This novel is two stories in one, lightly connected, but both are engrossing. Erina wants her freedom from the constraints of being forced to marry and she embarks on a dangerous journey to Ireland to assist her cousin. Her best friend, and betrothed, Harry, insists on traveling with her. Adventures and misadventures abound as they learn more about one another.
Captain Jack Ryder, the bastard son of a duke, discovers a murder conspiracy that involves Napoleon who’s recently died in exile on the island of St. Helena. Jack then meets the beautiful Lady Ashley and they begin a passionate affair. Because of his ‘bastard’ status he can never hope to marry her.
Ms. Andersen combines romance and intrigue, believable characters, and lots of adventure in this Regency-set novel. A joy to read. Diane Scott Lewis
HISTORICAL: Captain Jack Ryder nd his best friend, Harry Feather, eet at the funeral for Jack’s ther, the duke. Because Jack, an illegitimate son, is not really accepted by his father’s family, he decides to travel for adventure.
He stops at an inn where he meets Lord and Lady Butterstone and their daughter, Lady Ashley. Lord Butterstone is mortally wounded, but before he dies, Jack promises to see his family safely home.
Along the way, he falls for Lady Ashley. Meanwhile Erina Rountree is told by her father that she must marry Mr. Harry Feather. When Erina and Harry meet, they immediately dislike each other, besides which, neither of them wants to get married. So Erina comes up with a plan and manages to talk Harry into it, but they soon discover well-‐laid plans don’t always go as they should.
This story is a unique combining of two loosely-‐connected stories into one. Despite Jack’s inferior social status, he attempts to do the right thing and even right a wrong. While Ashley is cool and collected and Erina is feisty and spontaneous, both manage to be very likable. Harry, the quiet compassionate hero, manages to worm his way into readers’ hearts by his unassuming nature. Luckily there still manages to be a happily ever after for almost everyone.
InD’Tale Magazine
When I open a novel by Ms. Andersen I know I will enjoy it. Captain Jack Ryder exceeded my expectations. It combines the adventures of Jack and his friend Harry Featherstone, former officers in a Hussar regiment.
Napoleon and his armies have been defeated. Jack is in mourning for the duke, his affectionate father, and is exhausted after ‘many hours of lost sleep while his father breathed his last.’ Jack, who was educated at Oxford, received property from the duke and has an adequate fortune. He has seen little of his own country and plans to explore. He will travel on horseback, dressed in plain clothes and take little with him other than his pistol with which he can give a good account of himself.
Harry whose father is arranging for him to marry Erin, a wealthy baronet’s daughter, tells Erin, who does not want to marry him, ‘After years in the army I fancy a simple life. An enjoyable book a brandy, my wife with her embroidery at my side. Just looking at you, I can foresee riding to hounds, jumping tall hedges, and dancing till dawn. It fatigues me to think of it.’
When Erin decides to run away to avoid the arranged marriage and visit her cousin in Ireland, who is in trouble, Harry feels obliged to travel with Erin to protect her.
In the meantime, at the inn where Jack puts up for the night, fatally wounded Lord Butterstone, his wife and daughter Lady Ashley arrive. Before he dies Butterstone asks Jack to take Lady Butterstone and their beautiful daughter home.
I read on, wanting to find out why the dead man was killed, who the murderer was and if a relationship would develop between Jack and Lady Ashley. I also wanted to know how Harry and Erin reacted to each other during their journey.
Ms Andersen has created compelling characters in Captain Jack Ryder a novel with danger, mystery, romance and suspense. I look forward to reading the next book in the series about another friend of Jack and Harry, who served in their regiment. Rosemary Morris
