Simply Perfect by Mary Balogh

Set against the seductive backdrop of Regency England, New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh’s latest novel sweeps us into the sensual, enthralling world of an elite academy for young ladies. Here, amid music lessons and garden parties, whispered confessions and secret yearnings, one of the school’s teachers—headmistress Claudia Martin—will find her well-ordered world jolted by love when she meets a man who would make the perfect husband…for somebody else.

Tall, dark, and exquisitely sensual, he is the epitome of male perfection. Not that Claudia Martin is looking for a lover. Or a husband. As owner and headmistress of Miss Martin’s School for Girls in Bath, she long ago resigned herself to a life without love. Until Joseph, Marquess of Attingsborough, arrives unannounced and tempts her to toss away a lifetime of propriety for an affair that can only lead to ruin.

Joseph has his own reasons for seeking Claudia out. Instantly, irresistibly attracted to the dedicated teacher, he embarks on a plan of seduction that leaves them both yearning for more. But as heir to a prestigious dukedom, Joseph is expected to carry on his family’s legacy. And Claudia knows she has no place in his world.

Now that world is about to be rocked by scandal. An arranged marriage, a secret that will shock the ton, and a man from Claudia’s past conspire to drive the lovers apart. But Joseph is deter mined to make Claudia his at any cost. Even if that means defying convention and breaking every rule for a love that is everything he has ever wanted—a love that is perfection itself…

Roll out the Bedwyns! It's another Mary Balogh book so they have to be there don't they, and seeing as the Bedwyn's are going to be out, let's trot the Ravensburg's out for another outing. And this is of course, the last book in the Simply series, so we must, must have all the other couples make an appearance. If this is the first book by Balogh that you were reading it would have been almost overwhelming trying to figure out who all the other people being talked about were with dukes and duchesses, and their various offspring, and not to mention the siblings and their spouses.

Does that sound a little cynical? Well...I guess it is, but I cannot tell you how relieved I am that Balogh has announced that the next book will not be related to the Bedwyn's already, because as much as I like them, they do tend to overwhelm the other characters.

How about this book then? As I said before this is the final book in the Simply series, featuring the school teachers of Miss Martin's School for Girls in Bath. The heroine in this book is the aforementioned Miss Martin - a very prim and proper head mistress who has a well known dislike for dukes. What isn't well known is why she dislikes dukes.

Enter Joseph, Marquess of Attingsborough, who is not a duke...yet! He is next in line to the title though - a duke in waiting if you like! Joseph visits Miss Martin's school with a message from her friend, and very kindly offers to share a carriage with her and two of her pupils as they travel to London in a couple of days time. He also appears to be very interested in Miss Martin's school, and whilst Claudia has some suspicions about the motive behind this interest, she can't fail to be charmed by this very likable man.

I really liked Joseph. When his secret revealed to Miss Martin, I couldn't help be charmed by him myself, and I cheered (on the inside) when he revealed his secrets to his family and friends, despite the fact that a man's private business should never be told in society. I really, really disliked his fiance, although I guess that that is what we were supposed to feel, but in many ways I found her a bit too one dimensional, and we never did find out if there was a reason for her cold fish kind of ways.

I liked Claudia too. When we learn why it is that she doesn't like dukes, I did find the reason a bit flimsy, but still understandable. and I loved the devotion and care she showed to all her students and friends.

The strongest parts of this book were when the author concentrated just on our couple. Their growing friendship and attraction to each other was again well written. Where the book was weakest however was in the need to have so many previous characters play a part.

So now that this series is over, what are my thoughts on it? I guess I could sum it up by saying simply forgettable, although that would be a bit harsh. Certainly I could remember Anne and Sydnam's stories from Simply Love, but I really struggled to remember Peter and Susanna's story from Simply Magic. It is fair to say that I remember nothing of the story from Simply Unforgettable, which is kind of ironic. **checks MB's website** Oh yes, Simply Unforgettable featured Frances and Lucius...nope don't remember it!

There was nothing majorly wrong with any of the books really. I rated them all between 3.5 and 4 out of 5, which are perfectly respectable grades, but there really is very little that makes then stand out amongst the other historicals out there either!

I will read Balogh's future books, and I do still have many books from her back list to read, but in this case, I will be looking forward to seeing what can be done with brand new characters.

Simply Magic by Mary Balogh

On a splendid August afternoon Susanna Osbourne is introduced to the most handsome man she has ever seen . . . and instantly feels the icy chill of recognition. Peter Edgeworth, Viscount Whitleaf, is utterly charming - and seemingly unaware that they have met before. With his knowing smile and seductive gaze, Peter acts the rake; but he stirs something in Susanna she has never felt before, a yearning that both frightens and dazzles her. Instantly she knows: this brash nobleman poses a threat to her heart . . . and to the secrets she guards so desperately.

From the moment they meet, Peter is drawn to Susanna's independence, dazzled by her sharp wit-he simply must have her. But the more he pursues, the more Susanna withdraws . . . until a sensual game of thrust-and-parry culminates in a glorious afternoon of passion. Now more determined than ever to keep her by his side, Peter begins to suspect that a tragic history still haunts Susanna. And as he moves closer to the truth, Peter is certain of one thing: he will defy the mysteries of her past for a future with this exquisite creature-all Susanna must do is trust him with the most precious secret of all. . . .

This is the third book in the Simply series after Simply Love , which itself was a spin off of the Slightly series which featured the Bedwyn family, as well as a couple of characters from earlier books! And once again the author chooses to feature all of these characters in her latest book. Mercifully they are shorter appearances by the whole gang than there have been in the earlier Simply books, but they are still there. I was thankful to read on Mary Balogh's website that she is starting a new series, one not connected at all to her previous books - thank goodness. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing.

The other thing that there was too much of in this book is the over use of the words magic, magical and magically - we get it already. There was also a strange use of italics used for emphasis throughout the book. Even though I have been known to use capitals in posts and comments, I don't think I have seen anything similar in a book before!

And what about the story itself...well, it was nice! And I mean that in the nicest possible way. There was no cold distant duke, wounded hero, or even redeemable rake. What we have with Peter is a funny, charming, honourable man who is trying to find his sense of identity in his current role as a Viscount. When he meets Susannah he instantly knows that she is the one, although he is not 100 percent sure what that means. However, as soon as Susannah meets him she knows exactly who is his, and is determined not to like him. As she gets to know him though, she can't help but like spending time with him, and without being attracted to him, despite the fact that he is close neighbours with important figures from her past that she would rather avoid.

In terms of timing, the first half of this book overlaps with the events in the last book, and Peter and Susannah meet each other again at the wedding reception that was held for the hero and heroine, Syd and Anne. The other thing that happens is that those same figures from Susannah's past also come back to haunt her.

In many ways the love story between Susannah and Peter is pretty straightforward. The only impediment is really the events from her past, and once they the events of years before are cleared up satisfactorily then there is only their feelings towards each other that matter. Whilst this wasn't the most electrifying book that I have ever read, it wasn't a bad book either. In fact, if I was to choose just one word to use to describe this book it would be ...... nice!

Rating 4/5

Simply Love by Mary Balogh

New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh returns to the elegance and sensuality of Regency England as she continues the enthralling story of four remarkable women- friends and teachers at Miss Martin's School for Girls. At the center of this spellbinding novel is Anne Jewell, a teacher haunted by a scandalous past...until she meets a man who teaches her the most important lesson of all: nothing is simple when it comes to love....

She spies him in the deepening dusk of a Wales evening- a lone figure of breathtaking strength and masculinity, his handsome face branded by a secret pain. For single mother and teacher Anne Jewell, newly arrived with her son at a sprawling estate in Wales on the invitation of an influential friend, Sydnam Butler is a man whose sorrows- and passions- run deeper than she could have ever imagined.

As steward of a remote seaside manor, Sydnam lives a reclusive existence far from the pity and disdain of others. Yet almost from the moment Anne first appears on the cliffs, he senses in this lovely stranger a kindred soul, and between these two wary hearts, desire stirs. Unable to resist the passion that has rescued them both from loneliness, Anne and Sydnam share an afternoon of exquisite lovemaking. Now the unwed single mother and war-scarred veteran must make a decision that could forever alter their lives. For Sydnam, it is a chance to heal the pain of the past. For Anne, it is the glorious promise of a future with the man who will dare her to reveal her deepest secrets...before she can give him all her heart.

When Anne Jewell is convinced to go on holidays with the Marquess of Hallmere (her son's cousin and self appointed guardian angel), Anne is determined that she will in effect be like a companion and act as a servant. When it appears on her first night that her hosts have other ideas, she is mortified, and decides to go for a walk. Whilst out walking she catches her first glimpse of Sydnam Butler. At first captivated, when he turns to face her she sees the scars on his face and flees. Mortified by her own terrible behaviour she returns to the spot within minutes but the mysterious man has disappeared.

When she meets him again, Anne apologises, and is then drawn to spend time with Sydnam, finding another lonely soul, with a similarly scarred psyche. Whilst Sydnam's scars are very visible (along with the inner ones he has), Anne's are invisible, but still very much affecting her daily life. As Anne and Sydnam continue to spend time together there is a growing sexual tension between them.

The first half of this book where the couple get to know each other was really good. The dialogue, both internal and external, was well written and completely believable. Given that we had met both of these characters before, there was already a sense of knowing them, at least a little, as I was going into the book and I think that helped with my enjoyment. Sydnam is the brother of Kit Butler who was the hero in A Summer to Remember, and Anne first was mentioned in Slightly Scandalous, and then appeared again in Simply Unforgettable.

The only thing I have felt a couple of times recently with Mary Balogh is that I have read the story before. The scarred war hero had echoes of Adam from The Secret Pearl, although I liked Sydnam from the get go, not like Adam, who I had to get to like eventually throughout that book!

I actually had a couple of issues with the turns that the book took in the second half, and also overall with the characters, oh, and the copyrighters who wrote that back cover blurb!!!

Firstly, my issue with the characters..........this book was like a passing parade of characters from Balogh's previous books. All of the Bedwyn's were present and accounted for - along with their spouses, children, and in some cases their in-laws. Yes, some of them performed a role within the story, but maybe it is time to give some of them time to live quietly in the country and not be dragged out into the spotlight in every book. Then, when the Bedwyn's temporarily exit (stage right), in come all of the Butler's from A Summer to Remember, oh, and a mention of the characters from One Night for Love for good measure. And then, change of location, and role in the characters from Simply Unforgettable.

Secondly, my issue with the storyline. Please be aware that there will be SPOILERS in the following couple of paragraphs.

************SPOILERS**********

Why, why, why did the author have Anne Jewel get pregnant from her one sexual encounter with Sydnam. The poor woman has had sex twice in her life (one being a rape) and she has ended up with two pregnancies. Yes, I understand that that meant that Sydnam would do the right thing and marry her thus moving the story forward, but surely it would have been a more romantic story had they been so drawn to each other that they continued some kind of communication eventually leading to their getting together. Yes, I know that it could happen (after all my own mother must have only had sex three times!!) but to me it felt very manipulative way of making the story go where it needed to go.

Secondly, the copyrighters. "Anne and Sydnam share an afternoon of exquisite lovemaking". Did they read the book? One of the things that I thought the author did do very well was in the portrayal of the sexual issues that a woman that has been raped or abused feels. Whilst Anne was a very willing participant initially, the lovemaking was not exquisite for her, and Sydnam knew it! Of course, he thought it was about him when it wasn't but still!

*********End SPOILERS********

If it was just Sydnam and Anne's story then I would have rated this higher, but because of my issues I have had to mark it down just a little.

Rating 3.5/5