Customer Reviews

Slightly Married

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

In this first installment of the story of the Bedwyn family, Mary Balogh takes a plot line that has been used hundreds of times before--the marriage of convenience--and somehow makes it seem fresh and new. This is the story of Colonel Lord Aidan Bedwyn, second son of the late Duke of Bewcastle and brother to the current Duke, whose devotion to duty and honor leads him to find love in a most unexpected place. On a dusty battlefield in France, he promises the dying Captain Percy Morris to do "whatever it takes" to protect the Captain's sister, Eve Morris. When Aidan takes the news of her brother's death to Eve, he discovers that she and her "lame ducks," a menagerie consisting of two orphaned children, an impoverished aunt, a lame dog, and a houseful of unusual servants that no one would else would hire, are about to be turned out onto the streets by Eve's slimy cousin, Cecil. In order to do "whatever it takes" to honor his vow to a dying man, Aidan persuades Eve to agree to a marriage of convenience to save her home and inheritance under a clause of her father's will. Eve feels that she has no choice but to accept Aidan's offer, despite the fact that she is in love with a neighbor who is in the diplomatic service and whom she has been expecting home "any day." What neither Aidan nor Eve can forsee is that, by marrying, Eve will inextricably become part of the Bedwyn clan, overseen by Aidan's brother, the imperious Duke of Bedwyn, and that Aidan will just as inextricably become part of Eve's menagerie of "lame ducks." This is a brilliant and beautifully written story of two very different people--different in temperment, station, and experience--who gradually come to know, appreciate and love each other. Like the talented artist that she is, Mary Balogh does not tell us who these characters are, she lets us discover them for outselves, through their words and their deeds. Aidan and Eve grow more beautiful to the reader with each passing page, just as they appear more and more beautiful and wonderful to each other as they reluctantly begin to fall in love. This novel is a work of great art and great heart, and I am eagerly awaiting the next two novels in the series. Bravo, Mary!

"Slightly Married" is another great offering from Mary Balogh. While the plot itself is not the most original plot ever, romance readers don't really read for plot, we read for character development. And Balogh delivers some great characters.

Eve and Aidan are two people from radically different backgrounds. Aidan is the younger brother of a Duke and Eve is the only daughter of a Coal Miner made good, fit together like the final to pieces to a puzzle.

The multi-book - family saga deal is really popular at the moment with mixed results. I have found that often the books are repetitive because the characters seem to be carbon copies of each other. Balogh doesn't have that problem. I can't wait to see what happens next.

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.

It was so hard to decide how to rate this book. It's wonderful, but after the tour de force that was A Summer to Remember (which I finished the day before I started this one), it seemed somewhat less. Having said that, however, I enjoyed the book and will buy it (the one I read was from the library).

It starts a little slowly (not the first chapter, but afterwards), but the reader is soon drawn into the emotional lives of the characters. This is Balogh's forte: intense, realistic emotion. It is a pleasure to watch Aidan Bedwyn slowly (very slowly) emerge from his cool, harsh demeanor, and it is Eve's sweetness and strength that does it. Unknownst to the other, both give up their private dreams to settle for a marriage of honor and convenience--one that is to never be a real marriage at all. But as they are forced to spend time together, they discover a connection that leads to feelings neither had wanted and a new dream neither dared hope for.

I had disliked Freya Bedwyn (the sister) in A Summer to Remember (in fact, I wasn't crazy about anyone in the family except young Morgan), but she becomes a more rounded character here, as do most of the family, especially the Duke. Thus, I am beginning to like them--or at least be intrigued by them. They are certainly not your usual, too-gorgeous-to-be-real heroes and heroines. Aidan is dour and stiffly formal, but so dear once you see the man underneath. And Eve's surprising rebellion against the formidable Bedwyns could have you cheering for her.

The problems for me were a little too much description, some secondary characters that could have been more fully developed (they were merely walk-ons, really), and the love scenes. There was little passion in the latter; in fact, Aidan's approach tended to suck all the passion and romance from the scene, especially the most important one (the first time, it made sense). If I were Eve, and he did that for the rest of my life, I think I'd smack him upside the head.

Mostly, however, Balogh does a fine job of pulling the reader into the lives of her protagonists, getting into their heads and allowing us to feel their doubts, hopes, and heartbreaks.

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

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.

On a battlefield in Toulouse, France, 1814, Colonel Lord Aidan Bedwyn gives his word of honor to one of his dying soldiers that he will "protect the man's sister - no matter what!" The English had prevailed over Napoleon's army and Colonel Bedwyn, home on leave in England to visit his large family, stops at Ringwood Manor in Oxfordshire to personally break the sad news to the man's sister, Eve Morris. Determined to discover the problem that caused the vehement promise to be exacted, Bedwyn discovers that Miss Morris and all her dependents are to be evicted from their home and reduced to penury unless she marries within the next four days. Her father had bequeathed the manor and land to her for the period of one year. If she had not married in that time, the estate would go to her brother. If he were to die, then a social climbing, grasping cousin was to inherit. Bedwyn, a man of his word, proposes a marriage of convenience to allow the lady to live out her life on her estates. As Bedwyn had never planned to marry, he would, of course, return to the army and the couple would never meet again. As fate would have it, the marriage turns out to be anything but convenient and their time together is prolonged with interesting consequences.

This is the first of a three book series about the Bedwyn family - Wulfric, Duke of Bewcastle, his brothers Aiden, Rannulf, and Alleyne and sisters Freyja and Morgan. This novel about Aiden and Eve makes for a light and pleasant romantic read. There is nothing complex about the tale, no subplots or much tension between the characters, who are charming if predictable. Ms. Balogh writes in her usual warm, emotional style which enhances the somewhat over-used storyline. I enjoyed reading "Slightly Married" and do recommend it as long as potential buyers/readers realize that this is not one of Mary Balogh's best efforts.
JANA

Slightly Married is the first in Mary Balogh's Bedwyn family series, though when I read it I'd already read Freyja's (#3), Morgan's (#4), and Wulfric's (#6) stories, as well as A Summer to Remember, which introduces the Bedwyn family. This is definitely one of my favorites of the series and of Balogh's works and I would highly recommend it.

MAIN CHARACTERS, Eve and Aidan:
Both of the main characters were wonderfully written and you definitely read the book rooting for Eve and Aidan to fall in love and stay together. Eve is a wonderful female character - strong (holds her own to the imposing Bedwyn family, which says a lot), courageous, compassionate, intelligent, loyal, and honest. Aidan is one of the harder heroes to get a handle on, in my opinion, but this is due to his complexity rather than a faulty portrayal. Believe me, by the end of the book practically every time he says/thinks/does something you will be sighing his name and thinking he's a prince charming. He's a soldier, so his exterior is very tough, hard, implacable, and honor-obsessed, but Aidan is also very kind, loving, and thoughtful - you start to look forward to each of his humorous comments or almost-smiles with the same excitement that Eve does.

What was great about the relationship between Eve and Aidan was that you really do see it form before your eyes - they've never met before the beginning of the book and there isn't that instant awareness of "I'm-inexplicably-drawn-to-this-person-more-than-any-other-person-ever-etc." which though we love to read about sometimes, is not very realistic. There is still definitely attraction between the two characters and real chemistry, and they are a perfect pair, complementing each other very well.

OTHER CHARACTERS:
The motley assortment of "lame ducks" that Eve has gathered around her are great characters and Aunt Mari's machinations to help Aidan and Eve fall in love were amusing. I would have found Wulfric, the Duke of Bewcastle, extremely annoying, overbearing, arrogant, and etc. if I hadn't already read his story (Slightly Dangerous); because I've already read about his softer side, I was instead just amused by how absolutely arrogant (and surprisingly humorous) he can be. Also, he does come through in the end.

CRITICISM (very small):
I would have liked maybe just one or two more kissing scenes/occurrences between Eve and Aidan and wish that the reunion at the end had been a little more passionate and romantic. But that's all!!

BOTTOM LINE:
Buy it, prepare to not get up until you're done, and settle in for a wonderful read!! I continued through even though I had a pounding headache, simply because I could not countenance going to bed and leaving the book unfinished.

My favourite book in the series about the Bedwyn family (apart from perhaps the last one). Mary Balogh writes beautifully, she does character development very well and can put the most unlikely couple together at the beginning of a story and end up with them so obviously being made for each other with the transition always fascinating, moving and totally believable. Aidan is (apart from Wulfric) the darkest and most complex of the brothers and the gradual realisation of his love for Eve is beautifully told.

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.