Simply Love (Simply Quartet)

Simply Love is one of the best in Mary Balogh's Simply and Slightly series. In this tender and moving story we find two lost souls, a physically and emotionally wounded soldier Syndam Butler and an unwed mother Anne Jewell. Both know the reality of living within the fringes of society, silently baring their pain and loss. The loving and caring Bedwyn family members who love nothing more than a matchmaking challenge bring these two individuals together for a holiday at their Welsh estate, where Syndam is the steward for the Duke of Bewcastle and Anne and her son David are guests. A second son and former artist who was tortured by the enemy, we met Syndam in a previous story about his brother Kitt. We have also met the beautiful Anne as well, as she was the governess who put herself in the path of a wicked nobleman and was raped, instead of her mentally challenged charge, Pru. Bringing these two wounded secondary characters together from previous stories in the Bedwyn series is simply outstanding. Syndam and Jewel are drawn to each other immediately and a deep friendship develops. As their desire grows and they meet for a passionate afternoon, it is a slight diappointment for them both, and they come away feeling that maybe a life shared with another is not meant to be. But when Anne becomes pregnant once again facing motherhood without marriage, Syndam marries her. Afterward, as they begin their life together, they discover that families can be brought together and old wounds and relationships can be healed simply by love. This is a story not to be missed. The entire series is a must read, as not one of the books in the series is a disappointment. Mary Balogh has the talent to write beautiful stories about complex characters that come alive on the pages so that the reader feels they are there and intimately involved in the story with the characters and their families. Each book builds on the previous books with characters that develop and mature even further from their previous introduction. Simply Wonderful!

I've been reading romance novels for 33 years (since I discovered them at the age of 12) and have progressed from Barbara Cartland to Harlequin's to Devereaux, Roberts, Garlock, Quinn, Layton, Balogh etc. etc. Not to mention Victoria Holt (who I have always felt was the best ever romance novelist). Notwithstanding, Simply Love is probably the best romance novel I have read to date. I don't say that she has supplanted Victoria Holt as my favorite romance author, but this one book, built and cultivated from the series that preceded it (Slightly... series)has gripped my heart like no other ever has. At first I thought it slow, but then, as the story developed, I was glad that it began slowly. It gave me time to soak in the motives of the characters before the story developed. I was at first having to fish through my brain Anne's part in the previous story, but then it was like a treasure hunt to search through Frejya's story and recollect the humble beginning of Anne's. I was disgusted and disappointed by Anne's initial reaction to Sydnam, because I would like to believe that I, enlightened as I am, would never react as she did... ??? Perhaps, because the character herself felt the same way that I did about her reaction to him, it made her more human. Perhaps I would react out of character like that given the same circumstance. To have to deal with a child and how he might react to such a step father would also be difficult, but I loved the way that the child was able to see through to the man's heart and grow to love him even though he was not rugged like his uncle. Because we have also met Sydnam before (Frejya's and Lauren's stories) we already know that he is a deeply wounded man and more than physically. We have already begun to question if he could ever become a likable character. It is satisfying to watch him develop more fully in this, his story. I was disappointed by Anne's reception by her family when I first read it. It seemed anti-climactic, but in the end, I was glad that it was. It was how I thought it would have been the most realistic. Her family had believed the worst of her and it was hard for them (but it was not impossible) to let go of that... to admit that they had rejected her because of thinking badly of her those things that were not true... I believe that was illustrated very well. In the end, I felt that I had a glimpse into the hearts of 2 people who, through bravery and love, were able to overcome their own histories (set forth in the novels before) to become fully functional people who were able to give to each other what was needed. It is the only romance novel that has ever made me weep. In most cases I would say that a book that makes me weep would be an awful book, but in this case it came about because of the nature of the love in this book. The type of love that Ms Balogh spoke of in this story wasn't necessarily only romantic love but a simpler kind of love that all of us need to have of someone. The k

I give it five stars, but a lot depends on your taste. If you are looking for a typical romance between two beautiful, healthy, well adjusted adults with lots of sex scenes this won't be the book for you. Even in the few love scenes there are, there is not a lot of...well...sex. But from two such damaged people as Sydnam and Anne this is perfectly understandable. And not many authors would take this much time to let these characters grow to like each other and then love each other so very well. I, for one, am surely glad Ms. Balogh did. I find nothing wrong that the first tie that binds the main characters is friendship, and that they come to love each other as well as be 'in love' with each other. They are both so hurt and so alone that it really doesn't feel like it could have happened any other way. And I loved that there were characters from her previous books scattered everywhere. You really get a look at what's happening with all your favorite characters, but they don't feel forced into the story, but rather a natural part of it. For a first time reader it will be okay, since she introduces them and explains why they're there, but you might not get all you can out of it. For long time readers it is a real treat. I almost skipped getting this one in hardback because of some of the reviews, but I'm glad I went ahead and trusted Ms. Balogh. Truly another great book from a great author. Thanks so much for sharing such a lovely and profound story with us.

The story of Anne and Sydnam is not just a love story, but a story of hope, courage, survival, and familial love. As Ms. Balogh's two main characters go through the story, we see them deal with their loneliness and personal pain. Both characters grow stronger because of each other's friendship, which eventually turns to love. It is easier for Anne to hide the painful memories of her rape than it is for Sydnam to hide his memories because his scars are quite visible. Yet, once Anne really gets to know Sydnam, his scars, lack of an arm and eye, seem unimportant. I especially loved having all the Bedwyns together; it was a great treat to see them again with their spouses and children. It makes me want to go back and reread their stories. I know I will reread Anne and Sydnam's story again.

As usual, Balogh has written a powerful, thought-provoking, tender romance novel unlike anything I've read in a long time. She turns an extremely scarred hero into both a sympathetic and handsome man. Balogh takes us through the process her heroine goes through from initally finding him a monster to an attractive man, inside and out. The reader is constantly made aware of his disabilities (the descriptions of him not being able to see a view or the heroine with two eyes, for instance, are heart-breaking), but his strength of will and depth of character allow him to rise above the horrific injuries. As these two broken souls find friendship and love, our vision of him changes too. I was amazed again at Balogh's talent in quietly telling a tale that both moves and teaches. In this story, she doesn't use dramatic plot devices but rather the inner turmoil both characters undergo as they fall in love and heal. I think these tender tales that Balogh spins are so powerful. Her inclusion of the Bedwyn clan in her novels never bothers me as much as when other authors include series characters in theirs. Maybe it's because I like the Bedwyns so much. I think Wulfric is one of my favorite characters of all time. I'm so glad that he is a part of her hero's life and included in this novel. This is exactly what I expect when I buy a Balogh novel: an extremely well-written, moving, character-driven, wonderfully descriptive story. Keep doing what you do so well, Ms. Balogh. We will all keep buying your books.