Her Master and Commander by Karen Hawkins, Just Ask Reeves, March 2006, Rating: B

Captain Tristan Llevanth finds himself in an interesting predicament when he discovers he's to inherit his father's earldom. A former pirate turned hero, wounded in battle, Tristan has retired to a small cottage near the sea knowing that's as close as he can get to his beloved from now on. One by one those who worked for him over the years find their way to his home where he takes them in. His amassed wealth dwindles away having to provide food and medical care for his guests. When his father's butler, Reeves, shows up, it's only his desire to see his men cared for that makes him accept his father's terms and try to obtain the title and the monies that come with it.

Prudence Thistlewaite and her mother have come to the country to start a school for women. They left London after her husband's death amid a scandal, their reputations in ruins due to finances. She agrees to help train Tristan in the ways of proper societ in an attempt to aid him in gaining the title and monies he's after.

Her Master and Commander is a historical romance set in rural England, 1806. The prologue - set 15 years earlier, immediately draws the reader in and Hawkins keeps your attention from that point on. The secondary characters of Reeves, Stevens, and even Prudence's mother provided some comedy to the story. Like any hero and heroine their journey to finding one another is not an easy one. My only issue with this story is that I did not find there was any tension between them. They were attracted to one another, that much was obvious, and perhaps it was because she was a widow, but you knew it was just a matter of when they'd get together. Overall, an enjoyable read and I rate it a B.

©Susan Falk and phantomroses.com