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Peninsular War #3
An Uncommon Campaign
April, 1811.
Lord Wellington has led his army to the Spanish border where the French occupy their last stronghold in Portugal at Almeida. As the two armies face each other in the village of Fuentes de Onoro, Colonel Paul van Daan finds himself in command of a brigade and is trying to manage resentment at his early promotion. His young wife is carrying her first child and showing no signs of allowing her delicate situation to get in the way of her normal activities much to the disapproval of the rest of the army.
With General Craufurd not back from leave and Lord Wellington’s army looking uncomfortably stretched, Paul is concerned that for once his commander in chief has made the wrong decision which might endanger not only the light division but the whole Allied army. And if that is not enough, Paul encounters a French colonel during battle who seems to have taken their rivalry personally with potentially lethal consequences for his brigade.
Lord Wellington has led his army to the Spanish border where the French occupy their last stronghold in Portugal at Almeida. As the two armies face each other in the village of Fuentes de Onoro, Colonel Paul van Daan finds himself in command of a brigade and is trying to manage resentment at his early promotion. His young wife is carrying her first child and showing no signs of allowing her delicate situation to get in the way of her normal activities much to the disapproval of the rest of the army.
With General Craufurd not back from leave and Lord Wellington’s army looking uncomfortably stretched, Paul is concerned that for once his commander in chief has made the wrong decision which might endanger not only the light division but the whole Allied army. And if that is not enough, Paul encounters a French colonel during battle who seems to have taken their rivalry personally with potentially lethal consequences for his brigade.
405 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 26, 2017
81 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Bryant
29 books34 followersLynn Bryant was born and raised in London’s East End. She studied History at University and had dreams of being a writer from a young age. Since this was clearly not something a working class girl made good could aspire to, she had a variety of careers including a librarian, NHS administrator, relationship counsellor and manager of an art gallery before realising that most of these were just as unlikely as being a writer and took the step of publishing her first book.
She now lives in the Isle of Man and is married to a man who understands technology, which saves her a job, and has two teenage children and a labrador. History is still a passion, with a particular enthusiasm for the Napoleonic era and the sixteenth century. When not writing she plays with her dog, reads anything that’s put in front of her and makes periodic and unsuccessful attempts to keep a tidy house.
“An Unwilling Alliance” the first book in the Manxman series was shortlisted for the 2019 Society for Army Historical Research fiction prize.
She now lives in the Isle of Man and is married to a man who understands technology, which saves her a job, and has two teenage children and a labrador. History is still a passion, with a particular enthusiasm for the Napoleonic era and the sixteenth century. When not writing she plays with her dog, reads anything that’s put in front of her and makes periodic and unsuccessful attempts to keep a tidy house.
“An Unwilling Alliance” the first book in the Manxman series was shortlisted for the 2019 Society for Army Historical Research fiction prize.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 25, 2018
I have been reading Ms Bryant's series with increasing speed as I am getting into the characters, and I am more and more impressed by the way she is able to weave fictional and nonfictional stories together in her books. This one, I think, does the best job of it so far. In this book, Paul van Daan makes a determined and reckless enemy in a French cavalry colonel, who holds him and his regiment responsible for a military defeat. As the book progresses, however, Paul comes to realise that the dangers of military life are found both on and off the battlefield. Military politics hovered in the background of the previous book in the series, but in the second half of this book they come centre stage when a serious blunder is committed within the higher echelons of Wellington's officer corps. The fall-out also forces Paul to revisit some of his own preconceptions about officers he has served with in the past, and also about his trust in the commander-in-chief himself.
I would not recommend new readers start with this book, but only because the main characters are often found dealing with issues and storylines begun in previous books. What I would recommend is that new readers go and start at the beginning and work up, because this series is absolutely worth your time and attention. I also envy you your chance to be introduced to Paul and Anne van Daan for the first time.
I would not recommend new readers start with this book, but only because the main characters are often found dealing with issues and storylines begun in previous books. What I would recommend is that new readers go and start at the beginning and work up, because this series is absolutely worth your time and attention. I also envy you your chance to be introduced to Paul and Anne van Daan for the first time.
September 20, 2019
A series worth reading!
I'm totally enjoying this series about a fictional British light infantry under overall command by Lord Wellington during the Napoleonic Wars.
The ongoing saga of Colonel van Daan's impressive career and love life just gets better as the inclusion of the lives of his men gets more interesting.
The scenes of battle and the strategies behind them along with the political implications of this era are covered in a very well conceived and written plot. Regimental life is hard and described so well it's hard to imagine. Being a woman, especially one like Anne married to the dashing colonel, shows so much strength as their men fight. This author has given voice to these women.
A definite great series for readers of historical
fiction and romance!
I'm totally enjoying this series about a fictional British light infantry under overall command by Lord Wellington during the Napoleonic Wars.
The ongoing saga of Colonel van Daan's impressive career and love life just gets better as the inclusion of the lives of his men gets more interesting.
The scenes of battle and the strategies behind them along with the political implications of this era are covered in a very well conceived and written plot. Regimental life is hard and described so well it's hard to imagine. Being a woman, especially one like Anne married to the dashing colonel, shows so much strength as their men fight. This author has given voice to these women.
A definite great series for readers of historical
fiction and romance!
July 31, 2017
Its not often I look forward to a book the way I do these. This one was just as good. Love the main characters, love the historical detail and love to see the hero get things wrong sometimes, he’s not perfect. The side plots are good, dialogue is brilliant and often very funny. Little details make the characters seem so human like General Craufurd enjoying creeping up on Paul and Anne struggling with being pregnant. I also like that most characters are not black and white, so we see a different side to Longford who seemed to be all bad in the other books. Wellington is grumpier in this one too.
These books make me want to know more about the history and at the end I’m always on Wikipedia looking things up. Fantastic series, just love them.
These books make me want to know more about the history and at the end I’m always on Wikipedia looking things up. Fantastic series, just love them.
November 2, 2018
Another excellent story in this series. Major van Daan continues to grow as a character as we follow his exploits through the real events of the Peninsular War. I enjoy the way the author weaves in the actual history of Wellington's campaign into the fictional story of Paul, his wife, and the other officers. I'm also enjoying the development of secondary characters' stories. Totally engrossing!
March 17, 2022
A magnificent, intricate tale of love and war during Napoleonic times
After becoming acquainted with Lynn Bryant's mastery of the subject and the obvious empathy within which it was encased, I was greatly relieved to realize that this was a generous multi-volume series . Hooray! I could enjoy this adventure and heroic characters for much longer.
After becoming acquainted with Lynn Bryant's mastery of the subject and the obvious empathy within which it was encased, I was greatly relieved to realize that this was a generous multi-volume series . Hooray! I could enjoy this adventure and heroic characters for much longer.
June 1, 2022
Better and Better
It’s historically accurate… the characters are complex and very human… and I find myself sad that I’ve finished reading this book. You can easily follow the battles on a map but the well-written characters keep you engrossed in the story. The first two books were well-written but this third in the series is better.
It’s historically accurate… the characters are complex and very human… and I find myself sad that I’ve finished reading this book. You can easily follow the battles on a map but the well-written characters keep you engrossed in the story. The first two books were well-written but this third in the series is better.
November 6, 2022
I am only continuing to read this series because I know a lot about the Peninsular wars. The most annoying part of the books is the constant threats of bodily harm ("I'll chuck him through the window" or "She'll take a scalpel to you, laddie, if you...") that seldom actually happen. Plus there is too muc reaffirmation of how much they love one another. Cloying and boring.
September 5, 2021
A cracking story with characters steadily evolving as the series progresses
If you like stories that develop slowly building the richness as the activity levels rise and fall this series is one for you.
If you like stories that develop slowly building the richness as the activity levels rise and fall this series is one for you.
April 17, 2023
flushing the French out of Portugal completely
These are grand stories of the English campaigns of the Napoleonic wars.
The cast of characters continues to grow both fictional and historical.
Thoroughly entertaining.
These are grand stories of the English campaigns of the Napoleonic wars.
The cast of characters continues to grow both fictional and historical.
Thoroughly entertaining.
April 24, 2024
Enjoyable history and people
The author’s discussion if the factual and modified history adds context which helps in retaining. Some of the women would fit well in the 20th Century.
The author’s discussion if the factual and modified history adds context which helps in retaining. Some of the women would fit well in the 20th Century.
January 15, 2023
Very good
Thoroughly enjoyable read. There is a! great deal of historical military history about and this is definitely higher quality than most!
Thoroughly enjoyable read. There is a! great deal of historical military history about and this is definitely higher quality than most!
January 12, 2025
Another good book about the Peninsular War by Lynn Bryant. Well researched and written, with good characters.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews