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At the Captain's Command
Duty and career—Captain Thomas Moberly of His Majesty's Navy prizes them above all. So why is he tempted to relinquish both for Dinah Templeton? Though Dinah seems sweet and charming, the difference in station between an East Florida belle and the son of an earl is too marked to ignore. And all other obstacles pale with the discovery that Dinah's brother James is not what he seems….A war is brewing on the colonies' horizon, and James has chosen his side—in opposition to the country Thomas has sworn to defend. But what of Dinah? Where does her heart truly lie—with her family, or with the man she claims to love?
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
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99 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 4, 2011
I sped through At the Captain's Command. I loved the characters and the setting was so real I could feel the heat and the mosquitoes! Louise Gouge takes you to Florida amid the Revolutionary War. I truly enjoyed this story and all the history I learned in it. I have to add that I absolutely loved running into some of the characters from her other book A Captain's Lady! That was a pleasant surprise. Like seeing old friends again. A very pleasant read indeed and if you are like me you'll have it finished before you know it.
June 9, 2020
A story set in St. Augustine during colonial times, this one deals with love, forgiveness, pirates, greed, honor, integrity, newfound faith, and family relationships. A family is unknowingly torn because they discover some members are on opposite sides of the loyalist/ rebel debate.
January 28, 2020
Cute love story! There needed to be a bit more character development, but other than that cute!
April 7, 2011
“At the Captain’s Command” is a delightful historical set during the Revolutionary War. Dinah Templeton, living in an East Florida colony,believes her family is loyal to England, but she has the feeling there is something her family is not telling her. There is also a great deal of talk about the infamous pirate Nighthawk who plagues the coastline.
To protect those loyal to the crown against this growing list of revolutionaries is his Majesty’s Royal Navy and the Dauntless commanded by Captain Thomas Moberly.
Attraction grows between Dinah and Thomas quickly. Some in their circle say they are perfectly suited to one another. But Dinah has promised herself she will never marry a navy-man. Besides, it appears that Thomas is not interested in any romantic attachment to her anyway. How could he when he is of noble blood and she is not.
Dinah and Thomas’s dilemma is set at a time when many in the American Colonies are throwing in their lot with the revolutionaries to win their independence. It’s a time when brothers could secretly be on opposite sides. Dinah and Thomas must decide if their love for one another can bear the tug of loyalties from different directions. And Thomas must sort out in his heart if God hears the prayers on 2 sides of an issue—whose voices are heard in Heaven, those who wish to remain loyal to England or those who desire a free land of their own?
Author Louise M. Gouge seamlessly weaves historical detail into her narrative, so that you feel as though you are there. You can smell the sea air, the rich humid Florida coastline, and feel the snap of canvas as the Dauntless sails the seas. The author writes brilliant dialogue that sounds as if someone from that era is speaking, and yet it is easy on the ear. She drew me in instantly and kept me turning the pages, so that I came to care very much about her characters. I found this time and setting to be a fresh new take of the War of Independence, and a novel I heartily endorse.
To protect those loyal to the crown against this growing list of revolutionaries is his Majesty’s Royal Navy and the Dauntless commanded by Captain Thomas Moberly.
Attraction grows between Dinah and Thomas quickly. Some in their circle say they are perfectly suited to one another. But Dinah has promised herself she will never marry a navy-man. Besides, it appears that Thomas is not interested in any romantic attachment to her anyway. How could he when he is of noble blood and she is not.
Dinah and Thomas’s dilemma is set at a time when many in the American Colonies are throwing in their lot with the revolutionaries to win their independence. It’s a time when brothers could secretly be on opposite sides. Dinah and Thomas must decide if their love for one another can bear the tug of loyalties from different directions. And Thomas must sort out in his heart if God hears the prayers on 2 sides of an issue—whose voices are heard in Heaven, those who wish to remain loyal to England or those who desire a free land of their own?
Author Louise M. Gouge seamlessly weaves historical detail into her narrative, so that you feel as though you are there. You can smell the sea air, the rich humid Florida coastline, and feel the snap of canvas as the Dauntless sails the seas. The author writes brilliant dialogue that sounds as if someone from that era is speaking, and yet it is easy on the ear. She drew me in instantly and kept me turning the pages, so that I came to care very much about her characters. I found this time and setting to be a fresh new take of the War of Independence, and a novel I heartily endorse.
April 5, 2011
Title: AT THE CAPTAIN’S COMMAND
Author: Louise M. Gouge
Publisher: Love Inspired Historical
April 2011
ISBN: 978-0-373-82865-4
Genre: Inspirational/historical Romance
Dinah Templeton lives with her foster sister, Anne, and Anne’s husband in Florida, a British colony, during a time of great unrest. Dinah doesn’t ever want to marry a sea-faring man, as she can’t handle the idea of marriage to a man she’d never see, but the prospects in her town don’t appeal much either.
Captain Thomas Moberly of His Majesty’s Navy is in Florida to catch an pirate, and to protect the most southern colony from the impending war… But he knows that Dinah’s brother, Jamie, is on the opposing side of this war. But what of Dinah?
Despite his reservations, Thomas can’t help but be attracted to the kind, sweet, and charming Florida belle, and to be appalled by the situations in which Dinah is forced to reside. When situations threaten to tear them apart, permanently, Thomas is forced to rethink his position.
AT THE CAPTAIN’S COMMAND is the most recent historical fiction by acclaimed, award winning author, Louise Gouge. I have enjoyed Ms. Gouge’s other books in this series and looked forward to reading this one. I also look forward to Ms. Gouge’s next book.
The behavior, speech, mannerisms, and setting are quite well researched, and it is apparent in this book. Ms. Gouge’s characters are distinct in their voice, and one could easily imagine the turmoil this community must feel with the Revolutionary war looming in the near future. Readers of historical fiction will appreciate the time and effort put into this book that is more than just a charming romance, but a history lesson as well. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book. $5.50. 300 pages.
Author: Louise M. Gouge
Publisher: Love Inspired Historical
April 2011
ISBN: 978-0-373-82865-4
Genre: Inspirational/historical Romance
Dinah Templeton lives with her foster sister, Anne, and Anne’s husband in Florida, a British colony, during a time of great unrest. Dinah doesn’t ever want to marry a sea-faring man, as she can’t handle the idea of marriage to a man she’d never see, but the prospects in her town don’t appeal much either.
Captain Thomas Moberly of His Majesty’s Navy is in Florida to catch an pirate, and to protect the most southern colony from the impending war… But he knows that Dinah’s brother, Jamie, is on the opposing side of this war. But what of Dinah?
Despite his reservations, Thomas can’t help but be attracted to the kind, sweet, and charming Florida belle, and to be appalled by the situations in which Dinah is forced to reside. When situations threaten to tear them apart, permanently, Thomas is forced to rethink his position.
AT THE CAPTAIN’S COMMAND is the most recent historical fiction by acclaimed, award winning author, Louise Gouge. I have enjoyed Ms. Gouge’s other books in this series and looked forward to reading this one. I also look forward to Ms. Gouge’s next book.
The behavior, speech, mannerisms, and setting are quite well researched, and it is apparent in this book. Ms. Gouge’s characters are distinct in their voice, and one could easily imagine the turmoil this community must feel with the Revolutionary war looming in the near future. Readers of historical fiction will appreciate the time and effort put into this book that is more than just a charming romance, but a history lesson as well. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book. $5.50. 300 pages.
April 12, 2011
Dinah Templeton spots three handsome Naval officers and discovers one of them is her kinsman, Captain Thomas Moberly, whom she hasn’t met. The captain’s brother is married to her cousin and his sister is married to Dinah’s brother.
Dinah is splashed with “love at first sight” as they become acquainted. They enjoy spending time together, but she vows she will never marry a sea-faring man.
Since her parent’s deaths, she is almost destitute so doesn’t dress as most of the women with whom the captain usually is in contact on shore. Yet, when Moberly sees Dinah, he says, “Who would expect to find such beauty in this backward colony?”
Dinah lives with Artemis and Anne Hussey. Mrs. Hussey is a kind young woman reared by the Gardiner sisters of the Nantucket Friends Meeting, as Dinah was. Anne is one of Dinah’s friends. Her husband, Artemis, however, is wicked and covetous of money and prestige. So he arranges a marriage for Dinah to the wealthy Mr. Richland.
Yet, Dinah has a standing proposal with Mr. Waterston, the short, paunchy proprietor of the General Store..
The United States is engaged in the Revolutionary War and Captain Moberly’s work involves capturing pirates who intercept British vessels. His biggest target is the pirate Nighthawk, who brags he will never be captured.
Among Dinah’s tangled web of relatives are some who fight for the Americans. Will Nighhawk kill the captain? Will the captain kill the pirate? How will the battle affect Dinah?
Louise Gouge does a great job weaving life-like characters from another era into a compelling story. I recommend this book.
Note: The author and Love Inspired Publishers provided me a review copy of At the Captain’s Command.
Dinah is splashed with “love at first sight” as they become acquainted. They enjoy spending time together, but she vows she will never marry a sea-faring man.
Since her parent’s deaths, she is almost destitute so doesn’t dress as most of the women with whom the captain usually is in contact on shore. Yet, when Moberly sees Dinah, he says, “Who would expect to find such beauty in this backward colony?”
Dinah lives with Artemis and Anne Hussey. Mrs. Hussey is a kind young woman reared by the Gardiner sisters of the Nantucket Friends Meeting, as Dinah was. Anne is one of Dinah’s friends. Her husband, Artemis, however, is wicked and covetous of money and prestige. So he arranges a marriage for Dinah to the wealthy Mr. Richland.
Yet, Dinah has a standing proposal with Mr. Waterston, the short, paunchy proprietor of the General Store..
The United States is engaged in the Revolutionary War and Captain Moberly’s work involves capturing pirates who intercept British vessels. His biggest target is the pirate Nighthawk, who brags he will never be captured.
Among Dinah’s tangled web of relatives are some who fight for the Americans. Will Nighhawk kill the captain? Will the captain kill the pirate? How will the battle affect Dinah?
Louise Gouge does a great job weaving life-like characters from another era into a compelling story. I recommend this book.
Note: The author and Love Inspired Publishers provided me a review copy of At the Captain’s Command.
April 5, 2011
If you love romance novels, if you love to know that in the end, the hero and his lady will be together despite all the obstacles that frustrated them, and especially if you like learning a bit of history along the way, Louise M. Gouge's new book is exactly right for you! Furthermore, if you've read some of her previous books, you'll be glad to know that characters from those books also serve as background characters for this one. My favorite parts of this book were the history section--we don't think of Florida as a major center for colonial activities, usually--and the way that the characters were able to laugh at themselves. For example, our hero decides to ply the heroine with his heartfelt and brilliant poetry, but then discovers he's really wretched at writing it! His brother suggests that he fall back on Shakespeare, but when he attempts to do that, he further discovers that his lady doesn't care for poetry anyway--no matter who wrote it. There's a good deal of understated humor in this novel and I found it very refreshing. I also found it unique that despite a certain amount of sympathy for colonial issues, the main characters were firm British loyalists--and never changed their minds about it. This is a different point of view than most American books about that era exhibit, and it adds to the book's strengths. This book is a delightful evening's entertainment.
May 25, 2011
Over all, great book, great story line, great characters. Mrs Gouge has really done her research into what things must have been like around the time of the revolutionary war. I could invision in my mind the walls of the fort she described, and the british ships in her majestys navy. The ending i will say was very surprising! It was quite a twist in a book that was becoming slightly boring after the whole i love you, you love me lets get married.
Two problems i had with this book. Number one being, Why are all women in historical novels depcited as swooning weak creatures. They ''faint'' they ''take deep breaths to steady themselves'' I dont get it.
Number two. The character Anne, she was a quaker and there for spoke as one as well. Her sentences went a little like this. Whilt thou please do as thy is told!
That gets annoying after page 210.
After thinking about it there is one other thing i have a problem with. When i read love storys i like for them to be completley fake. I want the man in the story to be practically perfect in every way ( a little like mary poppins ;)
The guy just leaves this chick hangin, and has no excuse for it. Yet she willingly take him back with no problem. I mean WHAT??? By nature that whole part made me reject this whole story, until i took into account that i spent hours reading it, and up until that part it had been pretty good.
Two problems i had with this book. Number one being, Why are all women in historical novels depcited as swooning weak creatures. They ''faint'' they ''take deep breaths to steady themselves'' I dont get it.
Number two. The character Anne, she was a quaker and there for spoke as one as well. Her sentences went a little like this. Whilt thou please do as thy is told!
That gets annoying after page 210.
After thinking about it there is one other thing i have a problem with. When i read love storys i like for them to be completley fake. I want the man in the story to be practically perfect in every way ( a little like mary poppins ;)
The guy just leaves this chick hangin, and has no excuse for it. Yet she willingly take him back with no problem. I mean WHAT??? By nature that whole part made me reject this whole story, until i took into account that i spent hours reading it, and up until that part it had been pretty good.
April 9, 2011
This book gives you a glimpses of history and what people went through during the time of America's fight for independence. Like in any war, families can be torn apart or brought together. We can fall in love with those on the other side of an issue and have to choose which is more important, the issue or the person we love.
The characters came alive to me as I read. They are easy love and care about. There are a few that are just as easy to dislike. It takes place in Florida, a place I never thought of when it came to the Revolutionary War. I didn't know Florida was under British rule then. That is one of the things I love about Historicals, I get a history lesson intertwined in a great story.
It also gave you a look at how families need healing and forgiveness for things in the past that have driven a wedge between them. It showed even though you may not have an earthly father as an example of love you could still learn to understand and accept God in that roll.
I recommend you get this book, as well as the two before it (they are listed below). You will enjoy this time reading about the Moberly family as they sort out their lives and loyalties in the midst of the Revolutionary War.
The characters came alive to me as I read. They are easy love and care about. There are a few that are just as easy to dislike. It takes place in Florida, a place I never thought of when it came to the Revolutionary War. I didn't know Florida was under British rule then. That is one of the things I love about Historicals, I get a history lesson intertwined in a great story.
It also gave you a look at how families need healing and forgiveness for things in the past that have driven a wedge between them. It showed even though you may not have an earthly father as an example of love you could still learn to understand and accept God in that roll.
I recommend you get this book, as well as the two before it (they are listed below). You will enjoy this time reading about the Moberly family as they sort out their lives and loyalties in the midst of the Revolutionary War.
April 7, 2011
I've enjoyed Louise Gouge's writing for years. Her prose is smooth and rich like fine wine. And this book is no exception. Set during the Revolutionary war, A British naval captain falls in love with a woman whose loyalties toward the crown are dubious at best. Not to mention she has vowed never to marry a man in the navy. And if things are bad enough her benefactor is determined to marry her to another man for political gain. As you can see there is plenty of tension to keep the story flowing. But even more than that, this story is a sweet, endearing love story that will have you sighing with delight at every turn. ( And sometimes laughing, crying, and sitting on the edge of your seat!) Captain Moberly is every woman's dream. He's such an honorable gentleman. And there were some touching moments between he and Dinah that got my heart pumping. Add to that a unique setting in Colonial Florida, and you have a winner! Don't miss this wonderful book!
April 22, 2011
First, I want to say how refreshing it is to visit historical eras outside the norm. Secondly, I want to give kudos to the author for taking on a difficult task with this series.There are always at least two sides to every tale and Gouge has done an excellent job of spinning both. It can’t be easy having heroes from opposite sides of a war, especially when they’re brothers.
After having read the first book from this series I had no idea what to expect from Louise M. Gouge. I was pleasantly surprised in an odd sort of way. I was drawn into At the Captain’s Command from the very first. Gouge pulled me in so tightly that I was already feeling Dinah’s heartbreak within the first few pages. With Dinah and Thomas’ families divided in their loyalties I could see no possible way for this story to end well. But, even though there was some sadness (chosing the man she loves over her brother), the author proved it could be done and wrapped it up neatly with a very satisfying ending.
After having read the first book from this series I had no idea what to expect from Louise M. Gouge. I was pleasantly surprised in an odd sort of way. I was drawn into At the Captain’s Command from the very first. Gouge pulled me in so tightly that I was already feeling Dinah’s heartbreak within the first few pages. With Dinah and Thomas’ families divided in their loyalties I could see no possible way for this story to end well. But, even though there was some sadness (chosing the man she loves over her brother), the author proved it could be done and wrapped it up neatly with a very satisfying ending.
May 18, 2013
I won this and two other of Louise Gouge's books at a raffle at my Central Florida Romance Writer's meeting. I am so NOT into Christian fic, but I would have missed a great read if I had passed these over.
Well written, perfectly paced, the characters drew me in from the beginning. I had also never read a historical based in Florida--I was amazed at the amount of history my current state has in relation to the Revolutionary War.
I haven't zipped through three books so quickly in years. Part of the speed of reading was the short length of the books (typical Regency-sized, around 180 pages, give or take, if I remember right); the other part was how easily I was drawn in and how badly I wanted to return when life took me away. I definitely recommend this book, as well as the others in the series, to anyone who wants a good read done right.
Well written, perfectly paced, the characters drew me in from the beginning. I had also never read a historical based in Florida--I was amazed at the amount of history my current state has in relation to the Revolutionary War.
I haven't zipped through three books so quickly in years. Part of the speed of reading was the short length of the books (typical Regency-sized, around 180 pages, give or take, if I remember right); the other part was how easily I was drawn in and how badly I wanted to return when life took me away. I definitely recommend this book, as well as the others in the series, to anyone who wants a good read done right.
July 15, 2013
Very artificial love story. Everything happened too easy for the two main characters, there was no conflict. There were a couple chapters near the end, where I thought "finally, the story is getting good," but then I read more and was let down. Perhaps the Harlequin book/story "mold" was too short of a venue for what Gouge wanted to convey with her characters. I think that if she heightened the tension between the characters, her audience will be rewarded with a nail-biter story.
This is a Love Inspired Harlequin book, which means that faith is present within the story. This did not unsettle me, since Gouge wove it in seamlessly, making faith a central point for the characters to base their actions off of.
Not a book I will keep.
This is a Love Inspired Harlequin book, which means that faith is present within the story. This did not unsettle me, since Gouge wove it in seamlessly, making faith a central point for the characters to base their actions off of.
Not a book I will keep.
May 14, 2011
The 3rd book in her Revolutionary series.
Thomas Moberly is a Captain in the English Navy and he is stationed at St Augustine, Florida when he finally meets the sister and cousin to his brother in law and sister in law, Dinah Templeton.
Even though there are 10 years between them and Dinah has sworn never to marry a seaman, there is an immediate attraction.
They are both in the mind set that England is right and they have no idea that their other family members support the rebels.
Very enjoyable and at times adventurous and stressful tales within these books.
Thomas Moberly is a Captain in the English Navy and he is stationed at St Augustine, Florida when he finally meets the sister and cousin to his brother in law and sister in law, Dinah Templeton.
Even though there are 10 years between them and Dinah has sworn never to marry a seaman, there is an immediate attraction.
They are both in the mind set that England is right and they have no idea that their other family members support the rebels.
Very enjoyable and at times adventurous and stressful tales within these books.
June 1, 2011
The unfortunate thing about this book is that I read it on the heels of a new book by Allie Pleiter, and it just didn't stand up. A good historical Christian romance, but there's not much else to say about it. I really wanted to love it, but just couldn't get myself beyond "like".
May 29, 2011
I really loved this book. Louise did a great job with this story of her Revolutionary War Series.
July 24, 2012
Just could not get into this one at all.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews