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Stapleton-Downes #3-4
Dark Angel / Lord Carew's Bride
From New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh come two classic tales of love turned dangerous, set amid the splendor of Regency England—a time rife with passion, betrayal, and intrigue.
DARK ANGEL
Jennifer Winwood has been engaged for five years to a man she hardly knows but believes to be honorable and good: Lord Lionel Kersey. Suddenly, she becomes the quarry of London's most notorious womanizer, Gabriel Fisher, the Earl of Thornhill. Jennifer has no idea that she is just a pawn in the long-simmering feud between these two headstrong, irresistible men—or that she will become a prize more valuable than revenge.
LORD CAREW'S BRIDE
Jennifer's cousin Samantha Newman is smarting after she too is toyed with by Lord Kersey. In the midst of her heartbreak, she seeks solace from her new friend, the disabled gardener Hartley Wade. If only she knew that Hartley is secretly Lord Carew, and that he hides more than extraordinary wealth: a passionate secret held deep in his heart that only her love can reveal.
Includes an excerpt from Seducing an Angel
DARK ANGEL
Jennifer Winwood has been engaged for five years to a man she hardly knows but believes to be honorable and good: Lord Lionel Kersey. Suddenly, she becomes the quarry of London's most notorious womanizer, Gabriel Fisher, the Earl of Thornhill. Jennifer has no idea that she is just a pawn in the long-simmering feud between these two headstrong, irresistible men—or that she will become a prize more valuable than revenge.
LORD CAREW'S BRIDE
Jennifer's cousin Samantha Newman is smarting after she too is toyed with by Lord Kersey. In the midst of her heartbreak, she seeks solace from her new friend, the disabled gardener Hartley Wade. If only she knew that Hartley is secretly Lord Carew, and that he hides more than extraordinary wealth: a passionate secret held deep in his heart that only her love can reveal.
Includes an excerpt from Seducing an Angel
593 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 23, 2010
502 people are currently reading
937 people want to read
About the author
Mary Balogh
200 books6,339 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 229 reviews
March 3, 2011
Of the two, I definitely liked Lord Carew's Bride the most. Neither was an OMGWOW sort of read though. I'd give Dark Angel a 3 and Lord Carew's Bride a 4.
Dark Angel
Miss Jennifer Winwood is in town for her very first Season and positively vibrating with the excitement of it. Unlike other girls on their come out, though, she's not here to snag a husband. That was set for her five years ago, when she was 15, when her viscount father arranged her betrothal to a the heir to an earldom, Viscount Kersey. For five years she has constructed and worshipped a mental image of Kersey and the wonderful life they'll no doubt enjoy as a married couple. The joy of finally seeing Kersey again and having their betrothal made official is almost more than she can bear.
Gabriel, the Earl of Thornhill, is recently returned to London after a long stay on the Continent with his stepmother. The conventional wisdom among the ton is that he had absconded with his stepmother after getting her pregnant, leaving his father to die of a broken heart, and then abandoning her in Europe when he tired of her. The truth is, of course, much different, and he's decided to get his revenge on his stepmother's faithless lover. Hearing that the villain is recently engaged, he sets out to break the engagement, hoping to embarrass Kersey in the process.
All of this is laid out in the first few chapters. Balogh establishes Kersey as your stereotypical 80s and 90s movie villain early on. He's blond, blue eyed, drop-dead gorgeous and unfailingly charismatic. Unless you live under a rock, this description screams "sociopathic douchebag alert, DO NOT GO IN THE BASEMENT" to you. Nothing he says can be trusted, his motives are inherently suspect and so on.
Unfortunately, Jennifer didn't get the memo. This being the Regency, she lacks HBO and Lifetime. She doesn't know that blond guys are invariably panty-invading villains. The story is now perched upon her ignorance and the reader must watch her idolize the villain, trusting every word out of his mouth, and play right into a disaster you can clearly see off in the distance. I found this profoundly uncomfortable and unpleasant to watch. I rather wished I was left a bit in the dark along with Jennifer so I could've been confused with her, rather than cringing on her behalf.
Other than this quality, which may not bother other readers as much as it did me, it's a perfectly well-written book. The romance between Jennifer and Gabriel is drawn out slowly and organically through wonderful bits of dialog. The voice is pitch-perfect Regency throughout, and I loved watching the interplay between all the characters. The love was evident not only between Jennifer and Gabriel, but also between Jennifer and her poor cousin Samantha.
If I didn't have to spend three quarters of the book watching Jennifer make an unwitting fool of herself, I'd have liked this much more than I did. As it was, I'd rate it a weak 3 star or maybe a 2.5. I did consider quitting it a few times.
Lord Carew's Bride
After her cousin Jennifer's fiance, Viscount Kersey, used her in a scheme that wounded her and and her cousin's feelings quite deeply, she's decided that the volatile nature of love is emphatically not for her. Six years after her London debut, and her disastrous run-in with Kersey, Samantha Newman is quite happily unmarried. Now visiting her cousin in the country, she decides to take a long walk to put some space between herself and the happy young family. She encounters a charming landscape artist named Hartley Wade when her walk leads her onto the property of the Marquess of Carew. Instantly she's at ease with him, falling effortlessly into easy conversation and lapsing into comfortable silences. Quickly they develop a friendship, meeting secretly in the afternoon to walk the marquess' lands and chat amiably.
Hartley is a bit more than just the well-spoken, limping gardener she presumes him to be, as he's the Marquess of Carew himself. Surprised to find the stunningly beautiful woman recognizes neither his person nor his name, he plays along with her misperception. Crippled at a young age, leaving him with a twisted arm and a lame leg, he's wary of women pursuing him for his fortune alone. When Samantha seems as taken with him as he is with her, despite believing him a mere gardener, he can hardly believe his luck. Suddenly it seems he could have what he had always assumed could never be - a woman to love who loved him for who he was.
This is a love at first sight story at its heart. Immediately upon meeting Samantha, Hartley acknowledges to himself that he's in love with her. Samantha clearly does as well, though she won't use that particular word herself. Balogh does a smashing job of showing their mutual attraction through their easy conversation, peaceful silences and shared thoughts. I immediately came away with the impression that they were old dear friends meeting one another for the first time. Having a hero be enthusiastic about finding a woman to love and comfortable to admit it to himself was a wonderful change of pace.
I liked how Balogh stretched the story out on the characters insecurities without resorting to a Big Misunderstanding. Lord Kersey's reappearance upsets and confuses them both in different ways. While they both react poorly to the stresses, they do it in a way consistent with their personalities and their dynamic as a couple and grow closer as a result of it.
Definitely a cute story about the fine line between love and friendship. I'd give it a 4, I think. It's good, but it's not amazing.
Dark Angel
Miss Jennifer Winwood is in town for her very first Season and positively vibrating with the excitement of it. Unlike other girls on their come out, though, she's not here to snag a husband. That was set for her five years ago, when she was 15, when her viscount father arranged her betrothal to a the heir to an earldom, Viscount Kersey. For five years she has constructed and worshipped a mental image of Kersey and the wonderful life they'll no doubt enjoy as a married couple. The joy of finally seeing Kersey again and having their betrothal made official is almost more than she can bear.
Gabriel, the Earl of Thornhill, is recently returned to London after a long stay on the Continent with his stepmother. The conventional wisdom among the ton is that he had absconded with his stepmother after getting her pregnant, leaving his father to die of a broken heart, and then abandoning her in Europe when he tired of her. The truth is, of course, much different, and he's decided to get his revenge on his stepmother's faithless lover. Hearing that the villain is recently engaged, he sets out to break the engagement, hoping to embarrass Kersey in the process.
All of this is laid out in the first few chapters. Balogh establishes Kersey as your stereotypical 80s and 90s movie villain early on. He's blond, blue eyed, drop-dead gorgeous and unfailingly charismatic. Unless you live under a rock, this description screams "sociopathic douchebag alert, DO NOT GO IN THE BASEMENT" to you. Nothing he says can be trusted, his motives are inherently suspect and so on.
Unfortunately, Jennifer didn't get the memo. This being the Regency, she lacks HBO and Lifetime. She doesn't know that blond guys are invariably panty-invading villains. The story is now perched upon her ignorance and the reader must watch her idolize the villain, trusting every word out of his mouth, and play right into a disaster you can clearly see off in the distance. I found this profoundly uncomfortable and unpleasant to watch. I rather wished I was left a bit in the dark along with Jennifer so I could've been confused with her, rather than cringing on her behalf.
Other than this quality, which may not bother other readers as much as it did me, it's a perfectly well-written book. The romance between Jennifer and Gabriel is drawn out slowly and organically through wonderful bits of dialog. The voice is pitch-perfect Regency throughout, and I loved watching the interplay between all the characters. The love was evident not only between Jennifer and Gabriel, but also between Jennifer and her poor cousin Samantha.
If I didn't have to spend three quarters of the book watching Jennifer make an unwitting fool of herself, I'd have liked this much more than I did. As it was, I'd rate it a weak 3 star or maybe a 2.5. I did consider quitting it a few times.
Lord Carew's Bride
After her cousin Jennifer's fiance, Viscount Kersey, used her in a scheme that wounded her and and her cousin's feelings quite deeply, she's decided that the volatile nature of love is emphatically not for her. Six years after her London debut, and her disastrous run-in with Kersey, Samantha Newman is quite happily unmarried. Now visiting her cousin in the country, she decides to take a long walk to put some space between herself and the happy young family. She encounters a charming landscape artist named Hartley Wade when her walk leads her onto the property of the Marquess of Carew. Instantly she's at ease with him, falling effortlessly into easy conversation and lapsing into comfortable silences. Quickly they develop a friendship, meeting secretly in the afternoon to walk the marquess' lands and chat amiably.
Hartley is a bit more than just the well-spoken, limping gardener she presumes him to be, as he's the Marquess of Carew himself. Surprised to find the stunningly beautiful woman recognizes neither his person nor his name, he plays along with her misperception. Crippled at a young age, leaving him with a twisted arm and a lame leg, he's wary of women pursuing him for his fortune alone. When Samantha seems as taken with him as he is with her, despite believing him a mere gardener, he can hardly believe his luck. Suddenly it seems he could have what he had always assumed could never be - a woman to love who loved him for who he was.
This is a love at first sight story at its heart. Immediately upon meeting Samantha, Hartley acknowledges to himself that he's in love with her. Samantha clearly does as well, though she won't use that particular word herself. Balogh does a smashing job of showing their mutual attraction through their easy conversation, peaceful silences and shared thoughts. I immediately came away with the impression that they were old dear friends meeting one another for the first time. Having a hero be enthusiastic about finding a woman to love and comfortable to admit it to himself was a wonderful change of pace.
I liked how Balogh stretched the story out on the characters insecurities without resorting to a Big Misunderstanding. Lord Kersey's reappearance upsets and confuses them both in different ways. While they both react poorly to the stresses, they do it in a way consistent with their personalities and their dynamic as a couple and grow closer as a result of it.
Definitely a cute story about the fine line between love and friendship. I'd give it a 4, I think. It's good, but it's not amazing.
July 23, 2019
Short version: Did not like Dark Angel at all, but Lord Carew's Bride was fine. Met in the middle on the rating.
Dark Angel
Reading Dates: July 10-July 22
Ordinarily, if I DNF a book in a series, even a companion novel series, like romance series tend to be, I quit the series. The Ideal Wife was alright, but A Precious Jewel was an immediate DNF. I decided to continue on because of the number of books and because I often really like Mary Balogh. Well, this one certainly was not worth the time. I really should have DNFed it too.
The heroine, Jennifer, has been engaged to Lord Lionel Kersey for five years, since she was fifteen. This year, at 20, she's making her debut, and they will finally be married not too long afterward. She fancies herself in love with him, even though every instinct says they have no connection and he does not care. This is certainly believable, but it's not in any way interesting to read. When Mary Balogh's books don't work, it's often because they're too realistic (aka not romantic and uncomfortable because they follow the mores of the time), and that's the issue here.
Anyway, Lionel seduced a married woman two years before and left her pregnant. Her son-in-law supported her and took her to the continent where she would be safe. Gabriel, the son-in-law, has arrived back in England, with everyone thinking that he cuckolded his father, impregnated his step-mother, ran off with her, and then abandoned her in Europe. Despite his bad reputation, he's accepted because he's an Earl. He spots Jennifer before he knows who she is and develops a liking for her long legs. When he finds out she's engaged to Lionel, he determines to win her away and embarrass Lionel.
The plot's full of lies, needless angst, and idiotic characters. Both Jennifer and her cousin Samantha come off as such idiots, with the way they fall for the entirely unconvincing Lionel. The happy ending isn't particularly believable either, and the part where is deeply problematic, if, again, believable for a man of the time.
Boring, with bland characters and very little connection between the romantic leads. Not quite wholly, enragingly awful, but pretty close.
2 stars
Lord Carew's Bride
Reading Dates: July 22-23
This one's more what I'm used to from Mary Balogh, understated and unique for the historical romance genre. It's not a favorite, but I did read it straight through and have a pleasant time.
Most notable is that the titular Lord Carew is disabled due to a childhood horseback-riding accident. He's also plain and somewhat of a recluse, but Samantha bonds with him the moment they meet. She doesn't know his identity, since he just used his name, not his title, and they wander his grounds just getting to know each other. Her primary descriptor for how she feels with him is 'safe,' a desirable quality after an experience with a rake in Dark Angel left her skittish about love and romance.
I could have done without the Lionel drama, but I do appreciate that for the most part it was handled in a low-key way. The reveal of Hartley's identity happens without fuss, and there's minimal fuss after the revelation of Samantha's past with Lionel. For the most part, this romance is sweet, focusing on the comfort and acceptance they find together.
I liked this one, but it's not going to be particularly memorable.
3 stars
Dark Angel
Reading Dates: July 10-July 22
Ordinarily, if I DNF a book in a series, even a companion novel series, like romance series tend to be, I quit the series. The Ideal Wife was alright, but A Precious Jewel was an immediate DNF. I decided to continue on because of the number of books and because I often really like Mary Balogh. Well, this one certainly was not worth the time. I really should have DNFed it too.
The heroine, Jennifer, has been engaged to Lord Lionel Kersey for five years, since she was fifteen. This year, at 20, she's making her debut, and they will finally be married not too long afterward. She fancies herself in love with him, even though every instinct says they have no connection and he does not care. This is certainly believable, but it's not in any way interesting to read. When Mary Balogh's books don't work, it's often because they're too realistic (aka not romantic and uncomfortable because they follow the mores of the time), and that's the issue here.
Anyway, Lionel seduced a married woman two years before and left her pregnant. Her son-in-law supported her and took her to the continent where she would be safe. Gabriel, the son-in-law, has arrived back in England, with everyone thinking that he cuckolded his father, impregnated his step-mother, ran off with her, and then abandoned her in Europe. Despite his bad reputation, he's accepted because he's an Earl. He spots Jennifer before he knows who she is and develops a liking for her long legs. When he finds out she's engaged to Lionel, he determines to win her away and embarrass Lionel.
The plot's full of lies, needless angst, and idiotic characters. Both Jennifer and her cousin Samantha come off as such idiots, with the way they fall for the entirely unconvincing Lionel. The happy ending isn't particularly believable either, and the part where is deeply problematic, if, again, believable for a man of the time.
Boring, with bland characters and very little connection between the romantic leads. Not quite wholly, enragingly awful, but pretty close.
2 stars
Lord Carew's Bride
Reading Dates: July 22-23
This one's more what I'm used to from Mary Balogh, understated and unique for the historical romance genre. It's not a favorite, but I did read it straight through and have a pleasant time.
Most notable is that the titular Lord Carew is disabled due to a childhood horseback-riding accident. He's also plain and somewhat of a recluse, but Samantha bonds with him the moment they meet. She doesn't know his identity, since he just used his name, not his title, and they wander his grounds just getting to know each other. Her primary descriptor for how she feels with him is 'safe,' a desirable quality after an experience with a rake in Dark Angel left her skittish about love and romance.
I could have done without the Lionel drama, but I do appreciate that for the most part it was handled in a low-key way. The reveal of Hartley's identity happens without fuss, and there's minimal fuss after the revelation of Samantha's past with Lionel. For the most part, this romance is sweet, focusing on the comfort and acceptance they find together.
I liked this one, but it's not going to be particularly memorable.
3 stars
June 13, 2012
5 stars for Dark Angel
Dark Angel was great! Wow, I love how Balogh writes. I loved Heartless and then read More than a Mistress and loved that one even more - this one is a close tie to MTaM. She has such an amazing way of portraying different human emotions and she always makes me think - I actually feel like I learned something from this book - stuff I already knew but it's always good to have reminders:
1. Revenge is a huge waste of time and you risk hurting innocent people and possibly yourself in the process. 2. Sometimes we romanticize someone to the point of being blinded to his/her true self 3. Life is a huge series of mistakes and disasters 4. Forgiveness in a marriage is a necessity and needed in great supply 5. There are many blessings in our life; we just have to accept them.
This story has a theme of revenge, which is sometimes a tad overdone in the romance genre (along with the tortured hero), but it was credible and well plotted. The dark angel, or Gabriel, is back in London after being away because of a scandal he was involved in (details will follow). Jennifer has arrived in London to start her season, but she's already betrothed to Lionel Kersey - an arranged marriage her father and her intended's parents made five years earlier - whom she imagined herself madly in love with. Mostly she was in love with what he looked like - blond, blue eyes and beautiful face and physique. This "angel" of a man is truly horrible and Jennifer has no idea his true character. Gabriel has first-hand knowledge of how bad Lionel is and what he's done and he decides to get involved in exacting revenge in such a way that involves Jennifer. At first, it's purely to punish or embarrass Lionel; but as he gets to know Jennifer, he starts to like her - not a wanted emotion. She "loves" her soon-to-be husband, but is increasingly attracted to Gabriel. Things have a very strange way of working out and there was a good curve ball
So in order to balance things, there is a focus on forgiveness. I love this exchange between Gabriel and Jennifer:
You cannot possibly be willing to forgive me for what I did to you, Jennifer. It would be there between us for the rest of our lives."
"There you are wrong. We say it at church every Sunday when we recite the Lord's Prayer, don't we? But we rarely realize quite what we are saying. But we are all thoughtless sometimes and ride roughshod over the feelings of others. And we all use other people sometimes for our own ends. It is a regrettable part of being human. We are all in need of forgiveness over and over again in our lives. The measure of our goodness, I suppose, is the strength of our consciences. I think yours is strong. Apart from the fact that you are hurting now and filled with self-loathing, I am glad all this happened, Gabriel. If it had not, I would have married Lionel and been miserable with him. And I would never have known you or loved you."
Life is a very strange phenomenon - That is a major understatement. But these two were a wonderful couple together and now I'm off to start the second book in this series!!
5 stars for Lord Carew's Bride
Wow, this one packs a punch. It has a true beauty and the beast theme. I took a few days off between reading Dark Angel and this one - it's good to savor and think. This story is six years after the last story, and Samantha, the cousin to the h in Dark Angel, is the heroine. As beautiful as ever, but still burnt from her past experience with the villain, Lionel, from DA. And Lionel does make his appearance in this book and I could not believe he could be any more despicable than he previously was - but surprise! He's worse. Samantha is visiting her cousin Jennifer and staying for a while (we get to catch up with Jennifer and Gabriel and their kids), when she wanders over into the property neighboring her cousin's home - Lord Carew - when who should see her, but him. Only he introduces himself simply as Hartley Wade and somehow she thinks he's a landscape gardener - he doesn't bother to correct her. He is instantly in love with her, or her beauty. They strike up a friendship - they really get along well, talk about things, and it's welcome to both of them - both of them are very lonely. She quickly sees that he has a limp and a disfigured hand. They start arranging to meet with each other for walks, secretly. Samantha feels very safe and happy with him; Hartley loves her already and desperately wants to get to know her better without her finding out he is rich and titled. If she likes/loves him as he is, disfigured, he will know she is not seeking his fortune like some others. While he was not particularly tall or handsome, he had a wonderful smile. It went all the way back inside his eyes and drew an answering smile from her.
When they become friends, Samantha asks him about how he became disfigured. He tells her it was an accident. But he has an amazing attitude toward it and never acts like the typical tortured hero. He says: "Suffering can make all the difference in a person's life. It can be a definite force for good. At the risk of sounding conceited, I would have to say that I am reasonably happy with the person I have become. Perhaps I would not have liked the person I would have been without the accident." He had developed an iron will, a strong determination to conquer his disabilities.
I always feel like Balogh lets us get to know what the characters think and feel through her writing - and it's always done beautifully This description of happiness he felt at his wedding was touching: Sometimes happiness could be almost an agony, he discovered on the day she had accepted his offer. But sometimes it could e such a welling of pure joy that it seemed impossible that one human frame could contain it without exploding into a million fragments.
I loved these two as a couple, both complimenting each other's strengths and weaknesses (although I can't think of any weaknesses!) This was probably the cleanest Balogh I've read and I actually wanted a little more spice - especially because it was obvious how much Hartley loved and adored her.
Bottom line: Both of these stories are great and proved that the human heart can and does heal. Being with the right person erases that pain and allows love to overflow and overwhelm the hurt. Balogh is an amazing writer!
Dark Angel was great! Wow, I love how Balogh writes. I loved Heartless and then read More than a Mistress and loved that one even more - this one is a close tie to MTaM. She has such an amazing way of portraying different human emotions and she always makes me think - I actually feel like I learned something from this book - stuff I already knew but it's always good to have reminders:
1. Revenge is a huge waste of time and you risk hurting innocent people and possibly yourself in the process. 2. Sometimes we romanticize someone to the point of being blinded to his/her true self 3. Life is a huge series of mistakes and disasters 4. Forgiveness in a marriage is a necessity and needed in great supply 5. There are many blessings in our life; we just have to accept them.
This story has a theme of revenge, which is sometimes a tad overdone in the romance genre (along with the tortured hero), but it was credible and well plotted. The dark angel, or Gabriel, is back in London after being away because of a scandal he was involved in (details will follow). Jennifer has arrived in London to start her season, but she's already betrothed to Lionel Kersey - an arranged marriage her father and her intended's parents made five years earlier - whom she imagined herself madly in love with. Mostly she was in love with what he looked like - blond, blue eyes and beautiful face and physique. This "angel" of a man is truly horrible and Jennifer has no idea his true character. Gabriel has first-hand knowledge of how bad Lionel is and what he's done and he decides to get involved in exacting revenge in such a way that involves Jennifer. At first, it's purely to punish or embarrass Lionel; but as he gets to know Jennifer, he starts to like her - not a wanted emotion. She "loves" her soon-to-be husband, but is increasingly attracted to Gabriel. Things have a very strange way of working out and there was a good curve ball
So in order to balance things, there is a focus on forgiveness. I love this exchange between Gabriel and Jennifer:
You cannot possibly be willing to forgive me for what I did to you, Jennifer. It would be there between us for the rest of our lives."
"There you are wrong. We say it at church every Sunday when we recite the Lord's Prayer, don't we? But we rarely realize quite what we are saying. But we are all thoughtless sometimes and ride roughshod over the feelings of others. And we all use other people sometimes for our own ends. It is a regrettable part of being human. We are all in need of forgiveness over and over again in our lives. The measure of our goodness, I suppose, is the strength of our consciences. I think yours is strong. Apart from the fact that you are hurting now and filled with self-loathing, I am glad all this happened, Gabriel. If it had not, I would have married Lionel and been miserable with him. And I would never have known you or loved you."
Life is a very strange phenomenon - That is a major understatement. But these two were a wonderful couple together and now I'm off to start the second book in this series!!
5 stars for Lord Carew's Bride
Wow, this one packs a punch. It has a true beauty and the beast theme. I took a few days off between reading Dark Angel and this one - it's good to savor and think. This story is six years after the last story, and Samantha, the cousin to the h in Dark Angel, is the heroine. As beautiful as ever, but still burnt from her past experience with the villain, Lionel, from DA. And Lionel does make his appearance in this book and I could not believe he could be any more despicable than he previously was - but surprise! He's worse. Samantha is visiting her cousin Jennifer and staying for a while (we get to catch up with Jennifer and Gabriel and their kids), when she wanders over into the property neighboring her cousin's home - Lord Carew - when who should see her, but him. Only he introduces himself simply as Hartley Wade and somehow she thinks he's a landscape gardener - he doesn't bother to correct her. He is instantly in love with her, or her beauty. They strike up a friendship - they really get along well, talk about things, and it's welcome to both of them - both of them are very lonely. She quickly sees that he has a limp and a disfigured hand. They start arranging to meet with each other for walks, secretly. Samantha feels very safe and happy with him; Hartley loves her already and desperately wants to get to know her better without her finding out he is rich and titled. If she likes/loves him as he is, disfigured, he will know she is not seeking his fortune like some others. While he was not particularly tall or handsome, he had a wonderful smile. It went all the way back inside his eyes and drew an answering smile from her.
When they become friends, Samantha asks him about how he became disfigured. He tells her it was an accident. But he has an amazing attitude toward it and never acts like the typical tortured hero. He says: "Suffering can make all the difference in a person's life. It can be a definite force for good. At the risk of sounding conceited, I would have to say that I am reasonably happy with the person I have become. Perhaps I would not have liked the person I would have been without the accident." He had developed an iron will, a strong determination to conquer his disabilities.
I always feel like Balogh lets us get to know what the characters think and feel through her writing - and it's always done beautifully This description of happiness he felt at his wedding was touching: Sometimes happiness could be almost an agony, he discovered on the day she had accepted his offer. But sometimes it could e such a welling of pure joy that it seemed impossible that one human frame could contain it without exploding into a million fragments.
I loved these two as a couple, both complimenting each other's strengths and weaknesses (although I can't think of any weaknesses!) This was probably the cleanest Balogh I've read and I actually wanted a little more spice - especially because it was obvious how much Hartley loved and adored her.
Bottom line: Both of these stories are great and proved that the human heart can and does heal. Being with the right person erases that pain and allows love to overflow and overwhelm the hurt. Balogh is an amazing writer!
July 9, 2014
Re: Lord Carew's Bride 5 stars
A great Balogh story about a woman's love affair with friendship. Samantha is a 24-year old Incomparable determined never to let love devolve to pain. She has remained unmarried after 7 seasons and intends to continue that way due to early disillusionment and secret guilt. Hartley is a brave, honorable man, crippled in an accident when six, who has lived a reclusive life, occupying himself with designing landscapes on his and friends' property. They meet on the grounds of his country estate when she wanders onto his property and mistakes him for a gentleman gardener. She doesn't realize he is the marquess, and comes to value the comfort and ease of their friendship above all. He finds himself deeply in love and willing to run the ton gauntlet just to see her again.
They are two such good, honorable people that when a rotten dazzler of a scoundrel who broke her heart years ago returns and is revealed to be the marquess' resentful cousin Lionel, the penultimate confrontation gave me real satisfaction. (Would you like a little nut busting with your whoop-ass, my lord?) Like Iago, Lionel seeks to undermine their trust after the two marry. But she is no missish lady, and Hartley demonstrates notable bottom when challenging the rotter to fisticuffs and pummeling him to a squishy pulp.
This may be one of my very favorite stories by Balogh, along with Slightly Dangerous and A Matter of Class. He's such an unprepossessing guy, nice without being dull, just a sterling example of true, worthy manhood. Loved him. She is open-hearted and caring in ways I found moving. A truly, deeply romantic read.
The narration and emotions of the story are more understated than exuberant but wonderful and without any stupid churn-y angst. The couple's concerns are real, meaningful and relate intimately to their histories and challenges. It was a compete pleasure to read. (And re-read when the time comes.)
Dark Angel, 4 stars
which I read second, filled in the background referred to in Lord Carew's Bride, so being a little sketchier in tone didn't matter as much to me. How Gideon forges a true marriage with Jennifer out of such unpromising beginnings was as courageous as his determination to return to London, despite the awful rumors that have him debauching his step-mother and abandoning her in Europe with child. The villain in this piece disguises his true nature and plays many false while pursuing his purpose. (Hisssss!)
Of the two, I adored how the disillusioned London beauty and the stoic, crippled marquess, Carew, meet and fall in love by inconspicuous increments. It was moving, and it was joyful. The other was a more straight-ahead rake's not what he seems, girl is saved without appreciating it at first plot. In Balogh's hands, both are wonderful, but I fell for Carew hard. 4.5 stars on average.
A great Balogh story about a woman's love affair with friendship. Samantha is a 24-year old Incomparable determined never to let love devolve to pain. She has remained unmarried after 7 seasons and intends to continue that way due to early disillusionment and secret guilt. Hartley is a brave, honorable man, crippled in an accident when six, who has lived a reclusive life, occupying himself with designing landscapes on his and friends' property. They meet on the grounds of his country estate when she wanders onto his property and mistakes him for a gentleman gardener. She doesn't realize he is the marquess, and comes to value the comfort and ease of their friendship above all. He finds himself deeply in love and willing to run the ton gauntlet just to see her again.
They are two such good, honorable people that when a rotten dazzler of a scoundrel who broke her heart years ago returns and is revealed to be the marquess' resentful cousin Lionel, the penultimate confrontation gave me real satisfaction. (Would you like a little nut busting with your whoop-ass, my lord?) Like Iago, Lionel seeks to undermine their trust after the two marry. But she is no missish lady, and Hartley demonstrates notable bottom when challenging the rotter to fisticuffs and pummeling him to a squishy pulp.
This may be one of my very favorite stories by Balogh, along with Slightly Dangerous and A Matter of Class. He's such an unprepossessing guy, nice without being dull, just a sterling example of true, worthy manhood. Loved him. She is open-hearted and caring in ways I found moving. A truly, deeply romantic read.
The narration and emotions of the story are more understated than exuberant but wonderful and without any stupid churn-y angst. The couple's concerns are real, meaningful and relate intimately to their histories and challenges. It was a compete pleasure to read. (And re-read when the time comes.)
Dark Angel, 4 stars
which I read second, filled in the background referred to in Lord Carew's Bride, so being a little sketchier in tone didn't matter as much to me. How Gideon forges a true marriage with Jennifer out of such unpromising beginnings was as courageous as his determination to return to London, despite the awful rumors that have him debauching his step-mother and abandoning her in Europe with child. The villain in this piece disguises his true nature and plays many false while pursuing his purpose. (Hisssss!)
Of the two, I adored how the disillusioned London beauty and the stoic, crippled marquess, Carew, meet and fall in love by inconspicuous increments. It was moving, and it was joyful. The other was a more straight-ahead rake's not what he seems, girl is saved without appreciating it at first plot. In Balogh's hands, both are wonderful, but I fell for Carew hard. 4.5 stars on average.
January 25, 2012
This rating is for 'Dark Angel' only.
UGH!! This book was so frustrating and I totally regret wasting my time reading it! The heroine wasted the whole book being in love and pining for another man that did not want her, but wanted her cousin instead. I don't even know why I kept reading?! I guess I was hoping that soon, soon the heroine will start to show some real interest in the hero and the real romance with her and the hero would move along, but no. It took her intended to disgrace her for her to get the picture that the man DID NOT WANT HER!!!He made her look like such a fool, and I did not believe in her love for the hero at all. I believed instead that she settled for him because she couldn't have the other guy. I don't even know what to say about the hero. He just seemed so bland. He was missing that certain something that you want in a hero. He just didn't stand out as a hero of a romance should. Maybe it's because the other guy stole the lime light with the heroine being in love with him instead of the hero for the whole darn book!!! I only read Dark Angel and I have no desire to read Lord Carew's Bride. I was excited to read A Matter Of Class by MB but now I'm very afraid!
UGH!! This book was so frustrating and I totally regret wasting my time reading it! The heroine wasted the whole book being in love and pining for another man that did not want her, but wanted her cousin instead. I don't even know why I kept reading?! I guess I was hoping that soon, soon the heroine will start to show some real interest in the hero and the real romance with her and the hero would move along, but no. It took her intended to disgrace her for her to get the picture that the man DID NOT WANT HER!!!He made her look like such a fool, and I did not believe in her love for the hero at all. I believed instead that she settled for him because she couldn't have the other guy. I don't even know what to say about the hero. He just seemed so bland. He was missing that certain something that you want in a hero. He just didn't stand out as a hero of a romance should. Maybe it's because the other guy stole the lime light with the heroine being in love with him instead of the hero for the whole darn book!!! I only read Dark Angel and I have no desire to read Lord Carew's Bride. I was excited to read A Matter Of Class by MB but now I'm very afraid!
December 12, 2019
These reissued books from the 1990s are rather short, sweet stories that focus almost exclusively on the two couples (plus one villain) and their intertwined lives. Nothing spectacular. I like Mary Balogh a lot, but these two are not among her best.
January 12, 2017
Dark Angel:
3.5 stars. I love Mary Balogh's writing. I've read a bunch of her books and heard good things about Lord Carew's Bride. Of course I was thrilled to see that I got 2 books in 1 with this purchase! Dark Angel is the first book that tells the story of Jennifer Winwood and the second is Lord Carew's Bride about her cousin Samantha Newman. I'm giving Dark Angel 3.5 stars. It's your typical regency romance, nothing new or exciting here, but it's a sweet, enjoyable story. It took me a while to read because I started it right before the holidays and then got super busy. The book was only about 300 pages, but I definitely didn't fly through it. Still, there were parts I couldn't put down and others that were a tad boring. It was a lot of reading about the inner thoughts of the characters and not enough conversation between them, in my opinion. However, Balogh is really good at creating those interactions and I loved reading how Gabe started winning Jennifer over.
My biggest issues were with the H/h. It seems like Balogh didn't know what kind of personalities she wanted them to have. For example, at the beginning of the book she made Gabriel out to be a rake and an alpha male, but as the book when on, he sort of became a beta male. Overall, I do prefer an alpha male, but I have read books where I really enjoy betas. But please, don't turn an alpha into a beta. No thank you. Gabriel started out as kind of a badass, and then he turned into a bit of an asshole with his revenge plot, and then we started to see his softer side, but then he became really cheesy and corny and too soft. I dunno, overall I liked him, I enjoy Balogh's heroes, but Gabe was fickle.
Do you know who else was fickle? Jennifer. Ugh. I get that she was obsessed with this Lionel for 5 years, but get over it. He wasn't likable at all. Then she would be like "I love him so much!", but then would go and kiss Gabriel. I just think Jennifer was a shallow person. We never got to know her. Just that she was obsessed with looks. She seriously went on and on about being in love with Lionel through almost the entire story, then bam! She was in love with Gabriel. It all just happened too quickly. Like in two days lol. Even when she found out she was part of a revenge plot, she was mad for like a day. However, that was one thing I did like about her. She knew her place and wasn't outwardly dramatic. She new she had to marry Gabe, so she did. She knew she had to consummate the marriage, so she did, etc. I dislike sometimes when everything is a battle. It was nice that she was true to the time period.
Overall, I did like them and I liked them together, I just felt like the chemistry could have been better. It didn't help that things wrapped up so quickly. I really wanted to see how their marriage progressed and how they fell in love once she truly got over Lionel. Oh and don't read Balogh for the sex scenes either. They are usually pretty PG haha. I would've liked to see a little more chemistry in the bedroom, or even just with their kisses.
I'm about to start reading Lord Carew's Bride so I will complete the review once I finish book 2. However, did anyone go into LCB with a bad taste in their mouth? I didn't love Samantha in Dark Angel so I'm not really excited to read about her in this next book. I get she was hurt and needs her own HEA, but she was kind of a bitch for falling in love with her cousin/best friend's betrothed. Oh well, we shall see...
Lord Carew's Bride:
4 stars. I adore this book. Like I mentioned above, I love Balogh's writing. Her stories can be so simple and yet so beautiful. I don't know how she did it, but things I dislike in most books, she makes them work. For example, I favor alpha males, but I loved Hartley; I usually dislike love at first sight or when leads fall in love too quickly, but I rooted for them the whole time and believed in their love; I'm not a fan when the leads are mismatched, but I enjoyed this version of the beauty and the beast tale.
LCB is very slow and sweet. It's not a book I flew through and yet I couldn't put it down. It's not a book about a passionate, sexual love and yet their chemistry was still undeniable. Again, like I mentioned in my above review, I don't read Balogh for her sex scenes haha. I so wanted to give it 5 stars, but I just don't think it was as exceptional as my other 5 stars reads. The story was maybe too simple? Although I couldn't imagine it being any other way. It is perfect for what it is.
A little about the H/h... Hartley was so lovable. He won't go down as one of my all-time favorite heroes, but I will never forget him. My favorite beta probably being Clayton from Always to Remember. I actually wouldn't change much about Mr. Wade, except I kind of disliked how Balogh kept pointing out how unattractive he was. Just not necessary. I get that Sam fell for him as a person and not his looks, but I wish he was described in a way she seemed a little more attracted to him. Or maybe if Samantha wasn't described as the most beautiful woman of the ton that everyone obsessed over. Just way too extreme on both parts. Oh well. I also ended up liking Samantha more than I thought I would. She had similar qualities to her cousin that I disliked. Never a good sign when you place a guy in the friend zone either, but she redeemed herself. And SO happy Lionel got his butt kicked.
This is one of those books that lingers. One that ends and just leaves a smile on your face. So nice to read a book and feel like you wouldn't really change anything, or at least nothing major. I look forward to reading it again some day :)
3.5 stars. I love Mary Balogh's writing. I've read a bunch of her books and heard good things about Lord Carew's Bride. Of course I was thrilled to see that I got 2 books in 1 with this purchase! Dark Angel is the first book that tells the story of Jennifer Winwood and the second is Lord Carew's Bride about her cousin Samantha Newman. I'm giving Dark Angel 3.5 stars. It's your typical regency romance, nothing new or exciting here, but it's a sweet, enjoyable story. It took me a while to read because I started it right before the holidays and then got super busy. The book was only about 300 pages, but I definitely didn't fly through it. Still, there were parts I couldn't put down and others that were a tad boring. It was a lot of reading about the inner thoughts of the characters and not enough conversation between them, in my opinion. However, Balogh is really good at creating those interactions and I loved reading how Gabe started winning Jennifer over.
My biggest issues were with the H/h. It seems like Balogh didn't know what kind of personalities she wanted them to have. For example, at the beginning of the book she made Gabriel out to be a rake and an alpha male, but as the book when on, he sort of became a beta male. Overall, I do prefer an alpha male, but I have read books where I really enjoy betas. But please, don't turn an alpha into a beta. No thank you. Gabriel started out as kind of a badass, and then he turned into a bit of an asshole with his revenge plot, and then we started to see his softer side, but then he became really cheesy and corny and too soft. I dunno, overall I liked him, I enjoy Balogh's heroes, but Gabe was fickle.
Do you know who else was fickle? Jennifer. Ugh. I get that she was obsessed with this Lionel for 5 years, but get over it. He wasn't likable at all. Then she would be like "I love him so much!", but then would go and kiss Gabriel. I just think Jennifer was a shallow person. We never got to know her. Just that she was obsessed with looks. She seriously went on and on about being in love with Lionel through almost the entire story, then bam! She was in love with Gabriel. It all just happened too quickly. Like in two days lol. Even when she found out she was part of a revenge plot, she was mad for like a day. However, that was one thing I did like about her. She knew her place and wasn't outwardly dramatic. She new she had to marry Gabe, so she did. She knew she had to consummate the marriage, so she did, etc. I dislike sometimes when everything is a battle. It was nice that she was true to the time period.
Overall, I did like them and I liked them together, I just felt like the chemistry could have been better. It didn't help that things wrapped up so quickly. I really wanted to see how their marriage progressed and how they fell in love once she truly got over Lionel. Oh and don't read Balogh for the sex scenes either. They are usually pretty PG haha. I would've liked to see a little more chemistry in the bedroom, or even just with their kisses.
I'm about to start reading Lord Carew's Bride so I will complete the review once I finish book 2. However, did anyone go into LCB with a bad taste in their mouth? I didn't love Samantha in Dark Angel so I'm not really excited to read about her in this next book. I get she was hurt and needs her own HEA, but she was kind of a bitch for falling in love with her cousin/best friend's betrothed. Oh well, we shall see...
Lord Carew's Bride:
4 stars. I adore this book. Like I mentioned above, I love Balogh's writing. Her stories can be so simple and yet so beautiful. I don't know how she did it, but things I dislike in most books, she makes them work. For example, I favor alpha males, but I loved Hartley; I usually dislike love at first sight or when leads fall in love too quickly, but I rooted for them the whole time and believed in their love; I'm not a fan when the leads are mismatched, but I enjoyed this version of the beauty and the beast tale.
LCB is very slow and sweet. It's not a book I flew through and yet I couldn't put it down. It's not a book about a passionate, sexual love and yet their chemistry was still undeniable. Again, like I mentioned in my above review, I don't read Balogh for her sex scenes haha. I so wanted to give it 5 stars, but I just don't think it was as exceptional as my other 5 stars reads. The story was maybe too simple? Although I couldn't imagine it being any other way. It is perfect for what it is.
A little about the H/h... Hartley was so lovable. He won't go down as one of my all-time favorite heroes, but I will never forget him. My favorite beta probably being Clayton from Always to Remember. I actually wouldn't change much about Mr. Wade, except I kind of disliked how Balogh kept pointing out how unattractive he was. Just not necessary. I get that Sam fell for him as a person and not his looks, but I wish he was described in a way she seemed a little more attracted to him. Or maybe if Samantha wasn't described as the most beautiful woman of the ton that everyone obsessed over. Just way too extreme on both parts. Oh well. I also ended up liking Samantha more than I thought I would. She had similar qualities to her cousin that I disliked. Never a good sign when you place a guy in the friend zone either, but she redeemed herself. And SO happy Lionel got his butt kicked.
This is one of those books that lingers. One that ends and just leaves a smile on your face. So nice to read a book and feel like you wouldn't really change anything, or at least nothing major. I look forward to reading it again some day :)
February 15, 2021
Dark Angel: Jennifer and Gabriel Easy read. 3 stars The Dark Angel is the hero which makes the title spot on. (Although, at first, the heroine thinks of him as Lucifer where and the villain as an angel.) The best part of this love story was the side characters love story. Gabriel's best friend fell in love with a plain lady unexpectedly. It was sweet how sweet his best friend explained his feelings for his love especially since he fell in love so fast. It was sweet because at the beginning of the story the best friend had been eyeing up Jennifer's relative Samantha.
Lord Carew's Bride: Samantha and Hartley 3.5 stars. 6 years later from the Dark Angel story. Same villain. The hero is not handsome and is partially disabled, but he was such an awesome hero. In this one, again one of my favorite moments was while Samantha was visiting Jennifer and it is about the plain heroine in the above Dark Angel story. Apparently she is pregnant again. While playing hide and seek with her children and Jennifer's children when it was her turn to hide during the game.... no one could find her. Until they checked her bedroom and there she was asleep on her bed. HA! Such a fun moment.
I liked both stories.
Lord Carew's Bride: Samantha and Hartley 3.5 stars. 6 years later from the Dark Angel story. Same villain. The hero is not handsome and is partially disabled, but he was such an awesome hero. In this one, again one of my favorite moments was while Samantha was visiting Jennifer and it is about the plain heroine in the above Dark Angel story. Apparently she is pregnant again. While playing hide and seek with her children and Jennifer's children when it was her turn to hide during the game.... no one could find her. Until they checked her bedroom and there she was asleep on her bed. HA! Such a fun moment.
I liked both stories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2019
Dark Angel (Stapleton-Downes #3)
My rating: 4 stars
Betrothed since childhood Jennifer looks forward to enter into the arranged marriage with a blond beau. When she meets a dark haired rake at a ball she is attracted to him but loves her future husband - so she thinks.
Gabe has ulterior motives for trying to seduce someone else's betrothed, and they have nothing to do with love.
I loved this one. So refreshing to have a love story where the protagonists learn to love rather than falling for each other the first second they meet. Problems made sense, mostly, and angst was kept to the necessary minimum.
I was afraid to read such an old novel from an author who is writing for decades, but this was a very pleasant surprise.
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Lord Carew's Bride (Stapleton-Downes, #4)
My rating: 5 stars
This story just hit the right spot with me, the Beauty and the Beast sure like each other, or is it love?
Spinster Samantha walks onto neighbors property and meets the landscape gardener - so she thinks. They befriend each other and enjoy each others company, but can not admit that there is more between them.
They crave to see each other again when they go their separate ways, but still ... when they meet again - where will a realtionship between a lady and a gardener end?
I loved that conflicts were solved reasonable quick and miscommunication was not to blame for any problems.
Very enjoyable read, highly recommended!
My rating: 4 stars
Betrothed since childhood Jennifer looks forward to enter into the arranged marriage with a blond beau. When she meets a dark haired rake at a ball she is attracted to him but loves her future husband - so she thinks.
Gabe has ulterior motives for trying to seduce someone else's betrothed, and they have nothing to do with love.
I loved this one. So refreshing to have a love story where the protagonists learn to love rather than falling for each other the first second they meet. Problems made sense, mostly, and angst was kept to the necessary minimum.
I was afraid to read such an old novel from an author who is writing for decades, but this was a very pleasant surprise.
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Lord Carew's Bride (Stapleton-Downes, #4)
My rating: 5 stars
This story just hit the right spot with me, the Beauty and the Beast sure like each other, or is it love?
Spinster Samantha walks onto neighbors property and meets the landscape gardener - so she thinks. They befriend each other and enjoy each others company, but can not admit that there is more between them.
They crave to see each other again when they go their separate ways, but still ... when they meet again - where will a realtionship between a lady and a gardener end?
I loved that conflicts were solved reasonable quick and miscommunication was not to blame for any problems.
Very enjoyable read, highly recommended!
January 22, 2022
Oh my goodness. Lord Carew is the sweetest hero I’ve read in secular romance without question.🥲He is an absolutely lovable beta hero. This story was so fun because I was rooting for him the whole time to get the girl & put his horrid cousin in his place. Hartley is such a gentle, sweet & understanding hero. I always prefer Christian fiction heroes & am never too impressed with the ones in secular romance. The secular ones never have any real substance IMHO. Thankfully Balogh is more “traditional”& not as surface level as other romance authors; This one has depth that I do not normally read in a non Christian romance. I loved the theme- Samantha had a love for him the whole time that she defined as friendship. It makes you think about how important friendship is in a romantic relationship & I loved that.
I was so worried that the conflict would be too messy & Samantha would make bad decisions but thankfully the conflict wasn’t as heart wrenching as I was worried it would be. This is probably my favorite Balogh read. I will definitely be rereading this in future.
I was so worried that the conflict would be too messy & Samantha would make bad decisions but thankfully the conflict wasn’t as heart wrenching as I was worried it would be. This is probably my favorite Balogh read. I will definitely be rereading this in future.
November 23, 2015
I read DARK ANGEL when it first came out back in 1995, and though I enjoyed it I didn't really remember much afterwards. I heard a lot about LORD CAREW'S BRIDE over the years but never had a chance to read it till this great new paperback edition came out, combining both stories into one great package!
First thing to notice is that the two stories are so intimately connected that the packaging is much more than a marketing ploy. You can't really understand Samantha in LORD CAREW unless you read about her tearfully unsuccessful London Season in DARK ANGEL.
The second thing that I noticed was the incredible depth and breadth of Mary Balogh's talent. There are no limits on the kinds of heroes and heroines she can imagine. Gabriel in DARK ANGEL is so much what readers expect, being dark, sexy, and menacing with a body to die for. Yet Hartley Wade in LORD CAREW is everything romance novel heroes are not supposed to be. He's small, shy, plain looking, and physically challenged. Yet both men are completely believable and heroic and earn the love of two amazing heroines!
Jennifer in DARK ANGEL really reminded me of a Playboy playmate. I don't mean that in a negative way. I just mean that her spectacular body is described in such open fashion and is such a vital part of the story and her character that you have to factor it in. I was amazed at how Mary Balogh captured both her sensuality and her innocence in a way that never sold her short or made her seem weak or shallow.
Samantha in LORD CAREW'S BRIDE is beautiful in a totally different way. She's such a stereotypical "popular girl," blond and outgoing, always surrounded by male admirers greedily eyeing her beauty. What's amazing is how you can really believe this woman would fall deeply in love with the plainest, shabbiest, least romance hero type of hero imaginable. By the time the book is over you are blown away by her strength and his, as both of them have overcome so much misery and misfortune in such a deeply personal way.
After twenty years, Mary Balogh's Signet Regencies remain an unparalleled achievement. Someday scholars will be writing about these books as great literature!
First thing to notice is that the two stories are so intimately connected that the packaging is much more than a marketing ploy. You can't really understand Samantha in LORD CAREW unless you read about her tearfully unsuccessful London Season in DARK ANGEL.
The second thing that I noticed was the incredible depth and breadth of Mary Balogh's talent. There are no limits on the kinds of heroes and heroines she can imagine. Gabriel in DARK ANGEL is so much what readers expect, being dark, sexy, and menacing with a body to die for. Yet Hartley Wade in LORD CAREW is everything romance novel heroes are not supposed to be. He's small, shy, plain looking, and physically challenged. Yet both men are completely believable and heroic and earn the love of two amazing heroines!
Jennifer in DARK ANGEL really reminded me of a Playboy playmate. I don't mean that in a negative way. I just mean that her spectacular body is described in such open fashion and is such a vital part of the story and her character that you have to factor it in. I was amazed at how Mary Balogh captured both her sensuality and her innocence in a way that never sold her short or made her seem weak or shallow.
Samantha in LORD CAREW'S BRIDE is beautiful in a totally different way. She's such a stereotypical "popular girl," blond and outgoing, always surrounded by male admirers greedily eyeing her beauty. What's amazing is how you can really believe this woman would fall deeply in love with the plainest, shabbiest, least romance hero type of hero imaginable. By the time the book is over you are blown away by her strength and his, as both of them have overcome so much misery and misfortune in such a deeply personal way.
After twenty years, Mary Balogh's Signet Regencies remain an unparalleled achievement. Someday scholars will be writing about these books as great literature!
February 13, 2013
This book would have scored a much higher rating in my mind had it not been for the sex--or rather, rape--scenes toward the end of each novella, particularly the first. I do not care if "exercising marital rights" is historically accurate; doing so while your new bride is sobbing and thinks you publicly humiliated her in order to trap her into marrying you will DESTROY YOUR MARRIAGE. It will not "save" it!! Even the character himself admits it feels like rape. Yes, that's because it IS rape! You do not have her consent. She hates you, and even if you are super gentle with her and make her body respond a little bit, that will just make her hate you even more!!
I really like Mary Balogh as an author, but these early novellas of hers should have been rewritten first or never seen the light of day ever again.
Dark Angel was a 4-star novella until the rape scene, and then it dropped to -10 stars.
Lord Carew's Bride was also a 4-star novella until the bordering-on-rape scene, and then it dropped to 2 stars.
The two novellas have intersecting characters, particularly the heroines who are cousins. Both start out imagining themselves in love with the same man, who turns out to be a total slimeball. I will not bother to summarize the plots. Goodreads and the back of the book do that well enough. I just want to be done with this book and move on. I'm so disappointed! They were so good at first....
For readers' advisors: story and character doorways, but skip this one in favor of her other works.
I really like Mary Balogh as an author, but these early novellas of hers should have been rewritten first or never seen the light of day ever again.
Dark Angel was a 4-star novella until the rape scene, and then it dropped to -10 stars.
Lord Carew's Bride was also a 4-star novella until the bordering-on-rape scene, and then it dropped to 2 stars.
The two novellas have intersecting characters, particularly the heroines who are cousins. Both start out imagining themselves in love with the same man, who turns out to be a total slimeball. I will not bother to summarize the plots. Goodreads and the back of the book do that well enough. I just want to be done with this book and move on. I'm so disappointed! They were so good at first....
For readers' advisors: story and character doorways, but skip this one in favor of her other works.
January 19, 2016
**Note- I only read Lord Carew's Bride, so this rating does not take Dark Angel into account.**
4.5 stars.
This was very good, and I am glad I chose to read it after seeing it rated highly by a couple of my fellow Goodreads-ers (is that a thing?). The only thing keeping me from rating this a 5 is just that it had a bit more somber and serious tone to it than many of my favorites. The subject matter here is the darker side of love/passion and how even years later it can cause turmoil and heartache. I was gripped throughout to see how the relationship between Samantha and Hartley would progress, and I was not at all disappointed in their HEA. However, there were some pieces that were uncomfortable for me to read- I hated when Hartley let his anger spill out to Samantha after their first three days of marriage, even though I understood it. I had apparently become so engrossed in the story that that really bothered me. I also felt a version of myself from years past relating to Samantha's inner monologue more than once about being afraid of passion and the damage love can do, and as a result felt a sort of melancholy for her and my younger self. The writing here is very good- the characters seemed very real to me and actions rang true. Nothing about this was improbable or far-fetched for the period, which I always look for. Overall a very well-done HR. I would recommend it, but I am going to follow it up with something a bit more light-hearted, maybe even borderline silly next.
4.5 stars.
This was very good, and I am glad I chose to read it after seeing it rated highly by a couple of my fellow Goodreads-ers (is that a thing?). The only thing keeping me from rating this a 5 is just that it had a bit more somber and serious tone to it than many of my favorites. The subject matter here is the darker side of love/passion and how even years later it can cause turmoil and heartache. I was gripped throughout to see how the relationship between Samantha and Hartley would progress, and I was not at all disappointed in their HEA. However, there were some pieces that were uncomfortable for me to read- I hated when Hartley let his anger spill out to Samantha after their first three days of marriage, even though I understood it. I had apparently become so engrossed in the story that that really bothered me. I also felt a version of myself from years past relating to Samantha's inner monologue more than once about being afraid of passion and the damage love can do, and as a result felt a sort of melancholy for her and my younger self. The writing here is very good- the characters seemed very real to me and actions rang true. Nothing about this was improbable or far-fetched for the period, which I always look for. Overall a very well-done HR. I would recommend it, but I am going to follow it up with something a bit more light-hearted, maybe even borderline silly next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2010
Dark Angel - 4/5 stars
Lord Carew's Bride - 5 stars
I think one of the reasons that I enjoyed this pair of novels so much was the simplicity of the storylines. The author didn't need historical gimmicks -- spies, vampires, highway robbers, pirates, kidnappings, etc. These were just well written stories in a traditional Regency setting. I always appreciate it when my hero has a quizzing-glass in his hand and the heroine isn't jumping into bed in the first chapter with the hero. ;)
Lord Carew's Bride surprised me by making me shed a few tears. I could tell what was going to happen without any surprises, but the characters conveyed a lot of depth and emotion. I appreciate that.
I look forward to reading more novels by Mary Balogh in the future :)
Lord Carew's Bride - 5 stars
I think one of the reasons that I enjoyed this pair of novels so much was the simplicity of the storylines. The author didn't need historical gimmicks -- spies, vampires, highway robbers, pirates, kidnappings, etc. These were just well written stories in a traditional Regency setting. I always appreciate it when my hero has a quizzing-glass in his hand and the heroine isn't jumping into bed in the first chapter with the hero. ;)
Lord Carew's Bride surprised me by making me shed a few tears. I could tell what was going to happen without any surprises, but the characters conveyed a lot of depth and emotion. I appreciate that.
I look forward to reading more novels by Mary Balogh in the future :)
April 18, 2019
Two very different, but wonderful stories of love found unexpectedly. Dark Angel is a story of betrayal (in several forms), an attempt at revenge that goes awry, and a young lady saved from ruin by an honorable man believed by the ton to be unacquainted with the word. Lord Carew's Bride, the second book in the quartet, is a tale of an unlikely friendship that deepens into an abiding love.
July 17, 2013
i could not stay interested. A book has to be very boring for me not to finish it, and I abandoned this one a while ago.
November 15, 2016
Loved both stories. Lord Carew just touched my heart with all his insecurities and being such a loving man.
August 6, 2022
Two related novellas, 1.5 stars when averaged.
Dark Angel- 1 star. Two horrible men use an innocent, unwitting woman for their own ends (and her cousin/"best friend" isn’t too great, either).
“If she knew everything, she would know she had been only a helpless pawn in a game. Of no importance to either of the players - Kersey or himself.”
“Jennifer…whether you wish it or not, I will be claiming my marital rights each night…But only once each night. If I desire you more than once, you will have the right to refuse the second and any succeeding time.” Damn, what a prince! 🙄
Lord Carew's Bride - 2 stars. The heroine of this novella is Samantha, the not-so-great cousin/"best friend" of the heroine from Dark Angel. Hartley, the hero, is a good man who was in a serious accident as a child - he limps and has an injured hand. They meet when she walks onto his estate and mistakes him for a gardener instead of the owner. Over the course of four afternoons, they develop a friendship but unbeknownst to her, he fell in love with her beauty as soon as he saw her.
Samantha was (still) self-centered. When she unexpectedly runs into Hartley after an upsetting dance with the man she loved six years ago she’s so happy to see him that she asks him to kiss her and says, “Oh, I do love you, so very, very much.” Except she doesn’t, except as a friend. Sadly for him, he didn't realize that at the time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2021
I enjoyed both of these books and it makes sense for them to be paired together. Balogh’s endings continue to underwhelm me, but at least it is consistent.
Dark Angel - I liked the premise of this, but it felt kind of mundane somehow. Maybe if the story had more room to grow I would have gotten more invested in these characters. Logically I believed they loved each other at the end, but I didn’t really buy it either when they said it to each other. I had a hard time reading this for long periods of time too. It’s not bad; not at all. But it just never gripped me.
Lord Carew’s Bride - This was a very sweet and quick read. I wasn’t looking forward to reading Samantha’s story truthfully, but it was quite lovely. It was helpful that this was set 6 years in the future too. I also liked that our male lead had a disability.
Dark Angel - I liked the premise of this, but it felt kind of mundane somehow. Maybe if the story had more room to grow I would have gotten more invested in these characters. Logically I believed they loved each other at the end, but I didn’t really buy it either when they said it to each other. I had a hard time reading this for long periods of time too. It’s not bad; not at all. But it just never gripped me.
Lord Carew’s Bride - This was a very sweet and quick read. I wasn’t looking forward to reading Samantha’s story truthfully, but it was quite lovely. It was helpful that this was set 6 years in the future too. I also liked that our male lead had a disability.
July 9, 2017
Was this book written by a 12 year old?
July 18, 2019
I really liked both books and the interconnectedness of both stories.
December 8, 2025
Not a favorite of mine - the characters in both books were unappealing and it was annoying how they kept falling for the jerk.
November 24, 2017
Both were pleasant reads, but I think I preferred Lord Carew's Bride, even though the heroine was a tad too sweet for my liking.
January 2, 2021
I've recently seemed to have fallen down the rabbit hole of regency era romance, I've absolutely loved both stories!
The first story revolved around a disgraced Lord come back to seek his revenge and seemingly falling in love with the betrothed of the man he hates. I have to say that this first story had me absolutely wishing the author had written a stand-alone for Albert and Rosalie, but, sadly, it was not meant to be.
The second story was definitely my favorite of the two, it was more of a slow burn sweet romance; and more about both characters having to learn to let go of old fears and doubts.
I loved the side characters but also was happy that the main focus of the story was on the two main leads.
The first story revolved around a disgraced Lord come back to seek his revenge and seemingly falling in love with the betrothed of the man he hates. I have to say that this first story had me absolutely wishing the author had written a stand-alone for Albert and Rosalie, but, sadly, it was not meant to be.
The second story was definitely my favorite of the two, it was more of a slow burn sweet romance; and more about both characters having to learn to let go of old fears and doubts.
I loved the side characters but also was happy that the main focus of the story was on the two main leads.
September 27, 2024
Dark Angel and Lord Carew’s Bride by Mary Balogh were published in 1994, and reissued in this twofer in 2010. Both are delightfully slightly sweet Regency stories with emotional charged moments.
🎩 There’s a suave snake of a villain, Lionel, Lord Kersey, who weaves himself thru both stories. Balogh’s exquisite writing as usual makes these stories zip along. 🐍
🎩 In Dark Angel the young heroine, Jennifer has been engaged for 5 years to Lionel … loves him tho she barely knows him, thinks he’s perfect. But he really isn’t. At a ball she attracts the attention of Gabriel, the Earl of Thornhill… he wants her, but no, she loves Lionel. This story was a deliciously painful read .. the tension, the hurt Jennifer suffers… all superb storytelling!
🎩 Lord Carew’s Bride has “beauty and the beast” vibes. The heroine, Samantha is visiting her cousin Jennifer and her family, and while out for a walk she wanders onto the neighboring estate, and meets the disabled head gardener, Hartley Wade. They become friends, sharing quiet moments together. Yes, the dastardly Lionel reappears to stir up the pot.
🎩 Dark Angel is a bit edgier, more emotional, and the story much less predictable… loved it! In Lord Carew’s Bride the author’s written a sharply drawn portrait of a hero who’s ordinary in appearance, and has a physical disability.
Both books = ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(Photo shows the book .. on the cover is a cropped image of a young woman in a blue dress holding a lacy parasol.)
🎩 There’s a suave snake of a villain, Lionel, Lord Kersey, who weaves himself thru both stories. Balogh’s exquisite writing as usual makes these stories zip along. 🐍
🎩 In Dark Angel the young heroine, Jennifer has been engaged for 5 years to Lionel … loves him tho she barely knows him, thinks he’s perfect. But he really isn’t. At a ball she attracts the attention of Gabriel, the Earl of Thornhill… he wants her, but no, she loves Lionel. This story was a deliciously painful read .. the tension, the hurt Jennifer suffers… all superb storytelling!
🎩 Lord Carew’s Bride has “beauty and the beast” vibes. The heroine, Samantha is visiting her cousin Jennifer and her family, and while out for a walk she wanders onto the neighboring estate, and meets the disabled head gardener, Hartley Wade. They become friends, sharing quiet moments together. Yes, the dastardly Lionel reappears to stir up the pot.
🎩 Dark Angel is a bit edgier, more emotional, and the story much less predictable… loved it! In Lord Carew’s Bride the author’s written a sharply drawn portrait of a hero who’s ordinary in appearance, and has a physical disability.
Both books = ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(Photo shows the book .. on the cover is a cropped image of a young woman in a blue dress holding a lacy parasol.)
December 11, 2012
Two short Mary Balogh stories in one book....I could not pass this up. I actually started reading this book a few days ago and just finished up tonight, I would have had it wrapped up a lot sooner if I didn't have to stop reading in order to function normally as a wife and mother...oh and then there were the last two days that I had to work. Conclusion, life sometimes has a habit of cutting in to my reading time! Hahaha, oh yes I can often get lost in a book and this little tempting morsel had two stories to tempt me.
The first story is Dark Angel and it was the story of a young woman, Jennifer Winwood that after five years of being engaged to a man she really hardly knows has come to London for the season. I might mention she is 20 yrs old and is coming out and expected to officially have her engagement announced and then be wed to the Viscount Lionel Kersey by the middle of the season. All is going according to plan until of course she meets the devilishly handsome Gabriel Fisher better known as the Earl of Thornhill. The plot thickens as many different schemes are put in to play by both her betrothed and Gabriel himself. It also seems that the only people that can be hurt in the scheming is the innocent Miss Winwood herself. The story line is a good one and the characters I thought were interesting enough but I think the fact that the story was shorter than that of a novel I would normally enjoy I felt a bit as I got the hurried version of a scandalous tale. I am not really sure why I even felt that way to be truthful because the book did go over everything but I believe it mostly had to do with the overall feel of both stories combined in one book.
Which brings me to the second story, which was Lord Carew's Bride. This story has a delicious plot. The story picks up with Jennifer Winwood's younger cousin Samantha Newman. Miss Newman was also caught up a little in the scandal that nearly ruined her cousin Jenny. But that was six years ago and Samantha (Sam) has vowed never to let her heart be led astray again. Of course her plans go astray when she meets a wonderfully charming disabled man who she quickly befriends. As it turns out the man, Hartley Wade that she met while staying with Jenny and Gabriel out in the country turns up in London for the season and she finds out he is more than he originally led her to be.
Lord Carew's Bride actually does feel rushed to me because of the mention of whole days or weeks going by. It was also the story line that I was really hoping would be the most fantastic. I really did not want it to be rushed and yet that is exactly what it felt like to me. Hartley and Sam's tale is one of those beautiful stories that I wanted to know everything about and was hoping at every turn for more development and then as my heart was thoroughly enchanted the story was over.
I do enjoy Mary Balogh's novels/books but this one was not my favorite but I also can't say that it was bad. The book itself just left me wanting to know more about Jenny, Gabriel, Hartley, Sam and even Francis (another delightful character). Okay I must also confess that I was almost waiting for the book to reveal that Francis was gay but it did not do that and I had to laugh because to me that would have made the story more fascinating for no apparent reason other than to explain his wardrobe! I don't think I am a fan of the two in one books and don't know that I would give it another chance but who knows I have been tempted to pick up books for lesser reasons such as a pretty cover.
The first story is Dark Angel and it was the story of a young woman, Jennifer Winwood that after five years of being engaged to a man she really hardly knows has come to London for the season. I might mention she is 20 yrs old and is coming out and expected to officially have her engagement announced and then be wed to the Viscount Lionel Kersey by the middle of the season. All is going according to plan until of course she meets the devilishly handsome Gabriel Fisher better known as the Earl of Thornhill. The plot thickens as many different schemes are put in to play by both her betrothed and Gabriel himself. It also seems that the only people that can be hurt in the scheming is the innocent Miss Winwood herself. The story line is a good one and the characters I thought were interesting enough but I think the fact that the story was shorter than that of a novel I would normally enjoy I felt a bit as I got the hurried version of a scandalous tale. I am not really sure why I even felt that way to be truthful because the book did go over everything but I believe it mostly had to do with the overall feel of both stories combined in one book.
Which brings me to the second story, which was Lord Carew's Bride. This story has a delicious plot. The story picks up with Jennifer Winwood's younger cousin Samantha Newman. Miss Newman was also caught up a little in the scandal that nearly ruined her cousin Jenny. But that was six years ago and Samantha (Sam) has vowed never to let her heart be led astray again. Of course her plans go astray when she meets a wonderfully charming disabled man who she quickly befriends. As it turns out the man, Hartley Wade that she met while staying with Jenny and Gabriel out in the country turns up in London for the season and she finds out he is more than he originally led her to be.
Lord Carew's Bride actually does feel rushed to me because of the mention of whole days or weeks going by. It was also the story line that I was really hoping would be the most fantastic. I really did not want it to be rushed and yet that is exactly what it felt like to me. Hartley and Sam's tale is one of those beautiful stories that I wanted to know everything about and was hoping at every turn for more development and then as my heart was thoroughly enchanted the story was over.
I do enjoy Mary Balogh's novels/books but this one was not my favorite but I also can't say that it was bad. The book itself just left me wanting to know more about Jenny, Gabriel, Hartley, Sam and even Francis (another delightful character). Okay I must also confess that I was almost waiting for the book to reveal that Francis was gay but it did not do that and I had to laugh because to me that would have made the story more fascinating for no apparent reason other than to explain his wardrobe! I don't think I am a fan of the two in one books and don't know that I would give it another chance but who knows I have been tempted to pick up books for lesser reasons such as a pretty cover.
June 13, 2015
Two young women go to London for their first season. Jennifer Winwood, long engaged to a man she barely knows but trusts implicitly and her younger cousin, Samantha Newman, fresh-faced and naive.
In Dark Angel, Winwood is in love with her betrothed Lionel Kersey but has spent little time in his company, content to nurture her love with daydreams of married life. Arrive on the scene, the Earl of Thornhill, out to avenge a dastardly wrong that Kersey has committed against someone under the Earl’s protection. A glove to the face would be too simple and a duel too quick to satisfy Thornhill’s need for revenge. What better way to punish Kersey, than to seduce his innocent country bride? But Kersey does not stand by idly, Jennifer is threatened by the truth and Samantha, the caring and supportive cousin, is hurt in the process.
Lord Carew’s Bride flashes forward five years to Samantha , still feeling the effects of a betrayal at a young age and unable to shake the feeling that love is cruel and deep emotions treacherous. She meets a neighbor, a gardener with a crippled leg and hand, at a country home she is staying at, and feels happier and more comfortable with him than with anyone else of her acquaintance. The crippled gardener, Lord Carew, is mesmerized by Samantha’s beauty and kindness and does nothing to hide the fact that he is infatuated with her. But Lionel Kersey returns after a lengthy stay on the continent to wreak havoc with his cousin, Lord Carew and with Samantha, who he claims a history.
The thing I like the most about Balogh’s books is that her characters are real. They make real mistakes, feel real emotions and are hurt and love in tangible ways. These heroes and heroines have conflicts and inner turmoil and doubts. When they triumph, it is easy for the reader to feel their joy. I’m not sure how she does it, but for Balogh readers, it is what brings us back to her stories again and again.
In Dark Angel, Winwood is in love with her betrothed Lionel Kersey but has spent little time in his company, content to nurture her love with daydreams of married life. Arrive on the scene, the Earl of Thornhill, out to avenge a dastardly wrong that Kersey has committed against someone under the Earl’s protection. A glove to the face would be too simple and a duel too quick to satisfy Thornhill’s need for revenge. What better way to punish Kersey, than to seduce his innocent country bride? But Kersey does not stand by idly, Jennifer is threatened by the truth and Samantha, the caring and supportive cousin, is hurt in the process.
Lord Carew’s Bride flashes forward five years to Samantha , still feeling the effects of a betrayal at a young age and unable to shake the feeling that love is cruel and deep emotions treacherous. She meets a neighbor, a gardener with a crippled leg and hand, at a country home she is staying at, and feels happier and more comfortable with him than with anyone else of her acquaintance. The crippled gardener, Lord Carew, is mesmerized by Samantha’s beauty and kindness and does nothing to hide the fact that he is infatuated with her. But Lionel Kersey returns after a lengthy stay on the continent to wreak havoc with his cousin, Lord Carew and with Samantha, who he claims a history.
The thing I like the most about Balogh’s books is that her characters are real. They make real mistakes, feel real emotions and are hurt and love in tangible ways. These heroes and heroines have conflicts and inner turmoil and doubts. When they triumph, it is easy for the reader to feel their joy. I’m not sure how she does it, but for Balogh readers, it is what brings us back to her stories again and again.
March 16, 2013
3.5
Another charming but untaxing novel from Balogh. This one has the wonderful Hartley Wade (Lord Carew) as the hero. I enjoyed both of the first two Dark Angel novels. Easy reading without the frustration of contrived plot or assembly-line characterization.
I particularly like the themes of both novels, which are deeper than the seemingly fluffy book would initially suggest. Dark Angel tackled Revenge- and how it is in the nature of revenge to corrupt and destroy the person seeking it, no matter how righteously it may have been inspired. Dark Angel also had a naive heroine who refreshingly is honest about wishing to get married, is obedient and compliant and is not characterized as stupid or vapid for being any of the foregoing. I do tire of the saucy heroines, don't you?
Lord Carew's Bride has as its theme, Friendship between the sexes and particularly as a basis for marriage. We see several forms of friendship, treated with respect by the author, and several examples of loving sacrifice, none of which is treated with disdain by the author. This too is refreshing. Also there is the truly unique element of a disabled hero, and the sensitivity of that condition.
Furthermore, these novels of Balogh are set subtly in a Christian context, quite appropriate to the time and place. This too is unusual.
So I find much to recommend here. There are worse ways to spend one's hours than reading these pleasant works.
After digesting a day or so, I might find I adjust my rating upward.
Another charming but untaxing novel from Balogh. This one has the wonderful Hartley Wade (Lord Carew) as the hero. I enjoyed both of the first two Dark Angel novels. Easy reading without the frustration of contrived plot or assembly-line characterization.
I particularly like the themes of both novels, which are deeper than the seemingly fluffy book would initially suggest. Dark Angel tackled Revenge- and how it is in the nature of revenge to corrupt and destroy the person seeking it, no matter how righteously it may have been inspired. Dark Angel also had a naive heroine who refreshingly is honest about wishing to get married, is obedient and compliant and is not characterized as stupid or vapid for being any of the foregoing. I do tire of the saucy heroines, don't you?
Lord Carew's Bride has as its theme, Friendship between the sexes and particularly as a basis for marriage. We see several forms of friendship, treated with respect by the author, and several examples of loving sacrifice, none of which is treated with disdain by the author. This too is refreshing. Also there is the truly unique element of a disabled hero, and the sensitivity of that condition.
Furthermore, these novels of Balogh are set subtly in a Christian context, quite appropriate to the time and place. This too is unusual.
So I find much to recommend here. There are worse ways to spend one's hours than reading these pleasant works.
After digesting a day or so, I might find I adjust my rating upward.
May 30, 2010
Thanks to whomever or whatever force caused these early novels of Mary Balogh to be reprinted. They are delightful and full of the pitch and toss of the Regency Period. Arranged marriages, lost love, betrayal, false friendships, and the surprising honor of those considered to be "rakes" in society. These two stories embrace the experiences of cousins, Jennifer Winwood and Samantha Newsome, both of whom are presented to society at a "coming out" ball put on by Jennifer's father. She has been informally engaged to Viscount Lionel Kersey for five years and is now, at the age of 20, looking forward to finally being married. Her cousin Samantha is two years younger and is truly looking for a bridegroom. The stories seem to follow a familiar format in Regency romance literature, but even with all that there seems to be a freshness and vibrancy that are the earmark of a literary crafts expert. Fans of Ms Balogh will be delighted if they have not yet read these stories.
November 3, 2011
overall 4*
Dark Angel
An enjoyable traditional regency. Well written, with engaging characters. The reader knows truths that the heroine does not, making the heroine's internal musings sort of pointless at times, not to mention redundant. The author would've been better off keeping the reader in the dark along with her heroine for at least part of the story.
3.5*
Lord Carew's Bride
With a more complex and interesting heroine than in Dark Angel, Lord Carew's Bride was the better of the two books. The hero was different than the traditional regency hero, and that makes the story something unique. The pacing of the romance and the conflict in this book was well done.
4*
Dark Angel
An enjoyable traditional regency. Well written, with engaging characters. The reader knows truths that the heroine does not, making the heroine's internal musings sort of pointless at times, not to mention redundant. The author would've been better off keeping the reader in the dark along with her heroine for at least part of the story.
3.5*
Lord Carew's Bride
With a more complex and interesting heroine than in Dark Angel, Lord Carew's Bride was the better of the two books. The hero was different than the traditional regency hero, and that makes the story something unique. The pacing of the romance and the conflict in this book was well done.
4*
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