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Tangled
David, Major Lord Tavistock, has survived the Crimean War. But he knows he will always be haunted by memories of the brutal fighting, the wounds he sustained—and the death in battle of Julian, the foster brother he had loved and protected all his life. Now he is coming home to England, burdened with dark secrets he can never divulge, to face Julian's widow—and to persuade her to marry him.
Rebecca has never liked David, and she is convinced she has good reason for her feelings. She does try her best, however, not to resent the fact that he has survived the war while her beloved husband has not. At first she is horrified by his proposal of marriage and believes that nothing could ever persuade her to accept. Circumstances cause her to change her mind, but she does not expect ever to fall in love with him. How, after all, can she forget the perfect love she shared with Julian? How can she overlook all the negative things she knows about David? How is she to ignore her growing suspicion that he was somehow responsible for Julian's death? How can she possibly be falling in love with him anyway?
Rebecca has never liked David, and she is convinced she has good reason for her feelings. She does try her best, however, not to resent the fact that he has survived the war while her beloved husband has not. At first she is horrified by his proposal of marriage and believes that nothing could ever persuade her to accept. Circumstances cause her to change her mind, but she does not expect ever to fall in love with him. How, after all, can she forget the perfect love she shared with Julian? How can she overlook all the negative things she knows about David? How is she to ignore her growing suspicion that he was somehow responsible for Julian's death? How can she possibly be falling in love with him anyway?
522 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 5, 2022
115 people are currently reading
1043 people want to read
About the author
Mary Balogh
195 books6,377 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 112 reviews
February 9, 2017
Rebecca (placid and obedient) is married to Julian (cheerful adulterer), the foster brother of David (stoic martyr) who wants to be married to Rebecca. While at war, David catches Julian attempting to murder the man he's cuckolding so David shoots Julian in the heart. THIS IS LITERALLY THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOK I AM SPOILING NOTHING. So then he returns home, proposes marriage, makes sex, has baby, settles in, etc. Everything is going SWIMMINGLY. Everyone is HAPPY. EVEN WHEN REBECCA FINDS OUT THAT DAVID SHOT JULIAN SHE'S LIKE "EH COULD BE WORSE". CLEARLY THIS CAN'T LAST.
And the Angst Cannon goes BOOM.
1. Rebecca was not a very likable character. I understand completely that she's meant to be an accurate representation of a Victorian wife, but her obedient docility was extraordinarily off-putting? She never questions her place in the word and in fact seems to embrace it to a rather gross degree. For example, she is struggling to consummate her marriage with her husband and she tells him, "[G]ive me a command. I don't think I could be disobedient to a command. I'm your wife." UMM. Her husband (thankfully) refuses her, but STILL.
She's also extremely passive: everything in the story happens to her. Even when offered the chance to claim what the narrative claims she wants, she doesn't--. It seemed like the narrative couldn't find a handhold on what to do with Rebecca: even when the text is from her point of view, there's no fire, no spark. She's docile and perfect and untouchable. She does what she is supposed to at all times, and it's extraordinarily dull.
2. Was I really supposed to believe that Rebecca's first marriage was love? Because that was not love: it was selfish and arrogant and flighty. It was not good, it was not healthy. That's not...love. Except the narrative WOULDN'T LET IT GO. It's like a damned refrain: she loved Julian. He loved Rebecca. THEY LOVED EACH OTHER.
EXCEPT NOT REALLY.
3. David was -- whatever. I wished he would have manned up and stopped covering for Julian THE ASSHOLE. (Seriously: I did not get the worship for Julian. He was a selfish child?? STOP ENABLING HIM??)
4. THERE WAS SO MUCH ANGST. It was like overdone caramel: thick and sour and hard to get through. I had to read this in bits to keep myself from descending into a pit of despair and woe.
5. THERE IS A SCENE WHERE THE HERO KISSES THE HEROINE'S LACTATING BREASTS AND TASTES BREASTMILK??? THAT'S A THING???
And the Angst Cannon goes BOOM.
1. Rebecca was not a very likable character. I understand completely that she's meant to be an accurate representation of a Victorian wife, but her obedient docility was extraordinarily off-putting? She never questions her place in the word and in fact seems to embrace it to a rather gross degree. For example, she is struggling to consummate her marriage with her husband and she tells him, "[G]ive me a command. I don't think I could be disobedient to a command. I'm your wife." UMM. Her husband (thankfully) refuses her, but STILL.
She's also extremely passive: everything in the story happens to her. Even when offered the chance to claim what the narrative claims she wants, she doesn't--. It seemed like the narrative couldn't find a handhold on what to do with Rebecca: even when the text is from her point of view, there's no fire, no spark. She's docile and perfect and untouchable. She does what she is supposed to at all times, and it's extraordinarily dull.
2. Was I really supposed to believe that Rebecca's first marriage was love? Because that was not love: it was selfish and arrogant and flighty. It was not good, it was not healthy. That's not...love. Except the narrative WOULDN'T LET IT GO. It's like a damned refrain: she loved Julian. He loved Rebecca. THEY LOVED EACH OTHER.
EXCEPT NOT REALLY.
3. David was -- whatever. I wished he would have manned up and stopped covering for Julian THE ASSHOLE. (Seriously: I did not get the worship for Julian. He was a selfish child?? STOP ENABLING HIM??)
4. THERE WAS SO MUCH ANGST. It was like overdone caramel: thick and sour and hard to get through. I had to read this in bits to keep myself from descending into a pit of despair and woe.
5. THERE IS A SCENE WHERE THE HERO KISSES THE HEROINE'S LACTATING BREASTS AND TASTES BREASTMILK??? THAT'S A THING???
January 21, 2020
As Boogenhagen would say this little epic tale is a trainwreck with an avalanche wrapped in typhoon. Toss in some of the lightheartedness of O’Neil’s Desire Under the Elms plus some idiotic noble characters, some charming but loathsome ones and the most stupid heroine ever and I include the entire female population of HPLand when I say that, and what a plot. That said,
I. Could. Not. Put. This. Down!!!!!
Like salt on a wound, this was so awful it was unforgettable.
Okay, massive spoilers so beware.
Plot:
Julian is married to Rebecca and is cheating on her right and left. He and David, his kind-of-brother, leave for the war where he cheats some more and is killed. Who killed him?
David, the brother, comes home and marries the mourning and damaged heroine. She, kind of-maybe falls for him, they have a baby, but guess who shows up from the dead?
CHARACTERS
Julian- Hero #1. Kind of a hero as in not at all.
Not a hero. He’s a charming, Bonnie Prince Hail Fellow Well Met that can’t keep his pants zipped. He is pathological in his need to seduce. It even concerns his brainless self towards the end. The love of his Madonna/whore life is Rebecca who has absolutely NO idea what a cad he is.
J in action
"You are the loveliest, sweetest girl in the whole world," he said. "If I weren't married, Nance ..."
But he felt even more wretched at the lie.
Finally he had to let her go, knowing that he had doomed her to weeks and perhaps months of misery, knowing that she had given the treasure of her virginity to a man who did not really care for her. He hoped he had not left her with child.
He felt doubly wretched— partly because he had hurt Nancy and partly because he had lain with her today before breaking the news to her.
Not his first time at that well. He had left an illegitimate son for Hero #2 to take responsibility for.
MIA for most of the book, he goes noble towards the end. He comes back after two years of whoring around Russia to find the love of his life remarried and with a child. J shuffles the child out, claims his wife and plans a trip to jet around Europe. He catches a clue that Rebecca may be fonder of her child and other husband than he anticipated.
"Divorce is allowed now," he said. "Even I know about the new law, even though I've been away. I want you to divorce me. For adultery. I can give you grounds. You know of the one infidelity, and I admitted to others yesterday. I'll give you all the grounds you need, Becka.”
Let’s rephrase, shall we?
I’ll give you all the grounds you need, Becka. LOTS AND LOTS OF GROUNDS. From the time we were engaged to an hour ago I have not been remotely faithful. In fact, my two year delay in coming back from the dead was my torrid romance with a Russian woman that I finally tired of, but you are the one I really love!
David-Hero # 2. The real deal. Kind of.
Beta H disguised as alpha. He’s noble to the nth degree and sacrifices everything to protect worthless hero #1 because he feels sorry for him. His fake mea culpas include almost killing two young girls by locking them in a hot barn for too long, almost killing a litter of kittens by taking them from the mama, admitting to fathering a child out of wedlock with the Vicar’s daughter no less, and telling the woman he adores that he had an affair with a married woman during the war. Guess who the real culprit is?
Rebecca: Torn between two lovers, feelin’ like a fool…
Couldn’t find her wait out of a paperbag with a flashlight and a guide. Infatuated with the H #2 David, until his “bad behavior” emerges aka his coverup for Julian which makes her turn to J. If there is a way to get it wrong, then the heroine is all over it. Mind-boggling how her mind works if you can call it a mind.
Sad fact. Despite Julian being a massive manwhore, his “moments” with the heroine are less than because he’s placed her on such a pedestal. Ah, the irony.
The h is judgmental, appropriately Victorianly stuffy, somewhat frigid and one confused chick. Besotted with H#1, she promises H#2 to be a dutiful and obedient wife.
I love him. I love HIM I love him. I love HIM. I love him. I love HIM. NO, I love him. I love HIM.
George: The cuckolded mad man.
Loses some sympathy by his willingness to take revenge in any way he can, smiling all the way.
Final Thoughts
I am tempted to give this four stars as it such an entertaining train wreck, but I just couldn’t do it. This is a doozy. If you like angst and trainwrecks, then go for it. If you like the gentle romance and fraternal support of the characters in the Survivor’s Club then run like the wind.
Not a Regency.
I. Could. Not. Put. This. Down!!!!!
Like salt on a wound, this was so awful it was unforgettable.
Okay, massive spoilers so beware.
Plot:
Julian is married to Rebecca and is cheating on her right and left. He and David, his kind-of-brother, leave for the war where he cheats some more and is killed. Who killed him?
David, the brother, comes home and marries the mourning and damaged heroine. She, kind of-maybe falls for him, they have a baby, but guess who shows up from the dead?
CHARACTERS
Julian- Hero #1. Kind of a hero as in not at all.
Not a hero. He’s a charming, Bonnie Prince Hail Fellow Well Met that can’t keep his pants zipped. He is pathological in his need to seduce. It even concerns his brainless self towards the end. The love of his Madonna/whore life is Rebecca who has absolutely NO idea what a cad he is.
J in action
"You are the loveliest, sweetest girl in the whole world," he said. "If I weren't married, Nance ..."
But he felt even more wretched at the lie.
Finally he had to let her go, knowing that he had doomed her to weeks and perhaps months of misery, knowing that she had given the treasure of her virginity to a man who did not really care for her. He hoped he had not left her with child.
He felt doubly wretched— partly because he had hurt Nancy and partly because he had lain with her today before breaking the news to her.
Not his first time at that well. He had left an illegitimate son for Hero #2 to take responsibility for.
MIA for most of the book, he goes noble towards the end. He comes back after two years of whoring around Russia to find the love of his life remarried and with a child. J shuffles the child out, claims his wife and plans a trip to jet around Europe. He catches a clue that Rebecca may be fonder of her child and other husband than he anticipated.
"Divorce is allowed now," he said. "Even I know about the new law, even though I've been away. I want you to divorce me. For adultery. I can give you grounds. You know of the one infidelity, and I admitted to others yesterday. I'll give you all the grounds you need, Becka.”
Let’s rephrase, shall we?
I’ll give you all the grounds you need, Becka. LOTS AND LOTS OF GROUNDS. From the time we were engaged to an hour ago I have not been remotely faithful. In fact, my two year delay in coming back from the dead was my torrid romance with a Russian woman that I finally tired of, but you are the one I really love!
David-Hero # 2. The real deal. Kind of.
Beta H disguised as alpha. He’s noble to the nth degree and sacrifices everything to protect worthless hero #1 because he feels sorry for him. His fake mea culpas include almost killing two young girls by locking them in a hot barn for too long, almost killing a litter of kittens by taking them from the mama, admitting to fathering a child out of wedlock with the Vicar’s daughter no less, and telling the woman he adores that he had an affair with a married woman during the war. Guess who the real culprit is?
Rebecca: Torn between two lovers, feelin’ like a fool…
Couldn’t find her wait out of a paperbag with a flashlight and a guide. Infatuated with the H #2 David, until his “bad behavior” emerges aka his coverup for Julian which makes her turn to J. If there is a way to get it wrong, then the heroine is all over it. Mind-boggling how her mind works if you can call it a mind.
Sad fact. Despite Julian being a massive manwhore, his “moments” with the heroine are less than because he’s placed her on such a pedestal. Ah, the irony.
The h is judgmental, appropriately Victorianly stuffy, somewhat frigid and one confused chick. Besotted with H#1, she promises H#2 to be a dutiful and obedient wife.
I love him. I love HIM I love him. I love HIM. I love him. I love HIM. NO, I love him. I love HIM.
George: The cuckolded mad man.
Loses some sympathy by his willingness to take revenge in any way he can, smiling all the way.
Final Thoughts
I am tempted to give this four stars as it such an entertaining train wreck, but I just couldn’t do it. This is a doozy. If you like angst and trainwrecks, then go for it. If you like the gentle romance and fraternal support of the characters in the Survivor’s Club then run like the wind.
Not a Regency.
July 13, 2022
This early Balogh (1994) was a little too angsty for me, and to add to that, I didn't particularly like or admire the heroine.
It started off promisingly, with some of the harsh realities/effects of the Crimean War on English soldiers and their families being depicted. Not a common setting for historical romances.
But, also from the start, it was clear that the book's title is a very appropriate one. The lives of David, Julian, Rebecca, and the Scherers are all crazily tangled. The situations were believable enough, if you could buy in to the personalities of the protagonists. Julian was charming but weak and immature, and David had developed an unfortunate habit of taking the blame for Julian, his foster-brother's, peccadilloes. Rebecca had been raised to be a 'proper lady', which was consistent with the times and circumstances of her upbringing. She has no understanding of sexuality, and was naive in many ways, almost to the point of being dumb. She had no clue that David had always been in love with her.
None of the three MCs were particularly admirable, actually, and as a result of all this, the relationship between David and Rebecca was confusing and lacked real passion. Both of them were too inhibited, and it was frustrating to this reader.
The later part of the book had some unexpected developments, and the ending was different from what I expected. But by this point I wasn't really caught up in Rebecca and David's story any more. I got a bit sick of them by the end, actually.
So, this may be a good read for you if you like a tangled, angsty type of historical romance. For me it turned out to be a bit flat, and not my fav by this author, even though I really like some of her other works from this period.
TW:
It started off promisingly, with some of the harsh realities/effects of the Crimean War on English soldiers and their families being depicted. Not a common setting for historical romances.
But, also from the start, it was clear that the book's title is a very appropriate one. The lives of David, Julian, Rebecca, and the Scherers are all crazily tangled. The situations were believable enough, if you could buy in to the personalities of the protagonists. Julian was charming but weak and immature, and David had developed an unfortunate habit of taking the blame for Julian, his foster-brother's, peccadilloes. Rebecca had been raised to be a 'proper lady', which was consistent with the times and circumstances of her upbringing. She has no understanding of sexuality, and was naive in many ways, almost to the point of being dumb. She had no clue that David had always been in love with her.
None of the three MCs were particularly admirable, actually, and as a result of all this, the relationship between David and Rebecca was confusing and lacked real passion. Both of them were too inhibited, and it was frustrating to this reader.
The later part of the book had some unexpected developments, and the ending was different from what I expected. But by this point I wasn't really caught up in Rebecca and David's story any more. I got a bit sick of them by the end, actually.
So, this may be a good read for you if you like a tangled, angsty type of historical romance. For me it turned out to be a bit flat, and not my fav by this author, even though I really like some of her other works from this period.
TW:
August 17, 2016
August’s TBR Challenge prompt is
“Kickin’ it old-school”
and it’s a prompt I always enjoy as it gives me the opportunity to pick something from the TBR Pile of Doom, which still looms large next to the bed. I went for Tangled by Mary Balogh, a standalone title originally published in 1991 which features a somewhat unusual premise; one I haven’t read before although I’m sure this isn’t the only book to have made use of it. I see that the book has engendered very mixed reactions over the years, and although I can understand why, I enjoyed it, principally because Mary Balogh is so skilled at portraying the emotional lives of her characters in a way that makes them feel very real to the reader.
The book opens as Lady Rebecca Cardwell is saying a fond farewell to her husband, Julian, before he departs with his regiment for Malta, and then the Crimea. He is accompanied by his foster brother, David, Viscount Tavistock, whom she dislikes and blames for Julian’s joining the army. Julian is eagerly reassuring his anxious wife that he will be in no danger, and it’s clear that he is keen to be on his way and sees the whole thing as an adventure.
The glimpses we see of Julian’s life in the army very quickly reinforce those initial impressions of his character. We learn some of his and David’s backstory, and see that Julian is one of those happy-go-lucky types who breeze through life with no care for anyone but himself. He’s not evil, per se, just incredibly selfish and immature. But his devil-may-care attitude, and particularly his womanising eventually has disastrous consequences which ultimately result in his death.
David returns home a decorated war hero, haunted by the death of the man he’d loved like a brother, and looking to settle down to a useful life at his country estate. He very quickly realises that Rebecca is in a difficult situation; even though she regards the Earl of Harrington as a father, she is not actually related to him and since his remarriage, feels the awkwardness of being the house’s former mistress in the presence of its new one. David has been in love with Rebecca for years, since long before she married Julian, and even though he knows that she will never love him, he offers her marriage, telling her that he can provide her with a home of her own and a purpose in life. He makes it clear, though, that while he is proposing a marriage of convenience, he wants a wife to share his bed and, hopefully, give him children.
Initially, Rebecca is stunned and turns him down. She doesn’t really like David, believing him guilty of a slew of misdemeanours in his youth and of having fathered a bastard child and refused to marry the mother. Yet she has to admit that since his return, she has seen a much quieter and more thoughtful man, and believes that perhaps he has outgrown his youthful exuberance. She also can’t deny that the prospect of a home of her own and having tasks to fill her days is an attractive one, so she eventually agrees to David’s proposal, assuring him that she will be a good wife to him and that once she is married to him, she will put Julian out of her thoughts.
At first, David thinks he has made a fairly good bargain, although his father is sceptical and warns him that he wants more than Rebecca will be prepared or able to give him. The marriage takes place and the newlyweds travel to their new home where Rebecca is delighted to discover that there is plenty for her to do and looks forward to being useful and taking her place as the foremost lady of the local community.
But their married life gets off to a rocky start. Rebecca’s version of “being a good wife” is letting her husband do as he wishes in bed with no thought for her own wants – and David is bewildered. He knows Julian and Rebecca were very much in love and thinks Rebecca must have experienced passion; but not only does she not respond to him, it’s clear she is having to force herself to endure his lovemaking. David believes that she is deliberately holding herself back from him because she doesn’t love him and because, in spite of her promise not to think of Julian, she is doing just that. Their relationship becomes incredibly strained until, after their third night together, David snaps, says some cruel things and then tells Rebecca he won’t be bothering her again.
Rebecca is equally confused. She has been brought up to believe that sex is for a husband’s pleasure and for procreation, and that she should just lie there and let him get on with it. She is surprised by her attraction to David, but is ashamed of her response to his kisses and lovemaking, feeling things she’s never felt before and desperate to control herself to make sure he isn’t disgusted by her wantonness. But after that night, she finds she misses the bonding that had begun between them in bed and also that she needs the reassurance of David’s presence there, and of his lovemaking, too. The couple settles into a way of life that sees them living and working together as little more than business partners, but Rebecca wants a real marriage and has no idea how to achieve it while David distances himself from her; his jealousy of Julian and the guilt, the secrets and the lies that shadowed their relationship distort his view of the situation and lead him to believe that Rebecca is disgusted by him. It’s a stalemate for quite some time until at last, it seems as though they have finally found a way through … which is when (of course) disaster strikes.
I am not normally a fan of stories in which so many misunderstandings and secrets abound, but I did enjoy Tangled. True, there were times I wanted to beat both protagonists over the head with a big stick and tell them to just be honest with each other; but somehow, Mary Balogh has made their reluctance to confide in each other believable. It’s frustrating to read at times, but is understandable, especially given that Rebecca’s upbringing has conditioned her to propriety and submission and that David is driven to protect the people he cares about. The deeper emotions are brilliantly illuminated, and the author has very skilfully illustrated the importance of sex in the development of the central relationship. Without it, David and Rebecca are almost strangers, and because they are both hiding things from each other, they don’t have any other way in which to achieve closeness on an emotional level.
It’s difficult to say much more about the plot without giving away spoilers for the last third, but there are several places in that final section of the story that deliver a real emotional punch to the gut, as David and Rebecca struggle to adjust to a huge upheaval just as they were beginning to make something real out of their marriage. I especially liked the way in which the author shows that Rebecca is falling in love with David while being completely unaware of it, and how she shows the depths of his quiet, unrequited love for his wife, but as individuals, they are complex, flawed and not always easy to like. Rebecca puts Julian on a pedestal and is unable – or unwilling – to see any of the shortcomings of which the reader – and David - is aware. She elevates him practically to sainthood after his death, and there are times when her continual harping upon his perfection gets very irritating. David, too, is not without his faults; for the most part, he’s one of those honourable, quiet men who are driven to protect, but I did have to ask myself how he could bear to let so many people think badly of him for so long. But with those things said, both characters feel very much like products of their time, and I applaud Ms. Balogh for creating and keeping them that way in spite of the sometimes negative effect on their overall appeal.
While the secret-keeping is frustrating and the central characters could sometimes be a bit irritating, my principal criticism of Tangled is with the ending. Granted, the outcome was a foregone conclusion if David and Rebecca were to get their HEA, but the action that leads up to it is so completely out of character for the person concerned, that I had to read and accept it as a necessary plot device rather than a natural direction of the story.
This is an angsty and emotional book, and I can understand that the secrets, misunderstandings and - for want of a better word, passivity - of the protagonists may mean it is not one that everyone will like. But the depth of the emotion contained within its pages and the skilfully developed, strong connection between the protagonists are sufficiently compelling as to allow me to overlook any weaknesses and commend it as an absorbing and thought-provoking read.
The book opens as Lady Rebecca Cardwell is saying a fond farewell to her husband, Julian, before he departs with his regiment for Malta, and then the Crimea. He is accompanied by his foster brother, David, Viscount Tavistock, whom she dislikes and blames for Julian’s joining the army. Julian is eagerly reassuring his anxious wife that he will be in no danger, and it’s clear that he is keen to be on his way and sees the whole thing as an adventure.
The glimpses we see of Julian’s life in the army very quickly reinforce those initial impressions of his character. We learn some of his and David’s backstory, and see that Julian is one of those happy-go-lucky types who breeze through life with no care for anyone but himself. He’s not evil, per se, just incredibly selfish and immature. But his devil-may-care attitude, and particularly his womanising eventually has disastrous consequences which ultimately result in his death.
David returns home a decorated war hero, haunted by the death of the man he’d loved like a brother, and looking to settle down to a useful life at his country estate. He very quickly realises that Rebecca is in a difficult situation; even though she regards the Earl of Harrington as a father, she is not actually related to him and since his remarriage, feels the awkwardness of being the house’s former mistress in the presence of its new one. David has been in love with Rebecca for years, since long before she married Julian, and even though he knows that she will never love him, he offers her marriage, telling her that he can provide her with a home of her own and a purpose in life. He makes it clear, though, that while he is proposing a marriage of convenience, he wants a wife to share his bed and, hopefully, give him children.
Initially, Rebecca is stunned and turns him down. She doesn’t really like David, believing him guilty of a slew of misdemeanours in his youth and of having fathered a bastard child and refused to marry the mother. Yet she has to admit that since his return, she has seen a much quieter and more thoughtful man, and believes that perhaps he has outgrown his youthful exuberance. She also can’t deny that the prospect of a home of her own and having tasks to fill her days is an attractive one, so she eventually agrees to David’s proposal, assuring him that she will be a good wife to him and that once she is married to him, she will put Julian out of her thoughts.
At first, David thinks he has made a fairly good bargain, although his father is sceptical and warns him that he wants more than Rebecca will be prepared or able to give him. The marriage takes place and the newlyweds travel to their new home where Rebecca is delighted to discover that there is plenty for her to do and looks forward to being useful and taking her place as the foremost lady of the local community.
But their married life gets off to a rocky start. Rebecca’s version of “being a good wife” is letting her husband do as he wishes in bed with no thought for her own wants – and David is bewildered. He knows Julian and Rebecca were very much in love and thinks Rebecca must have experienced passion; but not only does she not respond to him, it’s clear she is having to force herself to endure his lovemaking. David believes that she is deliberately holding herself back from him because she doesn’t love him and because, in spite of her promise not to think of Julian, she is doing just that. Their relationship becomes incredibly strained until, after their third night together, David snaps, says some cruel things and then tells Rebecca he won’t be bothering her again.
Rebecca is equally confused. She has been brought up to believe that sex is for a husband’s pleasure and for procreation, and that she should just lie there and let him get on with it. She is surprised by her attraction to David, but is ashamed of her response to his kisses and lovemaking, feeling things she’s never felt before and desperate to control herself to make sure he isn’t disgusted by her wantonness. But after that night, she finds she misses the bonding that had begun between them in bed and also that she needs the reassurance of David’s presence there, and of his lovemaking, too. The couple settles into a way of life that sees them living and working together as little more than business partners, but Rebecca wants a real marriage and has no idea how to achieve it while David distances himself from her; his jealousy of Julian and the guilt, the secrets and the lies that shadowed their relationship distort his view of the situation and lead him to believe that Rebecca is disgusted by him. It’s a stalemate for quite some time until at last, it seems as though they have finally found a way through … which is when (of course) disaster strikes.
I am not normally a fan of stories in which so many misunderstandings and secrets abound, but I did enjoy Tangled. True, there were times I wanted to beat both protagonists over the head with a big stick and tell them to just be honest with each other; but somehow, Mary Balogh has made their reluctance to confide in each other believable. It’s frustrating to read at times, but is understandable, especially given that Rebecca’s upbringing has conditioned her to propriety and submission and that David is driven to protect the people he cares about. The deeper emotions are brilliantly illuminated, and the author has very skilfully illustrated the importance of sex in the development of the central relationship. Without it, David and Rebecca are almost strangers, and because they are both hiding things from each other, they don’t have any other way in which to achieve closeness on an emotional level.
It’s difficult to say much more about the plot without giving away spoilers for the last third, but there are several places in that final section of the story that deliver a real emotional punch to the gut, as David and Rebecca struggle to adjust to a huge upheaval just as they were beginning to make something real out of their marriage. I especially liked the way in which the author shows that Rebecca is falling in love with David while being completely unaware of it, and how she shows the depths of his quiet, unrequited love for his wife, but as individuals, they are complex, flawed and not always easy to like. Rebecca puts Julian on a pedestal and is unable – or unwilling – to see any of the shortcomings of which the reader – and David - is aware. She elevates him practically to sainthood after his death, and there are times when her continual harping upon his perfection gets very irritating. David, too, is not without his faults; for the most part, he’s one of those honourable, quiet men who are driven to protect, but I did have to ask myself how he could bear to let so many people think badly of him for so long. But with those things said, both characters feel very much like products of their time, and I applaud Ms. Balogh for creating and keeping them that way in spite of the sometimes negative effect on their overall appeal.
While the secret-keeping is frustrating and the central characters could sometimes be a bit irritating, my principal criticism of Tangled is with the ending. Granted, the outcome was a foregone conclusion if David and Rebecca were to get their HEA, but the action that leads up to it is so completely out of character for the person concerned, that I had to read and accept it as a necessary plot device rather than a natural direction of the story.
This is an angsty and emotional book, and I can understand that the secrets, misunderstandings and - for want of a better word, passivity - of the protagonists may mean it is not one that everyone will like. But the depth of the emotion contained within its pages and the skilfully developed, strong connection between the protagonists are sufficiently compelling as to allow me to overlook any weaknesses and commend it as an absorbing and thought-provoking read.
January 20, 2015
One of the greatest of Mary Balogh's full length historical novels, this romance is both dark and convoluted.
I love the fact that the setting is the Crimean War, almost fifty years later than the usual Regency period. There's a very modern feeling to the way the story develops. The heroine is in love with her husband, who is absolutely no good, and she detests his best friend, who seems cold and distant but is actually loyal, determined and caring.
One of the most enjoyable things about this book is that Mary Balogh is clearly borrowing from two classic Victorian novels, ADAM BEDE by George Eliot and VANITY FAIR by William Thackeray. Both these stories feature exactly the same kind of triangle, contrasting the charmer with no guts and no heart (Julian) with the charmless but mature and devoted Dark Horse (David.) The difference is that the heroine, Rebecca, is neither a silly flirt (like Hetty in ADAM BEDE) nor a spineless goody-goody (Amelia in VANITY FAIR.) Rebecca is a mature, thoughtful, courageous young woman who has to face some truly terrifying suspicions and fears (and a very difficult pregnancy) before coming to the joyful truth about her new husband and her new future. The darkness and intrigue in the book are really unique to Mary Balogh, a perfect combination of classic Gothic and modern JFK style conspiracy theory.
I would recommend TANGLED to anyone who loves Mary Balogh, but also to readers of Gothic, Victorian, and romantic suspense.
I love the fact that the setting is the Crimean War, almost fifty years later than the usual Regency period. There's a very modern feeling to the way the story develops. The heroine is in love with her husband, who is absolutely no good, and she detests his best friend, who seems cold and distant but is actually loyal, determined and caring.
One of the most enjoyable things about this book is that Mary Balogh is clearly borrowing from two classic Victorian novels, ADAM BEDE by George Eliot and VANITY FAIR by William Thackeray. Both these stories feature exactly the same kind of triangle, contrasting the charmer with no guts and no heart (Julian) with the charmless but mature and devoted Dark Horse (David.) The difference is that the heroine, Rebecca, is neither a silly flirt (like Hetty in ADAM BEDE) nor a spineless goody-goody (Amelia in VANITY FAIR.) Rebecca is a mature, thoughtful, courageous young woman who has to face some truly terrifying suspicions and fears (and a very difficult pregnancy) before coming to the joyful truth about her new husband and her new future. The darkness and intrigue in the book are really unique to Mary Balogh, a perfect combination of classic Gothic and modern JFK style conspiracy theory.
I would recommend TANGLED to anyone who loves Mary Balogh, but also to readers of Gothic, Victorian, and romantic suspense.
November 14, 2020
I had to look through my shelves to find when I last gave a book one star, and the answer is never!
I tend to be lenient with books I don't particularly enjoy, and all of them have gotten at least two stars, if only for the effort of the writer in writing the book.
This one though...
Warning: ranting commences (and perhaps spoilers)...
I hated everything about Rebecca, who starts out as a gigantic judgmental asshole and doesn't shake the image one bit, but piles on top of it instead. She has huge blinders when it comes to the asshat she married, Julian, whom she luuuuurves oh so much to the exclusion of everything else, and had to tell everyone so many times she sounded like a broken record. She makes stupid assumptions about David and 'despises' him, clinging to her sanctimonious outrage for things he never did, and continues to do so even after he is proven innocent. I don't even know how many times I called her a 'FUCKING IDIOT!' and wanted to throw the book at a wall or out a window, but alas, I had no physical copy to throw... (Plus I wanted to see if she could somehow miraculously redeem herself at some point... Spoiler alert - she never did.)
David on the other hand was applying for sainthood, taking punishments intended for Julian and covering for him for everything under the sun, for no other reason than the fact that he was a big softie with a huge martyr complex. I really felt for him and the bad hand he got dealt time and time again, with his 'brother' Julian taking advantage of him and feeling no remorse about it whatsoever. I also got annoyed with him for never speaking up in his defense and just taking all that abuse, and for being so guarded, as well as the lack of communication with Rebecca, which was as much his fault as it was hers.
As for Julian...
He was an inconsiderate, irresponsible, manipulating bastard, who cheated on his wife repeatedly and had no intention of stopping to do so despite how much he luuuurved her. We were supposed to forgive him because he had a 'weakness' but was oh so affable and lighthearted, but I just wanted to kick him in the balls a time or two hundred.
And then to top everything off, , which neatly wrapped up things with a bow for everyone...
August 26, 2025
Tangled by Mary Balogh (1994) confirms my view of her books: I much prefer the earlier ones as they’re more edgy, more gut wrenching dramatic, and have unusual plots and settings. Tangled is set during the Crimean War period, mid 1850s England.
The heroine, Rebecca has been blissfully married and sends her husband, Julian off to war. Going with him is David, Lord Tavistock son of the Earl of Harrington … both men grew up together; Julian as a godson to the earl. One is killed, the other is not and he holds a shocking secret.
Rebecca’s world is shattered and for over two years she endures her grief and widowhood. She had a perfect marriage… or did she?
Tangled is full of deceit, secrets, imperfect characters and deeply painful emotion. For Rebecca and David:
“Sometimes it was not easy to decide what is right and what was wrong. Sometimes life was not easy.”
Overall, this is another Balogh masterpiece with enthralling storytelling that at times is dark … tension thruout is extremely high and there are shockers as the story unfolds. It did drag on at times during the middle … it got frustrating to read over and over about the heroine’s inner turmoil and indecision. Nevertheless, Tangled does finally get untangled as the love story unfolds, and ends with a heartwarming ending. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The heroine, Rebecca has been blissfully married and sends her husband, Julian off to war. Going with him is David, Lord Tavistock son of the Earl of Harrington … both men grew up together; Julian as a godson to the earl. One is killed, the other is not and he holds a shocking secret.
Rebecca’s world is shattered and for over two years she endures her grief and widowhood. She had a perfect marriage… or did she?
Tangled is full of deceit, secrets, imperfect characters and deeply painful emotion. For Rebecca and David:
“Sometimes it was not easy to decide what is right and what was wrong. Sometimes life was not easy.”
Overall, this is another Balogh masterpiece with enthralling storytelling that at times is dark … tension thruout is extremely high and there are shockers as the story unfolds. It did drag on at times during the middle … it got frustrating to read over and over about the heroine’s inner turmoil and indecision. Nevertheless, Tangled does finally get untangled as the love story unfolds, and ends with a heartwarming ending. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2011
Though I found this book compelling on many levels, I could not truly like it in the end. There were a number of very emotional moments, which is something I look for in my favorite books, yet throughout the entire book I knew that the problems between the hero and heroine were entirely of their own making, and that honesty would have taken care of most of them. Backbone might have taken care of the rest.
Basic premise: Rebecca grows up with both Julian and David, and though she is expected to marry David, she chooses Julian -- the sunnier one, because David took the blame for a number of mischevious (sometimes cruel) things. He did this, in theory, to protect Julian, but I found the extent of his covering up, his enabling, to be a little ridiculous.
Julian and David both go off to war, but only David returns. He proposes to Rebecca because he loves her, she accepts out of convenience, and they have a difficult marriage. The story actually takes place over the course of a number of years, so they go through a few honest transitions during that time.
And on the plus side, this book contained a certain degree of honest and plausibility. These characters were not unbelievable. Nevertheless, I didn't like them. Neither David nor Rebecca made a move to find or embrace their own happiness. Both let circumstances rule them the entire book, and even to the end. What I truly wanted was for one of them to FIGHT! I read to the end, partly because I was drawn into the emotions, and partly because I kept waiting for one of them to wake up and claim their own happiness. I rated it two stars because it didn't happen. I have rarely seen such passive characters (both of them) in a romance novel.
******SPOILERS***************
I also found the ending unbelievable. I won't go into details for anyone who might still be skimming, but seriously? They should have solved their own problems, instead of letting someone else do it for them in the most ridiculous manner I can possibly think of.
*************END SPOILERS**********
Basic premise: Rebecca grows up with both Julian and David, and though she is expected to marry David, she chooses Julian -- the sunnier one, because David took the blame for a number of mischevious (sometimes cruel) things. He did this, in theory, to protect Julian, but I found the extent of his covering up, his enabling, to be a little ridiculous.
Julian and David both go off to war, but only David returns. He proposes to Rebecca because he loves her, she accepts out of convenience, and they have a difficult marriage. The story actually takes place over the course of a number of years, so they go through a few honest transitions during that time.
And on the plus side, this book contained a certain degree of honest and plausibility. These characters were not unbelievable. Nevertheless, I didn't like them. Neither David nor Rebecca made a move to find or embrace their own happiness. Both let circumstances rule them the entire book, and even to the end. What I truly wanted was for one of them to FIGHT! I read to the end, partly because I was drawn into the emotions, and partly because I kept waiting for one of them to wake up and claim their own happiness. I rated it two stars because it didn't happen. I have rarely seen such passive characters (both of them) in a romance novel.
******SPOILERS***************
I also found the ending unbelievable. I won't go into details for anyone who might still be skimming, but seriously? They should have solved their own problems, instead of letting someone else do it for them in the most ridiculous manner I can possibly think of.
*************END SPOILERS**********
September 3, 2014
Horrible story. i have never read something so idiotic. I have felt so angry after reading it. i love mary's novels but this one really didn't click. The heroine was so pigheaded and selfish that at times i wanted to kill her and the hero deserve much better than someone as blind as her. first she raved like a mad woman to dave becoz he was alive and her darling husband was not, then she conveniently selfishly married him, had sex with him and abandoned him and her own baby the moment her good for nothing ex husband returns and even after knowing the truth about julian she keeps harping about loving julian and forgetting dave. i would have been happier if the hero showed some bitterness towards her in the end rather than welcoming her with open arms. God i never hated any female protagonist before as much i hate this one. my advice read this novel if u wanted to get depressed
November 30, 2013
A deeply emotional story, with a happy ending that is arrived at only after painful frustration for the reader, as well as the hero and heroine. Set in Victorian England, the characters make life-altering choices regarding, honor, duty, love, and sexual gratification that realistically reflect the values and range of behaviors of the historical period. In Tangled, Balogh skillfully uses the marriage bed an emotional battleground, reflecting the couple's fears, frustrations, and ultimately, their fulfilling personal and physical marital intimacy. A somewhat tortuous read, but one that continues to linger in my mind.
October 17, 2013
This is indeed a puzzling and troubling book, quite typical of some other heart-wrenching romances Mary Balogh wrote earlier on.
The actions, silences, lies through omission, dissimulations, are very well justified all along the book, through the feelings of each character. However sticklers to honesty and absolute full disclosure would not feel very satisfied with this book, as everything relies on that - not telling the full truth and nothing but trying to protect someone else. The heroine, though passive and very obedient, is probably very representative of her time and consistently persistent in her ways, though she learnt to be more liberated in some ways.
I really liked how the author managed to show her growing affection for her second husband, despite her being aware of it.
The ending was really surprising and absolutely not what I expected, as I was really wondering how they would finally get untangled.
The actions, silences, lies through omission, dissimulations, are very well justified all along the book, through the feelings of each character. However sticklers to honesty and absolute full disclosure would not feel very satisfied with this book, as everything relies on that - not telling the full truth and nothing but trying to protect someone else. The heroine, though passive and very obedient, is probably very representative of her time and consistently persistent in her ways, though she learnt to be more liberated in some ways.
I really liked how the author managed to show her growing affection for her second husband, despite her being aware of it.
The ending was really surprising and absolutely not what I expected, as I was really wondering how they would finally get untangled.
September 20, 2022
Only read this book if you want to be miserable for the rest of your day.
April 13, 2022
This was one of my least fave Baloghs. The MCs have zero ability to communicate with each other, and can barely speak their minds.
Rebecca is an extremly unlikabe h, and David is the perpetual martyr, always sacrificing his chances at a life with her because of the lack of the aforementioned ability to simply pull his thumb out and tell her what's going on with Julian.
Only reason this is getting a three star is because this is a Mary Balogh - prob my favourite HR author. If you're not a fan of Balogh's work, stay away.
Rebecca is an extremly unlikabe h, and David is the perpetual martyr, always sacrificing his chances at a life with her because of the lack of the aforementioned ability to simply pull his thumb out and tell her what's going on with Julian.
Only reason this is getting a three star is because this is a Mary Balogh - prob my favourite HR author. If you're not a fan of Balogh's work, stay away.
March 19, 2023
Interesting.
Well written book which while it may not appeal to all, fairly accurately if at times a little brutally, depicts the lives of several types of personality that flourished in the time the book was set.
- Older brother encouraged by parent to look after and protect younger brother at all costs, younger brothers usually not inheriting bulk of parents estate, so must be looked after. -Younger brother brought up a little spoiled, knowing older brother and 'daddy' will look after them, and clear up after them. Except in this case the younger brother is a ward, who appears to have an inheritance.
- Young lady brought up next door to the boys, encouraged to feel sorry for young boy who has lost his parents, whilst maybe being drawn to the older more responsible son. Raised in Victorian times when women were expected to obey their parents and husband, and merely tolerate the marriage bed. ( morality so embedded even piano legs were covered).
Against this background David has been brought up to look after his brother, and protect him, to stand aside as the woman he loves married his brother, and protects her from said brothers excesses.
Julian is weak, he marries Becka (doesn't even show her respect by calling her her proper name) partially because he knows his brother loved her, partially because he knows she's too good for him, and will allow him to continue behaving badly.
Rebecca is caught in a marriage where she's in her husbands thrall, loved the atmosphere around him, but dislikes the physical side of her marriage as she was brought up to do. When he's killed in the Crimean war she mourns what she thought he was, but not the man.
David returns from war with injuries physical and mental, he sees Rebecca sad and with no purpose in life, and persuades her into marriage.
So none of our main characters are wholly likeable, each have positives and negatives, but all are a product of their upbringing and society.
I quite liked this book, it made me sad and tears were shed, probably not where most would expect. It is beautifully written and touched on unexpected issues. Well thought out plot. Maybe not a typical historical romance, happy ever after book.
My take on the end?
- By the end Julian doesn't know how to find a way forward after all his mistakes or how to undo the pain he's caused to many. I don't think it was a conscious decision, more a 'what happens if I do this?' moment, uncaring what he leaves behind, as ever a weak man expecting others to fix it.
Well written book which while it may not appeal to all, fairly accurately if at times a little brutally, depicts the lives of several types of personality that flourished in the time the book was set.
- Older brother encouraged by parent to look after and protect younger brother at all costs, younger brothers usually not inheriting bulk of parents estate, so must be looked after. -Younger brother brought up a little spoiled, knowing older brother and 'daddy' will look after them, and clear up after them. Except in this case the younger brother is a ward, who appears to have an inheritance.
- Young lady brought up next door to the boys, encouraged to feel sorry for young boy who has lost his parents, whilst maybe being drawn to the older more responsible son. Raised in Victorian times when women were expected to obey their parents and husband, and merely tolerate the marriage bed. ( morality so embedded even piano legs were covered).
Against this background David has been brought up to look after his brother, and protect him, to stand aside as the woman he loves married his brother, and protects her from said brothers excesses.
Julian is weak, he marries Becka (doesn't even show her respect by calling her her proper name) partially because he knows his brother loved her, partially because he knows she's too good for him, and will allow him to continue behaving badly.
Rebecca is caught in a marriage where she's in her husbands thrall, loved the atmosphere around him, but dislikes the physical side of her marriage as she was brought up to do. When he's killed in the Crimean war she mourns what she thought he was, but not the man.
David returns from war with injuries physical and mental, he sees Rebecca sad and with no purpose in life, and persuades her into marriage.
So none of our main characters are wholly likeable, each have positives and negatives, but all are a product of their upbringing and society.
I quite liked this book, it made me sad and tears were shed, probably not where most would expect. It is beautifully written and touched on unexpected issues. Well thought out plot. Maybe not a typical historical romance, happy ever after book.
My take on the end?
- By the end Julian doesn't know how to find a way forward after all his mistakes or how to undo the pain he's caused to many. I don't think it was a conscious decision, more a 'what happens if I do this?' moment, uncaring what he leaves behind, as ever a weak man expecting others to fix it.
Read
October 29, 2008Notes from the archive:
Your list just reminded me of a book I really disliked - Tangled - isn't that the one about the hero being head over heels in love with the heroine since they were young and she marries his friend who was a wastrel and much more I can't mention because of spoilers. Then the friend dies, they marry and you know what happens (spoiler again). Oh boy I hated that one. Stupid, idiot, selfish friend, stupid hero who put up with it and stupid heroine who never figured it out - can you tell it annoys me? LOL
Fortunately this is the only Balogh book which really upset me!!
Your list just reminded me of a book I really disliked - Tangled - isn't that the one about the hero being head over heels in love with the heroine since they were young and she marries his friend who was a wastrel and much more I can't mention because of spoilers. Then the friend dies, they marry and you know what happens (spoiler again). Oh boy I hated that one. Stupid, idiot, selfish friend, stupid hero who put up with it and stupid heroine who never figured it out - can you tell it annoys me? LOL
Fortunately this is the only Balogh book which really upset me!!
June 7, 2017
Ooo boy, the angst was high in this one. I love a stoic hero who suffers and pines for the one he loves. I hesitate to call this an enemies to lovers since it's so very one sided on Rebecca's part, but there's definitely so much satisfaction in the animosity she holds for David and the slow burn to realizing what a damn good dude he is.
Julian is one of those interesting characters that you love to hate but can't really hate. He's probably one of Mary's more complex side characters.
Overall, 4.5! Didn't make it to the full five stars because of some ending issues I have, but a very good historical IMO.
Julian is one of those interesting characters that you love to hate but can't really hate. He's probably one of Mary's more complex side characters.
Overall, 4.5! Didn't make it to the full five stars because of some ending issues I have, but a very good historical IMO.
January 24, 2014
As a rule, I love Mary Balogh but this book is one of my least favorite in the genre that I've read. I finished it a month ago and still feel disturbed. Sooo much dysfunction. And the resolution was just depressing and not at all uplifting. This is one I truly wish I'd never read.
May 25, 2025
This was a stunning piece of work. It has plenty of angst, unrequited love, betrayal, loyalty, plot twists—I cried more than once. Even when I got so frustrated with David and Rebecca, I still wanted them to win the day.
Julian is David's foster brother and a few years younger than him. Rebecca lived next door to them and the three of them pretty much grew up together. She married Julian and never really liked David because she thought he was wicked and cruel. Two years after Julian's death in the war where he and David were serving together, David returns and offers Rebecca a whole new life.
This is where the frustration set in. Rebecca was a lady to the core. She was taught to be the obedient wife, never defy her husband in any manner, never question him, and to live her life for him. She was very good at it, but she had blinders on when it came to Julian and was so willing to believe the worst about David that she couldn’t see the obvious. I just wanted to shake her and yell "wake up" in her face.
David, oh my goodness, he broke my heart. He'd been in love with Rebecca since forever and was ever mindful that her heart belonged to Julian, but he settled for that. But what was even worse was the guilt he carried over Julian’s death and how he covered for him over and over. His loyalty knew no bounds. I adored him.
There were a couple of surprises that changed the trajectory of the story and blew my mind. In addition to that, there were times when I was yelling at the book then bursting into tears. This was a highly charged emotional story that kept me turning the pages.
Truly an amazing read.
Julian is David's foster brother and a few years younger than him. Rebecca lived next door to them and the three of them pretty much grew up together. She married Julian and never really liked David because she thought he was wicked and cruel. Two years after Julian's death in the war where he and David were serving together, David returns and offers Rebecca a whole new life.
This is where the frustration set in. Rebecca was a lady to the core. She was taught to be the obedient wife, never defy her husband in any manner, never question him, and to live her life for him. She was very good at it, but she had blinders on when it came to Julian and was so willing to believe the worst about David that she couldn’t see the obvious. I just wanted to shake her and yell "wake up" in her face.
David, oh my goodness, he broke my heart. He'd been in love with Rebecca since forever and was ever mindful that her heart belonged to Julian, but he settled for that. But what was even worse was the guilt he carried over Julian’s death and how he covered for him over and over. His loyalty knew no bounds. I adored him.
There were a couple of surprises that changed the trajectory of the story and blew my mind. In addition to that, there were times when I was yelling at the book then bursting into tears. This was a highly charged emotional story that kept me turning the pages.
Truly an amazing read.
April 18, 2022
I first read this book in 1998 and LOVED it. It's been sitting on my keeper shelf all these years. I've been wanting to re-read it, but my eyes can't take the tiny print any more, so I was waiting for the Kindle version, and finally got my wish!
With my second reading I feel a little less enamored with it. I had remembered some of the scenes quite clearly, but this time I found the story telling a little stilted and painful. Balogh sets this one in the Victorian era instead of the usual Regency, and Rebecca's sense of honor and duty drive some important plot points. I had a harder time appreciating that mind set this time and got a little exasperated with her.
Still, it's Mary Balogh, and my old paperback will remain on my keeper shelf!
With my second reading I feel a little less enamored with it. I had remembered some of the scenes quite clearly, but this time I found the story telling a little stilted and painful. Balogh sets this one in the Victorian era instead of the usual Regency, and Rebecca's sense of honor and duty drive some important plot points. I had a harder time appreciating that mind set this time and got a little exasperated with her.
Still, it's Mary Balogh, and my old paperback will remain on my keeper shelf!
October 6, 2023
The best part IMO was the last 20 pages or so. I had to deal with all the drivel and whining from both the MFC and MMC. It did make me sad towards the end, but the rest was just annoying to me.
June 15, 2024
This was an incredible, unputdownable read - so much angst, so much drama, so much romance! I was absolutely wrecked by this book; I am not used to this level of intensity in my (usually more modern) reads! Mary Balogh is truly a master.
July 6, 2022
An early novel, but interesting. It was fun to see how her writing style has evolved, and gave some clues to how the author writes when she is uncomfortable with either the subject or character. The story is indeed tangled, but an enlightening read.
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June 16, 2015Mary Balogh’s Tangled, set in the period of the Crimean War (1853-1856), in many ways is an erotic romance. The sex scenes are not as explicit and lengthy as in many modern erotic romances, but the progress of the main relationship is intimately connected with sex; the main couple would not have achieved a love relationship without learning about each other while also developing their sexual relationship.
The book has three main sections: In the opening, the heroine Rebecca is married to Julian. We briefly see them together before Julian and the novel’s hero, David, leave for the Crimean War. This section ends when Julian is reported killed; the reader knows that David is involved somehow in his death. In the middle, David returns to England and marries the widowed Rebecca. (In the third section, which I’m not going to look at here, Julian reappears, having not died as David thought, and all three characters face ethical dilemmas.)
Point of view is very important in this novel. We, the readers, are able to see Julian’s bad behavior when he’s away from his wife, are able to see events from inside David’s point of view, and are able to apply our modern perspectives on sex and our knowledge of the romance genre to the plot. For those reasons, we often have a clearer view of Rebecca’s life and relationships than Rebecca herself does. We can clearly see that for her, the physical intimacy of sex leads to emotional intimacy with her partner. We root for her to overcome behaviors, forced on her by the historical period in which she lives, that are blocking her happiness.
See the full review at Heroes and Heartbreakers: http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com...
The book has three main sections: In the opening, the heroine Rebecca is married to Julian. We briefly see them together before Julian and the novel’s hero, David, leave for the Crimean War. This section ends when Julian is reported killed; the reader knows that David is involved somehow in his death. In the middle, David returns to England and marries the widowed Rebecca. (In the third section, which I’m not going to look at here, Julian reappears, having not died as David thought, and all three characters face ethical dilemmas.)
Point of view is very important in this novel. We, the readers, are able to see Julian’s bad behavior when he’s away from his wife, are able to see events from inside David’s point of view, and are able to apply our modern perspectives on sex and our knowledge of the romance genre to the plot. For those reasons, we often have a clearer view of Rebecca’s life and relationships than Rebecca herself does. We can clearly see that for her, the physical intimacy of sex leads to emotional intimacy with her partner. We root for her to overcome behaviors, forced on her by the historical period in which she lives, that are blocking her happiness.
See the full review at Heroes and Heartbreakers: http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com...
July 17, 2014
This was one of those books that just made me sob for almost its entire duration. And I think that was more so because of how simple yet emotive Balogh's style of writing was.
David has loved Rebecca all his life, but instead she chooses his charming foster brother, Julian. But although Rebecca loves Julian irrevocably and their marriage is happy, Julian is a womaniser. Having grown with together, David is intensely protective about Julian despite his shameless and nature and his love for Rebecca compels him to shield her from the truth about Julian's nature. During the Crimean War, Julian dies and after two years David returns home and finally offers Rebecca a marriage of convenience.
It was heartbreaking to read of David's quiet unrequited for Rebecca. And the twist at the end just broke my heart even more. The weird thing is that after reading the one and two stars reviews here I totally understand where they come from. The characters in this book are such that you will either love them, or become immensely frustrated by them, and for some reason I fell into the former category. Tangled was mellow, bittersweet, poignant and in a way reminds me a little of Wuthering Heights in terms of the destructiveness of love. It was a lovely read and definitely recommended, although it did leave me with puffy eyes for the rest of the day after crying so much.
David has loved Rebecca all his life, but instead she chooses his charming foster brother, Julian. But although Rebecca loves Julian irrevocably and their marriage is happy, Julian is a womaniser. Having grown with together, David is intensely protective about Julian despite his shameless and nature and his love for Rebecca compels him to shield her from the truth about Julian's nature. During the Crimean War, Julian dies and after two years David returns home and finally offers Rebecca a marriage of convenience.
It was heartbreaking to read of David's quiet unrequited for Rebecca. And the twist at the end just broke my heart even more. The weird thing is that after reading the one and two stars reviews here I totally understand where they come from. The characters in this book are such that you will either love them, or become immensely frustrated by them, and for some reason I fell into the former category. Tangled was mellow, bittersweet, poignant and in a way reminds me a little of Wuthering Heights in terms of the destructiveness of love. It was a lovely read and definitely recommended, although it did leave me with puffy eyes for the rest of the day after crying so much.
June 21, 2011
Polished this off in one day and will be anxiously looking for a copy of my own since this one has to go back to the library. It won't be going back until the last day because I'll want to reread this one.
First of all, we've gone beyond Regency. This book features women in hoop skirts and characters riding trains.
Now back to the plot...
Julian goes off to the Crimean War with his older foster brother, David. Julian leaves behind his wife Rebecca who has known both men since childhood. She blindly adores Julian and despises David believing him to be a rake and lacking in character. Turns out it's the other way around but David has lived his life taking the blame for Julian and now continues it to protect Recca.
A shocking turn ends up with Julian dead on the battlefield. David is wounded twice but survives to come home two years later. He wants to move to an estate he owns but has never lived at to try to start again, he proposes to Rebecca offering her a new start too.
She reluctantly accepts because she doesn't care for David but longs for a new life. They marry and head to the estate where things get interestiing.
There are a couple of great plot twists in here that you don't see coming. I learned more about the Crimean War than I ever knew before.
Definitely a page turner.
First of all, we've gone beyond Regency. This book features women in hoop skirts and characters riding trains.
Now back to the plot...
Julian goes off to the Crimean War with his older foster brother, David. Julian leaves behind his wife Rebecca who has known both men since childhood. She blindly adores Julian and despises David believing him to be a rake and lacking in character. Turns out it's the other way around but David has lived his life taking the blame for Julian and now continues it to protect Recca.
A shocking turn ends up with Julian dead on the battlefield. David is wounded twice but survives to come home two years later. He wants to move to an estate he owns but has never lived at to try to start again, he proposes to Rebecca offering her a new start too.
She reluctantly accepts because she doesn't care for David but longs for a new life. They marry and head to the estate where things get interestiing.
There are a couple of great plot twists in here that you don't see coming. I learned more about the Crimean War than I ever knew before.
Definitely a page turner.
January 5, 2017
A história me prendeu logo nas primeiras páginas, e então, cataplof! Tudo pelo ares! A história mesmo tendo um enredo quase perfeito inicialmente, não me satisfez muito da metade para fim.
Porém, o que me fez ler todo rapidamente foi para descobrir como terminava esse embrolho todo.
Um triângulo amoroso formado por:
Um mocinho (David) quase perfeito, único defeito era cobrir as falhas do irmão de criação.
Uma mocinha (Rebecca) puritana, cheia de não me toques indecisa e vira-casaca.
Um irmão de criação (Julian) volúvel, inconstante e inconsequente. Que todos perdoavam os seus pecados cometidos e deixava um rastro de infelicidade por onde andava.
Não gostei muito da passividade do pai adotivo e de David em relação ao irmão. O cara fazia poucas e boas e passavam a mão na cabeça dele!
A Rebecca que não sabia a quem queria realmente e ainda por cima, achei que aceitou a partida do filho que tanto amava com muita tranquilidade (eu teria me desesperado diante desta situação) e achei-a volúvel também.
Teria sido excelente se não houvesse tantas reviravoltas que para mim foram uma escolha infeliz da autora.
Só não estou mais chateada, porque é a Mary Balogh cuja histórias eu adoro na maioria das vezes...
Porém, o que me fez ler todo rapidamente foi para descobrir como terminava esse embrolho todo.
Um triângulo amoroso formado por:
Um mocinho (David) quase perfeito, único defeito era cobrir as falhas do irmão de criação.
Uma mocinha (Rebecca) puritana, cheia de não me toques indecisa e vira-casaca.
Um irmão de criação (Julian) volúvel, inconstante e inconsequente. Que todos perdoavam os seus pecados cometidos e deixava um rastro de infelicidade por onde andava.
Não gostei muito da passividade do pai adotivo e de David em relação ao irmão. O cara fazia poucas e boas e passavam a mão na cabeça dele!
A Rebecca que não sabia a quem queria realmente e ainda por cima, achei que aceitou a partida do filho que tanto amava com muita tranquilidade (eu teria me desesperado diante desta situação) e achei-a volúvel também.
Teria sido excelente se não houvesse tantas reviravoltas que para mim foram uma escolha infeliz da autora.
Só não estou mais chateada, porque é a Mary Balogh cuja histórias eu adoro na maioria das vezes...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2009
I LOVE IT! I finished this in one sitting.. haha. I just love how totally devoted David can be! It was David who really shines in this book - not Rebecca nor Julian (at least for me). I could read a book about his point of views about his unending love for Rebecca and not get bored! Because I just love heroes who look so hopeless romantic yet devoted to the heroine!
more of these kind of characters pls, and I would show you more of what my wallet could give :P
warning though: you may not like this book. The hero could be really stupid and very unrealistic, Rebecca too annoying - she reminds me of a blowup doll, and Julian is just a bastard who deserves whatever happened to him. I didn't feel any remorse to his character.
the ending was highly satisfactory, but it was weird. I thought I was reading a page from another story. It seems like the characters suddenly changed.. but of course, Mary Balogh won't let us feeling depressed all throughout - even though 98% of the story made me a crybaby.
the writing was wonderful! it didn't bore me :] and I am the type who gets easily bored with reading.
more of these kind of characters pls, and I would show you more of what my wallet could give :P
warning though: you may not like this book. The hero could be really stupid and very unrealistic, Rebecca too annoying - she reminds me of a blowup doll, and Julian is just a bastard who deserves whatever happened to him. I didn't feel any remorse to his character.
the ending was highly satisfactory, but it was weird. I thought I was reading a page from another story. It seems like the characters suddenly changed.. but of course, Mary Balogh won't let us feeling depressed all throughout - even though 98% of the story made me a crybaby.
the writing was wonderful! it didn't bore me :] and I am the type who gets easily bored with reading.
January 15, 2014
Suspenseful...Gut-Wrenching...Infuriating!
This one is nearly impossible to review without spoilers, but I will make the attempt. Balogh and her damn sense of infinite forgiveness just got me on this one. She is so skilled at making you hate the villains so much. I mean, she writes villains that Mother Theresa would murder in a dark alley and bury in the woods. That's how bad they are...and yet she can never leave it at that. Oh, no! We must eventually feel sorry for the bastard. We must eventually have his horrible way "excused", and I'm tired of it, quite frankly.
Ladies, the letter for today is "B", and in BITTERNESS, because that's what I felt when it was over.
This one is nearly impossible to review without spoilers, but I will make the attempt. Balogh and her damn sense of infinite forgiveness just got me on this one. She is so skilled at making you hate the villains so much. I mean, she writes villains that Mother Theresa would murder in a dark alley and bury in the woods. That's how bad they are...and yet she can never leave it at that. Oh, no! We must eventually feel sorry for the bastard. We must eventually have his horrible way "excused", and I'm tired of it, quite frankly.
Ladies, the letter for today is "B", and in BITTERNESS, because that's what I felt when it was over.
January 12, 2011
Well written, but I hated this book. The hero was such an enabler! It drove me nuts that he took the blame for things he didn't do. I don't think that leaving someone ignorant about their spouse's bad behaviour is the right decision. And the heroine! Why, why, why did she love her first husband so much? The guy was such a selfish brat, and yet she couldn't see that for the longest time.
I was able to finish this book, but just barely. This author can draw you into a story so well you have to finish it, even when you're ready to leap into the book and strangle the characters.
I was able to finish this book, but just barely. This author can draw you into a story so well you have to finish it, even when you're ready to leap into the book and strangle the characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2012
I found this at the second-hand store yesterday. It's classic Balogh - both in the sense that it's an older story and in the sense of the themes that have always seemed to fascinate her: the aftermath of war on the soldier, marriage of convenience, women exploring their sexuality. I definitely feel like it's not as polished as her later works, but it's interesting to see the development of her style and themes over time.
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