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Denning-Mainwaring #1
A Chance Encounter
After a disastrous episode that left her with a broken heart and a reputation that was nearly ruined, Elizabeth Rossiter sought safety by taking a position far away from London society. But now, the one man in the world she had hoped never to see again moved into her life!
218 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 3, 1985
186 people are currently reading
624 people want to read
About the author
Mary Balogh
200 books6,350 followersMary Jenkins was born in 1944 in Swansea, Wales, UK. After graduating from university, moved to Saskatchewan, Canada, to teach high school English, on a two-year teaching contract in 1967. She married her Canadian husband, Robert Balogh, and had three children, Jacqueline, Christopher and Sian. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, music and knitting. She also enjoys watching tennis and curling.
Mary Balogh started writing in the evenings as a hobby. Her first book, a Regency love story, was published in 1985 as A Masked Deception under her married name. In 1988, she retired from teaching after 20 years to pursue her dream to write full-time. She has written more than seventy novels and almost thirty novellas since then, including the New York Times bestselling 'Slightly' sextet and 'Simply' quartet. She has won numerous awards, including Bestselling Historical of the Year from the Borders Group, and her novel Simply Magic was a finalist in the Quill Awards. She has won seven Waldenbooks Awards and two B. Dalton Awards for her bestselling novels, as well as a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mary Balogh started writing in the evenings as a hobby. Her first book, a Regency love story, was published in 1985 as A Masked Deception under her married name. In 1988, she retired from teaching after 20 years to pursue her dream to write full-time. She has written more than seventy novels and almost thirty novellas since then, including the New York Times bestselling 'Slightly' sextet and 'Simply' quartet. She has won numerous awards, including Bestselling Historical of the Year from the Borders Group, and her novel Simply Magic was a finalist in the Quill Awards. She has won seven Waldenbooks Awards and two B. Dalton Awards for her bestselling novels, as well as a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
October 14, 2016
1.5 stars.
I’m so glad this wasn’t my first book by Mary Balogh because I don’t think I would’ve read anything else by her and this would be unfortunate! As it is, I’m a huge fan of the author (45+ books and counting). But this story! I don’t even know what to say, except, to defend this as the author’s earlier effort and to appreciate her later improvements.
The beginning was very promising with shades of Persuasion in it. I was content and happy to immerse in the narrative. But it didn’t last long. The first warning bells sounded when the dreaded “Big Misunderstanding” appeared to be the main vehicle driving the plot and the main reason for the protagonists’ long separation. And then the sound of warning bells turned into a huge cacophony with the big revelation somewhere in the middle. It didn’t make any sense, it was preposterous, it was so out of realm of possibilities that I had to go back to see if I’m reading Mary Balogh. So weak was the motive and circumstance for the two lovers to be apart that the author had to keep explaining how the divide between these two could have happened. The more she over-explained, the more convoluted and unbelievable it became and the more I disliked the characters.
Definitely not the story I would recommend.
I’m so glad this wasn’t my first book by Mary Balogh because I don’t think I would’ve read anything else by her and this would be unfortunate! As it is, I’m a huge fan of the author (45+ books and counting). But this story! I don’t even know what to say, except, to defend this as the author’s earlier effort and to appreciate her later improvements.
The beginning was very promising with shades of Persuasion in it. I was content and happy to immerse in the narrative. But it didn’t last long. The first warning bells sounded when the dreaded “Big Misunderstanding” appeared to be the main vehicle driving the plot and the main reason for the protagonists’ long separation. And then the sound of warning bells turned into a huge cacophony with the big revelation somewhere in the middle. It didn’t make any sense, it was preposterous, it was so out of realm of possibilities that I had to go back to see if I’m reading Mary Balogh. So weak was the motive and circumstance for the two lovers to be apart that the author had to keep explaining how the divide between these two could have happened. The more she over-explained, the more convoluted and unbelievable it became and the more I disliked the characters.
Definitely not the story I would recommend.
July 30, 2020
What. The. Fuck.
I love Mary Balogh. I adore her! She is my favorite historical romance author. 10/10 would recommend her books. Well, all her books except this one.
Imagine the lackluster offspring of Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion, but with an extra-large dose of screamingly aggravating melodrama. A Chance Encounter is one sustained Big Misunderstanding that goes on for 6 years and an entire novel. It's absurd and made me want to tear my hair out. This book is so terrible and nonsensical and unbelievable. What was Balogh thinking?
Elizabeth and Robert met and fell in love in their salad days, and then they eloped. Shortly after the wedding, something Bad happened, and they were separated by evil relatives, who made each believe the other had abandoned them. They then spend the next 6 years hating each other, until they meet by chance at a country ball. They then spent the next 200 pages hurling insults at each other and otherwise being nasty.
Did it ever occur for them to sit down and say "Dearest, why the fuck did you abandon me two days after our elopement?" NO, of course not.
Obviously, it all gets sorted out and they live Happily Ever After, but in the meantime, this book got on every one of my nerves. This was especially the case because for some reason Balogh only gives readers Elizabeth's point of view. Imagine being stuck inside the head of an emotionally unstable, bitter woman who refuses to think rationally about anything for the entire book. It was terrible.
At one point Robert even comes to Elizabeth and is all "okay, let me hear your side of the story" but Elizabeth is just shrilly saying "IT DOESN'T MATTER ANYMORE!!! I'VE BEEN UNHAPPY FOR 6 YEARS AND I'M JUST GOING TO BE UNHAPPY FOREVER!!!" and then pouts in silence, refusing to have an adult conversation.
What the fuck, guys. There has never been such a case of manufactured conflict as this one.
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I love Mary Balogh. I adore her! She is my favorite historical romance author. 10/10 would recommend her books. Well, all her books except this one.
Imagine the lackluster offspring of Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion, but with an extra-large dose of screamingly aggravating melodrama. A Chance Encounter is one sustained Big Misunderstanding that goes on for 6 years and an entire novel. It's absurd and made me want to tear my hair out. This book is so terrible and nonsensical and unbelievable. What was Balogh thinking?
Elizabeth and Robert met and fell in love in their salad days, and then they eloped. Shortly after the wedding, something Bad happened, and they were separated by evil relatives, who made each believe the other had abandoned them. They then spend the next 6 years hating each other, until they meet by chance at a country ball. They then spent the next 200 pages hurling insults at each other and otherwise being nasty.
Did it ever occur for them to sit down and say "Dearest, why the fuck did you abandon me two days after our elopement?" NO, of course not.
Obviously, it all gets sorted out and they live Happily Ever After, but in the meantime, this book got on every one of my nerves. This was especially the case because for some reason Balogh only gives readers Elizabeth's point of view. Imagine being stuck inside the head of an emotionally unstable, bitter woman who refuses to think rationally about anything for the entire book. It was terrible.
At one point Robert even comes to Elizabeth and is all "okay, let me hear your side of the story" but Elizabeth is just shrilly saying "IT DOESN'T MATTER ANYMORE!!! I'VE BEEN UNHAPPY FOR 6 YEARS AND I'M JUST GOING TO BE UNHAPPY FOREVER!!!" and then pouts in silence, refusing to have an adult conversation.
What the fuck, guys. There has never been such a case of manufactured conflict as this one.
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July 30, 2018
Lots of repetitive eye rolling occurred during the reading of this novel. This second chance storyline was based on a trope that is one of my least favourites in romance: the grand misunderstanding trope. The MC's were young lovers almost reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet, except that there was no family feud. The MC's met during Elizabeth's debut season in London. They fell in love and got married secretly, because the H Robert was the younger son of a marquess who expected him to marry an heiress. Elizabeth was the daughter of an impoverished, gamblerholic, alcoholic Baron. Robert was in his early 20's and the heroine was 18. Robert also had a rich uncle who felt that Elizabeth's pedigree was was unsuitable and this meddling manipulator took it upon himself to make a deal with the heroine's gold digging father. The MC's had only spent a weekend in each other's company, after they were married secretly, when Robert received news that his father and older brother had died. He left Elizabeth with his kind grandmother and went to make funeral arrangements etc.
This is where the first major eyerolling occurred. Why didn't the H take his new wife with him and introduce her to the rest of his family ( especially the sly uncle ). Then, to make things worse, the heroine didn't stay with her grand mother-in-law even though she'd promised to do so. Instead, she went back home and her meddling father got angry because he'd wanted her to marry a wealthy man. At this point in the story, Robert was in financial difficulties because both his late father and brother had been gamblers and spendthrifts. Elizabeth's mercenary dad felt he'd been cheated out of a chance to make some easy money. It didn't occur to him that he was the one who had been expected ( according to regency era customs ) to provide a dowry for his daughter. Anyway, the
heroine's churlish dad met with the H's rich uncle and made a deal. Robert's cunning uncle hated the idea of his nephew, who was now the Marquess of Hetherington, sullying the family name by being married to Elizabeth. He bribed Elizabeth's father, to the sum of 10 000 pounds, to assist him in breaking up the MC's marriage.
Elizabeth's greedy father took the money and then lied to the heroine, telling her that Robert planned to divorce her since he wanted a bride with better pedigree to be his marchioness. He also provided some forged letters. Robert's uncle and Elizabeth's father went even further with their duplicitous plan: they intercepted letters that the MC's had been sending to each other. Robert did turn up to look for Elizabeth but her father sent him away. It pissed me off that the H hadn't insisted on seeing her himself and confronting her because this would've cleared up the misunderstanding. The MC's meet again about 6 years afterwards and at this point in the story, Elizabeth is employed as a governess/companion and Robert's become a wealthy marquess. Thus began the era of intense eye rolling, on the part of this reader ! The MC's both hate each other, as a result of the misunderstanding, yet they're both too proud to confront each other about what had happened. They spent all their time trading insults, ignoring each other and trying to make each other jealous.
This was where the storyline seemed a trifle weak to me. Too much time was spent on the monotonous chronicling of day to day social events, dinners etc. The MC's didn't even spend a lot of time in each other's company because they were always part of a larger group of people when they were together. Robert also seemed particularly hateful and cynical. He kept accusing Elizabeth of being a greedy gold digger but never elaborated or never used his logic to ask her why she often seemed puzzled at his accusations. The heroine was also a bit lacking in common sense because she never asked him why he made such accusations. The storyline was livened up a little by the inclusion of a wannabe OW and a wannabe OM. The OW was a vicious bitch who kept chasing after Robert and warning off every woman who spoke to him more than 3 times ! The OM was a wonderful man; in fact, I almost wished Elizabeth had ended up with him because he had the requisite characteristics of a hero: he was tall, dark, handsome, rich and he proposed to her ! But Mr. Mainwaring ( the wannabe OM ) was also the H's best friend and Robert refused to divorce Elizabeth to allow her to re-marry.
My final bit of exasperated eye rolling occurred after the MC's discovered how they'd been duped by his uncle and her father. Robert apologized for the way he'd treated her when they'd met again and he told her he still loved her so much that he'd been celibate all these years they've been apart ! The stupid heroine refused to reconcile with him:
"What are you saying?" he asked incredulously.
"I mean that I must go now," she replied. "I am sure John will be in his office if you wish to take your leave of him. Good-bye, Robert. And I thank you very much for coming." She smiled brightly and extended her hand.
Mary Balogh. A Chance Encounter (Kindle Locations 2947-2949). Severn House. Kindle Edition.
This scene was awful. She actually forced him to leave and if it hadn't been for the intervention of her brother then the MC's would've continued to be estranged. Robert had to kidnap her to prevent her from leaving to go work for a new family as their governess. Elizabeth's rationale for her behaviour was her fear of being hurt and disillusioned again. I found it understandable but also unacceptable because it made her seem like a such a weakling. And, she had been a very strong heroine throughout the story, so the author's plot twist made her character appear to be somewhat inconsistent. But, the H redeemed himself by persuading her and grovelling once again:
"I can't," she whispered. "I am so afraid, Robert. I am afraid to love again."
"I know," he said, "but I am afraid not to. Look ahead, Elizabeth. Ten years. Twenty years. Thirty. Can you bear to think of the emptiness? I cannot. I need you and I believe you need me just as much. Come back to me, love. Please."
Elizabeth felt the tears springing to her eyes.
Mary Balogh. A Chance Encounter (Kindle Locations 3031-3034). Severn House. Kindle Edition.
This was fairly good and could've been fabulous if the middle bulk of the story hadn't been so focused on boring everyday stuff with even more boring minor characters.
Safety information: There's no cheating. Both MC's had been celibate during their separation but the author did include the wannabe OM and OW to add jealous angst to the storyline.
This is the H, Robert:
This is the heroine, Elizabeth:
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2011
Well normally I love Mary Balogh, but this is one of her earlier books and just made me want to scream.
As other reviewers have pointed out this is based on a big Misunderstanding, which makes absolutely NO sense whatsoever.
The heroine Elizabeth Rossiter is working as a Companian to the 18 year old Cecily.
The nearby manor is occupied by the owner and some guests. It turns out that one of those is the Marquess of Hetherington and that he and Elizabeth have a Past.
The first 120 pages and so are related to their meetings in company, the fact that he seems to hate her, and some reminiscences and flash backs etc.
When Elizabeth's nephew falls ill, she panics and says that she must get home as soon as possible. Heatherington announces that he will take her as after all she is his wife.
They then have a squabble about whether or not they are divorced and he tells her that they are not and in fact they are still married.
Problem No 1: divorces were only obtained through act of paraliament and could not ever be done 'quietly'
None of Elizabeth's friends or employers have an issue with her living apart from her husband.
Problem No 2: this would have been a huge issue and made her unsuitable for society and especially to be the governess/ companion to an 18 year old.
The h and h go off to see the nephew and get on ok although she is uncomfortable and does eventually chase him off. She loves him but would rather suffer his absence.
The h returns to her life of servitude.
The hero comes after her and asks her why she left him for money. She denies it and tells him that he abandoned her. They part acrimoniously.
It occurs to the heroine ( after she has chased the h off) that he may have believed what he said and there may have been a misunderstanding.
She goes to see her brother who alerts her to the fact that their father had received a sum of £10,000 after their wedding. They suspect their father and the H's uncle had conspired to keep the lovers apart. She writes to Heatherington asking him to come to her. She gets a brush off response from his secretary.
She closes her heart and decides to take another position with a man she identifies as a mean spirited lech.
The h turns up , tells her he has discovered the truth and that he didn't have his secretary write to her in those terms and in fact has been to London, Scotland and Paris within the past 2 weeks. He loves her , it is all a misunderstanding, they can make a go of their marriage.
She accepts it's a misunderstanding and that it was not his fault but rejects him out of hand ( the reasons were beyond me)
She is all set to go off with the creep but instead finds herself with Heatherington as they drive off to Devon and after a bit of a kiss and conuddle , they all live hea.
By the end of the book I was ready to bash the heroine's head in.
The whole premise on the misunderstanding appeared to be that the uncle did not think the h was good enough for his nephew who should marry a wealthier woman etc. This is all very well, had the separation been achieved before they married but was entirely pointless thereafter. It was hard to credit that the uncle would have been so pompous and yet was willing to tolerate the thought to divorce ( socially ruinous) or else the thought that there would be no legitimate heir to the title thereafter. Also if the h's father had been so interested in money, he would have revisited the plan after the hero inherited his money.
Ridiculous and annoying.
As other reviewers have pointed out this is based on a big Misunderstanding, which makes absolutely NO sense whatsoever.
The heroine Elizabeth Rossiter is working as a Companian to the 18 year old Cecily.
The nearby manor is occupied by the owner and some guests. It turns out that one of those is the Marquess of Hetherington and that he and Elizabeth have a Past.
The first 120 pages and so are related to their meetings in company, the fact that he seems to hate her, and some reminiscences and flash backs etc.
When Elizabeth's nephew falls ill, she panics and says that she must get home as soon as possible. Heatherington announces that he will take her as after all she is his wife.
They then have a squabble about whether or not they are divorced and he tells her that they are not and in fact they are still married.
Problem No 1: divorces were only obtained through act of paraliament and could not ever be done 'quietly'
None of Elizabeth's friends or employers have an issue with her living apart from her husband.
Problem No 2: this would have been a huge issue and made her unsuitable for society and especially to be the governess/ companion to an 18 year old.
The h and h go off to see the nephew and get on ok although she is uncomfortable and does eventually chase him off. She loves him but would rather suffer his absence.
The h returns to her life of servitude.
The hero comes after her and asks her why she left him for money. She denies it and tells him that he abandoned her. They part acrimoniously.
It occurs to the heroine ( after she has chased the h off) that he may have believed what he said and there may have been a misunderstanding.
She goes to see her brother who alerts her to the fact that their father had received a sum of £10,000 after their wedding. They suspect their father and the H's uncle had conspired to keep the lovers apart. She writes to Heatherington asking him to come to her. She gets a brush off response from his secretary.
She closes her heart and decides to take another position with a man she identifies as a mean spirited lech.
The h turns up , tells her he has discovered the truth and that he didn't have his secretary write to her in those terms and in fact has been to London, Scotland and Paris within the past 2 weeks. He loves her , it is all a misunderstanding, they can make a go of their marriage.
She accepts it's a misunderstanding and that it was not his fault but rejects him out of hand ( the reasons were beyond me)
She is all set to go off with the creep but instead finds herself with Heatherington as they drive off to Devon and after a bit of a kiss and conuddle , they all live hea.
By the end of the book I was ready to bash the heroine's head in.
The whole premise on the misunderstanding appeared to be that the uncle did not think the h was good enough for his nephew who should marry a wealthier woman etc. This is all very well, had the separation been achieved before they married but was entirely pointless thereafter. It was hard to credit that the uncle would have been so pompous and yet was willing to tolerate the thought to divorce ( socially ruinous) or else the thought that there would be no legitimate heir to the title thereafter. Also if the h's father had been so interested in money, he would have revisited the plan after the hero inherited his money.
Ridiculous and annoying.
May 17, 2018
I have not read one book that has handled the misunderstanding trope as well as Duran in the Duke of Shadows...the search continues.
March 15, 2019
Pride & Prejudice meets Persuasion with a dash of Sense & Sensibility. This is third in my journey through Mary Balogh's earlier novels (the one's that are available at all), and it's my favorite so far, despite the story being entirely dependent on people not communicating, something I do not like.
Elizabeth (yes, she's really named Elizabeth, and her personality is the wit of Elizabeth Bennet combined with the practicality of Elinor Dashwood with the quiet suffering of Anne Elliot) works as a companion to a young girl in a country town. Said town bubbles over with excitement at the news that Mr. Mainwaring is arriving to his home in the area and bringing friends with him. The small town anticipates romantic possibilities and new diversions. This part is all P&P.
Mr. Mainwaring's friend, Robert, is a handsome, charming earl, who Elizabeth unfortunately already knows and hoped never to see again. Details are not revealed until near the end, but it's clear that they were once together and he broke her heart. Second chance romance is never my favorite trope, precisely because it almost always relies on the lovers not communicating, which is not a sign of a healthy relationship. Expect these two not to communicate despite so many situations just screaming for them to do so. IT. IS. FRUSTRATING.
Still, despite all of those flaws, I totally got the feels with this one. Balogh's skill at developing the secondary cast is improving immensely, and I delighted in almost everyone introduced. The way that the Rowes accept her as one of their own even once they learn the truth is lovely and exceedingly open-minded for the time. Mr. Rowe's Cinderella jokes with Elizabeth are precious. Elizabeth's charge Cecily is adorable and naive, but not the empty-headed flibbertigibbet of Persuasion. It's a whole town of nosy, caring people, and I would totally move there.
And, though the fact that they won't talk is frustrating (as are a couple of problematic lines), I did really feel for the relationship between Elizabeth and Robert. They're both so angry, but he finds it hard to stick to that anger and not default to his more jovial personality. Initially, I did hope she would go with Mainwaring, rather than Robert Denning, but he won me over in the end. It's more melodrama than I typically like, and it may be tied into my love of Austen's novels and characters but I had a hell of a lot of fun and some feels so whatevs.
Elizabeth (yes, she's really named Elizabeth, and her personality is the wit of Elizabeth Bennet combined with the practicality of Elinor Dashwood with the quiet suffering of Anne Elliot) works as a companion to a young girl in a country town. Said town bubbles over with excitement at the news that Mr. Mainwaring is arriving to his home in the area and bringing friends with him. The small town anticipates romantic possibilities and new diversions. This part is all P&P.
Mr. Mainwaring's friend, Robert, is a handsome, charming earl, who Elizabeth unfortunately already knows and hoped never to see again. Details are not revealed until near the end, but it's clear that they were once together and he broke her heart. Second chance romance is never my favorite trope, precisely because it almost always relies on the lovers not communicating, which is not a sign of a healthy relationship. Expect these two not to communicate despite so many situations just screaming for them to do so. IT. IS. FRUSTRATING.
Still, despite all of those flaws, I totally got the feels with this one. Balogh's skill at developing the secondary cast is improving immensely, and I delighted in almost everyone introduced. The way that the Rowes accept her as one of their own even once they learn the truth is lovely and exceedingly open-minded for the time. Mr. Rowe's Cinderella jokes with Elizabeth are precious. Elizabeth's charge Cecily is adorable and naive, but not the empty-headed flibbertigibbet of Persuasion. It's a whole town of nosy, caring people, and I would totally move there.
And, though the fact that they won't talk is frustrating (as are a couple of problematic lines), I did really feel for the relationship between Elizabeth and Robert. They're both so angry, but he finds it hard to stick to that anger and not default to his more jovial personality. Initially, I did hope she would go with Mainwaring, rather than Robert Denning, but he won me over in the end. It's more melodrama than I typically like, and it may be tied into my love of Austen's novels and characters but I had a hell of a lot of fun and some feels so whatevs.
June 29, 2022
The story could have been titled "misunderstandings and suspicions and missed opportunities". The main misunderstanding was a bit hard to accept (not even one talk?) and the last one (on the Elizabeth side) was stupid. She found out about the main lie and didn't even consider that someone could lie again.
I kept seeing Jane Austen's characters and treads. Yet, it was done well, so not only I was having fun guessing what the inspiration came from, but also the plot and scenes were nicely done (except mentioned misunderstandings).
In other words, not much new (original) content (although I admit, I didn't see the main twist coming), but I still had a lovely time.
[3-3.5 stars]
I kept seeing Jane Austen's characters and treads. Yet, it was done well, so not only I was having fun guessing what the inspiration came from, but also the plot and scenes were nicely done (except mentioned misunderstandings).
In other words, not much new (original) content (although I admit, I didn't see the main twist coming), but I still had a lovely time.
[3-3.5 stars]
January 2, 2010
Very unbelievable. Since the backstory is told through a series of rather annoying flashbacks, it wasn't until the end that I realized just how far-fetched the premise really was. I mean, I can understand paying off an unsuitable woman *before* she marries your nephew, but after? That would only make sense if they actually did get a divorce, but since they didn't (she was told they had a divorce, he knew better), the premise was utterly unfathomable.
September 15, 2020
A new ebook edition of one of Balogh's earliest (1985) Signet Regencies, with a young lovers parted through misunderstanding thrust unexpectedly together again plotline. Balogh does a great job of holding back the exact nature of the relationship between twenty six-year-old governess/companion Elizabeth Rossiter and Robert, Marquess of Hetherington, giving short flashbacks of their previous encounter, creating good tension so the surprise reveal mid-book is really a suprise. I usually don't have much patience for a "misunderstanding tearing the apart" plot; the misunderstandings so often could be cleared up with just a short conversation between the parties. But perhaps because this novel is written entirely from Elizabeth's point of view (and thus readers are not privy to Robert's motivations), the misunderstanding here worked for me. As did the echoes of both Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion.
September 30, 2017
Possibly the least overwrought long separation, big M(isunderstanding) HRs out there - none of the revenge nonsense that many of the other ones typically employ - but is still true to its type, which is why I like it.
Not a 5 because the ending (last 10 or so pages) should have just been cut out. Which begs the question of what good is a story such as this without even a decent ending... But I do like my share of angst, confusion, and (not real) betrayal, so I'm giving this a 3.5.
Not a 5 because the ending (last 10 or so pages) should have just been cut out. Which begs the question of what good is a story such as this without even a decent ending... But I do like my share of angst, confusion, and (not real) betrayal, so I'm giving this a 3.5.
March 14, 2011
2.5 stars.
Sigh. I hate to rate this book as low as I do because really, it is not a bad book. But it is definitely an infuriating one. I give Balogh a bit of a pass because this is one of her early books.
The book starts in a smallish village where a Miss Elizabeth Rossiter is the governess/companion of a beautiful young lady. The village is abuzz because the owner of he largest, most prosperous property is coming for a stay and is bringing some sophisticated friends from London.
As is usual in these books, the local gentry want to have a series of social rounds with the visiting nobles and marry off various children.
One of the visitors is Robert Denning, Marquess of Hetherington. And it is soon obvious that he and Elizabeth have a past. And oh yeah, he hates her.
The first part of the book is all question marks. Why does Robert despise Elizabeth so? What is the nature of their past relationship?
Slowly, Elizabeth reveals their relationship through flashbacks. And at the midpoint of the book, Robert throws down a bombshell.
And this is where I find the book really infuriating. Everything that has happened in the past and even going forward, hinges on the Grand Misunderstanding. It gets to a point where Elizabeth's intransigence just makes you want to slap her.
And it doesn't help matter that the entire story is told 100% from Elizabeth's POV. Robert is really enigmatic. His responses to her, his reactions and even some of his words are incredibly cryptic.
So this book was just frustrating. I would not rec this to newbies to Balogh. I'd probably only recommend it to Readers who are familiar with her work and who are interested in completing her backlist.
Sigh. I hate to rate this book as low as I do because really, it is not a bad book. But it is definitely an infuriating one. I give Balogh a bit of a pass because this is one of her early books.
The book starts in a smallish village where a Miss Elizabeth Rossiter is the governess/companion of a beautiful young lady. The village is abuzz because the owner of he largest, most prosperous property is coming for a stay and is bringing some sophisticated friends from London.
As is usual in these books, the local gentry want to have a series of social rounds with the visiting nobles and marry off various children.
One of the visitors is Robert Denning, Marquess of Hetherington. And it is soon obvious that he and Elizabeth have a past. And oh yeah, he hates her.
The first part of the book is all question marks. Why does Robert despise Elizabeth so? What is the nature of their past relationship?
Slowly, Elizabeth reveals their relationship through flashbacks. And at the midpoint of the book, Robert throws down a bombshell.
And this is where I find the book really infuriating. Everything that has happened in the past and even going forward, hinges on the Grand Misunderstanding. It gets to a point where Elizabeth's intransigence just makes you want to slap her.
And it doesn't help matter that the entire story is told 100% from Elizabeth's POV. Robert is really enigmatic. His responses to her, his reactions and even some of his words are incredibly cryptic.
So this book was just frustrating. I would not rec this to newbies to Balogh. I'd probably only recommend it to Readers who are familiar with her work and who are interested in completing her backlist.
August 8, 2018
Oh my gosh!!! Other reviewers seem to be out of sorts with this book and infuriated as well.
To my mind it is a typical Mary Balogh book, well written, full of angst, misunderstanding and heart break on the side of the h. + Another woman, the H's female interest a typical shrew who expects respect from minions when she gives nothing to warrant respect, but as usual gets her comeuppance in good style! Admittedly Elizabeth should have slapped Robert more than once to wipe that infuriating sneer off his face, but her unwillingness to argue with him won out in the end.
I enjoyed the book and am now reading The Wood Nymph William Mainwaring's story, which perhaps shouldn't be read by the low scoring reviewers as it is also full of angst and misunderstandings.!!!
To my mind it is a typical Mary Balogh book, well written, full of angst, misunderstanding and heart break on the side of the h. + Another woman, the H's female interest a typical shrew who expects respect from minions when she gives nothing to warrant respect, but as usual gets her comeuppance in good style! Admittedly Elizabeth should have slapped Robert more than once to wipe that infuriating sneer off his face, but her unwillingness to argue with him won out in the end.
I enjoyed the book and am now reading The Wood Nymph William Mainwaring's story, which perhaps shouldn't be read by the low scoring reviewers as it is also full of angst and misunderstandings.!!!
August 8, 2018
A lot of readers didn't like this book, but I did. It's a traditional Regency, one of Ms Balogh's first; written in 1985 and re-released a couple of years ago. I read the Kobo edition. The whole romance (and the breakdown of it) is based on multiple misunderstandings, which was a very overworked trope back in the 70's and 80's and one I enjoyed revisiting, since I've been reading romance since the early 70's. (Just dated myself !! LOL)
It's beautifully written and I loved all the Historical details and felt I was really there back in Regency times. The dialogue was good and the manners and customs of the time were observed in all the character's actions. I'm giving no spoilers. I give it 9/10 - :)
It's beautifully written and I loved all the Historical details and felt I was really there back in Regency times. The dialogue was good and the manners and customs of the time were observed in all the character's actions. I'm giving no spoilers. I give it 9/10 - :)
March 30, 2011
Loved this one. Very fun read. I don't want to give too much away because it would ruin the story. Elizabeth and Robert have a past. They have not seen each other in 6 years. Elizabeth's heart was broken by him and she has spent the last 6 years trying to hide and avoid society. She took up a position as a governess/lady's companion 6 years ago. Now by a quirk of fate Robert has entered her life again and created havoc once more. Really good story.
March 6, 2018
This is one of the first books from M. Balogh and the writing style is somewhat inspired by J. Austen .
The story is about a big misunderstanding which makes no sense to us - the modern reader - but seen in the light of how people acted in those time's it makes perfectly sense . Not my favorite read by this author . I would give it 3,5 stars if I could .
The story is about a big misunderstanding which makes no sense to us - the modern reader - but seen in the light of how people acted in those time's it makes perfectly sense . Not my favorite read by this author . I would give it 3,5 stars if I could .
June 17, 2023
Denning-Manwaring Series
I don't really think of this as a proper series, but the two books are connected by the fellow who lost in love in the first book finds his gal in the next book, so you don't have to feel bad for him.
Book 1 - A Change Encounter (Robert Denning, Marquis of Hetherington, Elizabeth Rossiter)
Book 2 - The Wood Nymph (William Mainwaring, Lady Helen Wade)
Summary: Elizabeth (Beth) Rossiter had her heart broken by her husband of two days who left her for not being substantial enough once he inherits a title. Six years later she now supports herself as a governess/lady companion to a sweet young lady in the country. The entire community is excited when the new owner of the large manor house, William Mainwaring, comes to take residence for the first time - and he was bring friends, one being Elizabeth's ex-husband Robert Denning, Marquis of Hetherington.
Review: This book is the definition of a cascade of misunderstandings... there are so many that it is a wonder that the 'truth' could even be accepted and trusted by this couple... and the conflict between the couple is literally worked out in the last few pages of the book. But that is not the real fault in this book for me, I really couldn't like the hero, he is so horrible though out the entire book, since there really isn't a lot of time spent with him being charming or nice (it is implied in conversations or flashback, but it is mostly talk no show), it is a puzzlement why the heroine loves him despite everything. All her efforts to live on her own terms and move on with her life, seem hollow when she frequently resigns herself to loving this man who treats her horribly and that she will never live a normal (marriage, children) life because she can't forget the image of the loving man she married thus she could never be happy with anyone else. I'd rather a little time was spent rebuilding their relationship - it really was in a shambles and their initial youthful romance didn't seem long enough, especially as they grew into slightly different/more mature people after so many years, but lust just took over and solved all problems in the end. That being said, it wasn't a difficult read just wasn't very interesting or engaging - will most likely forget this one.
**1/2 Light Read ~ Something to Read
Easy, light reading, but falls short of enjoyable. Nothing really remarkable or new, but worth reading if you like the genre and/or author, but failed to live up to other books in the genre.
I don't really think of this as a proper series, but the two books are connected by the fellow who lost in love in the first book finds his gal in the next book, so you don't have to feel bad for him.
Book 1 - A Change Encounter (Robert Denning, Marquis of Hetherington, Elizabeth Rossiter)
Book 2 - The Wood Nymph (William Mainwaring, Lady Helen Wade)
Summary: Elizabeth (Beth) Rossiter had her heart broken by her husband of two days who left her for not being substantial enough once he inherits a title. Six years later she now supports herself as a governess/lady companion to a sweet young lady in the country. The entire community is excited when the new owner of the large manor house, William Mainwaring, comes to take residence for the first time - and he was bring friends, one being Elizabeth's ex-husband Robert Denning, Marquis of Hetherington.
Review: This book is the definition of a cascade of misunderstandings... there are so many that it is a wonder that the 'truth' could even be accepted and trusted by this couple... and the conflict between the couple is literally worked out in the last few pages of the book. But that is not the real fault in this book for me, I really couldn't like the hero, he is so horrible though out the entire book, since there really isn't a lot of time spent with him being charming or nice (it is implied in conversations or flashback, but it is mostly talk no show), it is a puzzlement why the heroine loves him despite everything. All her efforts to live on her own terms and move on with her life, seem hollow when she frequently resigns herself to loving this man who treats her horribly and that she will never live a normal (marriage, children) life because she can't forget the image of the loving man she married thus she could never be happy with anyone else. I'd rather a little time was spent rebuilding their relationship - it really was in a shambles and their initial youthful romance didn't seem long enough, especially as they grew into slightly different/more mature people after so many years, but lust just took over and solved all problems in the end. That being said, it wasn't a difficult read just wasn't very interesting or engaging - will most likely forget this one.
**1/2 Light Read ~ Something to Read
Easy, light reading, but falls short of enjoyable. Nothing really remarkable or new, but worth reading if you like the genre and/or author, but failed to live up to other books in the genre.
October 7, 2012
I was so frustrated with this book.
It is essentially a book surrounding a "big lie or misunderstanding" and if the two had actually had an open adult conversation, there would have been no real conflict.
I found Elizabeth's emotions to be somewhat understandable but I did not agree with her actions at all and had a hard time watching her essentially string another man along.
She appears to be relatively intelligent except when it comes to Robert. Why would he go out of his way to help her if he was as conscienceless as she imagined? Why did he bother to spend additional time at her brother's house when he did have to, why did he try to remind her of their past?
If she had thought for just a moment and been allowed to behave as a adult thinking person, we could have seen an actual relationship begin to grow between them and then we could believe in the love they supposedly had for each other.
This book just made me frustrated. I spent so much time looking for it, I honestly wished I hadn't.
Elizabeth's behavior at the very end of this novel makes absolutely no sense, to me, I could not like this book. By the end all I felt was frustrated.
It is essentially a book surrounding a "big lie or misunderstanding" and if the two had actually had an open adult conversation, there would have been no real conflict.
I found Elizabeth's emotions to be somewhat understandable but I did not agree with her actions at all and had a hard time watching her essentially string another man along.
She appears to be relatively intelligent except when it comes to Robert. Why would he go out of his way to help her if he was as conscienceless as she imagined? Why did he bother to spend additional time at her brother's house when he did have to, why did he try to remind her of their past?
If she had thought for just a moment and been allowed to behave as a adult thinking person, we could have seen an actual relationship begin to grow between them and then we could believe in the love they supposedly had for each other.
This book just made me frustrated. I spent so much time looking for it, I honestly wished I hadn't.
Elizabeth's behavior at the very end of this novel makes absolutely no sense, to me, I could not like this book. By the end all I felt was frustrated.
July 26, 2016
A heroine who is so fickle with her resolutions and so intent on playing the noble idiot - with no sound motivation given for the idiocy apart from vague inclinations to be independent - she leaves you wondering what the good Mr. Denning ever saw in her.
Mr. Mainwaring was nothing more than a stupid, glaringly obvious contrived plot device. For people who proclaim to love each other ardently and passionately, they are quite easily persuaded of the other's vices and quick to believe the worst of each other.
I'd at least like my heroine and hero to not be so obviously stupid. And I prefer a plot that is a little more complicated than one that could be solved by a ten-minute conversation.
Mr. Mainwaring was nothing more than a stupid, glaringly obvious contrived plot device. For people who proclaim to love each other ardently and passionately, they are quite easily persuaded of the other's vices and quick to believe the worst of each other.
I'd at least like my heroine and hero to not be so obviously stupid. And I prefer a plot that is a little more complicated than one that could be solved by a ten-minute conversation.
November 28, 2015
Mary Balogh is usually a 'can't miss' author for me, but this one fell a little short of the mark. "A Chance Encounter" tells of two young lovers, the impoverished but titled Robert, and the genteel Elizabeth, who fall in love and marry without family approval. Events - that is, the evil uncle and father - conspire against them, and they are apart for six years, thinking the other person has abandoned them.
This one should really be titled "The Great Misunderstanding." Truly a good conversation, once Robert and Elizabeth met again after six years, would have cleared this book up in about 20 pages.
But where's the fun in that?
This one should really be titled "The Great Misunderstanding." Truly a good conversation, once Robert and Elizabeth met again after six years, would have cleared this book up in about 20 pages.
But where's the fun in that?
June 13, 2011
This is early Mary Balogh and shows great promise for her longer form novels. It's a quick read because of length and because it pulls you into the dilemmas and mores of those times. The hero and heroine come face to face after being violently in love in the past. The scene is in the country but their relationship dates back to six years earlier during a London season.
A mere governess and a titled noble can't escape their pasts and that past comes to light in an interesting way.
Really enjoyed this one.
A mere governess and a titled noble can't escape their pasts and that past comes to light in an interesting way.
Really enjoyed this one.
January 14, 2019
The story is basically a series of misunderstandings between a recent married couple, but not through anything they have done. Rather, the misunderstandings were created by his uncle and her father, as were the lies that drove them apart.
Then, six years later, they meet again. She was told that he divorced her, although he did not. He was told that she left him for a large sum of money, although she did not.
Will they be able to discover the truth? Will they be able to love and trust each other again?
Then, six years later, they meet again. She was told that he divorced her, although he did not. He was told that she left him for a large sum of money, although she did not.
Will they be able to discover the truth? Will they be able to love and trust each other again?
January 24, 2014
Very average fare told in a less than elegant fashion and rather emotionally detached despite the contrived would-be angsty plot. While I have been going through and enjoying Ms Balogh's back catalogue, this book might have been too far back, before she truly developed her flare to captivate with her storytelling.
September 29, 2025
I love the premise but I find that I like the couple more when they were younger than when they grew up. Especially Robert. [Old Robert] seems to be a lot different from the young Robert. Oh, and hugs for Mr. Mainwaring. I'm so sad for him.
October 2, 2024
If you're coming to a romance novel looking for spice, then this one is not for you. While there is mention made of the main couple's wedding night, it's relatively glanced over and that's it. You can tell Balogh's main inspiration for this particular work were a smattering of various plot threads from multiple Jane Austen novels. She also, for the first time in her early books, does not do dual POVs. We only have Elizabeth's view for the entire story, and while it's easy for a reader to tell that it's to maintain the mystery of what went wrong for the main couple on their initial relationship six years previous to the novel's events, it's a bit of a waste of effort. For one, it's easy to figure out what happened (so easy in fact that the main characters both seem very stupid for not ever figuring it out at any point over the previous six years). And second, the reveal is legit so stupid that I think the novel would have been even more enjoyable if the readers could at least experience schadenfreude while reading through it all.
As a person who loves soap opera levels of drama in her romance novels, this was a good entry in Balogh's early writings. Obviously, it was far from perfect. But if you're going to have your leads be dumb, you should have them be dramatically dumb, and this was definitely that.
Also, every time I read Mainwaring's name, I kept hearing the name said in the voice of the put upon, abandoned wife in the 2016 film Love and Friendship. It just made me giggle every time someone mentioned him. Glad to see the second book in the duology is about him because he seemed nice and deserves a happy relationship since Elizabeth is off the table. It's also next on my list of Balogh books to read, so I will go get started on that.
As a person who loves soap opera levels of drama in her romance novels, this was a good entry in Balogh's early writings. Obviously, it was far from perfect. But if you're going to have your leads be dumb, you should have them be dramatically dumb, and this was definitely that.
Also, every time I read Mainwaring's name, I kept hearing the name said in the voice of the put upon, abandoned wife in the 2016 film Love and Friendship. It just made me giggle every time someone mentioned him. Glad to see the second book in the duology is about him because he seemed nice and deserves a happy relationship since Elizabeth is off the table. It's also next on my list of Balogh books to read, so I will go get started on that.
July 25, 2017
"Chance Encounter" by Mary Balogh 1985
The book I read was an old Culpeper County Library hardcover copy from Culpeper, VA. Isn't the cover unique.
It is hard to review this book without putting spoilers in everywhere because as you read, Mary Balogh throws in information about the past that enlightens the reader.
I will try now not to ruin this book for you but give you the basics.
Mr. Mainwaring has inherited Ferndale Manor from his uncle and has decided to take up residency and will be bringing friends if all the gossip is to be believed.
Elizabeth Rossiter is Cecily Rowe's governess-turned companion. She has been with the family for over six years and she is treated more like a family member than a servant.
Everyone in the neighborhood is excited for the newcomer's visit and all the mothers (and daughters) are hoping some single men will be among the guests.
This part really sounds like Pride and Prejudice to me! Mr. Rowe visits the Mr. Manwaring and the next day Mr Mainwaring and his friends, Mr & Mrs. Prosser and the Marquess of Hetherington come to call.
As the guests were being introduced Elizabeth sitting in the corner in the shadows froze ..OH NO OH NO. ItIs Robert she whispers.
This is where I leave off... I really enjoyed this story with it's twist toward the end. If you love Mary Balogh's books as much as I do, you will love this story!! Happy Reading!
The book I read was an old Culpeper County Library hardcover copy from Culpeper, VA. Isn't the cover unique.
It is hard to review this book without putting spoilers in everywhere because as you read, Mary Balogh throws in information about the past that enlightens the reader.
I will try now not to ruin this book for you but give you the basics.
Mr. Mainwaring has inherited Ferndale Manor from his uncle and has decided to take up residency and will be bringing friends if all the gossip is to be believed.
Elizabeth Rossiter is Cecily Rowe's governess-turned companion. She has been with the family for over six years and she is treated more like a family member than a servant.
Everyone in the neighborhood is excited for the newcomer's visit and all the mothers (and daughters) are hoping some single men will be among the guests.
This part really sounds like Pride and Prejudice to me! Mr. Rowe visits the Mr. Manwaring and the next day Mr Mainwaring and his friends, Mr & Mrs. Prosser and the Marquess of Hetherington come to call.
As the guests were being introduced Elizabeth sitting in the corner in the shadows froze ..OH NO OH NO. ItIs Robert she whispers.
This is where I leave off... I really enjoyed this story with it's twist toward the end. If you love Mary Balogh's books as much as I do, you will love this story!! Happy Reading!
May 1, 2019
This is a very early work of Mary Balogh and with only 16 chapters a rather short novel. The plot is rather incredible: the heroine, Elizabeth Rossiter, meets her ex-husband , Robert Denning, Marquess of Hetherington, unexpectedly again in the drawing room of her employers. In subsequent events it is revealed that Elizabeth and Robert are still legally married and their separation was caused by a big misunderstanding.
I did not like the heroine at all, although she was described as valued and liked by all her neighbors and her employers. She lacked courage and passion to be a “true” heroine, she was prepared to give up love and happiness for boring contentment. The hero was ok though I wished he was more sweeping and less restrained.
There are no steamy love scenes in the whole book, which was really disappointing and not what J am used of a MB book.
I did not like the heroine at all, although she was described as valued and liked by all her neighbors and her employers. She lacked courage and passion to be a “true” heroine, she was prepared to give up love and happiness for boring contentment. The hero was ok though I wished he was more sweeping and less restrained.
There are no steamy love scenes in the whole book, which was really disappointing and not what J am used of a MB book.
July 16, 2024
First of all, I HAVE BONES TO PICK with both her father and his uncle. No that's not it, I want revenge or vengeance. I'm not satisfied that they got away with it. Why I didn't see any info that the hero tore his uncle's ass for what he did to their relationship??? I want to wring her father's neck. Such a horrible things they did to Robert and Elizabeth.
Still, I have to say that both our hero and heroine were ninnies!! The miscommunication trope my god. I think Elizabeth shld be furious that someone hindered her attempt to hash it out with Robert. That secretary of him!! I understand that she was weary of what happened and instead chose the coward route. Robert was right to admit his fault that he shld fight for her more. I'm so incensed that both the perpetrators got away with it. Lastly, this one of Mary Balogh's didn't do it for me. It was frustrating even with HEA.
Still, I have to say that both our hero and heroine were ninnies!! The miscommunication trope my god. I think Elizabeth shld be furious that someone hindered her attempt to hash it out with Robert. That secretary of him!! I understand that she was weary of what happened and instead chose the coward route. Robert was right to admit his fault that he shld fight for her more. I'm so incensed that both the perpetrators got away with it. Lastly, this one of Mary Balogh's didn't do it for me. It was frustrating even with HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2019
A Chance Encounter by Mary Balogh
This was an enjoyable love story of two young lovers whose families interfered and caused the hero and heroine to be separated for 6 years. The heroine took a job as a governess and met a man, William, who was interested in marrying her, but happened to be friends with the heroine’s husband. The story had interesting plots and twists with a HEA, except for poor William. William though has his own story called The Wood Nymph, which has a satisfying HEA, but be prepared for a lot of upheaval in their love story.
This was an enjoyable love story of two young lovers whose families interfered and caused the hero and heroine to be separated for 6 years. The heroine took a job as a governess and met a man, William, who was interested in marrying her, but happened to be friends with the heroine’s husband. The story had interesting plots and twists with a HEA, except for poor William. William though has his own story called The Wood Nymph, which has a satisfying HEA, but be prepared for a lot of upheaval in their love story.
October 19, 2020
This story was one big misunderstanding after another and even when the truth is pointed out to the heroine she refuses to trust the hero who has done nothing wrong. At one time I might have enjoyed the angst of this story and accepted the stubborn heroine and drawn out ending but no longer. I can still accept the angst and righteousness of the heroine's plight in the fact that these lovers were repeatedly lied to but they both wouldn't listen to the truth or try to listen to each other. They spent too much being indignant and angry. A plot that has thankfully seen its day.
August 5, 2023
An Impossible Woman
I did not like the female protagonist in this story and it is reflected in the two star
rating. Our heroine is a bitter, angry woman who holds on to hate and anger.
She refuses to forgive, is suspicious of
everyone and the same confrontation is
repeated over and over. I love Ms. Balogh's
stories but this one, in my opinion, goes
over the same territory until the story
becomes a droning, repetitive and boring
story that mercifully dies the predictable
death with the long kiss (finally), cue the lights and music and exit stage left.
,
I did not like the female protagonist in this story and it is reflected in the two star
rating. Our heroine is a bitter, angry woman who holds on to hate and anger.
She refuses to forgive, is suspicious of
everyone and the same confrontation is
repeated over and over. I love Ms. Balogh's
stories but this one, in my opinion, goes
over the same territory until the story
becomes a droning, repetitive and boring
story that mercifully dies the predictable
death with the long kiss (finally), cue the lights and music and exit stage left.
,
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews