Slightly Married

For those who know Jo Beverly's "Malloren" series, the main characters (the Bedwyn family) may cause echoes to ring. While the Malloren series is set in the early year of the reign of George III, Balogh's "Slightly" series begins in 1814 after Napoleon's abdication and the last "Peninsular" battle at Toulouse. However, Mary Balogh's "voice" is unique from Jo Beverly's, although both are master writers as fans of both know well. This begins the story of the six Bedwyn siblings, all unmarried, two brothers and four sisters, led and governed strictly by their eldest brother the Duke of Bewcastle. (Shades of the Mallorens!) In this book, the second eldest, Lord Aidan Bedwyn, returns from Toulouse to keep a promise to a dying man. He discovers the promise ends up entailing far more than he thought. As Balogh fans can probably predict, what starts as an unlikely marriage of convenience turns into an equally unlikely but marvelously told journey of self-discovery for two people of very different backgrounds where, as always, love triumphs in the end. This is one of Balogh's best long books, and my favorite of the series. I was captivated by the characters from the beginning. Lord Aidan, a dour, serious career Army Colonel and a dedicated man of honor meets his comrade's sister, Eve, a woman of the gentry but definitely not the aristrocracy who has a penchant for attracting unwanted "strays", including two young relatives who have been bounced from home to home until she takes them in. As Lord Aidan is drawn further an further into her troubles with the two young relatives after their hasty marriage, he is also drawn further and further back to the young man he was before he left for his Army career. Eve herself learns to find trust and even joy where she had thought neither was possible. As with most Balogh books, this is a relationship story, frought with emotional struggles within each of the main characters, and outside influences that seem to either pull them together or push them apart. Excellent character development, endearing supporting characters and a formidable Bedwyn family all contribute to the classic Balogh "mixed family" story in a way that is not at all trite, as some of her books can seem to regular fans. This book kicks off the series in fine style. If you have never read Mary Balogh, start here if you like. Veteran fans like me will also, I think, enjoy this story. I certainly did!

The authoress ....This is the second Mary Balogh ("MB") story I have read and she is becoming one of my favourite autheresses! If you like Julie Garwood, Johanna Lindsey, Stephanie Laurens, and/or Amanda Quick then I think you will probably enjoy MB! Having exhausted all available books of the other authoresses listed above I have been searching for a new great authoress, with wonderful books I can devour!, and I think I have found her in MB!!The book .....Slightly married is a wonderful story with a lot of ROMANCE, humour, and a sweet story-line that keeps you turning those pages. The wonderful thing about MB story's is that no two story-lines are the same!The Bedwyns are growing on me with each subsequent story that I read (they were first introduced in 'a summer to remember') and following the tradition set in a summer to remember, Aiden is not your ordinary 'leading' man in a romance novel but is refreshingly different, not an arrogant bored rake, etc, etc .... Eve too is not your ordinary 'leading lady', she has spunk, determination, and is well sweet .... not simpering, etc, etc.Thus, this was a thoroughly enjoyable novel, with enjoyable characters, and although the storyline is not action-packed it is a very good read .... it is more about the romance than it is about action or side-line-issues (e.g. action that takes the story away from the romance part of the plot) ... don't get me wrong there is a plot and story-line (a very good one actually) BUT it is definitely a ROMANCE: about feelings and emotions and love and passion and sex .... which is lovely because that's why we read romance books .... for the romance (emotions, feelings, etc)!Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable story-line and a great addition to the Bedwyns growing novels!Good reading my friends, Kristina

Ms. Balogh brings the Bedwyn family - initially introduced in her historical romance, A Summer to Remember - to life with exceptional skill.It's an old familiar storyline of a man promising to take care of a dying man's sister "no matter what" and ultimately falling in love with that same sister. But, Ms. Balogh's journey from promise to love is filled with intriguing complications and interesting characters! The hero is a man of honor, worthy of the lead role... and the heroine proves her strength when she takes on the Bedwyns and captures the heart of her hero. It's a great story and wonderful beginning to a series that I've thoroughly enjoyed! My sincere thanks to Ms. Balogh.

This is my 5th Mary Balogh. I absolutely loved this book. I started with One Night for Love, then Summer to Remember. Incredible books!!! And this one is also incredible. If I were to compare... these first 2 books (ONFL and STR) had me crying more but this one still has her wonderful, emotionally charged stories/relationships. I would even say that this book, Slightly Married, has deeper involvement/emotion on the male lead, Aidan. His feelings. All said, I wouldn't miss this book. Start with One Night for Love, then Summer to Remember, which introduces the Bedwyn's. I can't wait to read Slightly Wicked and Slightly Scandalous. I do hope she writes all of their stories. Wulf needs a book!! I'm intriqued by his story. A must read. MB writes with deep emotion not just a lot of sex. You feel the emotion. A lot of authors leave you empty. Not MB.

I am a fan of Mary Balogh's books in general and very much like those that are interrelated; thus, I am very pleased to be starting a new series - this one that involves the Bedwyn family: The Duke of Bewcastle and his 2 brothers and 2 sisters. First in the series, the hero is Colonel Lord Aidan Bedwyn the second son; he has served in the army since age 18. We first meet him making a promise to a dying subordinate to see that his sister is protected "no matter what". The promise sends Lord Aidan off to Ringwood Manor where he meets Miss Eve Morris. Daughter of a coal miner (who bought his way into the landed gentry) she was raised as a lady, is fiercely independent, and collects "lame ducks". Eve needs to be "protected" from her small-minded rather nasty cousin Cecil - and to do that Aidan must marry her to fulfill a condition in her father's will. So begins a "marriage of convenience".In Balogh's talented hands, this well used "plot" becomes the vehicle whereby we watch the two main characters discover the depths of each other's character and gradually fall in love. Unlike another reviewer, I did not find this book to be "light hearted romance" but something a lot better. As I very much prefer romance stories that are character driven to those that depend on an "exciting" (and too often improbable) plot, Slightly Married is a definite winner for me. Don't get me wrong, there is tension and conflict here, but it mainly involves Eve and her learning to cope with the Bedwyn family and their mode of life. Balogh's firm grasp of the Regency time period is a definite asset here.Along the way we meet and learn a few things about the two youngest members of the family and learn quite a bit more about Lady Freyja and the Duke. I must admit that I am already wondering how the Duke's story will unfold! In the last chapter we are introduced to Lord Ralf who will feature in the next book - unlike a previous reviewer, I was not bothered by this. In summary - if you want your romance story driven by an exciting and fast moving plot with a clear cut villain, then you will likely be somewhat disappointed in Slightly Married. However if you, like me, prefer romances featuring multi-faceted characters with depth, faults as well as virtues, then I highly recommend this book.