Indiscreet

Some Balogh books I adore, some I cannot even finish. This one falls at the high end with interesting characterization and plot line and by far the best of this series. Not her best ( Slightly Dangerous takes that prize) but one that's certainly worth a second read and a place on the 'keeper' shelf. Up date - make that a fifth not a second read.

When Mary Balogh is good, she is very, very good, and here she excels. This love story is wonderfully written and wonderfully enjoyed. Balogh pulls the reader into her passionate story with her usual flare. This is the tale of the mysterious Catherine Winters, and the overpowering, bored Rex Adams, the Viscount Rawleigh. Catherine is a compassionate woman living in the rural setting of Bodley-on-the-Water. She fills her peaceful days giving music lessons, baking for the sick, and reading to the elderly. Her only companion, in life, is a little terrier dog. Viscount Rawleigh is visiting his twin brother's country estate; he is titled, rich, handsome, blasé, and mistakes an innocent smile for a sexual invitation. What is the story's true success? Mary Balogh does not allow our lovers to dwell in confrontation. Instead she chooses to tantalize her reader with the mystery surrounding Catherine Winters' past life. The author controls this intrigue with captivating skill, and when it comes to captivation, Balogh is in her element. The result? The reader is unable to put down the book.Catherine's story is heartbreaking and her confession draws the reader to the edge of sadness. Viscount Rawleigh is the ultimate in a romance hero; he stands by his bride, and proceeds to rectify the injustice. Balogh wrote an incredible ending, with satisfying results. The villain got his just reward.A rating of 5 stars, to me, suggests the book is perfect; however, I felt there was one stumbling block. In the end, was Catherine's father truly in her corner or not? And, if he was, why not the heartfelt begging of her forgiveness? It may not be a perfect story, but it does come close! Oh, how I love a good book and this is a good book.Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.

Catherine Winters smiles and curtsies at a gentleman passing her in the street, thinking him to be her landlord, Mr Adams. Instead, he is her landlord's twin brother, Viscount Rawleigh, who assumes that she's throwing out lures. So he pursues her, and eventually makes an improper proposal, which she rejects angrily. Not that he gives up; he continues to pursue her. Although she is attracted to him, she has no wish to become anyone's mistress and keeps refusing him... until the night when he's careless and she's compromised utterly...One of the things Balogh does really well in this book is to give us an excellent picture of the nature of English society in the Regency era. First we have the claustrophobic village atmosphere, and the incredibly judgemental inhabitants; it's hard to imagine how people could have coped with that. Later, we have London society: the ton, for whom an eternity would be a short time, and who were not likely to have forgotten Catherine's indiscretion in a mere six years.Rex was at his best in the scenes after his and Catherine's marriage; up until that point he appeared shallow and uncaring, but it was after they arrived at his estate that I started to like him. And in the end this was a lovely love story.Can't wait to read the sequel next, to find out why Ken had to hurry off so suddenly!

This is one of my favorite Baloghs, a real red-eye special that kept me up until the wee hours of the morning. I won't repeat the plot because others have done so, but the one comment I want to make is that this book endures. It bears up extraordinarily well under the acid test: re-reading. I have read this book 4 times since it came out, and each time it is just as electrifying and emotionally satisfying as the first. The only other author I can say that about is Georgette Heyer.

What, if anything, could be better than a Regency romance by Mary Balogh? To be sure, it could only be a LONGER, more in-depth Regency romance by Mary Balogh. This was the first in a new series from Berkley as just such a lavish, extremely fulfilling treat. It is NOT a historical disguised as a Regency, but the very real thing. From her first greeting to Viscount Rawleigh, Catherine Winters finds herself annoyingly attracted to the man, whom she had initially taken for his twin-brother and her near neighbor, Mr. Adams. The Viscount, on the other hand, makes erroneous suppositions about the lovely widow, and during the whole of this long and lovely book, sparks fly between these two strong and independent characters. Against his better judgment, the Viscount accompanies his brother back to Bodley-on-the-water, for a change of scenery. His brother's wife is determined to make a match between her younger sister and the handsome Rex, refusing to believe he is not interested in the untried chit. He is equally determined to avoid her snares, protecting his heart from further damage, it having been broken once already. Catherine is obviously a lady, or at least with some pretensions toward gentility, if a bit young to be a widow at the age of five-and-twenty. Content with her current existence, she has a dog for companionship, and enjoys the society (although knowing it for exactly the condescension that it is) of the occupants of the small village, from the Viscount's brother to the garrulous rector. Of course, Rawleigh believes the toothsome widow to be eminently beddable, based on little more than a smile or two, and pursues his goal with admirable intent. She must certainly be interested in him, for how else could she so readily tell him apart from his identical brother? No one else ever could! No matter how impregnable any woman believes her fortress to be, the gates may nearly always be opened by the right key. He inadvertently compromises her; they must marry, and all the long-held secrets come tumbling out. As usual, Mary Balogh does not disappoint the reader; this is truly (to borrow a word coined by her original publisher) a SUPER Regency!

If you are a lover of the regency period, this book is a must read for you.When a bored young Viscount goes to the country to visit his twin brother he sees a beautiful young widow and is determined to have her as his "temporary" mistress. Just to pass the time. Viscount Rawleigh is shocked with beautiful Catherine Winters refuses him. Catherine is mortified when Viscount Rawleigh makes the inappropriate proposition to her, mostly because she was very, very tempted. Determined to keep her reputation in tact, Catherine does all she can to stay away from the rake. Things don't turn out as Catherine plans and one night he is seen leaving her cottage after hours. Her reputation is ruined. Rex does the right thing and marries the young widow, but soon finds out that she is not as she appears. Catherine has many dark secrets. Secrets she would rather keep hidden.This is a wonderful book that I'm sure the regency lover will adore. Catherine is charming and Rex is well, Rex is a rake. But don't we all love the rakes? Mary Balogh tells the story like no other can. Highly recommended.