Summer Campaign

The heroine is an illegitimate orphan, engaged to a sanctimonious, hypocritical vicar. On her way to renovate the dilapidated vicarage, helped only by her childhood governess, she is attacked by highwaymen and saved by a poorly dressed returned soldier who is not whom he seems. He is shot in the shoulder, and the two get to know one another when they pretend to be married so the the heroine can nurse the hero back to health. There is less heavy-handed moralising than in other books I've read by Carla Kelly, but there is a ridiculous twists on the way to the happy ending. Much too tidy. Far too forgiving.

It is not an easy thing to maintain suspense in a Regency romance, but Carla Kelly had me turning pages all night with Summer Campaign. It is 1813 and Major Jack Beresford, formerly of His Majesty's 45th Foot, is a veteran of a series of ghastly sieges in Spain while serving under Wellington. While all his physical wounds have healed, he is an emotional wreck. He is back in England after selling out, and can not return to his home fast enough.

Miss Onyx Hamilton is practically invisible at the beginning of the story. In fact she has worked hard to protect herself from hostile circumstances by detaching herself from them. Now she has been forced by those circumstances to accept the marriage proposal of a suitor she finds repulsive. Her show more fiancé has ordered her to go to the vicarage that will be their home to begin massive repairs (without the means to affect them) while he is attending a meeting elsewhere.

Major Beresford and Miss Hamilton meet on the road under dramatic circumstances. From the moment their lives intersect, their compatibility and complementary needs begin to manifest as each begins their healing journey with the support and caring of the other.

Their paths are littered with significant problems that force Jack and Onyx to face intimate feelings that would normally remain submerged. While their mutual feelings for each other grow, the obstacles to a union between them are real and significant. Will they marry? Will each suffer a lifetime of loss and regret? You will not know for sure until the last few pages.

Regrettably this book is out-of-print, but I echo Mary Balogh’s commendation on the back cover, “Summer Campaign is more than just a good Regency. It is a good book…one after my own heart.” show less

Usually I like all of Carla Kelley's books. This one just seemed somewhat ahistorical and less authentic than most of her other books. Characters move about England at amazing speeds for one thing. And the Marquis's home seems amazingly empty of servants, e.g., a housekeeper. The bailiff leaves before the main characters arrive at the Marquis's home but no explanation is made. The Marquis is deathly ill but is apparently left alone with no night nurse. There are several implausibilities which just threw me out of the story.

Blurb:

Miss Onyx Hamilton is about to make what everyone agrees is a perfect marriage―until handsome Major Jack Beresford comes galloping into her life. But with his fortune and connections, Onyx knows he’d never ask for her hand, would he? New and longtime fans alike will relish this delightful romance from Carla Kelly. Charming, sweet, and full of fun, it’s simply impossible to put down.

Wow, the blurb was absolutely right. I couldn't put it down.

This is another wonderful Carla Kelly story, with a war-weary, teasing rogue of a hero and a heroine who believes that marriage to a prosy, hypocritical parson is the best she can hope for. (Really, her fiance makes Mr. Collins look like an ideal husband.)

With a large cast of secondary show more characters, there's adventure, romance, tragedy, and healing in this lovely story. (One unnecessary and unconvincing disclosure near the end did not bother me enough to deduct even half of a star.)

Any fan of Carla Kelly will love this book. show less

4 stars

This is a good clean regency romance. I liked the characters, liked the banter, lots of drama. Dealing with PTSD but they did not call it that, drug use, about judging others by their birth. It is good at keeping my attention.

Miss Onyx Hamilton had a good life till her adoptive father died. She was not accepted by the rest of her family. She is sweet , smart, and kind. She is engaged to marry a man of the cloth.

Onyx is in a coach to go and set up her future home when she was being robbed and worst when she is rescued.
Major Jack Beresford is on his way home after being away four years to war in Spain. He takes a hand rescuing Onyx. He is wounded. Onyx than rescues him.

I like Jack and Onyx together they are struggling with show more different issues but get along really well and enjoy there make believe life.

The setting takes place in England during the Regency era.

I was given this ebook to read by Cedar Fort Publishing. In return I agree to give a honest review of Summer Campaign and be part of its blog tour. show less