Barbara L. (Barbllm) reviewed on 10/13/2014 + 241 more book reviews

Regina Scott crafts a lovely romance set in Regency England in The Husband Campaign. The plot device of marriage of convenience is utilized, as Lady Amelia spends the night unmolested in the stables of handsome, psychologically damaged Lord John Hascot. In a previous novel The Wife Campaign, Lady Amelia declares she will only marry for love, and this seems to be the answer to her prayers. While no proper gentleman in London society would have her, if she marries John she would be free of the matchmaking attempts foisted upon her by her meddling parents. Amelias parents would appear to be the main villains of the novel, as they are both scheming and horrible, caring only for their own interests.

John, meanwhile, has been betrayed by his brother, who married Johns love Caroline (Caro). Johns brother is now dead and John has busied himself raising and breeding horses. Neither John nor Amelia had a particularly happy upbringing, and the two must learn to love and trust each other. The campaign begins when Amelia realizes that she truly does love John and that she wants to make a real marriage out of their relationship.

What I found impressive is how deep the author takes up within Johns and Amelias lives in a relatively short novel. We learn that Amelias parents wanted a male heir and that they are basically parents in name only, caring little for what Amelia wants. John finds their treatment of Amelia shameful and its heartening to see her eventually stand up for herself.

Watching the resolution of John and Amelias storyand how their marriage survives and thrivesdespite her parents, his initial disinterest in being married, and his old flame Caroline unexpectedly showing up is heartwarming. Highly recommended.

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