The Ideal Wife

It would be hard to find a Mary Balogh story that wasn't worth reading and this one is really good! Don't hesitate to read and enjoy it.

I thought that this book was enchanting. Although it is a love story, there is a healthy dose of historical fiction wrapped up in the story, and it keeps you hooked.

I loved this book the first time I read it after its first release and all the other times I've read it too. It made me laugh out loud for one thing. Balogh can actually be quite humorous which I personally enjoy a bit more than emotionally intense although she does that extremely well too. I find the love scenes real rather like Lavyrle Spencer's which are beautiful and somehow draw me in much more than many out there.

This is one of Ms Balogh's wonderful early Signet regencies originally published in 1991 which has now been re-released. It goes together with another book called Precious Jewel which I think is also going to be re-issued and links in with a further five books: Dark Angel, Lord Carew's Bride, the Famous Heroine, the Plumed Bonnet and finally Christmas Bride. Its brilliant news that all her old books may start to re-appear in the future as they are all wonderful and very original. This one is a charming story about Abigail Gardiner who turns up on the doorstep of her very distant relative, the Earl of Severn, looking for a reference. He is not the elderly man she expects but turns out to be young, handsome and in need of a wife to get his mother and sisters off his back. On an impulse they marry and the story is set during the first weeks of their marriage. She has a secret she is reluctant to tell him. The more she falls in love with him, the more scared she is to admit it to him in case it spoils their relationship which is becoming increasingly precious to her. He thinks he has married a quiet mousy creature but finds out she is not at all what he expected. There are some laugh out loud moments and some very tender ones too. A really lovely book and highly recommended.

Mary Balogh is a prolific writer whose most recent series, the "Slightly" series, are very popular. However, some of her older books are a treasure - if you can find them - and this is one of them. Strangely, the flyleaf for the hardback edition of this book had the heading "The Ideal Wife" and then gave blurb about a different book, Balogh's "The Secret Pearl", so the story of this book was entirely unknown to me when starting it. The Earl of Severn has to get married (a common theme in Balogh's books) and there is a very beautiful woman who his family think will do admirably. In fact, everyone thinks this woman would make him the ideal wife - but he can't face it. He says, jokingly, to a friend that he wants to marry a quiet, dull, plain woman who will bear him an heir and live retired at his country estate. He comes home to find an indigent relative waiting for him in his house with a request that he write her a letter of recommendation so that she can find a job. He offers her a job - the position of wife - as she is the solution to his problems. Two days later they are married. As the book progresses the Earl discovers that his wife isn't exactly the person he thought she was. She isn't quiet (she's talkative, friendly, impulsive) and she isn't the type to live retired - she seems to be managing his life. However he also finds he rather likes this. But Abigail finds that some of her deep dark secrets are slipping out, some of the embarrassing skeletons in her family closets are turning up at dances and demanding blackmail money... can she manage to pay them off without her husband knowing and wanting to divorce her. Despite the sometimes serious subject matter of this book it's light, an easy read and there is a very sweet romance. The hero is rather marvellous and Abigail is endearing in her clumsy attempts to sort her own life out. It's a book to read and enjoy. UPDATED REVIEW FOLLOW RE-ISSUE IN 2008 "The Ideal Wife" was first published in 1991 and the new edition, published in 2008, is very welcome as this is an enjoyable romance with an appealing hero. The story is paired with "A Precious Jewel", another wonderfully touching tale, although they can both be read on their own. In this story we follow Miles Ripley, Lord Severn, as he attempts to avoid a bride chosen for him by his mother. This is a common theme in Mary Balogh's books but in this one, rather than having a 'fake' engagement as in "A Summer To Remember" or "Slightly Scandalous", Severn decides to actually marry someone else. He knows he has to get married and thinks that a quiet, mousy wife would be ideal - he can get her with child and then deposit her at his country seat without too much bother. When a distant relative arrives at his door asking for a reference for a job he instead offers her a job - as his wife. Abigail Gardiner isn't exactly what she seems, however. She prepared for her meeting with the Earl of Severn, who she presumed was a doddery old man, by tryi

This is one of my favorites by Mary Balogh. It is "Cinderella"-ish in its fairy-tale plot and happy ending, but if you love that kind of stuff, you'll love this book. She is Abigail Gardiner, the companion to Mrs. Gill. Mrs. Gill has a cit of a husband with roving hands, especially when it comes to the young governess in hishouse, Abigail's friend. After telling off Mr. Gill, Mrs. Gill turns off Abigail with only a week to find another position. Desperate, she screws up her courage and goes to see the Earl of Severn, her very distantly related cousin, for a letter of recommendation so that she can find another place of employment. Determined to still her talkative tongue, blunt speech and managing ways, she succeeds so well that the Earl is convinced that she is the plain, quiet brown mouse she appears to be. The Earl is besieged by managing females--namely his mother and sisters--who are descending upon him in a week in order to encourage him to formally betroth himself to another sweet, very beautiful, equally managing girl. In a fit of pique he declares he'd rather marry a plain mouse who will NOT manage his life rather than submit to his persuasive mother. Being faced with his impulsive wish in Abigail's visit, he also impulsively decides to marry her...and two days later finds his wife is not what she seemed. He, however, has never laughed so much in all his thirty years of his life, and is amused and falling in love with his unconventional, warm and friendly and EXTREMELY talkative new wife. But Abigail is beset by doubts an terrible fears. She never seems to be able to get up the courage to tell him all about her past and scandalous family...until it comes back into her new life to rear its ugly head and destroy her new-found happiness... This is a quick read and a delightful story. Abigail is entirely endearing in her talkativeness and kind heart. The Earl is the epitomy of a perfect husband--kind, patient, amused and willing to admit when he is wrong, but still slightly confused on the ways of women. Their story is satisfying and sweet. Players in this book are also featured in other of Mary Balogh's books, namely one of the Earl of Severn's friends, who features in his own book, "A Precious Jewel."