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41 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best Baloghs, March 28, 2000
This review is from: Longing (Topaz historical romances) (Paperback)
I loved Longing; once I started I was gripped, and could barely put the book down. It is certainly not a typical Regency; in fact, the only feature in common with the Regency genre is that the hero is an aristocrat. Having said that, he has no sympathy with the ton and no desire to live among them. Instead he wants to bring up his daughter in Wales - but to his shock, he finds that country life, and the management of his estates and coal mines, is not what he'd expected. He's an aristocrat with a social conscience, but finds that his fellow land-owners don't share it. She is a teacher, a widow, and the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy landowner who chooses to live among the mining community; about to become engaged to a miner. Then she meets the Marquess, and becomes governess to his daughter, and attraction flares between them.... But there is far more to this book than romance. It is also a sweeping social history, and Balogh has done her research extremely well here. We see poverty, brutal employers, the early trade unions and the Chartist movement, and the 'Scotch Cattle,' as well as an evocative portrayal of a miners' march. As usual with Balogh's books, though, there are no simple distinctions between good and evil; characters are portrayed as human, with flaws as well as good points. Definitely a keeper; I gave a copy to a friend shortly after reading mine, and she loved it too.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mary Balogh's Longing is the perfect historical romance!, May 10, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Longing (Topaz historical romances) (Paperback)
I consider myself a fan of the historical romance genre, but the truth is, I haven't read many of the books. I tried, but there would always be something about a book that I would get disgusted with, and it was usually a scared, innocent girl for a heroine. Finally, in Longing, I found everything I always hoped to find all in one book. Its heroine is no blushing, cringing girl, and its setting (Wales) was refreshing. I also received a very interesting history lesson, as well. If you enjoy Longing, you'll also enjoy Mary Balogh's Truly.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent, great cast of characters, moving, September 6, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Longing (Topaz historical romances) (Paperback)
This is a truly wonderful book. Mary Balogh writes Regencies and other British historical novels better than many British writers. This book is not a Regency as such, though a member of the aristocracy is the hero. The heroine is a strong-minded, intelligent woman desperate to 'fit in' among her mother's community in Cwmbran. She is the illegitimate daughter of a baronet, but does not belong in his world. She meets the Marquess, but feels she would only be destined to be his mistress, a fate she will not resign herself to. That's a bare plot summary, but there is so much more to this book than that. There is also the very real poverty in a mining community, the Chartist movement, and the Scotch Cattle who are the 'guardians' of group norms of behaviour. Balogh has a geniune skill at drawing readers into her characters' lives and concerns; once I'd started this book I couldn't bear to put it down and ended up reading it in two sittings. Thoroughly recommended, and I'm already giving a copy to a friend.
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