erindurrett 's review for:

Slightly Married by Mary Balogh

4.0

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This first book in the Slightly Series by Mary Balogh which introduces us to the Bedwyn family started off a bit slow for me. I was kind of bored with the story at first and annoyed with Colonel Aidan Bedwyn and his insistence that he fulfill his duties “no matter what!” I can’t completely relate to that kind of character. To me, there are always contingencies, situations, difficult of otherwise, which would hinder our ability to “perform our duty.” But as I progressively read the novel, I began to appreciate its difference from other novels of its type. I absolutely love the fact that Aidan and Eve are at first indifferent to each other. I’ve read so many romance novels of late where the protagonists have burning desire that cannot be contained! It’s refreshing to read a book where characters marry for convenience (in this case to fulfill a promise to Eve’s brother Percy for Aidan and to save her Manor and employ of her “lame duck” servants for Eve), have other goals and dreams for their futures, yet find themselves surprisingly happy in the situation in which they’ve imprisoned themselves. The scene where Aidan disrupts Eve and her former love in the garden at her coming out ball was utterly delicious. How better to realize you love your wife than to see her with her first love? Feeling both nervous and unsure, it takes a lot of trials (such as Eve’s cousin taking her children away and running into the Knapp family of which there were expectations for Aidan and their daughter) for Eve and Aidan to admit there feelings to one another. But as Aidan’s military leave comes to an end he realizes he can’t leave Eve behind. This book definitely redeemed itself after the first couple dry chapters and was a great way to start the Slightly Series!