Review: Remember That Day by Mary Balogh

 

Remember That Day (Ravenswood #5) by Mary Balogh

Publication Date: January 6th 2026 by Berkley

Pages: 368

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Twenty-one-year-old Winnifred Cunningham, adopted daughter of Lady Camille and portrait painter Joel Cunningham, knows how lucky she is to have been taken into such a warm, boisterous family. She’s never believed marriage was necessary for her happiness, until her easy friendship with Owen Ware, the Earl’s youngest son, makes her wonder if marriage could be a happy possibility.

 

Colonel Nicholas Ware, Owen’s older brother, is preparing to propose to Grace Haviland. At thirty-four, he’s ready for a settled life filled with love and children. Grace is beautiful, poised, and perfectly suitable, yet Nicholas can’t seem to imagine true happiness with her. Something essential is missing.

 

When Winnifred and Nicholas meet, the spark between them is immediate and undeniable. They’re hardly an obvious match, both are on the cusp of commitments to others, and their age difference, but fate keeps placing them in each other’s path. With every encounter, their connection deepens.

 

Remember That Day was an absolute delight! This is the fifth book in the Ravenswood series, and I think you could get by reading this as a standalone, but you’d get more reading them in order because there’s a history with the Ware’s, a devastating event that made a huge impact in their lives.

 

Mary Balogh’s writing shines as she breathes life into her characters, their hopes, fears, longings, and quiet moments of vulnerability. Both Winnifred and Nicholas dealt with internal struggles, yet their bond became a source of comfort and clarity. The secondary cast, especially the many children with their charming side stories, added warmth and joy to every chapter.

 

Winnifred and Nicholas’ journey to love was tender, thoughtful, and deeply satisfying. Their story touched my heart from beginning to end!

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

A soldier and a pacifist make the unlikeliest of pairs, but when attraction sparks, there’s nothing that can prevent their love from igniting.

Winifred Cunningham, the adopted daughter of a portrait painter, hopes that her new close friend, Owen Ware, will soon ask for her hand in marriage. But when Owen introduces Winifred to his elder brother Nicholas, the late Earl of Stratton’s second son, the slow burn of attraction between them begins.

Nicholas is a cavalry colonel—a hardened soldier whom Winifred at first despises. She finds him intimidating and cruel-looking, while he finds her strange and startlingly forthright. During a summer at Ravenswood, however, Nicholas and Winifred are unwillingly thrown together on several occasions, until they realize the passion that drives their disagreements is not due to dislike—it is because of attraction.

Winifred still awaits Owen’s proposal, and Nicholas has made his intention to marry his commanding officer’s daughter quite clear. With allegiances to other marriage prospects and brotherly bonds at risk, not to mention the age difference between them, Nicholas and Winifred know it would be wholly improper to pursue a romance...

And yet, romance is irresistible. Perhaps even inevitable.

Review: Remember When by Mary Balogh

Remember When (Ravenswood #4) by Mary Balogh

Publication Date: January 7th 2025 by Berkley

Pages: 368

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Clarissa, the Dowager Countess, is at a pivotal time in her life. Her children are grown and mostly settled, and her daughter-in-law has taken over the countess responsibilities.  After a season in London, Clarissa returns home to Ravenswood and looks forward to the quiet and tranquility of being alone to reflect who she is as a person and what she wants in this next chapter of her life. There’s another thing Clarissa plans to do: renew her childhood friendship with Matthew Taylor.

 

Matthew Taylor lives a contented life as the village’s carpenter even though he was raised as a gentleman. His younger years were filled with strife railing against strict parents that didn’t understand him. The only one who listened and gave him comfort was Clarissa. He was half in love with her by the time they were teenagers, but things didn’t work out and they married others. Matthew was widowed soon after. He spent many years coming to peace with his past and has led a quiet, contented life until Clarissa comes back to town.

 

Loved the way Matthew and Clarissa just picked up again after so many years. They just got each other so well. Of course, their friendship was noted right away and there was talk since their societal positions were so different, but I’m happy with how it was all handled. They both had wonderful family and friends to support them!

 

Remember When was low angst and heartwarming! The characters and the situations they faced felt real-to-life and relatable. Neither Clarissa nor Matthew led a problem-free life, but each were mature and okay on their own. Finding romance was an unexpected joy for them and their story filled my heart with happiness!  

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

Discover the beauty of second chances at love and life in this heartfelt new novel from New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh.

The Dowager Countess of Stratton, Clarissa Ware, née Greenfield, has just presented her younger daughter to the ton, and the rest of her life belongs only to herself. She returns to Ravenswood, intending to spend the summer alone there. But the summer has other plans for her.

Born a gentleman, Matthew Taylor has chosen to spend his life as the village carpenter. Growing up, he and Clarissa were close—dangerously so, considering his family’s modest fortune. As a young man, he never would have been a suitable match for the daughter of the wealthy Greenfields. Clarissa married Caleb Ware, the Earl of Stratton, so Matthew married another, though he was widowed soon after.

Now everything is different—Clarissa has already lived the life expected of her by society. And Matthew is as attractive and intriguing as he was when they were young. As their summer friendship deepens into romance, they stand together on the precipice of change—essentially the same man and woman they remember being back then, but with renewed passion and the potential to take their lives in an entirely new direction.

About the Author

Mary Balogh grew up in Wales and now lives with her husband, Robert, in Saskatchewan, Canada. She has written more than one hundred historical novels and novellas, more than forty of which have been New York Times bestsellers. They include the Bedwyn saga, the Simply quartet, the Huxtable quintet, the seven-part Survivors’ Club series, and the Westcott series. 

Review & Excerpt: Always Remember by Mary Balogh

 

Always Remember (Ravenswood #3) by Mary Balogh

Publication Date: January 16th 2024 by Berkley

Pages: 368

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Ben Ellis and Lady Jennifer Arden were raised in the same social circle, but both have always felt a little on the outside. Ben because he is still the illegitimate son of the late Earl of Stratton. Lady Jennifer is sister to a duke, with a large fortune, but a childhood illness crippled one of her legs leaving her mostly wheelchair bound.

Ben comes upon Jennifer trying to walk in crutches and while it’s awkward for a moment they end up confiding things they’d never say to anyone else. Ben would love to marry again, give his 3-year-old-daughter a mother and more siblings, but prospects are underwhelming.  Not only that, but he’s also received a letter from his birth mother’s side of the family and isn’t sure what to do about it. 

Jennifer dreams of getting around more independently and walking. Ben has practical ideas for her and makes it his mission to help her achieve them and Jennifer listens to his worries without judgement, giving a fresh perspective. I loved seeing Jennifer get a new lease on life with some changes and ingenuity! The relationship between Ben’s daughter and Jennifer was heartwarming! The little girl was adorable and some of the three-year-old moments cracked me up!

Ben and Jennifer’s romance was emotional and moving! Started as an unlikely friendship, having someone listen and get it, and turned into affection, attraction, and longing. However, their romance was not without obstacles with Ben being illegitimate and Jennifer a titled woman, and yet they couldn’t stay away from each other!

Oh, I just loved Always Remember! I yearned for Ben and Jennifer to find happiness after all they went through! The Ravenswood series is one of my favorites! While each book focuses on a different romantic couple there is a backstory and so the books should be read in order. A definite recommend!

5 Stars

Excerpt:

Book Description:

Lady Jennifer Arden and Ben Ellis know that a match between them is out of the question. Yet their hearts yearn for the impossible. Discover a new heartwarming story from New York Times bestselling author and beloved “queen of Regency romance” Mary Balogh.

Left unable to walk by a childhood illness, Lady Jennifer, sister of the Duke of Wilby, has grown up to make a happy place for herself in society. Outgoing and cheerful, she has many friends and enjoys the pleasures of high society—even if she cannot dance at balls or stroll in Hyde Park. She is blessed with a large, loving, and protective family. But she secretly dreams of marriage and children, and of walking—and dancing.

When Ben Ellis comes across Lady Jennifer as she struggles to walk with the aid of primitive crutches, he instantly understands her yearning. He is a fixer. It is often said of him that he never saw a practical problem he did not have to solve. He wants to help her discover independence and motion—driving a carriage, swimming, even walking a different way. But he must be careful. He is the bastard son of the late Earl of Stratton. Though he was raised with the earl’s family, he knows he does not really belong in the world of the ton.

Jennifer is shocked—and intrigued—by Ben’s ideas, and both families are alarmed by the growing friendship and perhaps more that they sense developing between the two. A duke’s sister certainly cannot marry the bastard son of an earl. Except sometimes, love can find a way.

Photo credit: Sharon Pelletier

About the author:

Mary Balogh has written more than one hundred historical novels and novellas, more than forty of which have been New York Times bestsellers. They include the Bedwyn saga, the Simply quartet, the Huxtable quintet, the seven-part Survivors’ Club series, and the Westcott series. Learn more about Mary Balogh at her website: https://marybalogh.com/

Review: Remember Me by Mary Balogh

 

Remember Me (Ravenswood #2) by Mary Balogh

Publication Date: June 20th 2023 by Berkley

Pages: 368

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Lady Philippa’s family was disgraced when her father’s infidelity was exposed publicly. She had been about to make her debut, thinking the gossip had died down, but changed her mind when she overhears a visitor refer to her as “spoiled goods” at a country dance. Those words hurt and humiliated her, so Philippa withdrew and refused to be presented in London.

However, four years later her beloved brother Devlin, now the Earl of Stratton after her father’s death, has helped her to see that her choice was ruining her chance at happiness because she wants to marry and have a family of her own. Unfortunately, on her first outing she’s introduced to the very man who uttered those cruel words, Lucas Arden, Marquess of Roath. He’s one of the most eligible bachelors out there, now looking for a wife, and it seems his family has their heart set on Philippa to fill those shoes.

Lucas wishes he didn’t utter those careless, cruel words and knows he doesn’t deserve Philippa who he’s come to realize is beautiful both inside and out. He had no idea she heard him, or the effect his words would have on her. At the time he was crushed by grief and bitterness. There’s a backstory there that isn’t hard to figure out.

I absolutely loved Lucas and Philippa’s journey! They were complex, multi-layered characters and I felt their emotions: anger, regret, longing, and joy right along with them.  It was clear they were a love match, but they had to figure it out for themselves, and reconcile the past. They had the “help” of Lucas’ bull-headed grandfather. I had to laugh at the old curmudgeon, and it was hard not to be won over by his well-meant scheming. Really, both families were so lovely!

Remember Me is the second book of the Ravenswood series, but I don’t think it’s completely necessary to read the first book as the events from the last book are touched on. However, I think you’d appreciate the story more by starting with the last book. Both are a total recommend!

5 Stars

Book Description:

Can Lady Philippa Ware forgive the man who once shattered all her youthful dreams? Discover the passionate and heartwarming new novel on the redemptive power of love from New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh.

Philippa, elder daughter of the Earl of Stratton, grew up eagerly anticipating a glittering debut and a brilliant marriage. Then her brother caught their father out in a clandestine affair and denounced him publicly. The whole family was disgraced, and Philippa's hopes grew dim, then were fully shattered when she overheard the dashing, handsome Marquess of Roath viciously insult her upon learning of her father's identity. Only years later does Philippa find the courage to go to London at last to meet the ton. She is an instant success and enjoys a close friendship with the granddaughter of a duke. Only one man can spoil everything for her, but surely he will not be in London this year.

The Duke of Wilby is nearing death and has tasked his grandson and heir, Lucas Arden, Marquess of Roath, with marrying and producing a son before it is too late. Lucas, who usually shuns London, goes there early in the Season in the hope of finding an eligible bride before his grandparents come and find one for him. He is instantly attracted to his sister's new friend, until that young lady asks a simple question: "Remember me?" And suddenly he does remember her, as well as the reason why the daughter of the Earl of Stratton is the one woman he can never marry--even if his heart tells him she is the only woman he wants.

Unfortunately for Philippa and Lucas, the autocratic duke and his duchess have other ideas and believe them to be perfect for each other. They will simply not take no for an answer. Telling Philippa the full truth is the hardest thing Lucas has ever faced, and the discovery of it will change them both before they discover the healing power of love.

Photo credit: Sharon Pelletier

About the author:

Mary Balogh has written more than one hundred historical novels and novellas, more than forty of which have been New York Times bestsellers. They include the Bedwyn saga, the Simply quartet, the Huxtable quintet, the seven-part Survivors’ Club series, and the Westcott series. Learn more online at www.marybalogh.com. 

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books on My Summer 2023 to-read List

 

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Artsy Reader where each week they post a new top ten list and ask fellow bookish folk to share their lists on that topic. 

This week Books on My Summer 2023 to-read List

I'm so excited for each and every one of these books! How do I choose which one to start first?!! A bookish dilemma!

Click on cover for Goodreads link:

Remember Me by Mary Balogh

I love her historical romances! This is book two in the Ravenswood series and can be read as a standalone in a pinch. 

A Fatal Illusion by Anna Lee Huber

Book 11 in the Lady Darby Mysteries and should be read in order. This series is excellent! I highly recommend the audio version narrated by Heather Wilds. All voices and accents are perfection!

A Little Ray of Sunshine by Kristan Higgins

Her brand of womens fiction usually strikes a cord and hits me emotionally. Plus, she usually adds a little bit of romance.

The Cafe at Beach End by RaeAnne Thayne

I scoop up every new release by Thayne! Love the setting of this series, too! It's book 5 in the Cape Sanctuary series, but can be read as a standalone.

A Stolen Child by Sarah Stewart Taylor

Book 4 in the wonderful Maggie D'arcy series. A police/crime procedural with a new mystery with every book, but should be read in order because of the ongoing relationships and history. 

Resonance Surge by Nalini Singh

Psy-Changeling Trinity #7. Each installment is a must-read for me. Such a great mix of fantasy, sci-fi, paranormal romance! Each book is focused on a romantic couple, but it should be read in order for the ongoing story arc.

Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates

Darcy Coates is famous for her ghost stories, but this seems to be a straight thriller and it sounds good! 

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center

Her romances are top notch! I have an e-copy and an audio, but I'll be buying the hardcover for my shelf! She's an another auto buy for me. 

Magic Claims by Ilona Andrews

So excited they are writing more Kate Daniels! I have an e-copy but I'm sure I'll be buying the audio bundle when it comes out of Magic Tides and Magic Claims and be listening as a re-read. 

North of Nowhere by Allison Brennan

This sounds like a heart pounding thriller! Kids on the run from their murderous father crashing in the wilds of Montana so now not only are they on the run from trackers, but also a deadly storm. Can't wait!

What do you plan to read this summer?

Blog Tour Review & Excerpt: Remember Love by Mary Balogh

Remember Love (Ravenswood #1)  by Mary Balogh

Publication Date: July 12th 2022 by Berkley

Pages: 400

Source: Publisher & Purchased Audiobook

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Gwyneth Rhys and Devlin Ware, the future Earl of Stratton, have been in love with each other from afar for years, until one perfect day when they discover their mutual feelings.  That same day the situation unravels when Devlin finds out his father’s fidelity is a farce. Devlin calls him out on it in a very public way and is cast out ruining their plans, at least for now.

Devlin goes off to fight in the Napoleonic War while Gwyneth stays home and attempts to move on with her heart. Six years later, Devlin returns to take up his duties of Earl since his father has died, but he’s a changed man who feels incapable of being in love after everything he’s gone through. However, seeing Gwyneth and his beloved family reawakens feelings he never thought he’d have again, feelings that he’s intent on denying.

Remember Love, the first book in the Ravenswood series, was oh-so-lovely! I’m a huge sucker for a second chance romance. I just loved every minute of the story, from Devlin and Gwyneth’s initial time together, longing from afar and that magical time spent together, to years later discovering that attraction and pull had never died, even though Devlin was in a bit of denial and had to work through his feelings. But I also adored the rest of the families. Gwyneth’s parents and brother were so loving and supportive, and Devlin’s siblings were as well, even though I can see Philippa, Stephanie and Ben bear the scars from finding out that their father wasn’t the man they thought. That very public revelation had repercussions they each had to endure, and I think we’ll be finding out just how it affected each of the siblings in the books to come. I hope we get a story for each of the Ware’s and for Ben, the oldest son, of the clan from a dalliance before the senior Earl was married.

Mary Balogh’s writing is beautiful, she brought each of the characters to life, and I felt their hopes, dreams, disappointments, heartbreak, and joy deeply!  I eagerly await the next story!

5 Stars

Excerpt:

But Gwyneth scarcely noticed. For Devlin, elegantly dressed in a dark blue tailed evening coat with

gray knee breeches and white waistcoat, stockings, shirt, and neckcloth, was standing before her and

extending a hand for hers.

“Gwyneth?” he said. “My dance, I believe?”

He was not smiling. Not openly, at least. But there was a glow in his eyes and behind his face that

suggested he was smiling inside. Not just a social smile, but something for her alone. Or so she fancied.

Ah, she had so looked forward to this moment, and now it was here. She set her hand on his, palm to

palm, and he closed his fingers about it and led her to the head of a new set, the original one having

already stretched the full length of the ballroom. She stood next to Susan Ware, Devlin’s cousin, in the

line of ladies while he took his place opposite her next to Dr. Isherwood in the line of men. He continued

to look at her across the space between them with that same expression. Almost, she thought, as if he

wanted to devour her. It was a look that sent shivers of pleasure through her body. She smiled back with

all the sparkle that was inside her, and his eyes crinkled at the corners.

Soon there were four long parallel lines of dancers, two of women, two of men. A few adults,

mostly elderly people, and a crowd of children stood or sat off to the sides, watching. Gwyneth

remembered those days of childhood and the longing to be grown up and able to participate.

The orchestra struck a chord and the dancing began.

The pounding of several dozen feet on the wooden floor set a rhythm with the music of violins and

cello and flute and pianoforte while partners joined hands and promenaded to their left and then to

their right, both pairs of lines moving in unison with one another. They formed arches of hands with

their immediate neighbors like mini maypoles as they paced in a full circle, changed hands, and paced

back again. At the end of each pattern of steps the couple at the head of the line joined hands crosswise,

and twirled down between the lines to take their places at the foot before the whole thing began again.

Devlin smiled fully at Gwyneth as they twirled, the first couple in their line to do so, and she

laughed while everyone else in the lines clapped in time to the music. The earl was laughing in his own

set as he twirled the countess. And ah, she had never, ever been happier, Gwyneth thought. Not even

this afternoon in the rose arbor. As happy, maybe, but not more so. How absolutely . . . exhilarating it

was to be eighteen years old and in love and full of hope that perhaps she was loved in return.

But inevitably the music came to an end, and there was only a leftover ball to enjoy for the rest of

the evening. She tried not to feel sad about it. How ungrateful that would be.

“Thank you, Gwyneth,” Devlin said as he offered his arm and led her in the direction of her parents,

who had danced the set together. “Have you promised every other dance?”

“Only the next and the one after it,” she told him.

“Are you willing to keep the set after supper for me?” he asked.

She looked at him in surprise. The Wares never danced more than one set with the same partner,

either at this annual ball or at the Christmas ball or at any of the assemblies. It was a point of strict

etiquette with them.

“Yes,” she said.

“It will be dark by then and the air ought to be cooler,” he said. “Perhaps we can step outside.”

Step outside? To dance on the terrace? To take a stroll beyond it? He did not elaborate.

“I would enjoy that,” she said. She had not noticed until this moment how breathless the dancing

had made her.

“As would I,” he said.

Excerpted from Remember Love by Mary Balogh Copyright © 2022 by Mary Balogh. Excerpted by permission of Berkley.  All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

Book Description:

The undisputed queen of Regency romance is back with a brand-new story perfect for fans of Bridgerton.

The handsome and charismatic Earl of Stratton, Caleb Ware, has been exposed to the ton for his clandestine affairs—by his own son.

As a child, Devlin Ware thought his family stood for all that was right and good in the world. They were kind, gracious, and shared the beauty of Ravenwood, their grand country estate, by hosting lavish parties for the entire countryside. But at twenty-two, he discovered his whole world was an elaborate illusion, and when Devlin publicly called his family to account for it, he was exiled as a traitor.

So be it. He enlisted in the fight against Napoleon and didn’t look back for six years. But now his father is dead, the Ware family is broken, and as the heir he is being called home. It’s only when Gwyneth Rhys—the woman he loved and then lost after his family banished him—holds out her hand to help him that he is able make the difficult journey and try to piece together his fractured family.

It is Gwyneth’s loyalty, patience, and love that he needs. But is Devlin’s war-hardened heart even capable of offering her love in return?

Photo Credit: Sharon Pelletier

About the author:

Mary Balogh has written more than one hundred historical novels and novellas, more than forty of which have been New York Times bestsellers. They include the Bedwyn saga, the Simply quartet, the Huxtable quintet, the seven-part Survivors’ Club series, and the Westcott series. Learn more online at marybalogh.com.

Review: Someone Perfect by Mary Balogh

 

Someone Perfect (Westcott #9) by Mary Balogh

Publication Date: November 30th 2021

Pages: 400

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Lady Estelle Lemarr is content with being single. No one has come along to tempt her, and she’s determined not to settle for someone less that her idea of perfect.  I could understand her feelings. Why settle when you’re fine with things as they are? However, that’s usually when you find love as is the case here with Estelle. The Earl of Brandon, Justin Wiley, with his broody looks and attitude immediately sets her back up and Estelle’s not inclined to like him as he hasn’t bothered to visit his younger sister, Maria, for years when she clearly needed him. But first impressions can be very wrong.

Justin had inherited the title of Earl of Brandon with the passing of his father six years earlier, but hasn’t been around his younger half sister since she was eight. With the passing of his stepmother Justin is now Maria’s guardian. He intends to live up to his duties and take Maria back to the family home of Everleigh. Maria isn’t happy with her brother at all.  Seeing that Lady Estelle and her brother Bertrand are friends with Maria, he invites them to stay to make the changes for Maria easier. He tells himself that he’s only inviting them for Maria, but his first accidental meeting with Estelle has stuck in his head and he can’t help but be drawn to her.

It took a while for me to get into the story and I didn’t even really feel any romance between Estelle and Justin until the 30% mark, but there was some time that had to be spent setting up the story. There were a lot of characters involved and it took some doing getting them straight in my head. Honestly, I just gave up after a while and concentrated more on Estelle and Justin, but by the end I think I had the different families and relations mostly sorted.

As the story goes on Estelle begins to realize her first impressions of Justin were not fair, and he began to gain her respect and admiration in the way he dealt with Maria and the many family members. Estelle had strong feelings about Justin, even at their first meeting, that she comes to realize as stirrings of attraction. Much more powerful that she wanted to admit to, and she finds herself reluctantly drawn to him at every turn.

My heart broke for Justin and all he went through because of a spiteful, selfish woman. His interactions with Estelle were muddled, but endearing. I loved the inescapable quality to their romance and the unexpected heat!

This is book nine of the series, but it’s not necessary to read the previous books. There are mentions of the previous couples and there’s a lot of extended family named, but honestly you don’t need to keep it all straight to enjoy it.

Someone Perfect took a little while to get into but ended up being so lovely! Justin and Estelle’s story filled my heart with joy!

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

Sometimes, just one person can pull a whole family apart. And sometimes, it just takes one person to pull it back together. For fans of Bridgerton, New York Times bestselling Regency Romance author Mary Balogh shows how love truly conquers all in this new Friends of the Westcotts novel.

As a young man, Justin Wiley was banished by his father for mysterious reasons, but now, his father is dead, and Justin has been Earl of Brandon for six years. A dark, dour man, he, nonetheless, takes it as his responsibility to care for his half-sister, Maria, when her mother dies. He travels to her home to fetch her back to the family seat at Everleigh Park.

Although she adored him, once, Maria now loathes Justin, and her friend, Lady Estelle Lamarr, can see, immediately, how his very name upsets her. When Justin arrives and invites Estelle and her brother to accompany Maria to Everleigh Park to help with her distress, she begrudgingly agrees, for Maria's sake.

As family secrets unravel in Maria's homecoming, Justin, too, uncovers his desire for a countess. And, while he may believe he's found an obvious candidate in the beautiful 25-year-old Lady Estelle, she is most certain that they could never make a match...

Review: Someone to Cherish by Mary Balogh

 

Someone to Cherish (The Westcotts #8) by Mary Balogh

Publication Date: June 29th 2021 by Berkley Books

Pages: 336 (?)

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Harry Westcott lost everything, title and fortune, ten years back when his parent’s marriage was found to be bigamous which they all refer to as The Great Disaster.  Harry went off to war and barely came back, but his sisters and mother have moved on and are happier than ever. Maybe even happier than they would’ve been if The Great Disaster didn’t happen, but Harry even though content finds himself a bit lonely sometimes. Especially after spending Christmas with his sisters, mother and all the extended family and seeing them overflowing with joy.

Harry goes back home and finds himself thrown together with the late Reverend’s widow, Lydia, and realizes he never really noticed her before. While walking her home from a gathering Lydia asks if he’s ever lonely which I guess in that time was sort of forward.  More like an invitation to not be so lonely together.

Lydia has no interest in remarrying since losing her husband.  Lydia was swept off her feet by her charismatic husband and found herself in a completely different union that she was bargaining for. Lydia just about lost her identity and she had basically no say in anything that went on.  While it wasn’t outright abuse, her husband presented himself in a false light, and I felt so bad for her. Lydia never

wants to be at the mercy of another again, but she wouldn’t mind taking a lover as she does get lonely.

 

Of course, things aren’t as simple as that, but it was a sweet, enjoyable journey, nonetheless.  Harry and Lydia were both very likeable with realistic, relatable feelings. I love all the emotion Ms. Balogh pours into her characters, and I was rooting for them as a couple!  

It’s not necessary to read the previous books since there’s enough of an explanation of past events to catch you up, but you would miss some of the enjoyment “seeing” previous couples well into their HEA.

 

Someone to Cherish seems like it may be the last of the Westcott series? Not sure, but I’ve loved all the romances from the beginning, and Harry’s was a long time coming! I hope there’s more planned, but if not the series ended in a beautiful, satisfying way!

4 Stars

Book Description:

Is love worth the loss of one's freedom and independence? This is what Mrs. Tavernor must decide in the new novel in the Westcott series from New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh.

When Harry Westcott lost the title Earl of Riverdale after the discovery of his father's bigamy, he shipped off to fight in the Napoleonic Wars, where he was near-fatally wounded. After a harrowing recovery, the once cheery, light-hearted boy has become a reclusive, somber man. Though Harry insists he enjoys the solitude, he does wonder sometimes if he is lonely.

Lydia Tavernor, recently widowed, dreams of taking a lover. Her marriage to Reverend Isaiah Tavernor was one of service and obedience, and she has secretly enjoyed her freedom since his death. She doesn't want to shackle herself to another man in marriage, but sometimes, she wonders if she is lonely.

Both are unwilling to face the truth until they find themselves alone together one night, and Lydia surprises even herself with a simple question: "Are you ever lonely?" Harry's answer leads them down a path neither could ever have imagined...

Review: Someone to Romance by Mary Balogh

Someone to Romance (Westcott #7) by Mary Balogh

Publication Date: August 25th 2020 by Berkley

Pages: 413

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Mary Balogh treats us to the lives and romances of the Westcott’s and family in this newest installment with Lady Jessica Archer as our heroine. It isn’t necessary to read the previous books in the series, Jessica’s situation and past is mostly explained, but it won’t have the same impact as you’d have reading the books in order.

Jessica hasn’t selected a husband.  As the sister of the Duke of Netherby and with wealth of her own she hasn’t lacked opportunity, but guilt at her best friend’s tragic set down held her back. But now that her best friend has a husband and baby to love, Jessica can’t help but feel a little resentful that she’s now alone. She can’t help longing to have the happiness Abigail so clearly has. The new season is about to begin in London and Jessica decides she’s going to find a husband and marry. Gabriel Thorne sets her hackles up with his assumptions, but his presence lights her up every time.

Gabriel Thorne is back in England after years away to claim his title, but it won’t be easy. His uncle is a piece of work, and the reason he left thirteen years ago.  He needs a wife at his side to help manage the difficulties ahead. Lady Jessica Archer fits the bill perfectly, born and bred to manage a household and navigate the societal complexities that come with being and Earl, and she’s beautiful.  He’s not sure he even likes her, though, Jessica seems cold and arrogant, typical titled lady. Still, it seems no other woman will do for him.

I loved the push and pull between them; they clashed, and sparks flew! They had chemistry! One of my favorite things about this series is how the Westcott family really comes through for anyone they’ve deemed their own, and it was no different this time, and it made my heart swell! I’ve loved the Westcott series from the beginning. Mary Balogh writes complex, relatable characters, and I felt for both Jessica and Gabriel and was invested in their HEA!

4 Suns

Goodreads Description:

Love comes when you least expect it in this captivating new novel in the Wescott Regency romance series from New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh.

Lady Jessica Archer lost her own interest in the glittering excitement of romance after her cousin and dearest friend, Abigail Westcott, was rejected by the ton when her father was revealed to be a bigamist. Ever practical, however, once she's twenty-five, she decides it's time to wed. Though she no longer believes she will find true love, she is still very eligible. She is, after all, the sister of Avery Archer, Duke of Netherby.

Jessica considers the many qualified gentlemen who court her. But when she meets the mysterious Gabriel Thorne, who has returned to England from the New World to claim an equally mysterious inheritance, Jessica considers him completely unsuitable, because he had the audacity, when he first met her, to announce his intention to wed her.

When Jessica guesses who Gabriel really is, however, and watches the lengths to which he will go in order to protect those who rely upon him, she is drawn to his cause—and to the man.

Review: Someone to Remember by Mary Balogh

Someone to Remember by Mary Balogh

Publication Date: November 5th 2019 by Berkley

Pages: 272 (about 149 for the novella, the rest excerpts from the previous Westcott series)

Source: Publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

About the book:

It's never too late to fall in love in this enchanting new story, a novella in the Westcott series from New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh.

Matilda Westcott has spent her life tending to the needs of her mother, the Dowager Countess of Riverdale, never questioning the web of solitude she has spun herself. To Matilda, who considers herself an aging spinster daughter, marriage is laughable--love is a game for the young, after all. But her quiet, ordered life unravels when a dashing gentleman from her past reappears, threatening to charm his way into her heart yet again.

Charles Sawyer, Viscount Dirkson, does not expect to face Matilda Westcott thirty-six years after their failed romance. Moreover, he does not expect decades-old feelings to emerge at the very sight of her. When encountering Matilda at a dinner hosted by the Earl of Riverdale, he finds himself as fascinated by her as he was the first day they met, and wonders whether, after all these years, they have a chance at happiness together. Charles is determined to crack the hard exterior Matilda has built up for more than three decades, or he will risk losing her once again....

*Includes bonus excerpts from the Westcott novels*

My Thoughts:

Someone to Remember was such a lovely romance! Mary Balogh never fails to bring out emotions, and I actually shed a happy tear (or two) while reading.

Matilda as a secondary character in the past, kind of blended in, she was labeled a mild-aged, fussy spinster, and sort of shuffled off to the side.  But in the last book Matilda took some initiative and made a bold move that would’ve been considered shocking at the time for the sake of a family member. There were hints at that point of a love lost between Charles and Matilda, and so I was hoping we’d get a romance between them. I was sooo thrilled that she got her second chance at with her first love!

As this is a novella, things do progress quickly between Charles and Matilda, and why shouldn’t they? They knew each other well thirty years prior, and now at a mature age it made sense that they knew exactly what they wanted once reunited.  I didn’t feel cheated out of the process because at first Matilda and Charles are tentative, and unsure of each other’s feelings; they feel vulnerable admitting just how much their parting affected them at the time and over the years. But I’m happy to say that they both chose to leave regrets behind, and not dwell on the lost years, because what does that accomplish other than sorrow?  And it would’ve made this a depressing read.  Instead, their meeting again is a joyful reawakening of the intense passion and love they felt for each other. Matilda and Charles “twinkled” with happiness and it was such a delight!

Matilda might be considered to be in the “shady” part of her middle age, at fifty-five, but before you go thinking that fifty-five is old, think about some of these women and tell me if you see them as elderly: Gillian Anderson is fifty-one, Sigourney Weaver is seventy, Famke Janssen is fifty-four. As a woman turning fifty soon, I can tell you I don’t feel old, well most days I don’t, lol. I didn’t get into running until my mid-forties and I ran my second half-marathon earlier this year. So of course, I’m over the moon that Matilda got her chance to shine and reclaim her one true love!

4 Suns

Review & Giveaway: Someone to Honor by Mary Balogh

Someone to Honor (Westcott #6) by Mary Balogh

Publication Date: July 2nd 2019 by Berkley

Pages: 400

Source: Publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the book:

First appearances deceive in the newest charming and heartwarming Regency romance in the Westcott series from beloved New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh.

Abigail Westcott's dreams for her future were lost when her father died, and she discovered her parents were not legally married. But now, six years later, she enjoys the independence a life without expectation provides a wealthy single woman. Indeed, she's grown confident enough to scold the careless servant chopping wood outside without his shirt on in the proximity of ladies.

But the man is not a servant. He is Gilbert Bennington, the lieutenant colonel and superior officer who has escorted her wounded brother, Harry, home from the wars with Napoleon. Gil has come to help his friend and junior officer recover, and he doesn't take lightly to being condescended to—secretly because of his own humble beginnings.

If at first Gil and Abigail seem to embody what the other most despises, each will soon discover how wrong first impressions can be. For behind the appearances of the once-grand lady and the once-humble man are two people who share an understanding of what true honor means, and how only with it can one find love.

My Thoughts:

You don’t need to read the previous books to enjoy Someone to Honor, but there are quite a few characters/couples that show up from previous installments that won’t mean much to you if you don’t.  Also, you wouldn’t feel original big shock that Abigail and her family feel at finding out they were illegitimate (since their father wasn’t actually married to their mother because was married to another woman).  The impact of that doesn’t come through as much six books later, but if you go in knowing that it shattered the children: Abigail, Harry, and Camille then you won’t miss much. But you’d miss the delight of experiencing the other stories if you skip, so there is that.

Abigail travels to her childhood home to meet her brother Harry, back from war, weakened, but slowly recovering. Here’s where she meets Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert Bennington, a fellow soldier of Harry’s who escorted and helped him on the journey home. Gil comes off as gruff, rude, and a little bit imposing to Abigail at first, and Abigail comes off as cold and haughty to Gil.

Abigail and Gil start off on the wrong foot, but I felt the energy and chemistry between them immediately.  Even though they ruffled each other’s feathers, these two were aware of each other whenever together in a room, no matter if there were a crowd of people surrounding them.

Their romance started out slow as each got to know each other. Both Gil and Abigail were quiet and introspective sort of characters, but the passion between them was moving and unexpectedly sweet. 

I adored Beauty, Gil’s ugly, but super sweet dog.  Gil’s treatment of the kids touched my heart, especially with the letter to Robbie including illustrations of Beauty and her adventures.  I was thrilled at how the Westcott’s rallied behind Gil and Abigail, this family is a formidable force when needed!

I love Mary Balogh’s historical romances, and her Westcott series in particular has been wonderful from the start!  Gil and Abigail came to life with Ms. Balogh’s beautiful writing; perfectly imperfect with many layers, and deep emotions they I felt right along with them. 

I just checked to and I’m a little surprised, but really excited about the next romance! I thought for sure it would feature Harry, Abigail’s brother, but Someone to Remember features Abigail’s Aunt Matilda, so this will be another mature romance.  There was a little encounter between Matilda and Viscount Dirkson that had me wondering, and now I eagerly await their story!

4.5 Suns

Berkley has generously provided a Paperback Copy of Someone to Honor by Mary Balogh to one reader.  The giveaway is open to US Residents only.  Fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win.