The Secret Pearl

Title: The Secret Pearl
Author: Mary Balogh
First Printing: 1991
Purchase Date: 9th January 2006
Purchase price: £5.09
Retail price: $6.99
Purchased from: Amazon.co.uk

On book cover:

He first spies her in the shadows outside a London theatre, a ravishing creature forced to barter her body to survive.

To the woman known simply as Fleur, the well-dressed gentleman with the mesmerising eyes is an unlikely saviour. And when she takes the stranger to her bed, she never expects to see him again. But then Fleur accepts a position as a governess to a young girl…and is stunned to discover that her midnight lover is a powerful nobleman. As two wary hearts ignites – and the threat of scandal hovers over them – one question remains: will she be mistress or wife?

Comments on book:

I have long stalled to write my commentary on this book because I was so afraid that I would not do justice to it. And I still am. The truth is, this book is filled with emotions and feelings of the characters that the author has successfully described and portrayed in her brilliant writing style that I was truly amazed at the depth of her understanding of the characters – it is almost as if these characters were alive and told her of their feelings - and yet we know that too many people cannot even begin to explain how they feel inside. But the author delved into the hearts and mind of the characters and did it. It is simply amazing.

This is the first ever romance book I have read that actually made me cry. The plot is not unfamiliar but not completely predictable. The hero and heroine are honourable characters who share a love for each other that is forbidden and so they did not pursue it, no matter dire their situation – and that’s why I love this story. Mostly for the fact that the hero honoured his marriage which was already doomed from the start. And the heroine who loves the man with her whole heart but lets him return to his wife who despises him because he honours his marriage. I have always thought elements of pride, honour and sacrifice combined make the best of love stories and this book proves this wonderfully.

A true gem.

Rating: 10/10. Brilliant.

Indiscreet

Title: Indiscreet
Author: Mary Balogh
First Printed: 1997
Purchase Date: 21st February 2006
Purchase price: £5.14
Retail price: $5.99
Purchased from:



On book cover:

A beautiful young widow seemed like easy prey for the Viscount Rawleigh. In the country visiting his twin brother, Rex longed for a little diversion. But Catherine Winters was a lady of virtue and she roundly rejected his improper proposal to become his mistress. Since the handsome lord would not be daunted, Catherine fought the feelings he aroused – feelings that brought to life a past she had sought to escape. One kiss could bring her to ruin. But temptation proved a worthy foe – and Catherine could not ignore the beating of her treacherous heart.

Comments on book:

All in all, this book was good. It was really good in the beginning but towards the end, somehow it just became a little slow and tedious. This was my first ‘horsemen’ book and I thoroughly enjoyed being introduced to the Four Horsemen and getting to know them. The first part of the book was glorious, when Rex and Catherine first met and their attraction for each other bloomed while she was living in the small cottage in the village of Bodley-on-the-Water. But in the second part after they were married, Catherine’s character appeared weak and somehow her story did not really gnaw at my heartstrings. Rex’s character also was a little subdued to me. Granted he was feeling guilty and they just realised that they loved each other but did not want to express this fact for fear of being rebuffed by the other but still, the communication between them at this point (they were husband and wife) somehow was not elaborated satisfactorily.

Saying this, it did not stop me from having the need to find out the story of the rest of the horsemen and I went on to buy the next on that was reasonably priced i.e. Irresistible, which was brilliant. I have yet to read the 2nd of the series which is Unforgiven but I’m keeping my eyes and ears open for it!

Rating: 7/10. An OK read overall. Started extremely well but could not hold my interest towards the end.

Irresistible

Title: Irresistible
Author: Mary Balogh
First Printed: 1998
Purchase Date: 25th February 2006
Purchase price: £4.73
Retail price: $6.99
Purchased from: Amazon.co.uk
On book cover:

Sophia Armitage was a friend indeed. She had agreed to help Sir Nathaniel Gascoigne find a husband for his cousin Lavinia in the glittering city of London – only half hoping that she’d find one herself. Sophia knew the odds were against her. Men simply did not seem attracted to her – not that way. Even her late husband had treated Sophia more like a companion than a lover. But then something shocking happened in London – Sophia found herself in the arms of Nathaniel himself! Not only did this act of indiscretion threaten their lifelong friendship, it revealed a depth of passion that defied everything Sophia believed about herself.

Comments on book:

Wow. I just loved this book. The hero, Nathaniel is not some rakehell but a wonderful man who is more ‘real’ and down to earth. I dreaded this book because I knew that it’s about friends who become lovers and I shuddered at this thought because friendship is a wonderful and simple thing that can be ruined and complicated by sex. However, the author knows how to make something that sounds a little unpalatable and unpromising into a brilliant and wonderful romance.

The heroine, Sophia, is wonderful and independent and the author’s description didn’t really make her look like a gorgeous beauty in my mind. But she has strength of character and a maturity that is very welcome in this genre. I really started to root for her and I was astonished at some of her actions! The appearance of the other ‘horsemen’ of The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse is truly delightful as I love their camaraderie and true friendship and not to mention their oh so wonderful characters. I’ve used that word ‘wonderful’ too many times already in this comment but I couldn’t help it because this book is truly, truly that!

Rating: 8.5/10 Truly wonderful!

No Man's Mistress

Title: No Man’s Mstress
Author: Mary Balogh
First Printed: 2001
Purchase Date: 13th March 2006
Purchase price: £1.75
Retail price: $5.99
Purchased from:



On book cover:

Lord Ferdinand Dudley is accustomed to getting what he wants…that is, until he appears at the door of pinewood Manor, attempting to claim his rightful estate, and is met by the bewitching fury of Lady Viola Thornhill. She refuses to cede him the home she calls her own. He refuses to leave. So the contest begins. Each day under the same roof brings its share of frustrations…and temptation. But Viola knows that it is a battle she cannot afford to lose. Marriage is out of the question and she will be no man’s mistress even as Dudley’s unnerving presence threatened to melt her resolve. Against his better judgement, Lord Ferdinand Dudley is beguiled. This maddening beauty has stirred him as no woman had before. And now he is bound and determined to make her his own.

Comments on book:

I was not very impressed with this book. Apart from the fact that Ferdinand is Tresham’s little brother and I was hoping to get another glimpse of him in this book, it was a book that I hesitated to pick up because the hero did not impress me in its prequel, ‘More than a Mistress’ and also considering the other books in the long ‘To Be Read’ list that I have. But it was selling quite cheap on Ebay one day and so I bought it. The reviews on this book are not that great and unfortunately after reading it, I have to agree. Ferdinand is just not as brilliant a character as Tresham and one cannot help comparing the two and coming to the conclusion that the hero of this book is a ‘lesser’ personality to his brother. As usual for this author, book is well written and I suppose a fairly good read if you’ve not read its prequel plus maybe I’m a tad fanatic of Tresham’s but all things considered, I still think it disappointed me a little.

Rating: 5.5/10 Not a bad read but a little disappointing.

A Summer to Remember

Title: A Summer to Remember
Author: Mary Balogh
First Printed: 2002
Purchase Date: n/a
Purchase price: £5.99
Retail price: £5.99
Purchased from: Borders Bookshop

On book cover:

Kit Butler is cool, dangerous, one of London’s most infamous bachelors – marriage is the last thing on his mind. But Kit’s family has other plans. Desperate to thwart his father’s matchmaking, kit needs a bride…fast. Enter Miss Lauren Edgeworth.

A year after being abandoned at the altar, Lauren has determined that marriage is not for her. When these two fiercely independent souls meet, sparks fly – and a deal is hatched. Lauren will masquerade as Kit’s intended if he aggress to provide a passionate, adventurous unforgettable summer. When summer ends, she will break off the engagement, rendering herself unmarriageable and leaving them both free. Everything is going perfectly – until Kit does the unthinkable: He begins to fall in love. A summer to remember is not enough for him. But how can he convince Lauren to be his, for better, for worse, for the rest of their lives?

Comments on book:

A good read but nothing spectacular about it. Still worth it if you're a fan of Mrs Balogh's writing. Some human complexities involved that makes it a little different but otherwise predictable.

Rating: 7/10. A little too predictable for my taste.

More Than A Mistress

Title: More Than A Mistress
Author: Mary Balogh
First Printed: 2000
Purchase Date: 12th December 2005
Purchase price: £3.50
Retail price: $6.50
Purchased from: Amazon.co.uk

On book cover:

She raced onto the green, desperate to stop a duel. In the melee, Jocelyn Dudley, Duke of Tresham, was shot. To his astonishment, Tresham found himself hiring the servant as his nurse. Jane Ingleby was far too bold for her own good. Her blue eyes were the sort a man could drown in – were it not for her impudence. She questioned his every move, breached his secrets, touched his soul. When he offered to set her up in his London town house, love was the last thing on his mind…

Jane tried to pretend it was strictly business, an arrangement she was forced to accept in order to conceal a dangerous secret. Surely there was nothing more perilous than being the lover of such a man. Yet as she got past his devilish façade and saw the noble heart within, she knew the greatest jeopardy of all, a passion that drove her to risk everything on one perfect month with the improper gentleman who thought love was for fools.

Comments on book:

This was my first Mary Balogh book and like all first books from your favourite authors, you tend to never forget them, as they will always have a special place in your heart being the first ever book from the author that so impressed you. Although this genre that we read is called ‘romance’, it was only after reading this book that I actually sighed aloud and said, ‘Oh! How romantic!’ because after all the attraction, lust, love making, duelling, wooing in all the other books that I’ve read, this book somehow captured the essence of romance. And I really can’t explain how. All I can say is that from this book, which gave me my first impression of this writer, I knew that she is indeed a cut above the rest.

Jocelyn Dudley, the Duke of Tresham is a character that is so beautifully created, so wonderfully witty and talented that I fell in love with him in the first few pages of the book. His actions, his words, even his retorts really amazed me that I just fell in love with this character and did not think twice about forgiving his cruel behaviour towards the heroine near the end, even though in truth, I really think she deserved it. After all, he had his problems too which he shared with Jane, the heroine, but she did not in turn open up to him about her problems and secrets when she should have told him the truth if she had trusted him. Too late he found out about it himself. I simply could not accept her reasoning that she was ‘giving’ and not ‘taking’ from him and that he should thank her for it. This is, to me, irrational and impractical of her as her secret was a life and death situation and thus, she should have trusted Tresham with it if she really loved him, at least to make him understand her predicament. No wonder he was mad at her after he found out about it.

The ending was not really all that great because I think there should be a little bit more happiness after they’ve found out and accepted the truth about her situation i.e. she's not guilty after all and her pregnancy, but it was cut short with their surprise wedding announcement at the ball and that was basically the end(!) A much better story with a similar plot from Mary Balogh would be The Secret Pearl which I have read and will review soon in this blog. Overall, this book was a great read but only because of a truly wonderful hero who saved this book from a mediocre rating. Also, the ending could have been better.

Rating: 7.5/10 Tresham is the heart and soul of this book. I will keep this book for him!

One Night for Love

Title: One Night for Love
Author: Mary Balogh
First Printed: 1991
Purchase Date: 17th December 2005
Purchase price: £4.87
Retail price: $6.99
Purchased From: Amazon.co.uk
On book cover:

It was a perfect morning in May…

Neville Wyatt, Earl of Kilbourne, awaited his bride at the altar – when a ragged beggar woman raced down the aisle instead. The cream of the ton saw him stare, shocked, then declare that this was his wife! One night of passion was all he remembered as he beheld Lily, the woman he’d wed, loved and lost on the battlefield in Portugal. Now he said he’d honour his commitment to her – regardless of the gulf that lay between them.

Then Lily spoke her mind. She said she wanted only to start a new life – wanted only a husband who truly loved her. She had to leave him to learn how to meet his world on her terms. So Lily agreed to earn her keep as his aunt’s companion and study the genteel arts. Soon she was the toast of the ton, every inch a countess fir for the earl, who vowed to prove to his remarkable wife that what he felt for her was far more than desire, that what he wanted from her was much more than One Night for Love.

Comments on book:

I’ve always loved stories that start with childhood love or young love. Example of such stories is Lisa Kleypas’ Again the Magic and Mary Balogh’s Beyond the Sunrise. I can almost feel the yearning the couple feels for each other, as I do think that the more young and innocent their union is, the more heart wrenching and bigger the sacrifice made when they part and the more sweetly agonizing their reunion will be later in the story. This story is not really of young love but perhaps a ‘younger’ and pure love which bloomed in the middle of a war, where no titles nor inheritance nor money was taken into consideration. And plus the fact that he thought she was lost to him forever, that she had died due to his misjudgement, made their reunion very, very touching. I loved Neville Wyatt, the hero of this story. His pain was raw but he managed to contain his grief and remained composed for the sake of everything and everyone. And when he saw his ‘dead’ wife walking into the church when he was going to marry another woman, I can only try to imagine his pain and joy and confusion. And so he declared to everyone there that yes, she was indeed his wife and he took her hand and pulled her along away to the beach, where it is private and he can really look at her, without saying anything, probably composing his thoughts and feelings and the words to say to his wife he loved so dearly and thought long dead. Mrs Balogh did his character justice by describing his actions and emotions quite brilliantly.

However, I had a problem with Lily. During the period when she was thought to be dead, Lily, the heroine of the story went through a horribly long period when the Spanish partisan leader who captured her thought she belonged to one of the French officers and used her for sex. Although she showed her trauma once, when she was alone with Neville in the cottage, she would always otherwise be quite calm and serene and although the author explained her nature and character from the beginning to justify this behavioury, I worried that she was just being too strong for all the baggage she carried and that she would just turn to be deeply scarred and incurable. But of course, the author made her to be just so very at peace with the world that she was able to overcome everything. To do the author justice however, Lily did spill all the horrors she went through to Neville for some closure of that episode of her life but somehow it did not satisfy me. I needed her to cry and scream and kick and yell and punch and breakdown just for a few minutes before she can resume her life for it to be more believable, at least to me.

In conclusion, although the plot of this story in my opinion was good albeit a little predictable, the main characters and their feelings were also very well written but for the development of Lily’s emotions which I mentioned above and this made this story just a little short of brilliant.

Rating: 7/10 - A very good read - a must before reading its sequel; A Summer to Remember and the Bedwyn/Slightly series that follow.

Beyond the Sunrise

Title: Beyond the Sunrise
Author: Mary Balogh
Year Printed: 1992 (Currently Out of Print)
Purchase Date: 26th February 2006
Purchase price: $14.00 (£8.24)
Retail price on book: $4.99
Purchased from:



On book cover:

“They played a game of deception – but there was no disguising their desire.”

Jeanne Morisette, the daughter of a French count, first met Robert Blake when she was fifteen, and he was the seventeen-year-old illegitimate son of an English lord. When they meet again they are much older and wiser in the ways of the world. For both had been cast into a sea of intrigue and a storm of violence as England and France fight a ruthless war. But not even lies they are forced to tell each other in their roles as spies can dampen their desire for one another…as this proud and bewitching beauty and this handsome and fearless officer come together in a passion that flares in the shadow of danger – and a love that conquers the forces of hate…

Comments on book:

I have never shunned books with a war background and I was very excited to start on this book after reading recommendations about it on the marybalogh yahoogroup. I paid quite a high price for it and had to actually wait and bid at the last minute to win this book on ebay as somebody else was also determined to get it!

The war in this book is between England’s Wellington and the French in Portugal circa 1810, and the hero and heroine of this book are on the same side (Wellington’s, of course!) although the hero was lead to believe otherwise by the heroine herself, as she was doing some undercover work for England. Thus, he was suspicious of her and had to take her as his prisoner of war even after she appears to have helped him escape from being detained by the French. Their long journey back to the English camp on foot was not uneventful as the French were hot on their heels and while going through all the adventures and dangers together, their forbidden love blossomed again as of course, they were meant for each other.

Although I found Joanna’s character totally wonderful and amusing and very admirable as she was a woman very skillful in the dangerous game of spying, I was a little ticked off by the fact that she let him believe that she was indeed on the French’s side until quite towards the end of the book. I mean, if I were Captain Robert Blake, I would definitely feel like strangling her after I’ve found out the truth! And Robert, he is so adorable and strong and quiet, just how I like ‘em! I cannot believe he decided not to tell her the fact that they were once in love with each other long ago when they were very young and let her believe that the Robert who was her first love was dead! But I suppose he wanted her to think that because essentially he was (now) a different man.

But the ending…is so…good. Whatever loathing I felt for Joanna was diminished by her actions at the end. She completely atoned for the ‘lies’ she told him and what can I say, other than the book in my opinion is a brilliant read and is currently one of my Top 5. Definitely one to keep.

Rating: 9/10 - Enjoyed every minute of it!

Intro: There's Something About Mary

I first started reading Mary Balogh's novel a few months ago and fell in love with her style of writing and her characters. Although I find her plots are not remarkable, I feel that her characters are complex and her analysis and understanding of their emotions so deep that it amazed me. And thus, I became addicted to her books which are so descriptive and so understanding of real feelings and emotions.

I realise that many of her novels are out of print and initially I was quite shocked to see the prices of her used books. However, I am determined to read and collect all her novels however long it takes. In this blog I will keep a log of the Mary Balogh books I have purchased and read as I continue to collect her work. I will also write a short review of each book that I have read to remind me of what I felt after reading the books.