Customer Reviews

The Ideal Wife

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

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."

I came across the hardcover edition of this title while doing an online catalog search at my local library. I am a huge Mary Balogh fan--although it's very difficult getting a hold of her older books. I've faithfully read my way through the entire Slightly and Simply series (yes, including A Summer to Remember). I totally loved The Secret Pearl; I even bought a collector's copy of the 1st edition original Signet paperback. When I read the Ideal Wife, I had high expectations. I was very disappointed, and even wondered if it was truly written by the same author.

I admit, though, that this is the very first Signet Regency I've read. Maybe the plots of these shorter stories are supposed to be less intense, less heart-wrenching. In The Ideal Wife, the hero is looking for a "nice, quiet & demure" (or plain/dull/very ordinary) wife just to escape his family's marriage plans for him. Enter the heroine, Abby, a very distant relation, if at all, to ask for assistance in seeking employment, and just like that, he proposes. To a virtual stranger.

I could not find anything to like about Abby. She seems like a shallow gold-digger, who accepts a stranger's proposal just to escape destitution and supposedly to help out her family (she wants custody of her 2 younger stepsisters and also wants to pay off the family debts). Her extremely talkative nature seems forced and unnatural--a bit like Christine from Slightly Dangerous. I totally missed the reason why Miles fell inlove with her, and vice versa. There was zero chemistry between them, sexual or otherwise. Where was the initial, intense connection that is almost a trademark of Mary Balogh stories?

The secondary characters were no help either. A scheming stepmother, a proud and independent brother (Boris) who falls for Abby's best friend, even the hero's lovesick best buddy (Sir Gerald)...the whole lot of them were quite unimpressive. When Abby learned of the real reason Miles married her, she pouted and sulked and acted cold towards him in bed and out, then cut her hair the next day. And what about her own deep dark secret? I don't think it made me like her any better. It was a struggle having to finish the entire book. I'm glad I didn't go out and buy a ridiculously overpriced copy.

I'd rather search out the author's other books...I'm confident I will find more worthwhile titles. She is still one of my all-time favorite...I know romance authors cannot possibly come out with winners all the time!

I am a huge Mary Balogh fan, but this book was a huge disappointment. The plot was rather far fetched but could have been redeemed with good characters. It wasn't.

The heroine would not stop talking even through the sex scenes. It was not a cute, little, talk too much because your nervous kind of thing. It was somebody put their hand over her mouth before I throw the book out the window kind of thing. She accepted a marriage proposal because she was in dire straights.....understandable, but they way she took over her husbands money and life made him look weak and wussy (for lack of a better word).

On to the hero. He wasn't. He lacked major skills in bed and didn't care one whit that she hadn't found her pleasure. Love scenes were lacking in every way possible. Strike one. He was a momma's boy and controlled by his mother and his sisters and then by his wife. Strike two. He was completely wishy washy. He wanted a plain ordinary girl who is quiet and meek and then suddenly and I mean suddenly falls in love with a woman who is nothing like what he supposedly wants. No chemistry, no sparks, no nothing.

I like a book that crosses it's t's and dots the i's. This book left me with more questions than answers. I turned to the last page and I was thinking to myself...."That is the end?" "What happens to ___________or___________?"

I usually enjoy Mary Balogh's books but this one is better left on the shelf.

(Don't read the next section if you plan on buying the book)

(I want to know what happens in the future. Did they have kids. What happened to the scandal and Rachel? Was she sick because she was pregnant? What happened to Mr Gill or his done. Was there ever justice? What happened to the children?)

Having read the other two books associated with this one ("Precious Jewel" and "The Christmas Bride"), I will tell readers this is a more light-hearted tale. But there is plenty of tension because Abigail has secrets. Miles (an Earl) is a wonderful character. He is a thoughtful man who is not obsessed with his apparent good looks. And to admit that he is hen-pecked by all the women in his life is quite a revelation for a Regency novel. Miles takes it all in stride, attempting to throw off his matchmaking mama and sisters by marrying a "plain, dull, ordinary" woman before they can leg-shackle him to someone else. That woman is Abigail who applies to him (as a distant relative) for a recommendation since she has been let go without character. Miles proposes marriage to the stranger and Abigail accepts. She turns out to be anything but plain, dull and ordinary.

It is fun to read a book that has so many references to another. "Precious Jewel" occurs at the same time as this book and the paths and even whole conversations are repeated in each. It made for intriguing reading.

As always, Mary Balogh really fleshes out all her characters and the side stories are as interesting as the main character's story. This is a fun and interesting read. Do not miss it.

It's a good thing that this is not the first book by Mary Balogh that I read, because if so it would also be the last. The heroine is as intelligent as a turnip. Even though she has experienced sorrow and tribulations and is 24 years old, she is very immature and does not learn anything from her mistakes. The hero is bland and inconsistent and a very bad lover. The novel is from 1991 and feels very dated. I could hardly believe that the same author wrote The Secret Pearl and the Simply series.

Abby and Miles marry after knowing each other two days. They each have their own selfish reasons for doing so. Over the course of the novel they fall in love, though Abby has many secrets to keep from Miles.

This is not a terrible novel, but the characters are not fully developed and not very likeable. Abby is a brainless twit and Miles is spineless. It's hard to imagine a full and happy marriage in their future - Abby would drive anyone nuts in a month.

This is a reissue of an older Mary Balogh novel. It's not up to the standards of her newer books, but still readable.

I purchased The Ideal Wife after reading Balogh's later book, Precious Jewel. This book is much more light-hearted, and will not bring tears to your eyes. But, the story is cute and the characters likable.

Gabby is a talkative, plain spinster looking for employment from a very distant relative, Lord Severn.

Miles is looking for a bride who will stay out of his way. He thinks Gabby will be perfect for the position, but she turns out to be a managing female.

The couple in this story is very sweet, but there is no excitement or suspense. There are no real trials to overcome, and I personally felt that Miles should be more upset over some of the secrets being kept by Gabby. I would recommend this book, although it is not Balogh's best work. It was worth reading.

Mary Balogh is a wonderful writer. Her characters, no matter how seemingly 'ordinary' are never what you expect and Abigail is no exception. The Earl vows to marry the plainest 'mouse' as long as she is not managing.. well.. Abigail is no mouse and she is definitely managing, but she is also kind, loving and deathly afraid of exposing her 'secret' to her husband.

The Earl of Severn is surprised by his wife's many talents and especially her talkativeness... she makes him laugh and he enjoys her company, more than any other woman he knows.. AND she manages his mother and sister beautifully. What else can he ask for?? Why then does he have this distinctly uneasy feeling??

Mary Balogh is her usual superb self. The main characters, as well as the supporting cast are delightful, the dialogue, especially with the ever talkative Abigail is never boring or ordinary. The book is a wonderful read and thoroughly enjoyable.

I read this book after reading Sir Gerald's story, and I was very happy with the story line. However, there were just a few missing scenes. *Spoiler* There needed to be a scene on Miles actively trying to "please" his wife in bed. There also needed to be a scene where Miles confronted Rachel, the horid step-mother. I also don't think it would have hurt to end the book with the reunion of Abby and her half-sisters. Overall, I did enjoy the book, but was surprised those three scenes were not in the book.

This is a cute little romance with smart characters and a few well-written sexy scenes to round it out. Very worth-while. Abigail is in a bit of trouble in Victorian London. While protecting her best friend from the advances of their boss, Abigail has lost her position. Rather than walk the streets, she turns to a very distant older cousin for help in securing a new position. She's desperate.

Instead of finding a much older cousin she finds his much younger son, Severn, who just happens to be gorgeous. It turns out Severn needs a favor from Abigail as well - the way out of an almost-arranged marriage to a society gal who might be beautiful and exactly right for him but he wants something different- a docile, agreeable, plain woman whom he can control. Severn, instead of offering Abigail a position, offers her marriage. Abigail accepts. As they get to know each other, they slowly begin to realize that all is not as it appeared on their wedding day. Will Severn be happy with the real Abigail? Can Abigail trust Severn enough with the secrets of her past? Will they actually fall in love? Indulge in the Ideal Wife to find out.