One Night for Love by Mary Balogh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Heartbreaking Story of Two People from Different Worlds

ONE NIGHT FOR LOVE is the story of Neville Wyatt, Earl of Kilbourne. Neville is marrying his cousin when a ragged woman enters the back of the church and declares herself his wife. Lily Doyle is the daughter of a commoner. Lily and Neville met when Neville was in the army. They married and the next day both are shot. Neville believes Lily dead and goes on with his life. He never tells any one about his marriage, returns to England and a year and a half later plans to marry the woman that he was expected to his whole life. Lily has returned after being held prisoner. She is illiterate, uneducated and far from being a lady. The gulf between the two seems impossible to cross. The two love one another, however, and this book is the story of how they learn to live together.

I really liked this story. The book is slow at times because it is a lush, romantic exploration of the feelings of the two. It is the story of how love alone is not enough. Lily and Neville need to deal with guilt and pain. Lily also has to change so that she can learn to live in Neville’s world. Those changes.are about discovering one’s.potential. By the time, this book ends the reunion and happy ending between the two is satisfying.

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A Summer to Remember by Mary Balogh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

QUIET, BEAUTIFUL STORY

A SUMMER TO REMEMBER is the story of Lauren Edgeworth, the abandoned almost bride from ONE NIGHT FOR LOVE. Her disappointment of having been abandoned on her wedding day and a lifetime of feeling rejected by so many has left Lauren trapped in her ladylike mask. Kit Butler, Viscount Ravensburg, is a reckless rake whose smiling, laughing nature hides man who has scars of his own. The two end up in a pretend engagement that ends up healing so much that is hurt inside each of them.

This is a beautiful, deeply emotional book. Balogh really allows the reader to quietly and slowly understand the depths of these two characters and see the slow movements that they make in learning about one another, falling in love and healing one another. I love the quiet beauty of this book. It fits Lauren’s personality which is not cold but rather gentle and loving. The plot of the book is not particularly original or exciting. Rather, Balogh focuses expertly on the beautiful relationship that develops between Lauren and Kit.

I highly recommend this book which is better than the first in the series.

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Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Absolutely Fantastic End to the Bedwyn Series

SLIGHTLY DANGEROUS is the final book in the Bedwyn series. It is the story of the Duke of Bewcastle, Wulfric Bedwyn. In the previous two years, Bewcastle has seen his five siblings happily married. He is now alone and is somewhat restless. That leads him to accepting an invitation for a house party. There he meets Christine Derrick, a widow, whose behavior, while not scandalous, is not completely ladylike either. She is too bright. Of course, the cold, reserved Duke is attracted despite himself.

I absolutely loved this book. It ended up being my favorite of the series. Balogh did an amazing job of allowing the reader to see how two people who appear to be so incompatible are actually perfect for one another. The slow development of the romance between them just built to such an ending that I just smiled through the last chapters of the book.

I started this late in the evening intending to read a couple chapters before bed…didn’t happen. I was immediately drawn into the story and couldn’t put it down. I ended up staying up most of the night to finish it. There was never a lull in the book. Every moment built upon the other. This book plays into Balogh’s strengths. The inner life of these people is slowly revealed. The characters are vivid and compelling.

I have nothing bad to say about it except that I think it is a better book for having read the others in the series first.

Highly recommend!

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Slightly Sinful by Mary Balogh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

More Madcap Then Usual

SLIGHTLY SINFUL is the fifth book in the Bedwyn series. It is the story of Alleyne, the youngest son. The events in this book occur concurrently with those in SLIGHTLY TEMPTED. Alleyne is injured during the Battle of Waterloo. He is rescued by Rachel York, who find him unconscious and naked. Alleyne awakes with no memory of who he is. Rachel is a young woman who has fallen on hard times and is currently staying in a brothel with four prostitutes. Soon Alleyne is helping Rachel by masquerading as a newly married couple.

This is a story about who we are and what knowledge of the past makes us. Both Alleyne and Rachel are missing the truth about their pasts. The two fall in love while engaged in the fake marriage. This book is more madcap adventure than the others. Rachel and Alleyne travel with four prostitutes and a one-eyes former sergeant. Their deception, however, allows them to discover the truth. I really enjoyed this book. It was funny and poignant at the same time. The end of the book where Alleyne finally finds himself was so incredible that I forgot that the madcap adventure went on just a touch too long. I really like Alleyne and Rachel’s romance.

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Slightly Scandalous by Mary Balogh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Balogh Makes Me Like Freyja

SLIGHTLY SCANDALOUS is the third book in the Bedwyn series. It is the story of the oldest Bedwyn sister Freyja. Readers of the prequels will have encountered Freyja as woman who was in love with Kit and had expected to marry him. Freyja was particularly nasty in that book and it was hard to imagine that she could be made into a sympathetic heroine. Balogh does a great job of giving the reader an understanding of Freyja’s character. Her brashness hides a soft heart.

She meets her match in Joshua Moore, Marquees of Hallmere. Joshua is a smiling, laughing rake who challenges Freyja and encourages her free spirit. The two end up in a fake engagement. Some readers may not like this old standard, but Balogh does particularly well with them because it allows the characters enough time and togetherness to really investigate their feelings for one another.

I really enjoy these slow developing relationships. Balogh does such a great job allowing the relationship to develop slowly and the characters change and grow.

Definitely worth a read. I’d rate it 4.5 stars.

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Slightly Tempted by Mary Balogh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Story of Revenge and Forgiveness

SLIGHTLY TEMPTED is the fourth novel in the Bedwyn series. It is the story of Morgan, the youngest Bedwyn sibling. In Brussels, she meets Gervese Ashford, the Earl of Rosthorn. The clever, smiling Gervese approaches Morgan at a ball and ends up wooing her. What Morgan doesn’t know is Gervese is seeking revenge against her brother, the Duke of Bewcastle because of events that lead to Gervese’s exile from England nine years ago. Because of the return of Napoleon, war is coming to the continent. Morgan and Gervese end up spending a week together where they become genuine friends. Once returning to England, Gervese’s desire for revenge and the events of 9 years ago threaten to tear the two apart.

The First part of this book is simply magnificent. It is beautiful and poignant. Gervese struggles with his desire for revenge and his feelings toward Morgan. Once they are back in England, I loved the scene where Morgan confronts Gervese with his perfidy. Although young, Morgan is strong and no one’s fool. I also very much enjoyed the idea expressed in this book that forgiveness is a conscious choice that can give peace.

I really enjoyed the scenes with the various Bedwyn siblings who I have become fond of in this series.

I would rate this one a 4.5.

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Slightly Wicked by Mary Balogh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Classic Romance from Balogh

SLIGHTLY WICKED is the second book in the Berwyn series. It is the story of Rannulf Bedwyn and Judith Law. The two encounter one another while traveling to the same area. Judith is on her way to be a poor relation in her aunt and uncle’s house. She knows that she will have no future once there. Ralf is on his way to his grandmother’s house to be presented with a potential bride. The two end up spending two nights together in an inn. Both are shocked to encounter one another again at their destination.

This book was enjoyable. The beginning where Judith and Ralf meet was great. The book slows down in the middle while the two begin to feel their way towards love. Once Ralf figures out his feelings, the book picked up again. I thought the relationship between Ralf and Judith is different and interesting. Judith is a strong woman and while she is sometimes rescued by Ralf, she is never a damsel in distress.

For fans of the series, this book is a must. While the first book in the series is not necessary, it helps with the family dynamics to have read it and the prequels.

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Slightly Married by Mary Balogh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Classic Marriage of Convenience Story

SLIGHTLY MARRIED is the first book in the Bedwyn series (although there are two prequel books ONE NIGHT FOR LOVE and A SUMMER TO REMEMBER). SLIGHTLY MARRIED is the story of Colonel Aiden Bedwyn, the second son in the Bedwyn family. When one of his soldier’s dies, Aiden makes a promise to care for the soldier’s sister. Eve Morris is in serious trouble with the death of her brother. She is about to be evicted from her home if she is not married in a week. Aiden offers Eve a marriage of convenience in order to satisfy his promise. Fate intervenes, however, and the two are constantly drawn back together.

I absolutely loved this book. Balogh has a wonderful way of allowing her characters to fall in love slowly. The emphasis in these stories is on the characters’ romantic journey. I love that part of her novels. I feel that at the end of the book, I understand these characters who are complex and multifaceted.

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Simply Unforgettable by Mary Balogh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Didn’t Like The Secret

SIMPLY UNFORGETTABLE is the first book in the Simply Quartet that is also related to the Bedwyn series. This series is the story if four teachers at a girls school in Bath. This book is about Francis Allard, the music teacher at the school. Coming from from Christmas holidays, Francis ends up stranded with Lucius Marshall, Viscount Sinclair. The two have a wonderful two days together but there seems to be no way that a Viscount and a schoolteacher could ever have a relationship. However, the two end up encountering each other again and again.

Evaluating this book is difficult to me. I loved the beginning of this book. I also loved how Lucius could not let Francis go. However, I did not like that the conflict between the characters was based on an incident in Francis’ past that was so easily resolved once Francis told Lucius the truth. I was really annoyed and it diminished the rest of the book for me.

I can only give this one a 3.5.

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Simply Perfect by Mary Balogh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nice End To the Series

SIMPLY PERFECT is the final book in the Simply series. It is the story of Claudia Martin, headmistress of the girls school central to the series. Claudia is in her mid 30s and satisfied with her life. She meets Joseph Fawcitt, Marquees of Attinghorough when he arrives with a message from one of her friends and an offer to escort her and two of her students to London. Claudia is inclined to dislike the aristocratic Joseph, but soon he shows her that is not not a superficial man. While the two cannot even think about a romance because of the difference in their social classes, but they soon are sharing their inner lives. The two fall in love, but there are many external obstacles to overcome before they can be happy together.

I really enjoyed the romance between the two. It was mature befitting the ages of the protagonists. I really liked Claudia, who is strong and independent but still caring. I really liked Joseph even though I was really annoyed by his engagement. I did manage to understand that he was evolving himself — moving from a man completely enmeshed in society’s rules to one who tosses off the rules to acknowledge love in his life. The book overall was a little uneven to me, but I ultimately liked it based on the strength of the love story.

I also was happy that secrets that have existed since the early Bedwyn books were finally revealed. It was also nice to get a look a the happy marriages of favorite characters from past books.

I’d rate this a 4.25.

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