I found it difficult to put this story of a girl trying to rescue her brother from his own stupidity and finding love, previously lost, along the way. Features the Battle that became Waterloo and the ball before it that Georgette Heyer mentioned.
There were some times that the characters behaved in very 21st Century ways but overall I was rooting for the characters to do well and to get their HEA. The brother did almost deserve what happened to him for how he treated Helene. Both Helene and her brother have to face some very gory facts about war and I'm sure it will feature in further books in this series, her brother now has serious mental damage ( )

Good second chance romance. Helene's younger brother, David, snuck away from home and went to Brussels, determined to witness the war against Napoleon for himself. Intent on saving him from himself, Helene and her trusted servant chase after him. They check every tavern they encounter until they find him, about to come out on the wrong end of an argument. He's saved from disaster by the intervention of an army captain. The realization that it is her former friend and fiancé stuns Helene.

The last person Rhys expected to see in Brussels, Helene brings back both good and bad memories. Good memories of growing up together, the vicar's son and the earl's daughter, playing knights and damsels and other childhood games. Then the changing feelings to something more potent and more adult, and their plans to elope. Rhys is still bitter about how their relationship ended, believing that Helene threw away their love for the chance of a better alliance. As much as he'd like to ignore her, he can't abandon her in this situation.

This was an emotional book in an intense setting. Seeing Rhys brings back Helene's memories of their time together, but also the pain of their parting. She never forgot her love for him and remained unmarried. It hurts that he is so cold to her, but she can't blame him. Rhys is torn. He wants to maintain his distance but can't stop his need to protect her. When Helene's servant, Wilson, whom he remembers fondly, takes ill, Rhys steps in to help find a doctor. Thrown together by several situations, Rhys and Helene slowly reconnect, their previous feelings resurfacing and growing stronger. The night before the battle brought out the desperation both felt, and they gave in to the attraction that burned between them. With Waterloo looming, Rhys insists that Helene leave Brussels while she still can.

Helene's reason for being in Brussels, finding her brother, and taking him home, proves to be a losing proposition. At eighteen years old, David is headstrong and unwilling to listen to reason. I ached for Helene because David was clearly acting like a spoiled brat. I was not surprised by what happened to him and wanted to shake him for the pain he caused his sister. Though I felt bad for what he suffered, he brought it on himself by his unthinking behavior. By the end, I saw a glimmer of hope for him, but only time will tell.

Because of David's actions, Helene ends up in the middle of the battle. There is a terrific scene of her finding Rhys in the chaos and the emotional time together. The descriptions of the battle from Rhys's perspective made me feel as though I was there, and Helene's time helping the field surgeon was heart-wrenching. Even the aftermath was vividly portrayed, as Rhys and Helene tried to figure out their future. There was a while where it looked like circumstances would part them again, but both Rhys and Helene refused to let it happen. I loved the epilogue and seeing how they made it work. I loved the twist at the end and what it could mean for them.

The secondary characters were great. I especially like Mrs. Jacobs, the nurse, and her unshakeable belief that Rhys and Helene belonged together. I enjoyed how she and Wilson's lady, Louise, collaborated to ensure that Helene could go to the ball. I also liked Rhys's friend, Grant. Their friendship is a solid one, built on shared experiences during the war. I liked when Grant stepped in to help Helene when Rhys was stubborn. I would love to see him get his own story. ( )