I absolutely loved this book. Alex and Anne were a delight to get to know. Even though I know that Mary Balogh's books always end well she can make a person wonder how in the world can it end happily. This is one of my favorite novels of hers. Hmm, as I write those words I am reminded of all her other books that are my favorite. Goodness, the lady CAN WRITE!! I am now in the process of finding the rest of her books. Just think of all the "favorite books" I am looking forward to reading. Thank...

I absolutely loved this book. Alex and Anne were a delight to get to know. Even though I know that Mary Balogh's books always end well she can make a person wonder how in the world can it end happily. This is one of my favorite novels of hers. Hmm, as I write those words I am reminded of all her other books that are my favorite. Goodness, the lady CAN WRITE!! I am now in the process of finding the rest of her books. Just think of all the "favorite books" I am looking forward to reading. Thank you, Mary Balogh!

Alexander Stewart Viscount Merrick is caught in a bad snowstorm he has to find shelter. He sees a light and is admitted by a young woman into the house.Ann is the only one there who he takes for a servant. He spends the night but he first made a pass at her even though she was unattractive. Her finds out the next day when her brother returns she is no servant.Alex marries her sends her to his run down estate the next day.he warns Ann she can never leave there without his permission.He returns...

Alexander Stewart Viscount Merrick is caught in a bad snowstorm he has to find shelter. He sees a light and is admitted by a young woman into the house.Ann is the only one there who he takes for a servant. He spends the night but he first made a pass at her even though she was unattractive. Her finds out the next day when her brother returns she is no servant.Alex marries her sends her to his run down estate the next day.he warns Ann she can never leave there without his permission.He returns to London and his old life which includes his married mistress.Ann has a maid that helps transforms her looks she loses weight and now looks like a different person.
His grandmother invities her to her home he tells her by letter she can't go. She decides she is going anyway..she almost hates him by now they have not met since the marriage. Alex does not even know her when he sees her there he is furious they have to be together for two weeks. This is an emotional book is Ann going to put up with his verbal abuse and living the life of a hermit.She knows all about his mistress. .they will not have an easy time trying to find a life together but you enjoy the ride seeing how she resolves their relationship. My favorite author has written another good book.

The plot was interesting enough and the premise flushed out well. The couple of hurdles were the numerous characters and the weird forced performance of a play in the middle of the story with the same plot. The opportunity for excitement or dramatic exchanges was woefully overlooked for minuscule side character interjections. The Heroine could have used more development in her self esteem. There were far too many questions left at the end of the book.

The plot was interesting enough and the premise flushed out well. The couple of hurdles were the numerous characters and the weird forced performance of a play in the middle of the story with the same plot. The opportunity for excitement or dramatic exchanges was woefully overlooked for minuscule side character interjections. The Heroine could have used more development in her self esteem. There were far too many questions left at the end of the book.

I'm on the hunt for the regency romances I picked as a very young tween from my local library. Since the selection was slim, I reread the same books over and over. This wasn't one of my favorites. I vaguely recall thinking the middle was boring.

What's interesting is all these years later, I know exactly why. The vast majority of this book is 'told.' Pages and pages of the heroine reminiscing on events that didn't happen on the page. Then pages and pages of the hero reminiscing. Very littl...

I'm on the hunt for the regency romances I picked as a very young tween from my local library. Since the selection was slim, I reread the same books over and over. This wasn't one of my favorites. I vaguely recall thinking the middle was boring.

What's interesting is all these years later, I know exactly why. The vast majority of this book is 'told.' Pages and pages of the heroine reminiscing on events that didn't happen on the page. Then pages and pages of the hero reminiscing. Very little happens in real story time.

Too bad too, because the actual story is cute but the book skips all the best parts.

All the sexism came off as funny to my modern sensibilities. But it also made me realize why I'm so against book banning for historical offensiveness. I walked away so aware of how much the world has changed for both men and women since the early 1980s.