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Le impreviste vicende di Miss Chartley
Miss Omega Chartley è una gentildonna impoverita che si procura da vivere come insegnante. Mentre si sta concedendo una vacanza, accetta un’allettante proposta di lavoro per una località del Nord e ne approfitta per allungare il suo itinerario di svago. Tutto va però all’aria quando aiuta un ragazzino a sfuggire a un agente di Bow Street, per ritrovarsi infine senza soldi e in fuga insieme a lui. Quando Omega lo consegna allo zio, il visconte di Byford, scopre scioccata che questi è il fidanzato che otto anni prima l’ha abbandonata all’altare ed è scomparso nel nulla. Tuttavia sente di amarlo ancora, ma per sapere se potrà esserci una seconda possibilità, Omega deve prima chiarire perché lui l’ha lasciata e cosa prova ancora per lei…
188 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1989
44 people are currently reading
221 people want to read
About the author
Carla Kelly
138 books802 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Although Carla Kelly is well known among her readers as a writer of Regency romance, her main interest (and first writing success) is Western American fiction—more specifically, writing about America's Indian Wars. Although she had sold some of her work before, it was not until Carla began work in the National Park Service as a ranger/historian at Fort Laramie National Historic Site did she get serious about her writing career. (Or as she would be the first to admit, as serious as it gets.)
Carla wrote a series of what she now refers to as the "Fort Laramie stories," which are tales of the men, women and children of the Indian Wars era in Western history. Two of her stories, A Season for Heroes and Kathleen Flaherty's Long Winter, earned her Spur Awards from the Western Writers of America. She was the second woman to earn two Spurs from WWA (which, as everyone knows, is all you need to ride a horse). Her entire Indian Wars collection was published in 2003 as Here's to the Ladies: Stories of the Frontier Army. It remains her favorite work.
The mother of five children, Carla has always allowed her kids to earn their keep by appearing in her Regencies, most notably Marian's Christmas Wish, which is peopled by all kinds of relatives. Grown now, the Kelly kids are scattered here and there across the U.S. They continue to provide feedback, furnish fodder for stories and make frantic phone calls home during the holidays for recipes. (Carla Kelly is some cook.)
Carla's husband, Martin, is Director of Theatre at Valley City State University, in Valley City, North Dakota. Carla is currently overworked as a staff writer at the local daily newspaper. She also writes a weekly, award-winning column, "Prairie Lite."
Carla only started writing Regencies because of her interest in the Napoleonic Wars, which figures in many of her Regency novels and short stories. She specializes in writing about warfare at sea, and about the ordinary people of the British Isles who were, let's face it, far more numerous than lords and ladies.
Hobbies? She likes to crochet afghans, and read British crime fiction and history, principally military history. She's never happier than talking about the fur trade or Indian Wars with Park Service cronies. Her most recent gig with the National Park Service was at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site on the Montana/North Dakota border.
Here's another side to this somewhat prosaic woman: She recently edited the fur trade journal of Swiss artist Rudolf F. Kurz (the 1851-1852 portion), and is gratified now and then to be asked to speak on scholarly subjects. She has also worked for the State Historical Society of North Dakota as a contract researcher. This has taken her to glamorous drudgery in several national archives and military history repositories. Gray archives boxes and old documents make her salivate.
Her mantra for writing comes from the subject of her thesis, Robert Utley, that dean of Indian Wars history. He told her the secret to writing is "to put your ass in the chair and keep it there until you're done." He's right, of course.
Her three favorite fictional works have remained constant through the years, although their rankings tend to shift: War and Peace, The Lawrenceville Stories, and A Town Like Alice. Favorite historical works are One Vast Winter Count, On the Border with Mackenzie and Crossing the Line. Favorite crime fiction authors are Michael Connelly, John Harvey and Peter Robinson.
And that's all she can think of that would interest anyone. Carla Kelly is quite ordinary, except when she is sometimes prevailed upon to sing a scurrilous song about lumberjacks, or warble "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" in Latin. Then you m
Although Carla Kelly is well known among her readers as a writer of Regency romance, her main interest (and first writing success) is Western American fiction—more specifically, writing about America's Indian Wars. Although she had sold some of her work before, it was not until Carla began work in the National Park Service as a ranger/historian at Fort Laramie National Historic Site did she get serious about her writing career. (Or as she would be the first to admit, as serious as it gets.)
Carla wrote a series of what she now refers to as the "Fort Laramie stories," which are tales of the men, women and children of the Indian Wars era in Western history. Two of her stories, A Season for Heroes and Kathleen Flaherty's Long Winter, earned her Spur Awards from the Western Writers of America. She was the second woman to earn two Spurs from WWA (which, as everyone knows, is all you need to ride a horse). Her entire Indian Wars collection was published in 2003 as Here's to the Ladies: Stories of the Frontier Army. It remains her favorite work.
The mother of five children, Carla has always allowed her kids to earn their keep by appearing in her Regencies, most notably Marian's Christmas Wish, which is peopled by all kinds of relatives. Grown now, the Kelly kids are scattered here and there across the U.S. They continue to provide feedback, furnish fodder for stories and make frantic phone calls home during the holidays for recipes. (Carla Kelly is some cook.)
Carla's husband, Martin, is Director of Theatre at Valley City State University, in Valley City, North Dakota. Carla is currently overworked as a staff writer at the local daily newspaper. She also writes a weekly, award-winning column, "Prairie Lite."
Carla only started writing Regencies because of her interest in the Napoleonic Wars, which figures in many of her Regency novels and short stories. She specializes in writing about warfare at sea, and about the ordinary people of the British Isles who were, let's face it, far more numerous than lords and ladies.
Hobbies? She likes to crochet afghans, and read British crime fiction and history, principally military history. She's never happier than talking about the fur trade or Indian Wars with Park Service cronies. Her most recent gig with the National Park Service was at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site on the Montana/North Dakota border.
Here's another side to this somewhat prosaic woman: She recently edited the fur trade journal of Swiss artist Rudolf F. Kurz (the 1851-1852 portion), and is gratified now and then to be asked to speak on scholarly subjects. She has also worked for the State Historical Society of North Dakota as a contract researcher. This has taken her to glamorous drudgery in several national archives and military history repositories. Gray archives boxes and old documents make her salivate.
Her mantra for writing comes from the subject of her thesis, Robert Utley, that dean of Indian Wars history. He told her the secret to writing is "to put your ass in the chair and keep it there until you're done." He's right, of course.
Her three favorite fictional works have remained constant through the years, although their rankings tend to shift: War and Peace, The Lawrenceville Stories, and A Town Like Alice. Favorite historical works are One Vast Winter Count, On the Border with Mackenzie and Crossing the Line. Favorite crime fiction authors are Michael Connelly, John Harvey and Peter Robinson.
And that's all she can think of that would interest anyone. Carla Kelly is quite ordinary, except when she is sometimes prevailed upon to sing a scurrilous song about lumberjacks, or warble "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" in Latin. Then you m
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
June 9, 2017
2.5 stars. Color me mind-boggled. Carla Kelly is usually a reliable author for writing thoughtful historical romances, but I honestly don't know who this book was written for or what she was thinking with this one. This Regency novel is too grim and graphic for clean/fluffy romance readers, but on the other hand, it's clearly in the Regency romance genre so it's not likely to appeal to people who like gritty, bloody mysteries either. It's not an explicit bodice ripper, but neither is it clean. It falls, rather uncomfortably, into some no-man's land in between these genres.
The tale starts with a distraught man, covered with blood, missing his wedding. Eight years later, his jilted bride, Omega Chartley, now poor as the proverbial church mouse, is traveling across England to a new teaching job. The adventure starts when she helps a young runaway, Jamie, escape a Bow Street runner who is trying to return him to his evil uncle. A war veteran and a little girl help them on their way, and (far-fetched coincidence #1) they wind up in the home of the boy's other uncle, who happens to be Omega's former fiancé, Matthew, who has been hiding himself away all these years but also (wild coincidence #2) has unexpectedly inherited a title and wealth.
The story veers a little to slapstick with all these goings-on, but then dives back into tragedy, with a pit stop at atrocity, as Matthew finally shares with Omega the truth of what happened on the eve of their wedding. Suddenly and very belatedly--because that's the way these things happen in these books--it occurs to Matthew that Maybe He Was Set Up. And so they set about trying to unravel the mystery and repair their relationship, except Matthew still says that even if he's cleared, he can't marry Omega because of, you know, that thing in the spoiler. Will they get the proof they need? Will Jamie have a new home? Will the Bow Street runner (crazy coincidence #3) have a connection to this cold case and decide to help out? Will Matthew and Omega's love overcome his personal problem? Would this story tip over into the absurd if it had any more unbelievable coincidences?
Carla Kelly writes well, but unless you don't mind your Regency romances with a large side order of gruesomeness and some hard-to-swallow disbelief for dessert, I'd say this one is mostly for Kelly completists, and maybe not even for many of those.
If you're not already familiar with Carla Kelly's books, generally she writes very good, thoughtful Regencies and historical romances. I recommend you start with Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand or Libby's London Merchant.
Content advisory: see above. There's also a pre-marital but non-explicit sex scene
The tale starts with a distraught man, covered with blood, missing his wedding. Eight years later, his jilted bride, Omega Chartley, now poor as the proverbial church mouse, is traveling across England to a new teaching job. The adventure starts when she helps a young runaway, Jamie, escape a Bow Street runner who is trying to return him to his evil uncle. A war veteran and a little girl help them on their way, and (far-fetched coincidence #1) they wind up in the home of the boy's other uncle, who happens to be Omega's former fiancé, Matthew, who has been hiding himself away all these years but also (wild coincidence #2) has unexpectedly inherited a title and wealth.
The story veers a little to slapstick with all these goings-on, but then dives back into tragedy, with a pit stop at atrocity, as Matthew finally shares with Omega the truth of what happened on the eve of their wedding. Suddenly and very belatedly--because that's the way these things happen in these books--it occurs to Matthew that Maybe He Was Set Up. And so they set about trying to unravel the mystery and repair their relationship, except Matthew still says that even if he's cleared, he can't marry Omega because of, you know, that thing in the spoiler. Will they get the proof they need? Will Jamie have a new home? Will the Bow Street runner (crazy coincidence #3) have a connection to this cold case and decide to help out? Will Matthew and Omega's love overcome his personal problem? Would this story tip over into the absurd if it had any more unbelievable coincidences?
Carla Kelly writes well, but unless you don't mind your Regency romances with a large side order of gruesomeness and some hard-to-swallow disbelief for dessert, I'd say this one is mostly for Kelly completists, and maybe not even for many of those.
If you're not already familiar with Carla Kelly's books, generally she writes very good, thoughtful Regencies and historical romances. I recommend you start with Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand or Libby's London Merchant.
Content advisory: see above. There's also a pre-marital but non-explicit sex scene
July 28, 2025
I've stopped second guessing Ms. Kelly's stories. Every time, the plot goes in a direction I didn’t expect—nothing like the blurb or the title would suggest (which is a good thing!). Ms. Chartley’s Guided Tour is no exception. What starts off sounding like a light-hearted jaunt across England turns into something much more grounded and emotionally satisfying.
As always, Kelly’s writing is intelligent, compassionate, and filled with subtle humor. She has a gift for writing about ordinary people who quietly do the right thing, and her characters are so real, you feel like you’ve met them before. There’s nothing flashy here—just steady, heartfelt storytelling that sneaks up on you in the best way. Her books are always a treat. So, just enjoy the ride!
As always, Kelly’s writing is intelligent, compassionate, and filled with subtle humor. She has a gift for writing about ordinary people who quietly do the right thing, and her characters are so real, you feel like you’ve met them before. There’s nothing flashy here—just steady, heartfelt storytelling that sneaks up on you in the best way. Her books are always a treat. So, just enjoy the ride!
May 16, 2013
3.5 stars
While I enjoyed Miss Chartley’s Guided Tour, and there were certainly elements in it that readers of Carla Kelly’s regency romances will probably recognise, I can’t help thinking that it isn’t one of her best.
The story is a good one. Miss Omega Chartley, having been abandoned at the altar at the age of eighteen has very shortly afterwards to come to terms with the suicide of her father, which leaves her and her brother in straightened circumstances. She obtains a position as a teacher at a girls’ school in Plymouth, where she works for eight years, and is taking a holiday before taking up a new post in Durham.
Along the way, she befriends a young runaway by the name of Jamie who for some reason, seems rather familiar to her. He is running away from his uncle and guardian, Lord Rotherford who beats him regularly and who, we discover later on, will stop at nothing in order to obtain the boy’s considerable fortune.
Jamie is intent on finding his other uncle - his late mother’s brother – Viscount Byford, in the hope that he will rescue him from Rotherford.
Pursued by a Bow Street Runner, and joining forces with a maimed ex-soldier(Hugh Owen) and his half-Spanish charge (Angela), the rag-taggle band eventually makes its way to Byford to confront the viscount and ask for his help.
Viscount Byford turns out to be none other than Matthew Bering, the man who had jilted Omega eight years ago.
Omega has never really stopped loving him, even through her embarrassment and anger at his treatment of her. The question of why he did what he did has haunted her – and when she finally discovers his reasons, they’re not pretty. The rest of the story involves Matthew’s quest to find out what really happened on the eve of his wedding and to secure Jamie’s future.
As is often the case in her books, Ms Kelly doesn’t shy away from dealing with some unpleasant subject matter – the plight of ex-soldiers, the poverty of the lower classes, children orphaned by war, prostitution, greed and murder to name but a few.
There were, however, a few weaknesses that prevented me from giving the book a higher rating. For one thing, while the clues are followed and the loose ends tied up – one of them a twist I didn’t see coming – it all happens incredibly quickly. Then there’s the fact that Matthew left the girl he loved standing at the altar and just disappeared - and did nothing for eight years. I suspect that had Omega and Jamie not stumbled across him, he would likely have continued to do nothing. The point, I suppose, is that Omega’s reappearance in his life and his desire to protect his nephew have spurred him on to find out the truth once and for all, but it’s rather a stretch of credibility to suppose that he would have waited eight years to act. His guilt and shame have driven him to a solitary life, but he also allowed Omega to suffer the censure of being jilted and the agony of not knowing why for eight years without an explanation.
There’s also the issue of Matthew’s difficulties in the bedroom department. I confess, it makes a change to find a hero who isn’t a stud who suffers from a permanent erection when in the vicinity of his lady-love, but for Matthew to be able to go from zero to hero for the first time in eight years simply because he’s with the “right woman” was, I felt, implausible.
Those reservations aside however, this was an enjoyable read, with humour and affection radiating from almost every page. Matthew’s concern for Omega is touching, as is the way he comes to love Jamie and Angela as his own. Given the issues between them, he and Omega are surprisingly comfortable with each other, and the way their relationship re-kindles is charmingly done.
With thanks to Camel Press for the review copy.
This title is now available as an ebook.
While I enjoyed Miss Chartley’s Guided Tour, and there were certainly elements in it that readers of Carla Kelly’s regency romances will probably recognise, I can’t help thinking that it isn’t one of her best.
The story is a good one. Miss Omega Chartley, having been abandoned at the altar at the age of eighteen has very shortly afterwards to come to terms with the suicide of her father, which leaves her and her brother in straightened circumstances. She obtains a position as a teacher at a girls’ school in Plymouth, where she works for eight years, and is taking a holiday before taking up a new post in Durham.
Along the way, she befriends a young runaway by the name of Jamie who for some reason, seems rather familiar to her. He is running away from his uncle and guardian, Lord Rotherford who beats him regularly and who, we discover later on, will stop at nothing in order to obtain the boy’s considerable fortune.
Jamie is intent on finding his other uncle - his late mother’s brother – Viscount Byford, in the hope that he will rescue him from Rotherford.
Pursued by a Bow Street Runner, and joining forces with a maimed ex-soldier(Hugh Owen) and his half-Spanish charge (Angela), the rag-taggle band eventually makes its way to Byford to confront the viscount and ask for his help.
Viscount Byford turns out to be none other than Matthew Bering, the man who had jilted Omega eight years ago.
Omega has never really stopped loving him, even through her embarrassment and anger at his treatment of her. The question of why he did what he did has haunted her – and when she finally discovers his reasons, they’re not pretty. The rest of the story involves Matthew’s quest to find out what really happened on the eve of his wedding and to secure Jamie’s future.
As is often the case in her books, Ms Kelly doesn’t shy away from dealing with some unpleasant subject matter – the plight of ex-soldiers, the poverty of the lower classes, children orphaned by war, prostitution, greed and murder to name but a few.
There were, however, a few weaknesses that prevented me from giving the book a higher rating. For one thing, while the clues are followed and the loose ends tied up – one of them a twist I didn’t see coming – it all happens incredibly quickly. Then there’s the fact that Matthew left the girl he loved standing at the altar and just disappeared - and did nothing for eight years. I suspect that had Omega and Jamie not stumbled across him, he would likely have continued to do nothing. The point, I suppose, is that Omega’s reappearance in his life and his desire to protect his nephew have spurred him on to find out the truth once and for all, but it’s rather a stretch of credibility to suppose that he would have waited eight years to act. His guilt and shame have driven him to a solitary life, but he also allowed Omega to suffer the censure of being jilted and the agony of not knowing why for eight years without an explanation.
There’s also the issue of Matthew’s difficulties in the bedroom department. I confess, it makes a change to find a hero who isn’t a stud who suffers from a permanent erection when in the vicinity of his lady-love, but for Matthew to be able to go from zero to hero for the first time in eight years simply because he’s with the “right woman” was, I felt, implausible.
Those reservations aside however, this was an enjoyable read, with humour and affection radiating from almost every page. Matthew’s concern for Omega is touching, as is the way he comes to love Jamie and Angela as his own. Given the issues between them, he and Omega are surprisingly comfortable with each other, and the way their relationship re-kindles is charmingly done.
With thanks to Camel Press for the review copy.
This title is now available as an ebook.
February 14, 2014
Ms. Kelly really knows how to put her characters and her readers through the emotional wringer. The story starts off lightly and predictably enough. I especially like the characters who appear in the first part of the novel. I felt bad for Omega (stupid name. Her brother is called Alpha!) but felt she handled her disappointment with grace and class. She remains an admirable woman becoming a teacher at a second-rate school. She's on her way to a new job at a better school, another aspect of her character I admire. She knows what she wants and how to get it. Though she doesn't have a fortune of her own, she doesn't fret about it. It is what it is. She has a scandal or two in her past and she's accepted it and moved on. I like her pragmatism. Yet, she still loves the hero which I think is a little silly. I like the little boy. I usually don't like children but he's charming and not annoying. I also really love Angela. She's so funny yet such a tragic character. I can't imagine the horrors behind her practical soldier's nature. She and Hugh add a lot of sweet moments to the story.
Then, when the heroine meets the hero again, the story takes a dramatic turn. For me, the story he told didn't make a lot of sense. First it made me sick to my stomach (warning: this story is a bit graphic) and then I knew immediately what had happened. I don't see why the hero didn't realize it sooner! What he believes might have happened just wasn't possible. The villain takes advantage of the hero's good nature but it's just so OBVIOUS. However, the reader knows about the villain's character before the hero really understands what the villain is like. The mystery kept me turning the pages to figure out how it would all come up in the end. The romance also kept me guessing a bit. I wasn't sure what would happen in the very end.
The characters get to know each other quickly but realistically. I think the actual staging of the action is very unrealistic and she would be compromised big time. The romance builds nicely. It's a sweet building of two people who care about each other very much. The hero's feelings are worthy of swooning. He's so noble and perfect. The love scene comes at the right moment or could have come a little earlier but the plot was still in process so it couldn't go in the logical place. It is a bit graphic though. It needs to be for obvious plot reasons but still, I didn't like it. It could have been implied.
As with Libby's London Merchant, there are some modern Americanisms that creep in. I didn't spot any major historical inaccuracies but I'm not familiar with the topics covered in this novel.
The mystery is very graphic and made me sick to my stomach. I'm sure it's realistic for the time period which is very sad. It shows a different side to Regency society than the sparkling, light world of Georgette Heyer. I wouldn't recommend this book to sensitive or young readers. This is a story that is best appreciated by mature readers, maybe those who can relate to Omega.
Then, when the heroine meets the hero again, the story takes a dramatic turn. For me, the story he told didn't make a lot of sense. First it made me sick to my stomach (warning: this story is a bit graphic) and then I knew immediately what had happened. I don't see why the hero didn't realize it sooner! What he believes might have happened just wasn't possible. The villain takes advantage of the hero's good nature but it's just so OBVIOUS. However, the reader knows about the villain's character before the hero really understands what the villain is like. The mystery kept me turning the pages to figure out how it would all come up in the end. The romance also kept me guessing a bit. I wasn't sure what would happen in the very end.
The characters get to know each other quickly but realistically. I think the actual staging of the action is very unrealistic and she would be compromised big time. The romance builds nicely. It's a sweet building of two people who care about each other very much. The hero's feelings are worthy of swooning. He's so noble and perfect. The love scene comes at the right moment or could have come a little earlier but the plot was still in process so it couldn't go in the logical place. It is a bit graphic though. It needs to be for obvious plot reasons but still, I didn't like it. It could have been implied.
As with Libby's London Merchant, there are some modern Americanisms that creep in. I didn't spot any major historical inaccuracies but I'm not familiar with the topics covered in this novel.
The mystery is very graphic and made me sick to my stomach. I'm sure it's realistic for the time period which is very sad. It shows a different side to Regency society than the sparkling, light world of Georgette Heyer. I wouldn't recommend this book to sensitive or young readers. This is a story that is best appreciated by mature readers, maybe those who can relate to Omega.
June 6, 2022
This was okay but honestly the best part was when the heroine and her friends were running from the Bow Street runner before the hero even came into the story.
The hero was a very weak man. There were many reasons for this but I just got to say that his initial reaction takes the cake. He left this girl at the alter 8 years ago and the very first thing he says to her is that she has gotten her revenge on him because he ended up with a bloody nose and couldn’t go meet some men about a horse. WTF?
The hero was a very weak man. There were many reasons for this but I just got to say that his initial reaction takes the cake. He left this girl at the alter 8 years ago and the very first thing he says to her is that she has gotten her revenge on him because he ended up with a bloody nose and couldn’t go meet some men about a horse. WTF?
March 31, 2009
After a few so so reads, I think I finally saw the light with this story by Carla Kelly. I will certainly pay more attention to the other books I have by her in the TBR pile.
When the story opens Omega Chartley has just been left at the altar by the groom, that scene is told by said groom’s point of view but we don’t know why.
Fast forward 8 years and Omega’s circumstances have been reduced and she is travelling to a new position. Unexpectedly she finds a young boy on the run from a wicked uncle and being chased by a Bow Street Runner. Decided to help him Omega runs away with him and on the way they meet Hugh Owen (an ex-soldier who has lost a hand at Waterloo) and Angela, a Spanish orphan who his young charge. They travel together to a nearby estate where Jamie, the boy they are trying to save, hopes to meet his maternal uncle who might save him from his guardian.
When they arrive, Omega realizes that Jamie’s uncle is none other than her ex fiancé. They are both surprised to see each other and since Jamie’s presence is the main thing explanations are left for a later date but those past events are discussed by them. I thought the explanation for what happened 8 years earlier could in fact have made Matthew run away from his obligation but honestly I feel he should have gone back and explained after a suitable period of time to gather his wits. The fact that for 8 weeks he left Omega the subject of evil gossip, not to mention heartbroken makes him a bit of a coward in my view.
To solve Jamie’s problem Matthew joins forces with the Bow Street runner who was following him and as the action develops we feel that the world is really small as the loose ties are binded and everything starts to make sense.
I think Kelly managed to do a wonderful thing with this book which was to mention difficult subjects in a light way. This is not a sad story despite the fact that it deals with such different things as the poverty of the lower classes in London, thievery, child prostitution, greed that leads to murder, the problems the soldiers coming home from the war faced, war orphans... . These are the sort of social injustice that usually doesn’t make an appearance in romance because, let’s face it, there can be no happy ending for those involved but Kelly doesn’t shy away from them.
She also does write wonderful characters, Omega, Hugh and Angela, Jamie… they were all real, fun, believable and likeable. Matthew was also a good one but with the problems I mentioned earlier. I can’t wait to start my next Carla Kelly book and see if it’s as good as this one.
Grade: 4.5/5
When the story opens Omega Chartley has just been left at the altar by the groom, that scene is told by said groom’s point of view but we don’t know why.
Fast forward 8 years and Omega’s circumstances have been reduced and she is travelling to a new position. Unexpectedly she finds a young boy on the run from a wicked uncle and being chased by a Bow Street Runner. Decided to help him Omega runs away with him and on the way they meet Hugh Owen (an ex-soldier who has lost a hand at Waterloo) and Angela, a Spanish orphan who his young charge. They travel together to a nearby estate where Jamie, the boy they are trying to save, hopes to meet his maternal uncle who might save him from his guardian.
When they arrive, Omega realizes that Jamie’s uncle is none other than her ex fiancé. They are both surprised to see each other and since Jamie’s presence is the main thing explanations are left for a later date but those past events are discussed by them. I thought the explanation for what happened 8 years earlier could in fact have made Matthew run away from his obligation but honestly I feel he should have gone back and explained after a suitable period of time to gather his wits. The fact that for 8 weeks he left Omega the subject of evil gossip, not to mention heartbroken makes him a bit of a coward in my view.
To solve Jamie’s problem Matthew joins forces with the Bow Street runner who was following him and as the action develops we feel that the world is really small as the loose ties are binded and everything starts to make sense.
I think Kelly managed to do a wonderful thing with this book which was to mention difficult subjects in a light way. This is not a sad story despite the fact that it deals with such different things as the poverty of the lower classes in London, thievery, child prostitution, greed that leads to murder, the problems the soldiers coming home from the war faced, war orphans... . These are the sort of social injustice that usually doesn’t make an appearance in romance because, let’s face it, there can be no happy ending for those involved but Kelly doesn’t shy away from them.
She also does write wonderful characters, Omega, Hugh and Angela, Jamie… they were all real, fun, believable and likeable. Matthew was also a good one but with the problems I mentioned earlier. I can’t wait to start my next Carla Kelly book and see if it’s as good as this one.
Grade: 4.5/5
April 6, 2017
After reading some reviews on this one I won't be reading it. The synopsis sounds good, but the content is horrible. Why would anyone want to write about this stuff? I don't care if it happens in the real world. Granted, I haven't read the book at all, but based on the plot there is no way I'd like this one. I only marked it so I wouldn't accidentally read it in the future.
November 7, 2023
With second chance, you want there to be a really good reason for the misconnection and a good reason for the lack of contact - I certainly think that was achieved here, what a unique reason that was… Carla Kelly never shies away from the darkest topics. I liked this and the cast of side characters but it was more plot than romance.
January 19, 2014
**SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS**
In order to write my review, I will include major spoilers so don't read it if you hate SPOILERS.
First, please note that Ms. Kelly is one of my favorite authors and I purchase all her books as soon as they come out on Kindle and plan to continue doing so. My issue is not with her writing but has more to do with the type of books I enjoy reading. In my experience, often Ms. Kelly's books contain gritty circumstances or happenings that do stir up unpleasant thoughts and feelings in the reader - at least - this reader. I can handle it - life is not always pleasant. However, when the unpleasant happenings relate to the hero's character, I can't help but think, this probably wasn't the book for me.
In Miss Chartley's Guided Tour, Miss Omega Chartley was left at the altar by her fiance, Matthew Bering, without any explanation and she never sees or hears from him again. Eight years have passed, her father is now dead, her financial circumstances have drastically changed and she is now having to support herself by teaching. Although trying to make the best of her life, she still wonders about Matthew - she loved him eight years ago and she still loves him.
While on her way to a new teaching situation, she has plans to have a short holiday but things change rapidly when she runs across a young boy, Jamie, who has run away from his abusive uncle and is trying to make his way to another uncle's home - Viscount of Byford. He is being chased by a Bow Street Runner and after a couple of run-ins with the Runner, Omega decides to forget her little vacation in order to help Jamie find his way to his uncle.
Omega and Jamie have some neat adventures on their way to Byford including meeting some great people - a war veteran named Hugh and his ward, Angela. Eventually they make their way to Byford to the Viscount's home. Much to Omega's surprise, the Viscount just happens to be Matthew Bering who inherited the title a few years back. At this point, the story becomes a little silly while everyone becomes acquainted - I won't spent time on this part.
Now to cut to the chase of why I disliked the story. Although Matthew treats Omega and her new found friends very well, he refuses to explain why he left her at the altar. Finally, he does explain and the story is very dark. On the night before he was to marry Omega, some of his friends planned a bachelor party that included his last "lay" with a very young 14 year old prostitute. They were all drunk, etc., but he did attempt to have sex with the girl, wasn't able to and she made fun of him. He slapped her so hard, her mouth bled and then he passes out at some point. When he wakes up the next morning, he is in bed with a very bloody dead girl. The uncle Jamie was running away from was present at the party and basically told Matthew to get out of Dodge and he would deal with the blood, the body, etc. Of course, it doesn't take the reader very long to realize - oh wow! - Jamie's abusive uncle probably had a hand in the dastardly deed.
Matthew doesn't remember anything except the fact that he wasn't able to perform and he did hit the prostitute. However, he is so distraught believing he has actually murdered a young girl, he can't find it in his heart to marry Omega nor ever tell her what he has done. To add to his problem(s), he has been impotent since the night he woke up to find the murdered girl in his bed.
Now, we all know that everything gets worked out in these stories and the H/h have their HEA. But - and this is a big BUT for me - the fact that the hero was going to have sex with a 14 year old prostitute - drunk or not - on the eve before his wedding and hit her so hard her mouth bled takes away from the story SO MUCH that I would NEVER have read it had I known he was capable of that. If this kind of darkness in your hero doesn't bother you - then you will probably enjoy the story.
In order to write my review, I will include major spoilers so don't read it if you hate SPOILERS.
First, please note that Ms. Kelly is one of my favorite authors and I purchase all her books as soon as they come out on Kindle and plan to continue doing so. My issue is not with her writing but has more to do with the type of books I enjoy reading. In my experience, often Ms. Kelly's books contain gritty circumstances or happenings that do stir up unpleasant thoughts and feelings in the reader - at least - this reader. I can handle it - life is not always pleasant. However, when the unpleasant happenings relate to the hero's character, I can't help but think, this probably wasn't the book for me.
In Miss Chartley's Guided Tour, Miss Omega Chartley was left at the altar by her fiance, Matthew Bering, without any explanation and she never sees or hears from him again. Eight years have passed, her father is now dead, her financial circumstances have drastically changed and she is now having to support herself by teaching. Although trying to make the best of her life, she still wonders about Matthew - she loved him eight years ago and she still loves him.
While on her way to a new teaching situation, she has plans to have a short holiday but things change rapidly when she runs across a young boy, Jamie, who has run away from his abusive uncle and is trying to make his way to another uncle's home - Viscount of Byford. He is being chased by a Bow Street Runner and after a couple of run-ins with the Runner, Omega decides to forget her little vacation in order to help Jamie find his way to his uncle.
Omega and Jamie have some neat adventures on their way to Byford including meeting some great people - a war veteran named Hugh and his ward, Angela. Eventually they make their way to Byford to the Viscount's home. Much to Omega's surprise, the Viscount just happens to be Matthew Bering who inherited the title a few years back. At this point, the story becomes a little silly while everyone becomes acquainted - I won't spent time on this part.
Now to cut to the chase of why I disliked the story. Although Matthew treats Omega and her new found friends very well, he refuses to explain why he left her at the altar. Finally, he does explain and the story is very dark. On the night before he was to marry Omega, some of his friends planned a bachelor party that included his last "lay" with a very young 14 year old prostitute. They were all drunk, etc., but he did attempt to have sex with the girl, wasn't able to and she made fun of him. He slapped her so hard, her mouth bled and then he passes out at some point. When he wakes up the next morning, he is in bed with a very bloody dead girl. The uncle Jamie was running away from was present at the party and basically told Matthew to get out of Dodge and he would deal with the blood, the body, etc. Of course, it doesn't take the reader very long to realize - oh wow! - Jamie's abusive uncle probably had a hand in the dastardly deed.
Matthew doesn't remember anything except the fact that he wasn't able to perform and he did hit the prostitute. However, he is so distraught believing he has actually murdered a young girl, he can't find it in his heart to marry Omega nor ever tell her what he has done. To add to his problem(s), he has been impotent since the night he woke up to find the murdered girl in his bed.
Now, we all know that everything gets worked out in these stories and the H/h have their HEA. But - and this is a big BUT for me - the fact that the hero was going to have sex with a 14 year old prostitute - drunk or not - on the eve before his wedding and hit her so hard her mouth bled takes away from the story SO MUCH that I would NEVER have read it had I known he was capable of that. If this kind of darkness in your hero doesn't bother you - then you will probably enjoy the story.
November 23, 2018
Omega was left at the altar by Matthew and did not hear from him for eight years.
She ends up helping a boy to find his uncle (he is running away from another abusive relative) and ends up in Matthews country home.
The writing is good and the story is compelling, but the plot is a little too unrealistic for me.
She ends up helping a boy to find his uncle (he is running away from another abusive relative) and ends up in Matthews country home.
The writing is good and the story is compelling, but the plot is a little too unrealistic for me.
May 4, 2016
Great plot! A mixture of mystery, angst, and comedy. Characters are well developed. This book is not for everyone but I thought the author did a wonderful job with the plot.
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October 30, 2016
My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts... for more, visit Punya Reviews...
4 stars. Oh my, who knew this book had so many hidden twists that'd surprise the hell outta me? Magnificently, too! :o I had no idea who the hero was even until 50% into the story... and I enjoyed every minute of it!
As from the blurb you'd find that our heroine, Miss Omega Chartley, was jilted at the alter by her esteemed, now errant, fiance Mr. Matthew Bering. Until the moment she realized that Matthew won't be showing up at the wedding, Omega was glowing with love, and full of hope for their future together. She never knew what made him jilt her so suddenly, making a dent in her self-esteem. But the prologue of the book shows you something rather disturbing, paving the way for the story, about someone, frantically trying to hide something. Someone trying to show up at a wedding even though something heavy is weighing on his mind. Something that wins at the end, and he leaves, leaving London entirely as if he couldn't disappear fast enough.
It's been 8 long years and Omega had fared. Not superbly but she's content where she is now, a rather stern but well-liked, schoolteacher. She's around 26, a spinster by all means, who doesn't expect to ever marry or have her own family. Her elder brother, Alpha (oh yes, Alpha and Omega :D), has seen that the Chartley line is secured by having 3 rambunctious sons of his own. There has been some family tragedies in between but Omega has fared.
Recently, Omega took up a new teaching job. She was on her way there when she finds herself in a spot of trouble... actually, in a heap of trouble by the name of Jamie Clevendon, a little runaway of around 10yrs. Jamie was running away from his cruel uncle, a peer of the realm. He's been abusing him and Jamie couldn't take it anymore. The uncle dearest has now set a Bow Street runner after Jamie, which is the reason he needed to hid himself away as best as possible. But his manners and the cut and quality of his now filthy clothing told Omega instantly that the child is not a vagrant of any type.
Soon though, life would take a completely different turn for our Miss Chartley. Once her mind made up on the matter, Omega and Jamie would have to come up with plans to hide themselves away from the Bow Street Runner to keep Jamie safe. To keep him from being returned to his uncle. And because she was helping him, Omega had no other option but to run with him. Jamie had another uncle at a place called Byford, a place Omega had no clue about or how to get there. But they were determined to find Byford from a scrap of map Jamie had with him. And when they did, they planned to ask for this uncle Lord Byford's help in Jamie's safekeeping.
On the way to their little adventure, Jamie and Omega meet two fellow adventurers-- one is our war veteran Hugh Owens, newly returned from the war with Spain. Who wears the scars of the war quite literally with an arm missing. The other one was his fellow comrade, a little orphaned girl named Angela that Hugh had rescued. Since she had no one else, Hugh had made himself her guardian.
With the Runner on their hide, Omega, Jamie, Hugh and Angela have quite the adventure until they finally find Byford and knocks on Lord Byford's door. Even though the welcome from the butler was rather less cheery, and more of a shoo-shoo due to their, uh, looks at that time (filthy clothing and all that), a determined Hugh makes his way into Byford's home with Jamie in toe. But the one who was surprised as hell was not Jamie, not even the butler and the housekeeper. It was Omega herself when Lord Byford finally makes his way downstairs, learning of his errant nephew's arrival.
Oh my God, that was some moment for me too!
It was no one but the love of Omega's life. Whom she couldn't forget even once even after all these years. Even if she'd hated his guts with equal fervor. He was quite a bit older than her, a worldly bachelor and his little school miss, which would make him around 34 yrs. old now. Even then, Matthew Bering looks as handsome has he had 8 years ago. Even more so if possible, now that he'd filled out quite nicely. The same dark auburn hair, lovely skin without freckles, tall and bright. "Eye candy" in one word. Omega then hated her curly, bouncy hair and her freckled skin even more, and the fact that they had to meet 8 yrs. later, just when she herself looks like a vagabond! Oh fate has a way of mocking her!! -_-
But Matthew, too, seemed equally surprised to see her, though I think what surpassed that "surprise" was Hugh's punch on his face. You see, he knew of Omega's story, and instantly figured out what was going on. :D
After all that was said and done, Matthew somewhat welcomes them into his house but Omega was displeased with his reluctance. Also with the fact that he seemed not very interested in giving Jamie a home. But why? So far he'd been a gracious host, even with that slightly broken nose and one black-blue eye. What was his problem? Omega kept thinking if he was such a douche when she was a starry-eyed miss so utterly in love. Was he always like that? :/
Soon Omega was appointed the housekeeper when the latest one quit, throwing tantrum, not wanting to serve the latest bunch of raggedy "guests". But Omega wasn't unhappy about it. She knew what to do. She'd already seen the room, which could only be her suite, as planned by Matthew. But then Matthew had always been a person neat, who liked to be well-planned and prepared. This suite was still stocked with all sorts of womanly things that fit her perfectly. She was stunned, rather awed that he'd kept that suite intact until now. But why? Why did he jilt her at the altar, then keep her memory alive? Why never marry, living a life of a recluse?
By then I knew I couldn't think of Hugh as the prospective H of the story, even though he was a nice guy, and even though I would've loved to see him paired with someone. I could pretty much see that neither Omega, nor Matthew has moved on from each-other. Not by any means. But that why was bothering Omega quite a lot. She needed to get to the bottom of it, even if it meant nothing for them. Even if they have no future to speak of anymore. Oh but the heart doesn't stop hoping............
When this, comprised with Jamie's uncertain future, came into forefront, Omega had to ask Matthew, demand actually, as to what the hell is going on. She could see Matthew was still the same man she fell in love with. An unpretentious, gracious fellow. He and his staff, by now, have accepted their mismatched little group and welcomed them with open arms. Matthew loved having them around, or so the servants would gossip to Omega. As if his life had been sterile and miserable in the past 8 yrs, as much as, Omega's startling realization, was her own. Yet, she didn't know what went so horribly wrong that made Matthew jilt her, and then hid himself away.
Matthew seemed only too eager to talk to her, to unburden what has been eating at him all these years, even if he was faltering at first. He had to explain what had happened on his bachelor's party to get to where they were today. And why it'd be really difficult for him to keep Jamie around. Everything was tied together in such an insanely intense package, it was staggering to say the least. So when it all started unraveling with Matthew's stunning tale, Omega knew that fate was cruel. To them, to a lot of people who were a part of this horrendous play. Many of them were now dead, thanks to a villain who'd go to any length to keep things quiet. Worse was, Matthew was drunk at the time so he had no idea if the crime committed was his fault or not. And the only person who knew, still alive, was the person who could ruin him. Has already threatened to ruin him. It was Lord Rotherford, Jamie's other uncle.
Now they have to find a way to defeat this villain to give Jamie a home, also... maybe, hoping against hope, that they'd have their own, long awaited HEA after all. But can Matthew do this? There was another, rather personal secret he'd been hiding too, and that secret may come between Omega and Matthew after all. :(
I'd not go into any other detail as to not ruin the whole mystery that becomes the core of the story at one point. Instead, I'd now try to outline some things. I picked this book up on a whim, just because it's a Carla Kelly book, reading only the blurb. No reviews at all. Now I see that issues have been raised about the contents of the book.
To explain:
1. This is a clean romance, no descriptive sex, or even a kissing scene. But it's NOT your love and laughter, fluffy clean romance for sure because of the above mention incident. That part, obviously, takes quite a bit of the page count, being the reason behind every trouble in Omega and Matthew's life. If you don't like your clean romance anything but "neat and clean", then maybe you shouldn't read it.
2. Which brings me to the point, if this story is graphic or not. I'm not liking how some peeps, without reading the book, casting presumptions in their 1 star reviews. IMO, it was not graphic. If you've read Beau Crusoe, you'd know Ms. Kelly can write some phenomenally out-of-this-world, can't-even-think-of-it kind of situations. But she's never too descriptive in that aspect, nothing to make you wanna throw up. No, not with graphic descriptions. She only gives you enough to ponder on it. To let you think and make your own judgment. I have to tell you, even if I felt sick, I never felt disgusted at Beau's ordeals. Same goes for this book and Matthew's situation. It's not even close if you're talking about anything graphic, but there are some disturbing mentions of that fateful night of Matthew's life. In the end though, I believe it comes down to what your definition of "graphic" is.
3. There was NO cheating at all.
Again wanna state that I really enjoyed Miss Chartley's Guided Tour. Loved both Omega and Matthew, their chemistry together. Their easy relationship and instant understanding seemed to have survived a long 8 years stretch. I only wish I had some notion if Hugh Owens ever got his book or not. He soooo deserved one. *sigh* Does anyone know if there was a book for him?
4 stars. Oh my, who knew this book had so many hidden twists that'd surprise the hell outta me? Magnificently, too! :o I had no idea who the hero was even until 50% into the story... and I enjoyed every minute of it!
As from the blurb you'd find that our heroine, Miss Omega Chartley, was jilted at the alter by her esteemed, now errant, fiance Mr. Matthew Bering. Until the moment she realized that Matthew won't be showing up at the wedding, Omega was glowing with love, and full of hope for their future together. She never knew what made him jilt her so suddenly, making a dent in her self-esteem. But the prologue of the book shows you something rather disturbing, paving the way for the story, about someone, frantically trying to hide something. Someone trying to show up at a wedding even though something heavy is weighing on his mind. Something that wins at the end, and he leaves, leaving London entirely as if he couldn't disappear fast enough.
It's been 8 long years and Omega had fared. Not superbly but she's content where she is now, a rather stern but well-liked, schoolteacher. She's around 26, a spinster by all means, who doesn't expect to ever marry or have her own family. Her elder brother, Alpha (oh yes, Alpha and Omega :D), has seen that the Chartley line is secured by having 3 rambunctious sons of his own. There has been some family tragedies in between but Omega has fared.
Recently, Omega took up a new teaching job. She was on her way there when she finds herself in a spot of trouble... actually, in a heap of trouble by the name of Jamie Clevendon, a little runaway of around 10yrs. Jamie was running away from his cruel uncle, a peer of the realm. He's been abusing him and Jamie couldn't take it anymore. The uncle dearest has now set a Bow Street runner after Jamie, which is the reason he needed to hid himself away as best as possible. But his manners and the cut and quality of his now filthy clothing told Omega instantly that the child is not a vagrant of any type.
Soon though, life would take a completely different turn for our Miss Chartley. Once her mind made up on the matter, Omega and Jamie would have to come up with plans to hide themselves away from the Bow Street Runner to keep Jamie safe. To keep him from being returned to his uncle. And because she was helping him, Omega had no other option but to run with him. Jamie had another uncle at a place called Byford, a place Omega had no clue about or how to get there. But they were determined to find Byford from a scrap of map Jamie had with him. And when they did, they planned to ask for this uncle Lord Byford's help in Jamie's safekeeping.
On the way to their little adventure, Jamie and Omega meet two fellow adventurers-- one is our war veteran Hugh Owens, newly returned from the war with Spain. Who wears the scars of the war quite literally with an arm missing. The other one was his fellow comrade, a little orphaned girl named Angela that Hugh had rescued. Since she had no one else, Hugh had made himself her guardian.
With the Runner on their hide, Omega, Jamie, Hugh and Angela have quite the adventure until they finally find Byford and knocks on Lord Byford's door. Even though the welcome from the butler was rather less cheery, and more of a shoo-shoo due to their, uh, looks at that time (filthy clothing and all that), a determined Hugh makes his way into Byford's home with Jamie in toe. But the one who was surprised as hell was not Jamie, not even the butler and the housekeeper. It was Omega herself when Lord Byford finally makes his way downstairs, learning of his errant nephew's arrival.
Oh my God, that was some moment for me too!
It was no one but the love of Omega's life. Whom she couldn't forget even once even after all these years. Even if she'd hated his guts with equal fervor. He was quite a bit older than her, a worldly bachelor and his little school miss, which would make him around 34 yrs. old now. Even then, Matthew Bering looks as handsome has he had 8 years ago. Even more so if possible, now that he'd filled out quite nicely. The same dark auburn hair, lovely skin without freckles, tall and bright. "Eye candy" in one word. Omega then hated her curly, bouncy hair and her freckled skin even more, and the fact that they had to meet 8 yrs. later, just when she herself looks like a vagabond! Oh fate has a way of mocking her!! -_-
But Matthew, too, seemed equally surprised to see her, though I think what surpassed that "surprise" was Hugh's punch on his face. You see, he knew of Omega's story, and instantly figured out what was going on. :D
After all that was said and done, Matthew somewhat welcomes them into his house but Omega was displeased with his reluctance. Also with the fact that he seemed not very interested in giving Jamie a home. But why? So far he'd been a gracious host, even with that slightly broken nose and one black-blue eye. What was his problem? Omega kept thinking if he was such a douche when she was a starry-eyed miss so utterly in love. Was he always like that? :/
Soon Omega was appointed the housekeeper when the latest one quit, throwing tantrum, not wanting to serve the latest bunch of raggedy "guests". But Omega wasn't unhappy about it. She knew what to do. She'd already seen the room, which could only be her suite, as planned by Matthew. But then Matthew had always been a person neat, who liked to be well-planned and prepared. This suite was still stocked with all sorts of womanly things that fit her perfectly. She was stunned, rather awed that he'd kept that suite intact until now. But why? Why did he jilt her at the altar, then keep her memory alive? Why never marry, living a life of a recluse?
By then I knew I couldn't think of Hugh as the prospective H of the story, even though he was a nice guy, and even though I would've loved to see him paired with someone. I could pretty much see that neither Omega, nor Matthew has moved on from each-other. Not by any means. But that why was bothering Omega quite a lot. She needed to get to the bottom of it, even if it meant nothing for them. Even if they have no future to speak of anymore. Oh but the heart doesn't stop hoping............
When this, comprised with Jamie's uncertain future, came into forefront, Omega had to ask Matthew, demand actually, as to what the hell is going on. She could see Matthew was still the same man she fell in love with. An unpretentious, gracious fellow. He and his staff, by now, have accepted their mismatched little group and welcomed them with open arms. Matthew loved having them around, or so the servants would gossip to Omega. As if his life had been sterile and miserable in the past 8 yrs, as much as, Omega's startling realization, was her own. Yet, she didn't know what went so horribly wrong that made Matthew jilt her, and then hid himself away.
Matthew seemed only too eager to talk to her, to unburden what has been eating at him all these years, even if he was faltering at first. He had to explain what had happened on his bachelor's party to get to where they were today. And why it'd be really difficult for him to keep Jamie around. Everything was tied together in such an insanely intense package, it was staggering to say the least. So when it all started unraveling with Matthew's stunning tale, Omega knew that fate was cruel. To them, to a lot of people who were a part of this horrendous play. Many of them were now dead, thanks to a villain who'd go to any length to keep things quiet. Worse was, Matthew was drunk at the time so he had no idea if the crime committed was his fault or not. And the only person who knew, still alive, was the person who could ruin him. Has already threatened to ruin him. It was Lord Rotherford, Jamie's other uncle.
Now they have to find a way to defeat this villain to give Jamie a home, also... maybe, hoping against hope, that they'd have their own, long awaited HEA after all. But can Matthew do this? There was another, rather personal secret he'd been hiding too, and that secret may come between Omega and Matthew after all. :(
I'd not go into any other detail as to not ruin the whole mystery that becomes the core of the story at one point. Instead, I'd now try to outline some things. I picked this book up on a whim, just because it's a Carla Kelly book, reading only the blurb. No reviews at all. Now I see that issues have been raised about the contents of the book.
To explain:
1. This is a clean romance, no descriptive sex, or even a kissing scene. But it's NOT your love and laughter, fluffy clean romance for sure because of the above mention incident. That part, obviously, takes quite a bit of the page count, being the reason behind every trouble in Omega and Matthew's life. If you don't like your clean romance anything but "neat and clean", then maybe you shouldn't read it.
2. Which brings me to the point, if this story is graphic or not. I'm not liking how some peeps, without reading the book, casting presumptions in their 1 star reviews. IMO, it was not graphic. If you've read Beau Crusoe, you'd know Ms. Kelly can write some phenomenally out-of-this-world, can't-even-think-of-it kind of situations. But she's never too descriptive in that aspect, nothing to make you wanna throw up. No, not with graphic descriptions. She only gives you enough to ponder on it. To let you think and make your own judgment. I have to tell you, even if I felt sick, I never felt disgusted at Beau's ordeals. Same goes for this book and Matthew's situation. It's not even close if you're talking about anything graphic, but there are some disturbing mentions of that fateful night of Matthew's life. In the end though, I believe it comes down to what your definition of "graphic" is.
3. There was NO cheating at all.
Again wanna state that I really enjoyed Miss Chartley's Guided Tour. Loved both Omega and Matthew, their chemistry together. Their easy relationship and instant understanding seemed to have survived a long 8 years stretch. I only wish I had some notion if Hugh Owens ever got his book or not. He soooo deserved one. *sigh* Does anyone know if there was a book for him?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2020
This book was so bad, worst I have read by this author. Stupid plot, unlikable characters, and nothing redeemable making it unreadable.
March 15, 2017
A melodrama with coincidence piled upon coincidence, along with many a Big Issue to boot, but treated with a light touch and it all works for me.
February 25, 2014
This book is hard to describe.... i liked it but it was unlike most books I have read in this genre. The hero left the heroine at the altar... that is where the story begins and it is is quite a story, but to give a explanation you almost have to spoil.....below..... heroine falls into a rescue mission which leads her to her former fiance with a small boy, a disfigured soldier a small girl with a vilian in pursuit as well as bow street runner....and finally she discovers the reason he fled and never contacted her... she however was ruined by his standing her up which was followed by her father's suicide due to financial situations.... but Miss Chartley was a pretty awesome heroine...one of the best I have read....brave and smart...the last twenty pages were probably the best as you get a vilian attack,,,a rescue,,,, a scared but brave hero... a duel...a few tense moments and a HEA...yeah~!
SPOILERS Hero attended a bachelor party before his wedding and awoke to a naked dead 14 year old prostitute in his bed and he covered in blood. So he runs away,
SPOILERS Hero attended a bachelor party before his wedding and awoke to a naked dead 14 year old prostitute in his bed and he covered in blood. So he runs away,
September 24, 2015
This book started off with an interesting plot and engaging characters and I was thoroughly enjoying the book, until the heroine's "hero", her ex-fiancé, confesses to being a part of a crime that was so repulsive and horrifying that I couldn't get beyond that and quit reading immediately. So turned off by it that I won't be reading any more of her books.
September 6, 2016
This was one of Ms Kelly's earlier works. I say that because there were too many points in the plot that were obviously contrived. Nevertheless, her talent as a writer still shines through and I'm so glad she continued on with her writing career.
April 30, 2010
Really cute story. At times, I felt like the very serious plot was at odds with the cuteness of the children and the rest of the story, but it was still a very good read.
January 22, 2013
A bit too heavy on the dark cloud hanging over the hero plot, not enough on character, to be a stand-out, although it certainly holds its own against other category regencies
June 4, 2013
Review: 3.5 Stars
Review By: Caz
Link to Review: http://romantichistoricallovers.wordp...
Review By: Caz
Link to Review: http://romantichistoricallovers.wordp...
June 10, 2017
Much superior to almost all regency romances, (even the wonderful Georgette Heyer) this novel also holds a mystery, and moving emotional challenges to the characters. I enjoyed it tremendously! The author, Carla Kelly, has researched the regency and Napoleonic wars down to the ground, and stands head and shoulders above all those who carry on the tradition of Jane Austin. I recommend anyone to read any and all of her novels. As a medical aficionado, I especially loved THE WEDDING JOURNEY, which takes place on the battlefields before Waterloo, and shows readers a "Regency" they never knew existed.
The plot of Miss Chartley: To all appearances, Miss Omega Chartley is a schoolteacher on holiday. In fact she is a gentlewoman fallen on hard times, left at the altar eight years earlier and forced to make her own way in the world after the loss of her family fortune. Omega’s modest tour of England is cut short when she comes to the aid of a runaway. Jamie Clevenden has fled the clutches of a brutal uncle, and Omega is determined to help him escape the law, as represented by Bow Street Runner, Mr. Timothy Platter. Aided by a kindly war veteran and his adopted daughter, the two fugitives arrive at the home of Jamie’s other uncle, the Viscount of Byford—none other than Miss Chartley’s disgraced fiancé, Matthew Bering. There Miss Chartley will finally learn the secret that Lord Byford has hidden from her all these years, the story of a dark chapter in his past that stands in the way of not only their happiness but that of his nephew. Now they must face the truth together, no matter how dire the consequences. Originally published in 1989. Available from Amazon in print or e-book.
The plot of Miss Chartley: To all appearances, Miss Omega Chartley is a schoolteacher on holiday. In fact she is a gentlewoman fallen on hard times, left at the altar eight years earlier and forced to make her own way in the world after the loss of her family fortune. Omega’s modest tour of England is cut short when she comes to the aid of a runaway. Jamie Clevenden has fled the clutches of a brutal uncle, and Omega is determined to help him escape the law, as represented by Bow Street Runner, Mr. Timothy Platter. Aided by a kindly war veteran and his adopted daughter, the two fugitives arrive at the home of Jamie’s other uncle, the Viscount of Byford—none other than Miss Chartley’s disgraced fiancé, Matthew Bering. There Miss Chartley will finally learn the secret that Lord Byford has hidden from her all these years, the story of a dark chapter in his past that stands in the way of not only their happiness but that of his nephew. Now they must face the truth together, no matter how dire the consequences. Originally published in 1989. Available from Amazon in print or e-book.
September 22, 2025
This was a book read by my wife Kristy and me together. I got busy but she continued on. We both like Carla Kelly books. The plight of the young boy, Jamie, running away from his loathsome uncle was one that needed to be chronicled in a novel to illustrate how someone so abusive can be and still tried to get the boy back. He had terrible welts on his back and, I wonder, if his uncle was sexually abusing him, too.
Omega was a very caring and nice young woman. She was on her way to north of England to teach school but ended up helping others. She is the type of person who receive blessings rather than medals and the admiration of those they serve and help.
There are laws that let abuse run amok and hurt others. Just because you are related to someone never justifies their predators to be abusive.
One truism: "Don't be a tattle tale is false as the person it helps is those hurting you. I have found that being a tattle tale is the best policy as it brings the abuse of the trouble maker to others' attention and they can help deter him and make the problem less.
Omega was a very caring and nice young woman. She was on her way to north of England to teach school but ended up helping others. She is the type of person who receive blessings rather than medals and the admiration of those they serve and help.
There are laws that let abuse run amok and hurt others. Just because you are related to someone never justifies their predators to be abusive.
One truism: "Don't be a tattle tale is false as the person it helps is those hurting you. I have found that being a tattle tale is the best policy as it brings the abuse of the trouble maker to others' attention and they can help deter him and make the problem less.
September 17, 2018
I've read several Carla Kelly books. All of which are 4 star books for me. This book has a rather unfortunate event that I found disturbing involving one of the main characters. Perhaps I am naive in how far a person can be influenced into doing something repulsive solely because of being drunk. But then to choose to continue doing other distasteful things to try and prove something to yourself when sober is also disturbing to me. Besides those events the rest of the story and characters were engaging. My favorites being the soldier and the girl, and the boy that brought them all together.
November 8, 2020
I enjoyed that Omega was precise and bookish without being awkwardly geeky like she would be these days. I also enjoyed the children, bloodthirsty practical Agatha and hero-worshiping James.
While the reason he had to miss the wedding was actually quite suitably horrific and understandable, it was also actually a really icky event. Made it hard to like the main character if he thought he was capable of such a thing.
While the reason he had to miss the wedding was actually quite suitably horrific and understandable, it was also actually a really icky event. Made it hard to like the main character if he thought he was capable of such a thing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2017
This is one of the better of Carla's books. It has a bit of intrigue and excitement. I wish she had developed the emotions of the two protagonists more. After being jilted at the altar 8 years previous, I don't think it would have been as easy as the story suggests for the heroine to fall back into the arms of her ex-fiance. But overall, a fun read.
June 17, 2022
This was so fun for a regency romance story! I loved Omega and the cute ragtag group that she found in the beginning of her journey. Then the detective work, along with new and unlikely friendships was so sweet. The writing was much easier for me to read than other regency romance stories, so that was enjoyable for me.
November 25, 2017
Again, not my favourite by Carla Kelly, but even if the plot was somewhat a bit far-fetched, it changed from the usual tropes and the characters were really engaging, particularly the secondary cast -also, Bow Street runners ! Thus the 3,5 stars.
June 9, 2022
Miss Chartley's Excellent Adventure
As always Carla Kelly gives us a finely written poignant story that is
full of adventures,
interesting people with heart and a need for a happy ending. Don't ever miss even one of her Nepoleonic Era tales!
As always Carla Kelly gives us a finely written poignant story that is
full of adventures,
interesting people with heart and a need for a happy ending. Don't ever miss even one of her Nepoleonic Era tales!
September 27, 2017
Carla Kelly is so good!
I always love Ms. Kelly's writing! The characters come alive as does the times they live in. Each of her stories are great!
I always love Ms. Kelly's writing! The characters come alive as does the times they live in. Each of her stories are great!
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