Simply Perfect (Simply Quartet)

This book is a 'Simply Perfect' finale to Mary's Simply series. Once again she gives us a romance with unexpected twists and deep emotions. I sent to the USA for a copy of this book (it arrived within the week from Germany) but it was well worth the extra expense as unfortunately it would seem it is not available in the UK until next year. How can anyone wait that long?!!! Since it's been in my possession, approximately a month, I've read it twice what more can I say. Keep writing Mary.

If you like your romance novels to have hot sex (or at least sizzling sexual chemistry) from the first meeting of the characters, you will probably not like this book. But if you want romance and characters falling in love over the course of the book, "Simply Perfect" is just that. Simply. Perfect. The first meeting between Joseph (a surprisingly ordinary name for a Balogh hero) and Claudia Martin, headmistress of the school that has been the center of the "Simply" series novels, is not auspicious. Claudia is suspicious and resentful of Joseph and he has not one romantic thought of her. In fact he has effectively promised his father to marry Portia Hunt (who was the presumed intended of an early "Simply" hero). And his love for and commitment to the unseen Lizzie would appear to make a real romance impossible with any woman, much less with Claudia whose social status is far beneath Joseph's and who dislikes the nobility. When her long-lost first love also enters the picture, a reader would not be foolish to wonder if there will be any romance at all between Claudia and Joseph. But circumstances, Claudia's business obligations as well as connections between mutual friends, lead to frequent social interactions between the couple. Over time they grow comfortable with, then respect, find friendship, and finally love each other. This emotional journey, not a physical relationship, is the focus of the book. That has probably lead to some of the reviewers calling this book bland. But it was the reason I enjoyed the book so much. It was about romance, not just sex. When I read a romance, I want to believe the couple is falling in love. That the process wasn't instant but evolved slowly over the course of the book made it very believable. The introduction of Lizzie into the story made it tender as well. In addition, the setting and plot of the book brought together the other 3 former teachers and their husbands along with a sizeable number of Bedwyns. And near the end of the book, Claudia finally learns the identity of her school's anonymous benefactor. Now that Portia has lost out on two men in the "Simply" quartet, I hope Balogh will write a book about her where she can lose her haughty coldness and find love.

Mary Balogh has saved the best for last in her "Simply" series. Miss Claudia Martin always seemed the prickly sort to me, having been introduced to her early on in the "Slightly" series. We got a glimpse of her inner warmth in the first of this series, and she became more human with each book. Unlike many of Balogh's early novels there is no real villain in this story. However, the mores of Polite Society and the scorn of the ton are the "bad guys", which is a refreshing twist. We learn why Miss Martin dislikes the British Hierarchy, and why she has allowed herself to become who she became. Joseph Fawcitt, Marquess of Attingsborough, is perfectly cast. He has charm, sensitivity, and is quite kind. He has a few secrets of his own. If memory serves, he was introduced in "One Night for Love". It is also heart-warming to see the return of some of my favorite Bedwyns and other fringe characters like Gwen, Lady Muir and Sydnam Butler. There are some delicious set-downs and humorous moments as well. And of course, the wonderful descriptions of nature and scenery Balogh does best. I loved this book. Having been to Bath and seen the Abbey and the Pump Room, I literally got chills when reading the ending scene because I could imagine all these beloved characters gathering just there. This was a most enjoyable read, and I would recommend it to anyone.

Balogh has written a winner! This final book in the "Simply" series is marvelous...almost a feminine version of the final "Bedwyn" book, 'Slightly Dangerous.' Claudia is similar to Wulfric Bedwyn in that she is prim, rigid, and utterly correct in her manner and behavior just as Wulfric was. His story is one of my favorite Balogh books, but 'Simply Perfect' rivals it as one of my new favorites. Balogh writes a touching tale of an independent woman who makes a successful life for herself after experiencing heartache at a young age. Her journey toward opening herself up to love in this book is well-told, believeable, and tremendously moving. Balogh knows human nature well. She always does such a good job of portraying all the psychological and emotional roadblocks we put in our way as we travel toward love. She is a master storyteller. Joseph is the perfect hero to Claudia's stern heroine. Their tale has it's share of twists and turns, but is ultimately completely satisfying. As always, I hate to reach the end of a Balogh book. If only she could write faster. How will I make it for another year?! She is truly unequalled as the best historical romance writer today.

This story is an excellent completion to Mary Balogh's 'Simply' series which followed the lives of four schoolteachers from Miss Martin's School for Girls in Bath. 'Simply Perfect' takes as its heroine Miss Claudia Martin herself, an on-the-shelf spinster whose life is bound up in the school and whose antipathy towards dukes and other members of the aristocracy is well known. At the start of this story Claudia finds herself showing the Marquess of Attingsborough around the school before travelling with him to London in order to drop off two pupils at their new positions and to visit her man of business. Claudia soon finds that there's more to the Marquess of Attingsoborough than she first assumed. Initially appearing to be rather a wastrel aristocrat who just lives for parties and entertainments she soon realises that there is more behind his handsome and charming exterior - an unexpected female in his life, one he has to keep away from society. Claudia and the Marquess, Joseph, find themselves thrown together a great deal. This story also includes a roll-call of almost every character Mary Balogh has included in her last dozen or so novels including all the Bedwyns, the women and their husbands from the other books in the Simply series, Neville and Lily from 'One Night for Love' and Lauren and Viscount Ravensberg from 'A Summer to Remember'. For those who haven't read any of Balogh's other books these extra characters might feel rather overwhelming. Another character from 'Simply Unforgettable' also appears, Portia Hunt, the jilted potential fiancée of Lucius Marshall. In this story she is the Marquess of Attingsborough's intended and I felt she was really the only unbelievable character in this book, being a rather nasty and shallow woman who showed these attributes most of the time and yet was able - almost - to snare our hero. There is a new character as well, a person from Claudia's history, who might put a spanner in the works. However most of the action in this story is between Joseph the Marquess and Claudia the schoolmistress. We see both of them gradually revealing their natures and desires and wishes to each other, we see how they treat each other differently than those around them, seeing past the outward ideas of rank and physical beauty and understanding instead how minds can meet. Claudia and Joseph's dealings with a particularly special character are wonderfully and touchingly written. Overall this story is one that is warm-hearted, engaging and also sometimes moving and is a definite return to form by Mary Balogh, some of whose more recent novels have been a little disappointing. Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008