Rating: 
Summary: Provocative and Compelling Read!
Review: Setting - Spain Napoleonic War circa 1816 --- Set during the siege as English troops retreated to the Portugal border is this most alluring, sensitive and evocative regency that I've read in quite some time. The story begins with a prelude and introduces us to a sprightly 10 year old daughter of a career soldier and his sickly wife. Elinore 'Nell' Mason at the age of 10 is more the caretaker of the family than her father, the irresponsible sergeant Bertie Mason and his long suffering wife. She is taken in hand by the kindly Chief of the medical unit, Captain Sheffield, who gives her chores that she tackles with remarkable determination and perseverance of one so young. Captain Jesse Randall, is a young intern who admires the young child then goes off, assigned to Canada for 8 years, returning battle hardened and then finding that Nell, the child, has grown into a beautiful young lady. Jesse, who is as renowned for his medical skill and dedication to his patients, is also renowned as well for his unassuming manner and intense shyness towards the girl he has come to love. Upon the death of Nell's mother, her father is compelled to barter her off to the despicable Major Bones, if he cannot produce the monies that Bones advanced to him. In trying to save Nell from this fate, Jesse is somewhat (even though he's been in love with her for two years) coerced into a quickie marriage so that her father cannot trade her off to pay his debts. In response to Jesse upsetting his plans, the odious Major makes sure that Jesse and Nell's medical unit gets left behind, and on there own as the French advanced and the main English army retreated. The 'journey' then, was a remarkably written tale of the rag tag bunch of, physically and emotionally wounded men that made the journey, their various adventures and their individual growth so very outstanding. Not your usual bit of fluff regency but one with full body and fully developed characters whose lives all changed during the 'journey'. Elinore "Nell" is a heroine who will certainly claim a piece of your heart as she claimed Jesse's. Jesse's shyness over the love he felt for Nell, that he couldn't believe would ever be returned was so sweet, you'll just want to cry. Harper and Wilkie, Jesse and Nell's self-appointed bodyguards were also a delight and you will cheer as I did, that the comeuppance for the odious Major Bones came to such a wonderful conclusion. Again, this was a very provocative and compelling read that I HIGHLY suggest be placed at the top of your reading lists! -- Submitted by Marilyn Rondeau, Official Reviewer for www.historicalromancewriters.com---
Rating:
Summary: I feel honoured and humbled
Review: What to say about Carla Kelly's latest book? Words almost fail me as I have been overwhelmed by it. Others have summed up the plot very well so I won't go over it again. I just want to add to the cheers and applause that have already been registered. I am very interested in military history, most specifically Wellington's Peninsular campaign as I have said in several reviews I have posted about Kelly and other authors so this story was particularly of interest to me; I was truly rewarded by reading it. (Marjorie Farrell writes well about this episode of British history as well.) The Wedding Journey was unlike anything I (and I am sure most Regency fans) have ever encountered. It is the story of ordinary people caught up in momentous and dangerous circumstances who become truly heroic in the truest and most meaningful sense of the word. The way that Kelly portrays the circumstances of a "daughter of the regiment", the internal frustrations and spiritual journey of a surgeon from a Catholic Scottish family (well done here for educating him abroad, Carla Kelly - I hope others picked up on what this was all about!), the redemption of some of Wellington's "scum of the earth" - eg Harper and Wilkes, and the meaning of friendship (the French surgeon Phillipe) is a humbling experience for the reader. Against a backdrop of fear, filth and fraught circumstances, a deep and abiding love develops between Captain Jesse Cameron Randall and Elinore Mason. Everything that happens to them on their "wedding journey" is so well portrayed that you can feel the mud encrusting their clothes, feel the pain of their hunger, the depths of their despair, their fear of exposure and hostility of their Spanish hosts. I can only hope most sincerely that Kelly continues writing for Signet. I understood from an on-line interview that she had agreed to a 2 book contract and this would be the second book, I believe. This novel is her best effort to date - it is deeply satisfying and, whilst sometimes painful to read, her best "love" story. Read it and then consider some of the other offerings available in this genre. Sometimes there is no comparison. If this book does not win a few awards, there is something wrong with those who judge such contests. I feel honoured to have read it.
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