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jackiehorne's review
4.0
A new ebook edition of one of Balogh's earliest (1985) Signet Regencies, with a young lovers parted through misunderstanding thrust unexpectedly together again plotline. Balogh does a great job of holding back the exact nature of the relationship between twenty six-year-old governess/companion Elizabeth Rossiter and Robert, Marquess of Hetherington, giving short flashbacks of their previous encounter, creating good tension so the surprise reveal mid-book is really a suprise. I usually don't have much patience for a "misunderstanding tearing the apart" plot; the misunderstandings so often could be cleared up with just a short conversation between the parties. But perhaps because this novel is written entirely from Elizabeth's point of view (and thus readers are not privy to Robert's motivations), the misunderstanding here worked for me. As did the echoes of both Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion.
haewilya's review
3.0
I love the premise but I find that I like the couple more when they were younger than when they grew up. Especially Robert. [Old Robert] seems to be a lot different from the young Robert. Oh, and hugs for Mr. Mainwaring. I'm so sad for him.
tita_noir's review
2.0
2.5 stars.
Sigh. I hate to rate this book as low as I do because really, it is not a bad book. But it is definitely an infuriating one. I give Balogh a bit of a pass because this is one of her early books.
The book starts in a smallish village where a Miss Elizabeth Rossiter is the governess/companion of a beautiful young lady. The village is abuzz because the owner of he largest, most prosperous property is coming for a stay and is bringing some sophisticated friends from London.
As is usual in these books, the local gentry want to have a series of social rounds with the visiting nobles and marry off various children.
One of the visitors is Robert Denning, Marquess of Hetherington. And it is soon obvious that he and Elizabeth have a past. And oh yeah, he hates her.
The first part of the book is all question marks. Why does Robert despise Elizabeth so? What is the nature of their past relationship?
Slowly, Elizabeth reveals their relationship through flashbacks. And at the midpoint of the book, Robert throws down a bombshell.
And this is where I find the book really infuriating. Everything that has happened in the past and even going forward, hinges on the Grand Misunderstanding. It gets to a point where Elizabeth's intransigence just makes you want to slap her.
And it doesn't help matter that the entire story is told 100% from Elizabeth's POV. Robert is really enigmatic. His responses to her, his reactions and even some of his words are incredibly cryptic.
So this book was just frustrating. I would not rec this to newbies to Balogh. I'd probably only recommend it to Readers who are familiar with her work and who are interested in completing her backlist.
Sigh. I hate to rate this book as low as I do because really, it is not a bad book. But it is definitely an infuriating one. I give Balogh a bit of a pass because this is one of her early books.
The book starts in a smallish village where a Miss Elizabeth Rossiter is the governess/companion of a beautiful young lady. The village is abuzz because the owner of he largest, most prosperous property is coming for a stay and is bringing some sophisticated friends from London.
As is usual in these books, the local gentry want to have a series of social rounds with the visiting nobles and marry off various children.
One of the visitors is Robert Denning, Marquess of Hetherington. And it is soon obvious that he and Elizabeth have a past. And oh yeah, he hates her.
The first part of the book is all question marks. Why does Robert despise Elizabeth so? What is the nature of their past relationship?
Slowly, Elizabeth reveals their relationship through flashbacks. And at the midpoint of the book, Robert throws down a bombshell.
And this is where I find the book really infuriating. Everything that has happened in the past and even going forward, hinges on the Grand Misunderstanding. It gets to a point where Elizabeth's intransigence just makes you want to slap her.
And it doesn't help matter that the entire story is told 100% from Elizabeth's POV. Robert is really enigmatic. His responses to her, his reactions and even some of his words are incredibly cryptic.
So this book was just frustrating. I would not rec this to newbies to Balogh. I'd probably only recommend it to Readers who are familiar with her work and who are interested in completing her backlist.
taisie22's review
2.0
This is one of Ms. Balogh's earlier books, and I've been picking up her back catalog happily. However, this one was pretty much a mess. The plot was convoluted and a bit silly that's resolved all too easily. Not my cup of tea.
thenia's review
3.0
A story with an interesting premise that started out well but then turned frustrating.
Both Elizabeth and Robert trusted the wrong, despicable and manipulating people and have been miserable for years because of it, yet when they meet again, neither one confronts the other, but prefer to avoid their problems and allow their pride to blind them.
And then of course Elizabeth had to have her moment of intense stupidity towards the end that made me take back all her cookie points and sigh in exasperation. Her inability to draw correct conclusions was another sigh-inducing factor but her cowardice at the end was the last straw.
The whole mess was a bit drawn out and their happy ending, although fitting, was less than satisfying.
The next book in the series, [b:The Wood Nymph|1451885|The Wood Nymph (Mainwaring, #2)|Mary Balogh|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1387704187s/1451885.jpg|1442629], is about William Mainwaring.
Both Elizabeth and Robert trusted the wrong, despicable and manipulating people
Spoiler
his uncle and her fatherAnd then of course Elizabeth had to have her moment of intense stupidity towards the end that made me take back all her cookie points and sigh in exasperation. Her inability to draw correct conclusions was another sigh-inducing factor but her cowardice at the end was the last straw.
The whole mess was a bit drawn out and their happy ending, although fitting, was less than satisfying.
The next book in the series, [b:The Wood Nymph|1451885|The Wood Nymph (Mainwaring, #2)|Mary Balogh|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1387704187s/1451885.jpg|1442629], is about William Mainwaring.
betsychadwell's review
4.0
One of my favorite regencies; I've read it many times. Not the typical plot. Fairly typical characters, but well written and fleshed out, and likeable. An enjoyable quick read.
reader_fictions's review
4.0
Pride & Prejudice meets Persuasion with a dash of Sense & Sensibility. This is third in my journey through Mary Balogh's earlier novels (the one's that are available at all), and it's my favorite so far, despite the story being entirely dependent on people not communicating, something I do not like.
Elizabeth (yes, she's really named Elizabeth, and her personality is the wit of Elizabeth Bennet combined with the practicality of Elinor Dashwood with the quiet suffering of Anne Elliot) works as a companion to a young girl in a country town. Said town bubbles over with excitement at the news that Mr. Mainwaring is arriving to his home in the area and bringing friends with him. The small town anticipates romantic possibilities and new diversions. This part is all P&P.
Mr. Mainwaring's friend, Robert, is a handsome, charming earl, who Elizabeth unfortunately already knows and hoped never to see again. Details are not revealed until near the end, but it's clear that they were once together and he broke her heart. Second chance romance is never my favorite trope, precisely because it almost always relies on the lovers not communicating, which is not a sign of a healthy relationship. Expect these two not to communicate despite so many situations just screaming for them to do so. IT. IS. FRUSTRATING.
Still, despite all of those flaws, I totally got the feels with this one. Balogh's skill at developing the secondary cast is improving immensely, and I delighted in almost everyone introduced. The way that the Rowes accept her as one of their own even once they learn the truth is lovely and exceedingly open-minded for the time. Mr. Rowe's Cinderella jokes with Elizabeth are precious. Elizabeth's charge Cecily is adorable and naive, but not the empty-headed flibbertigibbet of Persuasion. It's a whole town of nosy, caring people, and I would totally move there.
And, though the fact that they won't talk is frustrating (as are a couple of problematic lines), I did really feel for the relationship between Elizabeth and Robert. They're both so angry, but he finds it hard to stick to that anger and not default to his more jovial personality. Initially, I did hope she would go with Mainwaring, rather than Robert Denning, but he won me over in the end. It's more melodrama than I typically like, and it may be tied into my love of Austen's novels and characters but I had a hell of a lot of fun and some feels so whatevs.
Elizabeth (yes, she's really named Elizabeth, and her personality is the wit of Elizabeth Bennet combined with the practicality of Elinor Dashwood with the quiet suffering of Anne Elliot) works as a companion to a young girl in a country town. Said town bubbles over with excitement at the news that Mr. Mainwaring is arriving to his home in the area and bringing friends with him. The small town anticipates romantic possibilities and new diversions. This part is all P&P.
Mr. Mainwaring's friend, Robert, is a handsome, charming earl, who Elizabeth unfortunately already knows and hoped never to see again. Details are not revealed until near the end, but it's clear that they were once together and he broke her heart. Second chance romance is never my favorite trope, precisely because it almost always relies on the lovers not communicating, which is not a sign of a healthy relationship. Expect these two not to communicate despite so many situations just screaming for them to do so. IT. IS. FRUSTRATING.
Still, despite all of those flaws, I totally got the feels with this one. Balogh's skill at developing the secondary cast is improving immensely, and I delighted in almost everyone introduced. The way that the Rowes accept her as one of their own even once they learn the truth is lovely and exceedingly open-minded for the time. Mr. Rowe's Cinderella jokes with Elizabeth are precious. Elizabeth's charge Cecily is adorable and naive, but not the empty-headed flibbertigibbet of Persuasion. It's a whole town of nosy, caring people, and I would totally move there.
And, though the fact that they won't talk is frustrating (as are a couple of problematic lines), I did really feel for the relationship between Elizabeth and Robert. They're both so angry, but he finds it hard to stick to that anger and not default to his more jovial personality. Initially, I did hope she would go with Mainwaring, rather than Robert Denning, but he won me over in the end. It's more melodrama than I typically like, and it may be tied into my love of Austen's novels and characters but I had a hell of a lot of fun and some feels so whatevs.
missmarketpaperback's review
3.0
This was a very pleasant Balogh. It's obviously older and less skilled than her more recent works, but it was still fun. I love the no-nonsense heroine. I HATED what a dick the hero was. I really hoped the heroine would end up with the more pleasant friend. The whole big misunderstanding plot was obviously cliche, but I enjoyed this book anyway!
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