During a short leave in Belgium, Brigadier Edmund Blackpool meets Sarah, the love of his life, and asks her to wait for him. They will get married after he comes back from the war against Napoleon. Unfortunately, Edmund is declared dead and Sarah finds herself with child and alone. Heartbroken, Sarah is rescued by her childhood friend, the Duke of Ravenwood, who asks her to marry him thus ensuring that her unborn child will be legitimate. However, just as Sarah is about to wed the Duke, Edmund makes a spectacular and unexpected appearance!

I never thought I could love this series even more, but THE BRIGADIER'S RUNAWAY BRIDE might have done just that! Ms. Ridley has crafted a mesmerising story about one of my favourite characters: Miss Sarah Fairfax. Ms. Ridley excels at creating interesting characters who are unique, and in THE BRIGADIER'S RUNAWAY BRIDE, the author has outdone herself. Sarah is an oddity in a Regency romance setting: a heroine who gets pregnant, but the best part is that Sarah is not rich and neither is Edmund. They have been apart for a few years, and while their love is all-consuming and absolute, they must get reacquainted and deal with the fact that they are a family.

THE BRIGADIER'S RUNAWAY BRIDE is a very emotional story. Both Sarah and Edmund are so well-drawn that it feels like I know them personally. I cared for them. I wanted them to succeed because their love is pure and looks indestructible, but at the same time they face several hurdles, which appear nearly insurmountable. THE BRIGADIER'S RUNAWAY BRIDE is splendidly written, fast- paced, and full of surprises. There are amusing moments, but at times I was reading with tears in my eyes because it's so easy to relate to Sarah and Edmund. I also loved that Ms. Ridley chose to write about something I had never read before: how young newlyweds of the early 1800s dealt with everyday life and raising children, and it makes for very compelling reading.

THE BRIGADIER'S RUNAWAY BRIDE is the fifth instalment in the superlative Dukes of War series, and can easily be read as a standalone. The greatest quality of THE BRIGADIER'S RUNAWAY BRIDE is that I got the feeling I was transported back in time. It never felt like a story that had come from a brilliant author's mind, but rather that I was being told of something that had really happened centuries ago. If you like captivating storytelling and engaging characters, you will want not want to miss this fabulous tale from Erica Ridley!