Genre: Historical
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
Award-winning novel, A wounded hero… A mysterious healer… A secret enemy hell-bent on their destruction…
Army captain Reginald St. Clair is injured and riddled with pain. Physicians claim he’ll never walk again. He retreats to Scotland to escape pity from society and his family. In the remote castle where he spent his youth, he hopes to gain strength from the happy memories ghosting through the old stone walls.
John Sloan has a shady past. Despite having no credentials, he’s a first-rate healer and is determined to heal Reggie’s spirit as well as his body.
Their budding relationship is threatened when Reggie is charged with an ugly accusation. Can the captain and the healer battle censure and betrayal to unearth the identity of the man willing to destroy Reggie at all costs?
The Review
Captain Reginald “Reggie” St. Clair had a devastating injury, purely by accident, during the Army’s artillery training of new acquisitions. It wasn’t even during a battle, which just added to his embarrassment. When he loses both legs, and ends up in a the ridiculous Bath chair, he is more than frustrated.
His best friend Nicholas “Nick” Avery, Lord Newark is there for him. The thing is, he and Nick still like to get into mischief and drinking. But at his core, Reggie is tired of it all and depressed. He doesn’t need everyone having pity on the cripple, and he wants to be far away from family. Reggie and Nick return to the Scottish Highlands, and Dunvreck. Although Dunvreck castle is rundown, it is where Reggie feels the most free and at home, reminding him of his late, beloved Grandfather. He leans on the memories of his Grandfather, the only family member who really seemed to understand him and gave him well needed advice.
Knowing of Reggie’s return to Dunvreck and his condition, the butler, Mr. Campbell, has hired an attendant for him. John Sloan has medical expertise in rehabilitation, and knows how to keep Reggie healthy. For John, it’s also a way to get away from his sister Anne and her despicable husband – Lord Berkeley, Baron, Gareth Howell. John made a terrible mistake, and even though he loves his sister, he can’t stay with them any longer.
John has his hands full with both Nick and Reggie, as they still love to drink and get into trouble. He’ll have to find ways to limit those activities. As John takes close care of Reggie’s diet and exercise, a spark begins to grow between them. John is good for Reggie, keeping him mobile and out of the Bath chair.
John has an issues with his pregnant sister Anne and her husband Gareth, but he keeps them secret from Reggie. Things don’t get any better when Nick meets Gareth, and that becomes a secret too. To top it all off, Reggie is accused of soliciting a man, and feels he’s being blackmailed. Reggie will have to hire the best attorney – MacNair and his associate Taggart – to defend him.
Who will tell Nick the truth? What troubles will it bring John? Will John and Reggie find happiness together? And what will happen when all is revealed?
His Captain is an intense tale full of secrets and a real page-turner. Lake’s descriptions of Dunvreck and the Highlands evoke the beauty of 18th century Scotland.
The characters face heartache, sadness, happiness and hope for the future. I like how John really turns Reggie around, giving him what he needs to make his physical situation better. And although it leads to a steamy relationship, there are still doubts along the way.
I really liked Nick too – he’s full of fun, loud, loves to drink and is a carefree spirit. He is also very loyal to Reggie. But he’s caught up in his own dilemma, one that causes him worry and sadness.
I highly recommend His Captain – an easy read that kept me entertained with all of its twists and turns. I can’t wait to see what Lake writes next in the “Wounded Hero” series.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
