won prizes in high school and college for her poetry and, not surprisingly, Lyn became a history and English teacher. When she became a mother, she gave up teaching, and while raising a son and a daughter, she began working on her first novel. Then she wrote her second and third. Long years of rejection followed — as it does for most writers. Finally in 1997, Lyn got "the call." Her first book, Never Alone, was chosen to appear in the first year of the new Love Inspired line. Lyn has written many articles on writing and the emerging Christian Booksellers Assoc. (CBA) fiction market. In 2006, Lyn's book, Chloe, is a finalist for the RWA's RITA, the highest award in the romance genre in the inspirational category.
Now, Lyn spends her days writing books that show the power of divine as well as human love. Her nest is empty and she and her real life hero, her husband, have more and more time to spend together in their home on a lake in the lovely northwoods. And books are still dear to her heart.
This love of books led to a desire to write. Lyn won prizes in high school and college for her poetry and, not surprisingly, Lyn became a history and English teacher. When she became a mother, she gave up teaching, and while raising a son and a daughter, she began working on her first novel. Then she wrote her second and third. Long years of rejection followed — as it does for most writers. Finally in 1997, Lyn got "the call." Her first book, Never Alone, was chosen to appear in the first year of the new Love Inspired line. Lyn has written many articles on writing and the emerging Christian Booksellers Assoc. (CBA) fiction market. In 2006, Lyn's book, Chloe, is a finalist for the RWA's RITA, the highest award in the romance genre in the inspirational category.
Now, Lyn spends her days writing books that show the power of divine as well as human love. Her nest is empty and she and her real life hero, her husband, have more and more time to spend together in their home on a lake in the lovely northwoods. And books are still dear to her heart.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 3, 2010
Another good book by Lyn Cote. She is fast becoming my go to author when I want a good book to read. This story is the first in her Gabriel Sister's series (book #2 –Her patchwork Family is already out – see my review and book #3 is schedule to come out Dec. 2010.) This book is about Verity who moves to Virginia with her daughter after the civil war to teach freed slaves children how to read/write. WOW Verity had a lot of guts – Cote wrote her as a very strong woman but still had a softer side. She meets Matt is in charge of building the school – he is actually coming “home” where he grew up before his family left North before the war started. Looking forward to the final book in the series.
October 22, 2018
A Reconstruction-era romance featuring a Quaker schoolteacher and a former solider working together for the Freedman's Bureau in the small Virginia town where the soldier's abolitionist family was run out of, years prior. This is post-Civil War America; there are no easy solutions, and the book reflects that complexity. The characters and the romance really worked for me; I can see the couple in a true and loving partnership, despite the obstacles between them and around them.
February 14, 2010
This is a good book with Quaker schoolteacher Verity being sent with her young daughter to teach at the local Freedman's School in Virginia. Matt is a former Union officer who is also employed by the Freedman's Bureau. Matt disagrees with her when she wants to teach both the white children and the black children at the Freedman's School.
August 25, 2015
Her Captain's Heart**** by Lynn Cote
Widowed school teacher, Quaker Verity Hardy moves from Gettysburg, PA to Fiddler's Grove, VA along with her young daughter and father-in-law. She has been sent by the Freedman's Bureau to teach the now freed slaves to read and write. The Bureau has provided a house for her to live in while there. However, when Verity and her family arrive they find a man living there and he is not happy to see them.
Ex-Union captain Matthew Ritter also works for the Freedman's Bureau. He is to build the school house for the new teacher but was not expecting her to arrive before the school was built. His past from the war continue to haunt him and he would much rather be alone. How will he and this woman work together where the community have not forgotten ravages of war and anger runs high since the wars ending? As Matthew works with Verity, he starts having feelings for her and wants to protect her. Nothing can come of his feelings, they are too different. She is a godly woman of faith but he has lost faith in most everything.
There are people in town who do not want Verity in Virginia teaching the freed slaves, they do not want Matthew there either. Threats against the school escalate, fires are set to the barn and the partially built school. Matthew sends for Union Troops to help insure no more fires or threats are carried out so the school can be completed.
What are God's plans for Matthew and Verity and the school? Can they overcome, with God's help, the many obstacles and challenges in their way? Even though the war has ended, the battle rages on in this town. Lyn Cote does a wonderful job showing this conflict among the south and north after the war is over. The beginning of reconstruction between the north and south as well as restoration between family and neighbors are clearly shown in this story.
~~I received a copy of this book from the author~~
Widowed school teacher, Quaker Verity Hardy moves from Gettysburg, PA to Fiddler's Grove, VA along with her young daughter and father-in-law. She has been sent by the Freedman's Bureau to teach the now freed slaves to read and write. The Bureau has provided a house for her to live in while there. However, when Verity and her family arrive they find a man living there and he is not happy to see them.
Ex-Union captain Matthew Ritter also works for the Freedman's Bureau. He is to build the school house for the new teacher but was not expecting her to arrive before the school was built. His past from the war continue to haunt him and he would much rather be alone. How will he and this woman work together where the community have not forgotten ravages of war and anger runs high since the wars ending? As Matthew works with Verity, he starts having feelings for her and wants to protect her. Nothing can come of his feelings, they are too different. She is a godly woman of faith but he has lost faith in most everything.
There are people in town who do not want Verity in Virginia teaching the freed slaves, they do not want Matthew there either. Threats against the school escalate, fires are set to the barn and the partially built school. Matthew sends for Union Troops to help insure no more fires or threats are carried out so the school can be completed.
What are God's plans for Matthew and Verity and the school? Can they overcome, with God's help, the many obstacles and challenges in their way? Even though the war has ended, the battle rages on in this town. Lyn Cote does a wonderful job showing this conflict among the south and north after the war is over. The beginning of reconstruction between the north and south as well as restoration between family and neighbors are clearly shown in this story.
~~I received a copy of this book from the author~~
June 19, 2014
The Captain's Heart
By: Lyn Cote
This is the first book in The Gabriel Sister's series. This is a Love Inspired Historical Romance. I love the way Lyn Cote pens about the strong women in her novels. Verity Hardy is a lonely widow school teacher that comes to Fiddlers Grove in Virginia to teach. She also has a young daughter that she brings with her. Where will she teach, her school has not even been built. Verity is certain that teaching freed slaves in Virginia is what she is suppose to do. Matthew Ritter is an ex-Union Captain and is suppose to get Verity's school built. Matt has very little faith in anyone. His past from the war is still with him. He does not understand why they would send a Quaker Widow Lady to teach school in this area. Virginia has been torn apart by the Civil War and people do not forget easy. There is people that do not want Mrs. Hardy to be in Virginia teaching the freed slaves. Verity and Matt work together to get the school built, but can they have faith to keep going when they are getting threats about Verity and her school. Matt want to protect Verity and her daughter. He starts to have feeling for Verity. This is a wonderful story and at times I felt like crying. I loved this novel from this start to the finish. You will hang on trying to guess what will happen next. Will they have the faith they need to pull through all the problems they face?
I was given a copy of this book by the author for my honest review , and I have given it.
By: Lyn Cote
This is the first book in The Gabriel Sister's series. This is a Love Inspired Historical Romance. I love the way Lyn Cote pens about the strong women in her novels. Verity Hardy is a lonely widow school teacher that comes to Fiddlers Grove in Virginia to teach. She also has a young daughter that she brings with her. Where will she teach, her school has not even been built. Verity is certain that teaching freed slaves in Virginia is what she is suppose to do. Matthew Ritter is an ex-Union Captain and is suppose to get Verity's school built. Matt has very little faith in anyone. His past from the war is still with him. He does not understand why they would send a Quaker Widow Lady to teach school in this area. Virginia has been torn apart by the Civil War and people do not forget easy. There is people that do not want Mrs. Hardy to be in Virginia teaching the freed slaves. Verity and Matt work together to get the school built, but can they have faith to keep going when they are getting threats about Verity and her school. Matt want to protect Verity and her daughter. He starts to have feeling for Verity. This is a wonderful story and at times I felt like crying. I loved this novel from this start to the finish. You will hang on trying to guess what will happen next. Will they have the faith they need to pull through all the problems they face?
I was given a copy of this book by the author for my honest review , and I have given it.
June 11, 2014
The tensions in the south after the Civil War ended are vibrantly portrayed in this Gabriel sisters novel by Lyn Cote. Two very different individuals, Verity and Matt, struggle to establish a school for freed slaves. Family divisions and reconciliations, the difficulties encountered trying to help someone enmeshed in domestic violence, the changing roles of whites and blacks,the amazing differences in individual acceptance of those changes, and the horrible trials those who tried to help African Americans were sometimes forced to undergo are all included in the plot. The Quaker background of the main character greatly interested this reader as one side of my family has been associated with the Friends church for decades. Even though it is a fairly quick book to read, lots of events will keep you turning pages, especially if you enjoy this time period.
October 18, 2009
I confess that I couldn't finish this book. Every once in a while I don't mind a good corny, cheesy book that's a clean love story, but even this one was a little much for me. I had a hard time suspending belief on this one. She's a Quaker, but her husband died in the Civil War? Does anyone else see a problem with this besides me? (Quaker's don't believe in participating in war). It also infuses today's belief system on the Post Civil War era that is just not even remotely realistic. I was getting so irritated that I just had to put it down. I'd give it a one, but it wasn't nasty or anything.
June 19, 2014
Her Captain’s Heart is a wonderful story, filled with vivid details and descriptions!
I enjoyed the pairing of a Quaker schoolteacher with an ex-Union captain. Their relationship was such a pleasure to read! I also enjoyed reading about the Reconstruction Era. Lyn Cote did a tremendous job portraying this tumultuous time in our country’s history.
I loved Her Captain’s Heart and am eager to read more of the Gabriel Sisters series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.
I enjoyed the pairing of a Quaker schoolteacher with an ex-Union captain. Their relationship was such a pleasure to read! I also enjoyed reading about the Reconstruction Era. Lyn Cote did a tremendous job portraying this tumultuous time in our country’s history.
I loved Her Captain’s Heart and am eager to read more of the Gabriel Sisters series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.
August 1, 2012
I was quite let down by this book. Reading the summary on the back pretty much covers all the good points in the book. THe characters have no depth to them. The story in some ways has been done over and over in many other post Civil War books. I wish I had something good to say about this book, but there just isn't.
May 10, 2012
I liked this book. The characters were interesting and the love story was sweet. It was nice to have a story where the characters weren't hiding horrible secrets since that gets old. The book was kind of idealistic but it is fiction. I enjoyed the read.
January 25, 2016
Boring. Nothing much happened.
August 19, 2009
I love this book--can't wait for the next in the series!
May 28, 2013
A cute story of 2 people telling themselves it isn't meant to be... and then it happens
May 10, 2019
Somehow I always think if I read a romance novel that it will be a simple fluff piece and it won't evoke strong emotions in me. Books like this one like to prove me wrong.
Verity and Matt are sent separately to help the newly freed slaves in Virginia. Matt is to build a school and Verity is to teach. Information gets crossed and they end up arriving around the same time.
Matt has a past in this town, and he doubts things can ever change but he goes to do his job and fullfill a deathbed promise to his mom. Verity is a Quaker and a believer that God can make everything better no matter the situation.
A lot of very frightening racially charged things happen. Things that actually happened. It's not sugar coated. Barns being burnt down, Klansmen, children being taken out of school, it has it all.
I would say this is a historical fiction drama that just happened to have a romance woven in, not the other way around. The romance does not take center stage, the story of these two brave people trying to make things right does.
Verity and Matt are sent separately to help the newly freed slaves in Virginia. Matt is to build a school and Verity is to teach. Information gets crossed and they end up arriving around the same time.
Matt has a past in this town, and he doubts things can ever change but he goes to do his job and fullfill a deathbed promise to his mom. Verity is a Quaker and a believer that God can make everything better no matter the situation.
A lot of very frightening racially charged things happen. Things that actually happened. It's not sugar coated. Barns being burnt down, Klansmen, children being taken out of school, it has it all.
I would say this is a historical fiction drama that just happened to have a romance woven in, not the other way around. The romance does not take center stage, the story of these two brave people trying to make things right does.
June 1, 2017
Worthy of the 5 out of 5 stars...I am on a roll with books right now! This is what, four in a row? At least four.... :) This book was amazing. With the abolitionists, Civil War, discrimination by race...this book especially reminded me of To Kill a Mockingbird, which I am currently reading/analyzing in English. Both books are love stories, although in two different ways. However, I loved the history in this book and watching the characters develop in their own ways. This was very good and I couldn't put it down.
December 11, 2021
Really enjoyed this book. Matt is a little cynical since the war and now that he is returning to his home town where he isn't wanted things can be a little rough.
Verity is a widow who is also a school teacher. She wants to start a school in Virginia and is meeting opposition.
Check out the book you will enjoy it.
Verity is a widow who is also a school teacher. She wants to start a school in Virginia and is meeting opposition.
Check out the book you will enjoy it.
January 30, 2019
The main character is a Quaker, so the "thee" and "thou" in her speech got on my nerves.... Still, it was a pretty good read that I enjoyed. Provides an insight into the attitudes of those affected by the Civil War, on both sides.
October 29, 2019
This is more about trying to start a school for freed slaves in the resistant south than it was about a romance, but that suited me just fine. I'm getting more into historical fiction. It's like a form of time travel.
August 5, 2016
I haven't come across many books that talk about Reconstruction -particularly novels. This was an amazing insight to the time in our history that isn't dissected enough in classrooms... I have more than a few bones to pick with our educational system, but I won't go into a tirade now. Since I wasn't properly educated on Reconstruction, this book brought back and added to what little I learned of this (for lack of better word) turbulent time period.
On a different note, I really enjoyed the characters and how both Verity and Matt overcame their differences and the trials put before them by the townspeople. Verity has such a strong personality and I admire that since I don't think I would be able to all of what she accomplished in the face of such aversion... Like Matt said, she has some serious grit :)
Good read! Now I have to find myself a copy of Felicity's story.
On a different note, I really enjoyed the characters and how both Verity and Matt overcame their differences and the trials put before them by the townspeople. Verity has such a strong personality and I admire that since I don't think I would be able to all of what she accomplished in the face of such aversion... Like Matt said, she has some serious grit :)
Good read! Now I have to find myself a copy of Felicity's story.
August 20, 2021
The Australian edition came in 2014 however I'm reading this from the elibrary 2021.
Verity and Matthew's story.
bringing education for the negroes after the civil war (where the towns people were still in war mode and not liking the changes set by congress.)
Well written and amazing how Quakers friends were different in how they spoke and allowed to think. I'm not from the USA so have no preconceived culture but I can see it was a hard road.
I think Felicity's story is in the elibrary so of to reserve a place.
Verity and Matthew's story.
bringing education for the negroes after the civil war (where the towns people were still in war mode and not liking the changes set by congress.)
Well written and amazing how Quakers friends were different in how they spoke and allowed to think. I'm not from the USA so have no preconceived culture but I can see it was a hard road.
I think Felicity's story is in the elibrary so of to reserve a place.
May 4, 2019
I'm glad I read book 2 in this series first. If I had started with this one, I may not have gotten past its preachy tone. Apart from that, it is well researched and well written, with engaging characters.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews