Excellent complex story

Well told story with some twists and turns but a very satisfying conclusion. A good read.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Love this story

I liked everything about this book, the storyline, the characters and the narrator. If you like this genre then it's worth listening too.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Lovely

Nice getting the Bedwyns so worth reading after the Simply series! Such a lovely story with great characters.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Simply Lovely

Any additional comments?

This is a wonderfully touching book that is unwaveringly focused on the relationship of Anne and Sydnam, without much drama or action to distract from the main story. I had wanted to listen to this book for a while, but I try not to start in the middle of a series. Accordingly I started with the first in the Quartet series, Simply Unforgettable, and it is still languishing in my 'Did not finish' pile. I found the lead characters in that story boring and irritating (and all too forgettable), and I worried that this book too would not live up to my expectations. I am delighted that my worries were for nought.

Unlike many in the genre, this book did not revolve around a 'misunderstanding', but real psychological problems resulting from severe traumas. Both Anne and Sydnam had suffered greatly in their past, and had worked hard to provide themselves with peace and stability. After the turbulence of their pasts, they are contented to live uneventful, safe, quiet lives, alone. However, when they meet, they challenge each other's supposed contentment, and each begins to question whether they really are happy with the lives they have made for themselves. Are they alone, or are they lonely?

The development of the relationship between Anne and Sydnam is slow, painful and realistic. They both have to face uncomfortable truths which they have not in the past been strong enough to confront. They both have self-esteem issues and think themselves not good enough for the other. Although their past traumas are different in nature, it has given them a unique insight into the other, and they instinctively understand aspects in the other's character that others do not. They challenge and support each other to overcome the barriers preventing them from being truly happy. The ending is incredibly moving.

The only thing that I find jarring in this book is the ease and speed with which Anne forgives her family. Having dedicated the whole book to the slow building of the relationship between Anne and Sydnam, I don't understand why Balogh decided that Anne could forgive the incredible betrayals of her family, and the decade-long estrangement within a couple of paragraphs. The way Anne's family have treated her for ten years is despicable. They come across as very weak-minded, and caring more about what the neighbours think than the health and wellbeing of their daughter and grandchild. They have done nothing in all that time to assist her, even from afar.

Then, when Anne (without any invitation or encouragement from any of them) goes to see them, her father actually tells her to her face that she must have invited her rape by trying to attract her rapist. He then says that if she had wanted to, she could have stopped him, then caps it all by saying that it is the man who is always blamed!! Then he says that while he is sorry for his actions (or lack thereof) he had been concerned about what the neighbours would say, and perhaps, after all, it was better that she had not faced the gossip. AS IF SHE WAS NOT GOSSIPPED ABOUT AND OSTRACISED EVERYWHERE SHE WENT AS AN UNMARRIED MOTHER WHO HAD NO FAMILY TO SUPPORT HER!! Her mother, brother, sister and brother-in-law/ex-fiancé are all pathetic characters who do nothing but beg forgiveness which they don't deserve. This had me absolutely boiling with anger, and yet Anne apparently turned around and forgave them all because she wanted her son to know his family. Why you would encourage your child to rely on people who would turn their backs at the first sign of trouble is beyond me. Sydnam, who had forced her against her will to visit her family, did nothing to support her in the confrontation. For me this who scene was unnecessary, and really compromised the trust they had built up between them.

Other than Anne's useless family, there are some good supporting characters who do not overpower the book. Most of the Balogh I have read is the old Heyer-like stuff, and so I am not conversant with the more modern Balogh-world, but I gather that most of the supporting characters, such as the Bedwyn brood, are from her other books and series.

Do I really need to say anything about Rosalyn Landor's performance? Exceptional as always! Landor is such a safe pair of hands, that you can sink into a book, and not worry about unsustained characterisation, poor pronunciation or dodgy accents!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

Lovely catch up with previously loved characters

Landor’s narration of this story wasn’t as good as that of the Bedwyn series, and I was particularly disappointed she forgot Rosthorn was supposed to have a French accent! The voices of the Duchess of Bewcastle and Claudia Martin decidedly middle aged.
The story itself was good enough but perhaps dwelt too much on emotions.
It all came good in the end

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

mixed feelings

j feel like it would have been better if they had married because they made a decision abd not because she got pregnant. I also felt it wasn't a great start her running away from him because of his scars. Would have been better if they had a connection before she knew who he was.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Real

I liked the story as it touched on real issues regarding trauma. There was no unnecessary miscommunication or misunderstandings between the love interests. I also liked how the Bedwyns were woven into the story - love those characters. If I'm being picky, didn't like that Morgan's husband, Gervais, wasn't sounding French enough this time around though......
On the whole, I enjoyed it

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Awesome Story!!! I really enjoyed it

Awesome Story!!! I really enjoyed it. Great storyline and the plot unfolded brilliantly. I also like Rosalyn Landors voice

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A Simply Good Read!

This is an even deeper joining of the Slightly Series with the Simply Series (so if you haven’t yet read/listened to that one, I would recommend that you do so before reading THIS Simply story - you will gain much more satisfaction from it (although it isn’t absolutely necessary to enjoy this tale, but you’ll get a little of Anne’s backstory).

This is a lovely and quite deep story. Not rags to riches, not Ton Parties and Come Outs, a much more compelling journey and very satisfying.

I enjoy the house-parties because of the opportunity for character developments. I think that this is my favourite of the 2 Series (I only really enjoyed 3 of the first Series), but this is so rich. Each of the main characters had an opportunity to be known by us, including David, which made this story very satisfying.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A Bridge Too Far

Our heroine is an unmarried mother who teaches at a select school for young ladies. The chances of this occurring in Regency England are about a million to one. Our heroine is then invited by a marchioness to attend a house party at the home of her brother, a duke.
I quite liked the nub of the plot but the background sketched was too improbable and the story got sickeningly mawkish at the end.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!