Love is always a good theme for a novel. No matter what difficulties the lovers have there always seems to be a satisfactory ending, This is, of course, is improbable in real life. Still, it beats television and lets you sleep well.

Love is always a good theme for a novel. No matter what difficulties the lovers have there always seems to be a satisfactory ending, This is, of course, is improbable in real life. Still, it beats television and lets you sleep well.

The Simply series was unique in that each heroine brought her different ideas of love and qualities of emotion to her respective novel. Simply Love was definitely a 4.5, as is Simply Perfect. I would have to rate Simply Unforgettable and Simply Magic as 4.25 each. None were worthy of the full 5 stars, as most of Lisa Kleypas' romance novels are. While the characters are good and well-developed, the romantic tension is not as pronounced and sustained as in a Kleypas romance. I enjoyed the plot...

The Simply series was unique in that each heroine brought her different ideas of love and qualities of emotion to her respective novel. Simply Love was definitely a 4.5, as is Simply Perfect. I would have to rate Simply Unforgettable and Simply Magic as 4.25 each. None were worthy of the full 5 stars, as most of Lisa Kleypas' romance novels are. While the characters are good and well-developed, the romantic tension is not as pronounced and sustained as in a Kleypas romance. I enjoyed the plots and the inter-relationships of the various characters that wove throughout these novels. This is a worthy series to entertain and enjoy.

Simply Perfect was a romance between mature characters and did not stray from that perspective - with kudos to Mary Balogh for that. Mature love often arises from friendship and mutual understanding and appreciation. As other reviewers have noted, Joseph's feelings for Claudia may lead to skepticism because the reader never knows if he is going to marry within his class out of duty - or expectation - as long as the woman is a " lovely and aristocratic" person. Only when Portia demonstrates how villainous she is at heart does Joseph demonstrate some backbone and fortitude to consider Claudia as his wife. It is like he does not ever expect to be happy as long as he has a title. The title determines all in his life. For her part, Claudia's affection for his daughter comes across as genuine and true. She knows what it is to love children and to work to meet their needs as they grow. This is right down her alley, so to speak. The support characters are all from other Balogh novels and as enjoyable in this novel, as they are in any of the others.

This is an entertaining and emotionally satisfying series for romance readers of any age. I would rate the entire series as a 4.5, without reservations.