The Sea Captain and the Lady

I have enjoyed many stories by Vada Foster, even some she hasn't published - thanks to fan fiction sites on the Internet. I was certainly expecting to enjoy this one too, and wasn't disappointed. Vada, not to be confused with her sister Verda, has a knack for delivering fun characters in creative settings. Her earlier book with BL Miller, `Josie and Rebecca: the Western Chronicles,' is a lesbian literature classic (in my humble opinion). Here she introduces the tragic Colleen Edwards. Colleen was a very young woman when her mother and brothers died from an unknown sickness. After trying to keep her on land, Colleen's father ultimately gives in and lets her go to sea with him and live on their ship the Betsy Ann. Colleen learns the life of a sailor and never shows any inclination toward getting married. Also introduced is Abby Hume. Abby was the unfortunate (or fortunate, as the case may be) bride whose husband was killed on their wedding day - even before they left the church. Never in love with the man, Abby took full advantage of the situation anyway and mourned his death for several years. During mourning, her father agreed to let her pick her next husband, but no one suitable ever came along. That is, until Colleen set foot on her veranda. It was love at first sight, although neither of them understood it at the time. The two women come to understand their feelings over time, but are almost robbed of the chance to act on them when Abby is kidnapped by pirates. With her knowledge of the sea, Colleen is determined to save the woman she loves. Bottom Line - Great characters in tragic circumstances make for a wonderful book by this talented author. My only wish is that Foster would publish more so we could all enjoy her gift for writing.

If you love swashbucklers, this story has lots of action and romance. Reading about the Captain fighting for her lady love, reminds me of the old movies I used to love, with a different twist to the gender of the Captain, of course. I loved the characters of Colleen and Abigail and their journey to be together against all odds. There are not many like it, and for those of us who love the whole idea, we have slim pickings to choose from and very few have Vada's deft humor and characteristic fun with phrasing, alongside a romping good yarn.

This is a wonderful period story about two women who find love in one another and the lengths they will go to in order to be together. The setting is the Caribbean in the days of Pirates and women who often had to hide their sexual identity to be able to work for a fare wage. You will be able to smell the salty air, feel the sun on your face and fall in love with the women in this story. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good romance with a little salty dog twist. The editing is superb and the plot and characters are fantastic making this a read not to be missed.