Mary Balogh - Someone to Remember

Matilda Westcott has spent her life tending to the needs of her mother, the Dowager Countess of Riverdale, never questioning the life of solitude she has spun for herself. To Matilda, who considers herself the aging spinster daughter, marriage is laughable--love is a game for the young, after all. But her modest, quiet life of order unravels when a dashing gentleman from her past reappears, threatening to charm his way into her heart yet again.
Charles Sawyer, Viscount Dirkson, does not expect to see Matilda Westcott thirty-six years after their failed romance. Moreover, he does not expect decades-old feelings to emerge at the very sight of her. When encountering Matilda at a dinner hosted by the Earl of Riverdale, he finds himself as fascinated by her as he was the first day they met, and wonders if, after all these years, they have a chance at happiness together. Charles is determined to crack the hard exterior Matilda has built for over three decades or risk losing her once again...

Comment: This is a novella, part of the Wescott series by Mary Balogh. According to the author and a note in the beginning of the book, it had not been in her plans to write it but the two immediate novels before this novella put the heroine, Matilda, at such a light, that mrs Balogh felt the need to give her a HEA too...

Matilda Westcott is fifty six and she seems resigned to her spinster life, taking care of her mother, even if that now means welcoming her mother's younger sister and her companion into their home. Recently, Matilda has also been quite brave, in seeking viscount Dirkson, the biological father of Gil (hero of book #6) so that he could help with something his son needed. What others don't know is that viscount Dirkson, Charles, was actually someone she was in love with when they were both young, but her family pressured her to not accept his suit. Now, after 30 years of different lives, they are interacting again. Is there hope for them now, with experience and wisdom to support their new chance?

The author stated that another reason that prompted her to write this novella was the fact there aren't many heroines in their 50s being protagonists of romance stories. I can imagine it is true, which made reading this story even more intriguing. Of course, being Mary Balogh, everything was dealt with a lot of politeness and conscientiousness. 

In the previous novels, Matilda has been described as fussy and stressed, except for the last book, in which she acted differently, with apparent more drive and perception. She actively helped Abigail, her niece, in a way that certainly caught the readers' attention to her and that made it necessary for her to get her HEA. I really can't say much about Matilda except what is shared in this novella, but the first thing that came to mind was actually that this reminded me of the premise of Jane Austen's Persuasion. Yes,it's not the same thing but the main idea is the same.

Charles, viscount Dirkson was a little harder to read, I'll confess. Of course we learn he didn't fully control how his relationship with Gil developed when Gil was a little boy and as adults they were mostly estranged. Now, for more than one reason, they are in the same family orbit and we get to see Charles in a different light. As a young man, he was known for his wild ways and it can be understandable why he and Matilda didn't try harder for a relationship. Obviously, this being a novella, there isn't enough time to really deal with all those past doubts, but I suppose the author found ways to make him seem "redeemed".

Their romance now is very quiet and unassuming, and I don't think it's only because of their age. They have seen and felt things that might not call to flashy behavior anymore, but this, too, was dealt with in a cute way, considering how they decide to marry, with all the fanfare they deserve. I still cannot really say what their personalities are and if they are such a great couple... I'll believe they will be so. 

Honesty, what i was more interested in was seeing the development of Charles' relationships with his children. He has two daughters and a son from his first marriage and he has Gil. I really thought we would get a lot more about these two, but no, not really. Still, i liked it how we got to see him interacting with his other son and how he became friends with the Westcotts too. I'm hoping this will be more obvious in the following books, for certainly there will be many family scenes.

All in all, a good novella, a good enough way to tidy things up.

Grade: 7/10

Mary Balogh - Someone to Honor

Abigail Westcott's dreams for her future were lost when her father died and she discovered her parents were not legally married. But now, six years later, she enjoys the independence a life without expectation provides a wealthy single woman. Indeed, she's grown confident enough to scold the careless servant chopping wood outside without his shirt on in the proximity of ladies.
But the man is not a servant. He is Gilbert Bennington, the lieutenant colonel and superior officer who has escorted her wounded brother, Harry, home from the wars with Napoleon. Gil has come to help his friend and junior officer recover, and he doesn't take lightly to being condescended to--secretly because of his own humble beginnings.
If at first Gil and Abigail seem to embody what the other most despises, each will soon discover how wrong first impressions can be. For behind the appearances of the once-grand lady and the once-humble man are two people who share an understanding of what true honor means, and how only with it can one find love.

Comment: This is the 6th installment in the Wescott series by Mary Balogh, one of the series I have been slowly reading for the past months.

Abigail Wescott saw her life change radically once the bigamy of her father was discovered. She told herself she wasn't that bothered by it, because along with her, both her mother and her sister agreed with how they should feel about Anna, the rightful heir, coming into their lives. Even so, the one who changed the most was her brother, deprived of his title, which is why that now that he is finally home she feels they need to recover the lost time while he was at war. She didn't count, however, on his friend Gil staying for so long too, and she reluctantly begins to appreciate his presence and personality. But when a sudden need is forced upon him so that he doesn't loose his daughter, will Abigail be the person he needs to make certain all goes on well?

I gave this book four stars on goodreads and a seven here because, honestly, by comparing, I did like this story more than I did book #4 which was the one I liked the least so far. Otherwise, I might have given it a slightly lower grade because I just could not see the romance as that wonderful.

The base for this plot was interesting, Harry is finally home to recover from his war experience and the best place is at his country estate, where the family reunites to welcome him. Along with him, he also has a friend, Gil, someone who comes from very humble origins but reached a good rank in the military, and someone he trusts. Of course, it was fun to see how Gil and Abigail didn't get along right away and the reason is that they feel attracted to one another and she isn't really aware of why this happens.

As the story progresses, it starts to be very obvious that these two would be a good couple but at the same time, the chemistry they thought they had didn't seem very easy for me to see. Their interactions at first were expected and sometimes even cute in the sense they could not work on their attraction that simply, but as time went on and they got to know one another and started sharing confidences, I somehow got the feeling that instead of this reinforcing the attraction, it also made them both look more and more boring. I stopped feeling emotionally invested in them as I was in the beginning of the novel.

Abigail is a likable heroine, but I must say she isn't especially vibrant. I can understand her thoughts and emotions, considering what happened and how that must have affected her life and the relationships she had and how thin they were once she faced such social trials. I wanted more complexity for her character but it wasn't there, and I don't think she was a very challenging person to get to know. I mean, I'd be friends with her in real life, but reading about her wasn't what I imagined.

Gil is certainly a lot more interesting, personality wise. But it gets to a point that his ideas get very repetitive on that whole "I'm not worthy" particularly when we learn who his father is (what a coincidence it turned out to be. not) but that, of course, isn't that simple mentally. I think Gil is complex, yes, and he has a lot of inner debate on the course of his decisions. He is worried about his daughter which is understandable but this does color his view of how his life with Abigail should be and, sometimes, I don't think he was really fair in his assumptions.

Regarding the romance, I don't really buy it. I think the idea is good and the causes for their decision to marry as good as any, but the chemistry after the  wedding seemed to be missing. The intimacy between them told me nothing and I think if this had been a marriage of convenience which would develop after would have been better. Having them marry around half way and then deal with things made the story seem slow and a little lacking. 

Once everything is solved and everyone is in their best place in life, I've found the final decisions about who they were as a family to be predictable but sweetly delivered. I do like spending time with this Wescott family and their interactions are often rewarding to read about. But the romance between Abigail and Gil wasn't great.

Grade: 7/10

Mary Balogh - Someone to Trust

During a rare white Christmas at Brambledean Court, the widow Elizabeth, Lady Overfield, defies convention by falling in love with a younger man in the latest novel in the Westcott series.
After her husband's passing, Elizabeth Overfield decides that she must enter into another suitable marriage. That, however, is the last thing on her mind when she meets Colin Handrich, Lord Hodges, at the Westcott Christmas house party. She simply enjoys his company as they listen to carolers on Christmas Eve, walk home from church together on Christmas morning, and engage in a spirited snowball fight in the afternoon. Both are surprised when their sled topples them into a snow bank and they end up sharing an unexpected kiss. They know there is no question of any relationship between them for she is nine years older than he.
They return to London the following season, both committed to finding other, more suitable matches. Still they agree to share one waltz at each ball they attend. This innocuous agreement proves to be one that will topple their worlds, as each dance steadily ensnares them in a romance that forces the two to question what they are willing to sacrifice for love...

Comment: This is the 5th installment in the Westcott series by Mary Balogh, which I've been reading lately. This is the story of Colin and Elizabeth, siblings to the protagonists of book #3.

Christmas has been a wonderful time at the house of the new lord of Riverdale and Elizabeth feels it couldn't be better than this, although part of her wouldn't mind to have someone just like others have their spouses. She decides she might as well accept the proposal of someone she is comfortable with, even though she can't deny that her friendship and connection with Colin, lord Hodges, is special indeed. 

Colin is happy to have found his sister again and even more so because she is now part of a family who cherishes her, in a way their own never did. He also feels grateful for the friendship of Elizabeth, and that he has someone he can trust with his worries, but is this trust or a wider emotion he feels? It is true that there is an age difference, but does that really matter? Perhaps, for others like his mother, it does...

As always, I have had a good time reading about characters developed by mrs Balogh, an author whose style is now beyond comforting; I look for these books with the acceptance that they will go a certain way, but there is something about her novels that still drags me in, even though the formula is sometimes rather predictable.

Elizabeth and Colin have become friends since their siblings married and Colin reconnected with Wren. I liked this idea that they could have something in common to start of their relationship, and even more so when they established that they could talk to one another about things they didn't tell others, this was a good way to let us know that the issues between them would not develop into misunderstandings and that who they were to society meant nothing to who they were as individuals.

However, society does play a role in this novel, more so than what it felt like in the previous novels. The issue is that Colin and Elizabeth have different life experiences and are in different moments of their lives, for there is a nine year gap between them, and Elizabeth is the oldest. The author really stresses out how others see the older woman, younger man with a judgmental view and even though nothing is obvious at first, only the implication that it does is enough to change the way they are seen.

In a way, although this is a subject that shouldn't really matter, it was the main topic of why this book had some appeal to me, to be honest. I just found the friendship between them to be so adorable that the idea of them becoming more than friends sounded weird, more so than their age gap. I think this story wasn't much stronger to me because of this, because I liked them as friends more than I do as a couple. I mean, they do complement each other and they have a connection which the author tried to highlight, but in my head she was, yes, more a mentor than an obvious romantic interest for him.

There is also another element here, to change things a little, which is the fact Colin's mother isn't very keen on him marrying an older woman. Lady Hodges was certainly painted as villain in book #3 over her treatment of Wren, and she has the peculiar detail of trying to seem younger than she is, even in her clothes and in her looks. I mean, this attitude is an interesting element to study and I can't be sure that this was "solved" in a very likable manner, even though Colin and Elizabeth went on with their HEA. I think lady Hodges would be a character that could have a deeper study.

Anyway, apart from the external issues they had to deal with, and there are a few more that I have not mentioned, Colin and Elizabeth have to establish themselves as a couple who doesn't care about what others say, as long as they care for one another and that their close family is happy for them. This author isn't very glaring in how the characters demonstrate passion between them but it has been obvious in several. Not so here, and this reinforced my impression that they are better friends. Nevertheless, I'm happy for them and for how they did something they felt mattered.

Grade: 7/10

Mary Balogh - Someone to Care

Two years after the death of the Earl of Riverdale, his family has overcome the shame of being stripped of their titles and fortune—except for his onetime countess, Viola. With her children grown and herself no longer part of the social whirl of the ton, she is uncertain where to look for happiness—until quite by accident her path crosses once again with that of the Marquess of Dorchester, Marcel Lamarr.
Marcel Lamarr has been a notorious womanizer since the death of his wife nearly twenty years earlier. Viola caught his eye when she herself was a young mother, but she evaded his seduction at the time. A prize that eluded him before, she is all the more irresistible to him now although he is surprised to discover that she is as eager now for the excitement he offers as he is himself.
When the two defy convention and run away together, they discover that the ties of respectability are not so easily severed, and pleasure can ensnare you when you least expect it.

Comment: This is the 4th installment in the Westcott series by Mary Balogh, following a family and those related to them, after it was discovered the earl of Riverdale had been married to two women at the same time, making one of his marriages illegal. This is the story of Viola, the wife who really wasn't.

Viola Kingsley is mostly angry at her illegal marriage because of her children who became illegitimate, but she is willing to forget as best as she can, especially as she is attending the christening of her grandson. However, sometimes she feels she needs to run away and suddenly she does so, which places her at an inn and in the presence of Marcel Lamar,a man from her past. There was a time they could have been lovers but Viola refused, for she was married. Now they are both widowed and the spark is still there, which is why Viola impulsively agrees with him in spending sometime together, but the messages she sends to her family never arrive. When their families finally reach them, what else is to be done but marrying? Are they willing to bet on each other after all these years? 

I consider myself a fan of this author. I have not read all her books and to be honest I might not, since some don't seem to appeal much to me, but her more recent series have been mostly positive and in general I have loved all the books. Of course, in any lengthy series, some installments are better than others or some appeal more than others to each reader. I have been enjoying this series despite this or that element I'd change and I did like this fourth Westcott book too, but it is true that it didn't charm me as much as others have.

I liked the idea of the series and I like Viola as a character. She existed with the knowledge of her marriage, her social status, her place in society and the fact this was all legally wrong was quite the shock and affected her way of dealing with others. Still, it wasn't her fault even though social stigma isn't something people can fully control, she was still trying to be polite and do what was right. Thankfully, the Westcott family is a loving one and they never stopped caring for her.

I was quite interested, then, in reading about her and what she would do next, which is why the chance of a quick romance with a man from her past seemed interesting, even if it meant acting a little bit out of character. Running away for a while with a man doesn't seem proper behavior but Viola didn't have to answer to anyone, really, and at 40 she is certainly her own person. Marcel, the love interest, seemed a bit hard to read, being described as a seducer but acting aloof... but I trust the author so I was looking for to see how their romance would go from momentarily to an HEA, for surely this would happen.

Well, the overall plot had plenty of misadventures and romcom situations but I confess I struggled to like Marcel and Viola together. I felt their romance was almost staged-looking, and I didn't really see the things that brought them together working out as well as they were meant to. For this contributed the fact they both have a past that affected them emotionally, and while Viola's issues are more public (and the reader has knowledge of it since book #1), Marcel's is more devastating in a way, but also very frustrating to read about, something that ended up being a bit annoying to me.

With this I mean it was annoying to read about the things he went trough and how seemingly unaffected those around him seemed to have been. Considering the terrible things he saw and how much he still suffers because of what he perceived to have happened, his distance from his family feels exaggerated. Surely someone would have helped.. but no, and this means his behavior is directly a result of what he went though. I liked him at the same time I wish he had done things differently.

Thus, we have two people marked by mistakes and wrong ideas about themselves trying to act as if it's not a big deal they are taking a few days for an affair. The romance didn't seem very strong to me, because it seemed most of what they were dealing with was still stuck in the past and the scenes with people in the present felt like a task and not something they truly wanted to live with. I can't explain it but from deciding on a quick affair to everlasting love there wasn't enough obvious progression.

I also struggled with the vibe of this novel. Since the main characters had complicated issues in their past, which still affect them now, to deal with and to process, the mood around them was rather sad. For me this means reading about them wasn't very captivating, even though I understand what led them to the point in their lives. But, unlike most of this author's books I have read - and all have some kind of angsty situation - reading about their path to happiness wasn't heartwarming nor hopeful. Things end in an HEA for them, but I wasn't truly fascinated by them as a couple.

Bearing everything in mind, this was still likable and very much in par with what the author has done in her series, but this one didn't fully win me over. I hope the next one is better.. although it has an age gap in which the heroine is older... let's see...

Grade: 6/10

Mary Balogh - Someone to Wed

A very practical marriage makes Alexander Westcott question his heart in the latest Regency romance from the New York Times bestselling author of Someone to Hold.
When Alexander Westcott becomes the new Earl of Riverdale, he inherits a title he never wanted and a failing country estate he can't afford. But he fully intends to do everything in his power to undo years of neglect and give the people who depend on him a better life . . .
A recluse for more than twenty years, Wren Heyden wants one thing out of life: marriage. With her vast fortune, she sets her sights on buying a husband. But when she makes the desperate-and oh-so-dashing-earl a startlingly unexpected proposal, Alex will only agree to a proper courtship, hoping for at least friendship and respect to develop between them. He is totally unprepared for the desire that overwhelms him when Wren finally lifts the veils that hide the secrets of her past . . .

Comment: This is the third installment in the Wescott series by Mary Balogh.

In this story we follow Alexander, the new earl of Riverdale, as he embarks on a journey with Wren Heyden to find out if they can have a happy marriage. Alex knows he needs money to take care of the estates that are now his, as well as caring for the people who depend on those estates' success. He knows marrying someone with money would be an easy way to make things quicker, but he also wants to be with someone he can love and with whom he can have a real partnership. He accepts miss Heyden's request for a visit thinking others would be there but she is way more practical than he imagined and their conversation is direct. As they agree to try to see if they can be suitable, his family makes no secret in welcoming her, and Wren also discovers things about herself and her past, but will she let herself live a full life despite the mark she believes would make others want to avoid her?

This story follows the events of what happened in the previous books, the aftermath of the ton discovering the earl of Riverdale had had a bigamist marriage, thus making Alexander the actual heir to the title and not his cousin Harry, as it had been until then. Alexander didn't want the responsibility of the title but he is a good man and wants to do right by those who depend on him. Obviously, his sense of honor is what makes him such a likable person.

He and Wren meet after an invitation from her, and it seems she is trying to meet some eligible neighbors, men who could be prospective suitors, for she wants to be married. I never really understood why this decision at this time, except she likely wants to have someone to share her life with and have children, but it was quite a contrast to see her personality and her attitude in this. Wren has a physical mark on her face, something which has caused her so much emotional pain and that has driven her to hide from the outside world. She is, naturally, timid and unsure of her looks, and I can't imagine someone with these fears  -although she is a determined businesswoman - willing to risk marrying someone as a business transaction.

I mean, Wren is wealthy, her deceased uncle and aunt left her everything, and this allows her to have a lifestyle which she might not afford otherwise, but she has been hidden from others, has not been outside without a veil covering her face for years and I struggle to imagine the courage to assume a man would overlook that for money and that she would be fine with it as long as it would get her what she wanted. It did make her look a little standoffish at times.

The romance development is slow and, I will confess, not seemingly very effusive most of the time. I get it that they are quiet, unassuming people and that their journey is more an emotional one than something physical but there were times where it felt not much was really bringing them closer. To counter balance this, the author used his family, and their welcoming of Wren to prove to her she doesn't need to be alone and that her mark should not define her. Usually, I love this, when a family or secondary interactions give perspective to the main couple. However, here, it meant a little less attention on them as a couple.

When they decide they will be married things progress rather quickly, and they share things which make their early married days go on smoothly. Intimacy between them is simple and effortless I think. But there was something missing, some kind of drive - I would not say passion - to really make it feel they were it for one another. This is said and established but I never felt the force of the sentiment.

As the story comes to an end, Wren discovers some secrets from her devastating childhood and she confronts the person who hurt her the most. This gave her closure and a final relief to be who she was without the constrictions the veils and being hidden offered her while she was growing up. I'm happy for her, I'm happy for Alex  - he seemed very intriguing in the first books - but I will say that my favorite parts were definitely the ones where the other family members were interacting with them.

Grade: 7/10

Mary Balogh - Someone to Hold

With her parents’ marriage declared bigamous, Camille Westcott is now illegitimate and without a title.
Looking to eschew the trappings of her old life, she leaves London to teach at the Bath orphanage where her newly discovered half-sister lived. But even as she settles in, she must sit for a portrait commissioned by her grandmother and endure an artist who riles her every nerve.
An art teacher at the orphanage that was once his home, Joel Cunningham has been hired to paint the portrait of the haughty new teacher. But as Camille poses for Joel, their mutual contempt soon turns to desire. And it is only the bond between them that will allow them to weather the rough storm that lies ahead...

Comment: This is the second installment in the Westcott series by Mary Balogh, which I'll be reading through the rest of next year.

In this second story we follow Camille, the eldest daughter of the earl of Riverdale, who is now illegitimate. Camille reacted very badly to the new situation, discovered in the previous book, and she has wanted to stay away from most of the family. She goes as far as to need to work where her half sister Anna did and teach in the orphanage as she has done, as if redoing her steps can help her overcome what happened. To make things more complicated, her grandmother insists she and her sister Abby have their picture painted and who else to do it but Joel Cunningham, who was Anna's best friend in the orphanage. At first they are only cordial to one another, but the more they interact, mostly due to school activities, the more they realize there is more than meets the eye in regards to someone they didn't have in high esteem. But is Camille ready to let go of her disappointments?

As always, reading a book by this author is comforting in its delivery and rewarding in its journey. Camille is a character who wasn't very likable in the previous book but of course the author would do a great job in redeeming her in the reader's eye. I think her road to happiness was a believable one, mostly because she was mean before out of anger and shock, not inner malice.

The experience of reading these novels is one of coziness to me. Although characters may change, the sense of family and finding someone to be there are key in how the plot develops, and I think the author has done a good job portraying small things in a way they feel very important, and that means the characters become important to the reader too. I think Camille and Joel should not have much in common, romantically, but the author managed to lead things into this direction in a quiet but seemingly logical way.

I thought it was a bit too convenient that Camille redid her sister's steps because despite the obvious goal of doing it that way, it made the plot start off a little like a soap opera and that might have been unnecessary. Yes, it helped to strengthen her character and show case the good side of her actions, but it was a bit too convenient. Still, it helped to place her near Joel and she could be key in showcasing his development as well, for he has a path to fulfill too.

The romance wasn't as impressive as others in other books by he author, but I liked it that they were like soundboards to one another, they could talk and share things in a way that others might not understand as easily. I truly believe in their quiet friendship, which is how they start by being, and why their bond has room to grow. As for them being a couple in love, I could see how it was made to seem like this, but the chemistry wasn't always as obviously presented as it could.

At some point, of course, Camille has to speak with Anna and they need to come to an agreement in how to deal with one another. I think this was made to be rather simplistic for the sake of the series' development, but it was certainly good to know or think they had come to an understanding... although, if they become good friends from now on I would not believe as easily... perhaps the physical distance between the places they will live in can give that impression of cordiality but not instant emotion.

As expected, it's not only Camille who sees her situation take a turn. Obviously, Joel being an orphan too, it would need to be part of his story how he discovers more about his origins. Again, only in fiction, but there's a certain coincidence in how he learns the identity of his family and what that means for how he can defend Camille from someone who rejected her after knowing she was illegitimate, so things are solved in a very neat bow, but I could easily overcome this to just appreciate their HEA.

All said and done, this was another good installment, all the expectations were met, if not really overdone, and I'm now eager to read the next story and see what else the family will go through.

Grade: 7/10

Mary Balogh - Someone to Love

Humphrey Wescott, Earl of Riverdale, has died, leaving behind a fortune that will forever alter the lives of everyone in his family—including the daughter no one knew he had...
Anna Snow grew up in an orphanage in Bath knowing nothing of the family she came from. Now she discovers that the late Earl of Riverdale was her father and that she has inherited his fortune. She is also overjoyed to learn she has siblings. However, they want nothing to do with her or her attempts to share her new wealth. But the new earl’s guardian is interested in Anna…
Avery Archer, Duke of Netherby, keeps others at a distance. Yet something prompts him to aid Anna in her transition from orphan to lady. As London society and her newfound relatives threaten to overwhelm Anna, Avery steps in to rescue her and finds himself vulnerable to feelings and desires he has hidden so well and for so long.

Comment: This is the first installment in the Westcott series by author Mary Balogh, which I'm starting and will be reading in the following months until the end of next year, most likely.

In this story we meet the Westcotts, a relatively close family who has recently lost the earl of Riverdale, a man not many will miss. However, with his death comes a sudden issue: it seems he had already been married to another woman when he married lady Viola, making this second marriage a bigamous one. Thus, the appearance of Anna Snow, who has lived in an orphanage in Bath her whole life but who is now the heiress of the family's money, although she only longs for the family she has always wanted. The problem is that her half sisters and brother don't want her in their lives, so they leave but Anna has a new challenge to face, being part of a society she never was prepared for. Thankfully, the family has a close link to Avery, the duke of Netherby, and his mother and sister. Avery feels Anna is impossibly naive but the more he gets to know her, the more he sees she is more than meets the eye...

This author's books have, so far, been all kind of comforting and rewarding to me. I don't mean this only in the sense that I'm used to the writing style and that there's always an HEA, although this counts even if it's a story I liked a little less. My overall appreciation is for the type of imagery I can do when I'm reading, how I see the characters and picture the style of environment they might part of... I can't do this with all historical romances I read, but this author's series often captivate me that way.

I liked the originality of the premise that starts off this series. Yes, the bigamy issue is not such a novelty but it does provide the starting point for how a group of characters can all somehow be part of a mutual situation such as having to see life through different lens. I think, however, that for obvious reasons the set up of the whole thing took too long and there wasn't as much romantic development as I'd have liked for Anna and Avery's partnership to settle.

To compensate this, the author found a way to place them in a common ground, even though their backgrounds are extremely different, and I ended up rooting for them as I wanted anyway. I also think this element was a little too subtle at times, and while the reader would always be aware of how the feelings between them were progressing, I can think of other novels by mrs Balogh where this was achieved slightly better than here.

Anna is a sweet but competent person and her decision to see her new situation with composure and competency, requirements of her teaching profession, were key to make her seem very sensible as well. Still, there is a sweet and vulnerable side to her too, such as when she feels rejected when her siblings decide to leave and one of them even seems to hate her for a situation that she was not responsible for. I think there was balance in her personality and behavior.

Abery, the duke, has a tougher personality as a defense mechanism. He learned to only reveal to others what he wanted but, evidently, he hides a past where he wasn't always as he is now, and how he has the same vulnerability as Anna but for different reasons. At first, to be honest, he didn't seem to be enough "hero material" but I liked him more and more as the story progressed, especially for the simple but determinant tasks he performed to help Anna or to make thing easier for her.

The romance was sweet and subtle, sometimes I kind of wish we could have had different scenes where their connection would be easier to see, but I also know this is the author's style, and I do appreciate it a lot. I think she can convey things with subtlety but also with cleverness and I like the quiet and polished side of her writing. I think these long series are always very engrossing in general, for the feelings of family and proximity they evoke, even if some main characters are' always as appealing or if something in their stories isn't to my personal preference, as it has happened in other series.

I've enjoyed seeing Anna quietly walk her in her new shoes and how she gained the caring and the kindness of those around her. I'm also curious to know what happens to other secondary characters, so I'll be reading the next stories too, soon.

Grade: 8/10

Mary Balogh - Only Beloved

For the first time since the death of his wife, the Duke of Stanbrook is considering remarrying and
finally embracing happiness for himself. With that thought comes the treasured image of a woman he met briefly a year ago and never saw again. 
Dora Debbins relinquished all hope to marry when a family scandal left her in charge of her younger sister. Earning a modest living as a music teacher, she’s left with only an unfulfilled dream. Then one afternoon, an unexpected visitor makes it come true.
For both George and Dora that brief first encounter was as fleeting as it was unforgettable. Now is the time for a second chance. And while even true love comes with a risk, who are two dreamers to argue with destiny?

Comment: This is the 7th and last installment in the Survivor's Club series by the Mary Balogh. Her writing style is still appealing to me and I think I can definitely put her under "comfort author" because I know what to expect from her books and they tend to be very balanced (even the ones I like less for other reasons).

In this final story, we finally see George, the Duke of Stanbrook, reach for his own happiness. George has been the glue of the Survivor's Club, not only because it was in his house they all reunited to recover but also because he is a natural caregiver, a good man and someone to be trusted. Throughout the series, readers have been aware he lost his son, his wife committed suicide so there has been this aura of loss around him. Now all his fellow survivors are married and happy, he decides to fight his own loneliness by asking Dora Debbins to marry him. Dora is the older sister of Agnes, the heroine from book #4 and she lives a poor but steady life as a music teacher. She made an impression on George when they met and he hasn't forgotten how enjoyable it was to spend time with her so now, thinking on that and on the fact she isn't a young girl just out of the school room, he proposes. Will they have a comfortable marriage only or will they be happy together in the end?

Any reader of this author should more than expect the latter of course, since Mary Balogh is primarily a romance author. I was quite happy with the way things developed although, as it has also been mentioned in my other comments on her work, there are times where it seems as if the characters are too rigid or too proper. I suppose it depends on the reader but when the author does this well, her style is incomparable, but in the books I liked less this was just another issue to fuss about.

When a character is developed surreptitiously throughout so many books, as George has been, there's no doubt readers create expectations. At first sight, it felt as if George wouldn't be much more than just a duke who had loss in his life, who was alone despite his welcoming personality and money possibilities, who was there for his friends but always a little above them... as one should guess, the author planned quite a twist ( I didn't see it coming!) for him, to add layers to his persona, to make all his actions have a special meaning, to make him even more of a hero than what he might look for some.

The heroine also has some hidden layers. You see, this is what I appreciate in romances, the couple might have more or less chemistry, might be more or less flashy (in the sense their personality can be more exuberant or not) but until the very end, there is always something to hope for, something more to make them look more human or vulnerable than what they are - or that readers might have assumed. Of course this doesn't always work well, but I'm just happy this author develops her characters until the end and, for the most part, the last reveals tend to justify the effort spent in understanding and wondering about them.

There are some moments in the plot which drag. Some scenes/situations aren't as interesting to read about and there is also a slight severity to the characters' actions that might make seem unapproachable and sometimes it was hard to appreciate them. There are also some things, here and there, which sounded a little far fetched to me. I wouldn't go as to say the elements that worked for me are so much better than the things that didn't, but balancing things out, the good ones certainly are in the majority.

It's not perfect, it wasn't a wonderful story in every single aspect but I was rooting for George and Dora, I liked they were older but had the wish to be companions for life and although the epilogue was a little too sugary, I still liked seeing everyone moving on with life but still holding on to the friendship and support which motivated the whole thing in the first place. All in all, this was a very solid, steady series for me.

Grade: 8/10

Mary Balogh - Only a Kiss

Since witnessing the death of her husband during the wars, Imogen, Lady Barclay, has secluded herself
in the confines of Hardford Hall, their home in Cornwall. The new owner has failed to take up his inheritance, and Imogen desperately hopes he will never come to disturb her fragile peace.
Percival Hayes, Earl of Hardford, has no interest in the wilds of Cornwall, but when he impulsively decides to pay a visit to his estate there, he is shocked to discover that it is not the ruined heap he had expected. He is equally shocked to find the beautiful widow of his predecessor’s son living there.
Soon Imogen awakens in Percy a passion he has never thought himself capable of feeling. But can he save her from her misery and reawaken her soul? And what will it mean for him if he succeeds?

Comment: This is installment #6 in the Survivor's Club series by Mary Balogh. I've turned out to be quite the fan of this author's series and if I didn't space out her books, I would run out pretty quickly but I'll be finishing this series this year.

In this story we finally get to know Imogen, lady Barclay, better. She has been the only female member of the club - known to the reader from all the previous installments - who has recovered in the duke of Stanbrook's estate after returning from the Peninsula. When the book starts, Imogen is living at her late husband's home in Cornwall, even though after his death another heir got the estate. She lives a peaceful life, with nothing out of the ordinary except her annual weeks with the other club's members and now, besides a roof that seems will never be finished, there's also the new earl of the estate finally coming to pay a visit. 

Percy, the earl of Hartford, decided to see what the estate in Cornwall is like because he feels bored. He thinks he would find something to be restored or severely improved but it turns out the house is not only in good condition but there are people living in it as well. He seems dumbfounded by Imogen and their initial meetings don't go very well but as time passes by and secrets and warnings come out of, seemingly, nowhere, so do his feelings for this woman he believes to be cold and unaffected but who, he discovers, is the woman he has always been waiting for and didn't know. Will they agree they could be happy together?

As I mentioned, this being part of a seven book series (not counting one novella), for fans these books are quite a treat. We are able to follow several characters throughout many books, we see their evolution, we are aware of what happens to them even when they are not the protagonists and among all this, we also get main characters who go from an apparent simple situation to a well deserved HEA. So, for the most time, I'd say this author is a hit for me, personally, although I can't think of a book I've graded as perfect because her style, while thoroughly appealing to me, always has some analytic quality in how the characters deal with one another that makes the story feel less romantic than what it could.

I think this is what I'd say about this book as well,  especially when it comes to how Imogen and Percy start as antagonists, not really seeing eye to eye but when thy decide they changed how they feel about one other, they very conveniently and very maturely talk and discuss the possibility of being together. This is adult behavior at its best but I confess I'd wish a slight more romantic approach and a decisive moment where they couldn't just avoid  how they felt anymore. It's quite the conundrum for me! I applaud how mature all the characters are and how they behave accordingly to the rules of the time but I still wish they were more spontaneous with their affections!

The romance was good enough, despite the small details I'd rather see differently. I liked Imogen and when we learn the truth behind her suffering and why she feels like avoiding happiness, I could understand why she felt she was so. Guilt is quite a self punishment... Percy seems to be the easiest character to read here but he, too, has hidden depths. I liked how the contrast was set between himself and Imogen and I feel their relationship has potential, even if the passage of time since they overcome the final emotional obstacles and the end of the book feels too quick in relation to how long it took to present and deconstruct that as the book continued.

There are two big motors driving this book. We are given very small hints here and there about why Imogen is so cool behaved and why it seems as if she's not moving on from her past and terrible experiences during the war, after so many years. There is also the weird hints about work and maintenance not going well around the estate and why Percy feels everyone is hiding something from him and how could that be related to the smuggling business which apparently ended when the late earl died. Although this is not meant as a mystery per se, and the culprit felt a little obvious to me (I suppose it would be so for any reader who likes mysteries), it still added interesting content for the plot and motivation for the character's choices, behavior, eventual sharing of personal thoughts, etc.

In the end I have to say I liked this one as much as I liked the other installments. There's a reason why the author's style works and why I keep feeling her books are something I don't want to miss.

Grade: 8/10

Mary Balogh - Only a Promise

Ralph Stockwood prides himself on being a leader, but when he convinced his friends to fight in the Napoleonic Wars, he never envisioned being the sole survivor. Racked with guilt over their deaths, Ralph must move on...and find a wife so as to secure an heir to his family’s title and fortune.
Since her Seasons in London ended in disaster, Chloe Muirhead is resigned to spinsterhood. Driven by the need to escape her family, she takes refuge at the home of her mother’s godmother, where she meets Ralph. He needs a wife. She wants a husband. So Chloe makes an outrageous suggestion: Strike a bargain and get married. One condition: Ralph has to promise that he will never take her back to London. But circumstances change. And to Ralph, it was only a promise

Comment: This is installment #5 in the Survivor's Club series by Mary Balogh. This series follows the lives and recovery of 7 friends who suffered with the war against Napoleon and how they find happiness with the perfect partners for each one.

In this story we have protagonist Ralph, a man who only suffered mild physical damage but whose mind  is ridden with guilt and the "survivor's syndrome" so to speak, since his best friends followed him to war and none survived.

He knows he has a duty to his family, he is his grandfather's heir but he had a very depressed phase right after the war ended and if not for the help of his friend the Duke of Stanbrooke (another Survivor's member), he might have something irreparable.

Now he feels he must get on with the task of seeking a wife but he wasn't prepared to find her at his grandmother's parlor and even less that she would propose to him.

Chloe took a chance in proposing a deal with Ralph after she learned he wasn't keen on marrying someone with romantic expectations on marriage, for she has her own past to put aside and just live a quiet but respectable life. Of course neither counted on getting to know more about each other and falling in love...

It would be to expect this story would focused on the relationship between the main couple, as it's the style of stories this author writes. I have read several books by her so I knew what to hope for and I was not disappointed with the way this story progressed.

The author's style is now a little predictable for me but I don't really care for I know the romance will be balanced and the characters will act as grown ups and in sync with the behavior of the time.

This means the biggest point of interest is in how each character behaves, how they react to what happens to them and why would they be a good match. Regency stories by this author often have the marriage of convenience or the slow seduction until marriage types of tropes which means the main story line sets very heavily on the character's past stories and how much they will get along once they reach a mutual bargain or find themselves in need to be married.

I'm a sucker for stories where two people, like Ralph and Chloe here, are aiming to have a specific type of situation by marrying but of course they become important to one another and feel like supporting the other person in something they need to deal with.

This is precisely what happens here in relation to their goals by marrying one another: Chloe has had bad experiences with her public appearances and she wants seclusion but still the security of an honest marriage and Ralph wants a wife who could give him a heir but who will not make demands on his affections and feelings for he thinks he has none.

The fun part and why I felt like reading (alas not as quickly as my usual pace) was this, to see how they had to interact with one another among all the expectations both brought to a marriage, the behavior others would want to observe of them and the social formalities they had to meet. It was more than obvious they would fall in love at the same time they would help one other overcome some of the issues they were bringing from their past but it's always fun to see it develop.

I think there is a slight lack of empathy in how Ralph and Chloe act with one another sometimes, though. Not all their interactions were very emotional when necessary and this made me think they were a little too indifferent at times. I can accept that by their personality and issues but along with the more formal approach the author has to writing, some scenes might come across as too cold or impersonal. It doesn't bother me from enjoying the book (all of them in general as this is a common detail throughout the author's books) but it's noticeable.

Still, I had a good time following Ralph and Chloe in their marriage, in how they helped one another while still making it look it was courtesy and sharing of responsibilities but in truth it was the shaping up of a good partnership. It was very good to see other characters as well, namely the ones we've come to root for as the series advance. I'm eager to read the last two installments...

Grade: 8/10

Mary Balogh - Only Enchanting

Flavian, Viscount Ponsonby, was devastated by his fiancée’s desertion after his return home. Now the woman who broke his heart is back—and everyone is eager to revive their engagement. Except Flavian, who, in a panic, runs straight into the arms of a most sensible yet enchanting young woman.
Agnes Keeping has never been in love—and never wishes to be. But then she meets the charismatic Flavian, and suddenly Agnes falls so foolishly and so deeply that she agrees to his impetuous proposal of marriage.
When Agnes discovers that the proposal is only to avenge his former love, she’s determined to flee. But Flavian has no intention of letting his new bride go, especially now that he too has fallen so passionately and so unexpectedly in love. 

Comment:  This is the 4^th installment in the Survivor’s Club series by Mary Balogh. As it has happened with all the previous series by her I have followed and read, so does this one feels easier to appreciate it it’s read in spaced months.

In this book we have the story of Flavian, viscount Ponsonby, who, along with his friends from the Survivor’s Club, has obviously survived the war and recovered for a while at the Duke of Stanbrook’s estate.  The members all became friends and have discovered that sharing their experiences and difficulties makes it easier to find a way to go on.

The annual meeting they have to enjoy their collective company is taking place at a different place for the wife of one of the members’ has recently giving birth. This is how Flavian reconnects with Agnes Keeping, a friend of the recent mother, and how they start to develop a relationship for the three weeks the meeting is lasting. Will they be able to part ways when the time is up or will these days have more meaning than what they anticipated? How will their actions be received by those of their families?

If there is one thing that can be said of this author is that she is a dependable writer. I always know what I’ll get when I start one of her novels and this time it was no exception. This story was solid like a surface that won’t be moved by the simplest thing and it feels great to go into something that won’t spring any unpleasant surprises on you.

Sure, the romances could always develop a little more actively – some of them do feel slightly dull – but in general, I always end up happy with the way things progress and that happened in this book too,, I especially enjoyed how it all seemed to go in one direction but there was an interesting twist, which only becomes obvious at a certain point and I think this made this plot come alive in a very special way, although not that original.

The romance between Flavian and Agnes is interesting because they both have baggage and I think the fact they could find common issues made them become closer and their relationship has room to grow on those common subjects. For instance, they both still feel both guilt and anger on things that happened to their personal lives in the past. They start talking and have interactions until their marriage as if the only mattering thing between them is how much they want to be with someone for such a long time, considering the issues they still feel.

I think it was a good change in scenery when, after they marry, they must deal with another side of the other one they were not really expecting. I especially applauded how Agnes decided to listen to Flavian and think on what was happening and how Flavian himself decided to rust his wife instead of just being his apparent mocking and laid back self.

The plot had a few surprises, one or two things I didn’t see coming but they offered a welcome twist to what usually happens in these sorts of novels. I also really liked to see the interactions between all the members of the Club and those close to them, in fact, the best part of long series is precisely that, the joy in reading about friendship and family.

Perhaps this wasn’t the best book ever and it didn’t get to be my favorite by the author but it was a compelling read, I was eager to see how things would play out next and it has a HEA as one would hope, as well as emotional growth for the protagonists. A very solid read for certain.

Grade: 8/10

Mary Balogh - The Escape

In this poignant novel of longing and salvation, a hopeful widow and a resilient war hero discover the promise of love's magic and new beginnings.
After surviving the Napoleonic Wars, Sir Benedict Harper is struggling to move on, his body and spirit in need of a healing touch. Never does Ben imagine that hope will come in the form of a beautiful woman who has seen her own share of suffering. After the lingering death of her husband, Samantha McKay is at the mercy of her oppressive in-laws--until she plots an escape to distant Wales to claim a house she has inherited. Being a gentleman, Ben insists that he escort her on the fateful journey.
Ben wants Samantha as much as she wants him, but he is cautious. What can a wounded soul offer any woman? Samantha is ready to go where fate takes her, to leave behind polite society and even propriety in her desire for this handsome, honorable soldier. But dare she offer her bruised heart as well as her body? The answers to both their questions may be found in an unlikely place: in each other's arms.
Includes Mary Balogh's charming short story, "The Suitor." 

Comment: This is the third installment in the Survivor's Club series by Mary Balogh.

The writing style of this author is a comfort to read so obviously I couldn't not follow the series.

The third "survivor" is Ben, who got hurt in his legs during the war, was told he would not walk again but with perseverance and will, he did, even though he struggles. 

Circumstances and his own sense of guilt prevent him from taking over the estates he is supposed to be running after his older brother's death. No one expected him to fully recover and his younger brother and his family are doing very well with the estates so Ben feels adrift now.

While visiting his sister he has a weird meeting with her neighbor Samantha McKay, a recent widow. After visiting her to apologize, Ben can't help but feel that woman is someone he could care about but how will they be friends if society seems to not approve? Will they take the chance anyway and escape from everything?

As always, mrs Balogh has thought of two main characters that are well developed and who the readers will want to see succeed.

Their backgrounds are well explained and they are naturally good people who have been dealt not so good possibilities but now we feel it's finally their time to find happiness.

The plot isn't complicated and follows the usual pattern the author has for all her stories, the two main characters shouldn't suit, they need to face some obstacles but the fact they communicate, are mature and act like it, means the biggest conflict comes from the indecision of admitting to their feelings or not at a certain moment.

If there is one thing I'd add to this author's work is a little bit more sexual tension that we, reader, might notice even if the characters wouldn't. I confess sometimes it does feel as if everything is rather vague and not fully convincing at the end.

Ben is a good character, I could very easily sympathize with him when he decides to not go back and take charge of his inheritance because he feels he might come across as ruthless for his younger brother. He also doesn't want to be a bother for others. I think the author always does well in portraying the characters inner struggles and personality.

Samantha was likable too and could understand her need to not be made a virtual prisoner of her mourning but she was rather impetuous at times. Nothing wrong with that of course, but I do prefer the heroines to feel they are doing the right thing, even if that isn't the smartest option and Samantha had all reason to want to do her own thing yes, but I suppose I'd have liked the escape to happen in a different manner.

After the characters decide to go away to look for a place for Samantha to live in, they start to discover interesting new things about their pasts, namely Samantha. A good part of the novel from a certain point centers on her. Happily, there is also the mention of the other survivors closer to the end, so I felt there was some balance achieved in how the story progressed. It was easy to care for the characters in general and wanting to see them happy. I liked how the story progressed.

Comparing with the first two books, I'd say this is my least favorite because the romance wasn't as romantic to me somehow.

My edition also included a novella, titles "The Suitor", which features characters seen/mentioned in the series but they are not central, though. It was a cute novella but to be honest I wasn't dazzled by it.

Al in all, this was another good book by the author, it had many positive elements which I expected anyway and although it wasn't as special as I would have liked, it was still a good read and an excellent way to pass the time.

I'm very eager for the next one.

Grade: 7/10