A SECRET AFFAIR by Mary Balogh

Publisher: Delacorte press
Date published: May 2010
ISBN: 978-0-385-34330-5
Historical Romance
Hardcover
Obtained via: Publisher
Reviewed by Susan



Hannah Reid wed the Duke of Dunbarton when she was nineteen years old. Eleven years later, Hannah is a widow and free to pursue her life as she pleases. And she is pleased to announce that she wants a lover setting her sights on Constantine Huxtable.

A SECRET AFFAIR is the final book in the series featuring the Huxtable family. Ms. Balogh has saved the most enigmatic member of the family for last. In the beginning, Constantine was cast in the light of a villain but his true qualities have been uncovered. He is a very complex man but readers know that he is a man capable of deep emotions. Hannah is very much a “Balogh” heroine. She is not a virgin nor is she very young. I have always enjoyed her heroines as they are usually intelligent and capable of standing up for themselves. Hannah is a woman who is matured and experienced in life. She is a very nice match for Constantine. It was very entertaining to watch the interplay between them.

Of course, the members of the Huxtable family make appearances and it was nice to seem them again. I have always enjoyed seeing what happened after the “happily ever after” and Ms. Balogh certainly gives us the opportunity.

A SECRET AFFAIR was an enjoyable read. It kept my attention and the pages turning. Readers will definitely want this book as it is a fine finale for this series.


THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THIS BOOK. THIS IS AN OBJECTIVE UNBIASED REVIEW

THEN COMES SEDUCTION by Mary Balogh

Publisher: Dell
Date published: April 2009
ISBN: 978-0-440-24423-3
Regency Romance
Mass Market Paperback
Obtained by: publisher
Reviewed by Pam


Rake and avid gambler Jasper Finley, Baron Montford, takes on a wager which could totally damage his already tarnished reputation as a notorious seducer of women. After drinking too much and being unable to not rise to a dare, he finds himself agreeing to seduce an innocent woman.

Katherine Huxtable has had a sudden change in her life and circumstances. Her brother’s status has changed, meaning she must now come out in society. She’s also expected to find and wed a suitable husband, especially now that her sister Vanessa is wed to Lord Lyngate and her brother Stephen has become the Earl of Merton.

What Katherine hadn’t bargained on was the attraction she has to a rake. Drawn together despite themselves, Katherine avoids too much intimacy, while knowing Jasper is trying his hardest to seduce her. With a scandal brewing and her reputation falling apart, Katherine reluctantly agrees to marry him, but she’s still unsure of his true feelings and it shows.

The author has a way of making her characters come to life on the page, while dropping them into a suitable setting. This is a Regency tale where much of the stuffiness of life back then, has been edited out and some oddball characters have been added. This story is delightfully funny as the hero finds himself wanting to seduce the heroine, but finding he has a conscience after all. When he finds he doesn’t want to share her, but wants her as his wife, his life changes drastically. She has seen how dangerous to her his good looks are and is doing her utmost to resist his charms, but their sexual encounters were hot. The other characters, especially Aunt Prunella and Cousin Clarence, brought a very well written difference into the tale. If you’ve not read any of this authors books before, try this one and enjoy the experience.

THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THIS BOOK. THIS IS AN OBJECTIVE UNBIASED REVIEW.

FIRST COMES MARRIAGE Book 1 in series by Mary Balogh

Publisher: Dell
Date published: March 2009
ISBN: 978-0-440-2442-6
Historical Romance
Mass Market Paperback
Obtained via: self-purchase
Reviewed by Dawn



Meet the Huxtable siblings: Vanessa, Margaret, Katherine and their brother Stephen. They are about to find that destiny has them in its sights and they are about to find that even they can not run from it. Meet Vanessa Huxtable, a proud and fiery widow who is determined to save her oldest sister from a loveless marriage. When Elliott Wallace, Viscount Lyngate shows up in Throckbridge, she offers an exchange: herself instead of her sister, Margaret. Intrigued by the unique proposal, Elliott accepts and soon these two strong people find that love has a way of sneaking up on you, especially if you least expect it.

FIRST COMES MARRIAGE is an introduction into the world of the Huxtables; siblings who are proud and fiery, and determined to steer their own course in life. Here you meet Vanessa Huxtables, a widow who is determined to save her eldest sister from a loveless marriage. With a proposal that intrigues Elliott Wallace, the Viscount takes her up on her offer and soon both find that even though they might not have much in common at first, they have a connection that will let love into their lives if they let it. I haven’t read one of Ms. Balogh’s historicals in a long time and this was a wonderful change of pace for me. I finished the book in one afternoon and found myself intrigued by the other siblings as well as some wonderful secondary characters. Ms. Balogh always delivers a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering what happens next. Ms. Balogh is a top notch writer who introduces flawed characters that appeal to her readers and stories that are full of historical accuracies that will appeal to history buffs. The things I found lacking were the chemistry between Elliott and Vanessa. It felt like it was forced and not quite believable. Elliott is a dour hero and Vanessa was to be his ray of sunshine in his life but frankly, these two just had a few problems to overcome- namely her lingering feelings for her dead husband and Elliott’s disposition itself. Is it a solid story? Definitely but the constant references to Vanessa’s less than perfect beauty had me grinding my teeth in frustration.

FIRST COMES MARRIAGE is the kick off to her new regency series and frankly, it was a delightful addition to anyone who enjoys a solid historical romance but it could have had Elliott and Vanessa a little more multi-dimensional. Ms. Balogh didn’t quite make the mark with me on FIRST COMES MARRIAGE but I am hopeful her other stories in the series will keep me entertained. If you enjoy a solid historical romance with interesting characters, then grab FIRST COMES MARRIAGE.



THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THIS BOOK. THIS IS AN OBJECTIVE UNBIASED REVIEW

AT LAST COMES LOVE Book 3 in series by Mary Balogh

Publisher: Dell
Date published: April 2009
ISBN: 978-0440244240
Historical Romance
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed by Dawn


Duncan Pennethorne has a dilemma: Find a woman to marry or lose everything he holds dear. After a spectacular scandal that left the ton in a twitter, he finds himself about to find the one woman who is neither cowed by him nor eager for his fortune. Margaret Huxtable is a woman about to be put on the shelf, according to society. At thirty years, she had her heart broken and frankly, isn’t about to risk it again. Can these two people find a way to let love into their lives while trying to keep their hearts protected?

AT LAST COMES LOVE is an interesting story for me as I wasn’t too thrilled with the first book, First Comes Marriage. I didn’t read the second book, Then Comes Seduction, and felt it wasn’t needed to read this one. Ms. Balogh, in the past has delivered some wonderful books and her writing style is evident here with tight writing and historical accuracy but the complaint I had was that it kept telling me about things instead of showing me how they fell in love or even the tension that flares between them. I really do enjoy Ms. Balogh’s earlier work but it was the only thing not letting me give it a 4.

AT LAST COMES LOVE is a charming tale of a woman who finds herself firmly on the shelf, determined to find a life for herself as her siblings are now settled or independent and don’t need her anymore as the cornerstone of the family. Ms. Balogh delivers a heroine who is strong and independent yet a tad bit bossy for my tastes but it works in AT LAST COMES MARRIAGE. Duncan started out not very enjoyable to me. I am not sure why, but it took a few chapters before I found him likable. Ms. Balogh delivers a story that will either keep your attention or make you want to throw the book down. I am not sure if I will read the others in the series as the series doesn’t quite resonate with me. I love a good historical romance but frankly, this misses the bar with characters that are a bit wooden and tension that is minimal at best. If you enjoy a historical romance with intriguing historical bits then you might enjoy the Huxtable siblings.

SEDUCING AN ANGEL by Mary Balogh

Publisher: Bantam Dell
Date published: May 2009
ISBN: 978-0385341059
Historical romance
Hardback
Reviewed by Susan



Stephen Huxtable, Earl of Merton is the ideal candidate for Cassandra Belmont. He is everything that she seeks: handsome and rich. Cassandra is not looking for a husband; she is in search of a “protector” as rumors circulate about how she murdered her husband.

SEDUCING AN ANGEL is the fourth book in this series featuring the Huxtable family. I admit to have read all the books and enjoying each of them. We have been exposed to Stephen from when he first inherited his title and watched him grow up as each book was released. To this reader, Stephen has always come across as a “good guy”. He was never too wild like many young men of the ton and it is due to the guiding hands of his sisters and their husbands. He grew up into a perfectly nice man who doesn’t enjoy sex just for the sake of having sex. He wants something more than just the physical act which is definitely unusual especially due to his status and the time period. Cassandra is a woman who has experienced life at its worse and is due for something wonderful to happen. There is vulnerability as well as sadness to her and readers will find out why as the story progresses. Stephen and Cassandra are great together. There are deep emotions between them and readers will empathize with both of them. Ultimately, this is a love story between a couple that has plenty of issues to overcome. How they find their way to their “happily ever after” is Ms. Balogh’s forte. She is a master in writing these memorable and heart-warming stories. SEDUCING AN ANGEL is another winner in a long line of books from Ms. Balogh’s imagination. We can’t wait to read the next book in this series as it features Constantine.

SIMPLY PERFECT by Mary Balogh

Publisher: Bantam Dell Books
Publishing date: March 2008
ISBN: 978-385-33824-0
Historical, Regency Romance
Paperback
Reviewed by Pam




(3.5 hearts)

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Miss Claudia Martin owns and runs a school for girls in Bath. All her close friends have married and well, but she has no expectations and resigned herself to a life without love and family. She is busy with her pupils and teacher’s, feeling it should be enough to enjoy life, especially now the school is a success.
When Joseph, Marquess of Attingsborough calls on her with a message from her friend, she thinks he’s far too perfect. When he offers her and two charges a lift to London, she finds herself in very close quarters with him.
Thrown together because of their friends a close friendship grows, but Joseph has to marry and within his own circle. He finds his father has arranged things, but she is cold and calculating beneath her flawless beauty. Her mien cracks after she finds Joseph has a well kept secret, one she has no intention of being around.

SIMPLY PERFECT is an interesting Regency romp, with well crafted characters filling the pages of a very interesting plot. Claudia and Joseph’s journey to love and acceptance is an arduous one, with many ups and downs. The cold anti-heroine was an interesting touch, bringing how the ton and the way life was lived back then. As the layers of societies veneer are slowly peeled back, the characters true motives are revealed for good or bad.


The main characters journey to love was a delight to read. The story is well written and engages the reader’s emotions, as the love blossoms with a sensual blend of humor and sexual tension. As they begin to defy convention and break the rules established in the Regency era, secrets and desires are revealed. The secondary characters help to hold the tale together, especially the gutsy heroine’s best friends. A Regency Romance I can cheerfully recommend to anyone who enjoys this era.

Pam@Loveromancesandmore.com

SIMPLY PERFECT by Mary Balogh

Publisher Bantam Dell
Date published March 2008
ISBN 978-0-385-33824-0
Historical Romance
Hardcover
Reviewed by Susan



Claudia Martin, the headmistress of Miss Martin’s School for Girls, meets Joseph, the Marquess of Attingsborough as he escorts her and two of her students to London. Claudia is not one to be impressed with titles; in fact, she has a strong dislike for them and the people who have them. This is due to her time spent with the nobility especially when she had to deal with Wulfric and Freya Bedwyn. Joseph at age 35 is under pressure from his father to marry and ensure the family lineage by filling the nursery. Claudia is in for the ride of her life as Joseph turns her sedate world upside down.

Claudia is not a young ingénue but a mature woman who has experienced the lows in life. She has achieved her independence, not a small feat especially for the time period. Claudia is a strong, intelligent and a little bit stubborn. She comes across as a very level-headed woman with a generous heart. Her main flaw is her prejudice against the nobility. Claudia’s character is fully developed and we learn so much more about her. Joseph is atypical of the aristocratic male. He doesn’t jump in and out of bed with different women. He is a man who is quite loyal and fidelity means something to him. Joseph takes care of his responsibilities and this reader liked him very much. The courtship between Claudia and Joseph is filled with bumps in the road but the reader is assured of a “happily ever after”. How they reach it is deftly handled by Ms. Balogh. This is a couple who we can support and root for. They are a perfect match.

SIMPLY PERFECT is the final book in this series and it is a lovely ending. The reintroduction of characters that have appeared in the earlier books is a wonderful touch. It is a well-written page-turner that will keep you reading until the last page. It is a definite must have for all Mary Balogh fans.