A review by sophiarose1816
Always Remember by Mary Balogh

emotional hopeful reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

 

Remember Love introduced a shocking, heartbreaking situation that nearly destroyed the Ware family and then tells the story of them picking up the pieces and putting themselves back together as they find love.  Remember Me continues with the Wares and introduces the Arden family into the mix for that romance.  Now, Always Remember continues with that theme, but adds a few complications to make the romance less than easy.  For, this pair is nearly as unequal and surprising as it gets for that time and place- an illegitimate brother to the Wares and a duke’s daughter with a physical challenge. 

 

Always Remember, the third of the Ravenswood Regency era historical romances, is a romance set against the ongoing story of the Ware family so works best read in order. 

 

Ben Ellis was reared with the legitimate family of his father and was allowed to call the generous hearted countess as mother and his half-siblings, his brothers and sisters.  But, for all that, he has always been conscious of the difference and how society at large views him.  He was well provided for and owns his own smaller estate, but now, he’s ready to move on from grieving his deceased wife and find a woman who will mother his little girl and partner him.  Now, there is the mysterious letter from a man claiming to be his mother’s legitimate son with a shocking story to fill in the blank page that was his mother’s history.  Is the man’s story true?  And, if so, why is he contacting Ben?  Lady Jennifer is the surprising person he turns to with his inner turmoil and she is also the woman who dominates his thoughts.  Why is he the only one to see her needs and wants behind that cheerful smile she shows the world?  Why must he feel the attraction to a woman far above him in birth and status?  It can never be. 

 

Lady Jennifer has been unable to walk since a childhood illness wrecked havoc on her body so that her leg twisted and stopped growing.  She nearly died and her loving family had to carefully care for her to bring her back to health.  Now, as a woman of twenty-five, she is growing impatient with loving coddling and wants to show her independence.  Ben is the first person to take her dreams and make them a reality with his practical solutions and clear-eyed view of her.  He strives to hide behind the façade of ‘normal’ and yet he’s extraordinary.  He sees her as capable, but can he see her as an attractive woman, too?  How could it ever work out if they were to act on their attraction? 

 

I loved Ben and Jennifer and I liked how the author brought them slowly along from friendship to romance pair.  The mystery element of Ben’s situation with a would-be brother and maternal side of the family also had me intrigued.  But, sigh… I was not utterly captivated.  In fact, I set the book down a few times to read or listen to others because I would get bored waiting for the pace to pick up.  Part of the reason is because the Ware and Arden family country house party gathering would push in and take over so the plot would stall out for a bit.  I love them all, but was more interested in Ben and Jennifer’s romance and the situation with his brother.  It does get there, but doddles along the way. 

 

Side note, I loved seeing a crossover figure from the Westcott series in Bertrand Lamarr.  Dare I hope for a certain romance to be blossoming for him and a certain young lady Ware? 

 

So, I loved the story, but found it had lag spots.  Ben and Jennifer were fabulous and I’m reveling in their swoony romance.  For those who enjoy an old-style historical romance with careful attention to character and romance development, I recommend this book/series (and any of the authors books, really).