An Officer’s Vow
(Gentlemen Book 2)
By Penny Hampson
The future looks bleak to Major Nate Crawford.
Depressed after being sent home from the Peninsular Campaign as unfit for
service, he contemplates ending it all. Then an unexpected opportunity for
adventure beckons in the shape of a delightfully intriguing runaway heiress. He
will prove his worth as an officer and a gentleman by offering his help. He has
a plan…Lottie Benham is desperate. Her life is in danger and she needs a place
of safety until her next birthday. The unexpected proposal from this attractive,
but intimidating officer could be the answer to her prayers. Not normally a
risk-taker, she decides to gamble all by placing her trust in this charismatic
gentleman, who she suspects might be more in need of help than she.But the best
laid plans… Caught up in conflict, danger, and deception, will Lottie and Nate
survive to find the perfect solution to their problems? An Officer’s Vow is the
second in Penny Hampson’s Regency-set Gentlemen series, following the exploits
and misadventures of a loosely linked group of friends.
Penny Hampson Writes History, Mystery, and… a touch of
Romance.
“So you see, I had no option but to
run…”
If she had stayed in her
family home, Charlotte - Lottie -
Benham would have been forced to marry her cousin. Cousin Jonah was the epitome
of a blackguard. Jonah wants her money and nothing more. She even overheard him
talking about having her put away in an asylum or worse after they were
married. Lottie had no choice but to run.
Major Nate Crawford may have
escaped with his life at the Battle of Talavera, but his life had been
irrevocably changed forever. The extent of his injuries meant that he could no
longer fight alongside his men. Instead, he had been forced to return home. His
future looked bleak, and death seemed all too appealing.
It was during her desperate
flight that Lottie crossed paths with Nate Crawford. She could not comprehend
why Nate wanted to help her. It would be far easier if he left her to her fate.
But words could not express how grateful she was for his understanding and
assistance.
Lottie thought that it was
Nate who was helping her, but Nate knew differently. She was, without knowing,
helping him come to terms with his injuries. She was the medicine that he
needed to realise that there was life outside of the army.
But... Cousin Jonah is still
a threat to Lottie. He wants her money, and there is nothing he would not do to
achieve his aims.
Filled with intrigue, danger,
love and romance, An Officer’s Vow (Gentlemen Book 2) by Penny Hampson is a
real treat for lovers of Regency Romance.
A born storyteller, Hampson
has given us a tale that is as rich in historical detailing as it is in
adventure. Hampson has presented us with a story that is impossible to resist
and even harder to put down. I enjoyed every syllable, every word, and every
sentence. The story is tautly gripping, and the romance is wonderfully tender.
I adored the characterisation
of Nate. Hampson has presented us with a hero that is easy to fall in love
with. He is honourable, kind, and so incredibly tender. The horrors that Nate
has faced on the Peninsula haunt him, which I think gave his character depth.
His struggle to come to terms with his injury was profoundly moving, and he had
almost given up when Lottie stumbles into his life. Lottie gives Nate a sense
of purpose and watching him fall in love with her made this one heck of an
enthralling tale.
Lottie has been through so
much, but she is no shrinking violet. She does not want to hide behind Nate.
She wants to be able to stand on her own two feet, which made this Regency
Romance refreshingly different from others that are out there. Nate’s struggle
to balance Lottie’s desire for independence and his desire to keep her safe,
certainly made for some interesting disagreements!
The romance between Lottie
and Nate is a slow simmering build. This is very much a sweet romance, which
really suited the story and these characters. Kudos, Ms Hampson.
If you are looking for your
next Regency Romance, then I do urge you to check out Penny Hampson’s Gentlemen
series. You won’t be disappointed.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.
Pick up your copy of
An Officer’s Vow
Penny Hampson
Having worked in various sectors before becoming a full time mum, Penny Hampson decided to follow her passion for history by studying with the Open University. She graduated with honours and went on to complete a post-graduate degree.
Penny then landed her dream role, working in an environment where she was surrounded by rare books and historical manuscripts. Flash forward nineteen years, and the opportunity came along to indulge her other main passion – writing historical fiction. Encouraged by friends and family, three years later Penny published her debut novel A Gentleman’s Promise.
Penny lives with her family in Oxfordshire, and when she is not writing, she enjoys reading, walking, swimming, and the odd gin and tonic (not all at the same time).
Thank you for this great review, Mary Anne!
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