A Secret Affair

Product Details

• ISBN13: 9780385343305
• Notes: BUY WITH Aplomb, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and advice to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
• Demand: New

Description

 
Beloved New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh has written her most beguiling novel yet, in which the black sheep of the scandalous Huxtable family finally meets his match—in a woman of even more wicked reputation.
 
“The Devil was about to be tamed.” Her name is Hannah Reid. Born a commoner, she has been Duchess of Dunbarton ever since she was nineteen years old, the wife of an elderly duke to whom she has been rumored to be consistently and flagrantly unfaithful. Now the old duke is dead and, more womanly and beautiful than ever at thirty, Hannah has her freedom at last.

And she knows just what she wants to do with it. To the shock of a conventional friend, she announces her intention to take a lover—and not just any lover, but the most dangerous and delicious man in all of upper-class England: Constantine Huxtable.

Constantine’s illegitimacy has denied him the title of Earl, so now he denies himself nothing . . . or so the ton would have it. Rumored to be living the free and easy life of a sensualist in his country estate, he always chooses recent widows for his short-lived affairs. Hannah will fit the bill nicely.
 
But once these two passionate and scandalous figures find each other, they discover that it isn’t so easy to extricate oneself from the fires of desire—without getting singed. For the duchess and the dark lord each have startling secrets to reveal, and when all is said and done, neither will be able to say which one fell in love first, who tamed whom, and who has emerged from this game of hearts with the stronger hand.
 

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Customer Reviews

Outstanding Book and Story
After reading the first book,First Comes Marriage, I was hooked on the characters AND Conn. The mystery of who and what he had done and then showing up in all the others books was by far very smart writing. I have totally enjoyed the series and feel it has run it's course. I'm not one to reread books I've enjoyed, but this one would be at the top of my list if ever I did.

2010-07-26 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Huge Balogh Fan But Not This Time
I've probably read everything Mary Balogh has ever written and enjoyed 90% of her books, but I think this Huxtable series has been among her weakest efforts, and this finale the weakest of all. No conflict, with the major characters unbelievably and excessively self-aware. The book features a couple who have made a point of creating illusory public images, but they end up sharing their supposedly hidden guarded pasts nearly right away with each other. Even the storytelling, usually a Balogh specialty, featured way too many expository lumps as the characters explained their pasts and their current feelings at unrealistic length. I was really looking forward to Con's story and I don't think this novel lived up to the promise of the character in the previous books in this series.

2010-07-21 | Omnivorous Reader | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 2

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Really romantic and wonderful
I have read and enjoyed the whole Huxtable series and this is one of the best of the series. If you haven't read the entire series, I definitely encourage you to do so. Mary Balogh writes romances that are more about the people and their feelings (including family and friendship relationships) and less about the sex. They aren't prudish but the love scenes aren't done in graphic detail.

Constantine has been at least on the fringes of each of the previous books in the series and I was always curious how his story would play out. He could be very nice at some times and very nasty at others. Ms. Balogh gave him a love story that was worth the wait.

Constantine and the equally notorious Duchess of Dunbarton (who has just finished a year of mourning for her significantly older and very wealthy husband) start an affair that both expect will be short-term and purely sexual. Neither expects to develop feelings for the other person. But as they spend time together they learn secrets about the other that are at odds with their public reputations and learn to care about the real person behind the public facade. This story is very much about family and friendship in addition to the romance between Constantine and the Duchess. I loved it and was crying "happy romance" tears at the ending.

The earlier books in the series are: First Comes Marriage, Then Comes Seduction (Huxtable), At Last Comes Love, and Seducing an Angel.

2010-07-15 (Twin Cities, Minnesota USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Best of the Bunch
I really liked the whole series and looked forward to Cons story because he appears in all the others. The other stories are really quite good and I liked the family but this one is amazing, what a lovely couple and what a finish, wow, when he finds her in the park at the end and lifts her on to his horse, I dropped the book, I have never dropped the book, breathless!!!! Read and enjoy

2010-07-15 (North Vancouver B.C.) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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A Secret Affair
Constantine is the Huxtable family wild child. He loves women and is somewhat of a playboy. His family enjoys talking about him and Constantine is getting tired of being the front for gossip. Figuring changes should be made to his life, Constantine concentrates on being an upstanding citizen. No more affairs for him. Or so he thinks. The Duchess of Dunbarton, a widow, has naughty and illicit plans for Constantine and they don't include talking about the weather! Hannah was once a maiden, but life got in the way and now she has the reputation of being able to court and win over any man she wants. And she wants Constantine.

I adored the characterization of Constantine. I knew why he was reacting and trying to put his best foot forward and change his life. I did NOT like Hannah. She was not soft and more than once I found her sexuality to be on the trashy side. Now mind you, I read erotic romance, but what her character made me feel was not romantic or erotic. It made me think of easy and `whorish'. When I read a historical romance I want my female character to be a certain way and Hannah was not. In fact, she was so hard and jaded that I pretty much felt sorry for Constantine because never would I have placed him with a woman like Hannah.

The title, A Secret Affair, is exactly what it implies. Constantine and Hannah's affair was dirty and illicit and definitely needed some emotion. These two strong main characters just didn't click or seem like someone I would want to read about. The love scenes to me were contrived and almost non existent. Flowery words and prose are not something I enjoy. I would skip A Secret Affair unless you are a die hard Mary Balogh fan.

Talia
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

2010-07-11 | Joyfully Reviewed | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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A Matter of Class

Product Details

• Adapt: New
• Notes: BUY WITH Aplomb, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and usefulness to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
• ISBN13: 9781593155544

Description

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Customer Reviews

Delightful
Reggie and Annabelle, just a delight of a story. I loved the premise and find I'm struggling with writing this review so as not to give away spoilers. It is of novella length and it is long enough, so one is not cheated out of story. All this folderol about it being too short for the price is nonsense. You are paying for Ms. Balogh's ability to deliver a fantastic product and if it only takes 190 pages then that is what it takes. You will fall in love with the characters.

2010-07-26 (New York USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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A Mary Balogh Gem
This is a relatively short story but it is long on charm and a delightful surprise at the end. The two main characters really work well together. I cannot go into the story line too far without giving the plot away. I loved this story and highly recommend it. You will definitely want to read this more than once, maybe more. I have already read it a second time. Three cheers for Mary Balogh.

2010-07-13 (New Hampshire, USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Very classy!
I am glad I did not pay any attention to the negative reviews.
One of the best written novellas out there - but that is after all expected from Mary Balogh.
From small nuances to hilarious situations, from poignancy to believable dialogues - it was just as another reviewer said : A tasty morsel.
The twist is fairly obvious after the first chapter, so no surprizes there.
If the price seems a tad high for you (for me, I would rather read quality than trashy quantity), borrow and read. But read it nonetheless.
Five stars!

2010-07-06 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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I LIKED that it was short!
Unlike many reviewers here, I appreciated that this was a quick read. I borrowed the book from the library so didn't feel cheated price wise. So many Regencies now are longer than I enjoy in a book with endlessly involved extraneous plotting. This was different than the usual Regency and I found the characters likeable and believable. About 3/4 the way through, I figured out where the author was taking the book and then enjoyed the denouement.

2010-06-19 (Iowa) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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All Too Brief Charmer
This is a delight for the Balogh Regency fan. No one does family conflict better. Yes, I guessed the plot twist, and the story still provided a charming interlude. I paid full price and don't regret it. Now that the book is discounted, it's well worth the price. I know I'll read it again.

2010-05-24 | Cat (Alexandria, VA United States) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Irresistible (Berkley Sensation Historical Romance)

Product Details

• Notes: BUY WITH Nerve, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and assignment to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
• ISBN13: 9780425221037
• Prepare: New

Description

Sophie Armitage has never felt attractive to men. Even her late husband treated her more as a companion than a lover. But suddenly a longtime friendship turns into an irresistibly passionate affair. Mary Balogh is a "Romantic Times" Lifetime Achievement winner.

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Mary Balogh reconfirms her reputation as a superlative writer of Regency romance in this well-drawn, ultimately moving love story between a war hero's widow and her longtime friend. Nathaniel Gascoigne knew Sophie as a colleague's supportive wife when he fought in the Peninsular War. Now, meeting the widowed Sophie in London after a long separation, Nat is surprised by her unexpected agreement that they share discreet lovemaking, no strings attached. But a secret involving Sophie's former marriage has left her vulnerable to a blackmailer, and just when the satisfaction she offers to Nat makes him most eager to prolong their dalliance, Sophie decides she has no choice but to break it off. Nat's gradual insights into Sophie's character, and the couple's struggles to act honorably yet remain true to themselves, are beautifully handled. As a delightful contrast, there's the barbed repartee between Nat's independent-minded cousin and his marriage-shy best friend, which develops into a witty and satisfying secondary romance. Balogh's masterful command of the Regency period, and her skill at dramatizing subtle nuances of character, endow her books with rare and rich rewards. --Ellen Edwards

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Customer Reviews

Another Good Balogh Read
Mary Balogh writes a good story with believable characters. This is another good read for a relaxing good time. The Four Horsemen series is a very pleasing trio of books.

2010-02-22 | RedEyedReader (Lawton Oklahoma) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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A nice read!
Another good book to be read over a cup of coffe. A nice told story by the writer.
The writer amazes me how she comes out with so many stories written well. I love the way that the writer developes love in her books and does it tastefully, but everything is moving at such a fast pace. Her book is lacking in emotions and personal feelings that should be digged deeper into the soul.

2010-01-02 | Anna (Illinois, USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 3

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Hilarious at times, painfully sweet at others
This is one of the funniest Balogh books that I've read, and I've read quite a number of them. Some of the byplays had me chuckling for days. The scene where Nathaniel's friends tried to tell him about a rich widow who might make a good mistress for him is my very favorite. I didn't think the premise of the book, of old friends falling in love, would be very romantic, but it was surprisingly so. I think the recipe of a bullied widow and 4 handsome horsemen who vowed to take care of her with their lives is a potent one, for who could resist the drama of such an ensemble! Every time she looks troubled, one or more of them would immediately step up to her rescue, lucky Sophie! The humor and interesting plot makes this a winner, definitely one of Balogh's best books.

2009-10-21 | bookworm mom (Newark, CA USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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i love mary balough
all mary balogh's books are really good reads..ok, some a little better than others...but on the whole, 5 stars..

i heartly recomend anything she writes!!!

2009-07-15 | carrottop (deltona, florida) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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It was ok
Had to read this book for a book club. Not one of the better books but it wasn't a killer to get through.

2009-05-28 (Hayward, CA USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 3

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Slightly Tempted

Product Details

• ISBN13: 9780440241065
• Educate: New
• Notes: BUY WITH Belief, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and use to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Description

Meet the Bedwyns—six brothers and sisters—men and women of passion and privilege, daring and sensuality.

Enter their dazzling world of high society and breathtaking seduction…where each will seek love, fight temptation, and court scandal…and where Morgan Bedwyn, the willful youngest daughter, discovers that true love is a temptation no woman can—or should—resist.

Young. Ravishing. Exquisitely marriageable. From the moment he spies Lady Morgan Bedwyn across the glittering ballroom, Gervase Ashford, Earl of Rosthorn, knows he has found the perfect instrument of his revenge. But wedlock is not on the mind of the continent’s most notorious rake. Nor is it of interest to the fiercely independent Lady Morgan herself…until one night of shocking intimacy erupts in a scandal that could make Gervase’s vengeance all the sweeter. There is only one thing standing in his way: Morgan, who has achieved the impossible—she’s melted his coolly guarded heart. For Gervase, only the marriage bed will do, but Morgan simply will not have him. Thus begins a sizzling courtship where two wary hearts are about to be undone by the most scandalous passion of all: glorious, all-consuming love.

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Customer Reviews

Lacking the normal Balogh spark; relationship didn't leap off the page or pull me in as much as I would have liked
SUMMARY (Bedwyn Family, Book 4):
The first half of the book takes place in Brussels after Napoleon has escaped Elba and is trying to make a last stand; the second half takes place in England. Gervase Ashford, Earl of Rosthorn is thirty years old and has not set foot in England for nine years after being banished by his father after a mysterious event (don't want to spoil); all we do know is that it somehow involves the Duke of Bewcastle and Gervase has sustained a deep hatred for the man ever since. When he sees a beautiful young lady at a ball in Brussels and learns that she is none other than Lady Morgan Bedwyn, the youngest sister of the Duke of Bewcastle, he sees the perfect way to exact his revenge.

Morgan does not know why the Earl singles her out for his attentions and chalks it up to his notorious reputation as a rake and nothing more. What starts as a mild flirtation (with sparks flying) becomes much deeper and more personal with the backdrop of the Battle of Waterloo and Morgan's worry and subsequent grief at Alleyne's presumed death. A true friendship develops during an intense week filled with death and sorrow and Gervase begins to appreciate Morgan for the woman she is, not for whose sister she is.

Gossip regarding Morgan and Gervase's relationship precedes them to England, so when he escorts her back (with a seasick maid stuck in the cabin during the trip), the ton is already titillated by the brewing scandal. To cut through some of the back and forth that occurs in London, basically Morgan discovers what prompted Gervase's attentions to her and decides to punish him by accepting his (twice-necessitated) proposal of marriage, making him fall in love with her, and then breaking his heart by ending the betrothal. Old demons are faced, broken relationships mended, Bedwyn siblings and their spouses appear, and (of course) a HEA results.

REACTION:
Balogh is a *big* fan of these fake/will-be-broken-off betrothals and she's such a good writer that I honestly wouldn't have minded another one, except for the whole premise of this one is ridiculous and aggravating: Morgan accepts his umpteenth offer in order to punish him? She's going to play the part of the happy bride-to-be just so that she can humiliate him by breaking off the engagement (hopefully after he's fallen in love with her)? Just doesn't seem logical, and as/after she makes the decision we don't know much of Morgan's thoughts for a while, so I was at a loss as to why she took that route. Slightly Tempted is my least favorite of the series, but Balogh is a talented writer so she has set a high standard for herself to live up to. All in all, it's at least an entertaining read if not the normal stellar-keeper that Balogh delivers and you won't want to skip Morgan's story if you're reading all the Bedwyn books.

MAIN CHARACTERS:
There is a huge age difference between them - Morgan is 18 ("fresh out of the schoolroom") and Gervase is 30 - but I thought that Balogh dealt with it well. Gervase had been wounded by past betrayals and become so cynical and jaded during his years of exile, that a young, optimistic woman seems like a good fit for him. Also, it was nice to see a relationship where a friendship developed between the hero and heroine; I think that the week Morgan and Gervase spend together in Brussels helping the wounded soldiers and trying to find out what happened to Alleyne was one of the better parts of their romance.

Aside from that, I had problems with the hero and heroine. They both had wonderful potential, but Balogh didn't do as thorough a job in her character development and exploration as she normally does. It's hard to explain, but one example is what I said about Morgan's betrothal decision above. Another example: Gervase's character is similar to Joshua's (Freyja's husband and the hero of Slightly Scandalous, Bedwyn Book 3), in that they both seem to be roguish devil-may-care flirts and nothing more (they also have the same laughing/mocking eyes). However, in Slightly Scandalous, Joshua's persona and his inner struggles were fully explored and depicted in a way that created a believable three-dimensional character. Here, I found it hard to get a handle on Gervase - so much of the time when he was conversing with Morgan he seemed to be flirtatious and trivial, so that I could never really appreciate (or tell!) when he was supposedly being serious and authentic.

BOTTOM LINE:
If you're reading all the Bedwyn books you won't want to skip Morgan's story, but don't expect the excellent romance that Balogh normally delivers. However, if you're looking for Balogh keepers and re-reads, buy A Summer to Remember (Bedwyn prequel), The Secret Pearl, and/or Slightly Married and Slightly Dangerous (the two **best** Bedywn books!).

2008-12-11 | Jules (Northern Virginia, United States) | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 3

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Naami's Review
I like Mary Balogh's books, but this one is totally predictable and for me, a dull tale. Perhaps some others in the series might be more interesting.

2008-06-10 | Proud Grandmom (NYC) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 3

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Tempted to read and re-read!
Lady Morgan is the youngest of the Bedwyn family and also the family beauty, and over-protected as a result. She's therefore relieved and delighted to escape to Brussels with family friends and to enjoy a little freedom, even if her older brother Lord Alleyne is there to stand guard on occasion. He's wary when she encounters Gervase Ashford, Earl of Rosthorne, but Morgan isn't allowing herself to be seduced by Gervase's smooth talk and charm; she's just enjoying herself, and anyway she's considering someone else as a prospective husband. She won't take him seriously at all.

But then, on the eve of Waterloo, as it's clear that the battle is coming closer and gentlemen she knows will be off to fight, and even Alleyne, as a member of the diplomatic corps, will be involved, Morgan is comforted by the fact that Rosthorne, alone among any other gentleman present, takes her concerns and thoughts about war seriously instead of telling her not to worry her pretty little head. Later, when Alleyne goes missing, Rosthorne agrees to help look for him as Morgan helps to tend the wounded, and when the family she was staying with flees Brussels, abandoning Morgan, it's Rosthorne who ensures that she's safe and continues to look for Alleyne. Later, when it appears that Alleyne is dead, Rosthorne accompanies her back to England. But when her brother, the Duke of Bedwyn, meets them on their return it transpires that he and Rosthorne have past enmity between them.

Rosthorne pursued Morgan in the first place as revenge against the Duke for causing his banishment from England. Bedwyn believes that Rosthorne is nothing more than a rake and seducer, with good grounds. And Morgan's caught in the middle. Rosthorne asks for her hand, mostly because he believes that he compromised her; he's thrown out by Bedwyn. But later, as scandal spreads, he proposes again and Morgan accepts, merely to exact her own revenge. Can this fake bethrothal, built on at least a decade of family division, ever have a happy ending?

Yet another fake betrothal, of course, but it's not the main focus of the book and in fact doesn't even happen until well into it, by which time we've got to know the characters of Morgan and Gervase very well indeed. We find it hard to believe that Gervase could be guilty of what Bedwyn believes he did - and here I will say that the explanation is rather implausible. It's a small point, though, and I let it pass.

What I loved this book for, first and foremost, is that it's the first in the series to give us real insight into Wulfric, Duke of Bedwyn. There's a moment, after the memorial service for Alleyne, when he believes himself alone and he breaks down and cries, which tells us far more about his capacity for love than the cold, distant character in previous books revealed. I did also like Gervase very much, and Morgan exceeded my expectations. Definitely an excellent read, and a good indication for the remaining two books in the series.

2008-04-24 | wmr-uk (Canada) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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What's a fake marriage...or two...or three...
I won't bother repeating myself too much. Much of what I've said about Balogh's other books in this series can be said for Slightly Tempted. It wasn't bad or great, and there were a number of things that annoyed me.

When yet ANOTHER fake betrothal became part of the story, I literally wanted to bang my head heavily into a wall. This was the third one of the series (not including Aidan's in-name-only marriage of convenience). It's a nice story hook, but really, how many times can you use it in one series? Three is by far too many. Where is Balogh's originality? Even the other repetitions that I mentioned in the last review persisted. It's rather tedious.

Aside from all that, the book was decent enough. I like Morgan and Gervase. And the mystery surround why Gervase was banished from his home added some depth to what could have been a dull plot. Then there was Alleyne's part in the story. That definitely made things more interesting. If it hadn't been for the fake betrothal, I probably would have liked the book more. But all in all, it was a likable enough book.

2007-06-16 | JJN-1313 (Pennsylvania) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 3

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Nice...
This book is pretty good. I mean I like the hott tension between Gervase and Morgan. But it just was alright for me. Gervase is a nice guy i really like him and I like Morgan too. I don't like the big age difference though. But hey love is love. This wasn't one of my favorite Slightly series.

2007-05-01 (WI) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 3

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At Last Comes Love

Description

Step into a world of scandal, intrigue, and enthralling passion as New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh sweeps us into the lives of an extraordinary family: the Huxtables. Margaret, the eldest, embarks on the most risqué adventure of her life and agrees to marry the most notorious man in London.…

Only desperation could bring Duncan Pennethorne, the infamous Earl of Sheringford, back home after the spectacular scandal that had shocked even the jaded ton. Forced to wed in fifteen days or be cut off without a penny, Duncan chooses the one woman in London in frantic need of a husband. A lie to an old flame forces Margaret Huxtable to accept the irresistible stranger’s offer. But once she discovers who he really is, it’s too late—she’s already betrothed to the wickedly sensual rakehell. Quickly she issues an ultimatum: If Duncan wants her, he must woo her. And as passion slowly ignites, two people marrying for all the wrong reasons are discovering the joys of seduction—and awaiting the exquisite pleasure of what comes after….

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Customer Reviews

loved it
I loved this book- not that Mary Balogh wirtes any bad ones. This one is my favorite though. I don't keep very many novels like this (I donate PILES of books to the local library) but I kept this one.

2010-06-29 (Alabama) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Best one so far
Technically speaking this is third book in the series about the Huxtable family. The stories started with the middle sister Ve
margret favorite sister Vanessa, then the youngest of the sisters Katherine. Now it's the story of the eldest sisters Margaret. I don't believe that the other stories need to be read to follow this one however they are helpful. Many of the previous characters reappear in this story so it's nice to know who they are and what their history is. Having said that I think it's safe to say it can also be read as a stand alone.

When I started First Comes Marriage I really wished it was about Meg mostly because I identified with her the most. I couldn't wait to get to this book. Meg is the eldest of the Huxtable daughter, her parents died when she was young and she promised to take care of her siblings. Her brother is the earl of Merton and so they come into a lot of money and a different life style (This is all covered in the first book). She was in love at the time with Crispin, who she learned at the age of 25 got married while away at war. All this is previous history built in the first book connecting her to her sister's story.

At last comes love takes place two years after Then Comes seduction. At this point Meg has turned thirty, both her sisters are married and her brother has come of age. Meaning she has fulfilled her promise to her father. When she runs into Crispin she is angry and tells him that she is betrothed to someone. That lie leads her to accept a very tempting offer from a stranger. Duncan who has quiet the reputation needs a wife and he needs one fast so when he runs into Meg he offers her marriage. Once Meg discovers who he is she's not very happy about it but she gives him a chance anyway. She tells him that he has to convince her of marrying him and he takes the challenge. That's only half of the story.

There are many obstacles the characters go through with a very complex background story behind Duncan. I was afraid that either Meg or him would outshine the other character wise. However I was happy to see that they were both very strong well developed characters. They both were able to keep the other on their toes while sometimes having a sense of humor. I also really enjoyed the small discussions of how the society worked at the time relating to male dominance. It is a very perfect setting to bring up the issue even if it's for a brief time. The plot line actually seemed to deal with a little bit more than just two people and how they might or might not be together. There was a larger issue at hand that I think the author did a good job bringing forth.

I however had some problems with the book as well I will try to list them without spoiling anything. There was one character in particular who sounded much older than he was. It also was very typical to romance novels at many points. The good looking woman with the perfect body and long flowing hair who society thinks is a little old. The guy with the great masculine look and who is basically a player. Basically a lion and the lamb. The end also felt very rushed and very unrealistic. The whole story with Con which was in the first book never developed. I am not sure why he keeps showing up if we never learn anything new about him.

Overall however I liked this book the most.

2009-10-11 | ~*~ Pallas Athena ~*~ | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Number three....sure, I'll give it a go!
At Last Comes Love is the third book in the Huxtable family series. I didn't read the first, it was painful for me to get through the second book, so I gave up, and the third was a pleasant surprise indeed. Balogh is a new author for me, despite being around awhile. I say the second book was painful because it couldn't hold my attention for long periods of time. The third book holds my attention easily, as the story is very, very sweet.

Margaret Huxtable is the oldest of the Huxtable family, who swore to their dying father she would take care of her brother and sisters and see them happy. Her sisters are married, her brother is now comfortable in his role as the Earl of Merton, and she is content with her life, except for one thing- love, and marriage of course. Long ago her lover Crispin Dew set off to fight the French, but not before asking for her hand in marriage with the promise to take her with him to the war. Margaret, the ever responsible, chose to take care of her family instead of living her own dream. Years later, when her family is content, Crispin returns home a widow and with a young daughter in tow. Margaret is torn between his cruel faithlessness and her deep feelings for him- until she meets him again. Having decided to marry over the winter to her dear friend the Marquess of Allingham (he's asked three times), Margaret is annoyed with Crispin and his assumption that she has been waiting for him all this time. In a fit of pique, she informs him she is secretly betrothed. The best laid plains, however, do not always come to light, and the Marquess has engaged himself to another. So, Meg, as her family calls her, is without a fiance and needs to produce one quickly. Enter the Earl of Sheringford, Duncan Pennethorne.

Years ago, on the eve of his marriage to Caroline Turner, Duncan ran off with Laura Turner, sister in law to Caroline. Duncan is back in London to see his grandfather, the Marquess of Claverbrook, who is about to cut him off entirely and give Woodbine, his ancestoral home, to his cousin Norm, who graciously stepped in to marry poor desserted Caroline. Duncan's grandfather, who is about to turn eighty in a few weeks, presents an ultimatum- marry before the birthday comes around, or cousin Norm will inherit Woodbine. Duncan has more than himself to look after, so the search for bride commences. It's dumb luck that Meg, or Maggie, as Duncan calls her, literally collide at a ball the next evening. The truth comes out about the real reasons Duncan ran off with Laura, and Meg understands and accepts his reasons. Our hero and heroine act out of character to all who know them the best, and before the birthday of the Marquess of Claverbrook arrives, Meg is the Countess of Sheringford. Their initial courtship, and the one that takes place after they're wed, is very sweet with many surprises and a few moments of angst.

Of course with formula romance, the hero must do something to anger the heroine, and a sweet reconciliation occurs. This book is no different. At Last Comes Love was a delightful read, with well written characters from the previous novels coming more to life alongside the two main characters. What is wonderful about Duncan and Maggie is the love they show for those they care about is increased tenfold when directed towards each other. They both have to learn to allow someone to love them, because loving someone is no hard task for them. Their are some dark aspects of this novel, and perhaps some implied scenes that might make a few squirm, also, the book could have used an epilogue, but don't let that stop you, it's definitely one to pick up.

2009-09-06 | Angie- Bookishly Attentive (W Terre Haute, IN) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 3

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3rd story in the Huxtable family series
At Last Comes Love by Mary Balogh is the third story in the Huxtable family series. It was an okay read, but nothing stood out in my mind. It reminded me of other stories that I've read. It is a sweet love story focusing on Margaret Huxtable who is almost 30, and is desperate to be married. She wants a husband and family. The hero, Duncan Pennethorne, Earl of Sheringford, needs a wife and needs one soon or his grandfather will give his home to Duncan's cousin. Duncan can't let that happen because he needs the money to take care of his "son". Duncan left his home years ago when he ran away with a married woman right before his own wedding so people believe him to be a rogue.

Duncan and Margaret meet at a ball, and Duncan decides to try to get Margaret to marry him. Margaret is not repulsed by the idea seeing as she as told an old lover of hers that she was betrothed when she isn't. So she goes along with Duncan's marriage proposal. Except that she wants Duncan to court her properly before she will actually marry him. As their friendship grows, so does their feelings for each other. But Duncan has to tell Margaret the truth behind the scandal associated with his name, and the truth about his "son". The other Huxtable family members are brought back into this story which was nice. Can't wait for Stephen's story next. 4 stars!

2009-09-01 (Alabama, USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Grown up love story
I've now read the first three Huxtable books, difficult to get in the UK but as they arrived more or less together, I read them one after the other. I have read a lot of comment about these three books both here at amazon and on various other websites. I know there are mixed feelings and I have read the critical reviews carefully. I believe that the critical reviews have been of the most interest and much of what was said in them is arguably quite fair.

I am giving this book 5 stars because, although admittedly a MB fan, I found this third book to be the best of the three. It is always refreshing to read a story about a mature H/H and also, for me, about those who have suffered or sacrificed. Margaret's shift in circumstances (as for her brother and sisters) surely would have been traumatic. Certainly life for the family became vastly improved but these improvements did not bring Margaret instant happiness. Instead, she continued to stand aside, supporting the family and missing out on a lasting love for herself. Duncan is a man of hidden depths who has allowed himself to take the blame for others far, far more culpable than he. He did it in a graceful way, not attributing his ills to others but instead taking on very heavy burdens. I particularly like this set-up and it is a plot device I am fond of.

There are some flaws in the story; the nasty cousin and his particuarly vulgar wife were a bit two dimensional but as a plot device they were fine. It's just that they seemed to have no redeeming qualities as human beings and no one is 100% nasty.

So, 5 stars from me because grown up love stories are very rare and not always well done. Mary Balogh's writing style continues to be right up there at the forefront of the regency-set novel and she has a sure hand. I look foreward more to Con's story than Stephen's but will certainly read both.

2009-08-21 (A small rural village in the English Midlands) | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 5

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Dark Angel/Lord Carew's Bride

Product Details

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• ISBN13: 9780440245445
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Description

From New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh come two classic tales of love turned dangerous, set amid the splendor of Regency England—a time rife with passion, betrayal, and intrigue.
 
DARK ANGEL
Jennifer Winwood has been engaged for five years to a man she hardly knows but believes to be honorable and good: Lord Lionel Kersey. Suddenly, she becomes the quarry of London’s most notorious womanizer, Gabriel Fisher, the Earl of Thornhill. Jennifer has no idea that she is just a pawn in the long-simmering feud between these two headstrong, irresistible men—or that she will become a prize more valuable than revenge.
 
LORD CAREW’S BRIDE
Jennifer’s cousin Samantha Newman is smarting after she too is toyed with by Lord Kersey. In the midst of her heartbreak, she seeks solace from her new friend, the disabled gardener Hartley Wade. If only she knew that Hartley is secretly Lord Carew, and that he hides more than extraordinary wealth: a passionate secret held deep in his heart that only her love can reveal.

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Customer Reviews

Not up to par
One of the characters says "I do not want to sound like a bad melodrama." But, unfortunately, this book approaches that. It is much more superficial and contrived than Ms. Balogh's other works. I just didn't buy that these women had to spend so much time mulling things over in their minds to see what was really happening. And no one else could see the villan for the sociopath that he was???? Come on.

2010-05-25 | Dr. Sue (Delaware) | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 3

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Mary Balogh
This book was just OK. I usually love her work. I think that this particular set was one of her first and she has since evolved into a much better writer.

2010-04-21 | Short Scribbler (MD USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 3

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Mary Balogh: Dark Angel/Lord Carew's Bride
This is a reprint of two novels published by Mary Balogh in 1994. I enjoyed reading them. She is an excellent writer, with more than just romance and sex in her books.

2010-04-12 | Regency Buff (Morristown, NJ) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Not at her best
I am an avid reader of romance novels, and Mary Balogh is among my favorite authors, whose books i will automatically buy. She usually portrays such humor, depth and finess in her writing. With this book, i am disappointed. The stories and the characters were not as well thought of and developed as they should be, and the whole story line is tired. Nothing new, nothing exciting. I was left untouched - by the charcaters or their stories.

2010-04-08 | NS | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 3

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Blah!
I'm sorry, I just couldn't get past the nothingness of the dialogue and characters. I realize these are a two of her earlier works, and it shows. DARK ANGEL: I couldn't get passed the sheer incipidness (if that's a word) of the females. LORD CAREW'S BRIDE: Started out ok, but just not interesting enough for me to want to get to know them. Disappointing, really.

2010-04-06 | vjbratcher (Webster, New York USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 1

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