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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this a while ago as it's one of Ms. Balogh's older books, but I saw a recommendation and decided to reread it for the angst. And there's a lot of angst.
We first meet Fleur when Adam hires her for the night and finds out this is her first time. She's also a gentlewoman, so feeling guilty Adam, Duke of Ridgeway, hires her as governess to his daughter. It's an odd setup; Fleur is terrified when she realizes who her new employer is, but gradually relaxes as Adam proves to be noble. We learn he's in a terrible marriage while Fleur is fleeing her nasty cousin which mitigates some of the distaste around their romance. It's very odd for a man to have his mistress (okay, one-time but still) at his home teaching his five-year-old daughter. The story has a lot of offensive characters. Poor Adam is one of the nicest but also somewhat of a doormat for a Duke. Still, the writing is excellent and it's well worth the read (or reread).
We first meet Fleur when Adam hires her for the night and finds out this is her first time. She's also a gentlewoman, so feeling guilty Adam, Duke of Ridgeway, hires her as governess to his daughter. It's an odd setup; Fleur is terrified when she realizes who her new employer is, but gradually relaxes as Adam proves to be noble. We learn he's in a terrible marriage while Fleur is fleeing her nasty cousin which mitigates some of the distaste around their romance. It's very odd for a man to have his mistress (okay, one-time but still) at his home teaching his five-year-old daughter. The story has a lot of offensive characters. Poor Adam is one of the nicest but also somewhat of a doormat for a Duke. Still, the writing is excellent and it's well worth the read (or reread).
emotional
I wanted to pick this up after reading that the hero is scarred like Sydnam in Simply Love or Ralph in Only a Promise. It is rare to come across main characters with visual scars and honestly, I am tired of the perfect looking characters that are so common in romance. The way Mary Balogh writes so lovingly about this book further interested me to pick it up. So far her books have been very enjoyable.
As I started reading, I thought the story would be interesting as Fleur decided to become a prostitute as her other option is begging. But after meeting Duke Kent and him taking her virginity, which was uncomfortable to read, he orchestrates to hire her as a governess for his five year old daughter, Pamela. I could see where the story was going from here and felt my interest wane.
Was I going to get another cliche historical romance with a caveman of a hero who has characteristics authors so frequently brand as romantic and everyone has accepted this. But really is overbearing, suffocating, unhealthy and obsessive?
I thought I was from the way Adam Kent treats Fleur during their first encounter, like a man used to being obeyed and he was quite rude to his staff, Houghton too. I did not like him. Alright, I did like the parts where he feels insecure because his scars and that causes him to lash out when he thinks people ar staring and judging him.
But as the book progresses, I reluctantly admitted that I did like them together. Even though they are cheating because he is married. Towards the end, I disliked them again because it turned into a cliche. But at least the author gave them some time to breathe and make lives for themselves like Fleur becoming a village school teacher and reconnecting with friends and Adam travelling the world with Pamela, something he always wanted to do. That was something I was impressed with where the author makes it clear that the characters need to find themselves and have their own lives before they can think about love.
And there are many examples of cheating among characters in this book that it caused me to wonder if there were degrees of wrongness. Is it cheating that he enjoys spending time with her?
They do not actively plan trysts or have sex. Most of their interactions are walks and conversations. There isn't much sex scenes in this book between Fleur and Adam except that uncomfortable first scene and a few more at the end of the book. Somehow the MB managed to make the intimate scenes between Thomas and Sybil seem sleazy.
But Fleur makes it very clear that she is disgusted with him for almost half of the book because of their first encounter and the trauma she sustained. Though, I don't think she is disgusted with his scars so much as the experience she had. But he thinks it is all his looks. Fleur is not a doormat either as she defends herself politely even to Sybil, her employer and keeps her cool amazingly. I liked the scenes where she teaches Pamela and you can see her gift of nurturing as she impromptus lessons. She really took alot onto herself to teach a sheltered and spoiled child manners and humility.
She has resolve and honesty that was not easy to embody given her dire circumstances and unhappy past. The fact that she felt guilt for a man who was almost an accomplice in her almost rape was astounding. I could not believe that she would want to spend some much energy to find his grave and acknowledge her actions.
As compared to the other characters who seem worse than Adam or Fleur. Like Mathew Brockhurst, who is either ignorant or delusional because he "loves" Fleur but keeps forcing her into spending time with him and being intimate because the alternative is her being thrown in jail. He manipulates her because he is the one who can report her and would be believed. I kept wishing she would confide in Adam but she kept lying to his face.
"'Looking for you?' Lord Brocklehurst asked, turning back to Fleur and removing his hand. 'He is something of a watchdog for you, is he not, Isabella? Rather strange for a duke with a lowly governess wouldn't you say? Do you grant him what you deny me? Have a care if you do. If I find it to be true, you will hang by the neck until you are dead. You have my promise on it.'
'Words of love indeed,' she said."
Page 168, Chapter Fourteen
Does this sound like a sane person? Nope but at least Isabella tells it like it is to his face.
The implications that he can't take no and that he would force her are very clear. I don't get why there are men like that. Who pretend they did not hear a woman saying no or explaining why they do not want to pursue a romantic relationship. It was despicable how he twists her words and gaslights her. I am sure he would have raped her if he could. Don't get me started on Sir Phillip Shaw.
"By the time she stood up, Sir Phillip was standing before her, one hand against the wall and regarding her with heavy-lidded eyes. 'Where do you hide away when you are not with the child, my sweet?' he said, 'Upstairs?'
She smiled and willed Lady Pamela to turn and skip back down the gallery. 'You must be lonely up there all alone,' he said, and leaned forward to kiss the side of her neck. 'Don't,' she said firmly."
Page 141, Chapter Twelve
Eww, she clearly is not interested you creep.
Or like Sybil and Thomas. Mary Balogh does not disappoint with secrets and scandals. I was shaking my head as I read what Adam got himself into to protect his former love, Sybil and his brother Thomas. This is the first time in the books I have read so far about an unhappy marriage among main characters. Adam and Sybil cannot see eye and remain with one another through honour for him and selfishness for her. Well they both cheated on each other so there is definitely blame both ways but I felt Sybil did worst. Adam keeps holding on to respecting their vows and he constantly uses this argument as to why he doesn't just divorce her. I wish he would.
I suspected she has a chronic condition because she constantly has fevers and coughs. Sybil as a character seemed like a woman who wants to protect her lifestyle and yet wants to fool around. She confused me. At times she seems observant but at others rather naive. She is constantly described physically as small and delicate. I picture an elf and I wonder if that speaks to her maturity because her behavior has child like quality to it. Her fickleness at throwing parties that seem like orgies and forgetting her daughter for occasions on end. This is another first in Mary Balogh's books because all of the social events she writes about are proper.
It was amazing how kind Adam is to Sybil even though she just thinks for herself. He kept trying to make something out of their vows but she just isn't having it. I can't believe he kept hoping she would change. I am glad that he realises that his love for her was a young love with potential. He said it well when he mentions that Sybil is a taker and she could not handle the disappointments life threw at her. How her story ends is tragic and dark for Mary Balogh book. What I can say is that she knew Thomas did not love her but she still loved him till the end. That is some twisted emotion.
As for the side characters, I am glad for Miriam as we had females supporting females. Adam's valet Sidney was pretty hilarious and his secretary Houghton was impeccable.
Mary Balogh's writing has so far been a pleasure to read but one complaint I had is that some of the sentences were strung together in an odd and awkward manner and I could not understand them.
'She had changed her name, and her earlier and constant terror had paled in comparison with the very real fear of a life lived in totally unfamiliar surroundings and on the brink of starvation.'
Page 19, Chapter One
I know she is comparing her past and what she is doing now thus why she is scared, but the sentence structure did not make sense. So her past was totally unfamiliar and she was starving? Or is she mentioning her present?
'"Later,' he said 'you look lopsided without your tooth. Are you going to get a big one instead of it?'"
Page 58, Chapter Five
Another sentence that did not make sense. What "it" is Adam referring to? I know Pamela is bombarding him with questions and I inferred that he was was amusing her by answering each as she asked them.
I will say that this still was an enjoyable but very emotional book. It wove the class of the British society and dark drama and secrets.
As I started reading, I thought the story would be interesting as Fleur decided to become a prostitute as her other option is begging. But after meeting Duke Kent and him taking her virginity, which was uncomfortable to read, he orchestrates to hire her as a governess for his five year old daughter, Pamela. I could see where the story was going from here and felt my interest wane.
Was I going to get another cliche historical romance with a caveman of a hero who has characteristics authors so frequently brand as romantic and everyone has accepted this. But really is overbearing, suffocating, unhealthy and obsessive?
I thought I was from the way Adam Kent treats Fleur during their first encounter, like a man used to being obeyed and he was quite rude to his staff, Houghton too. I did not like him. Alright, I did like the parts where he feels insecure because his scars and that causes him to lash out when he thinks people ar staring and judging him.
But as the book progresses, I reluctantly admitted that I did like them together. Even though they are cheating because he is married. Towards the end, I disliked them again because it turned into a cliche. But at least the author gave them some time to breathe and make lives for themselves like Fleur becoming a village school teacher and reconnecting with friends and Adam travelling the world with Pamela, something he always wanted to do. That was something I was impressed with where the author makes it clear that the characters need to find themselves and have their own lives before they can think about love.
And there are many examples of cheating among characters in this book that it caused me to wonder if there were degrees of wrongness. Is it cheating that he enjoys spending time with her?
They do not actively plan trysts or have sex. Most of their interactions are walks and conversations. There isn't much sex scenes in this book between Fleur and Adam except that uncomfortable first scene and a few more at the end of the book. Somehow the MB managed to make the intimate scenes between Thomas and Sybil seem sleazy.
But Fleur makes it very clear that she is disgusted with him for almost half of the book because of their first encounter and the trauma she sustained. Though, I don't think she is disgusted with his scars so much as the experience she had. But he thinks it is all his looks. Fleur is not a doormat either as she defends herself politely even to Sybil, her employer and keeps her cool amazingly. I liked the scenes where she teaches Pamela and you can see her gift of nurturing as she impromptus lessons. She really took alot onto herself to teach a sheltered and spoiled child manners and humility.
She has resolve and honesty that was not easy to embody given her dire circumstances and unhappy past. The fact that she felt guilt for a man who was almost an accomplice in her almost rape was astounding. I could not believe that she would want to spend some much energy to find his grave and acknowledge her actions.
As compared to the other characters who seem worse than Adam or Fleur. Like Mathew Brockhurst, who is either ignorant or delusional because he "loves" Fleur but keeps forcing her into spending time with him and being intimate because the alternative is her being thrown in jail. He manipulates her because he is the one who can report her and would be believed. I kept wishing she would confide in Adam but she kept lying to his face.
"'Looking for you?' Lord Brocklehurst asked, turning back to Fleur and removing his hand. 'He is something of a watchdog for you, is he not, Isabella? Rather strange for a duke with a lowly governess wouldn't you say? Do you grant him what you deny me? Have a care if you do. If I find it to be true, you will hang by the neck until you are dead. You have my promise on it.'
'Words of love indeed,' she said."
Page 168, Chapter Fourteen
Does this sound like a sane person? Nope but at least Isabella tells it like it is to his face.
The implications that he can't take no and that he would force her are very clear. I don't get why there are men like that. Who pretend they did not hear a woman saying no or explaining why they do not want to pursue a romantic relationship. It was despicable how he twists her words and gaslights her. I am sure he would have raped her if he could. Don't get me started on Sir Phillip Shaw.
"By the time she stood up, Sir Phillip was standing before her, one hand against the wall and regarding her with heavy-lidded eyes. 'Where do you hide away when you are not with the child, my sweet?' he said, 'Upstairs?'
She smiled and willed Lady Pamela to turn and skip back down the gallery. 'You must be lonely up there all alone,' he said, and leaned forward to kiss the side of her neck. 'Don't,' she said firmly."
Page 141, Chapter Twelve
Eww, she clearly is not interested you creep.
Or like Sybil and Thomas. Mary Balogh does not disappoint with secrets and scandals. I was shaking my head as I read what Adam got himself into to protect his former love, Sybil and his brother Thomas. This is the first time in the books I have read so far about an unhappy marriage among main characters. Adam and Sybil cannot see eye and remain with one another through honour for him and selfishness for her. Well they both cheated on each other so there is definitely blame both ways but I felt Sybil did worst. Adam keeps holding on to respecting their vows and he constantly uses this argument as to why he doesn't just divorce her. I wish he would.
I suspected she has a chronic condition because she constantly has fevers and coughs. Sybil as a character seemed like a woman who wants to protect her lifestyle and yet wants to fool around. She confused me. At times she seems observant but at others rather naive. She is constantly described physically as small and delicate. I picture an elf and I wonder if that speaks to her maturity because her behavior has child like quality to it. Her fickleness at throwing parties that seem like orgies and forgetting her daughter for occasions on end. This is another first in Mary Balogh's books because all of the social events she writes about are proper.
It was amazing how kind Adam is to Sybil even though she just thinks for herself. He kept trying to make something out of their vows but she just isn't having it. I can't believe he kept hoping she would change. I am glad that he realises that his love for her was a young love with potential. He said it well when he mentions that Sybil is a taker and she could not handle the disappointments life threw at her. How her story ends is tragic and dark for Mary Balogh book. What I can say is that she knew Thomas did not love her but she still loved him till the end. That is some twisted emotion.
As for the side characters, I am glad for Miriam as we had females supporting females. Adam's valet Sidney was pretty hilarious and his secretary Houghton was impeccable.
Mary Balogh's writing has so far been a pleasure to read but one complaint I had is that some of the sentences were strung together in an odd and awkward manner and I could not understand them.
'She had changed her name, and her earlier and constant terror had paled in comparison with the very real fear of a life lived in totally unfamiliar surroundings and on the brink of starvation.'
Page 19, Chapter One
I know she is comparing her past and what she is doing now thus why she is scared, but the sentence structure did not make sense. So her past was totally unfamiliar and she was starving? Or is she mentioning her present?
'"Later,' he said 'you look lopsided without your tooth. Are you going to get a big one instead of it?'"
Page 58, Chapter Five
Another sentence that did not make sense. What "it" is Adam referring to? I know Pamela is bombarding him with questions and I inferred that he was was amusing her by answering each as she asked them.
I will say that this still was an enjoyable but very emotional book. It wove the class of the British society and dark drama and secrets.
dark
tense
slow-paced
Most underwhelming book I have ever read. It got complicated for not reason
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A much darker, more emotional book than Balogh's Web or Simply series, but an engaging read. The first chapter grabs you and sets the stage for the relationship that develops, but it also contributes to a slower character development than I'm used to in the romance genre.
I'm reading through [a:Mary Balogh|9759|Mary Balogh|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1267712180p2/9759.jpg] backlist and continuing to find that I enjoy many of her older books more than her newer series (of course it could be that liking what I most recently read phenomenon).
The opening scene to this book was quite jarring. Our heroine, Fleur, has fled to London and can not find employment. She decides that selling her body is the only way she can survive. Her first (and only) customer is a Duke trapped in a loveless, sexless marriage. He treats her with little dignity until it is too late and her realizes that she had been a virgin. Feeling horrified, he arranges the next day for his secretary to find her and hire her as a governess without revealing her employer.
The story proceeds with her serving as governess much to the Duchess' displeasure. Fleur is horrified when she learns that her employer was her first customer. Throughout the book she is traumatized by thinking of herself as a whore.
Some aspects of the book remind me of other regency romance - for example, she was fighting off a suitor and a man is accidentally killed. She flees because she's afraid of being hanged for murder. This running away because I may have killed someone thing is a popular theme - along with the inevitable unwinding of the mystery (though this one has nice twist at the end).
What makes this book somewhat unique is that the hero is married throughout the book. Despite his increasing attraction to Fleur he feels he must remain faithful to the wife, who's quite a witch.
This triangle creates sustained interest throughout the book.
It's not the best Balogh book I've read, but it was definitely enjoyable.
** Rated on my 5 star romance scale
The opening scene to this book was quite jarring. Our heroine, Fleur, has fled to London and can not find employment. She decides that selling her body is the only way she can survive. Her first (and only) customer is a Duke trapped in a loveless, sexless marriage. He treats her with little dignity until it is too late and her realizes that she had been a virgin. Feeling horrified, he arranges the next day for his secretary to find her and hire her as a governess without revealing her employer.
The story proceeds with her serving as governess much to the Duchess' displeasure. Fleur is horrified when she learns that her employer was her first customer. Throughout the book she is traumatized by thinking of herself as a whore.
Some aspects of the book remind me of other regency romance - for example, she was fighting off a suitor and a man is accidentally killed. She flees because she's afraid of being hanged for murder. This running away because I may have killed someone thing is a popular theme - along with the inevitable unwinding of the mystery (though this one has nice twist at the end).
What makes this book somewhat unique is that the hero is married throughout the book. Despite his increasing attraction to Fleur he feels he must remain faithful to the wife, who's quite a witch.
This triangle creates sustained interest throughout the book.
It's not the best Balogh book I've read, but it was definitely enjoyable.
** Rated on my 5 star romance scale
I think I might be burning myself out on romance for the year. I've been doing a lot of reading in between larger more dense books and while I enjoy the uncomplicated stories this one just didn't work for me. Not entirely sure why (though it might have to do with the treatment of the main female character at the top of the story).