Miss Truelove Beckons by Donna Simpson

WITH HER, HE KNEW PEACE
The joyous celebrations held in honour of his return from the war are wasted on Wycliffe Prescott, Viscount Drake--as are his mother's gentle reminders that he must now set up his nursery. How can he think of marriage when the horrors of Waterloo haunt his sleep each night? Yet when company arrives for the summer, Drake finds himself drawn to one guest in particular--and charmed when he hears her name: Miss Truelove Beckons. An innocent mistake, of course, for her surname is Becket--but Drake can't help feeling that she may be his only hope of healing...

WITH HIM, SHE KNEW LOVE
A vicar's daughter, True has come to Lea Park with her future vexingly undecided. A proposal of marriage from her father's curate might be the sensible course of action, but True can't resist the utterly impractical hours she spends with handsome, brooding Drake--especially when he seems soothed by her understanding words and gentle silences. By rights, a friendship is all she can hope for with a man so far above her station, yet as the warm summer days pass, True knows that she longs for something much sweeter...

This has become one of my favourite books. The story had its fun but there was a much more serious theme running through it. I found this book really hard to put down as I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen!

The hero of the story, Lord Drake, a wounded (in more ways than just physically) ex-solider, was a character I really felt and fell for. As you went through the story you could see how deeply he had been affected by his experiences during the war (with a recurring nightmare to remind him every night of such horrid memories).

Then along comes the heroine, Miss Becket, who is a calm and caring woman who seems to radiate peace. She is a willing listener to the horrid stories Drake has to tell of the war, too horrid that most other people will not hear them. As he talks more and more to Miss Becket about his experiences you can't help but feel sorry for him, but as he does talk more and more to Miss Becket she begins to help the internal wound from the war to heal, as well as fall in love with him (I don't know how she wouldn't, anyone with a heart would! I certainly did!)

There are some extremely annoying love-to-hate secondary characters in the story and a few other side plots, but they all link into the main story meaning it doesn't feel confused. There are quite a few point of view changes but never any in quick succession and never any out of place. (The main points of view we read from are the hero and heroine though.)

Overall, it is well written and flows brilliantly. A wonderful heart-wrenching and romantic tale, not without its humour, showing just how deeply affecting the experiences and memories of a war really go, beyond the physical injuries to the body, deep down to the wounds to the very soul.

I highly recommend this wonderful regency story.
 
Your affectionate friend,