Love for a Soldier

by Mary Jane Staples

Should she stay loyal to her country, or the man she loves?
 
France, 1918.
 
Sophia, the rebellious daughter of a distinguished German general, is on her way to the town of Douai to elope with the man of her dreams -- a young army officer -- against her parents' wishes. On her way, she witnesses a dramatic battle in the skies that leaves an English pilot without a plane and under the misapprehension that Sophia is on his side.
 
She has no choice but to agree to assist him in his attempt to avoid capture, and he joins her in the family car she has stolen, trailed by both the German Army and a staff officer under strict instructions from Sophia's father to bring her home. With their pursuers hot on their heels, how will Sophia explain her behaviour, protecting a man she is supposed to hate? And after sharing so many adventures, will she be able to turn the flying officer in when the time comes?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, World War I

400 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Mary Jane Staples is a pseudonym used by British author Reginald Thomas Staples (1911-2005). He is also published under the name Robert Tyler Stevens, R.T. Stevens, and James Sinclair.

Reviews

[Dorcas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is published under two titles. "The Hostage " by Robert Tyler Stevens and "For Love of a Soldier " by Mary Jane Staples.(If the blurb here on GR is accurate they changed the German heroine's name from Helga to Sophia in the MJS version.)

In a nutshell, the free spirited daughter of a German general is on her way to an elopement with a German fighter pilot when she witnesses a sky battle and sees a British fighter plane shot down. When she approaches the wreck, the pilot commandeers both herself and her car for his getaway.

What follows is a chase between the two on the run and the couple sent to hunt them down: a woman soldier and a one armed war hero (confidant of the General) .

So really this book contains two parallel stories. Two heroes and two heroines. And for the record, I'm not fond of that scenario. Its like sharing a cupcake. It really shouldn't happen.

Anyway, while I always enjoy a R T Stevens book, I think this was my least favorite. Its almost as though he had a quota of WW1 books to write and his ideas were running dry when he got to this one. The whole plot is, well, running. They are on the run for 97% of the book. I got a little tired of the chase.

The ending, while technically satisfying was a bit cheesy and I wasn't feeling the romance. It was there but the chemistry was lacking. And let's face it, the main story covers TWO DAYS. So realistically, it was farfetched. (does that sentence even make sense?)

I recommend this book to fans of Robert Tyler Stevens but not to newbies. He could (and did) write much better stories than this!

CONTENT :

SEX: None
VIOLENCE : a shot or two. Nothing graphic.
PROFANITY : Very Mild cussing
MY RATING: G

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

CRIED MY EYES OUT, I LOVE THIS BOOK

[Andrea]

An exciting and edge of your seat thriller.

[Iulz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book while on the plane and had a great time!

Sophia's choice near the end surprised me as I thought things were going to happen differently, but I enjoyed it regardless.

[Rhona Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book.

This book like her others is a very good book. Good humour as usual. Worthwhile read. I think people like a clean romance, with lots of humour.

[Amy Maunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book to read if you like romance books about the 40s than this book for you. Enjoy.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

good plot, loved that both soldiers were wounded and relied upon a woman

Loved that Sohia shot Peter, didn't see that coming