Simply Love
Author: Mary Balogh
Publication Date: August 2006 (March 2007 in Paperback)
Letter Grade: B+
Oh, how long I have waited for this book.
It started with my first Balogh book, "A Summer to Remember" about Kit Butler and Lauren.. I can't remember her maiden name. lol. The book was fine, of course, but what really interested me was two other stories related to it. The first was that of Neville and Lily (whose book "One Night For Love" preceded it, and was pretty much amazing).
The second, and most anticipated, was the story of Sydnam Butler, Kit's younger brother.
She taunted me first with a whole series on the Bedwyns, a family close to Kit's, and who play a big role in Simply Love. Big family. Too many people.
Finally, finally, last summer I found this book. By that point, I rarely thought of A Summer to Remember or Mary Balogh in general, except for when I saw Sarah was reading another one, and Sydnam Butler had been pushed to the back of my mind. So, the reaction upon reading the book flap "Sydnam Butler.. that's so familiar... OH MY GOD!"
Anyway: Sydnam Butler is a Regency hero favorite type: he fought against Napolean, he came back from war not quite like he left for it. In this case in an extreme form. During the war, he was tortured, leading to the burning of the left side of his body so that he was permanently deformed, lost his right eye, and his left arm had to be amputated. Meanwhile, the left side his body... is pretty much as gorgeous as he previously was. Really too bad he wasn't left handed.
Our heroine, then, is Anne Jewell, a teacher at a girl's school, and also a single mother *scandalous gasp* Well, you know, it's scandalous in the time period.
So, anyway. Sydnam has been working as the Duke of Bewcastle's (see above bit about the Bedwyns) steward in Wales when the Bedwyns (and assorted family) make their way there for a month long visit. Coming with them happens to be Anne, since her son's father's first cousin, Joshua (I think I <3 him. haha. Which is bad, because I hate his wife, and am therefore leery of reading their book) is married to the former Lady Freyja Bedwyn, and they pretty much insisted on taking David (Anne's son) with, since they're his cousins of a sort, and Anne was sort of invited along.
Phew. Long sentence.
My general opinion of the book: I loved it. Well, you know, most of it.
The book for the most part was very good, very well written. The relationship between Sydnam and Anne made enough sense to me, though I thought Sydnam's insecurities, especially involving the sex, were wrapped up a bit too nicely. It seemed too simple to me, the way that whole scene happened.
I wasn't fond of the interaction with Anne's family. I spent most of the time thinking how I'd dearly love for someone to just yell or something. Lordy. Or there were several things I think we should've seen brought up but weren't. Maybe I'm just less forgiving than Anne is.
I did like that it was set in Wales for the most part, though. I've read hardly any books that did, except maybe Kinsale's "Flowers from the Storm," though my first romance hero was Welsh (Medieval, though, not so much Victorian/Regency. I'm not even sure Wales was apart of Britain then.) I liked the scene in the Welsh church, it pretty much makes me want to hear that sort of thing. :)
It was a worthy book for finally giving one to Sydnam. It's been a long time. Though, I suppose several things would have had to be different if the Bedwyn series hadn't happened. Come to think of it, Anne wouldn't have been there at all without the connecting force of Joshua.
I do want to know, though, if Viscount Whitleaf, Lauren's cousin, is the hero of the next book. I didn't read the excerpt at the back, though I did skim and found his name there, but that doesn't tell me much. I remember a random part at the end of A Summer to Remember where Kit, I think it is, makes some inner comment about Whitleaf's chances of finding a lady for himself. And then he dances with Susana Osbourne at the end of Simply Love, and Susana's the heroine of the next book. Hmm?
I also want to know what ever happened to Neville's widowed sister. My original guess would have been for her to end up with Sydnam, but apparently not. I've seen no mention of her, but of course, you see the big gap in my reading.
This is the trouble with great secondary characters: you can't get good closure with a book until you know how they end up. :-P
Anyway. Overall: Read the book. The annoying parts are few and far between, well worth it.
Author: Mary Balogh
Publication Date: August 2006 (March 2007 in Paperback)
Letter Grade: B+
Oh, how long I have waited for this book.
It started with my first Balogh book, "A Summer to Remember" about Kit Butler and Lauren.. I can't remember her maiden name. lol. The book was fine, of course, but what really interested me was two other stories related to it. The first was that of Neville and Lily (whose book "One Night For Love" preceded it, and was pretty much amazing).
The second, and most anticipated, was the story of Sydnam Butler, Kit's younger brother.
She taunted me first with a whole series on the Bedwyns, a family close to Kit's, and who play a big role in Simply Love. Big family. Too many people.
Finally, finally, last summer I found this book. By that point, I rarely thought of A Summer to Remember or Mary Balogh in general, except for when I saw Sarah was reading another one, and Sydnam Butler had been pushed to the back of my mind. So, the reaction upon reading the book flap "Sydnam Butler.. that's so familiar... OH MY GOD!"
Anyway: Sydnam Butler is a Regency hero favorite type: he fought against Napolean, he came back from war not quite like he left for it. In this case in an extreme form. During the war, he was tortured, leading to the burning of the left side of his body so that he was permanently deformed, lost his right eye, and his left arm had to be amputated. Meanwhile, the left side his body... is pretty much as gorgeous as he previously was. Really too bad he wasn't left handed.
Our heroine, then, is Anne Jewell, a teacher at a girl's school, and also a single mother *scandalous gasp* Well, you know, it's scandalous in the time period.
So, anyway. Sydnam has been working as the Duke of Bewcastle's (see above bit about the Bedwyns) steward in Wales when the Bedwyns (and assorted family) make their way there for a month long visit. Coming with them happens to be Anne, since her son's father's first cousin, Joshua (I think I <3 him. haha. Which is bad, because I hate his wife, and am therefore leery of reading their book) is married to the former Lady Freyja Bedwyn, and they pretty much insisted on taking David (Anne's son) with, since they're his cousins of a sort, and Anne was sort of invited along.
Phew. Long sentence.
My general opinion of the book: I loved it. Well, you know, most of it.
The book for the most part was very good, very well written. The relationship between Sydnam and Anne made enough sense to me, though I thought Sydnam's insecurities, especially involving the sex, were wrapped up a bit too nicely. It seemed too simple to me, the way that whole scene happened.
I wasn't fond of the interaction with Anne's family. I spent most of the time thinking how I'd dearly love for someone to just yell or something. Lordy. Or there were several things I think we should've seen brought up but weren't. Maybe I'm just less forgiving than Anne is.
I did like that it was set in Wales for the most part, though. I've read hardly any books that did, except maybe Kinsale's "Flowers from the Storm," though my first romance hero was Welsh (Medieval, though, not so much Victorian/Regency. I'm not even sure Wales was apart of Britain then.) I liked the scene in the Welsh church, it pretty much makes me want to hear that sort of thing. :)
It was a worthy book for finally giving one to Sydnam. It's been a long time. Though, I suppose several things would have had to be different if the Bedwyn series hadn't happened. Come to think of it, Anne wouldn't have been there at all without the connecting force of Joshua.
I do want to know, though, if Viscount Whitleaf, Lauren's cousin, is the hero of the next book. I didn't read the excerpt at the back, though I did skim and found his name there, but that doesn't tell me much. I remember a random part at the end of A Summer to Remember where Kit, I think it is, makes some inner comment about Whitleaf's chances of finding a lady for himself. And then he dances with Susana Osbourne at the end of Simply Love, and Susana's the heroine of the next book. Hmm?
I also want to know what ever happened to Neville's widowed sister. My original guess would have been for her to end up with Sydnam, but apparently not. I've seen no mention of her, but of course, you see the big gap in my reading.
This is the trouble with great secondary characters: you can't get good closure with a book until you know how they end up. :-P
Anyway. Overall: Read the book. The annoying parts are few and far between, well worth it.
posted by Steph | 2:36 PM
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