Scan barcode
pseudowoodo's review
3.25
My favorite of this series, unusual set up and I liked the main couple together
simplyparticular's review against another edition
2.0
A reverse from the norm - she is the damaged heroine, reluctant one to embrace love. He's the positive influence that makes it all worthwhile. Mixed with a mistress plot, it's a little hard going in the beginning. I could have used a little more "show me" and less "tell me." And the side characters weren't as compelling as I expect from a Balogh novel.
thebookishgoddess's review
5.0
My book review for Seducing An Angel by the lovely Mary Balogh may be found HERE.
PS. DO NOT READ IF YOU'RE NOT ENTIRELY FOND OF SPOILERS.
PS. DO NOT READ IF YOU'RE NOT ENTIRELY FOND OF SPOILERS.
turophile's review against another edition
3.0
ENjoyable - step above some of the romance novels I've been plowing through.
So far, I've liked the female and male characters that [a:Mary Balogh|9759|Mary Balogh|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1267712180p2/9759.jpg]creates & I enjoy that the male characters are more fleshed out.
In this story, our heroine Cassandra finds herself in a pickle. Society thinks she took an ax to her dead husband's head, whack whack. Her eldest stepson promises that he will not have her prosecuted if she drops all claims to her estate. So rather than living the life of a wealthy woman, she finds her self nearly destitute, with her former governess and cook at her side. So like any intelligent scrappy woman, she seeks a means of employment and wealth. Of course at her advanced age (28) and with the murderous reputation hanging over her head, she has few choices. So of course, it's a concubine (i.e., highly paid mistress) she will become (I don't know how it has happened but I swear every other story I read these days features a concubine). She approaches it like a business venture, scoping out her prey, I mean prospects, and developing a strategy for the approach.
And she succeeds in capturing the eye of the slightly younger and oh-so-wealthy Stephen, the Earl of Merton. There's enough scandal in his family already so that the murder allegations don't bother him that much, but he wants love . . .. His good nature will not allow him to let poor Cassandra starve in the streets so he offers to pay her for friendship. However, both of them being hot-blooded attractive singletons in their mid-twenties, they just can't keep their hands off each other. They kiss on a balcony at the ball, and boom, declare their engaged so as not to cause further scandal.
Meanwhile, Stephen tells Cassandra's brother Vince to man up and help his sister. Vince & Cassandra hire a lawyer and start pursuing Cassandra's rightful fortune. Realizing she will indeed inherit her boatloads of money, Cassandra tells Stephen she can't really marry him but will keep up appearances until the social season is over. We learn that Cassandra was abused by her husband making her understandably wary of men and wanting to live the rest of her life without them.
Stephen eventually persuades her that not all men are like her first husband and eventually persuades her to marry him. BUT before that happens, we learn the true story behind the husband's murder. It was a suicide/self-inflicted wound. Cassandra knew. Her cook knew. And one of the son's knew. Yet, Cassandra attempts to take the fall for it . . . . this is the one part of the story that bothered me. Yes I know she was trying to protect her cook Mary & Mary's young daughter. But She could have worked around it rather than seeking out a life as a concubine . . .
Other than that, I liked the book.
Oh, and what is this obsession that romance and historical fiction novels have with the "ton" (always in italics, but I can't figure out how to do that here.) Yes - I know it's a class structure one could not get away from if you were in the higher echelons of the very stratified British society - but there's just something about the way that novels use this devise that bothers me. I have not figured out what yet.
So far, I've liked the female and male characters that [a:Mary Balogh|9759|Mary Balogh|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1267712180p2/9759.jpg]creates & I enjoy that the male characters are more fleshed out.
In this story, our heroine Cassandra finds herself in a pickle. Society thinks she took an ax to her dead husband's head, whack whack. Her eldest stepson promises that he will not have her prosecuted if she drops all claims to her estate. So rather than living the life of a wealthy woman, she finds her self nearly destitute, with her former governess and cook at her side. So like any intelligent scrappy woman, she seeks a means of employment and wealth. Of course at her advanced age (28) and with the murderous reputation hanging over her head, she has few choices. So of course, it's a concubine (i.e., highly paid mistress) she will become (I don't know how it has happened but I swear every other story I read these days features a concubine). She approaches it like a business venture, scoping out her prey, I mean prospects, and developing a strategy for the approach.
And she succeeds in capturing the eye of the slightly younger and oh-so-wealthy Stephen, the Earl of Merton. There's enough scandal in his family already so that the murder allegations don't bother him that much, but he wants love . . .. His good nature will not allow him to let poor Cassandra starve in the streets so he offers to pay her for friendship. However, both of them being hot-blooded attractive singletons in their mid-twenties, they just can't keep their hands off each other. They kiss on a balcony at the ball, and boom, declare their engaged so as not to cause further scandal.
Meanwhile, Stephen tells Cassandra's brother Vince to man up and help his sister. Vince & Cassandra hire a lawyer and start pursuing Cassandra's rightful fortune. Realizing she will indeed inherit her boatloads of money, Cassandra tells Stephen she can't really marry him but will keep up appearances until the social season is over. We learn that Cassandra was abused by her husband making her understandably wary of men and wanting to live the rest of her life without them.
Stephen eventually persuades her that not all men are like her first husband and eventually persuades her to marry him. BUT before that happens, we learn the true story behind the husband's murder. It was a suicide/self-inflicted wound. Cassandra knew. Her cook knew. And one of the son's knew. Yet, Cassandra attempts to take the fall for it . . . . this is the one part of the story that bothered me. Yes I know she was trying to protect her cook Mary & Mary's young daughter. But She could have worked around it rather than seeking out a life as a concubine . . .
Other than that, I liked the book.
Oh, and what is this obsession that romance and historical fiction novels have with the "ton" (always in italics, but I can't figure out how to do that here.) Yes - I know it's a class structure one could not get away from if you were in the higher echelons of the very stratified British society - but there's just something about the way that novels use this devise that bothers me. I have not figured out what yet.
priyastoric's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked Cassandra's story - talk about a rough, and terrible marriage. Learning about the mystery of who murdered her husband, and the way she was accepted back into society was fascinating. It's another story about the choices someone might make if they were in an unavoidable situation. Also fluffy. So perfect for the rainy day.
deeeeng's review against another edition
5.0
My favorite so far of the Huxtable series. I love the developing relationship between the 2 main characters. The sexual tension at the beginning was amazing to read, but it didn't become the center of the story. Mary Balogh is great at writing books where the story doesn't center around the passionate sex that ensures between the 2 main characters in romance novels. It's very hard to find a decent romance novel where the story revolves around the actual romance and love and not just the love and sex. So bravo Ms. Balogh. Bravo.
prgchrqltma's review against another edition
3.0
Characters: The most interesting so far in the series.
World Building: Standard
Plot: Mostly internal
Sex: Reticent
I continue to read Balogh for the characters, who I find myself thinking about while not reading, despite the very internal plotting and nearly euphemistic sex.
World Building: Standard
Plot: Mostly internal
Sex: Reticent
I continue to read Balogh for the characters, who I find myself thinking about while not reading, despite the very internal plotting and nearly euphemistic sex.
kwcook's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
margreads's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/5
In a twist the angel in this story was the man not the woman, but my goodness if he was referred to as an angel one more time I was going to puke.
In a twist the angel in this story was the man not the woman, but my goodness if he was referred to as an angel one more time I was going to puke.
kimmerp's review against another edition
2.0
This reads like an older, less sophisticated Mary Balogh. It wasn't "bad", it just wasn't "gooood". Ya know? This one felt very Regency formulaic meaning that it includes a pretty solid repetition of the same details as a LOT of other books. I consider it closer to a 2.5, but I didn't connect with this story in a very heartfelt way because I think Ms. Balogh didn't reach deep enough with her character interactions. I think I have read too many Sherry Thomas books which do "heart" so much better. That said, I will finish the series and will probably read more by Ms. Balogh in the future as she can write VERY good romances, I just don't think this was one of them.