Slightly Married (Bedwyn Saga #1) by Mary Balogh

 

 

Slightly Married Summary:

    Meet the Bedwyn: 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 Aidan Bedwyn, the marriage-shy second son, discovers that matrimony may be the most seductive act of all.

    Like all the Bedwyn men, Aidan has a reputation for cool arrogance. But this proud nobleman also possesses a loyal, passionate heart—and it is this fierce loyalty that has brought Colonel Lord Aidan to Ringwood Manor to honor a dying soldier's request. Having promised to comfort and protect the man's sister, Aidan never expected to find a headstrong, fiercely independent woman who wants no part of his protection... nor did he expect the feelings this beguiling creature would ignite in his guarded heart. And when a relative threatens to turn Eve out of her home, Aidan gallantly makes her an offer she can't refuse: marry him... if only to save her home. And now, as all of London breathlessly awaits the transformation of the new Lady Aidan Bedwyn, the strangest thing happens: With one touch, one searing embrace, Aidan and Eve's “business arrangement” is about to be transformed into something slightly surprising.

Slightly Married Review:

    I loved this book so much! To me, it is the embodiment of what a good romance should be; a slow romance, interesting characters, and enough drama to keep the story engaging. However, the characters are the real draw. Just like every other Mary Balogh book, her characters are original and the way that they are written on the pages differentiates them. Eve appears first as the Mary Sue type but is written to be strong and independent. She is incredibly confident in whom she loves and protects and makes no apologies because she comes from a lower class. In an era of overly traumatized or aggressively independent female characters, I loved that she was independent and had faced hardships, yet her personality was more than that. Aidan was the same. He easily fell into the cold male lead; however, learning about his past and showing him progress into a man open to love was amazing. The progression was slow and wasn't just because of Eve's love, which I truly appreciate. Likewise, the other Bedwyn characters were different and there is a lot of space to develop them in their stories.
   

The story itself, EVERYTHING worked. The progression from two characters coming together and falling in love by the end was realistic. The side characters supported and added drama when needed, but it never went over the top. There were very few sex scenes, which I appreciate because that means there is more time for plot development. And those sweet scenes, like going on a picnic or when Aidan was teaching the kids to swim, fit perfectly into the story. Overall, a 5-star read and a 5-star read even after being re-read many times.

Devil in Winter (Wallflowers #3)

Devil in Winter Summary: 
A Devil's Bargain

Easily the shyest Wallflower, Evangeline Jenner stands to become the wealthiest, once her inheritance comes due. Because she must first escape the clutches of her unscrupulous relatives, Evie has approached the rake Viscount St. Vincent with a most outrageous proposition: marriage!

Sebastian's reputation is so dangerous that thirty seconds alone with him will ruin any maiden's good name. Still, this bewitching chit appeared, unchaperoned, on his doorstep to offer her hand. Certainly an aristocrat with a fine eye for beauty could do far worse.

But Evie's proposal comes with a condition: no lovemaking after their wedding night. She will never become just another of the dashing libertine's callously discarded broken hearts—which means Sebastian will simply have to work harder at his seductions... or perhaps surrender his own heart for the very first time in the name of true love.

Devil in Winter Review: 

   I initially read this book, and absolutely loved it. But re-reading It Happened One Autumn, framed St. Vincent differently. I love when authors create characters that push the boundaries of morality and try and make the audience sympathize with them because it pushes us to understand the reason behind their actions. However, St. Vincent's reasoning was hard to grasp and his actions were wrong. Ms. Kleypas did try and give some back story into him, but it was just a short sentence. It didn't really reveal his personality as much as it needed to. Usually, the Wallflower and Hathaway books don't focus too much on the past, a lot is spent on developing their future relationships. This works for everyone else; however, St. Vincent needed to be redeemed. A hint of the past is not enough to prove that St. Vincent is intrinsically a good person and deserves forgiveness.
 

   St. Vincent, without context, was your typical rake. He was arrogant, good-looking, great at making money and just living up to that stereotype. Not that it's a bad thing, especially in romance! It's just that Evie's past was explored so much more, and St. Vincent's was glossed over when he needed the most exposure. As a standalone, he was a classic book boyfriend, as a continuation of a series he was lacklustre. There was a moment where St. Vincent apologized for his actions, but he only did "on screen" to Westcliff, not Lillian. The person that he kidnapped and assaulted! In that regard, the book felt unfinished. And his actions tainted every part of the book. He came off as over-aggressive, especially with his language towards Evie in the beginning, too masculine, too arrogant, etc. The bullet wound was a nice touch, but it just wasn't enough. I'm going to keep repeating this, had it been any other series, this book would have been spectacular! It was why I loved it before I re-read It Happened One Autumn through a new perspective. Reading Devil in Winter before It Happened One Autumn definitely reads better.
 
   On the other hand, Evie was a sweetheart throughout the novel. Her going from a blushing, shy girl to a confident woman was amazing to see. It was a slow progression, and the book ends with room for more growth. I would have loved to read even more about her life and her journey. And her backbone! From the very beginning, she was so strong; it's so interesting to see a heroine that isn't upfront about her strength. She knows when to push for something and when to back down, especially after Lillian and so many of the Urban Fantasy novels, it was refreshing. In terms of side characters, Cam was interesting. Daisy and Annabelle were great to see as well!
 
Overall this was a 2-start read, but it used to be a five.  

It Happened One Autumn (Wallflowers #2)

It Happened One Autumn Summary: 
It happened at the ball...

Where beautiful but bold Lillian Bowman quickly learned that her independent American ways weren't entirely "the thing." And the most disapproving of all was insufferable, snobbish, and impossible Marcus, Lord Westcliff, London's most eligible aristocrat.

It happened in the garden...

When Marcus shockingly—and dangerously—swept her into his arms. Lillian was overcome with a consuming passion for a man she didn't even like. Time stood still; it was as if no one else existed... thank goodness they weren't caught very nearly in the act!

It happened one autumn...

Marcus was a man in charge of his own emotions, a bedrock of stability. But with Lillian, every touch was exquisite torture, every kiss an enticement for more. Yet how could he consider taking a woman so blatantly unsuitable... as his bride?

It Happened One Autumn Review: 

I wanted to start by writing a trigger warning for this book due to instances of rape and assault. I also wanted to say that there will be spoilers in this review.

    This book is hard to finish. From their first intimate encounter, a precedent is set for the rest of their meetings. It also states, quite adamantly, that when a woman says no, it actually means yes because she secretly wants it. Throughout the novel, there is a push and pull relationship between, which does have its funny moments. The rounders game where Lillian tackles Westcliff was funny and reframed their previously, antagonistic relationship. However, for many of the events, Lillian comes off childish and Westcliff appears domineering. Luckily, whenever the secondary characters showed up, the story became a lot more interesting. Lillian and Daisy's antics were especially fun to read about. This will be further explained below, but the progression of their love story is tainted by their intimate encounters. Below, I discuss three instances where the men's behaviour was either rape or assault. Most readers believe that these three events were passionate and sexy, in a good way. But I will try and explain my stance on why these actions were wrong.

    The first time that they kiss, which is very early on in the book, Westcliff ends up kissing Lillian three times. She repeatedly tries to push Westcliff off and says no. But based on the perfume she wears, he was to over come to listen to her. And she responded during the first so she must have wanted it to continue. For me, this appears similar to people under the influence who exhibit poor behaviour; however, a perfume's scent can hardly be equal to an intoxication. There are more factors than just someone's attraction, such as their comfort level which are important to consider in any interaction. Especially, somewhere as restrictive as the Victorian society.

    Then there is the first sex scene. Westcliff has walked just in on Lillian drinking brandy until she is drunk. Westcliff himself states, "[s]he was foxed, staggering, tap-hackled, top-heavy, shot-in-the-neck, staggering drunk". Its hilarious, and Lillian adds to this with her actions. Westcliff further comments that starting anything sexual with her, no matter how flirty she may act, would be wrong and taking advantage of her disposition. Nonetheless, Westcliff reaches a certain where he can no longer control himself. He can no longer handle Lillian's drunk advances anymore and decides to have sex with her. Now, many readers say that Lillian was asking for it or that she wanted it. However, she was not in control of her facilities during this time...BEING DRUNK. To contrast her drunkness, Westcliff is stone-cold sober during the entire interaction. Additionally, he has a larger sexual knowledge than Lillian does because women are kept innocent until marriage. Both St. Vincent and Westcliff describe Lillian as such. So Westcliff can think both clearly and has a greater understanding of what is coming next. He should be acting as her guide; instead, he becomes her rapist. This is rape. She can't give her consent because she is intoxicated which means that this is non-consensual sex or rape. It doesn't matter how much she wants it, as stated before there are multiple factors other than their physical attraction to warrant an intimate event. This was a disgusting scene and it made the next scene, where he cleans her up after forcibly stripping of her blanket, even worse.

    The final incident includes St. Vincent and Lillian, not Westcliff. St. Vincent has captured Lillian in a stupid kidnapping scheme to force her to marry him because he is severely in debt. Nothing in this book explains this random behavioural change in St. Vincent and the only reason it is likely here it to create a redemption arc for him in the next novel and create a climactic end. The kidnapping leads to Lillian tied up on a bed, where St. Vincent opens her dress and gropes her breast. And the book highlights that she turns away her head in discomfort and shame. This event by itself would not be problematic because it is quite clear that it is sexual assault. However, St. Vincent is the hero of the next book Devil in Winter, and the novel (as well as the next one) states that the main problem was actually stealing Westcliff's girl. It never labels St. Vincent as an assaulter. Especially telling is the conversation in the next book where Evie boldly states that St. Vincent could have never raped Lillian; however, his incredibly aggressive behaviour in this novel shows otherwise. More on that in the next review.

    While this novel was great the first few times I read it because I, like many other readers, either ignored the scenes or assumed that it was what normal love looked like. Now, I know better and this novel makes me uncomfortable just thinking about it. I'm not passing judgement on those that continue to enjoy the novel, this is a work of fiction. Nonetheless, it is important to understand the underlying issues.

    This brings me to my next point, which is becoming more apparent through Ms. Kleypas' novels. The heroes seem unduly aggressive. For example, Simon from the previous novel grabs and kisses Annabelle without her permission. Additionally, whenever there is a sex scene, the heroines are described using words such as helpless or use actions such as crying or quiver. Not only is that kinda weird in general, but its also uncomfortable when paired with the "manly" way the heroes are described. It is important to note that Simon and Mathew (Scandal in Spring) are quite nice as heroes and there many attempts to place them on equal footing to the heroines.

Overall, the novel is a 1-star read.

Secrets of a Summer Night (Wallflowers #1)

Secrets of a Summer Night Summary: 
Four young ladies enter London society with one common goal: they must use their feminine wit and wiles to find a husband. So a daring husband-hunting scheme is born.

Annabelle Peyton, determined to save her family from disaster, decides to use her beauty and wit to tempt a suitable nobleman into making an offer of marriage. But Annabelle's most intriguing--and persistent--admirer, wealthy, powerful Simon Hunt, has made it clear that while he will introduce her to irresistible pleasure he will not offer marriage. Annabelle is determined to resist his unthinkable proposition . . . but it is impossible in the face of such skillful seduction.

Her friends, looking to help, conspire to entice a more suitable gentleman to offer for Annabelle, for only then will she be safe from Simon--and her own longings. But on one summer night, Annabelle succumbs to Simon's passionate embrace and tempting kisses . . . and she discovers that love is the most dangerous game of all.

Secrets of a Summer Night Review:      

    This is one of my all-time favourite books; I re-read this book almost once a month! The characters are witty and complex, the story is whimsical and the book just leaves you with a joyful feeling in the end. Secrets of a Summer Night is a typical historical romance, which means that all loose ends are tied and it leaves you eagerly awaiting the next book. However, its characters and story make it stand out amongst the cliches.

   Secrets of a Summer Night starts off by showing the financial struggles and strong will of Annabeth. It also establishes the alluring and magnetic personality of Simon, when he comes to their aid to pay for the play tickets. The connection between the two is instantaneous after they share a smouldering moment (to borrow a phrase from Ms. Kleypas). From there the romance slowly transformed from lust into love in a spectacular way. And it mirrored the transformation of Annabeth from a toughened, prejudiced noblewomen into a softened, knowledgeable middle-class woman. On the brink of poverty, she is trying to marry a wealthy aristocrat. Having to deal with poverty and the societal implications, especially in a blue-blood family, would toughen anyone up. Annabeth was no exception. And her belief in high society meant that those of the lower classes were generally avoided. Her transformation was a prime example of how to represent growth in a character; it was incredible! I know that a few readers had problems understanding how she could be so ruthless in her pursuit of a husband, but her actions embody those in a similar situation. Annabeth desperately wants to save her family and retain some dignity during the process. While she may not be morally right at all times, her actions are understandable.

   Simon's development throughout the story is a bit more subtle. Readers understand that he is very ambitious and is just searching for an unknown that would fill the emptiness in him. While this is an overused trope in Romance, it was well thought in Simon. He was not over-eager in his pursuit. Instead, he relied on honesty and sweetness to win her. He was incredibly self-aware; however, he could still make mistakes, which really opened up his character. And the fact that he would marry her even if she was not a virgin, stood out in this historical piece. Simon's drive made the pursuit of Annabeth so captivating. Instead of it being one-sided, both characters pushed, moved...aggravated each other, setting off fireworks whenever they were together. They broke down each other's walls and formed a genuine connection over time.

   Historical romance novels usually stop developing love after marriage, but that doesn't happen here, which is fantastic! There were marital problems that took communication and compromises to change. Was it a bit dramatic? Of course, but there were so many parts of their relationships and marriage that were realistic. There was still growth that needed to happen after this book had ended, but the foundation was there. One thing that really stands out is their chess games. They were some of my favourite scenes; there was so much emotion in those scenes that didn't need to be spelled out for the reader.

   Now the Wallflowers. They were a beautiful addition to this book. Each came with their own personality and added to the hilarity of Secrets of a Summer Night. Their rounders scene had me in stitches! And I can't wait for Lillian's and Marcus' book (which is next)!

   Overall, a heart-warming, enticing read. A definite 5 star read and highly recommended read for new and old fans of Historical romances!

The Revolution of Marina M.

The Revolution of Marina M. Summary:
St. Petersburg, New Year's Eve, 1916. Marina Makarova is a young woman of privilege who aches to break free of the constraints of her genteel life, a life about to be violently upended by the vast forces of history. Swept up on these tides, Marina will join the marches for workers' rights, fall in love with a radical young poet, and betray everything she holds dear, before being betrayed in turn.

As her country goes through almost unimaginable upheaval, Marina's own coming-of-age unfolds, marked by deep passion and devastating loss, and the private heroism of an ordinary woman living through extraordinary times. This is the epic, mesmerizing story of one indomitable woman's journey through some of the most dramatic events of the last century.

The Revolution of Marina M. Review: 

I'm keeping this review short, because a book this good is difficult to describe. It is something that you have to read for yourself to truly experience the delight and and adventure the book brings. And on that note, here is my review...

The Revolution of Marina M. is an 816 page book filled with heart-wrenching tales of a girl finding her way through the hardships of life. I usually don’t enjoy books like this one because following a character through a large period of time is not easy to narrate for most authors. These books cannot keep the attention of the reader, or fail to make each part of the protagonist’s life believable; whether it be from the lack of dimensional characters or not enough descriptions of the settings. However, The Revolution of Marina M. is able to keep the reader focused on Marina’s journey. The novel is very well researched and does not strongly feature a love interest, showcasing a new side of historical fiction that I had not previously read. Additionally, the writing was engaging and descriptive. Unfortunately, the book was a little slow to get into as the novel is slowly building itself up.

Overall, The Revolution of Marina M. is a 4.5 star read, and one that I highly recommend, especially if you want to try something new!

Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A Dance with Seduction (A Spy in the Ton, #1)

A Dance with Seduction Summary:
She was the only code he couldn't break...

Vivienne Le Fleur is one of London’s most sought after opera dancer and one of England’s best weapons: the spy known as the Flower. When a French agent pressures her to change allegiance by abducting her sister, Vivienne is forced to seek the help of the only man in London who doesn’t want her.

Maximilian Westwood, retired code breaker, doesn't like surprises or mysteries and The Flower is both. When she sneaks into his study in the middle of the night with a coded message, he’s ready to push her out whatever window she arrived through. Except Maximilian is unable to turn away a woman in trouble. Determined to rescue Vivienne’s sister, they engage in a game of cat and mouse with French spies that requires all of Vivienne’s training and Maximilian’s abilities. Bound together by secrecy, they discover there is more between them than politics and hidden codes, but love has no place among the secrets of espionage...

A Dance with Seduction Review: 
A Dance of Seduction is a book that I enjoyed reading as a result of a phenomenal premise, with suspense, mystery and a good deal of romance. From the start, the book was realistic in regards to both characters and plot. These characteristics along with a refreshing new take on spies made A Dance of Seduction an excellent novel in comparison to other historical mysteries.

Both Vivienne and Maximillian, were fascinating characters to read about. Maximillian, not Max, was a government code-breaker, now a translator in eleven languages and a grumpy book-nerd. Definitely not a characteristic that comes about frequently in book characters. On top of that, he’s a beta hero, meaning that Maximillian never dominants his will over Vivienne. He does not treat her as a delicate flower; he recognizes that she is a survivor. On the other hand, he respects her enough to see through her façade and pushes Vivienne to free herself. Likewise, Maximillian does not make a move on her while she is supposed to be under the protection of another male, however there is still a significant amount of sexual tension.

Vivienne is another character that I came to respect throughout her journey in this book. While she does have trust issues concerning Maximillian, I was happy to see that she worked through it, allowing herself a change at love. Additionally, she was a strong heroine who puts the needs of her sister over her desire for a relationship, strengthening her character. This struggle between the two along with the obstacles Vivienne has to overcome led to a very powerful romance.

Overall, A Dance of Seduction is a 3.5 star read! The beginning of the story was a little slow, but when the plot picked up, it turned into a fantastic romance. The writing drew me, and the plot kept me captivated as they attempt to save Anne and defeat the Vulture. I highly recommend this book to anyone who would enjoy a historical spy novel and will definitely be reading the previous books in the series!

Thank you to Alyssa Alexander and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Devil’s Prayer

The Devil’s Prayer Summary:
A nun commits suicide in front of thousands in Spain. In Australia, Siobhan Russo recognises that nun as her mother, Denise Russo, who disappeared six years ago.

In search of answers, Siobhan travels to the isolated convent where her mother once lived. Here she discovers Denise’s final confession, a book that details a heinous betrayal that left her crippled and mute, and Denise’s subsequent deal with the Devil to take revenge. In the desperate bargain Denise made with the Prince of Darkness, she wagered Siobhan’s soul.

As Siobhan discovers the fate of her soul, she learns that hidden within the pages of her mother’s confession is part of The Devil’s Prayer, an ancient text with the power to unleash apocalyptic horrors.

And now her mother’s enemies know Siobhan has it.

Can Siobhan escape an order of extremist monks determined to get the Prayer back? Can she save the world from its own destruction?

Warning: "The Devil’s Prayer" is a historical horror thriller that contains brutality, rape, sex, drug abuse and murder. Readers may find its content offensive and confronting.

The Devil’s Prayer Review: 
The Devil's Prayer is a surprisingly good read! Throughout the whole book I was captivated by the storytelling, both the non-fiction aspect as well as the darker part of the novel. On top of that, the character development was phenomenal. I really was excited to reading about Siobhan and her journey in this book. Every detail is harrowing and suspenseful, the action is graphic and the world is nightmarish.

The history part of the novel I found incredibly fascinating. Learning about the conspiracy between the two families along with the historical setting was something that I enjoy read about. I felt that this part of the book set up well for the remaining darker part in the book. On the other hand, the information was a tad bit dense, so if you are not into a more non-fiction feel, you may not like this part.

It soon became grittier and more sinister plot, because the portrayal of the corrupt in this novel was terrific. The descriptions were raw and exciting along with the historical parts were woven through the writing. The story came alive, bringing me into the adventure with Siobhan.

Overall, The Devil's Prayer is a five-star read! I completely loved reading this original, horror-filled and suspenseful novel. This is one book that I will definitely read again! Fair warning though, there are several trigger warnings listed in the summary above. I can't wait to see if there is going to be a sequel!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review!

Addiction (Bayfront Billionaires, #5)

Addiction Summary:
Everyone loves a secret…

Liv Tyner has an ultra-sexy one she’s been keeping all to herself. A sinfully delicious, forbidden secret that has inspired endless fantasy material late into her lonely nights. But when that secret is suddenly staring her in the face—in the form of two fantastically built and wildly successful men—not only does Liv have trouble keeping her one-time-only love triangle under wraps, she also longs for a repeat performance.

Step-brothers Nate Dalton and Tristan Reeves have built a global communications empire that laid the groundwork for their ten-year homecoming to Bayfront. But more important than success is winning the love of the one woman neither has gotten off his mind or out of his system no matter how much time and distance spans between them—sensational and highly addictive Liv Tyner!

As a slow seduction begins and all their juicy secrets are revealed, can these star-crossed lovers find themselves in the right place, at the right time, to make a more permanent love connection?

Addiction Review:
Addiction was a quick and easy book to read. For me, there was little to no character development for Liv, Nate and Tristan. I started the book with a high school/Pretty Little Liars feel and it did not change significantly for the rest of the story. The introduction of the main characters and their lifestyles came off like elitists and preppy, rich people, instead of something that I could relate to. The pain and hard work they had placed into their careers and past did not come through at all. Their lives only showed rainbows, instead of the grittier stuff about life that I was looking for. I do not enjoy reading books without substance, which is what I found in this book.

While reading this book, I was more interested in reading about the side characters than Nate, Liv and Tristan, which should not be happening. It was not something that I could get into and found myself skimming because it just wasn't interesting. However, other readers did enjoy this book so do give it a try.

Overall, this book is a 1.5 star read. There wasn't much to save it for me except for the secondary characters.

Thank you to Calista Fox for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!