Customer Reviews

Longing (Topaz historical romances)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

While the premise of this story is similar to Truly, which I also recommend, there was something about this book that seemed to have even more depth & emotion & richness. I have read several of Balogh's books and, so far, I would put this one at the top of the heap. It's not often I am taken to tears by a story but, boy, a couple scenes in this one certainly did it.

I saw nothing bloodless in Sian & Alex...anything BUT. They are decent, passionate people, not even beginning to try to deny their feelings, but caught in the social mores of their time. I thought they were very real & believable...and Oh God please find me a man like Alex. He's one of the best I have ever 'met'.

The only thing I found odd at all was that there was really no mention or thought to Alex's deceased wife or their relationship...but then it's not their story. The plot does not rely on the tortured hero syndrome nor does it need it...and how refreshing to have a gentle, kind hero...NOT to be confused with boring!

This book, at 375 or so pages, seemed longer than it was; I think because the story is so rich and has so many interesting issues occurring that it is like Haagen-Daz to low fat ice cream. At one point I couldn't believe (happily) that I was only halfway through and there was so much more story to go. Maybe this is also partly due to the author not making us wait until the last 2 chapters for the H\H to come together. Regardless, there is a lot of bang for the buck in this novel...memorable characters, sizzling passion, interesting and active storyline, tension, drama...they just don't get much better than this.

I guess my frustration with the new historical romance authors of today has been solved. I will buy the great authors old books. I found this on Amazon along with "Truly" (haven't read yet, but can't wait to begin it) through the used sellers. I think for both under $20.00 and both in excellent condition. I'm not one to buy used. I like to keep the keepers and this is a big time keeper! Thank God, MB is still writing! And writing that is so superior to the new authors! Since I've read all of hers that are available, I will hunt down and buy any used that I can find.

I loved Longing. What a fantastic book. I cried, I felt. This is now added to my top three favorites along with One Night of Love and Summer to Remember. I love all of her books but these three are my favorites. Longing is so powerful, so emotional, with Welsh history. History that I have not read before. Lots of Scotch, English, some Irish but haven't read any Welsh, so was refreshing. If you can get your hands on this book, library, or used, it is a must read!!!

Thank you MB for such good solid books. Can't wait for Claudia's book. And as a note, I have read all of the Web books. They were good. Compared to anything on the market today, they are great!! Maybe these publishers will reissue all of MB's books!!! And maybe, because there just isn't anything out there by way of new authors, the publishers could reissue all of the old books by some great authors so that we have something to read!!!! I have stopped buying anything that isn't by a few known good authors, authors that are still writing. And these few authors just can't keep up the demand. We want good depth in writing, emotional, historical, romance (not erotica, time travel, paranormal). I will not purchase another new author book until we get back to good quality writing. I've just wasted money and too much time trying to like anything written by the "new authors".

I have found one new author that is writing good solid historical romance. Kathleen Givens. If you like good, solid, emotional, depth in story, history romance for pleasure reading(not the history of a text book, however, I'd much rather read Plaidy, Gregory, Seton, any day to the "new authors")here are a few of my favorites. Again if you are only seeking lots of sex, page after page, with a thin almost story around all that sex, these will not be for you.

All of Judith McNaught, she no longer writes historicals (all of her contemporary are good, too) and she hardly writes at all any more. Julie Garwood, all of her old historicals only. Joanna Lindsay. Anything and all of Lisa Kleypas. Shannon Drake, specially her old ones, Kings Pleasure, Conquer the Knight. Woodiwiss, she passed away this year, I don't know who wrote her last two novels, not good writing and not her writing, but she is heralded as starting the format for Historical Romance, all of her old books are classic HR and truly loved. Jane Feathers, only a few here, I don't think one person wrote under this name, her "Bride" series, "Velvet" series. Kat Martin, all of her old stuff, books and books, that are so good. Jo Beverley. Madeline Hunter. Mary Jo Putney's "The Wild Child", "Bartered Bride". Penelope Williamson "Passions of Emma". If not in publication currently, worth it to check your library, or used books.

Also great, but a little heavier on history is Seton, Plaidy, Gregory.

A little too much sex for me, but my mother loves these and they are good authors: Bertrice Small, Virginia Henley, Rosemary Rogers.

I am sure I am forgetting some. So that is my two cents. I guess I am just so frustrated by the ruining of the Historical Romance. It is not longer. Maybe the publishers should break down into genres: erotica, time travel, paranormal, etc. Then I would know what not to buy. But!!! I can still buy, read the old books and wait patiently for the good authors to keep on writing. If anyone out there knows of good authors of similar liking, please "comment". I would love to add to the list and read.

This was Mary's first book set in Wales. I loved it very much. This one has the feeling of "How Green Was My Valley". I enjoyed her discuss- ion of Chartism, and early unions in Great Britain

This is one of the best stories I have read. Why? The setting, the plot, the main charactors, the love, and the love scenes. All were among the best I have read. This book is written on a mature level which I appreciate being my self up there in years. This was a story that I never wanted to put down and I never wanted it to end. It was touching, moving, sensual, and delightful. Alex was a real man! Thank You, Ms Balogh for your writing talent. I will keep reading Ms Balogh's books. So far, this is her best.

Mary Balogh is, in my opinion, the best writer of historical romances today. "Longing" is one of her older novels and out of print but if you can get hold of a copy you should as it's an excellent read and definitely a keeper.

"Longing" explores how two people can try to fit into a society in different ways and yet always know they are not quite part of the community. Sian Jones is the illegitimate daughter of an English Lord and Welsh mother and has been well educated in England; now she's a widow in the Welsh valley Cwmbran, living with her grandparents and aching to fit in with the other people around her. Her first husband was a man in the village and she is now being courted by Owen Parry, one of the most important people in the village, who would be a good match for her. However she can't quite bring herself to agree to marry him - yet.

Alexander, Marquis of Craille, is widowed and has brought his young daughter Verity to his property, Glanrhyd Castle, in Cwmbran to get away from the outside world for a while. The property is well run and his coal mine and iron foundries are making a good profit. However when he arrives he starts to observe the villagers and discovers their poverty and that they are supporting the Chartist movement. He also discovers Sian Jones and eventually hires her as governess to his daughter in order to teach her Welsh.

Sian and Alexander are drawn to each other but the differences in their stations are huge, plus the cultural difference between the Welsh people and the English aristocracy. Sian's principles are sorely tested when she is assumed to be a spy for Alexander and people that she thought she can trust may not be as trusting of her. Is her dream of fitting in to the community a possible goal or is it hopeless? Will Alexander ever be able to understand or really communicate with his people?

This is a masterfully written story with the Welsh scenery and people beautifully described. Mary Balogh often includes music in her stories and this is another of those with the Welsh choirs performing at an Eisteddford. Once again there's a minor villain (and, as I've discovered in her stories, you can usually tell the villain even when initially presented as a 'goodie' because he's described as 'balding' - rather a slur on nice balding men out there!) and a side love-interest but the meat of the story is the growing relationship between Alexander and Sian and their knowledge of the huge gap between them socially. There's possibly a rather facile reconciliation between Sian and her father but overall the story is very touching and the Welsh setting (like Balogh's other book "Truly") adds to the charm and magic of this story as Alexander is taken from his milieu of London and forced to understand the lives of some of his workers.

This book made me cry and that almost never happens when I read. The possibility of real social change when an enlightened aristocrat and mine owner manages to change the villagers brutal lives and create a sort of Welsh Utopia moved me deeply. I'm not sure this would have been historically possible but its a wonderful fantasy! Of course, there is a lovely romance between our goodhearted hero and his Welsh governess and plenty of real social history and depictions of the struggles of the miners. I love books about class issues that show individuals working it all out through love, understanding, compassion and their own growing vision of a better world. Even if that change takes place on a very small scale and extends only to ones own home or neighborhood. Also,I love books and movies that produce a good, enjoyable cry. Mary Balogh is a wonderful storyteller.

I cannot rave enough about this one! Hands down one of the best romance novels I have read. It absolutely deserves to be back in print. Incredibly rich historical setting and so much more depth of emotion than the typical. I tried to read a recently released throwaway romance afterwards (which I do often settle for) and totally felt like I was wasting my time. This was a truly romantic novel with a great depth of emotion and admirable characters.