Review - - Remember That Day

Remember That Day

by Mary Balogh

A Ravenswood Novel - Book 5

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: January 6, 2026

Reviewed by Hellie

 

Winifred Cunningham, the adopted daughter of a portrait painter, hopes that her new close friend, Owen Ware, will soon ask for her hand in marriage. But when Owen introduces Winifred to his elder brother Nicholas, the late Earl of Stratton’s second son, the slow burn between them begins.

Nicholas is a cavalry colonel—a hardened soldier whom Winifred at first despises. She finds him intimidating and cruel-looking, while he finds her strange and startlingly forthright. During a summer at Ravenswood, however, Nicholas and Winifred are unwillingly thrown together on several occasions, until they realize the passion that drives their disagreements is not due to dislike—it is because of attraction.

Winifred still awaits Owen’s proposal, and Nicholas has made his intention to marry his commanding officer’s daughter quite clear. With allegiances to other marriage prospects and brotherly bonds at risk, not to mention the age difference between them, Nicholas and Winifred know it would be wholly improper to pursue a romance...

And yet, romance is irresistible. Perhaps even inevitable.

Hellie’s Heeds

Remember That Day is a wondrous slow burn where chemistry is as important as mutual respect and friendship. Mary Balogh has been doing this for a while, and as she always does, she proves why she is the queen of sly wit, flawed but loveable characters, and the kind of romance that would make Jane Austen give her quill of approval. This is also the fifth book in the Ravenswood series, but it has the delightful surprise of combining the beloved characters from The Wescott series. 

The hero, Nicholas, is a military man (I kept thinking of Colonel Brandon when I read him–the cruel mouth, the wounded leg, the sensitivity and intense longing!)--and he is paired with the beloved adopted daughter of the Cunninghams, Winifred, who upon meeting him, professes she doesn’t like killers. Or war. Winifred is a beguiling blend of Marianne (hey, I love Sense & Sensibility) and her whimsy and longing for her own love, but more of Eleanor’s pragmatic attitude, especially when it comes to her looks and how good her prospects really are. Unfortunately, both of them are rather attached to other people when they meet: him to the General’s daughter, who has already lost two military fiancees in war, and her to Nicholas’s brother, Owen, who is passionate about making a difference in the world and is Winifred’s best friend, but he doesn’t seem to see her in the way she wishes he would. 

Balogh gives us the best of all possible settings: a country house party, complete with an annual summer fete with trinkets, contests, and the like. All the proximity between Nicholas and Winifred soon makes each of them realize: maybe they have chosen wrong. But they are both honorable, good people; and it’s only through honest communication that the ending we all hope for comes to be. Throw in scenes and vignettes with some characters we have been wondering about since we’ve seen them last, marveling at Balogh’s way of phrasing and creating emotion, and I turned the last page, smiling in pure happiness. 

The only warning I give is that reading this book will likely make you want to reread all the rest of the series…including the Westcotts. But I don’t think that’s a bad thing.

Review & Giveaway - - Remember When

Remember When

by Mary Balogh

A Ravenswood Novel - Book 4

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: January 7, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

The Dowager Countess of Stratton, Clarissa Ware, née Greenfield, has just presented her younger daughter to the ton, and the rest of her life belongs only to herself. She returns to Ravenswood, intending to spend the summer alone there. But the summer has other plans for her.

Born a gentleman, Matthew Taylor has chosen to spend his life as the village carpenter. Growing up, he and Clarissa were close—dangerously so, considering his family’s modest fortune. As a young man, he never would have been a suitable match for the daughter of the wealthy Greenfields. Clarissa married Caleb Ware, the Earl of Stratton, so Matthew married another, though he was widowed soon after.

Now everything is different—Clarissa has already lived the life expected of her by society. And Matthew is as attractive and intriguing as he was when they were young. As their summer friendship deepens into romance, they stand together on the precipice of change—essentially the same man and woman they remember being back then, but with renewed passion and the potential to take their lives in an entirely new direction.

PJ's Thoughts:

If you've been reading this series, you already know the details of Clarissa's marriage and subsequent widowhood. If you haven't, Balogh weaves them into this book in a such a way that you won't be lost or confused if this is your first foray to Ravenswood. 

I love second chance, reunion romances, especially those between childhood friends who reconnect later in life. But this one has an added layer of challenge. Matthew and Clarissa are from different stations in life, even more significant now that she is a dowager duchess and he is town's carpenter/wood carver. The difference was enough to not cross the line between friendship and love in their youth and is now sure to set tongues wagging when they're observed holding hands on long walks through the park. But they are no longer 17 and 18. They're a mature couple on the cusp of fifty and they know what they want although they are not unaware of the challenges that will need to be conquered to achieve it. 

This is such a lovely, endearing novel. I really enjoyed watching Matthew and Clarissa rediscover their friendship and in doing so, rediscover themselves. Clarissa, especially, learns who she is and what she wants - and deserves - outside of being a mother. I love how she begins to take control of her life and how much she - and her relationships with her children - grow as a result. Matthew has no surfeit of growth himself. I enjoyed watching the positive evolution of his relationship with his family, due in no small part to Clarissa's encouragement and support. These two are so good for each other. I loved the caring, joy, fun, and eventually, deep, lasting love that developed between them. I laughed, I cried, and I turned the final page of their novel with a deep, happy, heartfelt sigh. 

How do you feel about older characters who get a second chance at love?

Have you read any of the Ravenswood novels?

Do you enjoy cross-class romances?

One randomly chosen person posting a comment before 11:00 PM, January 12 will receive a hardcover copy of Remember When. 

*U.S. Only

*Must be 18

Review & Giveaway - - Always Remember

Always Remember: Ben's Story

by Mary Balogh

A Ravenswood Novel - Book 3

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: January 16, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

Left unable to walk by a childhood illness, Lady Jennifer, sister of the Duke of Wilby, has grown up to make a happy place for herself in society. Outgoing and cheerful, she has many friends and enjoys the pleasures of high society—even if she cannot dance at balls or stroll in Hyde Park. She is blessed with a large, loving, and protective family. But she secretly dreams of marriage and children, and of walking—and dancing.

When Ben Ellis comes across Lady Jennifer as she struggles to walk with the aid of primitive crutches, he instantly understands her yearning. He is a fixer. It is often said of him that he never saw a practical problem he did not have to solve. He wants to help her discover independence and motion—driving a carriage, swimming, even walking a different way. But he must be careful. He is the bastard son of the late Earl of Stratton. Though he was raised with the earl’s family, he knows he does not really belong in the world of the ton.

Jennifer is shocked—and intrigued—by Ben’s ideas, and both families are alarmed by the growing friendship and perhaps more that they sense developing between the two. A duke’s sister certainly cannot marry the bastard son of an earl. Except sometimes, love can find a way.

PJ's Thoughts:  

One of my favorite childhood memories is sitting around a campfire on a warm summer's night listening to the melodic cadence and mellow voice of a storyteller weaving a captivating tale. That's the feeling Balogh brings to this newest book in her Ravenswood series. I snuggled under a warm blanket and lost myself in the feelings of a heartwarming journey of both romance and family featuring characters still living in my head more than three weeks after reading their story...the first time. ;-)

I love the emotional layers within both Ben and Jenny, how each of them evolves over the course of their journey. And, as family is a primary focus of this series, I also enjoyed their inter-connecting relationships within not only their own family but each other's. Ben is such a nurturer. I love what a good dad he is, how he's always looking for ways to help others. But he always puts himself last. It's heartwarming to watch him finally place importance on his own needs and happiness and how that impacts not only his gradually deepening friendship with Jenny but also his relationships with members of his family, especially his half-brother, Devlin (Remember Love). For her part, Jenny is finally breaking out of the protective cocoon in which she has lived since her childhood illness thanks to the encouragement of Ben and the love of his young daughter. It's satisfying to watch her spread her wings, embrace the freedom of enhanced independence, and take control of her own life while facing head on the changes - and challenges - that brings to the dynamics within her own family. And I haven't even touched on the challenges a cross-class, legitimate-illegitimate pairing causes among all the dukes, earls, lords, and ladies of the families. 

One of the things I love about this book is the plethora of family and community members who are all highly visible and intrinsic to the story being told. They add a rich variety of texture, potential conflict, and heartwarming tenderness to Ben's and Jenny's journey. However, if you haven't read the first two books of the series, the sheer number of secondary characters and their inter-connecting relationships - and shared history - might be a bit overwhelming. For that reason, I would probably recommend reading the books in order. They are, in order: Remember Love, Remember Me, and Always Remember.  

Have you read any Mary Balogh books? Do you have a favorite book or series?

Are you reading the Ravenswood series?

Do you enjoy books with a large ensemble of characters?

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, January 16 will receive a hardcover copy of Always Remember.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Tour Review - - Remember Me

Remember Me

by Mary Balogh

A Ravenswood Novel - Book 2 

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: June 20, 2023

Reviewed by Hellie

Philippa, elder daughter of the Earl of Stratton, grew up eagerly anticipating a glittering debut and a brilliant marriage. Then her brother caught their father out in a clandestine affair and denounced him publicly. The whole family was disgraced, and Philippa’s hopes grew dim, then were fully shattered when she overheard the dashing, handsome Marquess of Roath viciously insult her upon learning of her father’s identity. Only years later does Philippa find the courage to go to London at last to meet the ton. She is an instant success and enjoys a close friendship with the granddaughter of a duke. Only one man can spoil everything for her, but surely he will not be in London this year.

The Duke of Wilby is nearing death and has tasked his grandson and heir, Lucas Arden, Marquess of Roath, with marrying and producing a son before it is too late. Lucas, who usually shuns London, goes there early in the Season in the hope of finding an eligible bride before his grandparents come and find one for him. He is instantly attracted to his sister’s new friend, until that young lady asks a simple question: “Remember me?” And suddenly he does remember her, as well as the reason why the daughter of the Earl of Stratton is the one woman he can never marry—even if his heart tells him she is the only woman he wants.

Unfortunately for Philippa and Lucas, the autocratic duke and his duchess have other ideas and believe them to be perfect for each other. They will simply not take no for an answer. Telling Philippa the full truth is the hardest thing Lucas has ever faced, and the discovery of it will change them both before they discover the healing power of love.

Hellie’s Heeds

I remember when Janga would review Mary Balogh’s books; she was always so thoughtful and compelling in her recommendations. I think that’s what happened with Mary Balogh, who had been an expert Regency writer for years before I read any of her books. It took a couple promptings from Janga before I read the Slightly series. (I know, I know.) Then Mary Balogh became an auto-read and auto-buy author for me in rapid succession. When PJ offered up a list of books–of which this one was amongst the treasures–I didn’t even bother to read the blurb. I just shouted, “Me! Pick me!” and I was sent it. Once I got it in my hot little hands, I read the blurb and felt a jolt of unease. You see, Dear Reader, I am a petty-pantied grudgeholder of the Vendetta Guild–and suddenly I was holding a book in which I knew the couple would end up together, but the premise was he had something so hurtful in her vicinity, she put off coming out for her Season for years. This is where I confess: there are boys from when I was a teenager (some three decades ago) I still haven’t forgiven for the things they’ve said. Granted, clearly, I’m never ending up with any of them but forgive them? She must be joking. There is something about the deep cutting things said in our youth that sting forever. 

Oh, but it’s just like Pride & Prejudice, you’ll say! And I did say that too at first, but Darcy’s hurtful remarks upon glancing upon a small country party was nothing to what our hero says in ear-shot of our heroine, who is beautiful, kind, intelligent, and in every way, lovely. I hurt for our heroine and I seethed with her as she encounters him again as she finally debuts for her Season. I nearly tossed the book away when the hero even said a few remarks, suggesting that he didn’t quite remember what he had said (almost gaslighting her for her hurt reaction), though inwardly he does remember. Meanwhile, we meet the hero’s grandfather, who is everything you’d want in a dukely grandfather, and his adoring wife, who we also love at first sight…and then you’re like, “Oh, but what a lovely family. So terrible she’d have to marry him to have them as family.” 

This was the point where I thought, “There must be a STORY for why he said what he said, and I must know it now” and, Dear Reader, forgive me, I skipped ahead to find out. I did not find out. What I found out instead was basically The End and epilogue which made me go, “What!?” and become more upset. How was this a happy ending? I mean, technically it was a happy ending, but The End still made me want to put the book aside in a huff. So my first heed is this: Do NOT under any circumstance skip ahead to make sure the epilogue ends right. Do not. 

I went back to reading…and Ms. Balogh expertly guided her reader to a gradual liking of the hero. And a hundred pages or so later, I happily learned why the hero had said what he said, though by then I had had my suspicions. By the end, where once again I read the end and the epilogue, when I was supposed to, I thought, “Oh, that was sweet. I understand now.” I also enjoyed some tidbits about Waterloo, including how little people knew (oh, if they’d only had the internet) and the constant anxiety for loved ones waiting for their soldiers to come home safe. I made a list of all the side characters in which I wanted additional Balogh books about, and while this series is listed as 1 of 3 books in the series, that is far too few for those I need books about. I can only hope Ms. Balogh is able to keep up with my wish list. 

I do not think any of Ms. Balogh’s ardent fans will be disappointed with this latest installment; however, as well crafted as this story was and vivid the characters, I think perhaps there are a few other Balogh books ahead of it on my keeper shelf (Wulfric perhaps?), but I’m more eager for the next book that will come out in early 2024–oh, yes, Ms. Balogh is definitely keeping up with my wish list! It is always a delight to read stories crafted in the hands of a master.

Review & Giveaway - - Remember Love

Remember Love

by Mary Balogh

Ravenswood -  Book 1

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: July 12, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

The handsome and charismatic Earl of Stratton, Caleb Ware, has been exposed to the ton for his clandestine affairs—by his own son.
 
As a child, Devlin Ware thought his family stood for all that was right and good in the world. They were kind, gracious, and shared the beauty of Ravenwood, their grand country estate, by hosting lavish parties for the entire countryside. But at twenty-two, he discovered his whole world was an elaborate illusion, and when Devlin publicly called his family to account for it, he was exiled as a traitor.
 
So be it. He enlisted in the fight against Napoleon and didn’t look back for six years. But now his father is dead, the Ware family is broken, and as the heir he is being called home. It’s only when Gwyneth Rhys—the woman he loved and then lost after his family banished him—holds out her hand to help him that he is able make the difficult journey and try to piece together his fractured family.
 
It is Gwyneth’s loyalty, patience, and love that he needs. But is Devlin’s war-hardened heart even capable of offering her love in return?

PJ's Thoughts:

Mary Balogh launches her new series with this heart-tugging story of love discovered, lost, and, ultimately, remembered. It's is a tale of two parts, both the story and my review, and my thoughts about each are quite different. 

This book does not begin quickly. In fact, if I had not agreed to review it I most likely would have stopped reading somewhere around the fourth chapter. The first half of the book is slow, excruciatingly slow, with scene setting and multiple character introductions overflowing with wordy prose and superfluous details. I began skimming before I finished chapter one. Somewhere around the 40% mark, however, the pace started to pick up and my investment in the main characters began to deepen. 

With Devlin's return to England after a six-year absence, the story took a welcome turn as well. I enjoyed the exploration into each of the main characters, the layers of emotion unveiled, the hurt and bitterness that had been allowed to simmer, and the barely glowing embers of love and affection that still remained. Devlin and Gwyneth were finally given the time to dig beneath the surface of the new emotions they shared six years earlier and get to know one another as real, flawed humans rather than a starry-eyed ideal. I appreciated the fact that the author did not hold back in exploring all the messiness of their relationship, giving it an authenticity that centered my confidence in their eventual HEA. 

Devlin's and Gwyneth's precarious relationship isn't the only one at play in the second half of the book. The Wares are a family that has been destroyed from within and bringing them back together will not be an easy task. First steps are taken; threads that previously bound them tenuously restitched. The scenes between Devlin and the various members of his family are where emotions are laid bare, where my heart clenched with heartache...and hope. By the end of the book, I was attached to them all, eager to discover what their futures would hold, and happy that I had continued to read through the slow start.  

If you enjoy emotional, closed-door, Regency romance with a large, complex family at its core, give this one a try. I'll be back for book two. 

Have you read Mary Balogh?

Do you have a favorite book - or series - of hers?

What are your thoughts about reunion romances? Any favorites to share?

One person who comments before 11:00 PM, July 13 will receive a hardback copy of Remember Love.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

*Void where prohibited

 

Review & Giveaway - - Someone Perfect

Someone Perfect

by Mary Balogh

The Westcott Series - Book 9

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: November 30, 2021

Reviewed by Hellie

As a young man, Justin Wiley was banished by his father for mysterious reasons, but now his father is dead, and Justin has been Earl of Brandon for six years. A dark, dour man, he nonetheless takes it as his responsibility to care for his half-sister Maria when her mother dies. He travels to her home to fetch her back to the family seat at Everleigh Park. 

Although she adored him once, Maria now loathes Justin, and her friend Lady Estelle Lamarr can see immediately how his very name upsets her. When Justin arrives and invites Estelle and her brother to accompany Maria to Everleigh Park to help with her distress, she begrudgingly agrees for Maria's sake. 

As family secrets unravel in Maria's homecoming, Justin, too, uncovers his desire for a countess. And, while he may believe he's found an obvious candidate in the beautiful 25-year-old Lady Estelle, she is most certain that they could never make a match... 

 

Hellie’s Heeds 

Once the Bridgertons all get their Netflix seasons as they justly deserve, I pray the next romance novel series that is brought to life is Balogh’s Westcott series. Not only do I want to see the Duke of Netherby brought to life (a younger Benedict Cumberbatch sort), I want a reason to finally get that family tree printout I’ve always wanted to keep all the characters straight. I love them. They’re meddling. They’re haughty. They defy convention. Shonda Rhimes would have a blast in reconstructing every wedding of the Westcotts, where each of them basically get out of a big wedding and do some sort of elopement on the fly. Except this one. Hurrah, fans, finally a big wedding! 

But I’m getting ahead of myself. And I hope you don’t mind I gave away the happily ever after, but if you’ve read any Mary Balogh books, you know a HEA is in the offing, no matter how much on tenterhooks she might be keeping her readers. Instead, we start off the book with a beloved character–Lady Estelle–who is the twin daughter of the Marquess of Dorchester, who you might remember (if you too have a family tree printout) is married to Viola Kingsley, who we learned in the first book was bigamously married to the Earl of Riverdale, who died and ruined everyone’s lives, starting us on this grand adventure of a series. Of course, you don’t need to know all this or have read Viola’s book–or the ones before it–but much like the Bridgerton series, it’s more satisfying if you do because all the characters are beloved family members you know better than your own family.  

Lady Estelle has agreed to accompany a friend, Maria, in order for her to get settled. Maria is being forced back home after several years of being estranged from her stepbrother, Justin, whom she believes wronged her mother and their family. Lady Estelle, not one to judge and willing to help her friend, also does not care for Justin from the few interactions they have had. Think Pride & Prejudice. There’s haughtiness. There’s stilted conversation. There’s a terrible proposal. Justin does not acquit himself well. I was delighted by it, wondering how the hero was going to win her over.  

But slowly the truth begins to reveal itself. Slowly the real Justin emerges from the brittle hard man his sister and her friend see; and Estelle is confused who the real Justin is: the one her friend has told her horrible stories about or the one who shows true kindness in the most unexpected ways? Balogh does what she does best: she creates and mingles large, complicated yet kind families together to show the joy of the ties that bind. Yes, there are outbursts and Dramatic Scenes, but the family who stays together, talks it out and gives each other grace. It’s lovely to read and enjoy–and when the truth is actually revealed, we see that first impressions aren’t always true.  

I think this book made a nice ending for the Westcott series (though of course, I wouldn’t say no to a book for Bertrand.) If I had one critique–I was a bit disappointed about Justin’s father. I think Balogh clearly motivated her character in why he behaved how he did. I can see it, but I didn’t like him for it. For other readers, they may also have an issue with how the father behaved and that aspect would keep it from being a truly satisfying book. As someone who realizes life doesn’t always allow do-overs or people to get everything right the first time, or how one’s virtue can also be their downfall, it made sense to me even though I was sad for the characters.  

I enjoyed this book enough to garner it 5 stars (it would truly have to be a bad book indeed for me to do otherwise to a Balogh book) but I would say this wasn’t my favorite of the series. (Though that proposal will likely live on in my memory. Egads.) This may be because the Duke of Netherby didn’t have such a starring role as he’s had in other offshoots–and he is hilarious every time he enters the fray. But if I had to pick a favorite character here, Lady Maple is perhaps the most like Netherby: eccentric, unfiltered, confident. Still, this book is studded with lots of characters, all wonderful, real, and heart-warming. Highly recommend.

Are you a Mary Balogh fan? Have you been reading the Westcott series? 

For what series would you most like "just one more book?" 

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 6:00 PM (EST), December 25 will receive a print copy of Someone Perfect.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

*Void where prohibited 

Review - - Someone to Cherish

Someone to Cherish

by Mary Balogh

The Westcott Series - Book 9

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: June 29, 2021

Reviewed by Santa

When Harry Westcott lost the title Earl of Riverdale after the discovery of his father's bigamy, he shipped off to fight in the Napoleonic Wars, where he was near-fatally wounded. After a harrowing recovery, the once cheery, light-hearted boy has become a reclusive, somber man. Though Harry insists he enjoys the solitude, he does wonder sometimes if he is lonely.

Lydia Tavernor, recently widowed, dreams of taking a lover. Her marriage to Reverend Isaiah Tavernor was one of service and obedience, and she has secretly enjoyed her freedom since his death. She doesn't want to shackle herself to another man in marriage, but sometimes, she wonders if she is lonely. 

Both are unwilling to face the truth until they find themselves alone together one night, and Lydia surprises even herself with a simple question: "Are you ever lonely?" Harry's answer leads them down a path neither could ever have imagined...

Santa Says:

Someone To Cherish by Mary Balogh is the ninth book in her latest series. This five-star book can be read as a stand alone, too. That a book so deep into a series can be read as a stand alone can be attributed to the story and this author’s brilliance. The series follows the Westcott family after they discover that their father was married before they were born and fathered an illegitimate daughter. However, that daughter was not actually illegitimate since he married her mother and promptly forgot about that fact when he married again. This news came as a shock to the heir apparent Harry Westcott, the Earl of Riverdale, his two sisters and their mother. With that news, a/k/a the Great Disaster, Harry lost everything - the earldom went to a second cousin, including all the entailed holdings and fortune. 

Harry’s family scatters to the four winds and Harry decides to join the army in the fight against Napoleon. Harry fought valiantly and was wounded several times. His gravest wounds were sustained at Waterloo.  Though it was a close thing, Harry recovers but is not the same person anymore. He goes from a cheerful and outgoing person to somewhat of a recluse. He likes his own company and that of a few childhood friends. Both his immediate and extended families worry about him. His mother and sisters have all settled down into wedded bliss. That is what they want for Harry. 

But Harry is content with his life and perfectly happy to stay at his childhood home, Hinsford Manor. He enjoys the company of a few of his childhood friends who still live there. But he wonders if there could be more. An unlikely source asks him, “Are you lonely?” and he does not answer right away. 

Lydia Tavernor is a quiet and unassuming vicar’s widow. Her husband was a devout and pious man. Lydia stayed in his shadow and was the perfect helpmate. He died as he lived in saving a young boy from drowning.  Following his death, her family encourages her to return with them. She decides to stay in the village and is able to get a cottage at the edge of town. This affords her the opportunity for the first time in her life to be independent of a man’s dominance in her life which she never had before. She is content but after a year of mourning she wonders if it is enough.  

Harry and Lydia’s relationship starts innocently enough from a walk home. They come out of the shadows to one another. Still, Lydia hesitates because she does not want to lose herself in another man again. Lydia is called home to see her father, her family encourages her to return to them. Upon her return she and Harry reunite and share dances at the local assembly.  Sadly, this and an innocent kiss become the fodder of malicious gossip.  

At the same time, Harry’s family arrives en masse to celebrate his 30th birthday. This only adds to the mayhem but Harry soon asks his mother to intervene on his part when Lydia refuses his marriage proposal. Having a duke, an earl, a marquess and I’m pretty sure a viscount along with a formidable dowager countess can come in pretty handy in swaying gossips and a reluctant bride. Here is where Mary Balogh excels in crafting happily ever afters that are filled with such joy you can’t help but smile as you read. Yes, the prying gossip is put in their place. And Lydia does say yes and their happily ever after will leave you swooning with delight. I adore Mary Balogh and am fairly certain I have read all her books. I treasure them all and I include this book in their numbers. 

Enjoy!

Review - - Someone to Remember

SOMEONE TO REMEMBER
By Mary Balogh
The Westcott Series - Book 7
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: November 5, 2019
Reviewed by Maria
  

I’m a total sucker for a continuing saga. I’m that reader who wants to know what happens to the brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, children and distant relations. I want a happily-ever-after for all of them. And Mary Balogh delivers on all counts.

Her most recent series, The Westcotts, is filled with intrigue, deceit, secrets and most of all romance. There are now a total of seven Westcott books to give you hours of reading enjoyment. Whether you’re lounging in your coziest reading chair, or riding the subway to work, you’ve got a lot to look forward to.

In the latest installment of the Westcott Family Saga, the novella, Someone to Remember, the author has taken Matilda Westcott, a secondary character from the previous books, and shone a spotlight on what had become the hopelessness of her life.

Matilda is an aging spinster destined to stand in the shadows watching everyone around her find happiness while she cares for her Dowager mother. Any hope of an independent, fulfilled life was squashed thirty-six years ago, when her parents forbid her to marry the one man she loved, Charles Sawyer.

The ensuing years weren’t kind to either of them. While Charles went on to marry another, he never loved again. As for Matilda, the loss of Charles proved to be too much, and the once vivacious young woman, interested in life, retreated behind a docile façade, becoming an overly fussy companion to her mother. In short, they both lived lives they endured, rather than enjoyed, until years later when they unexpectedly found themselves attending the same dinner party.

Surprisingly, old emotions resurfaced and Charles becomes determined to win Matilda back. The question is, can he breakthrough the wall she’s built around herself and strip her of the notion that it’s never too late to fall in love?

The story arc is multi-layered with confessions and reconciliations, as Charles tries to win Matilda back and create a relationship with his illegitimate son. Truths are hard won in this lovely story of love lost and second chance romance.

When Matilda and Charles finally rekindle their love, the courtship is swoon worthy. It’s sweet, kind, tender and oh, so romantic. I do believe you can read this novella without having read the series. But the series is richly filled with characters and intrigue you shouldn’t miss.

As a final note - it was refreshing to read a romance where the hero and heroine were in their ‘mature’ years. After all, one is hardly dead at fifty, and I wish there were more romances written with heroines in their 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. Just saying.

Review - - Someone to Care

Someone to Care

By Mary Balogh

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: May 1, 2018

Reviewed by Janga

Viola Kingsley has handled the revelation of her late husband’s bigamy, the change in her children’s status from the son and daughters of an earl to bastards with no claims on their father’s name or fortune, and her own transformation from proper countess to scandal fodder with strength and grace. She is fond of the Westcotts who remain loyal to her and still insist that she is a member of their family. But when the family (more than two dozen of them) gathers in Bath for the christening of Viola’s grandson, the child of her daughter Camille and Joel Cunningham, the anger and bewilderment that she has suppressed surface. Instead of the two weeks of family festivities that Viola was expected to participate in, she leaves after two days. Ordering her concerned family to leave her alone and insisting on leaving her carriage and maid for her younger daughter, Abigail, she sets out in a hired carriage for Hinsford Manor in Hampshire, the home that her “husband’s” legitimate daughter and heiress, Anna Snow (now Duchess of Netherby), insists she retain. To her dismay, a broken carriage axel forces her to stop at an inn in some nameless country village.

Marcel Lamarr, Marquess of Dorchester, long-time widower and well-known rake, and his brother André, leave a house party in Somerset when one of the marquess’s flirtations develops awkward consequences. They head for Redcliffe Court in Northhamptonshire, an estate Dorchester inherited with his title two years ago, for the marquess to pay his semi-annual visit to his son and daughter, twins about to turn eighteen. The twins are near strangers to their father who turned them over to his sister-in-law and her husband to rear after his wife’s death when the twins were one. Dorchester is none too eager to arrive since his home is inhabited not only by his children but also by an assortment of unprepossessing relatives and connections. Nevertheless, he is not pleased when a loose horseshoe forces a stop in a country village with nothing to recommend it but a local festival.

Dorchester is surprised to see Viola alone in an humble country inn. It has been almost fifteen years since her aloof beauty tempted him to break his own rules and attempt to seduce a married lady. She sent him away then, but perhaps an older Viola, no longer the dutiful Countess of Riverdale, will be more open to his advances. It turns out that the attraction between them has lost none of its potency, and a newly rebellious Viola accepts the marquess’s invitation first for one night together and then for a limited-engagement liaison at a secluded Devonshire cottage. But as one week moves into another, they realize, albeit reluctantly, that more than lust is involved in their relationship. Their situation becomes more complicated when their families show up at the cottage. Will the forty-something lovers cling to their idea that their affair is a moment’s indulgence, or will they accept the familial consensus that marriage is in their future?

The fourth entry in Balogh’s Westcott series pairs two older protagonists. Viola is forty-two with three adult children and grandchildren; Marc is turning forty with two children on the threshold of adulthood. Both characters are seasoned adults with their share of scars and disillusionment. They are flawed but sympathetic, and readers will root for this second chance at love story to end in an HEA.

Balogh inserts poignancy and humor into this character-driven tale, a combination that will appeal to most historical romance readers, although some may find that internal monologues make for a slower paced read than they prefer. Although Balogh was including sizzle when sizzle was not the norm in Regency-set historicals, the sensuality level of her books is mild by today’s standards. Some readers may see this as a fault; others will be so captivated by the appeal of her lead characters and their sprawling families that they will scarcely notice the lower heat.

I admit that I am a long-time, whole-hearted Balogh fan. She continues to amaze me with her capacity to create stories that engage me fully when I am reading them and move to a keeper shelf to be reread when I turn the final page. I count any writer who has consistently done this for more than three decades one of the genre’s treasures. Someone to Care is filled with the kind of family connections that made the Bedwyns favorites among Balogh fans. Fans of the Westcott series will be happy to see Viola find happiness and delighted with the bonus reconciliation between Marc and his children. The cast of characters is large, but I had no problem keeping them straight. And I enjoyed the geographical range of the novel. Balogh includes enough of Viola’s back story for a reader new to the series to follow the story without difficulty.

If you like historical romance with complex, deeply human characters whose story plays out against a backdrop of family ties and responsibilities, I suggest you make sure Someone to Care is on your TBR list. With a May 1 release date, it is a great way to begin a stellar month in romance fiction. Balogh fans like me who are always eager for her next book will want to note that the fifth Westcott novel, Someone to Trust (an older woman-younger man tale), which will feature Elizabeth, Lady Overfield, the widowed sister of Alexander, the new Earl of Riverdale, will be released November 28.