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Gentlemen #2

An Officer's Vow

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The future looks bleak to Major Nate Crawford. Depressed after being sent home from the Peninsular Campaign as unfit for service, he contemplates ending it all. Then an unexpected opportunity for adventure beckons in the shape of a delightfully intriguing runaway heiress. He will prove his worth as an officer and a gentleman by offering his help. He has a plan…Lottie Benham is desperate. Her life is in danger and she needs a place of safety until her next birthday. The unexpected proposal from this attractive, but intimidating officer could be the answer to her prayers. Not normally a risk-taker, she decides to gamble all by placing her trust in this charismatic gentleman, who she suspects might be more in need of help than she.But the best laid plans… Caught up in conflict, danger, and deception, will Lottie and Nate survive to find the perfect solution to their problems? An Officer’s Vow is the second in Penny Hampson’s Regency-set Gentlemen series, following the exploits and misadventures of a loosely linked group of friends.Penny Hampson Writes History, Mystery, and… a touch of Romance

337 pages, ebook

Published February 20, 2019

173 people are currently reading
196 people want to read

About the author

Penny Hampson

13 books66 followers
I’ve been passionate about books ever since I first learnt to read. A common refrain at home was that I always had my nose in a book; things haven’t changed, even though I’m now somewhat older.
History is a passion too; it’s great that these two interests combine so well.
With degrees in history and historical research, I’ve spent my working life helping others to achieve publication; now I’ve decided it’s my turn.
My Regency stories are filled with mystery, adventure, and romance – my three favourite themes. I’ve enjoyed writing them and I hope you enjoy reading them.

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5 stars
300 (48%)
4 stars
173 (27%)
3 stars
108 (17%)
2 stars
32 (5%)
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6 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
Profile Image for Karren  Sandercock .
1,356 reviews417 followers
May 23, 2022
Major Nathanial Crawford was wounded in his left leg in the Peninsular Campaign and he’s now been classified as unfit for service. Despite his wound he decides to ride his horse home to Oxford, when Max is startled and he throws Nate.

Charlotte Benham overheard her cousin Jonah telling one of his unsavory friends that he plans on marrying her and getting her inheritance. Lottie runs away, she startles Nate’s horse and has to help him get back on his feet. When he hears what’s happened to her, being a gentleman he offers to assist Lottie and takes her to see her governess Miss. Harriet Spencer.

The plan is for Harriet to act as a chaperone, Lottie can stay with Nate’s father Charles Crawford and hide from Jonah until she comes of age. Nate has another idea, he and Lottie could get married and they set off for Gretna Green. Unfortunately Jonah stumbles across Lottie, Nate starts a frantic search for her, they knew he was dangerous and could cousin Jonah also be a traitor to his country?

I received a copy of An Officer’s Vow by Penny Hampson from NetGalley, BooksGoSocial and Kindle Unlimited in exchange for an honest review. This story includes details about the sinister underworld in London, spies and finding unexpected love. Three stars from me and a quick and entertaining read.
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Profile Image for HR-ML.
1,274 reviews56 followers
October 31, 2021
Regency. Not my cup of tea.

I liked the love story of Nate and Lottie @ 1st. Then it got
complicated. Both engaged in too much self-reflection.
Both said to the other too many times: "I'm sorry." Nate
had been a wounded soldier, with a left leg injury. I wish
the author had allowed him to see a doctor again for
strength exercises and/ or non-narcotic pain relief, or to
see a natural healer. Nate was a good guy: he deserved
some relief!

Lottie was too gung-ho to be a spy. What spy skills did
she have? Could she defend herself or someone else?
She needed more safety awareness & boldness does not
always equate to safety.

The story itself was too busy: 2 love stories, a spy and
treason story, Lottie's male cous wanted to importune
her & steal her money. A too managing Duke controlled
others in spy business or otherwise. A dowager viscountess
felt tacked on toward the end. Too many hits to the head.
Why allow Nate to be: hit in the head, punched & kicked
around in some scenes?

My fav scene? When Nate punched the all-knowing Duke.
That's the least he deserved for endangering civilians,
putting them in spy scenarios, and sending them in w/o
any training.
Profile Image for Anna.
1,090 reviews7 followers
March 10, 2019
I voluntarily read and reviewed an copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to the author for providing a copy of this book via Netgalley

Cute book. PG 10-12. Clean romance. Historical romance. Too much adventure and little romance for me. This book is perfect for middle grades
Profile Image for S.A. Krishnan.
Author 31 books237 followers
December 5, 2020
A classic romance between a battle scarred soldier and a lady who has lived a very sheltered life all her life. That added with a pinch of adventure and the interactions between the main characters was awesome and enjoyable. Liked it.
Profile Image for Mary Yarde.
Author 10 books167 followers
December 3, 2019


“So you see, I had no option but to run…”

If she had stayed in her family home, Charlotte - Lottie - Benham would have been forced to marry her cousin. Cousin Jonah was the epitome of a blackguard. Jonah wants her money and nothing more. She even overheard him talking about having her put away in an asylum or worse after they were married. Lottie had no choice but to run.

Major Nate Crawford may have escaped with his life at the Battle of Talavera, but his life had been irrevocably changed forever. The extent of his injuries meant that he could no longer fight alongside his men. Instead, he had been forced to return home. His future looked bleak, and death seemed all too appealing.

It was during her desperate flight that Lottie crossed paths with Nate Crawford. She could not comprehend why Nate wanted to help her. It would be far easier if he left her to her fate. But words could not express how grateful she was for his understanding and assistance.

Lottie thought that it was Nate who was helping her, but Nate knew differently. She was, without knowing, helping him come to terms with his injuries. She was the medicine that he needed to realise that there was life outside of the army.

But... Cousin Jonah is still a threat to Lottie. He wants her money, and there is nothing he would not do to achieve his aims.

Filled with intrigue, danger, love and romance, An Officer’s Vow (Gentlemen Book 2) by Penny Hampson is a real treat for lovers of Regency Romance.

A born storyteller, Hampson has given us a tale that is as rich in historical detailing as it is in adventure. Hampson has presented us with a story that is impossible to resist and even harder to put down. I enjoyed every syllable, every word, and every sentence. The story is tautly gripping, and the romance is wonderfully tender.

I adored the characterisation of Nate. Hampson has presented us with a hero that is easy to fall in love with. He is honourable, kind, and so incredibly tender. The horrors that Nate has faced on the Peninsula haunt him, which I think gave his character depth. His struggle to come to terms with his injury was profoundly moving, and he had almost given up when Lottie stumbles into his life. Lottie gives Nate a sense of purpose and watching him fall in love with her made this one heck of an enthralling tale.

Lottie has been through so much, but she is no shrinking violet. She does not want to hide behind Nate. She wants to be able to stand on her own two feet, which made this Regency Romance refreshingly different from others that are out there. Nate’s struggle to balance Lottie’s desire for independence and his desire to keep her safe, certainly made for some interesting disagreements!

The romance between Lottie and Nate is a slow simmering build. This is very much a sweet romance, which really suited the story and these characters. Kudos, Ms Hampson.

If you are looking for your next Regency Romance, then I do urge you to check out Penny Hampson’s Gentlemen series. You won’t be disappointed.

I Highly Recommend.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.
Profile Image for H.M. Holten.
Author 4 books54 followers
January 31, 2021
Regency Drama with a Plucky Heroine
Lottie flees her obnoxious cousin. Nate Crawford is on his way home after being wounded in battle. Lottie is on the run, from an unwanted suitor. Nate believes that his life is at an end because of his crippling injury. They meet – and their tale begins.
In this regency drama, Ms Hampson pulls all stops and throws in Lottie’s friend Harriet Spencer, French spies, a duke, his friend and secretary, the leader of a bawdy house, as well as various people serving the main characters as maids, innkeepers, etc.
An Officer’s Vow throws a different light on the regency period than the books by Jane Austen that concentrate on character development. Here the reader will find tumult and erotic entanglements, all presented in pleasant prose that is easily read. All in all, this escapist confection that is ripe with romance and imbroglios will delight lovers of Regency romance.
Profile Image for Chelsea.
1,752 reviews47 followers
February 27, 2020
An archived one from the NetGalley pile. Thank you for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars

An Officer's Vow was one of the cheesiest parallel harlequin historical fiction novels that I have ever read. The drama was over the top and the novel was rife with tropes. I found myself rolling my eyes every other paragraph over the unrealistic dialogue and plot. The female protagonist Lottie drove me insane with her reckless decision making in the name of bravery. It was not courage but senseless, headstrong stubbornness and lack of foresight that got her into the messes she needed to be rescued from. And don't get me started on Nate, the washed up injured solider trying to be heroic who was distant in his affection despite being madly in love (lust?) Yet despite all this the storyline itself was interesting enough that I finished it with ease. Go figure.
Profile Image for Bookmarked.
151 reviews7 followers
October 6, 2020
Tired of all the doom and gloom around me, I decided to reach for something that would cheer me and draw me into a different world. I have certainly found it in An Officer's Vow. It is a classic Regency romance with a pinch of adventure and good dose of genteel humour. In this book you will find everything you would expect from Regency romance: an endearing and feisty damsel in distress, a handsome but somewhat insecure around the opposite sex veteran of Napoleonic wars, greedy and unscrupulous fortune hunters, cold-blooded spies and an array of unforgettable characters. You will hurtle from one misadventure into another at a gallop, with little time to catch your breath.
Hampson is clearly on a first-name basis with the era. She conveys the setting details and the linguistic style of that century with ease. You feel like the book was written two hundred years ago by the likes of Jane Austin.
All in all, I relished every minute of this delectable story.
870 reviews4 followers
May 18, 2022
This started out interesting but then completely switched plot line partway through, becoming a spy story. When we meet Lottie, she's running away from her awful cousin and has never left her village because her Father didn't let her do anything all her life. Then, within 2 weeks, she's changed into a spunky, adventurous spy....with no training, and not even used to being in men's company? It felt very unbelievable and because the plot pivoted in a new direction, the story was drawn out and long to finally bring all the pieces together. The book wasn't particularly romantic and definitely did not have a warm, cozy, happy feel to it. There's some very mild language and hints of the Hero visiting bad places before that I didn't like.
Profile Image for Susan.
7,368 reviews70 followers
March 26, 2019
Major Nate Crawford injured in the Peninsular Campaign, believes he has nothing to look forward to. Lottie Benham has become desperate, and so has run away from what was her home but is now her cousin's home. Luckily these two meet and the Major vows to protect Lottie, but then the adventure begins.
Thankfully for me there was enough adventure and only some romance in this story. An enjoyable read which kept my interest to the conclusion. It can certainly be read as a standalone novel.
A NetGalley Book
159 reviews
March 12, 2022
A delightful, fast-moving Regency adventure

If you are the sort to enjoy delightful, fast-moving Regency adventures this is a book to seriously consider.

You’ll find an incredibly capable and gutsy heroine, a broken but brave hero who find themselves braving dangerous situations crucial to their nation’s well-being.

And expect a classy and satisfying conclusion. Highly recommended!
Profile Image for MEF.
411 reviews3 followers
March 7, 2022
A delightful read of romance and adventure

A lovely mix of clean romance and dash of adventure for the honourable Nate and feisty Lottie. Their characters unfold and grow in this delightful innocent read .If you like a clean historical romance with a hero and heroine this ticks the boxes
24 reviews4 followers
March 12, 2022
If you are the sort to enjoy delightful, fast-moving Regency adventures this is a book to seriously consider.

You’ll find an incredibly capable and gutsy heroine, a broken but brave hero who find themselves braving dangerous situations crucial to their nation’s well-being.

And expect a classy and satisfying conclusion. Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Nancy.
1,380 reviews28 followers
March 13, 2019
Major Crawford is on his way home, thinking about how boring his future will be when Lottie falls in his path upsetting him from the horse. That is the beginning of them helping each other. Lottie is running away from her cousin and Nate is willing to help. Their adventures take them traveling from one place to another. Lottie gets kidnapped and the adventure keeps going. They help the Duke of Wheatley and he helps them. You won't want to put it down.
1 review
June 27, 2020
An Officer’s Vow is a very enjoyable read. I read 3/4 of the book in the first sitting because I couldn’t put it down! Adventure, intrigue, romance and lots of interesting information of the time. I highly recommend this book.
Profile Image for Tressia Avellar.
271 reviews3 followers
February 26, 2022
Accidentally yours

There was quite a bit of spy watching type stuff throughout the book that I hadn't expected, and it's not my type of book. But I did finish this one and did enjoy it.
Profile Image for Laura J..
424 reviews10 followers
March 8, 2022
exciting romance

Lottie meets Nate when she startles his horse and he’s unseated. She’s running away from a despicable cousin and Nate is on his way home after being at war. The best part of the story was the development of Lottie’s character. There were great secondary characters, a second romance and possibly a secret relationship.
195 reviews1 follower
March 14, 2022
a regency romance

A sweet clean romance. A heroine who is brave and grows throughout the story. A soldier who needs healing. A few awful villains. All add up to a happily ever after ending.
Profile Image for Joan Wendland.
Author 6 books13 followers
April 13, 2022
A thrilling roller coaster of intrigue and romance

How delightful to see a hero and heroine rescuing each other when the stakes are high. The Gentlemen books are real page turners!
541 reviews1 follower
February 23, 2022
Delightful!

Great story with an intriguing plot. Loved the romance that slowly progressed through the many different scenes. An enjoyable read.
225 reviews4 followers
June 20, 2022
Excellent

Are you sure this isn't a thriller instead of a romance. It was a story that just kept on going with more excitement on each page.
2,425 reviews6 followers
February 23, 2022
sweet read with action

This story has romance along with a lot of action and intrigue. There are unanswered questions about people and the villains but personally they will be addressed later. Meanwhile this romance is completed
Profile Image for Jade Cahoon.
Author 6 books20 followers
March 31, 2021
Beautiful writing, but it fell a bit into that 'this person is special at first sight trope' which I don't really care for. Not for me. Again, BEAUTIFUL writing--great for fans of the era.
Profile Image for Smut Report.
1,693 reviews192 followers
Read
March 25, 2022
Review also published by The Smut Report.

Heat Factor: Not too steamy, but a lot of tension

Character Chemistry: Starts out pretty innocently and then gradually intensifies

Plot: Young heiress escapes a machinating cousin with the help of young, wounded officer.

Overall: It’s a straight up stress-reliever. Fall right in and enjoy the ride.

I did feel a little guilty reviewing this one–first, it has a feel-good, classic regency vibe that I know Erin would enjoy. But second–the hero’s first description is of his aquiline, Wellington-esque nose. Erin’s a sucker for an aquiline nose. However, I’ve had two very stressful weeks, and before long I could tell this was going to be the type of romance novel that just takes the edge off.

Despite the adventurous plot, the story unfolds at a nice gradual pace. There are certainly some early moments where you feel a little fizzle of “oh dear, what terrible luck!” and then before long you’re going to need to take a break to fold laundry. (Anyone else do that when the plot gets too tense?) It’s just right.

The lovebirds (and the plot) start out a little predictable, but around the halfway point you’ll start to change your mind. The plot really does thicken slowly, with just these little threads of “hmm, that seems off…” and then before you know it there’s a rollicking adventure underfoot.

But honestly, the best way I can describe this book is as a delicious, well-written escape. The author does an amazing job of adding layers of mystery and interconnectedness–you don’t know you’re getting to know complex secondary characters, she just kind of crafts something dynamic and engaging that gets under your skin and sticks in the back of your mind when you’re supposed to be, say, an adult with responsibilities.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

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Profile Image for Sonya Wasden.
1,081 reviews12 followers
March 18, 2019
Major Nate Crawford had been seriously injured in the Peninsular campaign against Napoleon Bonaparte and was returning home. His injured leg was incredibly painful and took all that he had in him to grit through the pain. When a distraction in his path caused his horse to throw him, further injuring his leg, he relied on the help of the young woman, who had been the cause of the distraction, to assist him. He soon learned that Lottie Benham was running away from her evil cousin, Jonah who was determined to have her committed to an asylum or worse to a brothel so he could get his hands on her inheritance. Major Crawford was determined to protect Lottie from danger so they came to an agreement that they would pose as a married couple for the rest of the journey.

Lottie was an innocent woman who had been sheltered from society by her controlling father. She now began to taste the freedom she desired and Major Crawford was helping her to gain that freedom. But, the more time she spent with him, the more she saw him as a man she admired and could come to love, if only he could see her more than a young woman needing protection. Was it possible for more?

This book is full of intrigue, suspense, romance and finally love. There are dark forces at play threatening to destroy any happiness that can be had but they are no match for love and admiration. This is a rather clean story with limited foul language and no overt descriptive sex scenes but there is plenty of innuendo, especially around the brothel scenes.

I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.
Profile Image for Charlotte.
Author 3 books5 followers
August 22, 2019
In which dear Nate Crawford, Talavera veteran and loyal friend of the hero and heroine in ‘A Gentleman’s Promise’, finds his own heroine, Lottie Benham.

This is a glorious take-you-out-of-yourself Regency romance, a fast-paced adventure where success is by no means certain, made utterly believable by Penny Hampson’s sensitive portrayals of her protagonists. Crawford is not the ‘Colonel Brandon with a twinkle in his eye’ that he appears, but struggles with self-doubt and debilitating pain. Lottie has the courage and presence of mind to escape a cousin who means her harm, yet is confused by her responses to Crawford. But through shared dangers Lottie and Nate learn not to dismiss possibilities that seem too good to be true. By the closing pages Nate’s eyes are twinkling and Lottie is luxuriating in their sparkle.

May there be many more Gentleman tales, and may we be reacquainted with Nate and Lottie.

Profile Image for Caroline.
1,479 reviews12 followers
April 7, 2019
Very vague references are made to the author’s first book, A Gentleman’s Promise, but this is very much a stand-alone. Our two leads are off on an adventure dealing with awful family members and French spies after having met under unconventional circumstances. Both go through much emotional development as the story progresses, but I feel the heroine’s transformation was much too abrupt. She went from a sheltered miss to a too knowing minx in a very short amount of time, though I appreciate her discovery of confidence and self-worth.

There were some vague references to the hero’s past amorous dalliances, but he’s an army officer and in no way impinge on his character. It’s still considered a clean romance.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
642 reviews4 followers
April 9, 2019
Major Nate Crawford is on his way home from the war with a leg that is severely injured. Due to being in pain and having problems holding onto his horse, he gets thrown. He is found by Miss Lottie Benham who assists him. She is on her way to her Godmother's home to get away from a cousin who wants to marry or have her committed to an asylum for her money.   Nate offers to assist her in getting there and keeping her safe. Between Nate and Lord Wheatley, will she is able to make it to safety? Spies, intrigue, mystery and love. I love Lottie and Nate, they are a great couple. the story is not to be missed. I received this book from Net Galley and BooksGoSocial for a honest review. I voluntarily read this book.
Profile Image for Inishowen Cailín.
893 reviews54 followers
June 9, 2019
Adventure and intrigue in Regency England. The action starts in the opening scenes where Nate and Lottie collide on the road and it's a fast paced tale from there on out.

Lottie and Nate made a sweet couple but I found them infuriating in the way they constantly misinterpreted each other's feelings. It seemed to take a long time for them to straighten things out in the end.

Lottie was a great character. She was strong and brave. I was glad that she wasn't a complete damsel in distress.

This is book 2 in the series and can be read as a standalone. The Duke of Wheatley and Francis intrigued me. I look forward to reading more about them and their adventures.

Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews

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