21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Familiar territory but still enjoyable and well written, January 9, 2004
How many times can Mary Balogh use the sham marriage/engagement theme and still get away with it? I guess as many as she wants as long as her story telling and character development is so brilliant. The basic plots of all but one of the Bedwyn stories so far - A SUMMER TO REMEMBER, SLIGHTLY MARRIED, SLIGHTLY SCANDALOUS and now SLIGHTLY TEMPTED are all variations on the same theme. Only SLIGHTLY WICKED, ironically my least favourite of the series so far, strays from this plotline. And the first half of this book (which deals more with war, friendship, disillusionment and loss) is the best part and saves it from being just mediocre.
Youngest Bedwyn Morgan, a beautiful, intelligent and mature eighteen, has suffered through her come-out and is in the midst of her first Season. She finds it all a crashing bore until she is invited to accompany the family of one of her suitors to Belgium on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo. She is keen to experience the excitement of witnessing such an historic event but is disappointed to find life in Brussels much the same as in London. Balls, assemblies, picnics, and officers who tell the young ladies not to "worry their pretty little heads" about the coming conflict. Such condescension infuriates Morgan, a woman with an intellect and curiosity beyond most young ladies of the ton. And so, it made sense for Ms Balogh to pair her with a more mature man just a few years younger than her oldest brother (and parental figure) Wulfric.
Gervase Ashford, Earl of Rosthorn, has been in exile on the Continent after a scandal involving Gervase, Wulfric Bedwyn, Duke of Bewcastle, a young lady and a stolen jewel. Unfortunately, Gervase was determined to be the guilty party in the mess and his beloved father kicked him out of his loved family home. He has aimlessly drifted these last nine years until he ascended to the title on his father's death just last year. His bitterness over his unfair exile resurfaces full force when Morgan Bedwyn is pointed out to him across a Brussels ballroom. He sees an opportunity to revenge himself on Wulf through his baby sister and obtains an introduction to her. He proceeds to woo her and in the course of things begins to expose her to gossip and scandal he hopes will make its way to London - and Wulf's ears. But when the Battle begins and the ugliness of war is brought home all seduction comes to an end especially when Morgan's brother Alleyne, on his first assignment for the Diplomatic Service, comes up missing. When her host family plans to leave for London, Morgan refuses to go without definitive word about Alleyne. And so she stays on without chaperon or maid with only the support of the Earl of Rosthorn who offers to find out what he can about Alleyne's fate. During those weeks in Brussels, Gervase and Morgan become friends, sharing worries, hopes, dreams and enjoying each other's company. But they are also careless, seen walking alone together, hand in hand and even in one case embracing. All of which eventually finds it's way to the London gossip mill. And when word comes that Alleyne is presumed dead, Morgan can only reach out to her best friend, Gervase for comfort - and more!
They return to London, to scandal and to Wulf's stern disapproval. Though marriage is the one thing that will put the scandal to rest, Wulf refuses Gervase and then, upon learning of his deceptions in Brussels, so does Morgan. Until she decides to get back at him by accepting his offer for as long as she chooses with the intent of making him fall in love with her only to leave him heartbroken. This is where the sham engagement déjà vu kicks in and when the story starts to lose some of its sparkle. It begins to sound oh so familiar and predictable and you can guess how it ends. Though Morgan is well developed and likeable, I felt that the reader never fully knew Gervase or the depths of his feelings about Morgan and about returning to his family after being away so long and missing so much.
Though the second half of the book was not to the level of the first, I still recommend it for Bedwyn junkies and Balogh fans. Even with a well-worn theme, Ms Balogh still pens and enjoyable tale.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
It was okay, January 17, 2004
Overall, I did enjoy the book and am glad that I read it. It did not, however, live up to my expectations as the other books in the Bedwyn series did. It started off a little slow, and I didn't really get into it until a little over halfway through the book. After that, though, it was really good. It had a really sweet ending and it pulled at my heart strings. I also liked how they showed a more vulnerable side of Wulf throughout the book. I can't wait until Mary writes his story.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Read, Don't Miss It, February 25, 2004
By A Customer
Please don't be misled by some of the previous reviews. This is a wonderful book and the author absolutely DOES NOT belabor her subject with personal opinion. I love CHARACTERS with strong opinions on war or any other subject, and I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Balogh's latest romantic tale of the Bedwyn family. I appreciate romance novels that rise above the level of Boy Meets Girl, and this, like all of Ms. Balogh's books, is a multi-layered page turner. Though many of the characterizations are familiar to Regency readers, the depth of emotion the author is able to evoke always raises the level of the writing. Unlike some of the previous readers, I found that having much of the romance based upon events surrounding the Battle of Waterloo an enhancement of the story, and would have enjoyed reading even more about it. I would certainly expect that two characters swept up in the great event of the age would discuss the war at even greater length than they do here; and these discussions are important to both plot and the characterization of Morgan and Gervase as well as the characters around them. (For those who actually enjoy a historical background in their historical romances, another wonderful romance novel set at the Battle of Waterloo is by Georgette Heyer, entitled An Infamous Army). Characters with too many opinions??? I'm mystified. Aren't there more than enough novels with cardboard characters engaged in trivial, romantic trash talk? Since I happen to be addicted to romance novels, I treasure the ones with richness and depth. This is yet another Mary Balogh treasure.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
