Title: Miss Truelove Beckons
Series:
Author: Donna Lea Simpson
Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance
Published: February 9, 2015
Source: NetGalley
Story Blurb:
When Truelove Becket’s betrothed went missing in a naval battle, she vowed never to marry unless she found someone she loved as much. In the seven years since then, the quiet vicar’s daughter has lived a simple and contented life helping the poor people of her village. But now another man has asked for her hand in marriage and, unsure if she is ready to commit to him, she agrees to accompany her beautiful cousin Arabella on a trip to visit friends so she can take time to think it over.
Viscount Drake cut a dashing figure when he returned from war to a hero’s welcome, but the Battle of Waterloo left him a shattered and haunted man. As his dreams are invaded by the terrors of war he becomes a sleepless shell of a man, and as his torment grows he begins to wonder if marriage to the lovely Arabella will help restore him again. But as Arabella coquettishly flirts to secure Drake’s hand and his riches, it is the pretty and practical True he turns to for solace.
With the weight of her marriage proposal bearing down on her, True finds herself irresistibly attracted to Drake’s quiet dignity and genuine distress, just as he finds himself drawn to her honest nature and soothing compassion. When a spark of passion ignites between these two who have both lost so much to war, they will have to confront their biggest fears—and everyone else’s plans for their futures—to discover if love can truly cure all ills.
Read on for my thoughts on Miss Truelove Beckons. No true spoilers, promise.
If one is very lucky love will find them again – even when it seems to take forever to arrive.
True had found an amazing love. One man she could love forever and know with absolute certainty that her love was returned just as strongly. Life is not always kind. When True’s love was lost during the war, she made a vow to never marry without love, no matter how long it might take to find it again. It would take a very long time.
More than seven years have passed and True is faced with a difficult decision. She has been asked to marry – but does she really feel that she can accept this proposal when the man does not have her heart in the way her first love did? Her completely spoiled, beautiful cousin is heading out on a trip, True decides to go with her in order to clear her mind and make her final decision.
Miss Truelove Beckons is a lovely Regency romance. It is touching, charming and I found realistic. We often hear of Heroes going off to ‘the war’ and coming back changed. But that change is never really explored within the novel. Viscount Drake was at the Battle of Waterloo and while history looks back on the Regency period with fuzzy glasses now – in reality many of the men who returned from that war were suffering from Post Traumatic Syndrome Disorder. And why should we be surprised when a modern day real disorder for many men and women veterans also shows up in the heroes of past wars. I feel certain that war was just as horrible hundreds of years ago as it is today.
The reason I mention this in a review of a romantic novel is simple. I enjoy the touches of reality in the novels I read. And I feel that PTSD was touched on very honestly, and in context of the time in this novel. For that, I can only applaud Ms. Simpson for bringing the reality of war into a novel in such a way that does have an effect on the Hero and Heroine’s love for each other.
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and would gladly recommend it to those who love Historical or Regency Romance. I’d give it a 4 outta 5 on my rating scale.
*I received an e-ARC of Miss Truelove Beckons from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*
Miss Truelove Beckons is available at Amazon for the Kindle.
